Does the method of biopsy affect the incidence of sentinel lymph node metastases?

More detailed examination of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) in breast cancer has raised concerns about the clinical significance of micrometastases, specifically isolated tumor cells detected only through immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. It has been suggested that these cells do not carry the same biologic implications as true metastatic foci and may represent artifact. A retrospective institutional review board-approved review was conducted on clinically node-negative breast cancer patients who underwent SLN biopsy (SLNB) between 1997 and 2003.

Adjuvant systemic therapy for elderly women with breast cancer.

Although breast cancer is increasing in incidence, mortality from the disease is decreasing due to better treatment options. As the population ages, more women are being diagnosed with breast cancer at increasingly older ages. Tumors in elderly women tend to be more indolent than those in younger women, and physicians are sometimes reluctant to treat this cohort of patients simply because of their age.

Clinicopathologic features associated with having four or more metastatic axillary nodes in breast cancer patients with a positive sentinel lymph node.

Background: The survival benefit of a completion axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in patients after removal of a metastatic sentinel lymph node (SLN) is uncertain and is under study in ongoing clinical trials. The completion ALND remains necessary, however, for the identification of cases with at least four metastatic lymph nodes, in which extended-field locoregional and/or postmastectomy radiation will be recommended. Our goal was evaluate clinicopathologic features that might serve as surrogates for determining which patients with a positive SLN are likely or unlikely to belong to this high-risk subset.

Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy for patients with local recurrence after breast-conservation therapy.

Background: Local recurrence (LR) after breast-conservation therapy for breast cancer occurs in 10% to 15% of cases. A subset of these represents biologically aggressive disease, yet prognostic features for identifying this high-risk category are lacking. We hypothesized that lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy would provide useful information regarding dominant lymphatic drainage patterns of patients with LR.

Evaluation of intra- and interobserver reliability and image reproducibility to assess usefulness of high-resolution ultrasonography for measurement of anterior segment structures of canine eyes.

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of high-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) for measurements of anterior segment structures in canine eyes.

Animals: 4 clinically normal Beagles.

Procedure: Images were obtained from 8 eyes with a handheld 20-MHz transducer.

Complement factor H Y402H gene polymorphism, C-reactive protein, and risk of incident myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke, and venous thromboembolism: a nested case-control study.

Objectives: An exonic polymorphism (Y402H) in the complement factor H (CFH) gene, which locates within the binding sites for heparin and C-reactive protein, has recently been described and hypothesized to play an important role in atherothrombosis.

Methods: We, therefore, evaluated the CFH genetic variant Y402H amongst 685 Caucasian individuals who subsequently developed arterial or venous thrombotic event (incident myocardial infarction (MI), ischaemic stroke, or venous thromboembolism) and amongst 685 age- and smoking-matched Caucasian individuals who remained free of reported vascular disease during follow-up (controls) within the Physicians' Health Study cohort.

Results: Genotype distribution for the polymorphism tested was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the control group.

Nanoscale topography modulates corneal epithelial cell migration.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of surface topographic features that mimic the corneal epithelial basement membrane on cell migration. We used electron-beam and X-ray lithography and reactive ion etching to pattern silicon wafers with pitches (groove width plus ridge width) of nano- and microscale dimensions (pitches ranged from 400 to 4000 nm). Additionally, polyurethane patterned surfaces were created by replication molding techniques to allow for real-time imaging of migrating cells.

[Capsule endoscopy in patients with cardiac pacemakers: current situation in Germany].

Background And Aims: The study evaluated the actually experience of capsule endoscopy (CE) in patients with electrical implants (cardiac pacemaker/defibrillator) in Germany.

Patients And Methods: A standardized questionnaire was sent to all centers in Germany doing capsule endoscopy. The questionnaire covers the number of examined patients, monitoring during CE, check of the electric implants before and after CE, occurrence of arrhythmia, quality of CE-video, complications, location and indication of CE.

Comprehensive axillary evaluation in neoadjuvant chemotherapy patients with ultrasonography and sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Background: There is ongoing debate regarding the optimal sequence of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CTX) for breast cancer. We report the accuracy of comprehensive pre-neoadjuvant CTX and post-neoadjuvant CTX axillary staging via ultrasound imaging, fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy, and SLN biopsy.

Methods: From 2001 to 2004, 91 neoadjuvant CTX patients at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center underwent axillary staging by ultrasonography, ultrasound-guided FNA biopsy, SLN biopsy, or a combination of these.

Is blue dye indicated for sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer patients with a positive lymphoscintigram?

Background: The use of isosulfan blue dye in sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer has been questioned because of its risk of allergic reaction. We hypothesized that blue dye could be safely omitted in the subgroup of patients who have evidence of successful sentinel node localization by lymphoscintigraphy.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients with breast cancer and sentinel node biopsy was conducted.

A report on accrual rates for elderly and minority-ethnicity cancer patients to clinical trials of the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group.

Background: Incidence and mortality rates for cancers vary by ethnic background and patient age. Accrual of diverse patient populations to cancer clinical trials is essential in order to ensure that findings related to new management strategies can be generalized. The goal of this study was to evaluate accrual patterns for patients participating in the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG) cancer protocols.

Enhanced protective efficacy of a tuberculosis DNA vaccine by adsorption onto cationic PLG microparticles.

