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5-Fluorouracil plus leucovorin is an effective adjuvant chemotherapy in curatively resected stage III colon cancer: long-term follow-up results of the adjCCA-01 trial.

BACKGROUND: Adjuvant postoperative treatment with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin in curatively resected stage III colon cancer significantly reduces the risk of cancer recurrences and improves survival. The impact of 5-FU plus leucovorin on survival and tumor recurrence was analyzed in a long-term follow-up study in comparison with the effects of 5-FU plus levamisole in the prospective multicenter trial adjCCA-01. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with a curatively resected stage III (International Union Against Cancer) colon cancer were stratified according to tumor, node and grading category and randomly assigned to receive one of the two adjuvant treatment schemes: 5-FU 400 mg/m2 body surface area intravenously in the first chemotherapy course, then 450 mg/m2 x 5 days, plus leucovorin 100 mg/m2, 12 cycles (arm A), or 5-FU plus levamisole (Moertel scheme; arm B). RESULTS: Six hundred and eighty (96.9%) of 702 patients enrolled into this study were eligible. To date, 261 patients have died, 117 on arm A and 144 on arm B (P = 0.007). After a median follow-up time of 82 months, the 5-FU plus leucovorin combination significantly improved disease-free survival [79.8 months in arm A versus 69.3 months in arm B (P = 0.012)] and significantly increased median overall survival (88.9 months in arm A versus 78.6 months in arm B; P = 0.003). Adjuvant treatment with 5-FU plus levamisole as well as 5-FU plus leucovorin was generally well tolerated; only a minority of patients experienced grade 3 and 4 toxicities. CONCLUSIONS: After curative resection of a stage III colon cancer, adjuvant treatment with 5-FU plus leucovorin is generally well tolerated. This long-term follow-up study demonstrates that adjuvant treatment with 5-FU plus leucovorin given for 12 cycles is significantly more effective than 5-FU plus levamisole (Moertel scheme) in reducing tumor relapse and improving survival.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Meta2DB: curated shotgun metagenomic feature sets and metadata for health state prediction.

SUMMARY: Meta2DB is a curated metagenomic and metadata database that provides structurally consistent microbiome taxonomy feature count tables for 13 897 samples across 84 studies, 23 disease states, and 34 geographical locations. All samples were uniformly processed using a streamlined metagenomic classification pipeline that employs a unique and comprehensive reference database indexed to contain all sequences across all kingdoms of life that were present in the NCBI Nucleotide (nt) database retrieved on 4 January 2023. This pipeline leverages high-performance computing (HPC) resources at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and was used to process 50TB of publicly available raw metagenomic sequence data. Extensive metadata curation was carried out through a combination of manual curation and automated parsing, producing a consistent inter-study metadata table specifically structured to facilitate training of ML models for prediction of human health. AVAILABILITY: Data is available at https://gdo-meta2db.llnl.gov/ and https://zenodo.org/records/17315984.

Metadata↗

Long-term prognostic value of conventional peritoneal cytology after curative resection for colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to evaluate the long-term prognostic significance of conventional peritoneal cytology in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma after curative resection. METHODS: A review was performed of 189 patients who underwent curative resection for pT3/T4 carcinoma of the colon and upper/middle rectum between March 1987 and December 1991. Patient outcomes were reviewed retrospectively. Peritoneal cytology was performed before manipulation of the tumor. Intraoperatively, 50 ml of saline were instilled and 20 ml were reaspirated for cytology. In all patients, Papanicolaou and Giemsa stainings were performed to detect intraperitoneal free tumor cells. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 103 months. Malignant cells were identified in peritoneal washings from 11 patients (5.8%). Of the 11 patients with positive cytology, six (54.5%) developed recurrence and peritoneal recurrence was observed in four (36.4%). In contrast, of the 178 patients with negative cytology, 46 (25.8%) developed recurrence and peritoneal recurrence was observed in four (2.2%). The peritoneal recurrence rate was significantly increased (P = 0.0004) in the patients with positive cytology. The cancer-specific 10-year survival rates for the patients with positive and negative cytology were 45.5 and 80.3%, respectively (P = 0.0051). Multivariate analysis (Cox proportional hazard model) revealed that peritoneal cytology (positive: P = 0.0256) and lymph node metastasis (pN2: P = 0.0004) were independent predictors of cancer-specific survival. CONCLUSION: Conventional peritoneal cytology serves as a new prognostic marker after curative resection in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma. It appears to be a useful diagnostic procedure for predicting recurrence, especially peritoneal recurrence.

