Phase 1/2 Randomized Clinical Trial of In-clinic acupuncture Prior to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin in Patients with High-risk Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer.

Background: Treatment-related dose-limiting dysuria and irritative bladder symptoms are common in patients receiving intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) to treat non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Acupuncture has been shown to reduce pain and urinary urgency/frequency in other patient populations.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and tolerability of weekly in-clinic preprocedural acupuncture among patients receiving induction BCG.

Characteristics and Challenges of Providing Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine in Oncology Treatment: Report of Survey Data and Experience of Five Unique Clinical Settings.

Acupuncture is an integrative therapy with strong evidence to support its use in the oncology setting, yet barriers exist for implementation into conventional medical clinics. Though acupuncture is recommended in clinical practice guidelines for oncology, there is little data in the literature showing how acupuncture and other related therapies, including herbal medicine are successfully implemented in some oncology clinics, while others experience barriers to care. To characterize the current use of acupuncture (ACU) and herbal medicine (HM) in oncology clinics, we collected general demographic and usage data from 5 example clinics.

Effects of acupuncture to decrease adverse events in patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer receiving induction intravesical BCG therapy: Study protocol for a randomized, controlled pilot and feasibility study.

Background: Treatment-related serious adverse events (SAEs) are common in patients receiving intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) for the treatment of high-risk nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Here we describe the protocol of a randomized, attention/waitlist-controlled feasibility pilot study testing the use of acupuncture to decrease SAEs and treatment interruptions in this population. The primary objectives are to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of conducting pre-procedure acupuncture in a Urology Clinic.

Reduction of Opioid Use by Acupuncture in Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial.

Objective: To evaluate acupuncture as a nonpharmacologic intervention for pain management in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Methods: Adult patients with multiple myeloma undergoing high-dose melphalan chemotherapy and autologous peripheral blood HSCT were randomized to receive either true (TA) or sham acupuncture (SA) once daily for five days starting on the day after chemotherapy. Use of pain medications and pain scores were assessed at baseline and at days 5, 15, and 30 after transplantation.

Acupuncture for reduction of symptom burden in multiple myeloma patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a randomized sham-controlled trial.

Purpose: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) is potentially curative for a number of hematologic malignancies, but is associated with high symptom burden. We conducted a randomized sham-controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate efficacy and safety of acupuncture as an integrative treatment for managing common symptoms during HCT.

Methods: Adult patients with multiple myeloma undergoing high-dose melphalan followed by autologous HCT (AHCT) were randomized to receive either true or sham acupuncture once daily for 5 days starting the day after chemotherapy.

Outcomes after surgical repair of sinus venosus atrial septal defect in children.

Objectives: Review of outcomes for children undergoing surgical repair of sinus venosus atrial septal defect (SVASD) and proposal of optimal treatment strategy.

Background: Unlike secundum-type atrial septal defect (ASD II), surgical correction of SVASD is more challenging and carries higher risk of postoperative complications. Several surgical techniques have been proposed to avoid them; however, the data on long-term follow-up are limited.

[Stoma procedures in the congenital digestive tract malformations].

The authors analyze options for intestinal stoma procedures for congenital digestive tract malformations. A primary anastomosis is considered the principal procedure, however, the authors advice against its risky performance. Although a stoma being the ultimate treatment option, indications for stoma procedures should be considered carefully and the procedure should be performed on time, to avoid any potential later pathology development in the anastomosis.

Helicobacter pylori and CagA seropositivity and its association with gastric and oesophageal carcinoma.

Objective: Helicobacter pylori infection is an established risk factor for non-cardia gastric adenocarcinoma. Infection with H. pylori strains harbouring the cagA pathology island may augment this association.

Evaluation of western blot CagA seropositivity in Helicobacter pylori-seropositive and -seronegative subjects.

CagA seropositivity is an important risk factor for gastric adenocarcinoma and duodenal ulcer. However, CagA seropositivity is also found in Helicobacter pylori-seronegative subjects. Is CagA seropositivity in these subjects a sign of a past H.

[Exchange amnioinfusion in conceptus with laparoschisis (first experience)].

Objective: During amnioinfusion exchange (AE) a certain amount of amniotic fluid is repeatedly extracted and the same amount of physiological solution is consequently instilled into the amniotic fetal cavity. The aim of this procedure is to dilute the amniotic fluid that surrounds the eviscerated organs of fetuses with laparoschisis so as to avoid the genesis of fibrous coating on these organs.

Design: Prospective study.

Separation of Siamese twins in Bratislava.

