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Biomedical subjects

A Haferkamp

Publications and source records attributed to A Haferkamp.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Brain metastases in cases of renal cell carcinoma].

Brain metastases represent the most common intracranial neoplasia. The lung, breast and kidney are the primary tumor locations most often associated with brain metastasis. Seizures and neurological impairment are typical manifestations of neoplastic cerebral dissemination, which, when untreated, usually lead to death within a few months. In this review, we discuss whole brain radiotherapy, surgical resection and stereotactic radiosurgery as the currently used therapeutic options for renal cell cancer metastasis in the brain.

Brain Neoplasms↗

[Palliative and supportive therapy in cases of renal cell carcinoma].

At the time of diagnosis, 25-30% of all patients with renal cell carcinoma already present with metastatic disease. Furthermore, 20-30% of patients with renal cell carcinoma will have progressive disease despite radical nephrectomy with complete tumor resection. In this review, we discuss the current therapeutic options for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: These include palliative radical nephrectomy, surgery of metastasis, tumor embolisation and medical treatment options (e.g. immunotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy), as well as supportive pain treatment.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗

[Paraneoplastic syndrome in renal cell carcinoma].

Renal cell carcinoma associated paraneoplastic symptoms include constitutional symptoms as well as specific metabolic and biochemical abnormalities. These are present in up to 40% of patients with renal cell carcinoma during the course of the disease. This report provides information on the most common manifestations and their therapy; some rare variants are also mentioned. The importance of paraneoplasia lies partly in the fact that paraneoplastic symptoms may be the precursor of either primary or recurrent disease. The presence of paraneoplastic manifestations does not necessarily imply a poor prognosis or metastatic disease.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗

Corticosteroid-induced chemotherapy resistance in urological cancers.

PURPOSE: Glucocorticoids such as dexamethasone are widely used for medication of urological diseases, e.g., as cotreatment of advanced prostate cancer, to improve appetite, weight loss, fatigue, relieve bone pain, diminish ureteric obstruction, to reduce the production of adrenal androgens, as an antiemetic in patients undergoing chemo- and/or radiotherapy together with serving as "standard" therapy arm in randomized studies. While the potent pro-apoptotic properties and the supportive effects of glucocorticoids to tumor therapy in lymphoid cells are well studied, the impact to growth of prostate and other urological carcinomas is unknown. METHODS: We isolated cells from surgical resections of 21 prostate tumors and measured apoptosis and viability in these primary cells and 17 established cell lines from human prostate, bladder, renal cell and testicular carcinomas. RESULTS: We found that dexamethasone induces resistance regarding exposure to several cytotoxic agents such as taxol, gemcitabine, cisplatin, 5-FU and gamma-irradiation in 86% of the freshly isolated prostate tumors and in 100% of the established urological cell lines. No difference in dexamethasone-mediated protection was found in normal, benign and malignant prostate tumors. CONCLUSIONS: These data show for the first time that dexamethasone induced therapy resistance in urological carcinomas is not the exception but a more common phenomenon and implicate that glucocorticoids may have two faces in cancer therapy, a beneficial and a dangerous one.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

[Intravesical treatment of overactive bladder syndrome].

Overactive bladder and urgency incontinence are common conditions generally treated with oral anticholinergic medication. Despite the development of new antimuscarinic substances, many patients are refractory to or cannot tolerate the oral therapy due to severe side effects. Intravesical instillation therapy can provide an alternative method to manage detrusor overactivity. Intravesical instillation of anticholinergics such as oxybutynin and trospium chloride can achieve cholinergic blockade without producing systemic side effects. Botulinum toxin type A injections into the detrusor have been shown to increase bladder capacity and to decrease detrusor overactivity for 6 or more months. Intravesical local anesthetics such as lidocaine and bupivacaine block the conduction of unmyelinated C fibers which results in an increase of functional bladder capacity. Intravesical capsaicin and resiniferatoxin also affect the afferent C fiber innervation of the bladder, leading to a decrease in detrusor overactivity and also an increased bladder capacity. The use of intravesical anticholinergics and of local anesthetic medications, both known for their short-term efficacy, is limited due to the necessity of daily intermittent catheterization. In conclusion, intravesical therapies can provide an alternative treatment for the management of overactive bladder.

