Hyperthermic Isolated Limb Perfusion with TNF alpha and Cisplatin in the Treatment of Osteosarcoma of the Extremities: A Feasibility Study in Healthy Dogs.

Purpose. The feasibility of hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion (HILP) with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha ) and cisplatin for the management of osteosarcoma was studied in the canine model.Methods.

Primers containing universal bases reduce multiple amoA gene specific DGGE band patterns when analysing the diversity of beta-ammonia oxidizers in the environment.

The gene encoding the active site of the ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) has been exploited as molecular marker for studying ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) diversity in the environment. Primers amplifying functional genes are often degenerated and therefore produce multiple band patterns, when analysed with the Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) approach. To improve the DGGE band patterns we have designed new primer sets which contain inosine residues and are specific for the amoA gene.

Environmental pH as an important factor for the distribution of urease positive ammonia-oxidizing bacteria.

The effect of pH on ureolytic activity of a number of chemolithotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) has been studied in context with distribution patterns of these species. The pH-optima for urea-based nitrification were found to differ clearly among the examined species. Pronounced optima ranged between pH 5.

Male sexuality after cancer treatment--needs for information and support: testicular cancer compared to malignant lymphoma.

Testicular cancer (TC) as well as malignant lymphoma (ML), both have nowadays an excellent prognosis. However, both types of cancer may be diagnosed at young adulthood and patients may experience sexual concerns. In this article the need for information and support concerning sexuality will be explored, and the traumatic impact of cancer diagnosis with respect to this will be considered.

16S rRNA and amoA-based phylogeny of 12 novel betaproteobacterial ammonia-oxidizing isolates: extension of the dataset and proposal of a new lineage within the nitrosomonads.

The phylogenetic relationship of 12 ammonia-oxidizing isolates (eight nitrosospiras and four nitrosomonads), for which no gene sequence information was available previously, was investigated based on their genes encoding 16S rRNA and the active site subunit of ammonia monooxygenase (AmoA). Almost full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences were determined for the 12 isolates. In addition, 16S rRNA gene sequences of 15 ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) published previously were completed to allow for a more reliable phylogeny inference of members of this guild.

Value of continuous leakage monitoring with radioactive iodine-131-labeled human serum albumin during hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion with tumor necrosis factor-alpha and melphalan.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the value of continuous leakage monitoring with radioactive iodine-131-labeled human serum albumin (RISA) in patients treated with hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) and melphalan.

Methods: Forty-eight patients with melanoma (n = 14) or soft tissue sarcoma (n = 34) of an extremity underwent 51 perfusions. Perfusion was performed at the iliac level in 22 cases, at the popliteal level in 16 cases, at the femoral level in 7 cases, and at the axillary level in 6 cases.

Detailed phylogeny of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria determined by rDNA sequences and DNA homology values.

A comparison of the phylogeny of 38 isolates of chemolithoautotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, 16S-235 rDNA intergenic spacer region (ISR) sequences and species affiliations based on DNA homology values was performed. The organisms studied all belong to the beta-subclass of the Proteobacteria and included representatives of Nitrosomonas, Nitrosococcus and Nitrosospira. The similarity values of the 16S rDNA sequences were high, particularly within the Nitrosospira genus, and based on these sequences it is difficult to determine the phylogenetic position of some AOB.

Isolation and properties of obligately chemolithoautotrophic and extremely alkali-tolerant ammonia-oxidizing bacteria from Mongolian soda lakes.

Five mixed samples prepared from the surface sediments of 20 north-east Mongolian soda lakes with total salt contents from 5 to 360 g/l and pH values from 9.7 to 10.5 were used to enrich for alkaliphilic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria.

Design and analysis of coupling methods for modular endoprosthetic systems as an alternative to the conical coupling.

Modular endoprostheses are often used in bone tumor management. However, the conical coupling that connects the various modules has several shortcomings. As an alternative, four new couplings have been developed.