At the pediatric surgical clinic in Bratislava, in the year 2000, we successfully carried out the separation of Siamese twins, which we classified as "ischiopagus tetrapus"+. The pelvic ring, the gastrointestinal tract and the urogenital system were all malformed. There was a common terminal ileum and only a short segment of the large intestine with a blind end.

Functional outcome of surgery for coarctation of the aorta.

Aim Of Study: Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) accounts for about 8% of all congenital heart diseases. This represents about 30 new cases of coarctation every year in Slovakia, of which more than half will require surgical treatment. Over the past years, many children with this diagnosis have been successfully operated on at the Department of Cardiac Surgery of the Children's University Hospital, Bratislava.

Recoarctation and patients' freedom from re-intervention--a study of patients undergoing surgery for coarctation of the aorta at the Department of Cardiac Surgery of the Children's University Hospital, Bratislava.

Background: Many children and young adults have undergone surgery for coarctation of the aorta. Individual surgical techniques employed in the treatment of patients and their effects on incidence of recoarctation were reviewed.

Methods And Data: Over the last ten years, a total of 201 cases of aortic coarctation were surgically treated at our department.

Thyroid hormone status after cardiac surgery in infants with delayed sternal closure and continued use of cutaneous povidone-iodine.

Objective: The aim of this prospective study was to examine whether providone-iodine used for sternal wound protection in infants with delayed sternal closure (DSC) influences the thyroid function.

Patients And Methods: Thyroid hormones (see bellow) and thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) were estimated by radioimmunoassay and ioduria by mass spectrometry in 20 infants in whom cutaneous povidone-iodine was continuously applied on the skin for 1-7 days before DSC after open heart surgery.

Results: In the early postoperative period the median levels of total triiodothyronine (TT3), total thyroxine (TT4) and thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) were below the lower limit of normal, while these of reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) were above normal.

Improved patient survival following surgery for coarctation of the aorta.

Background: We conducted a retrospective review of children undergoing surgery for coarctation of the aorta in our institution over the last ten years with the aim of evaluating overall patient survival as well as detecting factors affecting it. We tried to identify the risk factors for mortality.

Methods And Data: Between January 1992 and December 2001, 201 patients with aortic coarctation were operated on at the Department of Cardiac Surgery of the Children's University Hospital, Bratislava.

[Maffucci's syndrome--case report of a 5-year-old female patient].

Maffucci's syndrome is a congenital non-hereditary syndrome characterized by a combination of dyschondroplasia (enchondromatosis) and haemangiomatosis. It is a rare disease. During the last 140 years only 200 cases were described [5].

[Surgical treatment of children with necrotizing enterocolitis].

Necrotizing enterocolitis is an acute neonatal disease. It affects in particular premature neonates with a birth weight lower than 1500 g. Despite extensive research the etiology of the disease remains obscure.

[Supracondylar fractures of the humerus and disorders of circulation].

Supracondylar fractures (SF) of the humerus are the third most common type of fractures in childhood. The highest rate of pulselessness fracture of the distal humerus is the extension-type. The aim of our treatment is to minimize potential complications.

[Diastematomyelia and the tethered spinal cord syndrome. Case report].

The authors present a patient with diastematomyelia and associated congenital malformations of the spinal cord. They caused tethering of the spinal cord. Patient had cutaneous marks of malformation from birth.

Tobacco smoking increases the risk for gastric adenocarcinoma among Helicobacter pylori-infected individuals.

Background: The importance of tobacco smoking and Helicobacter pylori infection as risk factors in the development of gastric carcinoma was investigated through multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis in a nested case-control study.

Methods: Blood samples and a questionnaire on smoking habits were collected from a cohort of 32,906 city residents during a health screening programme from 1974 to 1992. Fifty-six cases of gastric cancer and 224 matched controls were selected.

[An unusual case of gastroschisis combined with dysganglionosis].

Authors describe a child with gastroschisis, which was associated with dysganglionosis. Therapy required an uncommon surgical treatment in connection with a long term parenteral and enteral nutrition.

[Treatment of blunt injuries of the spleen in children].

The authors report study of patients with blunt splenic trauma treated at Paediatric Surgery Department in years 1991-1999. During 9 years period 50 patients (36 males, 14 females) with demonstrated rupture of the spleen were analyzed. 46 patients (92%) were treated conservatively (group A).

[Surgical treatment of total anomalous pulmonary venous return].

Background: Total abnormal pulmonary venous return (TAPVR), mainly the obstructive type represents the most riskful critical congenital heart defect requiring urgent surgery immediately after birth.

The Aim Of The Study: Analysis of surgical correction of TAPVR results performed from December 1992 to December 1998.

Methods: Twenty-seven patients underwent surgery for TAPVR.