Long-lasting improvement after septal myectomy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Background: The most effective treatment of symptomatic patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy is still disputed. Treatment options include medical therapy, pacemaker insertion, percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation, mitral valve replacement, and surgical resection of obstructing muscle. The long-term results of the various treatment options are not well defined.

Mechanisms of steroid hormone action and resistance in endometrial and breast cancer.

The detection of molecular alterations that lead to the development, progression, and formation of metastases in human endometrial and breast cancer may contribute to a better understanding of tumour biology as well as the development of specific preventative and therapeutic strategies. Endometrial and breast cancers both emerge during a multistep process. Cytogenetic and molecular genetic analysis of cancer samples suggest that tumour development involves: (1) alterations of hormonal interactions, and (2) accumulation of various genetic alterations.

[Surgical procedure after primary chemotherapy of breast carcinoma--an unresolved clinical problem].

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has more and more become clinical routine during the past years. Results from large randomized trials like NSABP-B18 show that survival parameters are not affected if sequence of therapy is changed. Survival parameters have been intensively studied, but surgical standards after primary chemotherapy are much less well defined.

[Breast cancer: assessment of individual risk and possibilities for prevention].

Today, prevention of breast cancer (BC) is a great demand. The exact estimation of the individual BC-risk is a prerequisite for the participation on early cancer detection or the use of preventive medication or surgery. Various models for risk assessment of BC development or the presence of a predisposing mutation (i.

Intraarterial HCC therapy with I-131-Lipiodol.

We report on our 2-year experience with intraarterial liver therapy with I-131-Lipiodol in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in Germany. 30 therapies with intraarterial delivery of I-131-labeled Lipiodol were performed in 14 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with or without portal vein thrombosis during hepatic angiography. The patients were monitored for 1) distribution of Lipiodol by CT, 2) distribution of applied activity by planar scintigraphy and SPECT, and 3) tumor response by CT, MRT and 18-FDG-PET.

Prothrombin and factor V mutations in women with a history of thrombosis during pregnancy and the puerperium.

Background: Venous thromboembolism is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality during pregnancy and the puerperium. However, the role of mutations in the prothrombin and factor V genes and other thrombophilic abnormalities as risk factors for thromboembolism in women during pregnancy and the pueperium is not known.

Methods: In a study of 119 women with a history of venous thromboembolism during pregnancy and the puerperium and 233 age-matched normal women, we measured the activity of antithrombin, protein C, protein S, and lupus anticoagulant.

Recombinant human thyrotropin in thyroid cancer and hypopituitarism due to sella metastasis.

We present a patient with thyroid cancer and hypopituitarism who required recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) for 131I scanning with respect to subsequent therapy. The thyroid cancer had been unknown until central neurological symptoms developed, leading to the diagnosis of a huge metastasis to the sella that was the only manifestation of metastatic spread. The failure to generate endogenous thyrotropin (TSH) was overcome by the use of rhTSH for performing a 131I test.

Myocardial uptake of technetium-99m-furifosmin (Q12) versus technetium-99m-sestamibi (MIBI).

Aim: This study was performed to compare the myocardial uptake of Tc-99m-furifosmin (Q12) versus Tc-99m-sestamibi (MIBI) in correlation to the whole-body uptake under resting conditions.

Methods: 21 patients with coronary artery disease and no rest ischemia were examined. A whole-body scan was performed 60 min.

Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) and chronic vulvar pain syndrome (CVPS): evaluation of psychosomatic aspects.

The purpose of our study was to examine the chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) and the chronic vulvar pain syndrome (CVPS) as two psychosomatic gynecological syndromes. Sociodemographic data were collected from 106 CPPS and 36 CVPS in-patients (under internal and external supervision). Sixty-eight CPPS and 24 CVPS patients were examined using psychological tests (Freiburg Personality Inventory (FBI) and Giessen Test (GT)) and compared with a control group of 34 healthy women.

