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Biomedical subjects

M Schemper

Publications and source records attributed to M Schemper.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Prognostic factors of radically operated stage Ib cervix cancer].

The present retrospective study attempts to evaluate the significance of factors such as age, histological type, histological grading, tumour size, lymph node metastases and tumour infiltration of the corpus uteri. Between 1975 and 1988, 312 patients were operated at our department or referred to postoperative radiotherapy. They fulfilled the inclusion criteria: histopathological stage Ib and radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy. The multivariate analysis confirmed, that the factors histological grading (G3 vs G1 + G2: relative risk (RR) = 2.66; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.36-5.18), tumour size (tumour infiltration of the cervix greater than 2/3 vs less than 2/3: RR = 2.36; 95% CI = 1.07-5.17), and pelvic lymph node metastases (positive vs negative: RR = 5.36; 95% CI = 2.70-10.65) are of significant importance for the survival. The results show, that patients with a cervical carcinoma in FIGO stage IB, with an infiltration of more than two thirds of the cervix with a more or less differentiation and with or without positive lymph node status, should be classified as high risk patients. In these unfavourable situations, a prospective randomised study should clarify the success rate of adjuvant therapy.

Adult↗

Dacron versus polytetrafluoroethylene for Y-aortic bifurcation grafts: a six-year prospective, randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: A prospective, randomized trial was conducted to compare Dacron with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) in reconstructive aortoiliac surgery. No comparable trial with a prospective, randomized design with a comparable number of patients or an equal long-term follow-up period can be found in the literature. METHODS: Between 1984 and 1989, 165 patients were randomized for either Dacron or ePTFE on the basis of age, sex, indication for surgery, diabetes, nicotine consumption, runoff, and operative approach. The two groups were well matched for randomization criteria, as well as the incidence of aneurysms. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found between the two graft materials in terms of patency rates (corrected 3-year patency rates: Dacron = 95% vs ePTFE = 95%; Breslow, p = 0.83; Mantel-Cox, p = 0.74). Subgroup analysis comparing long-term patency rates of the two graft materials and relating them to poor runoff, good runoff, aneurysms, and arterial occlusive disease also failed to show any significant differences between ePTFE and Dacron. Early graft failure (n = 6; 3.6% of the patient population; p = 0.045) and severe abdominal graft infection (n = 3; 1.8% of the total population) were seen only in ePTFE grafts. However, these did not affect the corrected long-term patency rate of ePTFE grafts. There were five late graft failures with PTFE (3.0%) and four with Dacron (2.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Graft materials currently available for aortoiliac repair were comparable in terms of corrected long-term patency rates. The alleged advantages of PTFE were not confirmed by our data. PTFE grafts were associated with a higher rate of complications, and more redo operations were required to duplicate the results obtained with Dacron.

Aorta↗

Extra-anatomic femoro-femoral crossover bypass (FF) vs. unilateral orthotopic ilio-femoral bypass (IF): an attempt to compare results based on data matching.

Some surgeons feel that femoro-femoral suprapubic crossover bypass (FF) is the treatment of choice in unilateral artery disease, whereas others reserve this procedure for the rare high risk patient. Results and their evaluation seem to differ depending upon the indications and the patients elected for comparison. We analysed 57 consecutive patients, who received a FF-PTFE graft between 1977 and 1989 (age 48-95 years; male/female 47/10; preoperative clinical status [Fontaine Classification] St. II: 19%, St. III: 58%, St. IV: 23%; diabetics: 14; smokers: 40). The estimated cumulative primary and secondary patency according to the Kaplan-Meier method were 52 +/- 10% (three grafts at risk) and 63 +/- 10% (six grafts at risk), respectively at 5 years. There was no statistical difference in the secondary patency comparing patients with a good and bad run-off (Breslow, Mantel-Cox). The cumulative 5-year survival was 35 +/- 7% (nine patients at risk). The results were compared with those obtained in a group of 150 patients, in whom an unilateral ilio-femoral (IF) retroperitoneal orthotopic graft had been implanted for the same indication and within the same period. Comparing the primary patency of FF and IF patients (55 +/- 6%; 24 grafts at risk) no significant difference could be seen at 5 years. But there was a significant difference in the 5-year survival rates, being in favour of the IF-group (43 +/- 5%; 43 patients at risk) suggesting that both groups were not comparable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Serum melatonin in central precocious puberty is lower than in age-matched prepubertal children.

