Timing of death from tumor recurrence after curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

In Western literature, there are few studies investigating the predictors of early versus late recurrence after curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer. The current study analyzed (1) patients who died of recurrent gastric cancer and (2) prognostic factors, which can be applied to timing of death from tumor recurrence. Of 492 patients who underwent curative resection (R0) for gastric cancer in the Department of Surgery, Medical Faculty of Istanbul between 1994 and 2000, 142 patients who died of recurrence were included into study.

Correlation of platelet count with second-look laparotomy results and disease progression in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the significance of preoperative platelet counts in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer with respect to second-look laparotomy results and disease progression.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated 37 consecutive patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent primary surgical treatment. In addition to platelet counts, all patients were evaluated with respect to age, gravida, parity, and stage and grade of tumor.

Synovial sarcoma: a rare tumor of larynx.

Synovial sarcoma is a soft tissue sarcoma of unknown histogenesis and occurs predominantly in the lower extremities of young adults. The head and neck is a relative rare location. There are about 10 cases with laryngeal localization in the literature.

Repair of ascending aortic aneurysm in a patient with fibrosarcoma over sternum.

The combination of an ascending aortic aneurysm and suprasternal soft tissue tumor is rarely reported in the literature. This case involves a 62-year-old man diagnosed with an ascending aortic aneurysm and a fibrosarcoma over the sternum that was successfully treated by surgery. The patient underwent an aortic replacement operation with a Dacron graft and a muscle flap transposition procedure to cover the defect over the sternum.

Granulosa cell tumor of the ovary: retrospective analysis of 45 cases.

Adult granulosa cell tumors of the ovary are rare neoplasms, accounting for less than 5% of all ovarian malignancies. In addition to the tumor stage, residual disease, patient age, tumor size, extent of surgery, and also some histologic factors have been reported to be of prognostic importance. Tumor registries were screened for all patients treated between 1979 and 1998 for ovarian tumors at the University of Istanbul.

A novel technique for the repair of complete atrioventricular septal defects: simplified 2-patch technique.

Today complete atrioventricular septal defects can be corrected with acceptable mortality and postoperative morbidity. Although opinions still differ regarding the most appropriate method of choice, some surgeons have proposed a new technique that involves the direct suturing of common atrioventricular valve leaflets to the crest of the ventricular septum. However, we believe that this new approach may be associated with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and neomitral valve regurgitation.

Implantation of the coronary arteries after reconstruction of the neoaorta by using pericardial or pulmonary hood techniques. A significant impact on the outcome of arterial switch operations.

Aim: Coronary artery anomaly and techniques used for their transfer are the major risk factors for the arterial switch operation. Although various methods have been described, torsion and stretching of the coronary arteries continue to trouble surgeons. Especially, in cases in which there is a size mismatch between the aorta and the pulmonary artery, the true coronary implantation points can change.

A comparison between minilaparotomy and standard median laparotomy for reconstruction of aorto-iliac occlusive disease.

Objective: Minimally invasive surgical procedures have become increasingly used in all surgical branches. In this respect we compared the minilaparotomy (ML) technique with standard median laparotomy (SML) for the surgical treatment of aorto-iliac occlusive disease.

Methods: 120 patients were included in this prospective study, with 60 patients in the minilaparotomy group and 60 patients in standard median laparotomy group.

Survival and prognostic factors in patients with synchronous ovarian and endometrial cancers and endometrial cancers metastatic to the ovaries.

Purpose: To compare the survival and prognostic factors of patients with synchronous primary ovarian and endometrial cancers, and endometrial cancers metastatic to the ovaries.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-three patients with synchronous primary ovarian and endometrial cancer and 64 patients with endometrial cancer metastatic to the ovaries were evaluated.

Results: Mean follow-up time was 47.

Peri-operative comparison of different transient external shunt techniques in bidirectional cavo-pulmonary shunt.

Objective: In patients with functional single ventricular physiology, the avoidance of cardiopulmonary bypass offers many advantages including earlier extubation, decreased necessity of inotropic support, improved hemodynamical status and reduced likelihood of post-operative prolonged pleural effusion. We believe that the bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis operations may be performed with transient external shunt techniques. The purpose of this prospective study is the peri- and post-operative comparison of different transient external shunt methods used in bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt operations.

Clinical parameters and treatment results in recurrent granulosa cell tumor of the ovary.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the patients' characteristics and treatment results for 11 recurrent granulosa cell tumors (GCT) of the ovary.

Methods: Tumor registries were screened retrospectively for all patients treated between 1979 and 1999 for ovarian tumors at the University of Istanbul. All information about these patients was obtained from operation, pathology, and follow-up reports.

Effect of BCG vaccination on cytokine mRNA expression in atopic children with asthma.

