Interactions from complementary and alternative medicine in patients with melanoma.

Biological-based (BbCAM) methods from complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) may interact with cancer treatments, reduce efficacy, or enhance adverse effects. Although CAM usage has been evaluated well in other cancer entities, data on melanoma patients are still missing. The aim of this study was to determine CAM usage of melanoma patients using a standardized questionnaire to identify potential interactions with established and new systemic melanoma therapies.

Deep Neuromuscular Blockade Improves Laparoscopic Surgical Conditions: A Randomized, Controlled Study.

Introduction: Sustained deep neuromuscular blockade (NMB) during laparoscopic surgery may facilitate optimal surgical conditions. This exploratory study assessed whether deep NMB improves surgical conditions and, in doing so, allows use of lower insufflation pressures during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We further assessed whether use of low insufflation pressure improves patient pain scores after surgery.

[Refeeding syndrome in geriatric patients : A frequently overlooked complication].

The refeeding syndrome is a life-threatening complication that can occur after initiation of a nutrition therapy in malnourished patients. If the risk factors and pathophysiology are known, the refeeding syndrome can effectively be prevented and treated, if recognized early. A slow increase of food intake and the close monitoring of serum electrolyte levels play an important role.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine: A multicenter cross-sectional study in 1089 melanoma patients.

Background: About half of patients with cancer use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). So far, data on melanoma patients are missing.

Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence and predictors for the use of CAM in this patient group.

Radiotherapy for aneurysmal bone cysts : A rare indication.

Background: Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABC) are rapidly growing benign osseous lesions composed of blood-filled channels separated by fibrous septa. Since the value of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for ABC has not been well defined, the German Cooperative Group on Radiotherapy for Benign Diseases performed the national register study described herein.

Patients And Methods: Five German institutions collected data regarding clinical features, treatment concepts, and outcome for patients with ABC who had been referred for local EBRT over the past 30 years.

[Introduction of Prehospital Emergency Ultrasound into an Emergency Medical Service Area].

Background: Emergency ultrasound as part of the provision of emergency medical services using mobile devices offers great benefits regarding to some important questions related to the management of critically ill and injured patients in the prehospital situation where diagnostic resources are limited. The aim of this study is to determine whether the comprehensive introduction of prehospital emergency ultrasound examinations into a German Emergency Medical Services ("rescue services") area is both feasible and beneficial for patients.

Methods: All emergency physicians at a rural emergency physician base were trained in emergency ultrasound scanning techniques (FAST, FEEL, 14 h of instruction), followed by regular weekly training sessions of approximately 30 min.

Sport in the Rehabilitation of Patients After Total Laryngectomy.

Aim: Laryngectomy due to cancer leads to decreased physical activity of patients. Rehabilitation programs focus on the improvement of voice and swallowing but the role of rehabilitation sports for such patients is unknown.

Patients And Methods: We interviewed all 38 patients (five women, 33 men; median age 56 years) of our patient's advocacy group.

Labeling Human Melanoma Cells With SPIO: In Vitro Observations.

Objectives: To use the superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) contrast agent Resovist (±transfection agent) to label human melanoma cells and determine its effects on cellular viability, microstructure, iron quantity, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detectability.

Materials And Methods: Human SK-Mel28 melanoma cells were incubated with Resovist (±liposomal transfection agent DOSPER). The cellular iron content was measured, and labeled cells were examined at 1.

[Spincter preservation after selective chemoradiotherapy of rectal cancer. Interim results of the OCUM study].

Background: In a prospective multicenter observational study (OCUM) neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nRCT) was selectively administered depending on the risk of local recurrence and based on the distance between tumor and mesorectal fascia in pretherapeutic high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Objective: Frequency and quality of abdominoperineal excision (APE) and sphincter preserving operations.

Patients And Methods: Of 642 patients treated in 13 hospitals 389 received surgery alone and 253 nRCT followed by surgery.

Topotecan plus cyclophosphamide in adults with relapsed or refractory pediatric-type sarcoma: a retrospective analysis from the German Sarcoma Medical Oncology Group (AIO).

Background: To assess the efficacy and safety of topotecan and cyclophosphamide (TC) in adult patients with pediatric-type sarcoma subtypes who failed induction chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Patients with pediatric sarcoma subtypes, refractory to or relapsed after at least one prior induction chemotherapy, inoperable, ECOG PS 0-2, with measurable, progressive disease (PD), adequate organ functions, who have been treated with TC combination were retrospectively analysed within the AIO and SAREZ/BMBF network.