In children a progressive decrease in nocturnal serum melatonin (MT) has been shown with advancing age, suggesting a reduction in the amplitude of the circadian MT curve with maturation. Whether this alteration of MT levels is related to human sexual maturation or occurs independently remains to be elucidated. Also, the impact of gonadal steroids on the MT rhythm remains an open question. We examined 56 patients (51 females and 5 males) with central precocious puberty (52 idiopathic and 4 neurogenic). Patients were studied before and 3, 6, and 12 months after initiation of GnRH analog treatment. Three hundred and thirty-seven endocrinologically normal subjects (190 males and 147 females) served as controls. In all subjects nocturnal serum MT (blood collection between 2300 and 0100 h) was measured with a highly specific RIA. In young patients, aged 1-5 yr, we found significantly lower MT levels than in age-matched controls. Pubertal patients, aged 5-9 yr, displayed nocturnal MT levels in the same range as control subjects approaching normal pubertal age. In contrast to endocrinologically normal children, there was no age-dependent decrease in nocturnal MT in untreated precocious puberty; rather, it appeared that serum MT had already declined in association with the onset of sexual maturation. Although there was a significant difference in weight between patients and age-matched controls, the low MT values in patients 1-5 yr old were only partly explained by the weight difference (P less than 0.0009); their pubertal status also contributed significantly (P less than 0.006). Pituitary-gonadal suppression induced by long term GnRH analog treatment did not result in a return to prepubertal MT levels; rather, nocturnal MT decreased during therapy. The collected data indicate that nocturnal serum MT levels are related to sexual maturation, since serum MT is similar in precocious puberty and normal pubertal children. Since suppression of the pituitary-gonadal axis did not result in increases in nocturnal MT levels in young patients with precocity (i.e. return to age-appropriate levels), the reduction of nocturnal MT with normal puberty is not likely to be dependent on pubertal gonadotropin or sex steroid milieu.

Aging↗

[Steroid hormone receptors in mammary carcinoma. Immunohistochemical detection and prognostic significance].

Estrogen and progesterone receptors were immunohistochemically recorded from 426 cases of primary mammary carcinoma. Immunohistochemical detection was based on monoclonal antibodies to estrogen receptor (H222) and progesterone receptor (KD68). Immunohistochemical and biochemical tests were correlated to each other with significance (p less than 0.0001) for either receptor. Some of the histological parameters exhibited relationships with the immunohistochemical receptor status. Receptor positivity of lobular, mucoid, tubular, and papillary carcinomas was more frequent than that of ductal carcinoma, whereas that of medullary carcinoma fell below ductal cases. A straight forward correlation of statistical significance was found to exist between histological tumor grade and steroid hormone receptor status. Receptor positivity of carcinomas with sizeable stroma components proved to be more frequent than that of carcinomas with lower stroma levels. Steroid hormone receptors can be immunohistochemically identified from cytological specimens, as well, though some limiting factors are implied in the latter. Thirteen percent of fine-needle aspirates provided falsely negative steroid hormone receptor findings, as compared to histological biopsy. This problem was encountered primarily in cases of low receptor positivity and high stroma content of carcinoma, factors for which only minor amounts of cell material could be obtained from puncturing. Clinical follow-up checks and evaluation of survival data revealed the immunohistochemically determined steroid hormone receptor status to be of significant importance to prognostication (ER-ICA p less than 0.00001; PgR-ICA p = 0.004). The prognosis of patients with negative estrogen and progesterone receptors was found to be worse than that of patients with positive receptor status. These studies are likely to confirm immunohistochemical determination of steroid hormone receptors, using monoclonal antibodies, to be a reliable method of great prognostic importance.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[The value of adjuvant irradiation in patients with cervical carcinoma in histopathological stage Ib and negative lymph nodes].

