Beta-amyrin from Ardisia elliptica Thunb. is more potent than aspirin in inhibiting collagen-induced platelet aggregation.

Ardisia elliptica Thunberg (Myrsinaceae) is a medicinal plant traditionally used for alleviating chest pains, treatment of fever, diarrhoea, liver poisoning and parturition complications. The objectives of the study were to investigate the effect of A. elliptica on collagen induced platelet aggregation and to isolate and purify potential antiplatelet components.

Salvage cytoreduction for chemorefractory ovarian cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis: a last chance or futile efforts?

Background: The role of secondary cytoreductive surgery in recurrent ovarian cancer in the presence of carcinomatosis is increasingly accepted as being an effective management strategy for selected patients. However, in patients with chemorefractory disease, the role of cytoreduction remains controversial. The objective of this study was to evaluate if cytoreduction of peritoneal carcinomatosis in patients with chemorefractory recurrent ovarian cancer as salvage treatment confers any survival benefits.

Second-line treatment of first relapse recurrent ovarian cancer.

First-line therapy of advanced ovarian cancer involves primary cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant systemic chemotherapy. Progression of incompletely resected disease or recurrence after cytoreduction is inevitable. The approach to second-line treatment is ill-defined and chemotherapy remains the conventional approach, with surgery being reserved in some patients to debulk or palliate symptoms.

Accuracy and clinical relevance of computed tomography scan interpretation of peritoneal cancer index in colorectal cancer peritoneal carcinomatosis: a multi-institutional study.

Background: Evaluation of peritoneal metastases by computed tomography (CT) scans is challenging and has been reported to be inaccurate.

Methods: A multi-institutional prospective observational registry study of patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from colorectal cancer was conducted and a subset analysis was performed to examine peritoneal cancer index (PCI) based on CT and intraoperative exploration.

Results: Fifty-two patients (mean age 52.

Hepatocellular carcinoma peritoneal metastases: report of three cases and collective review of the literature.

Introduction: Patients with peritoneal metastases (PM) from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often experience a rapid demise even after a complete removal of intrahepatic tumour. Localised PM may now be adequately controlled and managed with cytoreductive surgery (CRS).

Treatment: Three patients underwent CRS for HCC PM.

Multi-institutional experience of diffuse intra-abdominal multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma.

Background: This study was undertaken to measure survival of patients with multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma treated by cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy through a multi-institutional collaboration.

Methods: A multi-institutional data registry, established by the Peritoneal Surface Oncology Group, was used to identify patients with peritoneal mesothelioma and the subgroup with multicystic tumours, treated by cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Outcomes for this subgroup are reported.

Radioembolization and systemic chemotherapy improves response and survival for unresectable colorectal liver metastases.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of radioembolization and systemic chemotherapy as a combined modality therapy for unresectable colorectal liver metastases.

Patients And Methods: Prospective database of a major yttrium-90 microsphere radioembolization treatment center in Sydney, Australia, that included 140 patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases was analyzed. Tumor response, overall survival, treatment-related complications and an evaluation of its role as a combined modality therapy with systemic chemotherapy were performed.

G-CSF for stem cell therapy in acute myocardial infarction: friend or foe?

Stem cell-based therapy has emerged as a potential therapeutic option for patients with acute myocardial infarction. The ability of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to mobilize endogenous stem cells as well as to protect cardiomyocytes at risk via paracrine effects has attracted considerable attention. In the past decade, a number of clinical trials were carried out to study the efficacy of G-CSF in cardiac repair.

Surgical metastasectomy in AJCC stage IV M1c melanoma patients with gastrointestinal and liver metastases.

Introduction: Visceral metastases from melanoma represent the poorest prognosis based according to the revised version of the AJCC staging system that recognises both clinical and pathological features distinctive to melanoma. Given that systemic treatments in metastatic melanoma to date remains inadequate, we evaluated the efficacy of surgical metastasectomy on survival outcomes.

Materials And Methods: Between year 2000 and 2009, 23 patients with visceral metastases from melanoma were evaluated for metastasectomy.

Evolution of locoregional treatment for peritoneal carcinomatosis: single-center experience of 308 procedures of cytoreductive surgery and perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Background: Peritoneal carcinomatosis imposes an enormous clinical burden to the oncologic community. This study reports the patterns of care of the locoregional approach of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy as a curative procedure for peritoneal carcinomatosis from the experience of a single tertiary center in Australia.