Results: Thirty-nine patients, median age 28 years (18-58), 14 females, 25 males, have been identified.

Radiotherapy for non-malignant disorders: state of the art and update of the evidence-based practice guidelines.

Every year in Germany about 50,000 patients are referred and treated by radiotherapy (RT) for "non-malignant disorders". This highly successful treatment is applied only for specific indications such as preservation or recovery of the quality of life by means of pain reduction or resolution and/or an improvement of formerly impaired physical body function owing to specific disease-related symptoms. Since 1995, German radiation oncologists have treated non-malignant disorders according to national consensus guidelines; these guidelines were updated and further developed over 3 years by implementation of a systematic consensus process to achieve national upgraded and accepted S2e clinical practice guidelines.

WFUMB guidelines and recommendations for clinical use of ultrasound elastography: Part 2: breast.

The breast section of these Guidelines and Recommendations for Elastography produced under the auspices of the World Federation of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB) assesses the clinically used applications of all forms of elastography used in breast imaging. The literature on various breast elastography techniques is reviewed, and recommendations are made on evidence-based results. Practical advice is given on how to perform and interpret breast elastography for optimal results, with emphasis placed on avoiding pitfalls.

Effect of reversal of neuromuscular blockade with sugammadex versus usual care on bleeding risk in a randomized study of surgical patients.

Background: Previous studies show a prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time in healthy volunteers after treatment with sugammadex. The authors investigated the effect of sugammadex on postsurgical bleeding and coagulation variables.

Methods: This randomized, double-blind trial enrolled patients receiving thromboprophylaxis and undergoing hip or knee joint replacement or hip fracture surgery.

Evaluation of real-time tissue sono-elastography in the assessment of 214 breast lesions: limitations of this method resulting from different histologic subtypes, tumor size and tumor localization.

Real-time sono-elastography is an ultrasound-based technique used to estimate tissue elasticity. Several publications have reported that this method has the ability to differentiate between malignant and benign breast lesions. However, on the basis of current literature, sono-elastography returned false-negative results in 25% of cases with certain lesions, such as mucinous carcinoma.

[Radiotherapy in painful gonarthrosis. Results of a national patterns-of-care study].

Background And Purpose: After a patterns-of-care study (PCS) in 2003/2004 addressing benign disorders in general, the German Cooperative Group on Radiotherapy for Benign Diseases (GCG-BD) conducted several multicenter cohort studies including the use of radiotherapy (RT) in painful gonarthrosis (GNA).

Material And Methods: From 2006 to 2008, a PCS for GNA was conducted in all German RT institutions using a standardized structured questionnaire. Patient accrual, patient number, pretreatment, pain record, treatment indications, RT technique, and target volume concepts for painful GNA were assessed.

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) with cages and local bone graft in the treatment of spinal stenosis.

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) implants are increasingly being used for 360 degrees fusion after decompression of lumbar spinal stenosis combined with degenerative instability. Both titanium and PEEK (PolyEtherEtherKetone) implants are commonly used. Assessing the clinical and radiological results as well as typical complications, such as migration of the cages, is important.

A prospective morphological study of facet joint integrity following intervertebral disc replacement with the CHARITE Artificial Disc.

In degenerative disc disease (DDD), increased loading in the posterior column increases facet joint subchondral bone density and may lead to facet joint degeneration. While spinal fusion is commonly used to treat patients with symptomatic DDD, increased stress at the levels adjacent to fusion may accelerate facet joint and adjacent segment degeneration. Artificial disc replacements have been developed as an alternative to fusion.

[Bilateral symmetrical obliteration syndrome of the subclavian-brachial system in the elderly female].

The case of an elderly woman is reported, presenting with a bilateral-symmetrical occlusive disease of the subclavian-brachialis-axis in combination with Horton's arteriitis. Early intraarterial thrombolysis may be an appropriate first-line treatment to favourably influence complicated coagulation phenomena.

[Schwannomas of the stomach].

One benign and one malignant schwannoma of the stomach are presented. The gross appearance, degree of local invasion and the complications are demonstrated by double-contrast radiology technique and CT. Benign schwannomas can only be distinguished from the malignant ones on the basis of histological and immunohistochemical criteria.