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Biomedical subjects

Ariel Halevy

Publications and source records attributed to Ariel Halevy.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor for perianal hidradenitis suppurativa: report of a case.

Perianal hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with significantly high morbidity, which severely affects the quality of life of those patients suffering from it. We describe a 46-year-old patient with extensive, severe gluteal and perianal PHS of 28 years duration. Repeated wide excisions, fistulotomies, treatments with hyperbaric oxygen, and finally a diverting colostomy were unsuccessful. A new form of treatment with repeated perilesional injections of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, in conjunction with surgical procedures, was performed with excellent results.

Anal Canal↗

Sentinel node mapping for gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node mapping is the standard of care for patients with malignant melanoma and breast cancer. Recently, SLN mapping was introduced to the field of gastric cancer. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate SLN mapping in patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: In 43 patients with gastric cancer, open intraoperative subserosal dye injection in four opposing peritumoral points was used. Ten minutes following dye injection, stained LNs were located, marked and examined postoperatively from the surgical specimen. RESULTS: SLN mapping was performed in 43 patients with gastric cancer; 782 lymph nodes were harvested and evaluated. SLNs were stained in 34 of the patients (79.1%) with a mean of 2.85 SLNs per patient. The false negative rate was 20.9%, the positive predictive value 100%, the negative predictive value 78.6% and the sensitivity 86.9%. CONCLUSIONS: SLN mapping in patients with gastric cancer is feasible and easy to perform. SLN mapping may mainly affect the extent of lymph node dissection, and to a lesser degree gastric resection. However, more data are needed.

Adult↗

Total endoscopic vaginal reconstruction in a case of Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome.

The congenital absence of the vagina is an uncommonly encountered malformation, known as Rokitanski- Kuster-Hauser syndrome. These patients may enjoy an improved quality of sexual life once a neovagina is constructed. Surgical and nonsurgical (Frank's autodilatation) methods of creating a neovagina by recurrent dilatations require long and often embarrassing self-catheterization which is often painful, and yield a vagina with limited length. The developing ability to perform complicated surgery by laparoscopy has revived interest in colonic and ileal interposition procedures for formation of a neovagina. We report a case of sigmoid colpoplasty for neovagina creation in a 15-year-old girl, performed completely by laparoscopy, with a favorable outcome and an easier recovery.

Adolescent↗

Ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast in men: a review.

Breast carcinoma in men is rare and comprises approximately 1% of all breast cancer cases. In contrast to the increase in the detection rate of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in women resulting from the wide use of screening mammography programs, the rate of male DCIS is still small and represents approximately 5% of all male breast cancers. Considerable debate exists concerning the nature of this entity, including the clinical course, pathologic findings, treatment, and prognosis. In this review, the relevant literature dealing with male DCIS is summarized in an attempt to more precisely define the features of this disease.

Adult↗

The characteristics of malignant breast tumors in hormone replacement therapy users versus nonusers.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of breast cancer in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) users vs. nonusers. METHODS: We investigated the characteristics of all patients between the ages of 50 and 75 years with breast tumors. Then, an age-adjusted group of 55 nonusers was chosen to match and compare with HRT users. RESULTS: Of the 243 patients available for evaluation, 55 (22.6%) used HRT. Disease stages in HRT users vs. nonusers were as follows: ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), 20% and 17.1%; stage I, 45.5% and 41.7%; stage II, 30.9% and 26.2%; stage III, 3.6% and 13.4%; and stage IV, 0% and 1.6% (P =.27). In the age-adjusted cohort, stages in nonusers were as follows: DCIS, 7.3%; stage I, 47.3%; stage II, 25.5%; stage III, 20%; and stage IV, 0% (P =.03). Tumor grades in HRT users vs. nonusers were as follows: grade I, 30.4% and 15.7%; grade II, 52.2% and 52.2%; and grade III, 17.4% and 32.1% (P =.035). Grades in cohort nonusers were as follows: I, 13.2%; II, 52.8%; and III, 34% (P =.05). In the invasive tumors, the positive estrogen receptor (ER) rates were 81.6% and 85.7% (P =.89); positive progesterone receptor (PR) rates were 53.1% and 54% (P =.95); and Her 2-neu positive rates were 18.4% and 17.6% (P =.95), respectively. No significant difference was found in intratumor DCIS, vascular invasion, and Ki-67 (P =.14,.9, and.79, respectively). The rate of lobular and favorable histological types was higher in the HRT user group: 26.6% vs. 15%. CONCLUSIONS: Breast tumors in HRT users vs. nonusers were of a significantly lower stage and grade and accounted for a higher number of favorable histological types, but all other parameters were similar in the two groups.

Aged↗

[A prospective, randomized double-blind study on the treatment of anal fissures with Nitroglycerin ointment].

