Reconfigurable systems for sequence alignment and for general dynamic programming.

Reconfigurable systolic arrays can be adapted to efficiently resolve a wide spectrum of computational problems; parallelism is naturally explored in systolic arrays and reconfigurability allows for redefinition of the interconnections and operations even during run time (dynamically). We present a reconfigurable systolic architecture that can be applied for the efficient treatment of several dynamic programming methods for resolving well-known problems, such as global and local sequence alignment, approximate string matching and longest common subsequence. The dynamicity of the reconfigurability was found to be useful for practical applications in the construction of sequence alignments.

Management and outcome of bilateral testicular germ cell tumors: Twenty-five year experience in Munich.

We analyzed characteristics, therapy and outcome of patients with bilateral testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) at our institutions. Among 1,180 TGCT patients diagnosed and/or treated between 1979 and 2003, 47 (4.0%) developed a second TGCT.

Ultrasound screening for internal jugular vein thrombosis aids the detection of central venous catheter-related infections in patients with haemato-oncological diseases: a prospective observational study.

To prove the hypothesis that central venous catheter-related thrombosis and infection are associated, 43 haemato-oncological patients with an internal jugular vein catheter underwent ultrasound screening for thrombosis every 4 d. Catheter-related thrombosis was detected in 13/43 patients (30%). Catheter-related infection, as defined by the U.

Monoclonal gammopathy after low-grade MALT lymphoma: evidence for a second neoplasm.

We report the case of a patient with lymphoma of the salivary gland, at first diagnosed as lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) but later found to infiltrate the bone marrow. At diagnosis, the patient had a polyclonal increase of gamma-globulins. Five years after initial diagnosis, the patient presented with monoclonal gammopathy and infiltration of the bone marrow with neoplastic cells.

Advanced head and neck cancer: long-term results of chemo-radiotherapy, complications and induction of second malignancies.

Background: Chemo-radiotherapy is superior to radiotherapy alone in the treatment of advanced, inoperable head and neck cancer. The long-term treatment results, the induction of second malignant tumors, and other long-term toxicities are not well defined.

Patients And Methods: 100 consecutive patients with advanced head and neck cancer who were treated at our center were studied.

Spontaneous Bleeding in a Patient with Malignant Lymphoma: A Case of Acquired Hemophilia.

BACKGROUND: Acquired hemophilia is a rare condition which can be associated with lymphoproliferative disease. CASE REPORT: Eleven years after the diagnosis of immunocytoma had been made, a 72-year-old man developed a high-titer factor VIII inhibitor. At this time, the lymphoma was without significant progress and there was no paraprotein in the serum.

Oncology and Palliative Care.

Oncology developed as a discipline over the last decades. Treatment is concentrated on cure or palliation of the illness with the help of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery. Palliative care has its origin in the hospice movement that started around 1960 in the UK.

Acute myelogenous leukaemia and myelomonocytic blast crisis following polycythemia vera in HIV positive patients: report of cases and review of the literature.

Background: Acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) and myeloproliferative diseases are rare in HIV-infected individuals and optimal treatment has not been defined.

Patients And Methods: We report on the cases of two HIV-infected men, one with AML and one with myeloid blast crisis after polycythaemia vera (PV). A comprehensive review of the available literature will be presented.

Advances in the management of metastatic non-seminomatous germ cell tumours during the cisplatin era: a single-institution experience.

Long-term outcome was reviewed in 266 consecutive patients with metastatic non-seminomatous germ cell tumours treated at a single institution. The overall 3 year survival was 77%, and 3 year progression-free survival was 71%. Multivariate analysis identified the following clinical features as independent prognostic factors: the presence of liver, bone or brain metastasis, serum human chorionic gonadotropin > or = 10000 U l-1 and/or alpha-fetoprotein > or = 1000 ng ml-1, a mediastinal mass > 5 cm and the presence of 20 or more lung metastases.

Does serum tumor marker half-life complement pretreatment risk stratification in metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumors?

The goal of this study was to determine whether the serum tumor marker half-life (MHL) of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) during initial chemotherapy can complement pretreatment risk stratification in metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumors. One hundred forty-seven patients were assessable for MHL during the first two cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy. MHL calculation was based on two consecutive values using Kohn's apparent half-life formula (MHL =ln 1/2/G, where G was the gradient of the marker slope) or on three (or more) values using simple linear regression.

Testicular germ cell tumors in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Background: There has been evidence of a higher incidence of testicular germ cell tumors (GCT) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive men than in the non HIV-infected male population. Most authors recommend standard therapy for HIV-positive patients with GCT but the immumosuppressive effects of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy must be considered.

Methods: The records of all patients in whom testicular cancer was diagnosed and/or treated at a single institution between January 1986 and July 1995 were reviewed with regard to HIV seropositivity.

Prognosis after salvage treatment for unselected male patients with germ cell tumours.