Administration, Intravesical↗

[Overactive bladder syndrome. Are there indications for surgical therapy?].

Conservative therapeutic options are considered the gold standard in therapy of overactive bladder syndrome. However, surgery may be beneficial in selected cases. Neuromodulation is well established in clinical practice. If conservative or minimally invasive therapy fails, augmentation techniques or urinary diversion may be considered. This review presents the current knowledge about surgical treatment options for idiopathic overactive bladder.

Cystectomy↗

[Preoperative and palliative embolization of renal cell carcinomas: follow-up of 49 patients].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of preoperative and palliative embolization of renal cell carcinomas on survival, intra- and post-operative procedures, and symptom control for palliative and preoperative indications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 56 patients who underwent renal cell carcinoma embolization from 1981 to 1999 were included in this retrospective study. RESULTS: 24 women and 32 men were included (mean age 59.4 years). Complete follow-up data was available for 49 patients. 42 patients underwent preoperative embolization at different tumor stages (pT1: 1 patient, pT2: 6, pT3 a: 4, pT3 b: 19, pT3 c: 2, pT4: 5). 14 patients underwent palliative embolization (T1: 0 patients, T2: 5, T3: 4, T4: 4). Indications for preoperative embolization were bleeding of the renal tumor in 6 cases -- non-recurrent bleeding reported, flank pain in 4 patients -- 3 of 4 patients had no further symptoms, recurrent tumor embolization in 1 patient, and 2 patients who wanted to be treated without symptoms. The mean survival time of preoperative embolized patients was 3.1 +/- 5.11 years with a 5-year survival rate of 50 %. The mean survival time of palliative embolized patients was 0.67 +/- 0.76 years with initial metastases (n = 7) and 2.33 +/- 2.40 without metastases (n = 6). CONCLUSION: Palliative embolization of renal cell carcinomas is a safe therapeutic method to treat advanced renal cell carcinomas allowing control of symptoms such as hematuria and flank pain in more than 90 % of our cases. Preoperative embolization yields a patient survival time comparable to that of patients at earlier tumor stages and is dependent on the metastases.

Angiography↗

Neurogenic bladder dysfunction in patients with neoplastic spinal cord compression: adaptation of the bladder management strategy to the underlying disease.

OBJECTIVES: To study the outcome of different bladder management strategies in patients with neoplastic spinal cord compression. METHODS: 22 patients with neoplastic spinal cord compression underwent urodynamic examination. According to the urodynamic data and the underlying disease different bladder management strategies were recommended. In patients with curatively treated disease a full bladder rehabilitation program was arranged. In patients with metastatic malignant disease, voluntary voiding was continued if possible or a suprapubic catheter was placed. RESULTS: Eight patients were treated with curative intention. Of those, 2 patients were able to void during urodynamics continued normal voluntary voiding. Six patients were taught intermittent catheterisation, with three additionally received oral anticholinergic treatment because of UMN lesion. At follow-up, all patients had successfully finished bladder rehabilitation program and at follow up, all patients were continuing their previously recommended bladder rehabilitation program. Fourteen patients had malignant disease and were treated palliatively. In 2 patients with UMN lesion, voluntary control of micturition was maintained and both continued voluntary voiding. In 12 patients a suprapubic catheter was inserted. At follow-up, 9 out of 14 had died (mean 8 month after primary visit), the remaining 5 continued treatment with suprapubic catheters. CONCLUSION: Underlying disease and life expectancy should be considered for the selection of bladder management in patients with neoplastic spinal cord compression. In patients with curatively treated disease, a full bladder rehabilitation program is recommended while in patients with malignant disease and palliative care, a suprapubic catheter might be the treatment of choice.

Adult↗

Surgical outcome following radical nephrectomy in cases with inferior vena cava tumour thrombus extension.

