First report of a necrotising fasciitis of the breast following a core needle biopsy.

Necrotising fasciitis (NF) is the most aggressive form of soft tissue infection. We report the first case of NF of the breast following a core needle biopsy. Aggressive management including surgical debridement and vacuum therapy allowed wound healing and breast conservation.

Comparative study of the accuracy of breast resection in oncoplastic surgery and quadrantectomy in breast cancer.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine whether oncoplastic surgery ensures accurate tumor resection and reduces the need for further surgery in comparison with standard quadrantectomies.

Methods: This was a prospective comparative study of 74 patients with breast tumor diameter >or=15 mm. The principal criterion for case selection was breast size that allowed either quadrantectomy or oncoplastic surgery to be scheduled.

Transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap wound-healing complications in breast reconstruction: assisted closure using foam suction dressing.

Transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap necrosis is a difficult reconstructive problem which historically has entailed protracted management with poor aesthetic outcome. The use of a foam suction dressing achieves effective delayed primary closure of the flap wound with an acceptable aesthetic result. The results of using a vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) system were examined in three patients.

Steroids and adrenomedullin growth patterns in human ovarian cancer cells: estrogenic-regulation assay.

Objective: Adrenomedullin is a multifunctional regulatory peptide with mitogenic and angiogenic capabilities. Objectives in this study were: (1) to describe the effects of adrenomedullin and anti-adrenomedullin antibodies on ovarian carcinoma cell proliferation, and (2) to assess the estradiol regulation of adrenomedullin metabolism.

Methods: We assessed the effects of estradiol, adrenomedullin, and anti-adrenomedullin antibodies on cell growth in three human ovarian cell lines.

Expression of adrenomedullin in human ovaries, ovarian cysts and cancers. Correlation with estrogens receptor status.

Objective: To investigate the expression of adrenomedullin (AM) in benign and malignant ovarian tissues and its correlation with estrogen receptors (ERs) mRNA status.

Study Design: Ovarian carcinoma cell lines, normal ovaries, serous cysts and cancers were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in order to quantify adrenomedullin and ERs mRNAs expression. Some ovarian samples were submitted to laser-capture microdissection to determine the differential expression of target genes in epithelium and stroma.

Achieving symmetry in unilateral breast reconstruction: 17 years experience with 683 patients.

Breast symmetry is one of the most important parameters of patient satisfaction in breast reconstruction. We undertook this retrospective study to determine whether autologous reconstruction requires opposite-breast procedures less often to achieve symmetry than do non-autologous techniques. The records of 683 patients who underwent delayed breast reconstruction between March 1983 and March 2000 were reviewed.

Pfannenstiel versus Maylard incision for cesarean delivery: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the Pfannenstiel incision with transverse muscle-cutting Maylard incision in women who had cesarean delivery.

Methods: Patients were assigned randomly to a Pfannenstiel or Maylard incision. Postoperative treatment was similar for each group.

Estrogen induction and overexpression of fibulin-1C mRNA in ovarian cancer cells.

Fibulin-1 is an extracellular matrix protein induced by estradiol in estrogen receptor (ER) positive ovarian cancer cell lines. Alternative splicing of fibulin-1 mRNA results in four different variants named A, B, C and D that may have distinct biological functions. We studied the relative expression of fibulin-1 mRNA variants and their estrogen regulation in human ovarian cancer cells.