Women's Experiences of Sequelae After Mastectomy: A 3, 6, and 12 Months' Follow-up Study.

Background: Postoperative experiences after breast cancer surgery, such as lymphedema, phantom breast sensations, persistent chronic pain, and changes in body image and sexuality, can negatively impact women's quality of life.

Objective: To investigate women's experiences of sequelae at 3, 6, and 12 months after mastectomy.

Methods: A survey including women ≥18 years, cognitively intact, and Danish speaking was conducted from May 2021 to October 2021.

Efficacy of the intertransverse process block: single or multiple injection? A randomized, non-inferiority, blinded, cross-over trial in healthy volunteers.

Introduction: The intertransverse process block is increasingly used to ameliorate postoperative pain following a plethora of surgical procedures involving the thoracic wall. Nevertheless, the optimal approach and cutaneous extent of the sensory block are currently unknown. We aimed to further describe the intertransverse process block, single injection versus multiple injection, and we hypothesized that the single-injection intertransverse process block is a non-inferior technique.

The intertransverse process block single- or multiple-injection? A study protocol.

Background And Aims: Intertransverse process (ITP) blocks are applied on the posterior side of the thoracic paravertebral space. The modality is described as being a paravertebral block by proxy, possibly providing a similar analgesic effect as the thoracic paravertebral block. However, systematic evidence on anaesthetised dermatomes and the extent of cutaneous sensory loss following ITP blocks is sparse.

Auger electron therapy of glioblastoma using [I]5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine and concomitant chemotherapy - Evaluation of a potential treatment strategy.

Introduction: Treatment of glioblastomas (GBM) using the Auger electron emitting compound [I]5-Iodo-2'-deoxyuridine ([I]I-UdR), combined with the thymidylate synthase inhibitor methotrexate (MTX) and concomitant chemotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ) has recently shown very promising therapeutic effects in vitro and in vivo in animals. The aim of the current study was to investigate if the therapeutic effects of this multimodal treatment strategy could be further increased by the thymidylate synthase inhibitor, 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (F-UdR), in comparison to MTX, and if the co-treatment should be given in a neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting.

Methods: A patient-derived GBM cancer stem cell (CSC)-enriched cell line, grown as neurospheres, was employed to evaluate DNA-incorporation of [I]I-UdR, determined by a DNA precipitation assay, using either pre-treatment or co-treatment with MTX or F-UdR.

Highly Effective Auger-Electron Therapy in an Orthotopic Glioblastoma Xenograft Model using Convection-Enhanced Delivery.

Glioblastoma, the most common and malignant primary brain tumor, always recurs after standard treatment. Therefore, promising new therapeutic approaches are needed. Short-range Auger-electron-emitters carry the ability of causing highly damaging radiation effects in cells.

Localisation of the classical DNA satellites on human chromosomes as determined by primed in situ labelling (PRINS).

The chromosomal localisation and relative amounts in humans of the classical DNA satellites I, II and III have been determined by using the primed in situ labelling reaction with a variety of oligonucleotide primers. The centromeres of seven of the human chromosomes, viz. nos 6, 8, 11, 12, 18, 19 and X, are not identifiably marked by any of the primers.

Extreme variant of the short arm of chromosome 15.

Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, primed in situ labelling, and conventional cytogenetic staining we have characterized an excessively enlarged short arm of chromosome 15. The likely mechanism explaining this variant chromosome involves amplification of rDNA sequences followed by inverted insertional translocation between the enlarged sister chromatids of the short arm of chromosome 15.

Selective miscarriage of Down's syndrome fetuses in women aged 35 years and older.

Objective: To estimate the fetal loss of Down's syndrome fetuses between the time of chorionic villus sampling (10 weeks gestation) and the time of amniocentesis (16 weeks gestation) and term in women aged 35 years and older.

Design: The age specific prevalence rates in the first trimester of Down's syndrome were estimated using the Danish cytogenetic register in combination with results from four published studies. These were compared with the reported prevalence at the time of amniocentesis and at birth.

Partial deletion 11q: report of a case with a large terminal deletion 11q21-qter without loss of telomeric sequences, and review of the literature.

We describe the cytogenetic findings and the dysmorphic features in a stillborn girl with a large de novo terminal deletion of the long arm of chromosome 11. The karyotype was 46,XX,del(11)(q21qter). By reviewing previous reports of deletion 11q, we found that cleft lip and palate are most frequently seen in proximal 11q deletions involving 11q21.

