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Biomedical subjects

H Lippert

Publications and source records attributed to H Lippert.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Prognostic parameters determining survival in pancreatic carcinoma and, in particular, after palliative treatment.

Prognosis and outcome of patients with pancreatic carcinoma is poor. The aim of the study was to investigate (1) which factors of medical history and clinical status as well as which laboratory parameters determine survival in pancreatic carcinoma and (2) whether specific data can be used as prognostic parameters or for early diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma. In total, 287 patients with pancreatic carcinoma were enrolled in the study. In 193 subjects, only palliative treatment was possible. Survival was assessed using univariate survival probability curves by Kaplan-Meier. Comparison of patient groups with regard to survival was achieved using the log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was carried out using the Cox regression model. Overall, 22 factors, showing a significant impact on survival in pancreatic carcinoma were found, e.g., tumor-associated factors such as (1) tumor stage according to the UICC classification including TNM-based staging, grading, tumor site, and vascular infiltration; (2) preoperative habits and signs and symptoms (physical condition, pain, loss of appetite, ethanol consumption); (3) change of laboratory parameters (CA 19-9, bilirubin, prothrombin time, urea, C-reactive protein), and (4) type of intervention (surgical approach, R0/1/2 resection). Using multivariate analysis, seven factors (UICC tumor stage and site, surgical intervention including number of resected lymph nodes, chemotherapy, occurence of a carcinoma in relatives, preoperative physical condition, night sweat) were determined. In the 193 patients with palliative treatment, only ten factors (among them UICC tumor stage including the presence of metastases; data from the medical history such as physical condition, loss of appetite, and carcinoma in relatives, and laboratory parameters including prothrombin time, protein content, and aspartate aminotransferase levels) were found to be important. Chemotherapy had the strongest impact on survival which was confirmed by multivariate analysis, followed by tumor stage (UICC) and preoperative appetite. Besides tumor-associated determinants, data from the medical history, and pathological laboratory parameters, the prognosis in pancreatic carcinoma is considerably determined by the treatment such as interventional and/or using antineoplastic agents.

Adult↗

Ergotamine-induced acute vascular insufficiency of the lower limb--a case report.

Ergotamine-containing drugs are widely used in the treatment of acute migraine attacks. Spastic vasoconstriction is one of the possible side effects usually affecting the lower extremities and sometimes leading to gangrene. A 28-year-old woman was hospitalized for severe acute arterial insufficiency of the limbs. The initial surgical approach was not successful since the diagnosis was missed. Overuse of ergotamine derivative was acknowledged by the patient, who had a long history of migraine headaches. Therefore, the patient was treated conservatively with intravenous heparin and prostaglandin infusion and sympatheticolysis via epidural catheter. The vascular complications, angiographic findings, and different modalities of treatment of ergotamine-induced peripheral vascular insufficiency of the lower limb are reviewed.

Acute Disease↗

[History of lymphadenectomy].

The present reflection of lymphadenectomy's history shows that the following questions have been discussed since about 100 years: How does the lymph node dissection affect the treatment of cancer? Does it reduce the local recurrence rate? Does a lymph node dissection improve the survival rate or permit a more specific staging of the tumour's extension? The principles of metastatic ways as well as their mechanisms have already been discussed in the 1920s.

Germany↗

[The status of port-site recurrence].

Since laparoscopic surgery has been applied to cancer, an increased number of secondary tumors implanted in the abdominal wall have been reported. Quality of surgery is paramount in the incidence of port-site recurrences. In large prospective series of laparoscopic colorectal surgery, their incidence (around 0.85%) was similar to that reported in open surgery (0.6 to 1.6%) while it is higher for unapparent gallbladder cancer (around 15%) due to direct wound contamination. Viable tumor cells are seeded by inadequate surgical technique or released by advanced tumors. Tumor cells are carried across the abdominal cavity by peritoneal fluid currents and surgical instruments, not by CO2 pneumoperitoneum. CO2 modifies the morphology of mesothelial cells and inhibits peritoneal macrophages. Differences in retroperitoneal/subserosal/intraluminal tumor xenograft models show that CO2 laparoscopy reduces tumor growth when compared to gasless laparoscopy and laparotomy. The local effects of pneumoperitoneum in the wound might be counteracted by using inert gases such as helium, drug-loaded CO2 or various antiadhesive or cytotoxic agents. In clinical practice, port-site recurrences can be effectively prevented by careful surgical technique and prophylactic wound irrigation.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

[Treatment strategy in iatrogenic perforation of the large intestine].

