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[A study on the prediction of long-term prognosis of adulthood epilepsy].

We report results of a study on the relation between the clinical findings 2 years after initiation of the therapy and the long-term prognosis of seizure control, and discuss the possibility of predicting the prognosis in the early stage of therapy. The subjects consisted of 141 patients, observed for 10 to 20 years at Hirosaki University Hospital. Regarding the epilepsy type, the prognosis of temporal lobe epilepsy was unfavorable. In temporal lobe epilepsy, only 21% were in remission (seizure-free for 3 years or more) at the time of the study. Also, the presence of organic brain lesions or neuropsychiatric complications at the early stage of treatment was associated with unfavorable prognosis. We are particularly interested in the possibility of predicting the long-term prognosis from the result of early response to anti-epileptic drug therapy. We found a significant correlation between the early excellent response to drug treatment and the good long-term prognosis. Using discriminant analysis (quantification theory II), we tried to find which factors would influence more to the long-term prognosis. As the result, an importance was found in the following order: (1) epilepsy type, (2) presence or absence of neuropsychiatric complications, (3) age at onset, (4) early response to treatment, (5) presence or absence of organic brain lesions and (6) the interval between the onset and the initiation of drug treatment. Correct identification rate by discriminant analysis was 73%.

Adolescent↗

[Factors associated with the prognosis of bacterial meningitis in children].

Treatment of bacterial meningitis depends on its severity. The signs, symptoms, and laboratory values of 51 patients with bacterial meningitis admitting to the Department of Pediatrics at Sendai City Hospital from January 1985 to December 1994 were analyzed in order to evaluate their prognostic value. The overall mortality rate was 3.9%. The incidence of neurological deficit on discharge was 31.4%. According to their prognoses, patients were divided into two groups: those who recovered with no detectable disabilities (good prognosis) and those who died or were left with neurological deficits (poor prognosis). An analysis of these groups using Fisher's exact probability test revealed that the following risk factors were associated with poor prognosis: 1) duration of fever (including the periods of relapse) for more than 10 days ; 2) abnormal findings on brain imaging, such as cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral abscess and subdural effusion: 3 initial serum CRP value above 16 mg/dl; 4) initial CSF glucose value below 12 mg/dl; and 5) initial CSF LDH value above 220 IU/l. Streptococcus pneumoniae infection carried the worst prognosis: the causal organism of both the two fetal cases was S. pneumoniae. The incidence of poor prognosis was also high in S. pneumoniae meningitis (60.0%), compared to those by Hemophilus influenzae (46.7%) and group B streptococcus (25.0%). In the cases in which causal agents were not detected, this incidence was as low as 10 percent, showing significant difference from cases in which causal agents were identified. In order to improve the prognosis of bacterial meningitis, factors associated with poor prognosis should be recognized at early stages of the illness.

Adolescent↗

Prognosis for children with supratentorial neuroglial tumors.

Factor analysis of reliably identified histologic features in supratentorial glial tumors yielded five interpretable "factors": Spongy, Fibrillary, Proliferative, Jumbo, and Oligodendroglial. Quantitative scores can be calculated for each factor in a tumor to summarize its heterogeneity. The objective was to investigate whether factor scores are useful for prognostic purposes. The sample consisted of 703 children with supratentorial neuroglial tumors with factor scores for each of the five factors. Data were based on the presence or absence of 26 reliably identified histologic features, plus clinical and survival information. Multivariate proportional hazards models assessed each factor's contribution to survival for children who survived 1 month after operation (n = 609). Patient-specific clinical data were allowed in the models. Increased likelihood of survival is associated with greater tumor removal, later decade of surgery, and high Spongy and high Oligodendroglial factor scores. Decreased likelihood of survival is associated with high Proliferative factor scores and radiation and/or chemotherapy treatment. Gender, age, location, and Jumbo and Fibrillary factor scores did not provide additional prognostic information. Three reliable histologic features, nondefining for any histologic factor, added prognostic information: Rosenthal fibers and glomeruli are associated with improved prognosis; pleomorphic nuclei are associated with worse prognosis. A high Oligodendroglial factor score is associated with a worse prognosis for some classes of astrocytoma but with a better prognosis for oligodendroglial tumors. A high Proliferative score is associated with a worse prognosis for anaplastic astrocytomas, ependymomas, and unclassifiable tumors. A high Spongy score is associated with a better prognosis for anaplastic astrocytomas but with a worse prognosis for pilocytic astrocytomas. For giant cell astrocytomas, gangliogliomas, and miscellaneous tumors, none of the factors is prognostic. Spongy, Oligodendroglial, and Proliferative factors provide important prognostic information for children with supratentorial neuroglial tumors.

