Clinicopathological, immunohistochemical and molecular correlation of neural crest transcription factor SOX10 expression in triple-negative breast carcinoma.

The transcription factor SOX10 mediates the differentiation of neural crest-derived cells, and SOX10 by immunohistochemistry (IHC) is used primarily for the diagnosis of melanoma. SOX10 expression has been previously documented in benign breast myoepithelial cells. However there is limited literature on its expression in triple-negative breast carcinoma (TNBC).

Direct Repair of Iatrogenic Internal Carotid Artery Injury During Endoscopic Endonasal Approach Surgery With Temporary Endovascular Balloon-Assisted Occlusion: Technical Case Report.

Background And Importance: Iatrogenic internal carotid artery (ICA) injuries during endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) surgeries are associated with a high morbidity and mortality, with few acceptable methods described for repair.

Clinical Presentation: A 13-year-old girl with a large anterior and central skull base osteoblastoma incurred an iatrogenic cavernous ICA injury during a staged EEA approach. Intraoperative angiogram was performed with balloon-assisted EEA primary microsurgical repair of the lacerated ICA.

Advances in transoral fundoplication for oesophageal reflux.

Background: The purpose of this review was to evaluate transoral fundoplication devices for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease that have been commercially available within the last 5 years.

Methods: Literature databases including Medline and Pubmed were searched from January 2005 to November 2010. Both blinded and unblinded randomized studies were evaluated.

Obesity and the development of type 2 diabetes: the effects of fatty tissue inflammation.

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic with multiple obesity-associated health problems including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Adipose tissue serves as a fuel storage depot, but also plays a pivotal role in homeostasis of energy expenditure, appetite regulation, glucose regulation, and immunity. Both genetics and environment play important roles in adipose tissue function and dysfunction.

Changes in physiology with increasing fat mass.

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the USA with a nearly fourfold rise in the prevalence of childhood obesity. There are many possible etiologies of obesity as the adipose tissue plays a significant, complex role in the physiology of fuel metabolism and hormone regulation. The development of obesity represents a pathophysiologic increase in fat mass in which multiple metabolic pathways are deranged.

Impact of Medicare changes in pharmacy reimbursement on patient care: two case reports.

Purpose: Two case reports illustrate the impact of changes in pharmacy reimbursement associated with the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act (MMA) on patient care.

Summary: The Medicare Part D benefit is complex and difficult for patients to understand. A patient's personal financial situation and quality of life issues may enter into decisions about enrolling in Part D and the use of drug therapy.

Long-term outcome of Hodgkin disease patients following high-dose busulfan, etoposide, cyclophosphamide, and autologous stem cell transplantation.

Busulfan (Bu)-based preparative regimens have not been extensively investigated in Hodgkin disease (HD). The purposes of this study were to investigate the toxicity and efficacy of a novel preparative regimen of Bu 14 mg/kg, etoposide 50-60 mg/kg, and cyclophosphamide 120 mg/kg in patients with primary refractory and relapsed HD. One hundred twenty-seven patients with a median age of 33 years (range, 14-67 years) underwent transplantation.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting: prevention and therapy.

As we enter the new millennium, the armamentarium available to treat and prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting continues to expand. There remains a finite incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, particularly among high-risk populations. This review examines recent studies of drugs, both new and old, and their impact on postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis and treatment.

High disease burden is associated with poor outcomes for patients with acute myeloid leukemia not in remission who undergo unrelated donor cell transplantation.

Results were analyzed for 48 consecutive patients with acute myeloid leukemia not in remission who underwent unrelated donor bone marrow or stem cell transplantation between 1991 and February 2003 at 2 transplant centers. Forty-six were adults with a median age of 32 years (range, 4-58 years). Forty-two were HLA-A, -B, and -DR matched with their respective donors, and 6 were mismatched at 1 of these loci.

Molecular neuro-oncology and the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for brain tumors. Part 5: apoptosis and cell cycle.

Brain tumors are a diverse group of malignancies that remain refractory to conventional treatment approaches. Molecular neuro-oncology has now begun to clarify the transformed phenotype of brain tumors and identify oncogenic pathways that might be amenable to targeted therapy. Abnormalities of the apoptotic and cell cycle signaling pathways are key molecular features of many brain tumors and are currently under evaluation for potential therapeutic intervention.

Long-term morbidity in children treated with fractionated high-dose-rate brachytherapy for soft tissue sarcomas.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term local control, disease-free survival, and morbidity of fractionated high-dose-rate brachytherapy (F-HDR) in infants and children with soft tissue sarcomas.

Patients And Methods: Fifteen children (13 girls and 2 boys, ages 5-101 months) with soft tissue sarcomas were treated with chemotherapy, organ-preserving surgery, and F-HDR (36 Gy in 12 fractions) to post-chemotherapy volumes. External beam radiotherapy was not part of the primary treatment, although four patients (27%) subsequently received salvage external beam radiotherapy after treatment failure.

Intraoperative electron beam treatment for pediatric malignancies: The Ohio State University experience.

Purpose: To report the result of intraoperative electron beam radiation therapy (IOERT) in patients with extensive pediatric tumors.

