Prospective validation of a lymphocyte infiltration prognostic test in stage III colon cancer patients treated with adjuvant FOLFOX.

Background: The prognostic value of lymphocyte infiltration (LI) of colorectal carcinoma (CC) has been demonstrated by several groups. However, no validated test is currently available for clinical practice. We previously described an automated and reproducible method for testing LI and aimed to validate it for clinical use.

Sodium storage in human tissues is mediated by glycosaminoglycan expression.

The current paradigm regarding sodium handling in animals and humans postulates that total body sodium is regulated predominately via regulation of extracellular volume. Active sodium storage independent of volume retention is thought to be negligible. However, studies in animals, hypertensive patients, and healthy humans suggest water-free storage of sodium in skin.

Clinical validation for the aldosterone-to-renin ratio and aldosterone suppression testing using simultaneous fully automated chemiluminescence immunoassays.

Background: As larger numbers of hypertensive patients are screened for primary aldosteronism with the aldosterone-to-renin ratio (ARR), automated analyzers present a practical solution for many laboratories. We report the method-specific ARR cutoff determined with direct, automated chemiluminescence immunoassays allowing the simultaneous measurement of plasma aldosterone concentrations (PACs) and plasma renin concentrations (PRCs).

Methods: Method comparisons to commonly employed assays and tandem mass spectrometry were undertaken.

Local treatments for metastases of renal cell carcinoma: a systematic review.

Local treatment of metastases such as metastasectomy or radiotherapy remains controversial in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma. To investigate the benefits and harms of various local treatments, we did a systematic review of all types of comparative studies on local treatment of metastases from renal cell carcinoma in any organ. Interventions included metastasectomy, radiotherapy modalities, and no local treatment.

Nephron-sparing resection of angiomyolipoma after sirolimus pretreatment in patients with tuberous sclerosis.

Purpose: Renal angiomyolipoma in patients with tuberous sclerosis can cause life-threatening bleeding. Embolization or resection is recommended, but either intervention may result in substantial loss of renal function. Recently, regression of angiomyolipoma size has also been achieved with mTOR inhibitor therapy, but recurrent lesion growth after treatment cessation has to be expected.

Management of chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura: targeting insufficient megakaryopoiesis as a novel therapeutic principle.

Traditionally, anti-platelet autoantibodies accelerating platelet clearance from the peripheral circulation have been recognized as the primary pathopysiological mechanism in chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Recently, increasing evidence supports the co-existence of insufficient megakaryopoiesis. Inadequate low thrombopoietin (TPO) levels are associated with insufficient proliferation and differentiation of megakaryocytes, decreased proplatelet formation, and subsequent platelet release.

Multicentric and multifocal versus unifocal breast cancer: is the tumor-node-metastasis classification justified?

For classification of breast cancer (BC), tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging has been considered state of the art for more than 50 years. The T category is well defined, and in multicentric and multifocal tumors, tumor size is assessed by the largest tumor focus. The aim of this study was to compare multicentric/multifocal tumor spread in breast cancer with unifocal disease and to evaluate the diagnostic relevance of multifocality.

Quality of life, anxiety, and oncological factors: a follow-up study of breast cancer patients.

Background: The number of long-term survivors of breast cancer has increased over recent decades because of many treatment advances. Thus, long-term quality of life (QoL) and factors affecting it are of growing research interest.

Objective: The authors investigated longitudinal changes in QoL and anxiety in breast cancer patients and differences in QoL and anxiety in various oncological subgroups.

The role of chemokines in acute renal allograft rejection and chronic allograft injury.

Short and long term outcome of renal transplantation are determined by acute and chronic rejection processes. In acute transplant rejection, expression of chemokines occurs in different renal compartments where it is triggered through various stimuli e.g.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy in patients with locally confined prostate cancer: association of prostatic citrate and metabolic atrophy with time on hormone deprivation therapy, PSA level, and biopsy Gleason score.

This study was undertaken to determine respective associations between prostatic citrate or metabolic atrophy (no detectable citrate, choline, and creatine) at magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and time on hormone-deprivation therapy, serum PSA, and biopsy Gleason score. Clinical data, histopathology reports and PSA levels of 36 patients on hormone-deprivation therapy (age, 64+/-9 years, pre-therapeutic biopsy Gleason sum, median 6, range 3-8, antiandrogens only, n=3, LHRH-analogues only, n=4, combined hormone-deprivation therapy, n=29, duration, 27+/-19 weeks) for locally confined prostate cancer (PCA) were retrospectively correlated with findings in the peripheral zone of the prostate at 3D-MRS (endorectal coil, PRESS, TR 1,000 ms, TE 130 ms). The results show that citrate was usually detected after 13 weeks or less of hormone-deprivation therapy (10/12 vs.

Patients with recurrent breast cancer: does the primary axillary lymph node status predict more aggressive tumor progression?

Background: The extent of axillary lymph node involvement represents the foremost important prognostic parameter in primary breast cancer, and, thus, is one of the main determinants for subsequent systemic treatment. Nevertheless, the relevance of the initial axillary lymph node status on survival after disease recurrence is discussed controversially. Persisting prognostic impact after relapse would identify lymph node status as a marker for tumor biology, in contrast to a simply time-dependent phenomenon.