[Chronic pelvic pain and chronic vulvodynia as multifactorial psychosomatic disease syndromes: results of a psychometric and clinical study taking into account musculoskeletal diseases].

Objective: Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS) and vulvodynia (CVPS) are two gynecological syndromes with psychosomatic implications. The purpose of the study was to examine multifactorial psychosomatic syndromes taking into account musculoskeletal diseases.

Patients And Methods: The psychosomatic data acquired in respect of 106 CPPS and 36 CVPS patients was evaluated.

Pain palliation with rhenium-186 HEDP in breast cancer patients with disseminated bone metastases.

Purpose: For patients with metastatic prostate cancer, first results have shown that rhenium-186 (Re-186) hydroxyethylidene diphosphonate (HEDP) is efficient in pain palliation of disseminated bone metastases. The aim of this study was to determine whether significant pain reduction can also be achieved in breast cancer patients with Re-186 HEDP.

Methods: Thirty patients with breast cancer who had multifocal painful bone metastases received a total of 38 intravenous Re-186 HEDP injections.

CDKN2A gene inactivation in epithelial sporadic ovarian cancer.

The tumour suppressor gene CDKN2A, located on chromosome 9p21, encodes the cell cycle regulatory protein p16. Inactivation of the CDKN2A gene could lead to uncontrolled cell growth. In order to determine the role of CDKN2A in the development of sporadic ovarian cancer, loss of heterozygosity at 9p21-22, homozygous deletion, mutation and methylation status of the CDKN2A gene as well as CDKN2A expression were examined in a panel of serous papillary ovarian cancer.

[Reconstructive surgery of the efferent urinary tract in pelvic exenteration of gynecological tumors].

In locally advanced or recurrent tumors of the female genital tract anterior or total exenteration may be mandatory in case of tumor invasion into the lower urinary tract or if a second course of radiation therapy is not feasible. The management of resection and reconstruction of the affected lower urinary tract has to be well integrated into the gynecological therapeutic concept. In 11/32 patients the reconstruction of the partially resected lower urinary tract was feasible with preservation of a functionally intact urinary bladder.

Role of blood-brain barrier P-glycoprotein in limiting brain accumulation and sedative side-effects of asimadoline, a peripherally acting analgaesic drug.

Studies with knockout mice lacking mdr1a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) have previously shown that blood-brain barrier P-gp is important in preventing the accumulation of several drugs in the brain. Asimadoline (EMD 61753) is a peripherally selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist which is under development as a therapeutic analgaesic. From the structural characteristics of this drug and its peripheral selectivity, we hypothesized that it is transported by P-gp.

Psychosomatic aspects of vulvodynia. Comparison with the chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Objective: To examine psychosomatic aspects of vulvodynia (VD) in comparison with the chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).

Study Design: Sixty-seven VD patients and 97 CPPS patients were examined with psychological tests (Freiburg Personality Inventory, Giessen Test) and compared with a control group of 34 healthy women. Sociodemographic data and psychoanalytic diagnoses were collected for 36 VD patients and 106 CPPS patients (inpatients).

[Monoclonal anti-idiotype antibodies in immunotherapy of ovarian carcinoma (MAb ACA125) and breast carcinoma (MAb ACA14C5)].

Anti-idiotypic antibodies, which imitate a tumor-associated antigen by their variable region, offer an elegant method for the induction of a specific immune response, when used as a surrogate antigen for immunization. We generated anti-idiotypic antibodies imitating 2 different tumor-associated antigens. I.

Effects of GR-89696 and the novel peripherally selective OP2 agonists, EMD-61569 and EMD-61747, against focal cerebral ischemia in the rat.

We examined whether increases in blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability occurring after stroke can be exploited to apply protective substances selectively to ischemic tissue. To do this, the actions of the peripherally selective OP2 agonists, EMD-61569 and EMD-61747, have been compared with those of the centrally acting OP2 agonist, GR-89696, in the rat permanent focal ischemia model. EMD-61569, EMD-61747 and GR-89696 all bound with high affinity to OP2 receptors and were potent agonists in the rabbit vas deferens functional assay.

