Adipose tissue fatty acid composition in Greek patients with breast cancer versus those with benign breast tumors.

Background: Fatty acid composition of adipose tissue is a most reliable biomarker of long-term dietary fatty acid intake. Few studies have implemented biomarkers of fatty acid intake in relation to breast cancer. In this study the relation between adipose tissue composition and breast cancer was investigated.

Complications and toxicity after abdominal and pelvic hypoxic stop-flow perfusion chemotherapy: incidence and assessment of risk factors.

Background: Controversial results regarding the efficacy and toxicity of hypoxic abdominal and pelvic stop-flow perfusion chemotherapy (SFP) have been reported in relatively small series. Hence, because adequate assessment of its benefit in large homogenous cohorts is missing, acceptable morbidity should initially be assured in a series of adequate size. Additionally, risk factors should be assessed for eventual patient selection.

Significant differences in skin irritation by common suture materials assessed by a comparative computerized objective method.

Background: Erythema can be described only through subjective evaluation, except when it is quantified by digital image analysis software. Using such software, the authors performed comparisons of the erythema produced after skin closure of clean surgical wounds. Five suture materials were compared with respect to the local skin irritation that was caused.

The extent of lymph node dissection for gastric cancer: a critical appraisal.

The extent of lymphadenectomy during therapeutic gastrectomy for gastric cancer remains a protracted and controversial issue. While traditionally extended lymphadenectomy is performed in Eastern Asia, limited lymphadenectomy is advocated by most western surgeons. Two large western randomized trials, meta-analyses and a recent systematic review were unable to demonstrate overall benefit from extended lymphadenectomy.

Super giant basal cell carcinoma of the abdominal wall: still possible in the 21st century.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is very common and usually encountered when it is small in size. Giant BCC (i.e.

Gynaecomastia and scrotal rhacosis: two aesthetic surgical operations for men in Byzantine times.

Background: Nowadays, as in the past, much attention is paid to aesthetic operations in women, while only infrequently have such operations been referred to in males. Generally, male aesthetic surgery was introduced to surgical practise during the 19th century. In this study, we analysed the practise of such operations in Byzantine times and in other ancient cultures with surgical knowledge, i.

Pregnancy after breast cancer. A comprehensive review.

Pregnancy after breast cancer treatment has become an important issue since many young breast cancer patients have not completed their family. Generally, these patients should not be discouraged to become pregnant when they want to, since published data suggest no adverse effect of pregnancy on survival. As fertility may be impaired by chemotherapy, different fertility preserving strategies have been developed.

Preoperative decision making for rectal cancer.

Background: Rectal cancer treatment has become multimodal as a result of significant advances in imaging, staging, surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Multidisciplinary teams can incorporate these developments into tailor-made treatment plans and offer state-of-the-art services for rectal cancer patients.

Methods: We searched the MEDLINE and PubMed databases using the following keywords: "rectal cancer," "total mesorectal excision," "multidisciplinary treatment/team," "radiotherapy," "chemotherapy," and their combinations.

Parathyroid carcinoma: clinical presentation and management.

Parathyroid carcinoma constitutes a rare cause of hyperparathyroidism. Five patients, presenting with symptoms and clinical signs of parathyroid hyperfunction, were diagnosed with parathyroid carcinoma in our department over a 12-year period. The experience we gained in the management of these tumors is presented.

Melanoma of the vulva: a pigmented lesion is also significant in a non-sun-exposed area.

Purpose: The foremost important aetiological factor for malignant melanoma is considered to be sunlight exposure. However, primary lesions are also seen in non-sun-exposed areas. Vulvar melanoma is rare and associated with impaired outcome.

Cytoreductive surgery and intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy with paclitaxel: a clinical and pharmacokinetic study.

Background: Intraperitoneal chemotherapy has been recommended as a treatment option for ovarian cancer with peritoneal dissemination. Although its treatment duration is significantly shorter, intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal perfusion chemotherapy (HIPEC) has several advantages over simple intraperitoneal instillation chemotherapy. While platinum compounds have usually been used, only a few have administered paclitaxel during HIPEC.