Adolescent↗

Accumulation of genetic changes is associated with poor prognosis in grade II astrocytomas.

Unexpectedly aggressive clinical course of some grade II astrocytomas is a diagnostic dilemma for routine histopathology. Because increasing tumor malignancy is a consequence of progressive accumulation of chromosomal alterations, we investigated whether aggressive behavior of grade II astrocytomas could be predicted by the number and type of gross chromosomal aberrations. We used comparative genomic hybridization to analyze 11 grade II astrocytomas with typical (good, n = 7) or poor (n = 4) prognosis. The results were also compared with a reference material of 13 grade III-IV astrocytomas and nine established cell lines. We found a median of two aberrations (range 0 to 4) in tumors with good prognosis and of 15.5 changes (range 8 to 28) in tumors with poor prognosis. Chromosomal gains were present in both groups, whereas chromosomal losses were frequent in tumors with poor prognosis (median 9.5, range 3 to 14) but rare in tumors with good prognosis (range 0 to 2). All chromosomal gains were also found in the high-grade astrocytoma group and the majority of them in cell lines. Chromosomal losses in grade II astrocytomas with poor prognosis were very similar to those in grade III-IV astrocytomas and cell lines. We conclude that an early accumulation of genetic changes in grade II astrocytomas is closely associated with poor patient prognosis, suggesting diagnostic use for comparative genomic hybridization in characterization of grade II astrocytomas.

Adolescent↗

[Prognosis of T3 patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer according to the invaded organs].

We investigated the prognosis of completely resected 119 non-small cell lung cancer patients according to the invaded organs. There was no significant difference in prognosis between T3N0M0 and T3N1M0 patients (5-year survival rate: 34% vs. 38%). However, the prognosis of T3N2M0 patients (5-year survival rate: 11%) was too poor to be regarded as the same category. Therefore, we investigated only T3N0M0 and T3N1M0 patients to assess the contribution of the invaded organs to prognosis. Of the 5 patients with diaphragm invasion, there was no 3-year survivor, and the prognosis of patients with diaphragm invasion was very poor. The chest wall invasion was divided into three parts: parietal pleural invasion, subpleural tissue invasion and intercostal muscular invasion. The 5-year survival rates of patients with such invasion was 35%, 29% and 27%, respectively. The patients with Pancoast tumor had very poor prognosis. T3 factor was heterogeneous, and the prognosis of the patients with T3 tumor was various according to invaded organs.

Adult↗

[Measurement of macular edema in retinal vein occlusion using optical coherence tomography and its visual prognosis].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the type of macular edema in patients with retinal vein occlusion by using optical coherence tomography (OCT). To compare the sensitivity and specificity between OCT and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA). To investigate the visual prognosis and risk factors in patients with cystoid macular edema (CME). METHODS: Ninety-one eyes of 90 patients with various types of retinal vein occlusion were examined by OCT and FFA. There were 54 cases male and 36 cases female. The age of these patients ranged from 20 to 74 years old and averaged (57.8 +/- 13.8) years old. Right eye was affected in 45 cases, and left eye in 46 cases (both eye in 1 case). Central retinal vein, hemicentral retinal vein and branch retinal vein were affected in 54, 9 and 28 eyes, respectively. The average follow-up period was 6.10 months. The sensitivity and specificity of OCT and FFA were measured. The visual prognosis and risk factors were analyzed. Macular central retinal thickness of 54 opposite normal eye was measured for comparison. RESULTS: (1) The classification of macular edema by OCT was cystoid macular edema in 71 eyes (78.0%); subretinal fluid in 14 eyes and laminar macular hole in 1 eye. The minimal and maximal height of intraretinal cystoid space was 94 microm and 1317 microm, respectively and averaged (668.18 +/- 245.58) microm. The minimal and maximal height of macular central retinal thickness of 54 opposite normal eye was 110 microm and 236 microm, respectively and averaged (154.09 +/- 21.85) microm. The maximal height of subretinal fluid space was 1377 microm or even beyond the detective limit of OCT. (2) The sensitivity of OCT for detection of CME was 98.6% and the specificity was 100%. The sensitivity of FFA was 86.1% and the specificity was 100.0%. (3) The visual prognosis of 61 eyes with CME follow-up over 3 months: The difference between the initial and final VA in branch retinal vein occlusion was statistically significant (P < 0.01), while no difference between initial and final VA in central and hemicentral retinal vein occlusion (P > 0.05). The factors affected visual prognosis of CME included the duration, the presence of hemorrhage in cystoid space and the severity of occlusion, etc. In CME under 3 months, the visual prognosis after therapy is better than that of before the therapy (P < 0.01); while in eyes with duration more than 3 months, no difference of vision could be detected before and after the therapy (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: OCT is a safe, high-resolution, non-invasive, reliable and reproducible new examine method for detecting CME. The visual prognosis of CME is poor. It is possible that the visual prognosis can be improved by early detecting CME using OCT.