Psychosomatic aspects of urinary incontinence.

Psychosomatic aspects of urogynecological disorders may play an important role in their clinical presentation. 72 patients presenting to the urogynecological clinics and a control group of 34 healthy women were included in this study. After informed consent had been obtained, all patients were subjected to (1) a detailed enquiry about personal- and medical history (2) psychological tests (Freiburg's personality inventory, a questionnaire focused on anxiety and anger, and Beck's depression inventory) and (3) routine urodynamic measurement.

Possible role of FDG-PET in the early prediction of therapy outcome in liver metastases of colorectal cancer.

Nonresectable colorectal cancer metastases in the liver respond to chemotherapy in 20-25% only. Early identification of nonresponders might allow the use of other regimens. In a limited feasibility study, it should be determined whether (a) a single high-dose chemotherapy application has an early effect on glucose-utilization, detectable and quantitatable by noninvasive positron emission tomography using [18F]-Fluoro-deoxyglucose (FDG-PET) and (b) assess its value as a predictor of the final therapeutic outcome.

I-131-Lipiodol therapy in liver neoplasms.

Twelve patients with liver neoplasms [10 HCC, 1 CCC, 1 multiple breast cancer metastases (BCM)] were treated by transarterial I-131-Lipiodol. Computed tomography (CT) and single photon emission CT (SPECT) showed pronounced I-131-Lipiodol accumulation in the tumor tissue in all cases. In three patients with HCC a reduction of tumor size was achieved after the first treatment.

Positron emission tomography in the clinical staging of patients with Stage I and II testicular germ cell tumors.

Objectives: To evaluate the accuracy of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) compared with computed tomography (CT) staging in patients with Stage I and II testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs).

Methods: From January 1995 to July 1997, in 37 patients with clinical Stage (CS) I (n = 25) and CS II (n = 12) GCT (24 nonseminomas, 13 seminomas), PET and CT were compared in the initial staging. After PET, the patients with nonseminomatous GCT were staged surgically by retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and the patients with seminomatous GCT were followed up clinically.

[Diagnostic and therapeutic concepts of HPV infection in HIV-positive women].

Among HIV-seropositive women there is a high prevalence of anogenital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. HPV-DNA is more frequent detected in cervicovaginal-lavage specimens from HIV-seropositive women as in those from HIV-seronegative women. We and others suggest that HIV-infection increases the risk to have HPV-associated lesions of the lower female genital tract, especially the risk for developing a squamous intraepithelial lesion of the cervix.

Optimal scan time for fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in breast cancer.

Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) has proven useful in the differentiation of various tumour entities, including breast cancer. In patients with primary breast cancer we performed a 3-h imaging protocol to examine possible improvements in tumour detectability and image contrast. Twenty-nine patients with primary breast cancer with a diameter of >/=2 cm that was demonstrated to be malignant by biopsy or surgery were injected with 370-740 MBq 18F-FDG and scanned in the prone position.

Reliability and clinical application of fetal RhD genotyping with two different fluorescent duplex polymerase chain reaction assays: three years' experience.

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate accuracy and clinical usefulness of fetal RhD genotyping with fluorescent duplex polymerase chain reaction.

Study Design: Two RhD-specific gene fragments (exon 10 in polymerase chain reaction 1 and exon 7 in polymerase chain reaction 2) were amplified in samples from 213 fetuses.

Results: Amplification failed in 0.

Gene amplification and overexpression of CDK4 in sporadic breast carcinomas is associated with high tumor cell proliferation.

Amplification of the cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) gene, located at 12q13-q14, has been found as an alternative genetic alteration to CDKN2A inactivation in various human tumors including malignant gliomas and sarcomas. In the present study, we have evaluated the frequency of the CDK4 gene amplification in sporadic breast cancer by applying a nonradioactive quantitative differential polymerase chain reaction based on fluorescent DNA technology. Fluorescent-labeled polymerase chain reaction products were analyzed with an automated DNA sequencer.