Iatrogenic perforation of the colon is a rare but feared complication of coloscopy with an incidence of up to 0.3%. During a period of 12 years we saw 14 perforations of this kind. The therapeutic approach varies with the state of peritonitis and type of perforation. Conservative primary therapy should only be chosen in rare cases. Classic operative therapy ranges from simple suturing to partial resection of the colon, in cases including even formation of a colostomy. In case of diffuse peritonitis discontinuity resection following Hartmann is still recognized as a secure procedure. Lethality of 7.1% in our own patients confirms the effectivity of conventional operating methods.

Aged↗

[Leben im Eismeer - Tauchuntersuchungen zur Biologie arktischer Meerespflanzen und Meerestiere]

Die Maske wird nochmals auf Dichtigkeit überprüft, der Knoten der Sicherungsleine mit zwei halben Schlägen fixiert, dann rutscht die Taucherin von der Eiskante in das kalte Wasser. Eine halbe Stunde vergeht, bevor ihr Kopf wieder aus dem Eisloch auftaucht und sie ein großes Sammelnetz nach oben reicht, gefüllt mit verschiedenen Arten von Makroalgen. Obwohl noch große Flächen des Kongsfjordes im arktischen Spitzbergen zugefroren sind und das Festland von einer dicken Schneedecke bedeckt ist, hat unter Wasser in den Algenwäldern bereits der Sommer und damit die Saison der Meeresbiologen begonnen.

Journal Article↗

[Multiple metachronous metastases of renal cell carcinoma in the pancreas. Case report and review of the literature].

Isolated pancreatic metastases from renal-cell carcinomas (RCC) are extremely rare. Only 96 cases of clinically diagnosed renal-cell carcinoma metastatic to the pancreas have been reported in the world literature, and 70 of the patients (including ours) underwent a definitive surgical resection. In many cases the time between the nephrectomy and diagnosis of metachronous metastases is reported to exceed 10 years. Therefore, the initial diagnosis may be overlooked when there is a prolonged disease-free interval. When it does occur simultaneously or metachronously, aggressive surgical resection, when possible, seems to be the most effective treatment for this metastatic lesion. Surgical resection can provide long-term survival in selected cases. We present the case of a 69-year-old woman in whom two pancreatic metastases were treated by a left-sided subtotal pancreatectomy with splenectomy, 12 years after radical nephrectomy for a RCC. The patient simultaneously presented with both a mass in the body of the pancreas and a right-sided colon cancer. Thus, the diagnosis of pancreatic metastasis of colon cancer was suspected initially. Both tumors were radically resected, and histological examination revealed two pancreatic metastases from the previous RCC. In the world literature this report represents the eighth case of multiple pancreatic metastases due to RCC. It illustrates a rare indication of pancreatic resection because of pancreatic metastasis. The need for prolonged follow-up of patients is emphasized. The few reports on surgically treated pancreatic metastases from RCC are reviewed after the presentation of this case.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Multivariate analysis of risk factors for postoperative complications in benign goiter surgery: prospective multicenter study in Germany.