Colectomy↗

An individual patient data meta-analysis of adjuvant therapy with carmofur in patients with curatively resected colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: Oral carmofur, either as a single or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents, has been used as adjuvant chemotherapy for curatively resected colon cancer patients. Past trials and meta-analyses indicate that it is somewhat effective in extending survival of patients with this cancer. The objective of this study was to perform a reappraisal of randomized clinical trials conducted in this regard. METHODS: We designed an individual patient-based meta-analysis of relevant clinical trials to examine the benefit of oral carmofur for curatively resected colon cancer in terms of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: We analyzed individual patient data of three randomized clinical trials, which met the predetermined inclusion criteria. These three trials had a combined total of 2152 patients, carmofur as adjuvant chemotherapy compared with surgery-alone, 5 years follow-up, intention-to-treat-based analytic strategy and similar end points (OS and DFS). In a pooled analysis, 5 year OS rates were 80.4 and 76.4%, and 5 year DFS rates 76.9 and 71.0%, respectively, in carmofur and surgery-alone group. Oral carmofur had significant advantage over surgery-alone in terms of both OS [pooled hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.68-0.99; P = 0.043] and DFS (pooled hazard ratio, 0.77; 95% CI = 0.65-0.91; P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: This individual patient-based meta-analysis demonstrated that oral carmofur significantly improves both OS and DFS in patients with curatively resected colon cancers.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

TreeFam: a curated database of phylogenetic trees of animal gene families.

TreeFam is a database of phylogenetic trees of gene families found in animals. It aims to develop a curated resource that presents the accurate evolutionary history of all animal gene families, as well as reliable ortholog and paralog assignments. Curated families are being added progressively, based on seed alignments and trees in a similar fashion to Pfam. Release 1.1 of TreeFam contains curated trees for 690 families and automatically generated trees for another 11 646 families. These represent over 128 000 genes from nine fully sequenced animal genomes and over 45 000 other animal proteins from UniProt; approximately 40-85% of proteins encoded in the fully sequenced animal genomes are included in TreeFam. TreeFam is freely available at http://www.treefam.org and http://treefam.genomics.org.cn.

Animals↗

Curative radiotherapy for stage II-III squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx.

The authors report the analysis and outcome of curative radiotherapy for stage II and III squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx. Thirty-nine men with invasive, previously untreated squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx were referred for curative radiotherapy from May 1976 through June 1991, to the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A. Thirty-eight patients had T2N0 disease, and one had T2N1 disease. All patients were treated by megavoltage units (two by cobalt 60 and 37 by 4 mV-linear accelerator). The median fractional dose was 1.80 Gy, and the median total tumor dose was 70.20 Gy. Surgical salvage was reserved for irradiation failure. All patients had a minimum 5-year follow-up. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. The 5-year disease-free survival with voice preservation after radiotherapy was 70.2% (80% for T2a and 64% for T2b patients). The ultimate 5-year disease-free survival for all T2 patients after surgical salvage was 91%. In nine patients, ten second primary malignancies were diagnosed during follow-up. Nine of these second lesions occurred in the aerodigestive tract. Curative radiotherapy using conventional fractionation regimen with surgical salvage for irradiation failure is an efficacious modality for T2N0 and T2N1 squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx. A high incidence of second malignancy was noted in our series.

Aged↗

Pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer. Options for curative resection.

