Image analysis and multi-layer perceptron artificial neural networks for the discrimination between benign and malignant endometrial lesions.

Background: This study aims to investigate the efficacy of an Artificial Neural Network based on Multi-Layer Perceptron (ANN-MPL) to discriminate between benign and malignant endometrial nuclei and lesions in cytological specimens.

Methods: We collected 416 histologically confirmed liquid-based cytological smears from 168 healthy patients, 152 patients with malignancy, 52 with hyperplasia without atypia, 20 with hyperplasia with atypia, and 24 patients with endometrial polyps. The morphometric characteristics of 90 nuclei per case were analyzed using a custom image analysis system; half of them were used to train the MPL-ANN model, which classified each nucleus as benign or malignant.

HER-2/neu (657-665) represents an immunogenic epitope of HER-2/neu oncoprotein with potent antitumor properties.

The HER-2/neu oncoprotein is a promising cancer vaccine target. We describe herein a novel HLA-A2.1-restricted epitope, encompassing amino acids 657-665 (AVVGILLVV), which is naturally presented by human breast and ovarian cell lines.

Treatment of MCF-7 cells with taxol and etoposide induces distinct alterations in the expression of apoptosis-related genes BCL2, BCL2L12, BAX, CASPASE-9 and FAS.

We studied alterations in the mRNA expression levels of BCL2 (Bcl-2), BCL2L12, BAX, FAS and CASPASE-9 genes in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line in response to treatment with two anticancer drugs. Cell toxicity was evaluated by the MTT method, trypan blue staining and DNA laddering, whereas the expression levels of the apoptosis-related genes were analysed by RT-PCR using gene-specific primers. In the case of etoposide, down-regulation of the BCL2L12-A gene variant and of CASPASE-9, as well as upregulation of BAX, was observed, whereas treatment of MCF-7 cells with taxol led to down-regulation of the mRNA levels of all genes examined.

Primary and metastatic ovarian cancer in patients with prior breast carcinoma. Pre-operative markers and treatment results.

Background: The pre-operative diagnosis of primary and metastatic malignant ovarian tumors in patients treated for breast cancer is difficult. The objective of this study was to analyze and compare the characteristics and outcome of women with a history of breast cancer in order to identify pre-operative markers useful in differential diagnosis and the role of surgery in their management.

Materials And Methods: The medical records of 36 patients with a history of breast cancer, who had been operated on either for primary or metastatic cancer between 1987 and 2003, were reviewed retrospectively.

Multimodal analgesia with gabapentin and local anesthetics prevents acute and chronic pain after breast surgery for cancer.

We evaluated the effect of multimodal analgesia on acute and chronic pain after breast surgery for cancer. Fifty patients scheduled for breast cancer surgery were blindly randomized to receive gabapentin, eutectic mixture of local anesthetics cream, and ropivacaine in the wound or three placebos. Pain (visual analog scale) and analgesics were recorded in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) 3, 6, and 9 h and 8 days after surgery.

Immunogenic HER-2/neu peptides as tumor vaccines.

During the last decade, a large number of tumor-associated antigens (TAA) have been identified, which can be recognized by T cells. This has led to renewed interest in the use of active immunization as a modality for the treatment of cancer. HER-2/neu is a 185-KDa receptor-like glycoprotein that is overexpressed by a variety of tumors including breast, ovarian, lung, prostate and colorectal carcinomata.

Systemic ondansetron antagonizes the sensory block produced by intrathecal lidocaine.

In this prospective randomized, double-blind study, we investigated the effect of ondansetron on the lidocaine subarachnoid block. Fifty-four male patients scheduled for transurethral surgery under subarachnoid anesthesia received oral ondansetron 4 mg the evening before surgery and 4 mg IV 15 min before subarachnoid anesthesia (ondansetron group) or placebo (placebo group). Two milliliters of 5% hyperbaric lidocaine was administered intrathecally.

Solitary parenchymal splenic recurrence of ovarian adenocarcinoma: a case report and review of the literature.

We report a rare case of solitary parenchymal splenic recurrence of epithelial ovarian cancer which developed 27 months after the initial treatment. The patient, a 53-year-old woman, with a history of breast cancer, underwent total abdominal hysterectomy bilateral salpingo-ophorectomy (TAH & BSO), omentectomy and pelvic lymph node sampling for a serous carcinoma of the ovaries (stage IIIB). She subsequently received 6 cycles of cisplatinum chemotherapy.