Adult↗

Understanding of prognosis among parents of children who died of cancer: impact on treatment goals and integration of palliative care.

CONTEXT: Parents' understanding of prognosis or decision making about palliative care for children who die of cancer is largely unknown. However, a more accurate understanding of prognosis could alter treatment goals and expectations and lead to more effective care. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate parental understanding of prognosis in children who die of cancer and to assess the association of this factor with treatment goals and the palliative care received by children. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Survey, conducted between September 1997 and August 1998, of 103 parents of children who received treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass, and who died of cancer between 1990 and 1997 (72% of those eligible and those located) and 42 pediatric oncologists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Timing of parental understanding that the child had no realistic chance for cure compared with the timing of physician understanding of this prognosis, as documented in the medical record. RESULTS: Parents first recognized that the child had no realistic chance for cure a mean (SD) of 106 (150) days before the child's death, while physician recognition occurred earlier at 206 (330) days before death. Among children who died of progressive disease, the group characterized by earlier recognition of this prognosis by both parents and physicians had earlier discussions of hospice care (odds ratio [OR], 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.06; P =.01), better parental ratings of the quality of home care (OR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.15-9.54; P =.03), earlier institution of a do-not-resuscitate order (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00-1.06; P =.02), less use of cancer-directed therapy during the last month of life (OR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.05-7.50; P =.04), and higher likelihood that the goal of cancer-directed therapy identified by both physician and parent was to lessen suffering (OR, 5.17; 95% CI, 1.86-14.4; P =.002 for physician and OR, 6.56; 95% CI, 1.54-27.86; P =.01 for parents). CONCLUSION: Considerable delay exists in parental recognition that children have no realistic chance for cure, but earlier recognition of this prognosis by both physicians and parents is associated with a stronger emphasis on treatment directed at lessening suffering and greater integration of palliative care. JAMA. 2000;284:2469-2475.

Adult↗

Long-term renal prognosis of diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.

CONTEXT: The long-term renal prognosis of patients with diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) remains controversial. OBJECTIVES: To quantify the long-term renal prognosis of patients with diarrhea-associated HUS and to identify reasons for different estimates provided in the literature. DATA SOURCES: We searched MEDLINE and Experta Medica (EMBASE) bibliographic databases and conference proceedings, and we contacted experts until February 2003. We also searched the Institute for Scientific Information index and reference lists of all studies that fulfilled our eligibility criteria. The search strategy included the terms hemolytic-uremic syndrome, purpura, thrombotic thrombocytopenic, Escherichia coli O157, longitudinal studies, kidney diseases, hypertension, and proteinuria STUDY SELECTION: Any study that followed up 10 or more patients with primary diarrhea-associated HUS for at least 1 year for renal sequelae. DATA EXTRACTION: Two authors independently abstracted data on study and patient characteristics, renal measures, outcomes, and prognostic features. Disagreements were resolved by a third author or by consensus. DATA SYNTHESIS: Forty-nine studies of 3476 patients with a mean follow-up of 4.4 years (range, 1-22 years at last follow-up) from 18 countries, 1950 to 2001, were summarized. At the time of recruitment, patients were aged 1 month to 18 years. In the different studies, death or permanent end-stage renal disease (ESRD) ranged from 0% to 30%, with a pooled incidence of 12% (95% confidence interval [CI], 10%-15%). A glomerular filtration rate lower than 80 mL/min per 1.73 m2, hypertension, or proteinuria was extremely variable and ranged from 0% to 64%, with a pooled incidence of 25% (95% CI, 20%-30%). A higher severity of acute illness was strongly associated with worse long-term prognosis. Studies with a higher proportion of patients with central nervous system symptoms (coma, seizures, or stroke) had a higher proportion of patients who died or developed permanent ESRD at follow-up (explaining 44% of the between-study variability, P =.01). Studies with a greater proportion of patients lost to follow-up also described a worse prognosis (P =.001) because these patients were typically healthier than those followed up. One or more years after diarrhea-associated HUS, patients with a predicted creatinine clearance higher than 80 mL/min per 1.73 m2, no overt proteinuria, and no hypertension appeared to have an excellent prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Death or ESRD occurs in about 12% of patients with diarrhea-associated HUS, and 25% of survivors demonstrate long-term renal sequelae. Patients lost to follow-up contribute to worse estimates in some studies. The severity of acute illness, particularly central nervous system symptoms and the need for initial dialysis, is strongly associated with a worse long-term prognosis.

