A prospective comparison of postoperative pain and quality of life in robotic assisted vs conventional laparoscopic gynecologic surgery.

Objective: We sought to compare robotic vs laparoscopic surgery in regards to patient reported postoperative pain and quality of life.

Study Design: This was a prospective study of patients who presented for treatment of a new gynecologic disease requiring minimally invasive surgical intervention. All subjects were asked to take the validated Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form at 3 time points to assess pain and its effect on quality of life.

Insurance and billing concerns among patients seeking free and confidential sexually transmitted disease care: New York City sexually transmitted disease clinics 2012.

Background: Historically, New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics have operated completely free of charge but will soon begin billing patients for services. To inform billing strategies, we surveyed NYC DOHMH STD clinic patients in fall 2012 to examine response to the prospect of billing insurance and charging sliding-scale fees for services.

Methods: A total of 5017 individuals were surveyed from all patients accessing clinic services between September and December 2012 at 8 NYC DOHMH STD clinics.

Would targeting increase efficiency of syphilis partner services programs?--Data from New York City, Philadelphia, Texas, and Virginia.

Background: Targeted partner notification (PN), or limiting PN to groups in which efforts are most successful, has been suggested as a potentially cost-effective alternative to providing PN for all syphilis case-patients. The purpose of this study was to identify index case characteristics associated with highest yield partner elicitation and subsequent case finding to determine whether some groups could be reasonably excluded from PN efforts.

Methods: We examined index case characteristics and PN metrics from syphilis case management records of 4 sexually transmitted disease control programs--New York City, Philadelphia, Texas, and Virginia.

Occult tubal carcinoma found at risk reducing salpingectomy in a BRCA1 carrier.

•This is the first report of occult cancer diagnosed at risk-reducing salpingectomy.•We propose a two-step risk-reducing strategy for premenopausal high-risk women, to begin and expedite surgical prevention.

[The use and benefit of the 'children with special health care needs screener' in the paediatric school entrance examinations 2004/2005 in Cologne].

The aim of this study was to provide an assessment of the usefulness of the questionnaire "Children with Special Health Care Needs Screener" (CSHCN Screener) as a screening instrument to identify children with special needs in the context of paediatric school entrance examinations (SEE).In a retrospective cross-sectional study of the years 2004 and 2005 in Cologne, Germany, the sum variables were derived from the results of the SEE in accordance to the 7 questions of the CSHCN Screener. The correlations of the SEE sum variables and the CSHCN Screener results were analysed and tested for correlations with sociodemographic factors.

Caregiver Quality of Life Is Related to Severity of Otitis Media in Children.

Objective: Otitis media (OM) in children is the most frequent reason for physician visits in developed countries and burdens caregivers, society, and the child. Our objective was to describe the impact of OM severity on parent/caregiver quality of life (QoL).

Study Design: Multi-institutional prospective cross-sectional study.

Post-therapeutic response evaluation by a combination of endoscopy and CT scan in esophagogastric adenocarcinoma after chemotherapy: better than its reputation.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is an accepted standard of care for locally advanced esophagogastric cancer. As only a subgroup benefits, a response-based tailored treatment would be of interest. The aim of our study was the evaluation of the prognostic and predictive value of clinical response in esophagogastric adenocarcinomas.

Clinically staged cT2 adenocarcinomas of the gastroesophageal junction: accuracy of staging and therapeutic consequences.

Background: Multimodality treatment options in locally advanced adenocarcinomas of the esophagogastric junction (AEGs) have been established in the last years. However, the therapeutic approach in patients with clinically staged cT2 tumors remains controversial. The most important determinant is the accuracy of clinical staging.

Characterization of a heat-active archaeal β-glucosidase from a hydrothermal spring metagenome.

Thermostable enzymes are required for application in a wide range of harsh industrial processes. High stability and activity at elevated temperatures, as well as high tolerances toward various reagents and solvents, are needed. In this work, a glycoside hydrolase family 1 β-glucosidase (Bgl1) of archaeal origin was isolated from a hydrothermal spring metagenome.

Impact of Otitis Media Severity on Children's Quality of Life.

Objective: Children with otitis media (OM) suffer sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, earache, and behavioral problems. Our objective was to quantitate the average burden of OM and to compare the associated impact of tympanostomy tubes on infant health related quality of life (HR-QoL).

Study Design: Multi-institutional prospective cross-sectional study.

Hymenoptera allergens: from venom to "venome".

In Western Europe, Hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA) primarily relates to venoms of the honeybee and the common yellow jacket. In contrast to other allergen sources, only a few major components of Hymenoptera venoms had been characterized until recently. Improved expression systems and proteomic detection strategies have allowed the identification and characterization of a wide range of additional allergens.

Prognostic value of histopathological regression in 850 neoadjuvantly treated oesophagogastric adenocarcinomas.

Background: Recently, histopathological tumour regression, prevalence of signet ring cells, and localisation were reported as prognostic factors in neoadjuvantly treated oesophagogastric (junctional and gastric) cancer. This exploratory retrospective study analyses independent prognostic factors within a large patient cohort after preoperative chemotherapy including clinical and histopathological factors.

Methods: In all, 850 patients presenting with oesophagogastric cancer staged cT3/4 Nany cM0/x were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by resection in two academic centres.

Independent radiologic review: bevacizumab in combination with gemcitabine and carboplatin in recurrent ovarian cancer.