Method: From October 1989 through June 2000, 13 children were treated with chemotherapy, maximal surgery, and 10-15 Gy IOERT at a total of 18 sites. IOERT was used for palliative purposes in 5 children with metastatic disease and in 3 others who were previously treated with external beam radiation (EBRT).

Comparison of three remifentanil dose-finding regimens for coronary artery surgery.

Objectives: To identify the remifentanil dosing regimen providing safe and optimal anesthetic conditions during coronary artery bypass graft surgery and to evaluate postoperative recovery characteristics.

Design: Open-label, randomized, parallel group.

Setting: Three centers in the United States.

Assessment of gadobenate dimeglumine for magnetic resonance angiography: phase I studies.

Rationale And Objectives: To assess the vascular contrasting properties of a new MR contrast agent (gadobenate dimeglumine [Gd-BOPTA]), which presents higher relaxivity because of reversible, weak protein interaction, and, to compare these properties with a standard gadolinium agent.

Materials And Methods: Two phase I trials compared intraindividually: (A) the vascular contrasting properties of Gd-BOPTA at three doses (0.0125, 0.

Review of the molecular genetics and chemotherapeutic treatment of adult and paediatric medulloblastoma.

Medulloblastoma is the most common primary brain tumour in children and accounts for 25% of newly diagnosed cases. Recent advances in treatment have extended 5-year survival rates from 3 - > 70% during the past 50 years. These improvements in survival have resulted from a multi-modality approach that includes surgical resection, posterior fossa and craniospinal irradiation and chemotherapy for selected, high-risk patients.

A prospective study of discontinuing primary and secondary Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia prophylaxis after CD4 cell count increase to > 200 x 106 /l.

Objective: To assess the incidence of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) after discontinuation of either primary or secondary prophylaxis.

Design: This was a prospective, non-randomized, non-blinded study.

Setting: Twenty-five University-based AIDS Clinical Trials Group units.

Novel chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of brain cancer.

Brain cancer encompasses both primary and metastatic brain tumours and accounts for over 120,000 new patients each year. Despite aggressive therapy, the majority of patients with brain cancer have poor prognosis and have brief survival intervals. Current chemotherapy drugs, used alone or in combination, have minimal or only modest activity.

Solitary fibrous tumor of the vagina.

We report of a solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) of the vagina and discuss the differential diagnosis. This is the first SFT documented, to our knowledge. SFTs should be included in the differential diagnosis of fibroblastic, myofibroblastic, and neural lesions of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and mucosa and can be distinguished from other spindle cell neoplasms at those sites.

A cost-effective thoracoscopic treatment strategy for pediatric spontaneous pneumothorax.

Background: Recent data suggest that children have a higher incidence of recurrence than adults after nonoperative treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) allows efficacious therapy with significantly less morbidity. We attempt to define the most cost-effective clinically efficacious strategy using VATS to manage pediatric PSP.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the skin.

We report a case of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMF) of the skin in a female with a history of Wegeners granulomatosis. The patient had a painless, erythematous, and indurated lesion of the left elbow. The resected specimen revealed a 4 cm x 3 cm nodule involving the entire dermis and superficial portions of subcutis with a stellate profile at scanning magnification.

Influence of atracurium on the diaphragm mean action potential conduction velocity in canines.

Background: It has been shown that progressive neuromuscular blockade (NMB) affects the electromyogram power spectrum and compound muscle action potential duration in skeletal muscle. These measures are linked to the mean muscle action potential conduction velocity (APCV), but no studies have confirmed a relation between the mean APCV and NMB. The aim of this study was to determine whether diaphragm mean APCV is affected by NMB.

Differential impact of obesity on glucose metabolism in black and white American adolescents.

Background: The authors have previously demonstrated abnormalities in glucose and insulin metabolism in nondiabetic black American (BA) adults versus white American (WA) adults. Whether similar glucoregulatory alterations extend to BA adolescents remain unknown. In addition, obesity, a known risk factor for insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, occurs in a greater proportion of BA adults and children when compared to WA.

Effects of lactose intake on lactose digestion and colonic fermentation in preterm infants.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether doubling the lactose concentration in formula for preterm infants lowers the fraction of lactose digested and/or increases the fraction of lactose fermented. Six preterm infants, 31 to 36 weeks' postconceptional age, were fed a standard preterm formula (carbohydrate is 50% lactose and 50% glucose polymer)(SC) and/or the same volume of formula modified to contain lactose as the sole carbohydrate (LAC). Relative lactose digestion during the LAC formula feeding compared with SC formula feeding was measured by using a stable isotope approach for quantifying the fractional contribution of formula lactose to plasma glucose enrichment.

A left atrial pseudomass: potential pitfall at thoracic MR imaging.

We frequently observed a nodular soft-tissue structure in the region of the left atrium anterior to the orifice of the left inferior pulmonary vein on MR scans of the chest. To assess its morphologic characteristics and appearance, chest MR scans obtained in 49 patients were reviewed. ECG-gated conventional spin-echo T1-weighted and fast spin-echo (FSE) T2-weighted sequences were used.