Risk factors for postoperative complications of benign goiter surgery have not been investigated systematically. To this end, a prospective multicenter study (January 1 through December 31, 1998) was conducted involving 7266 patients with surgery for benign goiter from 45 East German hospitals. High-volume providers (>150 operations per year) performed 69% (5042/7266), intermediate-volume providers 27% (50-150), and low-volume providers 4% (258/7266) of operations. Among the hospital groups, the pattern of thyroid disease did not vary significantly, but there was a trend that small-volume providers tended to perform more operations for uninodular goiter and high-volume providers treated more patients with Graves' disease and recurrent goiter. Extent of resection (p < 0.0001) and remnant size (multinodular goiter and recurrent goiter, p < 0.001), differed significantly, with total thyroidectomy being performed more often in hospitals with more than 150 operations compared to hospitals with an operative volume of less than 150 procedures per year. Despite the larger extent of resection and smaller remnant size, rates of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy or hypoparathyroidism were not increased. When the logistic regression analyses were fitted to evaluate the impact of risk factors on transient and permanent RLN palsy and hypoparathyroidism, larger extent of resection [relative risk (RR) 1.5-2.1] and recurrent goiter (RR 1.8-3.4) consistently evolved as independent risk factors. With hypoparathyroidism, additional significant factors included patient gender (RR 2.1-2.4), hospital operative volume (RR 0.8-1.5), and Graves' disease (RR 2.8). Unlike parathyroid gland identification during hypoparathyroidism, RLN identification (RR 1.6) significantly (p = 0.01) reduced permanent RLN palsy rates. The multivariate analyses clearly confirmed the pivotal role of routine RLN identification, independent of the extent of the thyroid resection. These findings might help hospitals with lower operative volumes to identify patients at increased risk whom they might consider for specialist care.

Adult↗

Oxidative stress in lung tissue induced by CO(2) pneumoperitoneum in the rat.

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials have found that the pneumoperitoneum has potentially hazardous side effects. The biochemical basis of organ injury induced by pneumoperitoneum is, however, not well defined. Since oxidative stress is believed to play an important role in many pathological conditions, we set out to examine oxidative stress markers in the lung, liver, kidney, and pancreas by using a rat model of laparoscopy with CO(2) pneumoperitoneum and comparing it to a group with gasless laparoscopy. METHODS: Malondialdehyde (for lipid peroxidation), protein-bound carbonyls (for protein oxidation), reduced and oxidized glutathione, and the neutrophil marker myeloperoxidase were evaluated in tissue homogenates at 2 h, 6 h, and 18 h after laparoscopy. Immunoblotting was used to analyze the modification of lung proteins by 4-hydroxynonenal at 6 h. RESULTS: Significant lipid peroxidation was found selectively in lungs at 2 h and 6 h after CO(2) pneumoperitoneum. This was accompanied by a loss of glutathione but only minor protein oxidation. Further, lung proteins were clearly modified by the aldehydic product of lipid peroxidation 4-hydroxynonenal. Myeloperoxidase in lungs increased continuously up to 18 h in both experimental groups, but there were higher levels in the group with pneumoperitoneum. CONCLUSION: Oxidative stress is likely to contribute to the impairment of pulmonary function after laparoscopic operations using a CO(2) pneumoperitoneum.

Analysis of Variance↗

Thoracoscopic enucleation of benign tumors of the esophagus under simultaneous flexible esophagoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Benign tumors of the esophagus are very rare, accounting for only 0.1-2% of all esophageal tumors. Conventional treatment consists of thoracotomy adapted to the location of the tumor, followed by enucleation of the lesion. This approach, however, involves major surgery. Minimally invasive surgery represents a viable therapeutic alternative, in particular for benign tumors. METHODS: In four patients with a benign tumor of the esophagus, we carried out thoracoscopic enucleation under simultaneous esophagoscopy. RESULTS: Using this combination of endoscopic procedures, the tumors were removed reliably and safely. Two of the lesions were intramural leiomyomas, and two were intramural myxoid cysts. CONCLUSION: This combination of endoscopic procedures represents a minimally invasive approach with correspondingly minor surgical trauma. Using simultaneous esophagoscopy and transillumination (diaphanoscopy) of the esophageal wall, the safety and accuracy of the dissection is increased, and the risk of mucosal perforation minimized.

Esophageal Neoplasms↗

Endoscopic treatment of clinically symptomatic leaks of thoracic esophageal anastomoses.

