Individualized treatment of gastric cancer: Impact of molecular biology and pathohistological features.

Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. The overall prognosis remains poor over the last decades even though improvements in surgical outcomes have been achieved. A better understanding of the molecular biology of gastric cancer and detection of eligible molecular targets might be of central interest to further improve clinical outcome.

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma - factors influencing outcome and disease-free survival.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Liver transplantation can be a curative treatment in selected patients. However, there are several factors that influence disease-free survival after transplantation.

Suture granuloma mimicking a recurrent sacro-coccygeal pilonidal sinus after Limberg flap.

Sacro-coccygeal pilonidal sinus disease is classified as an asymptomatic, acutely abscess-forming or chronic subcutaneous inflammation in the sacro-coccygeal region featuring characteristic pits in the bottom cleft. Due to high rates of recurrence, two flap techniques have been established in the course of the past three decades. One of them is the Karydakis operation, the other option is a rotation flap named Limberg procedure.

Predictive factors for survival and recurrence rate in patients with node-negative gastric cancer--a European single-centre experience.

Purpose: Gastric cancer is a common disease with poor prognosis. Lymph node involvement is the strongest prognostic factor regarding survival in curatively (R0) resected patients. The aim of this study was to determine if a subgroup with higher risk for tumour recurrence exists in patients with node-negative gastric cancer.

Microbiology of the infected recurrent sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus.

The aim of the present retrospective single centre study was to define the changes in the microbiological flora of the recurring sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus (PS). Microbiological findings of swab samples of abscess-forming PS from 2000 to 2010 were evaluated. Within this time span, 73 swab samples were taken from primary sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus (pPS) and 23 swab samples of patients with recurring sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus (rPS).

Clinical symptoms and sonographic follow-up after surgical treatment of nonparasitic liver cysts.

Background: The optimal treatment of nonparasitic liver cysts is still a topic of debate. Only symptomatic cysts are being considered as requiring treatment. Aim of this study is to evaluate our experience with this disease over the past ten years with a structured follow-up program.

Waiting time, not donor-risk-index, is a major determinant for beneficial outcome after liver transplantation in high-MELD patients.

Background: Due to the increasing donor shortage, patients undergo liver transplantation actually mostly with high MELD-scores. In this study, we analyze high-MELD patients who underwent liver transplantation at a german single center.

Material And Methods: Since implementation of the MELD-score within the Eurotransplant region (December 2006) up to May 2011, 45 patients with a lab-MELD-score ≥ 36 underwent liver transplantation at our center.

Liver transplantation for hilar cholangiocarcinoma--a single-centre experience.

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma is an infrequent malignancy, often unresectable at the time of diagnosis. Liver transplantation may offer a chance for cure, but results in the past have been disappointing, prompting transplant centres to adopt multimodal treatment protocols and extreme patient selection.

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the outcome of patients with irresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma undergoing liver transplantation in order to determine criteria for patient selection.

Long-term results and prognostic factors after resection of hepatic and pulmonary metastases of colorectal cancer.

Background: Resection of colorectal liver or lung metastases is an established therapeutical concept at present. However, an affection of both these organs is frequently still regarded as incurable.

Methods: All cancer patients are documented in our prospective cancer registry since 1995.

New methods for clinical pathways-Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) and Tangible Business Process Modeling (t.BPM).

Purpose: Clinical pathways (CP) are nowadays used in numerous institutions, but their real impact is still a matter of debate. The optimal design of a clinical pathway remains unclear and is mainly determined by the expectations of the individual institution. The purpose of the here described pilot project was the development of two CP (colon and rectum carcinoma) according to Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) and Tangible Business Process Modeling (t.

Non-curative gastric resection for patients with stage 4 gastric cancer--a single center experience and current review of literature.

Purpose: The majority of patients with gastric cancer present with an advanced stage and, therefore, may not be eligible for curative treatment. The role of non-curative gastric resection in situations other than emergency treatment for life threatening tumor-related complications is still under discussion.

Methods: Data from 290 consecutive patients with advanced gastric cancer who were treated in our hospital were analyzed.

Impact of clinical and pathohistological characteristics on the incidence of recurrence and survival in elderly patients with gastric cancer.

Background: Gastric cancer is one of the most frequent malignant tumors worldwide. Despite improvements in diagnostic procedures, as well as the introduction of multimodal treatment strategies, the overall prognosis remains poor. The role of gastric resection in elderly patients with gastric cancer has not been clearly defined as yet.

Resection of liver metastases is beneficial in patients with gastric cancer: report on 15 cases and review of literature.

Background: Although up to 9% of patients with gastric cancer develop liver metastases, liver resection is rarely performed because of co-existing non-curative factors. Furthermore, the benefit of liver resection is still controversially discussed. Our goal was to investigate the outcome of patients who underwent liver resection or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatic metastasized gastric cancer.

Predictors of long-term survival in patients with colorectal liver metastases: a single center study and review of the literature.

Purpose: Prognosis after resection of liver metastases of colorectal cancer is influenced by a variety of clinical factors. For more than 20 years, efforts have been made to restructure and simplify prognostic parameters into clinical scores. We evaluated the influence of various clinical and pathological factors on survival and recurrence and developed a simple model for risk stratification.

Relationship between degree of chromosomal aberration and survival in intestinal-type gastric cancer - a preliminary report based on three cases of hepatic metastasized gastric cancer with long-time survival.

Background: Gastric cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies worldwide. More than 50% of all patients present with advanced stage of disease, with long-time survival of less than 5%. In selected subgroups, palliative gastric resection seems to be beneficial for survival and improved quality of the remaining life time, but is still controversially discussed.

Stent migration to the ileum: a potentially lethal complication after Montgomery salivary bypass tube placement for hypopharyngeal stenosis after laryngectomy.

Background: Montgomery salivary bypass tubes (MSBTs) have been used for decades in the treatment of stenoses and fistulae of the hypopharynx and the cervical esophagus. Generally, MSBT use is not associated with serious complications. Only a small number of cases with severe MSBT-associated complications have been reported in the literature.

Thrombin-mediated hepatocellular carcinoma cell migration: cooperative action via proteinase-activated receptors 1 and 4.

Proteinase-activated receptor-1 (PAR(1)), a thrombin receptor and the prototype of a newly discovered G-protein-coupled receptor subfamily, plays an important role in tumor development and progression. In this study, we documented the expression of the thrombin receptors PAR(1), PAR(3), and PAR(4) in permanent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines and primary HCC cell cultures. Stimulation of HCC cells with thrombin and the PAR(1)-selective activating peptide, TFLLRN-NH(2), increased transmembrane migration across a collagen barrier.