Pelvic recurrence is an ominous event after curative resection of rectal cancer and is rarely amenable to re-resection by conventional methods. A method to permit a composite resection of these using the abdominal sacral approach has been described previously. This report updates that experience with resection of pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer in 28 patients. Of these, 24 were done with curative intent, and four were done for palliation (mainly for infected or fungating tumor). All patients had extensive preoperative evaluation by clinical and radiologic tests, and most patients had a long free interval period of approximately 18 months, after their primary resection. Although 47 patients had exploratory surgery, only 29 had local disease amenable to resection and four had palliative resections. About half the patients had had an abdominoperineal resection, half had had an anterior resection, and one third had had previous efforts to resect the recurrence. All but one patient had been irradiated with 3000-11,000 cGy. All but two patients (of the 24 curative efforts) required a formal abdominosacral resection (through S1-2 in 12, S2-3 in 9, and S4-5 in 1). Over half the patients also required a bladder resection. There were three operative deaths (12%); one patient had a cardiac death immediately after operation and two were septic deaths at 35 and 60 days. The survivors generally had relief of sacral root pain and good motor function; most of those previously employed could return to work. The actuarial 5-year survival rate is 25% and median survival is 36 months. Long-term survival over 48 months was recorded in five of 21 surgical survivors (23.8%). Survival in a historic comparative group of 30 patients treated for local recurrence only (mainly by radiation) was 15 months median, and at 5 years the survival rate was 3% (p less than 0.001). In conclusion, selected patients with pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer may be retrieved by and returned to functional life with the composite abdominosacral resection.

Abdomen↗

Intrahepatic recurrence after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma: long-term results of treatment and prognostic factors.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the long-term results of treatment and prognostic factors in patients with intrahepatic recurrence after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Recent studies have demonstrated the usefulness of re-resection, transarterial oily chemoembolization (TOCE), or percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) in selected patients with intrahepatic recurrent HCC. The overall results of a treatment strategy combining these modalities have not been fully evaluated, and the prognostic factors determining survival in these patients remain to be clarified. METHODS: Two hundred and forty-four patients who underwent curative resection for HCC were followed for intrahepatic recurrence, which was treated aggressively with a strategy including different modalities. Survival results after recurrence and from initial hepatectomy were analyzed, and prognostic factors were determined by univariate and multivariate analysis using 27 clinicopathologic variables. RESULTS: One hundred and five patients (43%) with intrahepatic recurrence were treated with re-resection (11), TOCE (71), PEIT (6), systemic chemotherapy (8) or conservatively (9). The overall 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rates from the time of recurrence were 65.5%, 34.9%, and 19.7%, respectively, and from the time of initial hepatectomy were 78.4%, 47.2%, and 30.9%, respectively. The re-resection group had the best survival, followed by the TOCE group. Multivariate analysis revealed Child's B or C grading, serum albumin < or = 40 g/l, multiple recurrent tumors, recurrence < or = 1 year after hepatectomy, and concurrent extrahepatic recurrence to be independent adverse prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Aggressive treatment with a multimodality strategy could result in prolonged survival in patients with intrahepatic recurrence after curative resection for HCC. Prognosis was determined by the liver function status, interval to recurrence, number of recurrent tumors, any concurrent extrahepatic recurrence, and type of treatment.

Adult↗

The prognostic value of invariant chain (Ii) and Her-2/neu expression in curatively resected colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Current methods to predict outcome for patients with curatively resected colorectal cancer are not ideal. The combined use of molecular markers and clinicopathologic features may better identify patients who are at risk for recurrence. The Her-2/neu and invariant chain molecules may be important in cancer development and progression, but their usefulness as clinical predictors of outcome in colorectal cancer has not been well studied. METHODS: We used immunohistochemistry to determine the expression of Her-2/neu, invariant chain, p27, and p53 in primary tumor samples from 156 patients with curatively resected stage I-III colorectal cancer. The association between expression and clinical outcomes was assessed by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Her-2/neu expression was detected in only 24% of cases, and high levels of invariant chain were detected in only 15%. Although patients whose tumors overexpressed Her-2/neu survived longer than those with non-overexpressing tumors, neither Her-2/neu nor invariant chain were independently associated with survival. Consistent with previous reports, high p27 expression was associated with improved outcome, whereas overexpression of p53 was associated with worse outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Our study did not reveal a statistically significant association between Her-2/neu or invariant chain expression and clinical outcomes in patients with curatively resected colorectal cancer. However, the data suggest that Her-2/neu could be a favorable prognostic variable. Because of the low frequency of Her-2/neu expression, larger numbers of patients need to be studied for this question to be adequately answered.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Androgen replacement after curative radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer in hypogonadal men.