Staining of human telomeres with primed in situ labeling (PRINS).

As described, the PRINS method is a very rapid and reliable way of staining human telomeres. To obtain the maximum frequency of stained telomeres, the primer (CCCTAA)7 should be used, although the average frequency never quite reaches 100%. The frequency is strongly dependent on the age of the individual, being significantly higher in children and newborns than in adults.

Ring chromosome 20 with loss of telomeric sequences detected by multicolour PRINS.

A ring chromosome 20 in a male infant with epileptic seizures, mental and somatic growth retardation, and behavioural disturbances is described. Conventional cytogenetics revealed the karyotype to be 46,XY,r(20)(pter-->qter) and no signs of mosaicism were found. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation using the clone p20Z1 identified the ring to be derived from chromosome 20.

A routine method for storing lymphocytes for repeated isolation of DNA.

A protocol for easy storage and later expansion of lymphocyte populations is given. Compared with methods using transformed cell lines, the method has a number of advantages for repeated production of cells for the isolation of DNA in amounts sufficient for use in diagnostic DNA technology.

Prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis after transabdominal chorionic villus sampling in the first trimester.

First trimester prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis was attempted in 350 pregnancies after transabdominal chorionic villus sampling. The cytogenetic investigation was performed using both a short-term method (24 h incubation) and cell culture. Adequate samples were obtained in 99.

Convoluted cells as a marker for maternal cell contamination in CVS cultures.

In order to identify cells of maternal origin in CVS cultures, tissue from 1st trimester abortions were cultivated and the cultures stained in situ for X-chromatin. Convoluted cells and maternal fibroblasts were found to be positive. By chromosome analysis of cultures from 105 diagnostic placenta biopsies, obtained by the transabdominal route, metaphases of maternal origin were found in nine cases.

Spontaneous abortion following mid-trimester amniocentesis. Clinical significance of placental perforation and blood-stained amniotic fluid.

The clinical significance of placental perforation and blood-stained amniotic fluid was studied in a group of 7238 Danish women undergoing mid-trimester amniocentesis for prenatal diagnosis under ultrasound guidance. The risk of spontaneous abortion was significantly increased both in pregnancies where the placenta was perforated and in those with blood-stained amniotic fluid. The risk estimate nearly doubled after placental perforation and more than doubled with a bloody tap.

Admixture of maternal metaphases in first trimester direct chromosome preparations?

The autoradiographic labelling of different cell types in chorionic villi and decidual tissue was investigated after [3H]-thymidine incorporation in vitro. Although the extent of labelling was found to be lower in decidual than in villus tissue the possibility that direct chromosome preparations may contain maternal metaphases should be considered. The need for careful selection of villi for direct cytogenetic analysis was stressed.

Transabdominal chorionic villi sampling for first trimester fetal diagnosis. First 26 pregnancies followed to term.

A consecutive series of 26 women followed to term after first trimester transabdominal chorionic villi sampling is presented. The clinical application of transabdominal chorionic villi sampling (TA-CVS) seems to have certain advantages, especially from the patients' point of view, but also in regard to successful sampling and to the complication ratio. The results in this clinical trial revealed no cases of abortions, no signs of placental damage and no cases of vaginal bleeding or infections.

Results of in vitro fertilization and culture of human ova.

Using a technique with different media for fertilization and subsequent culture, cleavage of at least one oocyte was achieved in 35 (83%) out of 42 consecutive patients. A total of 138 oocytes (74 pre-ovulatory, 20 non-ovulatory and 44 atretic) were inseminated in vitro. Fifty-two (70%) of the pre-ovulatory oocytes clove and of these 37 (72%) developed apparently normally to the morula or blastocyst stage, while cleavage of the remaining 15 (28%) was characterized by an abnormal growth curve or abnormal morphology of the embryo.

Selective inhibition of fibroblasts by spermine in primary cultures of normal human skin epithelial cells.

Overgrowth with fibroblasts has been a major problem in the cultivation of normal human skin epithelium. In the present study it is shown that the addition of spermine to the culture medium in micromolar concentrations has a differential cytotoxic effect on fibroblasts allowing the cultivation of human skin epithelial cells in primary culture without fibroblastic overgrowth. Putrescine, another polyamine, is shown to be equally cytotoxic to fibroblasts and epithelial cells when added in millimolar concentrations; below this concentration range no cytotoxic effect could be demonstrated.