Objective: OCEANS, a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase III trial, found that adding bevacizumab to gemcitabine-carboplatin (GC) significantly improved investigator-determined progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) in platinum-sensitive, recurrent ovarian cancer. To evaluate the reliability of assessment of progression and objective response per RECIST, radiologic and clinical data were assessed by an independent review committee (IRC).

Methods: Radiologic images and clinical data were provided prospectively to the IRC for all randomized patients (N=484).

A retrospective comparative exploratory study on two methylentetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms in esophagogastric cancer: the A1298C MTHFR polymorphism is an independent prognostic factor only in neoadjuvantly treated gastric cancer patients.

Background: Methylentetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) plays a major role in folate metabolism and consequently could be an important factor for the efficacy of a treatment with 5-fluorouracil. Our aim was to evaluate the prognostic and predictive value of two well characterized constitutional MTHFR gene polymorphisms for primarily resected and neoadjuvantly treated esophagogastric adenocarcinomas.

Methods: 569 patients from two centers were analyzed (gastric cancer: 218, carcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG II, III): 208 and esophagus (AEG I): 143).

Component resolution reveals additional major allergens in patients with honeybee venom allergy.

Background: Detection of IgE to recombinant Hymenoptera venom allergens has been suggested to improve the diagnostic precision in Hymenoptera venom allergy. However, the frequency of sensitization to the only available recombinant honeybee venom (HBV) allergen, rApi m 1, in patients with HBV allergy is limited, suggesting that additional HBV allergens might be of relevance.

Objective: We performed an analysis of sensitization profiles of patients with HBV allergy to a panel of HBV allergens.

Is preoperative chemotherapy followed by surgery the appropriate treatment for signet ring cell containing adenocarcinomas of the esophagogastric junction and stomach?

Background: Recent data suggest primary resection as the preferable approach in patients with signet ring cell gastric cancer (SRC). The aim of our retrospective exploratory study was to evaluate the influence of SRC on prognosis and response in esophagogastric adenocarcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods: A total of 723 locally advanced esophagogastric adenocarcinomas (cT3/4 N any) documented in a prospective database from two academic centers were classified according to the WHO definition for SRC (more than 50 % SRC) and analyzed for their association with response and prognosis after neoadjuvant treatment.

Dual mTORC1/2 inhibition in a preclinical xenograft tumor model of endometrial cancer.

Objectives: Up to 70% of endometrioid endometrial cancers carry PTEN gene deletions that can upregulate mTOR activity. Investigational mTOR kinase inhibitors may provide a novel therapeutic approach for these tumors. Using a xenograft tumor model of endometrial cancer, we assessed the activity of mTOR and downstream effector proteins in the mTOR translational control pathway after treatment with a dual mTOR complex 1 and 2 (mTORC1/2) catalytic inhibitor (PP242) compared to that of an allosteric mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) inhibitor (everolimus, RAD001).

Assessing prognostic significance of preoperative alpha-fetoprotein in hepatitis B-associated hepatocellular carcinoma: normal is not the new normal.

Background: Hepatitis B (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often associated with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) production. Although serum AFP has been demonstrated to be a prognostic factor for patient survival, optimal cutoff levels remain unclear.

Methods: Patients with HBV-associated HCC treated by primary liver resection were prospectively followed at a single institution between 1995 and 2008.

A phase 2 study of oxaliplatin combined with continuous infusion topotecan for patients with previously treated ovarian cancer.

Background: Phase 2 trials suggest that prolonged intravenous (IV) infusion of the topoisomerase 1 inhibitor topotecan may be less toxic than when given by standard IV bolus 5-day administration. Oxaliplatin exhibits efficacy in platinum-pretreated disease and shows preclinical synergy with topoisomerase 1 inhibitors. We sought to determine the efficacy and safety of oxaliplatin plus infusion topotecan in recurrent platinum-pretreated ovarian cancer.

Peritoneal carcinomatosis in patients with gastric cancer, and the role for surgical resection, cytoreductive surgery, and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Background: The aims of this study were to create a model of peritoneal carcinomatosis in patients with gastric cancer and to evaluates outcomes in patients with gastric cancer treated using surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

Methods: A single-institution cohort of patients with gastric cancer was analyzed according to the development of gastric cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis (GCPC). Variables were evaluated using regression analysis.

Outcomes following liver resection and clinical pathologic characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma occurring in patients with chronic hepatitis B and minimally fibrotic liver.

Aims: The intent of this analysis is to assess clinico-pathologic and prognostic characteristics of HCC in patients with minimal liver fibrosis (Ishak stage 1-2) after primary surgical liver resection as compared to patients with moderate to severe fibrosis (Ishak stage 3-6) in order to improve screening and treatment of HCC.

Methods: Data were obtained from 200 patients with HBV-related HCC who underwent primary surgical liver resection at a single North American medical institution between 1988 and 2012. A dedicated liver pathologist performed fibrosis staging for each resection specimen using the modified Ishak method.

Invertebrate and avian predators as drivers of chemical defensive strategies in tenthredinid sawflies.

Background: Many insects are chemically defended against predatory vertebrates and invertebrates. Nevertheless, our understanding of the evolution and diversity of insect defenses remains limited, since most studies have focused on visual signaling of defenses against birds, thereby implicitly underestimating the impact of insectivorous insects. In the larvae of sawflies in the family Tenthredinidae (Hymenoptera), which feed on various plants and show diverse lifestyles, two distinct defensive strategies are found: easy bleeding of deterrent hemolymph, and emission of volatiles by ventral glands.