Ineffectiveness of the measurement of 'routine' vital signs for adult inpatients with community-acquired pneumonia.

More frequent vital sign evaluation does not result in a statistically significant difference in survival or the number of transfers to the intensive care unit (for progression of disease) after adjusting for age, gender, duration of intravenous antibiotics and comorbid conditions.

HER-2/neu and CD117 (c-kit) overexpression in patients with pesticide exposure and extensive stage small cell lung carcinoma (ESSCLC).

Background: The rate of detection of HER-2/neu and CD117 (c-kit) overexpression in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has varied widely; between 5-35% and 21-70% respectively.

Methods: To evaluate the relationship between pesticide exposure and HER-2/neu and CD117 overexpression in extensive stage SCLC (ESSCLC), we identified patients with ESSCLC and assessed pesticide exposure using a predetermined questionnaire. An exposure index (hours/day x days/year x years) > or = 2400 hours was considered as 'exposed.

Role of her-2/neu overexpression and clinical features at presentation as predictive factors in meningiomas.

Prediction of outcome in patients with meningiomas remains a significant problem to date. We have evaluated the role of symptoms at presentation and overexpression of her-2/neu overexpression as independent prognostic factors in meningiomas. In a retrospective study on patients with biopsy-proven diagnosis of meningioma, her-2/neu overexpression was evaluated using immunohistochemistry (IHC) performed on paraffin-embedded specimens.

Immunohistochemical detection of HER-2/neu, c-kit (CD117) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) overexpression in soft tissue sarcomas.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of HER-2/neu, VEGF and CD117 overexpression in soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and to study the effect of this overexpression, if present, on survival in patients with specific histological subtypes of STS.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study on patients diagnosed with STS during the period of 1986-2001. HER-2/neu overexpression was measured in these patients by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using the Hercep test developed by DAKO.

Immunohistochemical determination of HER-2/neu, c-Kit (CD117), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) overexpression in malignant melanoma.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence and evaluate the possible prognostic value of the molecular targets in malignant melanoma, we studied the overexpression of HER-2/neu, c-Kit, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in this patient population.

Materials And Methods: Overexpression of HER-2/neu, c-Kit, and VEGF was evaluated using immunohistochemical assays in 202 archival tissue specimens.

Results: Only two patients (0.

Determination of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) overexpression in soft tissue sarcomas and the role of overexpression in leiomyosarcoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence and role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) overexpression in soft tissue sarcoma (STS).

Patients And Methods: VEGF expression was detected by the avidin-biotin-complex method using Santa Cruz biotechnology (SC 7629). The expression of VEGF was assessed according to the percentage of immunoreactive cells: more than 10% of the cells staining were graded as positive.

Effect of pesticide exposure on HER-2/neu overexpression seen in patients with extensive stage small cell lung carcinoma.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship, if any, between pesticide exposure and overexpression of the HER-2/neu oncoprotein in extensive stage small cell lung cancer (ESSCLC).

Experimental Design: The records of all patients with a diagnosis of ESSCLC from January 1991 through April 2001 were reviewed in our retrospective study. Pesticide risk (herbicide and insecticide) was assessed by telephone interviews using a predetermined questionnaire with emphasis on type of exposure, use of protective measures, and duration of exposure.

HER-2/neu and CD117 (C-kit) overexpression in hepatocellular and pancreatic carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma has an overall 5-year survival of less than 5%. Similarly, pancreatic cancer has a mortality: incidence ratio of 0.99.

Ineffectiveness of measuring routine vital signs in adult inpatients with deep venous thrombosis.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefit, if any, of routine monitoring of vital signs on clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT). One hundred forty-nine patients with DVT included in this study were categorized into two groups: those that underwent measurement of vital signs every 6 hours or those that had vital signs measured every 8 hours. Vital signs included pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and temperature.