Diarrhea↗

DNA image cytometry in stomach carcinoma. Its relation to histomorphologic parameters and its influence on prognosis.

BACKGROUND: The influence of DNA content on the prognosis in stomach cancer is controversial. METHOD: After curative resection of stomach carcinomas (adenocarcinomas [n = 58]; signet ring cell carcinomas [n = 24]; undifferentiated carcinomas [n = 21]), the influence of the DNA content and histomorphologic parameters on the prognosis was examined. RESULTS: In the multivariate regression analysis, the prognosis depended on the lymph node status (P = 0.0009), pT stage (P = 0.02), tumor localization (P = 0.03), and histologic type (P = 0.05). The prognosis was independent of the DNA content. Furthermore, the degree of differentiation, operative procedure, safety distance, size of the tumor, and sex and age of the patient also did not influence the prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: The DNA content of the tumor cells in stomach carcinoma does not influence prognosis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Patient management scenario: a framework for clinical decision and prognosis.

The depiction of prognosis is one of the main activities and a mainstay in medical practice. In cancer, as in other diseases, the prognosis differs for a variety of situations and evolves with time and with medical interventions. Although most commonly described at diagnosis, prognosis may be defined at any time during the course of the disease and for any endpoint including response to therapy, failure of treatment, survival, or preservation of function, and so forth. To facilitate the accurate portrayal of the future, the prognosis should be defined within a specific setting, referred to as a 'management scenario'. In the concept of a management scenario, the prognosis is defined using systematically considered prognostic factors, interventions and the outcome of interest. A deliberate and careful determination of prognosis is essential to clinical decision making and patient care. We illustrate the use of the concept of management scenario in several clinical examples.

Adult↗

Medical prognosis--some fundamentals.

BACKGROUND: The concept of prognosis as a prediction concerning the probable outcome of an attack of disease shows some severe contextual drawbacks in the everyday clinical sense. It is often used to describe possible outcomes of the disease in general, or the progression of a disease course, not the expected course in a particular case. GOAL: To render more discriminating uses of the term prognosis, in order to provide the prognosticating physician with a valid tool, comparable to the theoretical basis of diagnostic and therapeutic actions. PROCEDURES: Analysis and discussion of etymology, definition and practical usage. CONCLUSION: Prognosis is not to be considered soothsaying, but forecasting on qualified grounds. Prognostic statements are announcements containing prognostic information. Prognostic factors are pieces of information associated with a specific outcome of disease, which can be utilized in the formulation of the prognosis. Prognostic estimates involve subjective probability and can be formulated by using frequencies along with (clinical) experience. A prognosis is a prediction of a particular future stage of disease, considering a single case--the prognosis is neither part of the patient, nor part of the disease.

Data Collection↗

[Effect of the transfusion of blood and hemoderivatives on the prognosis of colorectal cancer].

In recent years in the literature several investigators described a negative effect of perioperative transfusion of blood and hemoderivatives on the prognosis of malignant tumors. Concerning the patients with colorectal carcinoma operated between 1979 and 1983 at Erlangen University Hospital these results could be proven. We observed a significantly worse 5-year survival rate for patients who received perioperative blood transfusion. However, multivariant analysis in Cox-regression model revealed other factors like tumor stage and localisation responsible for the poorer prognosis. Therefore blood transfusion seems not to have any influence on the prognosis itself. Furthermore we observed a significantly poorer prognosis concerning patients who perioperatively received fresh frozen plasma (FFP). Surprisingly multivariant analysis showed that FFP substitution in contrast to blood transfusion has an own prognostic influence. This difference in prognosis cannot be explained by selection criteria. The mechanism of the negative influence of FFP on the prognosis of colorectal carcinoma remains unclear and is investigated currently in prospective studies.

