High-intensity focused ultrasound for the targeted destruction of uterine tissues: experiences from a pilot study using a mobile HIFU unit.

Background: High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a novel method which offers the non-invasive ablation of tissues without harming overlying organs or skin. It has been introduced successfully in urology for the ablation of prostatic hyperplasia and seems to be promising in the treatment of uterine fibroids. In this study we aimed to examine the feasibility and possible side effects of HIFU treatment of uterine tissues using an experimental mobile HIFU unit with ultrasound guidance.

Long-term toxicity of an intraoperative radiotherapy boost using low energy X-rays during breast-conserving surgery.

Purpose: Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) as a boost for breast cancer delivers a high single dose of radiation to a late-reacting tissue; therefore late toxicity is of particular interest, and long-term follow-up is warranted. To date there are only limited data available on breast cancer patients treated with IORT using low energy X-rays. We analyzed toxicity and cosmesis after IORT as a boost with a minimum follow-up of 18 months.

Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) as a boost in patients with early-stage breast cancer -- acute toxicity.

Background: We report on acute toxicities as well as the early cosmetic outcome of patients receiving intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) followed by whole-breast radiotherapy (WBRT) compared to patients treated with standard WBRT alone.

Patients And Methods: From 2/2002 until 2/2005, 84 breast cancer patients were treated with IORT during breast-conserving surgery (BCS) as a boost (20 Gy/50 kV X-rays) followed by WBRT. After wound healing, all IORT patients were treated with WBRT at a total dose of 46 Gy.

Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) for breast cancer using the Intrabeam system.

Introduction: Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) with low-energy X-rays (30-50 KV) is an innovative technique that can be used both for accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) and intraoperative boosting in patients affected by breast cancer. Immediately after tumor resection the tumor bed can be treated with low-distance X-rays by a single high dose. Whereas often a geographic miss in covering the boost target occurs with external beam boost radiotherapy (EBRT), the purpose of IORT is to cover the tumor bed safely.

Caesarean section on demand: influence of personal birth experience and working environment on attitude of German gynaecologists.

Objective: We performed a survey among German obstetricians and gynecologists in order to evaluate the influence of biographic data, working environment and personal birth experience on the attitude towards Cesarean Section on demand.

Material And Methods: All 2106 board-certified gynecologists in Baden-Württemberg received an anonymous questionnaire in 2002-2003 concerning attitude towards C-section on demand, biographical data, personal birth experience and working environment. Seven hundred and nineteen questionnaires were returned and entered into statistical analysis.

Water birth: microbiological colonisation of the newborn, neonatal and maternal infection rate in comparison to conventional bed deliveries.

Introduction: The risk of infectious complications after water birth which might be due to water contaminated by faecal bacteria or environmental microbes from the water supply system is still in discussion.

Materials And Methods: We performed a microbiological study comparing neonatal bacterial colonisation after water birth to conventional bed deliveries with or without relaxation bath. In all three groups (96 deliveries) we isolated most frequently from ear and palate of the newborns Staphylococcus epidermidis, E.