Sentinel lymph node biopsy is indicated for patients with thick clinically lymph node-negative melanoma.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is indicated for the staging of clinically lymph node-negative melanoma of intermediate thickness, but its use is controversial in patients with thick melanoma.

Methods: From 2002 to 2012, patients with melanoma measuring ≥4 mm in thickness were evaluated at a single institution. Associations between survival and clinicopathologic characteristics were explored.

Persistence of polypropylene mesh anisotropy after implantation: an experimental study.

Objective: To determine whether anisotropy persisted after incorporation into the host, using a standardised rabbit model for abdominal wall reconstruction.

Design: Investigator-initiated prospective-controlled experimental study.

Setting: Centre for Surgical Technologies, Medical Faculty KU-Leuven.

Shrinkage and biomechanical evaluation of lightweight synthetics in a rabbit model for primary fascial repair.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The experiment evaluated different lightweights (<32 g/m(2)) in terms of shrinkage and biomechanics.

Methods: PP-8 (polypropylene of 7.6 g/m(2)), PP-s (PP-8 with absorbable sheets), PP-32 (PP with absorbable fibers; 32.

Prevalence of major levator abnormalities in symptomatic patients with an underactive pelvic floor contraction.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Major levator ani abnormalities (LAA) may lead to abnormal pelvic floor muscle contraction (pfmC) and secondarily to stress urinary incontinence (SUI), prolapse, or fecal incontinence (FI).

Methods: A retrospective observational study included 352 symptomatic patients to determine prevalence of LAA in underactive pfmC and the relationship with symptoms. On 2D/3D transperineal ultrasound, PfmC was subjectively assessed as underactive (UpfmC) or normal (NpfmC) and quantified.

Porous acellular porcine dermal collagen implants to repair fascial defects in a rat model: biomechanical evaluation up to 180 days.

Aim: To investigate the biomechanical properties of porous collagen matrices in a rat abdominal wall defect model.

Study Design: 112 rats were implanted with non-cross-linked InteXèn LP, cross-linked Pelvicol, and two investigational acellular collagen matrices (ACMs) sterilized either with ethylene oxide (ACM ETO) or gamma-irradiation (ACM GI). After 14, 30, 90 and 180 days, 7 animals per group were sacrificed to document adhesions, herniation, infection, stress resistance and histology.

Ubiquitous aspartic proteinase as an actor in the stress response in buckwheat.

The aspartic protease (FeAP9) gene from buckwheat resembles the exon-intron structure characteristic for typical aspartic proteinases, including the presence of the leader intron in the 5'-UTR. RT PCR experiments and gel protein blot analysis indicated that FeAP9 was present in all analyzed organs: developing seeds, seedlings, flowers, leaves, roots and stems. Using Real-time PCR, we found that FeAP9 expression is upregulated in buckwheat leaves under the influence of different abiotic stresses, including dark, drought and UV-B light, as well as wounding and salicylic acid.

Biomechanical findings in rats undergoing fascial reconstruction with graft materials suggested as an alternative to polypropylene.

Aims: Graft materials used for pelvic floor reinforcement should still be considered as investigational and, therefore, evaluated experimentally and within clinical trials. The present report describes our biomechanical findings in rats implanted with selected novel implant materials, which in recent years have been suggested as alternatives to plain polypropylene (PP) meshes.

Methods: Full thickness abdominal wall defects were primarily repaired by the implant of interest.

Experimental comparison of abdominal wall repair using different methods of enhancement by small intestinal submucosa graft.

Introduction And Hypothesis: To assess the biomechanical properties of full-thickness abdominal wall defects, either using Native tissues, with or without Overlay, and by substitution of the Defect by small intestinal submucosa mesh.

Methods: Seventy-two rats were divided into three groups according to repair method (Native, Overlay or Defect). At 7, 14, 30, and 90 days, six rats were sacrificed to measure tensile strength, collagen ingrowth, and host response.

Prospective assessment of the endometrium in postmenopausal breast cancer patients treated with fulvestrant.

This prospective study assessed the endometrial effects of fulvestrant, a pure estrogen-receptor antagonist, in postmenopausal women with breast cancer. This single-center study enrolled postmenopausal patients who had an intact uterus at baseline with progressive metastatic breast cancer on tamoxifen followed by an oral aromatase inhibitor (AI). Fulvestrant (250 mg) was administered every 28 +/- 3 days via IM injection.

Basic RNases of wild almond (Prunus webbii): cloning and characterization of six new S-RNase and one "non-S RNase" genes.

In order to investigate the S-RNase allele structure of a Prunus webbii population from the Montenegrin region of the Balkans, we analyzed 10 Prunus webbii accessions. We detected 10 different S-RNase allelic variants and obtained the nucleotide sequences for six S-RNases. The BLAST analysis showed that these six sequences were new Prunus webbii S-RNase alleles.

Fate of collagen-based implants used in pelvic floor surgery: a 2-year follow-up study in a rabbit model.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the long-term host response to 2 different collagen matrices versus macroporous polypropylene mesh.

Study Design: Four full-thickness abdominal wall defects in 35 rabbits were reconstructed with either polypropylene (Prolene), porcine dermal (Pelvicol), or small intestine submucosal collagen matrix (SIS). Animals were sacrificed on day 30, 60, 90, 180, 365, 540, and 720 days to evaluate morphologic and biomechanical properties of explants.

Two types of aspartic proteinases from buckwheat seed--gene structure and expression analysis.

