Biochemical determination of lipid content in hepatic steatosis by the Soxtec method

AIM:To establish a quantitative method to measure the amount of lipids.METHODS:The livers of 53 male Wistar rats(225 g) with different degrees of hepatic steatosis were studied.This model of hepatic steatosis was based on a high carbohydrate,fat-free modified diet.Biopsies were classified into four grades depending on fat accumulation,using the Kleiner and Brunt classification.Total fat was studied by the Soxtec method(SoxtecTM 2050 Auto Fat Extraction System),and agreement between both assays was assessed by calculating theκ coefficient.RESULTS:According to the histological classification,38% of rats presented grade 0,21% grade 1,22% grade 2 and 20% grade 3.The amount of fat per 100 g tissue was 2.60±0.64 g for grade 0,3.87±1.59 g for grade 1,5.82±1.37 g for grade 2 and 8.68± 2.30 g for grade 3.Statistically significant differences were found between the mean values for each of the histological grades(P<0.05).The correlation for the quantification of fat in the liver between both assays was moderate(κ=0.60).CONCLUSION:The biochemical quantification of fat in liver tissue by the Soxtec method was correlated with the histological classification,although the agreement between the two tests was only moderate.

Colorectal cancer prognosis twenty years later

AIM:To evaluate changes in colorectal cancer(CRC) survival over the last 20 years.METHODS:We compared two groups of consecutive CRC patients that were prospectively recruited:Group Ⅰincluded 1990 patients diagnosed between 1980 and 1994.GroupⅡincluded 871 patients diagnosed in 2001.RESULTS:The average follow up time was 21 mo(1-229)for GroupⅠand 50 mo(1-73.4)for GroupⅡ.Overall median survival was significantly longer in Group Ⅱthan in GroupⅠ(73 mo vs 25 mo,P<0.001)and the difference was significant for all tumor stages.Post surgical mortality was 8% for GroupⅠand 2% for Group Ⅱ(P<0.001).Only 17% of GroupⅠpatients received chemotherapy compared with 50% of GroupⅡpatients(P<0.001).CONCLUSION:Survival in colorectal cancer patients has doubled over the past 20 years.This increase seems to be partly due to the generalization in the administration of chemotherapy and to the decrease of post surgical mortality.