BACKGROUND: Anal fissure is a common disease. Treatment includes conservative measures or surgery. One of the treatment options is topical Nitroglycerin ointment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present a prospective, randomized, double-blind study, encompassing 48 patients suffering from chronic anal fissure. The subjects were divided into three groups according to the dose of Nitroglycerin ointment received--group I--0% (placebo), group II--0.2% (0.75 mg) and group III--0.4% (1.5 mg). Demographic data, medical history and physical findings were recorded. Healing, pain relief and adverse events were evaluated during and after the treatment period. RESULTS: No significant difference (p<0.05) was found between the groups with respect to patient age, gender, past history, physical examination, amount of ointment used and adverse events. Thirty three of the 48 (69%) patients completed the study. No significant differences were found between the groups with respect to the reasons and rates of leaving the study (p=0.494). Fifteen patients failed to complete the study; eight patients (17%) due to headaches, one patient was operated upon and six patients left the study because of cooperation problems. No significant difference was found between the groups regarding healing (p=0.952) or pain relief (p=0.458-0.8 according to the type of pain checked). CONCLUSIONS: According to our study, there was no benefit regarding healing or pain relief, in treating patients suffering from an anal fissure with Nitroglycerin ointment in combination with stool softeners and sitz baths, compared to the same treatment without Nitroglycerin ointment.

Double-Blind Method↗

Quick parathormone assay in the surgical management of hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND: Among the various new technologies in the field of parathyroid surgery is intraoperative quick parathormone measurements. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the contribution of QPTH measurements during parathyroidectomy to the achievement of higher success rates. METHODS: QPTH assay using Immulite Turbo Intact PTH was measured in 32 patients undergoing parathyroidectomy: 30 for primary and 2 for secondary hyperparathyroidism. QPTH levels were measured at time 0 minutes (before incision) and at 10, 20, and 30 minutes after excision of the hyperfunctioning gland. Only a drop of 60% or more from the 0' level was considered to be a positive result. RESULTS: The mean QPTH level at time 0' for PHPT patients was 38.12 +/- 25.15 pmol/L (range 9.1-118 pmol/L). At 10 minutes post-excision of the hyperfunctioning gland (or glands), QPTH dropped by a mean of 73.80% to 9.89 +/- 18.78 pmol/L. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative QPTH level measurement is helpful in parathyroid surgery. A drop of 60% or more from 0' level indicates a successful procedure, and further exploration should be avoided.

Adenoma↗

Incidental finding of gallbladder carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Carcinoma of the gallbladder is diagnosed in 0.3-1.5% of all cholecystectomy specimens. OBJECTIVES: To establish the overall rate of gallbladder carcinoma and unexpected gallbladder carcinoma based on our experience. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated all consecutive cholecystectomies performed in our ward during a 6 year period in order to determine the incidence of gallbladder carcinoma and to identify common characteristics of this particular group of patients. RESULTS: Of the 1,697 cholecystectomies performed in our ward during the 6 years, gallbladder carcinoma was diagnosed in six patients (0.35%) but was not suspected prior to surgery in any of them. In accordance with the literature, the occurrence in women (5/6) was higher than in men (1/6). The mean age was 70 years (range 55-90). The most common symptom was abdominal pain; the majority (5/6) had cholelithiasis, and the pathologic report confirmed the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma in all six patients. CONCLUSIONS: The overall incidence of unsuspected gallbladder carcinoma in our series was 0.35%. We could not find any common characteristics for this particular group of patients when compared to patients with non-malignant pathology.

Age Distribution↗

Mondor's disease of the axilla: a rare complication of sentinel node biopsy.

Three cases of Mondor's disease of the axilla following sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) are described. In all cases we used the combination of blue dye and radiocolloid, and complete axillary dissection was not performed. The numbers of lymph nodes removed in each case were five, four, and two, respectively. All the events of Mondor's disease resolved spontaneously or following a short therapy of anti-inflammatory agents.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

Gastrointestinal carcinomas occurring in breast cancer patients.

Breast cancer patients are reported to have a higher rate of second primary malignancies. We retrospectively reviewed the coexistence of breast and gastrointestinal (GI) tumors in the same patients and the characteristics of the tumors. The charts of all patients more than 35 years of age who were diagnosed with breast cancer and hospitalized for various reasons between 1985 and 2003 were reviewed and those who also had a diagnosis of GI malignancy were then selected. Age and tumor characteristics were evaluated. Out of all the patients, 2,650 had a diagnosis of breast cancer, while 40 (1.5%) also had GI malignancies. Among a comparable group of 70,784 consecutive female patients without breast cancer, 1,292 patients (1.8%) had a diagnosis of GI malignancy. The location of GI tumors in patients with both tumors was as follows: stomach, 6 (15%); right colon, 8 (20%); left colon, 7 (17.5%); sigma, 9 (22.5%); and rectum, 10 (25%). Seventeen of the patients (51.5%) had Dukes C and D tumors, 14 (42.5%) Dukes B, and 2 (6%) Dukes A or in situ. The stage of the others was not identified. The mean age at diagnosis of breast cancer was 68.5 years (range 48-88 years). In 23 (57.5%), GI cancer was diagnosed after breast cancer, in 7 (17.5%) it was diagnosed within 3 months of diagnosing breast cancer, and in 8 (20%) it was diagnosed prior to the diagnosis of breast cancer. Five patients suffered from an additional primary cancer: three endometrial, one lung, one esophageal, and one patient had two additional tumors in the endometrium and thyroid. We conclude that the rate of GI malignancies in breast cancer patients is slightly lower than in comparable patients without breast cancer. GI malignancies tend to be diagnosed later and are found more often in the distal colon.

Adult↗