Background: To investigate whether a preexisting T(H2)-type immune response could be suppressed by BCG immunization in atopic children with asthma.

Methods And Results: We have used PCR to amplify reverse transcribed (RT) IFN-gamma and IL-5 mRNA expressed by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in response to in vitro phytohemagglutinin A, purified protein derivative and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus II stimulation from nine atopic children, both before and 8 weeks after BCG vaccination. We have demonstrated that IFN-gamma expression was induced in response to all stimulants (IFN-gamma/beta-actin) after the vaccination, whereas there was no expression before (P<0.

Impact of Mycobacterium vaccae immunization on lung histopathology in a murine model of chronic asthma.

Background: Therapeutic modalities of asthma have not been proved to be successful in reversing the already established chronic changes of airways.

Objective: We aimed to determine the impact of heat-killed Mycobacterium vaccae immunization, a potent Th1 stimulant, on chronic changes of asthma.

Methods: Newborn BALB/c mice were divided into three groups; mice in M.

High-dose epirubicin and cisplatin in locally advanced undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Aim: Undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (UNPC) is a chemosensitive tumour; a randomized study evaluating neoadjuvant chemotherapy with bleomycin/epidoxorubicin/cisplatin (BEC) in addition to conventional radiotherapy has resulted in a better disease-free survival in the chemotherapy arm. The bleomycin infusion in the BEC regimen has necessitated hospitalization for the infusion, and resulted in serious pulmonary toxicity. This study has aimed to omit the bleomycin, and test the efficacy and toxicity of cisplatin (C) and a higher dose of epidoxorubicin (EPI) in patients with locally advanced UNPC.

Adjuvant intraperitoneal chemotherapy with cisplatinum, mitoxantrone, 5-fluorouracil, and calcium folinate in patients with gastric cancer: a phase II study.

Gastric carcinoma remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in the world. Clinical studies have revealed that approximately two thirds of the patients seek treatment for early recurrence within the abdominal cavity. The aim of this phase II study was to evaluate the toxicity, feasibility, and efficacy of adjuvant intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPCT) with cisplatin, mitoxantrone, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and folinic acid in patients with stage II-III gastric cancer.

Single-stage unifocalization and correction with median sternotomy in complex pulmonary atresia.

Objective: This study assessed the surgical and post-operative outcome of single-stage complete unifocalization and repair procedure in patients with complex pulmonary atresia.

Methods: From 1999 to 2001, we performed complete unifocalization and correction in 10 patients with complex pulmonary atresia. Their ages ranged from 10 months to 17 years.

Aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treated at the Institute of Oncology, Istanbul: treatment, outcome, and prognostic factors.

In an unselected group of patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (A-NHL) treated at our institution during a 10-year period (1989-1998), we studied the treatment outcome and influence of possible prognostic factors. Two hundred one patients with A-NHL were analyzed retrospectively with regard to personal, treatment, and disease-specific characteristics. Median age was 55 years (range: 16-87 years) and the male:female ratio was 1.

Clinical characteristics of gestational trophoblastic disease at a single institute.

Gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTD) represent a group of malignancies classified as invasive mole, choriocarcinoma, and placental-site trophoblastic tumors. The overall cure rate in the treatment of this malignant disorder now exceeds 90%. The aim of this study is retrospectively to evaluate the clinical characteristics and effectiveness of single-agent chemotherapy (CT) and combination chemotherapy according to the World Health Organization (WHO) risk groups of gestational trophoblastic diseases.

Postinfarction left ventricular free wall rupture repaired successfully.

Left ventricular free wall rupture is a well-recognized complication of myocardial infarction and a frequent cause of death. A 49-year-old man was successfully treated for a left ventricular free wall rupture that occurred on the third day after an anterior myocardial infarction. Concomitant myocardial revascularization was performed.

Prognostic factors and survival in late adolescent and adult patients with small round cell tumors.

The primary objective of this study is to review the clinical characteristics of 25 patients in the adult and late adolescent age group, diagnosed and treated with small round cell tumors involving soft tissues (extraosseous Ewing sarcoma, rhabdo-myosarcoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor, and undiffer-entiated small round cell tumors). Additionally, survival and prognostic factors influencing the outcome with multimodality treatment are evaluated. There were 19 males (76%) and 6 females (24%).

Anemia in oncology practice: relation to diseases and their therapies.

Anemia is common in patients with cancer and is a frequent complication of myelosuppressive chemotherapy. In this study, we investigated the incidence and severity of chemotherapy-induced anemia caused by the most common chemotherapy regimens, including the new generation of chemotherapeutic agents, used in the treatment of the major nonmyeloid malignancies in adults. Five hundred fifty-two patients with histologically proven carcinoma originating from breast (n = 165), lung (n = 128), colon (n = 75), ovary (n = 84), and malignant lymphoma (n = 100) were included in this study.