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with solid tumors and lymphomas: predisposing factors and outcome.

Aim: The incidence of Pneumonocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is increasing in patients with cancer. The possible routes of transmission in this population, as well as the epidemiological data of PCP, are not very well understood. The collection and analysis of data concerning the predisposing factors for PCP will elucidate this subject.

Needling of the extra 1 point decreases BIS values and preoperative anxiety.

Acupuncture has anxiolytic effects. We investigated the effect of acupuncture on the Bispectral Index (BIS) values and anxiety. Fifty patients were randomly assigned to group A to receive acupuncture for 15 minutes on the extra 1 point (yintang) or to group C, where they received the same treatment on a control point located 2 cm lateral to the end of the right eyebrow.

Expression of the RNA-binding protein CRD-BP in brain and non-small cell lung tumors.

The coding region determinant-binding protein (CRD-BP) is an RNA binding protein that recognizes c-myc and IGF-II leader 3 mRNAs as well as the oncofetal H19 RNA. CRD-BP exhibits an oncofetal pattern of expression and has been detected in the majority of colon (81%), breast (58.5%) and sarcoma (73%) tumors.

Transdermal clonidine: does it affect pain after abdominal hysterectomy?

Clonidine has analgesic properties. We evaluated the analgesic effect of clonidine perioperatively. Forty patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy received randomly the evening before surgery transdermal clonidine covered with overlay (CLO group) or the overlay alone (CTL group).

In vivo antitumor activity of NKT cells activated by the combination of IL-12 and IL-18.

Interleukin-12 and IL-18 have been demonstrated to potentiate innate immunity in a variety of experimental tumor models, but the functional roles of NK and/or NKT cells and their mechanism of action in these models have not been fully addressed. Through adoptive transfer of NKT cells activated in vitro with a combination of IL-12 plus IL-18 (IL-12/IL-18 NKT) into syngeneic animals, we demonstrate in this study that IL-12/IL-18 NKT cells are essential and collaborate with the host's own NK cells in natural host immunity against the growth of ALC and MC57X syngeneic tumors. The relative roles of the adoptively transferred IL-12/IL-18 NKT cells and endogenous NK cells in host protection were first shown in normal C57BL/6 (B6) mice treated with anti-asialo GM1 Ab that selectively depletes NK cells; second, in B6.

Pressure applied on the extra 1 acupuncture point reduces bispectral index values and stress in volunteers.

Unlabelled: We investigated the effect of pressure application on the acupuncture point "extra 1" and on a control point on the bispectral index (BIS) values and on stress in 25 volunteers. In each volunteer, pressure was applied on the extra 1 point for 10 min and on a control point for 5 min on different days and in a randomized manner. The BIS value was recorded before applying pressure on the extra 1 point, during pressure application every 30 s for 10 min, and after pressure release.

8q24 Copy number gains and expression of the c-myc mRNA stabilizing protein CRD-BP in primary breast carcinomas.

The coding region determinant binding protein (CRD-BP) was isolated by virtue of its high affinity to the c-myc mRNA coding region stability determinant and shown to shield this message from nucleolytic attack, prolonging its half-life. CRD-BP is normally expressed during fetal life but is also activated de novo in tumors. Considering that aberrant CRD-BP expression may represent an additional mechanism interfering with c-myc regulation, we screened 118 primary breast carcinomas for CRD-BP expression, 60 of which had also been analyzed by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH).

Physostigmine does not antagonize sevoflurane anesthesia assessed by bispectral index or enhances recovery.

Unlabelled: In this double-blinded study, we investigated the effect of physostigmine on sevoflurane anesthesia and recovery. Forty female patients scheduled for breast biopsy were randomly assigned to receive either physostigmine 2 mg IV or an equal volume of normal saline after skin closure. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with sevoflurane in oxygen.

C-MYC and IGF-II mRNA-binding protein (CRD-BP/IMP-1) in benign and malignant mesenchymal tumors.

Mouse coding region determinant-binding (mCRD-BP) and human IGF-II mRNA-binding 1 (hIMP-1) proteins are orthologous mRNA-binding proteins that recognize c-myc and IGF-II mRNA, respectively, and regulate their expression posttranscriptionally. Here, we confirm that human CRD-BP/IMP-1 binds to c-myc mRNA and that it is predominantly expressed in fetal tissues. Moreover, hCRD-BP/IMP-1 expression was detected in cell lines of neoplastic origin and in selected primary tumors.

