Serum Natrium Determines Outcome of Treatment of Advanced GIST with Imatinib: A Retrospective Study of 80 Patients from a Single Institution.

Treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has drastically improved overall survival (OS) of patients with advanced GIST. The aim of this study is to evaluate the results of treatment with different TKIs on advanced GIST and identify prognostic factors for OS. The medical records of all patients treated at the Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital were retrospectively reviewed.

Increased lymph node harvest from colorectal cancer resections using GEWF solution: a randomised study.

Background: The lymph node harvest from colorectal specimens is pivotal for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), independent of N stage.

Aims: To determine whether the use of GEWF solution (glacial acetic acid, ethanol, distilled water and formaldehyde) could improve the lymph node harvest in CRC specimens.

Methods: Consecutive fresh colonic (n = 60) and rectal (n = 60) specimens from patients with primary CRC resected at Aarhus University Hospital THG between March 2006 and July 2007 were randomised to either conventional preparation or GEWF preparation and examined in a standard manner.

Nordic laboratory intercomparison of supercritical fluid extraction for the determination of total petroleum hydrocarbon, polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil.

Two developed supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) methods [one for the determination of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and one for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and creosote components in soil] were evaluated in a Nordic laboratory intercomparison study with 11 participating laboratories. The interlaboratory comparison showed that excellent recoveries can be obtained with SFE for PAHs and PCBs compared to the solvent extraction. For the TPH, the recoveries were significantly higher than those achieved with solvent extraction.

[Partial re-screening of all negative smears. A method of quality control of pathology department concerning smear screening against cervix cancer].

Partial rescreening of all negative smears is recommended as the most cost-effective method of internal quality control. The method was tested by eight cytotechnologists and the average diagnostic sensitivity, assessed upon their answering of 200 test-smears (150 negative and 50 positive) was 80%, while specificity vas calculated to 95%. Partial rescreening has here-upon been used in daily routine.

[Merkel cell carcinoma].

Eight patients with Merkel cell carcinoma are reported to document their response to surgery and/or radiotherapy. Four patients who initially underwent surgery without postoperative radiation therapy all had local recurrence. Two patients were treated with postoperative radiation therapy and two were treated with radiation therapy without excision of the tumour.

Thymic epithelial abnormalities in patients with congenital heart disease and Down's syndrome.

Among 85 children (< 5 years) operated on for congenital heart disease, we found 15 with structural changes of the thymus consisting of epithelial ducts and cysts. Nine of the children had Down's syndrome. In only two of these did we find epithelial abnormalities.

Mediastinal tumours. A report of 129 cases.

Primary mediastinal tumour or cyst was surgically treated in 129 patients (including 19 younger than 12 years) during a 16-year period. All histologic specimens and smears from fine-needle aspiration biopsy were reviewed. Intrathoracic goitre, neurogenic lesions and thymomas comprised 62% of all the tumours.

Extracellular deposit of the cationic proteins ECP and EPX in tissue infiltrations of eosinophils related to tissue damage.

In a series of eosinophil inflammatory states affecting various organs (heart, gut, bladder and skin) we performed an immunohistochemical study of the eosinophil cationic proteins ECP and EPX. A strong correlation was noted between the liberation of ECP and EPX and tissue necrosis in all organs. In most cases ECP and EPX were found on the same location.

Diabetic macroangiopathy. Quantitative histopathological studies of the extramural coronary arteries from type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients.

A morphometric study was performed on histological sections of the extramural coronary arteries from 10 Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients and 10 non-diabetic subjects, matched for age and sex. Standardised samples were taken from the two coronary arteries and the fractional contents of Periodic Acid-Schiff-positive material, acid mucopolysaccharides and connective tissue was determined in the arterial tunica media from the two groups using a point-counting technique. The thickness of tunica intima and tunica media was obtained by micrometric measurements.

Effect of endoscopic sclerotherapy of esophageal varices on liver blood flow and liver function. An experimental study.

In 10 Göttingen mini-pigs esophageal varices developed after banding of the portal vein. In five pigs the varices were treated by paravariceal injection of polidocanol, and the rest served as controls. As judged from endoscopy and portography, the varices disappeared after four sclerotherapy sessions within 4 weeks, and at the same time portal venous pressure rose from 19 to 38 mm Hg.

Chronic portal venous hypertension. The effect on liver blood flow and liver function and the development of esophageal varices.

Portal venous hypertension was induced in Göttingen minipigs by banding the portal vein. The pigs were checked repeatedly during the following 24 weeks. Portal pressure increased immediately on banding, from 8.

Endoscopic sclerotherapy of esophageal varices in an experimental animal model. A histomorphologic study.

Endoscopic sclerotherapy with Aethoxysclerol 2% was carried out in rabbits with esophageal varices. Nineteen animals were injected paravenously, and 17 were injected intravenously. The animals were killed between 1 h and 4 weeks after injection for histologic examination of the esophagus.

Experimental prehepatic portal hypertension and esophageal varices in the rabbit.

Prehepatic portal hypertension was induced in rabbits by constricting the vein, creating a pressure approximately 100% higher than the preoperative value. Angiographic, endoscopic, and pressure studies confirmed the portal hypertension to be decompressed, with shunting of blood through esophageal varices. Small periportal collaterals were insufficient to prevent the esophageal shunting.

The thymus in congenital heart disease.

Some cases of thymus developmental defects (DiGeorge's syndrome) are associated with the development of defects of the heart and great vessels. To see if anomalies of the heart are also associated with anomalies of the thymus, a material of thymus tissue removed during operation for congenital heart disease was compared with thymus tissue from a forensic autopsy material representing the same age group, but without cardiac lesions. Among 27 cases of congenital heart disease, occurrence in the thymus of solid epithelial cords were seen in 6 and cyst- or duct-like structures were found in 7.