PURPOSE: We documented the experience of 2 urology practices with the use of testosterone supplementation to treat hypogonadal men who had undergone curative radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer. We also reviewed the literature for reports of the use of testosterone in men surgically cured of prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of clinical records of 2 busy private urology practices was used to compile brief case histories of hypogonadal men treated with testosterone who had undergone curative radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer. Using MEDLINE and BIOSIS Previews (Biological Abstracts, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), the literature was searched for articles describing the use of testosterone in men surgically cured of organ confined prostate cancer. RESULTS: The case records of 7 hypogonadal men who had undergone curative radical prostatectomy were identified. All men had clinical symptoms of hypogonadism and low serum testosterone levels. Each man was treated with an androgen preparation. After variable followup periods no biochemical or clinical evidence of cancer recurrence was found in any of the group. No reports in the literature were found of a similar therapeutic approach for such patients. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the clinical experience with this small group of men, and indirect evidence of the safety of this approach from epidemiological and clinical data, further cautious use of testosterone in a carefully selected population seems warranted.

Aged↗

Curative potential of multimodality therapy for locally recurrent rectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the results of multimodality therapy for patients with recurrent rectal cancer and to analyze factors predictive of curative resection and prognostic for overall survival. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Locally recurrent rectal cancer is a difficult clinical problem, and radical treatment options with curative intent are not generally accepted. METHODS: A total of 394 patients underwent surgical exploration for recurrent rectal cancer. Ninety were found to have unresectable local or extrapelvic disease and 304 underwent resection of the recurrence. The latter patients were prospectively followed to determine long-term survival and factors influencing survival. RESULTS: Overall 5-year survival was 25%. Curative, negative resection margins were obtained in 45% of patients; in these patients a 5-year survival of 37% was achieved, compared to 16% (P <.001) in patients with either microscopic or gross residual disease. In a logistic regression analysis, initial surgery with end-colostomy and symptomatic pain (both univariate) and increasing number of sites of the recurrent tumor fixation in the pelvis (multivariate) were associated with palliative surgery. Overall survival was significantly decreased for symptomatic pain (P <.001) and more than one fixation (P =.029). Survival following extended resection of adjacent organs was not different from limited resection (28% vs. 21%, P =.11). Patient demographics and factors related to the initial rectal cancer did not affect outcome. Perioperative mortality was only 0.3%, but significant morbidity occurred in 26% of patients, with pelvic abscess being the most common complication. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that many patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer can be resected with negative margins. Long-term survival can be achieved, especially for patients with no symptoms and minimal fixation of the recurrence in the pelvis, provided no gross residual disease remains.

Adult↗

Postoperative cytology for drained fluid from the pancreatic bed after "curative" resection of pancreatic cancers: does it predict both the patient's prognosis and the site of cancer recurrence?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the postoperative cytology of drained fluid from the pancreatic bed as a predictive indicator of local recurrence after curative (R0) resection of pancreatic cancer. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The pancreatic bed offers a common site of cancer recurrence (local recurrence), even after curative (R0) resection is performed for pancreatic cancer. If local recurrence is thereby predicted precisely, soon after surgery, we have a chance to treat it by adding radiation or some other locoregional therapy before it can grow or spread beyond the pancreatic bed. However, there have been no previous reports of cytology performed on the drained fluid after pancreatectomy. METHODS: This study includes 94 patients who had shown negative results in the peritoneal washing cytology before resection and subsequently received pancreatectomies for pancreatic tumors. They consisted of 12 benign tumors, 17 noninvasive or minimally invasive carcinomas and 65 invasive ductal carcinomas (R0 = 58; R1/2 = 7). Postoperatively, the drained fluid from the pancreatic bed was collected for 24 hours and used for cytologic examination. The cytologic results were examined in association with the histopathology of the resected tumor, patient's survival, and mode of cancer recurrence, including local recurrence. RESULTS: Patients with benign tumors or noninvasive/minimally invasive carcinomas had negative result in cytology, and none of them have died of local recurrence (limited to the pancreatic bed) to date. However, patients with invasive ductal carcinoma revealed higher cytology-positive rates: 28% (16/58) in curative (R0) resection; and 71% (5/7) in noncurative (R1/2) resection. Among 58 patients with R0 resection, the 3-year survival rate was 14% in 16 cytology-positive patients and 55% in 42 cytology-negative patients (P < 0.05). The 3-year cumulative rate of local recurrence was 85% and 23%, respectively (P < 0.05). Compared with other histopathologic parameters obtained from the resected specimens, the drain cytology was more specific in predicting the subsequent development of local recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Drain-cytology was a quick examination that enabled us to specifically indicate both minute residual cancer and subsequent development of local recurrence even after R0 resection of pancreatic cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