Short-term exposure of cancer cells to micromolar doses of paclitaxel, with or without hyperthermia, induces long-term inhibition of cell proliferation and cell death in vitro.

Background: During intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for primary or secondary peritoneal malignancies, tumor cells are exposed to high drug concentrations for a relatively short period of time. We investigated in vitro the effect of paclitaxel and hyperthermia on cell proliferation, cell cycle kinetics and cell death under conditions resembling those during intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Methods: Human breast MCF-7, ovarian SKOV-3 and hepatocarcinoma HEpG2 cells were exposed to 10 and 20 microM paclitaxel at 37, 41.

Treatment of ovarian cancer using intraperitoneal chemotherapy with taxanes: from laboratory bench to bedside.

The combination of a taxane, paclitaxel or docetaxel, and a platinum compound has become the systemic chemotherapy of choice for primary ovarian cancer and has demonstrated high efficacy. However, ultimately most patients will die from this disease. Hence, there is a need for even more effective systemic chemotherapy or different treatment strategies.

A simple digital image processing system to aid in melanoma diagnosis in an everyday melanocytic skin lesion unit: a preliminary report.

Background: For early melanoma diagnosis, experienced dermatologists have an accuracy of 64-80% using clinical diagnostic criteria, usually the ABCD rule, while automated melanoma diagnosis systems are still considered to be experimental and serve as adjuncts to the naked-eye expert prediction. In an attempt to aid in early melanoma diagnosis, we developed an image processing program with the aim to discriminate melanoma from melanocytic nevi, establishing a mathematical model to come up with a melanoma probability.

Methods: Digital images of 132 melanocytic skin lesions (23 melanomas and 109 melanocytic nevi) were studied in features of geometry, color, and color texture.

Preoperative epoetin alfa in colorectal surgery: a randomized, controlled study.

Background: Colorectal cancer patients are often anemic before surgery, and this leads to an increased requirement for allogeneic blood transfusion. This may result in transfusion-induced immunosuppression, which in turn leads to increased morbidity and possibly an increased rate of tumor relapse. We investigated the possible benefits of perioperative epoetin alfa administration in anemic patients to correct hemoglobin levels and reduce transfusion needs.

Correlation of breast cancer risk factors with HER-2/neu protein overexpression according to menopausal and estrogen receptor status.

BACKGROUND: Several researchers have claimed that classification of tumours on the basis of HER-2/neu overexpression or amplification may define a subset of breast cancer in which the net effect of a risk factor could be rather more obvious and its impact on breast cancer development more clear. We decided to investigate, in a group of patients from a geographical area with a low incidence of breast cancer, whether HER-2/neu positive tumours are correlated with established or suspected risk factors for breast cancer and thus to identify distinct subgroups of high risk women. METHODS: This study analysed data from patients who attended the Breast Unit at the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece between 1996 and 2002.

Intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy with docetaxel as second-line treatment for peritoneal carcinomatosis of gynaecological origin.

Background: Cytoreductive surgery with continuous hyperthermic perfusion peritoneal chemotherapy (CHPPC) is a relatively new multimodality treatment for peritoneal malignancies. We studied the feasibility and outcome of CHPPC with docetaxel as second-line treatment for gynaecological peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Patients And Methods: Twenty times CHPPC with docetaxel was performed in 19 patients, mean age of 65 years (47-80), who demonstrated early recurrent or persistent peritoneal carcinomatosis mainly of ovarian origin.

Technical modification of laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty.

Background: Technical improvements of laparoscopic bariatric procedures are important to minimize operative time and increase safety and simplicity.

Methods: A modification is described of the "classic" Mason-MacLean vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), performed by laparoscopy, with wedge resection of the gastric fundus, thus avoiding the time-consuming and technically difficult gastro-gastrostomy window.

Results: The technique used was simple and safe, and required less operative time than the "classic" method, without serious intra- or postoperative complications.