Long-term outcome of salvage treatment was reviewed in 67 unselected male patients relapsing during or after their primary cisplatin-based chemotherapy for metastatic germ cell tumours. Seven patients underwent only surgery and/or radiotherapy as curatively intended salvage treatment. Thirty-five patients (52%) had a complete or partial response to salvage treatment, 20 (57%) of whom relapsed again.

Adult Wilms' tumor. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

Background: Wilms' tumor is rare in adults. The recommended treatments for patients with Stage II adult Wilms' tumor with favorable histology (FH) nephroblastomas are conflicting.

Methods: Two patients with Stage II, favorable histology, adult nephroblastomas are described.

Etoposide, cisplatin, bleomycin, and cyclophosphamide (ECBC) as first-line chemotherapy for poor-risk non-seminomatous germ cell tumors.

Sixty-one patients with advanced metastatic non-seminomatous germ cell tumors were treated with etoposide 120 mg/m2, cisplatin 30 mg/m2, bleomycin 12 mg/m2, and cyclophosphamide 300 mg/m2 daily for four days; and additional bleomycin bolus injection of 15 mg was given on day 1. Fifty patients (82%) were treated with four to six courses at 3-week intervals. Forty patients (66%) attained complete remission, and further 7 patients (11%) achieved a marker-negative partial remission accounting for a favorable response rate of 77%.

[Cardiac function and the skin microcirculation in acromegaly].

The microcirculation was measured by nail-fold capillary video microscopy in 21 patients (12 men, 9 women; mean age 54.7 [29-74] years) with acromegaly. Levels of growth hormone (12.

Prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and emesis in patients responding poorly to previous antiemetic therapy. Comparing tropisetron with optimised standard antiemetic therapy.

In a multicentre trial, 78 patients with a variety of malignancies, who had experienced insufficient control of emesis (greater than or equal to 3 episodes within 24 hours) while receiving standard antiemetics during previous chemotherapy, were randomly assigned to receive tropisetron 5mg once daily for 5 days or conventional antiemetic drugs. No attempt was made to standardise the conventional antiemetic treatment, which was given according to the usual practice of the participating institutions. Emesis was evaluated by counting emetic episodes and nausea by asking the patients to record on a diary chart the duration and severity of the nausea.

[Treatment of stage I-IIB nonseminomatous testicular tumors].

Data on 90 patients (median age 26 years, range 15-65) with nonseminomatous testicular tumour (NTT) were analysed retrospectively to evaluate the effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy: 55 patients had received postoperatively (semicastration, retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy) adjuvant chemotherapy. They have now lived tumour-free for a median period of 67 (range 8-107) months. These results were compared with a group of 35 patients with recurrence of NTT who, after the primary operation, had been merely followed-up but, on diagnosis of recurrence, had received intensive chemotherapy with removal of the recurring tumour, if indicated.

Chemotherapy of invasive thymoma. A retrospective study of 22 cases.

The authors report on combination chemotherapy in 22 patients (seven men, 15 women; age 20-67, median 38.5 years) with incompletely resected invasive thymoma. Twelve of 22 patients have had prior radiotherapy of the tumor (four of 12 local failure, eight of 12 remote metastases).

Cisplatin, fluorouracil with leucovorin calcium enhancement, and synchronous accelerated radiotherapy in the management of locally advanced head and neck cancer: a phase II study.

In a phase II study, patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated with simultaneous chemoradiotherapy. Treatment was divided into three courses. Chemotherapy consisted of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (cisplatin [cis-DDP]) 60 mg/m2 intravenously (IV), fluorouracil (5-FUra) 350 mg/m2 IV, and folinic acid (leucovorin calcium [FA]) 50 mg/m2 IV on day 2 as bolus, and 5-FUra 350 mg/m2 over 24 hours and FA 100 mg/m2 over 24 hours on days 2 through 5.

Simultaneous chemo-radiotherapy with 5-FU/folinic acid/cis-platinum and accelerated split-course radiation in advanced head and neck cancer.

In a clinical phase-II trial, 62 previously untreated patients suffering from unresectable stage III (4 patients) and IV (56 patients) squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated with a simultaneous chemoradiotherapy consisting of a 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid/cis-platinum combination and of an accelerated split-course radiotherapy. As results, 3 patients died from tumor arrosion bleeding during the treatment. The median follow-up time of the surviving patients is 27+ months (range 18-44 months).

Combination chemotherapy with vinblastine, ifosfamide and cisplatin in bulky seminoma.

Since 1982, 24 patients with bulky seminoma were treated with the VIP-regimen consisting of vinblastine 6 mg/m2 days 1+2, ifosfamide 1.5 g/m2 days 1-5, cisplatin 20 mg/m2 days 1-5. One patient showed primary progression, another patient partial remission, and one patient died during the first cycle.