Frozen section investigation of the sentinel node in malignant melanoma and breast cancer.

Background: Intraoperative frozen section investigation allows immediate regional lymph node dissection when the sentinel node contains tumor. The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity of frozen section diagnosis of the sentinel node in melanoma and breast cancer patients.

Methods: A total of 177 sentinel nodes from 99 melanoma patients and 444 lymph nodes from 262 breast cancer patients were assessed by frozen section investigation.

Improved long term survival of patients with metastatic nonseminomatous testicular germ cell carcinoma in relation to prognostic classification systems during the cisplatin era.

Background: The current study reviews chronologic changes in the long term outcome of patients with metastatic nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors (NSTGCT) who were treated at a single institution during the past two decades. The 10-year survival of prognostic subgroups according to the classification of the International Germ Cell Consensus Classification Group (IGCCCG) and various other prognostic classifications is examined in time to evaluate whether cumulative experience has led to an improved outcome of patients with metastatic NSTGCT and to explore differences in outcome of prognostic subgroups.

Methods: Two hundred ninety-nine patients with metastatic NSTGCT who were treated with cisplatin-based polychemotherapy during the period from 1977 to 1996 were staged retrospectively according to the Royal Marsden (RM) classification and the following prognostic classifications: IGCCCG, Indiana, Medical Research Council (MRC), and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC).

Effect of specific or random c-DNA priming on sensitivity of tyrosinase nested RT-PCR: potential clinical relevance.

The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) can be of clinical relevance in identifying malignant melanoma cells in blood or tissues of patients at risk for disseminated melanoma. The diagnostic value of this marker however, is still controversial. The objective of this study was to compare and quantify the difference in sensitivity of the nested RT-PCR for tyrosinase, with respect to the method utilized to produce the template c-DNA.

Phylogeny of all recognized species of ammonia oxidizers based on comparative 16S rRNA and amoA sequence analysis: implications for molecular diversity surveys.

The current perception of evolutionary relationships and the natural diversity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) is mainly based on comparative sequence analyses of their genes encoding the 16S rRNA and the active site polypeptide of the ammonia monooxygenase (AmoA). However, only partial 16S rRNA sequences are available for many AOB species and most AOB have not yet been analyzed on the amoA level. In this study, the 16S rDNA sequence data of 10 Nitrosomonas species and Nitrosococcus mobilis were completed.

High tPA-expression in primary melanoma of the limb correlates with good prognosis.

To investigate whether the course of primary melanoma disease correlates with expression of the various components of the proteolytic plasminogen activation (PA) system, immunohistochemical stainings for activators of plasminogen (tissue type (tPA) and urokinase type (uPA)), inhibitors of plasminogen activation (type 1 (PAI-1) and type 2 (PAI-2)) and the receptor for uPA (uPAR) were performed on 214 routinely processed melanoma lesions. All lesions were primary cutaneous melanomas, minimally 1.5 mm thick, and derived from patients with only local disease at the moment of diagnosis (clinically stage II (T(3-4)N(0)M(0)), American Joint Committee on Cancer).

Lymphatic mapping with intralesional tracer administration in breast carcinoma patients.

Background: The objectives of the study were to determine how often a sentinel lymph node is visualized by lymphoscintigraphy in breast carcinoma patients, how often the sentinel lymph node is identified during surgery, and the sensitivity of these procedures to identify the presence of axillary lymph node metastasis.

Methods: A total of 136 patients were enrolled in 2 hospitals. Preoperative dynamic and static lymphoscintigraphy were performed; in addition, both a vital dye and a gamma detection probe were used intraoperatively.

Function and complications after ablative and limb-salvage therapy in lower extremity sarcoma of bone.

Background And Objectives: The functional results and the complications after several limb-saving and ablative treatments because of lower extremity bone sarcoma were evaluated.

Methods: Seventy-seven surviving patients were evaluated according to the MSTS (American Musculoskeletal Tumor Society) functional rating system. Fifty-two patients had limb-saving and 25 had ablative therapy.