AIM: To report our experience with extensive surgery in patients with and without metastatic renal cell carcinoma and gross venous tumour thrombus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with unilateral renal cell carcinoma and tumour thrombus into the vena cava underwent radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy. Eight patients presented with metastatic disease at the time of surgery. Mean follow-up was 17 months (1-54 months, median 9 months). Follow-up was available for 26 patients (96%). RESULTS: Thirteen patients were alive at the time of the study; 11 without evidence of disease with a mean follow-up of 25 months and two (one with and one without metastasis at surgery) with distant metastasis at 16 and 36 months. Eleven patients have died of progressive disease. Mean survival in patients (19 patients) without metastatic disease at time of surgery was 15.2 months; patients (seven patients) with metastatic disease at surgery had a mean survival of 6.7 months. CONCLUSION: Radical nephrectomy and vena caval tumour thrombectomy can be performed in selected patients with an acceptable complication rate. Patients without metastatic disease have a better prognosis than patients with metastatic disease.

Adult↗

[Vesicovaginal fistulas].

Vesicovaginal fistulas are often the result of obstetric trauma in third world countries or gynaecologic surgery in developed countries. The incidence of obstetric trauma is approximately 3-4/1000 births in West Africa. The incidence of fistulas as a result of surgery has remained relatively unchanged for years; 75% occur during gynaecologic procedures. The main clinical symptom of a vesicovaginal fistula is urine loss. Different surgical techniques with similar repair results are available: transvaginal approach, transvesical approach and transperitoneal approach. Irrespective of the approach used, requirements for successful repair include adequate surgical exposure, wide mobilization of the bladder and vagina, excision of the fistula tract, tension-free closure of the bladder and vagina, and placement of an interposition flap, i.e. Martius flap, omentum, peritoneum, when indicated. Using these surgical techniques, around 85% of women can be cured from their vesicovaginal fistula with a single operation.

Administration, Intravaginal↗

[Afferent pathways arising from the lower urinary tract. Physiology, pathophysiology, and clinical implications].

Voluntary control of bladder function is mainly influenced by sensations arising from the lower urinary tract. Conscious perception of these sensations is imperative for appropriate urine storage and voiding at a socially accepted time and place and depends on the integrity of the afferent axis urothelium -- peripheral nerves -- spinal cord -- pons -- mesencephalon -- sensory cortex. This review considers the current knowledge about normal and impaired sensations arising from the bladder and the sphincter and addresses their clinical significance.

Afferent Pathways↗

Relaxant effects of beta-adrenergic agonists on porcine and human detrusor muscle.

AIM: Relaxant effects of different beta-adrenoceptor agonists on porcine and human detrusor were examined. Thus, the beta-adrenoceptor subtype mainly responsible for relaxation in the detrusor muscle of pigs was characterized. Additionally, different effects of several beta-agonists in both species were shown. METHODS: Experiments were performed on muscle strips of porcine and human detrusor suspended in a tissue bath. The relaxant effects of the non-selective beta-agonist isoprenaline, the selective beta2-agonists procaterol, salbutamol and the selective beta3-agonists BRL 37344, CL 316 243 and CGP 12177 on potassium-induced contraction were investigated. The inhibitory effect of different substances on the maximum contraction and the rank order of potency for endogenous catecholamines was determined in pigs. Furthermore, concentration-relaxation curves were performed for pigs and humans. RESULTS: Pigs: In the pre-treatment experiments isoprenaline and procaterol showed similar effects. The concentration-response experiments showed that the maximum relaxation induced by procaterol and salbutamol was more than 90%, not significantly different from isoprenaline, whereas the maximum relaxations of CL 316 243, BRL 37344 and CGP 12177 amounted to 68, 70 or 30%, respectively. Rank order of potencies was isoprenaline > or = adrenaline > noradrenaline. Humans: Isoprenaline, procaterol, salbutamol and CL 316 243 showed a maximum relaxation of 80, 41, 24 and 35% and pD2 values of 6.24, 5.65, 5.48 and 5.55, respectively. CONCLUSION: Beta2-receptors play a main functional role in mediating relaxation of porcine detrusor. Selective beta2- and beta3-agonists similarly relax the human detrusor. Effects were smaller compared with the pig.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

[The modified ureterosigmoidostomy (Mainz pouch II) as a continent form of urinary diversion].