Immunization with plasmid DNA vectors represents a promising new approach to vaccination. It has been shown to elicit humoral and cellular immunity and protection in various infection models. Here, we assessed the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a DNA vaccine vector encoding the antigen 85A (Ag85A) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Mastectomy and concomitant sentinel lymph node biopsy for invasive breast cancer.

Background: Although sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNLB) has become a standard ancillary to breast conservation, there remains a hesitancy to perform SLNB concomitant with mastectomy primarily because of concerns regarding reoperation for a positive SLN.

Methods: A retrospective review of 51 patients who underwent SLN biopsy concomitantly with mastectomy for invasive breast cancer was performed. In addition, a survey was sent to surgical oncologists who routinely perform SLNB in conjunction with mastectomy.

Efficacy of sentinel lymph node biopsy in male breast cancer.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is rapidly becoming the standard of care in the treatment of women with early stage breast cancer. Male breast cancer although relatively rare, has typically been treated with mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Men who develop breast carcinoma have the same risk as their female counterparts of developing the morbidities associated with axillary dissection.

Use of high-resolution ultrasound as a diagnostic tool in veterinary ophthalmology.

The recent development of a 20-MHz, high-frequency ultrasound probe has allowed tissue to be visualized at resolutions of 20 to 80 microm, which is similar to a low-power histologic view. This high degree of resolution, however, limits tissue penetration to 5 to 10 mm, which is ideal for examination of the anterior segment of the eye. The detail provided by high-resolution ultrasound readily permits the clinician to distinguish between various anterior segment entities that may appear similar but are treated quite differently, such as anterior uveal tumors, iridociliary cysts, and iris bombé.

Clinicopathologic features of metastasis in nonsentinel lymph nodes of breast carcinoma patients.

Background: In breast carcinoma patients with a positive sentinel lymph node (SN), the value of complete axillary lymph node dissection has been questioned. Multiple published reports have attempted to identify clinicopathologic characteristics of the primary tumor and SN that are associated with an increased likelihood of positive nonsentinel lymph nodes (NSN). Because of differences in lymph node evaluation techniques and limited patient numbers in each study, the authors performed a meta-analysis to assess the regularity and relative strength of association between various characteristics and the risk of NSN metastasis.

Sentinel node biopsy prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: Several studies have explored sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, but false negative rates and the loss of pretreatment nodal staging are limitations. Sentinel lymph node biopsy prior to induction chemotherapy may address both.

Methods: Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed in clinically node negative patients prior to initiating chemotherapy.

Severe intestinal bleeding caused by intestinal metastases of a primary angiosarcome of the thyroid gland.

A 75 year old male presented with gastrointestinal bleeding after resection of both upper lobes of the lungs because of metastases. One year ago an angiosarcoma was the reason for a complete removal of the thyroid gland. In esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy we found multiple hemorrhagically stained polyploids lesions in the postbulbar duodenum and jejunum.

Intrinsic thermal resistance of the canine brain.

Hyperthermia above a critical threshold results in multisystemic changes that include neurological manifestations of heat stroke. It is unknown if the latter represents an intrinsic thermal sensitivity of the CNS or whether injury is secondary to physiological responses of non-CNS origin. To address this issue, the present work examined functional, structural, and biochemical changes in the CNS of dogs subjected to a thermal dosage immediately below that which induces disseminated intravascular coagulation with secondary multiple organ injury.

Cultivation of Mycobacterium bovis BCG in bioreactors.

The Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccine for commercial use is classically produced as surface pellicles by culture on synthetic medium. Under these conditions, reproducibility of the cultures and quality assessment are hampered by slow growth of the bacilli, the formation of bacterial aggregates and a high proportion of dead bacilli after processing and final formulation of the vaccine. Here, we established dispersed cultures of M.

Advances in topical glaucoma therapy.

Significant advances have recently been achieved in the development of topical glaucoma medications. The primary advantage of a topical preparation is the reduced incidence of adverse systemic effects attributable to a given drug compared to its systemically administered counterpart. However, the strong protective barrier of the eye forces topical ophthalmic preparations to be highly concentrated and in some cases, they have the potential to produce unwanted systemic effects, particularly in smaller animals.

Effects of topical administration of 0.005% latanoprost solution on eyes of clinically normal horses.

Objective: To determine the effect of 0.005% latanoprost solution on intraocular pressure (IOP) of eyes of clinically normal horses and establish the frequency of adverse effects of drug administration.

Animals: 20 adult clinically normal horses.

[Replacement of the pyrogen-test as batch control test for the biological substances aprotinin and urokinase].

In the Pharmeuropa Vol. 10, No. 4, December 1998, the European Pharmacopoeia Commission published an appeal to replace the pyrogen test by the limulus test for a total of 10 biological substances.

A good practice guide to the administration of substances and removal of blood, including routes and volumes.

This article is the result of an initiative between the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries Associations (EFPIA) and the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM). Its objectives are to provide the researcher in the safety evaluation laboratory with an up-to-date, easy-to-use set of data sheets to aid in the study design process whilst at the same time affording maximum welfare considerations to the experimental animals. Although this article is targeted at researchers in the European Pharmaceutical Industry, it is considered that the principles underpinning the data sets and refinement proposals are equally applicable to all those who use these techniques on animals in their research, whether in research institutes, universities or other sectors of industry.