Methods: We performed a review of clinical records from a prospective database of patients who were treated at the St George Hospital Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Program according to a standard protocol.

Secondary cytoreduction and perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy after initial debulking of pseudomyxoma peritonei: a study of timing and the impact of malignant dedifferentiation.

Background: Cytoreductive surgery and perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (PIC) is recognized as an effective treatment modality for patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei. This study investigates its role as a secondary definitive treatment procedure after earlier primary treatments.

Study Design: Patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei undergoing secondary cytoreduction combined with PIC were identified from a prospective database.

A randomised controlled trial of low-dose misoprostol and dinoprostone vaginal pessaries for cervical priming.

Objective: We studied the efficacy of 25-microg misoprostol pessaries as either single or double dose compared with a 3-mg dinoprostone pessary for cervical priming.

Design And Setting: A randomised controlled trial in Singapore.

Population: One hundred and seventy-one women with term pregnancies and modified Bishop scores (mBS) < or =6 from 2003 to 2004.

Successful right hepatectomy after four treatments of yttrium-90 microspheres (SIR-Spheres) and concomitant FOLFOX as bridging therapy to resection of colorectal liver metastases.

The use of yttrium-90 microspheres is a novel interventional radiological procedure that has delivered promising results in the treatment of liver cancer. Multiple treatments in combination with systemic chemotherapy may be realised as an effective modality for unresectable colorectal liver metastases. This case study reports the first case of a patient who had a complete response of 7 out of 10 liver metastases following multiple doses of yttrium-90 microsphere therapy, who then underwent a curative hepatic resection.

Progression and survival results after radical hepatic metastasectomy of indolent advanced neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) supports an aggressive surgical approach.

Background: Neuroendocrine neoplasms most commonly metastasize to the liver. Operative extirpation of neuroendocrine neoplasm hepatic metastases improves symptoms and seems to improve survival, but subsequent evidence is required. The current study evaluates the progression-free survival and overall survival of patients after resection (with or without ablation) of neuroendocrine neoplasm hepatic metastases.

Ethanol extracts of saw palmetto contain the indirectly acting sympathomimetic: tyramine.

Background: To identify the bioactive components of saw palmetto ethanol extracts that affect contractility in the rat prostate gland.

Methods: A commercially available saw palmetto ethanol extract was lyophilized then subjected to fractionation using silica gel column chromatography. Composition of fractions was assessed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS).

Outcomes of single-centre experience of hepatic resection and cryoablation of sarcoma liver metastases.

Background: Liver metastasis from sarcoma in metastatic disease is common and its effect on prognosis remains ill defined. Surgery remains paramount in sarcoma management; however, there is inadequate literature reporting the role of hepatic surgery as treatment for sarcoma liver metastases.

Methods: Fifteen patients who underwent hepatic resection for metastatic sarcoma between January 1, 1995 and January 1, 2009 were identified from a prospective hepatobiliary database.

Clinicopathological determinants of survival after hepatic resection of hepatocellular carcinoma in 97 patients--experience from an Australian hepatobiliary unit.

Background: Identification of clinicopathological determinants that predict for risk of recurrence and overall survival after undergoing potentially curative hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma is a strategy towards personalizing therapy to improve outcome. Through evaluation of a center's experience with treatment of a disease, determinants unique to the treated patient cohort may be identified.

Methods: Ninety-seven patients with hepatocellular carcinoma underwent liver resection.

Intra-arterial iodine-131-lipiodol for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatic artery administration of iodine-131-Lipiodol serves as a modality that delivers targeted radiation therapy to hepatocellular carcinoma. Its efficacy has been promising according to trials conducted in the adjuvant setting after hepatic resection. Further investigation of its role in the palliative setting is warranted.

Surgical therapies in metastatic colorectal cancer with a potential for cure.

Metastatic colorectal cancer has evolved from a paradigm that was previously centered upon the use of systemic chemotherapy to one of multimodality therapy. Hepatectomy, pulmonary metastasectomy, and cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy are surgical procedures that are now routinely performed in specialized institutions treating patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Emerging evidence suggests that in selected patients, these procedures are safe and may be beneficial in contributing to long-term survival.