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Colorectal cancer is a potentially curable tumour when diagnosed in the early stages. In order to improve the results obtained up to now, we propose application of a diagnostic program among patients who undergo curative resection for colorectal adenocarcinoma, which would consist of using a panel of tumor markers, in combination with endoscopic, histologic and ultrasonographic diagnostic methods. For this study we studied 105 patients, divided into two groups: A) Group 1: 30 control patients. B) Group 2: 75 patients diagnosed as having colorectal cancer. We performed the preoperative determination of a series of tumor markers (CEA, CA 19.9, GGT and PHI), endoscopy/biopsy and hepatic ultrasonography on these patients. Our results suggest that the design of the preoperative diagnostic program makes early detection of hepatic metastases possible. The tumor marker panel combination provided a visible increase in sensitivity for detecting hepatic metastases.

--The authors study in psoriasis an enzyme of the glucolytic way, the Phospho-hexose-isomerase. --They find significant high levels in blood and damaged skin, while these were "normal" in healthy skin. --Phospho-hexose-isomerase acts as a biological marker in psoriasis, and acquires the significance of an active cellular proliferation. --The highest values are those of the erythrodermaes which become normal with clinical involution. --The authors suggest that psoriasis, by an exaggerated cellular division inhibition mechanism, metabolism is deviated in order to bring the energetic elements and substrate to form the new cell. --Phospho-hexose-isomerase is not specific of the malignant process.

Serum activity of glutathione reductase (GR), glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) phosphate alkaline (PAL), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) was studied in 142 patients, in all serum bilirubin was more than 2 mg/dl. Distribution was as follows; 68 cirrhosis of the liver; 27 acute hepatitis; 31 benign extra-hepatic biliary obstruction; and 16 neoplastic obstruction of the biliary tract without liver metastasis. Fifty-three healthy volunteer blood donors were used as the control group. Mean values for GR activity in our patients were significantly higher than those for the control group, although less so in benign obstruction (p less than 0.01) than in those with acute hepatitis (p less than 0.001), cirrhosis (p less than 0.01) and neoplasic biliary obstruction (p less than 0.001). The GPI values were higher than the control groups in patients with acute hepatitis (p less than 0.001) and obstructive neoplastic jaundice (p less than 0.02). In cases with cirrhosis, 87% presented slightly higher values of GR, while GPI was within normal levels in 93 % of all cases. In patients with acute hepatitis, 92% showed a definite increase in GPI and GR values. In 71% of those with benign biliary obstruction levels for both enzymes were normal, as they were in only 6% of those with obstructive neoplastic jaundice. These findings are statistically significant in all cases and of diagnostic value in establishing a differential enzymatic diagnosis in patients presenting with clinical and biological patterns of cholestasis.