AFP mRNA detected in bone marrow by real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis predicts survival and recurrence after curative hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells by real-time quantitative RT-PCR targeting of alpha-fetoprotein mRNA (AFP mRNA) before or after curative hepatectomy predicts HCC recurrence and patient survival. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The presence of cancer cells in peripheral blood and/or bone marrow in patients with malignant disease has been reported to correlate with outcome. METHODS: Between July 2000 and June 2005, 136 consecutive HCC patients underwent primary curative hepatectomy. Bone marrow aspirated preoperatively, and peripheral blood samples collected before and after operation were subjected to real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis using AFP mRNA as a target molecule. Median follow-up was 23 months (range, 6-54 months). Patient survival (PS), disease-free survival (DFS), and clinicopathologic features were compared between patients with positive and negative AFP mRNA. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients died (22 from HCC). HCC recurred in 66 patients (hepatic in 37 [56.1%]; hepatic and remote in 17 [25.8%], and remote alone in 12 [18.2%]). Bone marrow was positive for AFP mRNA in 38 patients (27.9%) and negative in 98 (72.1%). One- and 3-year PS was 96.6% and 91.4%, respectively, with negative AFP mRNA versus 86.2% and 55.5%, respectively, with positive AFP mRNA (P < 0.0001). One- and 3-year DFS were 73.2% and 44.8%, respectively, with negative AFP mRNA versus 54.5% and 25.8%, respectively, with positive AFP mRNA (P = 0.0399). Portal vascular invasion, tumor size, multiple tumors, and tumor differentiation correlated with inferior PS and DFS on univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, positive AFP mRNA was the most important risk factor for PS (P = 0.001) and DFS (P = 0.0165). In addition, positive AFP mRNA in peripheral blood after operation tended to predict reduced DFS. CONCLUSION: AFP mRNA in the bone marrow and systemic circulation during the perioperative period predicts patient survival and recurrence after curative hepatic resection for HCC.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Being an intensive care nurse related to questions of withholding or withdrawing curative treatment.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to acquire a deeper understanding of what it is to be an intensive care nurse in situations related to questions of withholding or withdrawing curative treatment. BACKGROUND: Nurses in intensive care units regularly face critically ill patients. Some patients do not benefit from the treatment and die after days or months of apparent pain and suffering. A general trend is that withdrawal of treatment in intensive care units is increasing. Physicians are responsible for decisions concerning medical treatment, but as nurses must carry out physicians' decisions, they are involved in the consequences. DESIGN AND METHODS: The research design was qualitative, based on interpretative phenomenology. The study was carried out at an adult intensive care unit in Norway. Data were collected by group interviews inspired by focus group methodology. Fourteen female intensive care nurses participated, divided into two groups. Colaizzi's model was used in the process of analysis. RESULTS: The analysis revealed four main themes which captured the nurses' experiences: loneliness in responsibility, alternation between optimism and pessimism, uncertainty--a constant shadow and professional pride despite little formal influence. The essence of being an intensive care nurse in the care of patients when questions were raised concerning curative treatment or not, was understood as 'being a critical interpreter and a dedicated helper.' CONCLUSIONS: The findings underpin the important role of intensive care nurses in providing care and treatment to patients related to questions of withholding or withdrawing curative treatment. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The findings also show the need for physicians, managers and intensive care nurses themselves to recognize the burdens intensive care nurses carry and to appreciate their knowledge as an important contribution in decision making.

Adult↗

Curative resection of a small cell carcinoma of the pancreas: report of a case of long survival without chemotherapy.