Retroperitoneal metastases in testicular cancer: role of CT measurements of residual masses in decision making for resection after chemotherapy.

Purpose: To determine the relative importance of computed tomographic (CT) measurements for the prediction of histologic findings in residual masses in patients with nonseminomatous testicular cancer.

Materials And Methods: Measurements of the maximum transverse size of retroperitoneal metastases before and after chemotherapy were available in 641 patients who underwent resection after chemotherapy while their levels of tumor markers were normal. Radiologic measurements of mass size and clinical characteristics (histologic findings in primary tumor and levels of alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, and lactate dehydrogenase before chemotherapy) were related to histologic findings in the residual mass with logistic regression analysis.

Cardiovascular morbidity in long-term survivors of metastatic testicular cancer.

Purpose: To determine whether long-term survivors of metastatic testicular cancer have an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity more than 10 years after chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Eighty-seven patients treated with cisplatin-containing chemotherapy before 1987 who were in remission for at least 10 years and whose ages were View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Osteosarcoma of the pelvis--oncological results of 40 patients registered by The Netherlands Committee on Bone Tumours.

Aim And Methods: We reviewed the oncological outcome in 40 consecutive patients with an osteosarcoma of the pelvic region, registered in the files of the Netherlands Committee on Bone Tumours (NCBT) between 1978 and 1995.

Results: Six patients had distant metastases at initial presentation (Enneking stage IIIB), 33 patients had stage IIB osteosarcoma and one patient stage IB osteosarcoma. Patients with metastases were treated with chemotherapy (four) or palliative procedures (two).

Procalcitonin behaves as a fast responding acute phase protein in vivo and in vitro.

Objectives: Procalcitonin (PCT) is a 13 kD protein of which plasma concentrations are strongly increased in inflammatory states. PCT concentrations are claimed to have a more powerful discriminatory value for bacterial infection than the acute phase proteins serum amyloid A (SAA) or C-reactive protein (CRP). The source of production and its mechanism of induction are unknown.

Isolated limb perfusion with tumour necrosis factor-alpha and melphalan with or without interferon-gamma for the treatment of in-transit melanoma metastases: a multicentre randomized phase II study.

This open, multicentre, randomized phase II trial was conducted to determine the effect of isolated limb perfusion (ILP) with tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) in combination with melphalan with or without interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) in patients with in-transit metastases of melanoma of the limbs (MD Anderson stage IIIA or IIIAB, AJCC stage III). The 64 patients included were randomized to receive either a two- drug regimen consisting of TNFalpha and melphalan (TM-ILP) or a three-drug regimen consisting of TNFalpha, melphalan and INFgamma (TIM-ILP). Patients randomized to receive IFNgamma were pretreated for 2 days before the ILP with once daily 0.

Surgery versus surveillance in stage I non-seminoma testicular cancer.

Today, the standard treatment for patients with clinical Stage I non-seminomatous testicular germ cell tumors (NSTGCT) following orchidectomy is either primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) or close surveillance with cisplatin-based polychemotherapy in case of a relapse. Both treatment modalities provide excellent overall survival rates up to 100%. Consequently, selection of the most appropriate management option is not primarily guided by survival considerations.

Sentinel node biopsy for melanoma in the head and neck region.

Background: Lymphatic drainage in the head and neck region is known to be particularly complex. This study explores the value of sentinel node biopsy for melanoma in the head and neck region.

Methods: Thirty consecutive patients with clinically localized cutaneous melanoma in the head and neck region were included.

Geographic clustering of testicular cancer incidence in the northern part of The Netherlands.

Geographic variations in testicular cancer incidence may be caused by differences in environmental factors, genetic factors, or both. In the present study, geographic patterns of age-adjusted testicular cancer incidence rates (IRs) in 12 provinces in The Netherlands in the period 1989-1995 were analysed. In addition, the age-adjusted IR of testicular cancer by degree of urbanization was evaluated.