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.

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.

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.

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.

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.