The present retrospective study attempts to evaluate the significance of adjuvant radiotherapy as a prognostic factor for stage Ib cervical carcinoma without lymph node metastases in addition to factors such as age, histological type, histological grading and tumor size. Between 1975 and 1987 224 patients were operated at our department or referred to postoperative radiotherapy and fulfilled the inclusion criteria: histopathological stage Ib, radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy and negative pelvic lymph nodes. The multivariate analysis confirmed that tumor size (tumor infiltration of the cervix greater than 2/3 vs less than 2/3: RR = 4.48) and histological grading (G3 vs G1 + G2: RR = 3.12) are significant prognostic parameters for survival. Postoperative adjuvant irradiation is a marginal significant factor for survival in stage Ib cervical carcinoma and negative nodes (RR = 3.22; p = 0.057). For women with negative nodes but high-risk prognostic factors in the cervix, a prospective randomized trial proving the value of postoperative irradiation would be of therapeutic interest.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

[Acetylsalicylic acid after iliac-femoro-popliteal interventions?].

To determine whether acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) in a daily dose of 1500 mg versus untreated controls is effective in patients with peripheral arterial disease a prospective randomized but not placebo-controlled one single centre trial was undertaken. Patients were assigned to one of two groups by means of multi-dimensional contingency tables whereas the risk factors age, sex, height, body weight, diabetic metabolic state, hypertension, history of myocardial infarction, smoking habits and preoperative clinical status according to the Fontaine classification where found in the state of balance. 298 patients with arterial occlusions in the iliaco-femoro-popliteal level were recruited during 1971-1974, the primary end points were probability of patency and probability of survival. In regard as well as to the probability of patency (p less than 0.56 Breslow, p less than 0.66 Mantel) as to the probability of survival (p less than 0.10 Breslow, p less than 0.70 Mantel) no statistical significant difference was detected. In conclusion ASA, in the doses administered here, was unable to improve patency or prolong patient survival, an outcome, which is at variance with results obtained by others.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗

[The role of intestinal resection in primary surgery of ovarian carcinoma].

In most ovarian cancer cases complete resection of the tumour masses is not possible, and tumour reduction at the primary operation has been shown to improve survival. In some cases optimal tumour reduction is only possible by resecting intestinal structures, and it remains to be shown whether aggressive approaches are justified. The impact of intestinal resection, among other prognostic factors, was analysed in 104 patients undergoing primary operation for ovarian cancer. Tumour spread to bowel, exceeding 2 cm in diameter occurred in 39% of the cases. Debulking to a maximal tumour diameter less than 2 cm was achieved in 68 (65%) cases. Successful debulking was achieved by performing large (n = 20) and small bowel (n = 4) in 22 patients with massive bowel involvement. Two patients died during the hospital stay, one after bowel resection. Four independent prognostic variables emerged from Cox's multiple proportional hazards regression: ascites (p = 0.001), massive bowel involvement (p = 0.007), residual tumour size (p = 0.002), and intestinal resection (p = 0.11). The authors contend that intestinal resection to achieve optimal tumour debulking at the primary operation will improve the survival of ovarian cancer patients.

Adolescent↗

Immunocytochemical localization of estrogen and progesterone receptor and prognosis in human primary breast cancer.

An immunocytochemical assay (ICA) for the measurement of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) has been evaluated in 426 human primary breast carcinomas. For estrogen receptor determination ER ICA was used. PgR ICA was performed using the monoclonal antibody KD 68. Assay results for progesterone receptor immunocytochemistry were in agreement (P less than 0.0001) with those of biochemical determination in 74%. Progesterone receptor positivity determined with a semiquantified approach based on intensity and heterogeneity of immunocytochemical staining correlated significantly with biochemically determined progesterone receptor levels (P = 0.0001). Survival data showed a significantly better overall survival for patients with either ER ICA- or PgR ICA-positive carcinomas (ER ICA, P less than 0.00001; PgR ICA, P = 0.004). Patients with both negative ER ICA and PgR ICA showed a poorer prognosis than patients with only one negative receptor. In ER ICA- and PgR ICA-positive carcinomas a trend could be found that patients whose carcinomas contained high numbers of receptor-positive tumor cells had a better survival. This study demonstrates that ER ICA and PgR ICA are strong prognostic indicators and that the proportion of steroid hormone receptor-positive tumor cells seems to be of clinical importance.