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the outcome of the "Mainz Pouch II" urinary diversion at two different centers (the Klinik und Poliklinik für Urologie, Bonn and the Ospedale "San Salvadore", Pesaro, Italy) in terms of different techniques of ureteral implantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 1995 and February 2003, the procedure was performed on 83 patients with 165 renal units (RU). Ureteral implantation with the Goodwin-Hohenfellner technique was performed in 57 RU, with the Abol-Enein modification in 23 RU and the Le-Duc procedure in 85 RU. Follow-up was available for 71 patients (85%) with a period of 1 to 82 months (mean 19.5 months, median 12 months). A non-validated questionnaire was used in the Bonn series to determine specific urinary diversion items. RESULTS: Early complications occurred in 12%, three requiring surgical intervention. Two patients died within the first 30 days after initial surgery. Pyelonephritis occurred in 12 RU (14% of the patients, 8.5% of the RU). Ureteral stenosis requiring reimplantation was found in two RU. The continence rate was 100% during daytime in the Bonn series; all but one patient had to get up for urination at night. A total of 63% of the patients were able to distinguish between stool and urine. CONCLUSION: Mainz pouch II is a quick, safe and easy to perform urinary diversion which serves as a satisfying alternative to other forms of continent diversion. Follow-up shows a low complication rate with good results in terms of continence; however, long term results have to be evaluated. There are no significant differences in complication rates for the different ureteral implantation techniques.

Colon, Sigmoid↗

[Ultrastructural changes in the aging bladder].

Recent prospective, comparative ultrastructural/urodynamic studies on geriatric voiding dysfunction, including its natural evolution, have revealed that abnormalities of detrusor behavior have specific correlates in detrusor microstructure represented by distinctive electron-microscopic patterns. Each electron-microscopic pattern comprises a constellation of features in two or all three tissue compartments of the detrusor (smooth muscle, interstitium, intrinsic nerves). The pattern characteristic of each dysfunction is the same in detrusors of men and women. The electron-microscopic patterns are additive when multiple abnormalities coexist. All distinctive patterns of various clinical voiding dysfunctions can readily be defined qualitatively in endoscopic biopsies of the detrusor. These observations, including those on material studied for the natural evolution of geriatric voiding dysfunction, have led to the proposal of a clinical/structural definition of the normal aging detrusor and the development of an algorithm for pathologic diagnosis of geriatric voiding dysfunction.

Aged↗

Lack of ultrastructural detrusor changes following endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin type a in overactive neurogenic bladder.

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopical injections of Botulinum toxin type A into the detrusor muscle are gaining clinical acceptance in the treatment of neurogenic detrusor overactivity. Structural effects of Botulinum toxin type A are only known from studies on striated muscles, where a widespread nerve sprouting occurs temporarily. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ultrastructural effects of Botulinum toxin type A injections on the human detrusor. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 30 detrusor biopsies were obtained from 24 patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity. Patients were divided into two groups: Group I included 13 biopsies from patients before the first Botulinum toxin type A injection. Group II included 6 biopsies from patients within 3 months after the first injection and 11 biopsies at the time of decreasing efficacy of Botulinum toxin type A. The biopsies were processed by standard procedure for detailed electron microscopic study and evaluated by 2 examiners without prior knowledge of clinical/urodynamic data. RESULTS: No statistically significant detrusor changes have been found concerning muscle cell fascicle structure (p = 0.445), width of intercellular space (p = 0.482) and number/kind of muscle cell junctions (p = 0.443). A median of 70% of intrinsic axon terminals presented with signs of degeneration in group I, a median of 66% in group II (p = 0.840). Out of 309 evaluated axon terminals in both groups, 1 sprouting axon was found in group I, 3 sprouting axons in group II (p = 0.864). Specimen from group I and group II showed only limited collagen deposits within the detrusor. No changes in the ultrastructure of the detrusor have been observed in those biopsies obtained before and after the Botulinum toxin type A injection of the same patient. CONCLUSION: This study verifies our earlier report of severe intrinsic axon degeneration in the detrusor of patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity. It also shows nearly no structural differences of the detrusor before and after Botulinum toxin type A injections. Contrary to reports of striated muscle, axonal sprouting within the detrusor was very limited after Botulinum toxin type A injections indicating pathophysiologically different reactions to the toxin either between striated muscle and smooth muscle or between different treated diseases.

Adolescent↗