BACKGROUND: The mortality of thoracic anastomotic leakage following esophageal reconstruction has been reported to be as high as 60%. Early septic fulminant suture line leaks require rethoracotomy. In addition, however, clinically symptomatic leaks may also occur 2 to 7 days after resection of the esophagus. METHODS: Among 80 esophageal reconstructions performed between January 1994 and July 1998, a total of 7 (8.75%) clinically apparent leaks of thoracic anastomoses were observed. The standard treatment consisted of endoscopic lavage, drainage and subsequent closure of the defect by repeated intraluminal and submucosal applications of fibrin glue. In 2 patients a novel approach permitting rapid closure by plugging the fistula with a Vicryl-cylinder was tried. In 4 patients the effect of endoscopic treatment on the HLA-DR expression on monocytes was investigated and compared to 6 patients with intact anastomoses. RESULTS: All 7 patients were successfully treated via endoscopy. The cylinder plug achieved immediate closure of the leak. The measured change in HLA-DR expression reflected the improvement in the inflammatory response and thus documented the success of endoscopic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic management of thoracic leakages represents a safe and relatively noninvasive therapeutic option.

Adult↗

Mdm2 gene amplification in gastric cancer correlation with expression of Mdm2 protein and p53 alterations.

Mdm2, localized on chromosome 12, is considered a negative regulator of p53 function and seems to play a role in the pathogenesis of a variety of tumors. The mdm2 amplification in advanced-stage gastric carcinoma has not yet been investigated. Mdm2 amplification was determined in 43 gastric carcinomas, and the genetic results were correlated with mdm2 protein expression, p53 alterations, and clinicopathologic data. The tumors were classified according to Lauren: 20 intestinal-type tumors, 19 tumors of diffuse growth inclusive of a primary small cell carcinoma, and 4 carcinomas with mixed differentiation. Staging was based on the pTNM classification system. Mdm2 and p53 were demonstrated by immunohistology on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tumor tissue. The mdm2 oncogene was amplified by nonradioactive hybridization of tumor DNA with an mdm2 cDNA probe. The Southern blots were evaluated densitometrically. For p53 mutation screening, we analyzed the highly conservative regions of the p53 gene (exons 4 to 8) with the use of the polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism technique. Polymerase chain reaction products with band shifting were directly sequenced. Mdm2 amplification was demonstrated in 18 tumors (41.8%). The mdm2 gene was amplified more frequently in carcinomas with a diffuse growth pattern. Gastric carcinomas of the intestinal type, however, showed a higher frequency of p53 alterations. There was no statistical significance of the molecular genetic and immunohistologic results of the mdm2/p53 status to staging as well as to age and sex of the patients. The mdm2/p53 pathway is a part of the carcinogenesis of gastric carcinoma. Only approximately 20% of gastric carcinomas failed to show mdm2 and/or p53 alterations. The upregulation of the mdm2 oncogene and the accompanying inactivation of the tumor suppressor gene 53 seem to play a role above all in carcinomas of the diffuse type.

Adult↗

Description of an intraperitoneal tumour xenograft survival model in the pig.

AIMS: Experimental animal studies are necessary if the results of minimally invasive oncological surgery are to be improved. In particular the influence of surgical technique on tumour implantation needs further assessment. Small animals such as rodents are inappropriate for such laparoscopic surgical studies. There is a requirement for another animal tumour model with animals greater in size. METHODS: Accordingly we developed an intraperitoneal tumour xenograft survival model using the domesticated pig. After creating a 12 mmHg pneumoperitoneum, 10(7)human HeLa cells were injected into the peritoneal cavity of nine non-syngeneic animals to induce tumour xenograft. Resection of the sigmoid colon using four trocars and a transanal double-stapling technique was performed. The mean operating time was 69 min. No signs of post-operative pain symptoms were observed, and all the animals survived the procedure and gained weight. After 4 weeks, the animals were sacrified and all incision sites and anastomoses were excised. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining with antihuman pancytokeratin antibodies confirmed tumour implants in 25 out of 36 port-sites (63.8%). No peritoneal carcinosis nor tumour implants at anastomosis sites were observed. CONCLUSION: This intraperitoneal xenograft tumour model in the pig can be applied in survival studies to check the quality of surgical techniques and its influence on tumour implantation following laparoscopy for cancer.

Animals↗

Retroperitoneal schwannoma presenting as an adrenal tumor.