Adult↗

[Rectal cancer: prognostically relevant factors for the development of local recurrence following radical anterior resection].

The study was designed to detect criteria which influence the incidence of local recurrence after radical anterior resection for rectal cancer. Local recurrence developed in 18 patients (20%) out of 90. All patients entered a prospective clinical study for the detection of local recurrence (mean observation time: 50 months). The following criteria were evaluated retrospectively: age, sex, staging, grading, gross appearance of the tumour, lymphatic reaction, invasion of lymph and blood vessels, perineural invasion, mucus production of the tumour and width of the distal margin of clearance (measurement in cm in the specimen immediately after resection). Kaplan-Meier survival functions estimated the probability of staying free of local recurrence depending on the various criteria. Statistical significance was calculated using the tests of Breslow and Mantel. The incidence of local recurrence (%) depended on Dukes stage (A: 7%, B: 17%, C: 40%; p less than or equal to 0.03), grading (well differentiated: 5%, average: 20%, poorly differentiated: 55%; p less than or equal to 0.02), gross appearance (protuberant: 15%, infiltrating: 47%; p less than or equal to 0.006), lymphatic stroma reaction (yes: 10%, no: 45%; p less than or equal to 0.006), invasion of veins (yes: 75%, no: 20%; p less than or equal to 0.002), perineural invasion (yes: 52%, no: 17%; p less than or equal to 0.001) and the margin of clearance (less than 1 cm: 52%, 1-3 cm: 10%, greater than 3 cm: 15%; p less than or equal to 0.02 Mantel, p less than or equal to 0.05 Breslow between less than 1 cm vs. 1-3 cm and greater than 3 cm, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Prognostic factors for survival in stage I epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

In a retrospective analysis prognostic factors were studied in 204 patients with primary Stage I epithelial ovarian carcinoma (borderline tumors were excluded) treated between 1975 and 1987. Only histologic grade (P = 0.01) and kind of surgery (total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy +/- omentectomy versus unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, P = 0.02) were found to have a significant influence on survival prognosis (Cox model). All other factors (age, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics [FIGO] stage, integrity of the capsule, unilaterality versus bilaterality, and histology) were of no prognostic importance. Unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy without any additional staging reduces five-year survival probability (62% versus 84%). Therefore this kind of operation should be abandoned. Furthermore, histologic grade should be a stratification criterion in studies, which will be necessary for proving the value of adjuvant therapy in Stage I epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

Carcinoma in Situ↗

Efficient evaluation of treatment effects in the presence of missing covariate values.

In clinical trials, treatment comparisons are often performed by models that incorporate important prognostic factors. Since these models require complete covariate information on all patients, statisticians frequently resort to complete case analysis or to omission of an important covariate. A probability imputation technique (PIT) is proposed that involves substituting conditional probabilities for missing covariate values when the covariate is qualitative. Simulation results are presented which demonstrate that the method neither violates the size of the treatment test nor introduces additional bias for the estimation of the treatment effect. It allows use of standard software. A clinical trial of breast cancer treatment, in which an important covariate was partly missing, was analysed by Cox's model. The use of PIT resulted in smaller observed error probability compared with case deletion, and sensitivity analysis supported these results.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Androgen receptors, serum androgen levels and survival of breast cancer patients.

Steroid receptor levels and serum androgen levels were determined in 61 breast cancer patients and 34 patients with non-malignant breast lesions. Testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate did not and androstenedione did show a difference between the two groups. Androgen levels had no influence on survival rates. Androgen receptor (AR) levels correlated with progesterone receptor levels, but not with estrogen receptor levels or with tumor stage. Patients with positive AR findings had a better survival rate; this was independent of tumor stage. AR findings may therefore be a prognostic index in breast cancer patients.

Adult↗

[Prevention of thromboembolism in para-articular femoral fractures of the hip--results of a prospective randomized study of heparin-DHE and ASS-DHE].