Aged↗

Validity of the computer-assisted cephalometric growth prognosis VTO (Visual Treatment Objective) according to Ricketts.

The computer-assisted growth prognosis "Visual Treatment Objective" (VTO) according to Ricketts gives an individual prediction based on empirically obtained mean growth rates and includes the expected influence of orthodontic treatment. The objective of the present study was to investigate the validity of the VTO over a period of 2 and 5 years. For this purpose, lateral teleradiographic images of 180 patients were analyzed before the start and after the completion of active treatment, and the actual outcome was compared with the prognosis. For both prognostic periods, the VTO yielded a satisfactory prognosis of maxillary inclination, of the anteroposterior position of the maxilla, of growth in mandibular length, of the anteroposterior position and rotation of the mandible, of the positional relation of the mandible and maxilla, of basicranial configuration, and of vertical craniofacial development. For neither of the 2 prognostic periods did the VTO give a satisfactory prognosis of dental relations, of dentoskeletal relations or of soft-tissue configuration. The VTO is capable of giving a largely valid prognosis of skeletal growth tendencies. However, in view of the large number of parameters affected by therapeutic measures, the VTO prognosis must be expected to differ from the actual treatment outcome.

Adolescent↗

Prognosis and life expectancy in chronic liver disease.

The aim of the present was to define prognosis and life expectancy in patients with chronic liver disease of different etiologies and to relate them to an age- and sex-matched normal population. After a follow-up of 15 years, life expectancy of 620 patients with chronic liver disease was retrospectively calculated and compared with an age- and sex-matched normal population. Among patients with cirrhosis, prognosis was dependent upon Child classification (P = 0.001). Patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and fatty liver disease were younger (P = 0.01) and had a lower life expectancy than patients with other causes of chronic liver disease (P = 0.004). Patients with hepatitis B and hepatitis C cirrhosis showed a comparable prognosis and a significantly lower life expectancy than the age- and sex-matched population. Cryptogenic and autoimmune liver diseases showed a comparable life expectancy but a significantly shorter life expectancy than the normal population. In patients with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency-associated cirrhosis, a high viral coinfection rate was found (P = 0.01). For patients with noncirrhotic hemochromatosis, prognosis was poorer than that for the age- and sex-matched population. In patients with asymptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis, chronic persistent hepatitis B, and alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency without cirrhosis, life expectancy was equal to that of the normal population. Prognosis and life expectancy in chronic liver disease depend on stage, cause, and symptoms of chronic liver disease; age; and possibilities of treatment. In patients with hereditary liver disease, additional viral infection of alcohol abuse lead to a significant deterioration of life expectancy. Patients with alcoholic chronic liver disease have the poorest prognosis.

Autoimmune Diseases↗

Clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis of patients with variant angina. A comparative study between western and Japanese populations.

To determine the factors influencing the prognosis of variant angina, the clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis of 158 consecutive Japanese patients were examined and compared with those in previous major western studies (Pisa, Montreal, and Duke studies). The Japanese patients were characterized by relatively low prevalences of coronary risk factors, significant coronary stenoses and previous myocardial infarction. Survival and survival without myocardial infarction for the entire group or for the subpopulation with significant coronary artery disease were significantly better in the Japanese population than in the western populations; however, in the subpopulation without significant coronary artery disease, the prognosis was excellent in all four studies. If the prevalence of coronary artery disease was corrected for the Japanese population, there would be no difference in the prognosis between the Japanese and the western populations. It is concluded: (1) the overall prognosis of variant angina may be better in Japanese patients, and (2) coronary artery disease appears to be the strongest prognostic factor for assessing the differences in the prognosis between the Japanese and the western populations.

Adult↗

Sex differences in illness incidence, prognosis and mortality: issues and evidence.