A retroperitoneal tumor in the region of the adrenal gland was diagnosed in a 56-year-old woman. The patient had been suffering from a dull abdominal pain for nearly four weeks before consulting her family physician. Ultrasound, CT and MRI scans revealed a giant tumor of the right adrenal gland. Endocrine activity could not be demonstrated. The size of the tumor was suggestive of an adrenal carcinoma. The patient was referred for adrenalectomy and complete exstirpation of the retroperitoneal mass. The histological examination revealed characteristical findings of a benign schwannoma.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor treatment on ex vivo neutrophil functions in nonneutropenic surgical intensive care patients.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) preferentially stimulates growth and differentiation of neutrophil precursors and activates neutrophil functions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the functional response of the neutrophil to exogenous recombinant human G-CSF (rHuG-CSF) in nonneutropenic patients. In 30 surgical intensive care unit patients with severely impaired wound healing, leukocyte differential count, plasma G-CSF level, and a broad spectrum of neutrophil functions were monitored before (day 0), throughout (days 1 and 5), and at days 1 and 5 after stopping G-CSF treatment. G-CSF application resulted in a 3.5-fold increase in peripheral blood granulocyte count at day 5 of treatment. The mean plasma G-CSF level rose from 48 to a maximum of 2314 pg/ml at day 1 of G-CSF therapy. Neutrophil chemotaxis and stimulated lysozyme release were decreased throughout G-CSF treatment, whereas respiratory burst activity, phagocytic activity, and intracellular calcium concentration were enhanced by G-CSF. Neutrophil membrane depolarization remained unaffected. The increased count and activation state of neutrophils were associated with clinical improvement in most of these patients. Thus, G-CSF may be a useful adjuvant treatment for nonneutropenic patients with severely impaired wound healing.

Adult↗

Laparoscopic management of a late-diagnosed major diaphragmatic rupture.

A 20-year-old male patient was admitted to our emergency ward because of acute respiratory insufficiency following gastroscopy 2 years after a car accident. The chest radiograph showed migration of the stomach into the left hemithorax. A large diaphragmatic hernia was diagnosed and repaired laparoscopically using slowly resorbable sutures and patches. Diaphragmatic rupture secondary to blunt thoracic or abdominal trauma is a rare injury, whose diagnosis may be delayed. The majority of these defects are diagnosed during laparotomy performed for other major abdominal lesions. If diaphragmatic rupture is suspected, and no lesion of a parenchymatous organ has been diagnosed, there is a role for diagnostic laparoscopy. In the absence of other abdominal injuries, diaphragmatic rupture can be repaired by minimal-access surgery.

Adult↗

Prospective multicenter study of antibiotic prophylaxis in operative treatment of appendicitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A prospective, multicenter observation study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis in the operative treatment of appendicitis. METHODS: Between June 1996 and May 1997, a total of 4,968 patients underwent an operation for appendicitis at 34 East German hospitals. 41.4% (n = 2,424) received perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis whereas in 58.9% of the cases this was not given. The patients who received antibiotic prophylaxis constituted a negative selection, both with regard to risk factors and to the stage of inflammation. RESULTS: In the total test group, the rate for septic disorders of wound healing amounted to 2.5% (n = 120). The use of antibiotic prophylaxis makes it possible to significant lower the incidence of postoperative septic disorders of wound healing (p < 0.001). In both conventional (0.7% with prophylaxis vs. 3.8% without) and in laparoscopic appendectomy (0 vs. 1.0%) the rate for septic disorders of wound healing can be reduced (p < 0.001). The global comparison irrespective of possible antibiotic prophylaxis shows a significant advantage for appendectomies which started with laparoscopy (p = 0.008), but in the subgroups with prophylaxis this advantage is completely neutralized (p = 0.78). CONCLUSION: From this one can deduce that conventional appendectomy with antibiotic prophylaxis comprises no higher risk of wound infection than laparoscopy, since the risk of conversion exists for every operation begun by laparoscopy. These results would lead to the conclusion that antibiotic prophylaxis should be given before every appendectomy, whether by laparoscopy or conventional methods.

Adolescent↗