Hypnotic and cardiovascular effects of proprietary and generic propofol formulations do not differ.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to compare the potency of two different propofol formulations: proprietary and generic propofol using the bispectral index (BIS) monitoring.

Methods: Forty female patients undergoing breast surgery received propofol 3 mg x kg(-1) followed by propofol infusion adjusted to maintain a 40% BIS value, supplemented by 50% nitrous oxide. Proprietary or generic propofol was administered in a randomized double-blind manner.

Regional block and mexiletine: the effect on pain after cancer breast surgery.

Background And Objectives: Breast surgery for cancer is associated with chronic pain and sensory abnormalities. The present study investigates the effect of regional block, oral mexiletine, and the combination of both, on acute and chronic pain associated with cancer breast surgery.

Methods: One hundred patients scheduled for cancer breast surgery received either regional block with 18 mL of 1% ropivacaine intraoperatively and oral mexiletine for the first 6 postoperative days (R + M group), or regional block and placebo (R + PL), or normal saline instead of ropivacaine and mexiletine (PL + M), or normal saline and placebo (PL + PL).

Labdane type diterpenes down-regulate the expression of c-Myc protein, but not of Bcl-2, in human leukemia T-cells undergoing apoptosis.

Sclareol (1) and ent-3beta-hydroxy-13-epi-manoyl oxide (2) belong to the labdane type diterpenes. They were isolated from the leaves and from the fruits of Cistus creticus subsp. creticus, and were found to be active against human leukemic cell lines.

Linear and nonlinear analysis of pressure and flow during mechanical ventilation.

Objective: Linear modeling as a method of exploring respiratory mechanics during mechanical ventilation, was compared to nonlinear modeling for flow dependence of resistance in three distinct groups of patients, those with: (a) normal respiratory function (NRF), (b) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or (c) adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Design And Patients: Airways opening pressure (Pao), flow (V'), and volume (V) signals were recorded in 32 ICU mechanically ventilated patients, under sedation and muscle relaxation (10 NRF, 11 COPD, 11 ARDS). All patients were ventilated with controlled mandatory ventilation mode at three levels of end-expiratory pressure (PEEPe): 0, 5, and 10 hPa.

EMLA reduces acute and chronic pain after breast surgery for cancer.

Background And Objectives: A significant percentage of women undergoing breast surgery for cancer may develop neuropathic pain in the chest, and/or ipsilateral axilla and/or upper medial arm, with impairment in performing daily occupational activities. We designed this study to determine if the perioperative application of EMLA (eutectic mixture of local anesthetics; AstraZeneca) cream in the breast and axilla area reduces analgesic requirements, as well as the acute and chronic pain after breast surgery.

Methods: Forty-six female patients scheduled for breast surgery received randomly 5 g of EMLA or placebo on the sternal area 5 minutes before surgery, and 15 g on the supraclavicular area and axilla at the end of the operation.

Self-citations in six anaesthesia journals and their significance in determining the impact factor.

Self-citation of a journal may affect its impact factor. We investigated self-citations in the 1995 and 1996 issues of six anaesthesia journals by calculating the self-citing and self-cited rates for each journal. Self-citing rate relates a journal's self-citations to its total number of references.

The analgesic efficacy of intravenous tenoxicam as an adjunct to patient-controlled analgesia in total abdominal hysterectomy.

Unlabelled: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs may reduce postoperative opioid consumption. We evaluated the analgesic efficacy of preoperatively administered tenoxicam in patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy. Patients were randomly assigned to receive IV either normal saline 4 mL (Group NS), tenoxicam 20 mg (Group T20), or tenoxicam 40 mg (Group T40) before the induction of anesthesia in a double-blinded fashion.

Determination of c-myc amplification and overexpression in breast cancer patients: evaluation of its prognostic value against c-erbB-2, cathepsin-D and clinicopathological characteristics using univariate and multivariate analysis.

C-myc and c-erbB-2 amplification and/or overexpression as well as total cathepsin-D (CD) concentration have been reported to be associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer. The prognostic significance, however, remains somewhat controversial, partly because of discrepancies among the different methodologies used. We determined the amplification and overexpression of c-myc oncogene in 152 breast cancer patients and examined its prognostic value in relation to c-erbB-2 amplification and overexpression, high concentration of CD (> or = 60 pmol mg(-1) protein) and standard clinicopathological prognostic factors of the disease.