This paper reviews current research and presents new evidence concerning sex differences in morbidity and mortality. Attention is focused primarily on the following topics: (1) sex differences in incidence, prognosis and mortality for several major types of chronic disease, (2) causes of sex differences in morbidity and mortality, (3) sex differences in physician visits and (4) a methodological issue, whether there are sex differences in reporting morbidity. Relationships between sex differences in incidence, prognosis and mortality have been analyzed for various types of cancer, ischemic heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis. There was little or no correlation between sex differences in incidence and sex differences in prognosis. Sex differences in prognosis were generally smaller than sex differences in incidence. In most cases, sex differences in prognosis made a relatively small contribution to sex differences in mortality, and sex differences in incidence were the primary determinant of sex differences in mortality. These patterns indicate that the causes of sex differences in incidence frequently have little effect on sex differences in prognosis. Reasons for this are discussed in the text. The causes of sex differences in morbidity and mortality are discussed, with attention to the contributions of genetic and environmental factors, sex roles, sex differences in stress responses and sex differences in risk-taking and preventive behaviors. One conclusion is that, although men take more risks of certain types, there does not appear to be a consistent sex difference in propensity to take risks or to engage in preventive behavior. Rather sex differences in risk-taking and preventive behavior vary depending on the specific behavior and the culture considered. Sex differences in physician visit rates are influenced by a variety of biological and cultural factors. For example, women's more complex and demanding reproductive functions are a major reason for women's higher rates of physician visits, at least in Western countries. The importance of cultural factors is indicated by the cross-cultural and historical variation in sex differences in physician visit rates. In order to test whether there are sex differences in the reporting of health and illness, discrepancies between self-report and medically-evaluated morbidity measures have been assessed for males and females in twelve studies. These data indicate that sex differences in reporting vary depending on the particular type of morbidity measure considered. For example, for self-ratings of general health women may be more predisposed than men to rate their health poor, but no significant sex differences were observed in reporting of physician visits or hospital admissions. The evidence discussed in this paper illustrates the diversity and complexity of factors that influence sex differences in morbidity and mortality...

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Oral contraceptives and prognosis in breast cancer: effects of duration, latency, recency, age at first use and relation to parity and body mass index in young women with breast cancer.

The aim of this study was to examine associations between oral contraceptive (OC) use, body mass index (BMI = weight/height2) and prognosis in invasive breast cancer diagnosed before the age of 45. Survival analyses of a consecutive sample of breast cancer patients were undertaken. The cases were initially registered in a nationwide case-control study of OC use and risk of premenopausal breast cancer in Sweden and Norway. All 422 cases were under 45 years of age at diagnosis, and recruited from the reports to cancer registries (Sweden) or from surgical departments (Norway) during May 1984 through May 1985. Detailed information about OC exposure was obtained in the initial face-to-face interview. With Cox's proportional hazards analyses, a significantly lower hazard rate [relative hazard (RH) = 0.54; 0.31-0.94] was seen in short-term users (< 4 years)--but not in long-term (> or = 4 years) users--than in never-users of OC. Non-significant estimates for RHs lower than 1.0, i.e. better prognosis, with long recency (> 5 years) and latency (> or = 10 years) of OC use were noted. Prognosis was not influenced by age at first OC use or of its timing in relation to the first pregnancy. A higher BMI was associated with a poorer prognosis, RH 5.9 (2.0-17.8) for BMI > or = 29 versus BMI < 19, but BMI was not a confounder or an effect modifier of the association between OC use and prognosis. This study does not indicate that OC use prior to the diagnosis of breast cancer has any adverse effect on the prognosis, at least not in women under 45 years of age at diagnosis.

Adult↗

The immunophenotype of acute myeloid leukemia: is there a relationship with prognosis?

Immunophenotyping of acute myeloid leukemia has controversial implications with regards to prognosis. Many associations have been described between individual antigen expression on myeloid blasts and prognosis, however few are consistent. Markers with a consistent prognostic association that have been demonstrated in more than one study have been CD13, CD14, and CD15. The association of the expression of CD11b with poor prognosis appears definite, as does CD7 expression. When compared with the expression of a single antigen, a pattern of antigen expression is likely to have a more significant relationship to prognosis. This is exemplified by the panmyeloid phenotype (expression of 5 myeloid antigens) which appears to be associated with a good prognosis and may differentiate a subgroup within an otherwise intermediate prognosis group of patients. Further analysis with the inclusion of novel antibodies and the combination of multiple antibodies to create further subgroups such as the panmyeloid phenotype will continue to enhance knowledge in this area.

Antigens, CD↗