Two types of aspartic proteinase (AP) genes have been isolated from the cDNA library of developing buckwheat seeds. Analysis of their sequences showed that one of these, FeAP9, resembled the structure and shared high homology with the so-called typical plant APs characterized by the presence of a plant-specific insert (PSI), an element unique among APs. The other cDNA, FeAPL1, encoded an AP-like protein lacking that domain.

Self-incompatibility of Prunus tenella and evidence that reproductively isolated species of Prunus have different SFB alleles coupled with an identical S-RNase allele.

Many species of Prunus display an S-RNase-based gametophytic self-incompatibility (SI), controlled by a single highly polymorphic multigene complex termed the S-locus. This comprises tightly linked stylar- and pollen-expressed genes that determine the specificity of the SI response. We investigated SI of Prunus tenella, a wild species found in small, isolated populations on the Balkan peninsula, initially by pollination experiments and identifying stylar-expressed RNase alleles.

Tensile strength and host response towards silk and type i polypropylene implants used for augmentation of fascial repair in a rat model.

Objective: We compared host response, architectural integration and tensile strength of two different macroporous silk constructs to a polypropylene type I implant in a rat model for augmentation of primary fascial defect repair.

Materials And Methods: Animals were sacrificed on days 7, 14, 30 and 90 after implantation. The explants were evaluated macroscopically for infections, herniations and adhesions, mechanically for tensile strength, and histopathologically, to evaluate collagen deposition and inflammatory response.

Tensile strength and host response towards different polypropylene implant materials used for augmentation of fascial repair in a rat model.

We compared inflammatory response, fibrosis and biomechanical properties of different polypropylene materials from one manufacturer (Tyco Healthcare) in a rat model for primary fascial repair. Full-thickness abdominal wall defects were primarily repaired using 'overlay' technique. Multifilament implants were Surgipro SPM and SPMW, the latter a wider-weave type of the former.

The biology behind fascial defects and the use of implants in pelvic organ prolapse repair.

Implant materials are increasingly being used in an effort to reduce recurrence after prolapse repair with native tissues. Surgeons should be aware of the biology behind both the disease as well as the host response to various implants. We will discuss insights into the biology behind hernia and abdominal fascial defects.

Elevated plasma TGF-beta1 levels correlate with decreased survival of metastatic breast cancer patients.

Background: The role of circulating TGF-beta(1) in prognosis of breast cancer (BC) was investigated with an intention to define TGF-beta(1)-dependent high risk and low risk subsets of patients.

Methods: Fifty three BC patients of all clinical stages and 37 healthy donors (HD) were analyzed for plasma TGF-beta(1) by the TbetaRII receptor-based Quantikine TGF-beta(1) ELISA kit.

Results: The plasma TGF-beta(1) level of Stage I/II disease (median: 0.

Logistic regression model to distinguish between the benign and malignant adnexal mass before surgery: a multicenter study by the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis Group.

Purpose: To collect data for the development of a more universally useful logistic regression model to distinguish between a malignant and benign adnexal tumor before surgery.

Patients And Methods: Patients had at least one persistent mass. More than 50 clinical and sonographic end points were defined and recorded for analysis.

Comparison of host response to polypropylene and non-cross-linked porcine small intestine serosal-derived collagen implants in a rat model.

Objective: To compare the host response, architectural integration and tensile strength of polypropylene and porcine small intestine submucosa-derived implants in a rat model.

Design: Experimental study.

Setting: Center for Surgical Technologies, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.

Third generation aromatase inhibitors may prevent endometrial growth and reverse tamoxifen-induced uterine changes in postmenopausal breast cancer patients.

Background: Tamoxifen may induce uterine abnormalities of clinical concern. Our aim was to compare early uterine changes occurring in postmenopausal breast cancer patients treated in first-line with tamoxifen or third generation aromatase inhibitors. We also assessed the effect of aromatase inhibitors on tamoxifen-induced uterine changes.

Vicilin-like storage globulin from buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) seeds.

An 8S storage globulin from buckwheat seed, which resembles the structure and features common to the vicilin-like family of seed storage proteins, was analyzed for this paper. It was found that expression of the 8S globulin gene precedes that of the 13S globulin (the main buckwheat storage protein) and starts from an early stage of buckwheat seed development (9-11 days after flowering), continuing to accumulate throughout seed development to contribute approximately 7% of total seed proteins. This protein fraction might be more interesting for biotechnological application than the 13S buckwheat legumin consisting of 23-25 kDa subunits reported to be the major buckwheat allergen.

Characterization and evolutionary relationship of methionine-rich legumin-like protein from buckwheat.

We have isolated and characterized a full-length cDNA for legumin-like storage polypeptide from buckwheat seed (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) and compared its deduced amino acid sequence with those from different representatives of dicots, monocots and gymnosperms. The cDNA sequence was reconstructed from two overlapping clones isolated from a cDNA library made on mRNA of buckwheat seed at the mid-maturation stage of development. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence revealed that this specific buckwheat storage polypeptide should be classified in the methionine-rich legumin subfamily present in the lower angiosperm clades, a representative of which was first characterized in Magnolia salicifolia (clone B 14).

The pedicle artery sign based on sonography with color Doppler imaging can replace second-stage tests in women with abnormal vaginal bleeding.

Objective: Unenhanced transvaginal sonography is not accurate in the detection of endometrial polyps. Currently, second-stage tests such as saline contrast sonohysterography and office hysteroscopy are used to diagnose endometrial lesions, but both have limitations and side effects. We proposed visualization of the pedicle artery on color Doppler imaging as a sign of polyps.