A 41-year-old asymptomatic man was, by chance, diagnosed as having a mass in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen by ultrasound. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a slightly enhanced heterogeneous mass, measuring about 5 cm in diameter, adjacent to the pancreas tail and spleen. On abdominal angiography the tumor was found to be fed by the splenic artery, and no encasement was observed. At operation the tumor was connected to the pancreas tail and attached to the spleen, and no metastasis was evident. As a result of these observations, a curative resection was performed. On histological examination the tumor cells had no ductal or architectural organization and were continuous to the normal pancreatic tissues. The cells were negative for Grimelius argylphile and the periodic acid schiff stain. Immunohistochemistry indicated that the tumor cells were positive for keratin and epithelial membrane antigen, but negative for chromogranin A, vimentin, alpha1-antitrypsin and alpha1-antichymotrypsin. The tumor was diagnosed as a small cell carcinoma of the pancreas, which is a rare disease. In previously reported cases curative resection of the tumor had not been possible because of its rapid progression and metastasis, and the prognosis is generally very poor. In our case, however, curative resection of the tumor was done, and the patient is healthy with no signs of recurrence for 56 months after the operation and with no additional therapy.

Adult↗

Radical cystectomy in patients aged > or = 75 years: an updated review of patients treated with curative and palliative intent.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the morbidity and mortality of radical cystectomy in a group of unselected patients aged > or = 75 years who were treated with curative and palliative intent. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 53 patients aged 75-90 years (median 78.8 years) who had radical cystectomies between May 1994 and July 2002. The patients were divided into two groups: 46 were treated with curative intent (group A) and seven with palliative intent (group B). The indications for cystectomy in group A were recurrent and otherwise therapy-resistant bladder cancer, severe irritative voiding symptoms, and recurrent macrohaematuria. The indications in group B were advanced pelvic malignancy with severe irritative voiding symptoms, severe pain, and recurrent macrohaematuria requiring blood transfusions. Patients were categorized according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, with a score of II in 28 patients, III in 21 and IV in four. Complications and mortality before, during and after surgery, and the duration of hospital stay and clinical outcome, were assessed. RESULTS; The early mortality rate in group A was 4% (2/46); in group B two patients died after prolonged complications. The median (range) hospital stay was 28 (6-56) days, and was significantly longer in patients with complications, at a median (range) of 36 (6-70) days. The complication rates early and late after surgery in group A were 22% and 11%, respectively, and in group B, five of seven (early). The total median survival was 2 (0.33-7) years. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly people undergoing radical cystectomy have a greater risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality, especially those with very advanced pelvic malignancies who have had cystectomy with palliative intent. The incidence of early and late complications in patients treated with curative intent is acceptable, but the hospital stay is prolonged.

Aged↗

Enhancement of the curative activity of primaquine by concomitant administration of mirincamycin.

Mirincamycin, a lincomycin derivative with unequivocal but limited activity against the pre-erythrocytic and persisting exoerythrocytic stages of Plasmodium cynomolgi, has been evaluated for capacity to enhance the radical curative potential of the conventional primaquine-chloroquine combination. Established infections with sporozoites of the above plasmodium in rhesus monkeys served this evaluation. The results showed that the dose of primaquine required for cure of 50% of active infections was reduced by one-half to two-thirds by coadministration with 2.5 mg of mirincamycin per kg, 1/16 the 50% curative dose of this lincomycin derivative when used in a mono-drug regimen. The dimensions of the enhancement of the curative activity of primaquine were inversely related to the size of the sporozoite inoculum. The smallest dose of mirincamycin productive of enhancement was 2.5 mg/kg; whether doses larger than 2.5 mg/kg would have been more effective was not determined. There is much to be done before it is known whether a mirincamycin-primaquine combination is useful for suppressive cure or radical cure of the human malarias. Irrespective of that result, the current study serves to focus attention on a somewhat novel approach to the development of more effective and better-tolerated regimens for radical cure, an alternative to the empirical chemical synthesis and screening approach that has dominated searches heretofore.

Animals↗

The clinical bioinformatics ontology: a curated semantic network utilizing RefSeq information.

Existing medical vocabularies lack rich terms to describe findings that are generated by modem molecular diagnostic procedures. Most bioinformatics resources were designed primarily to support the needs of the research community. We describe the development of a curated resource, the Clinical Bioinformatics Ontology (CBO), a semantic network appropriate for describing clinically significant genomics concepts. The CBO includes concepts appropriate for both molecular diagnostics and cytogenetics. A standardized methodology based on consistent application of RefSeq information is applied to the curation of the CBO in order to provide a reproducible and reliable tool. Challenges related to this curation process are discussed in this paper. At the time of submission the CBO included 4,069 concepts, associated by 8,463 relationships.

Computational Biology↗