The effectiveness of prophylaxis of thromboembolism either by acetyl-salicylic-acid (ASA) 0.5 g + dihydroergotamin (DHE) 2.5 mg three times a day or by Heparin 5000 IU + 0.5 mg DHE (HDHE) three times a day was compared in 404 patients, elder than 55 years, with fractures close by the hip joint. Effectiveness was proved daily clinical controls, perfusion scintigraphy on the day after admission, the fourth postoperative day and the day before discharge and by autopsy of the died patients. Clinical manifest thrombosis were seen on the operated legs in the HDHE-group in 7.6% of the patients, in ASA-DHE-group in 15.6%, on the not operated leg under prophylaxis by HDHE in 3.8%, by ASA-DHE in 4.1% of the patients. Increased postoperative bleeding could be found under HDHE in 16.1% of the patients, under ASA-DHE in 9.3% of the patients, wound haematoma in 9.5% under HDHE and in 5.7% of the patients of the ASA-DHE-group. Superficial wound infections occurred under HDHE in 8.1%, under ASA-DHE in 5.7% of the patients, deep infections under HDHE in 0.5% and under ASA-DHE in 1.6% of the patients. Gastrointestinal bleeding under HDHE in 0.5% of the cases and under ASA-DHE in 3.1% of the cases. Prophylaxis had to be discharged in 7.6% of the patients of the HDHE-group and of 19.7% of the ASA-DHE-group. Pathologic perfusion scars should be found in 54.0% of the patients of the HDHE-group and in 54.9% of the ASA-DHE-group. Pulmonal perfusion became worse despite of prophylaxis by HDHE in 15.6% of the cases and despite prophylaxis with ASA-DHE in 17.6%. Pulmonal perfusion became better under HDHE in 11.9% and under ASA-DHE in 12.4% of the cases. The mortality was 9.7%. Fatal thromboembolism occurred under HDHE in three patients (1.4%) and under ASA-DHE in three patients too (1.6%), after subcapital fractures in 0.5%, after pertrochanteric fractures in 2.1% and after subtrochanteric fractures in 6.25% of the patients without any significant difference between the two groups of prophylaxis. Fatal gastrointestinal bleeding had to be remarked in 1.0% of the patients of the HDHE-group and in 2.1% of the ASA-DHE-group, fatal infections in 0.5% of the patients of the HDHE-group and in 1.6% of the ASA-DHE-group. Fatal cardinal infarction could be seen under HDHE in 1.9% of the patients, under ASA-DHE no fatal cardial infarction occurred.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Aged↗

HER-2 oncogene amplification and overall survival of breast carcinoma patients.

DNA was extracted from tumour samples of 77 patients with primary breast carcinoma and HER-2 proto-oncogene amplification was assessed. Prognostic indices such as number of positive lymph nodes, tumour size and histological grading were strongly associated with overall survival. No statistically significant correlation between amplification of HER-2 and overall survival was observed. In addition, prognostic indices, HER-2 amplification and disease-free interval was not correlated. Analysis of HER-2 amplification alone is not a useful guide in the management of patients with mammary carcinoma.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Prediction of malignant hyperthermia susceptibility: statistical evaluation of clinical signs.

The anaesthetic records of 61 patients who had experienced adverse reactions thought to be malignant hyperthermia (MH) were reviewed retrospectively to evaluate the diagnostic importance of clinical symptoms. Using the in vitro contracture test, 38 (62%) patients were identified as MH susceptible (MHS), the remainder showing normal test results (MHN). Generalized rigidity, ventricular arrhythmias, cyanosis and postoperative myoglobinuria were observed significantly more often in MHS patients. Median values of body temperature and creatine kinase serum concentrations were significantly greater in the MHS group. Masseter spasm and sinus tachycardia were as common in MHS as in MHN individuals. Statistical models using generalized rigidity, ventricular arrhythmias, cyanosis and fever exceeding 38 degrees C for prediction of MH showed a maximum sensitivity and specificity of 78% and thus are not acceptable for clinical use. For definitive diagnosis of MH, the well established in vitro contracture test remains essential.

Adolescent↗