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Biomedical subjects

D J Bruinvels

Publications and source records attributed to D J Bruinvels.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Immunohistochemical detection of p53 and Bcl-2 in colorectal carcinoma: no evidence for prognostic significance.

To evaluate the prognostic significance of immunohistochemically detected p53 and Bcl-2 proteins in colorectal cancer, tissue sections from 238 paraffin-embedded colorectal carcinomas were immunostained for p53 (MAb DO-7 and CM-1 antiserum) and Bcl-2 (MAb Bcl-2:124). Staining patterns were assessed semiquantitatively and correlated with each other and with sex, age, tumour site, Dukes' classification, tumour differentiation, mucinous characteristics, lymphocyte and eosinophilic granulocyte infiltration, and patient survival. In our series, 35% of carcinomas showed no nuclear staining and 34% (DO-7) to 40% (CM-1) showed staining in over 30% of tumour cell nuclei. A majority of carcinomas that had been immunostained with CM-1 showed cytoplasmic staining, but this was not observed with DO-7. With respect to Bcl-2, 51% of tumours were completely negative, 32% displayed weak and 15% moderate staining; only 3% showed strong positive staining. No evidence was found for reciprocity between Bcl-2 expression and nuclear p53 accumulation. From 13 cases containing tumour-associated adenoma, four were Bcl-2 negative in premalignant and malignant cells, in another four cases these cells showed similar staining intensities and in the remaining cases only the malignant colorectal cells were Bcl-2 negative. Therefore, our data indicate that Bcl-2 is dispensable in the progression towards carcinoma. Except for an association between nuclear p53 accumulation and mucinous tumours (P = 0.01), no significant correlation was found between the clinicopathological parameters mentioned above and immunostaining pattern of (nuclear or cytoplasmic) p53 or Bcl-2.

Adolescent↗

Follow-up after colorectal cancer: current practice in The Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the current practice of follow-up after operations for colorectal cancer in The Netherlands in comparison with other countries. DESIGN: Postal survey. SETTING: All surgical departments in The Netherlands. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Attitudes of surgeons towards detection and treatment of recurrences after colorectal cancer. RESULTS: Of the 139 questionnaires sent out, 136 (98%) were returned. History taking, physical examination, and colonoscopy for local recurrence and metachronous tumours were used by 90% of the hospitals. Attitudes towards screening for hepatic and pulmonary metastases and regional recurrence varied considerably between hospitals. Similar findings were found in seven surveys from other countries. CONCLUSION: There is no consensus among surgeons regarding the follow-up of patients with colorectal cancer. Randomised controlled trials comparing different follow-up strategies and cost-effectiveness analyses are needed to identify groups of patients that will benefit most from follow-up. Identification of these patients may lead to more agreement between surgeons.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗

Follow-up of patients with colorectal cancer. A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to determine whether intensive follow-up improves 5-year survival rates in patients with colorectal cancer who were operated on for cure. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Intensive follow-up of patients with colorectal cancer is still controversial. The present uncertainty in regard to the value of intensive follow-up could be the result of the absence of prospective randomized studies comparing patients with and without follow-up. METHODS: Studies comparing two follow-up programs of different intensities were identified in the medical literature and were aggregated in a meta-analysis using the "random effects method." Seven nonrandomized studies describing 3283 patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients with intensive follow-up did have 9% better 5-year survival rates than did those with minimal or no follow-up, only when intensive follow-up included carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) assays. In addition, more asymptomatic recurrences were detected and more recurrences were resected in patients with intensive follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis indicated that intensive follow-up using CEA assays can identify treatable recurrences at a relatively early stage. Treatment of these recurrences appears to be associated with improved 5-year survival rates. However, not all intensive follow-up strategies will be equally effective. Follow-up may yield the best results if diagnostic tests are used only to detect those recurrences that can be operated on with curative intent and when follow-up is "individualized," according to patient characteristics.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Attitudes towards detection and management of hepatic metastases of colorectal origin: a second look.

In the present study we undertook an international postal survey to assess the current attitudes towards the detection and management of hepatic metastases in colorectal cancer patients, who have been operated on with curative intent. Results of this survey were compared to results of an earlier survey, held in 1985. Both surveys indicate that there is no consensus on the follow-up of patients at risk of hepatic metastases. Especially the interpretation of unexplained rises in carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels leads to much controversy. Only 37% of the hospitals performing liver surgery were willing to perform second-look laparotomies based on CEA only. Also there is no agreement on the maximum number of liver metastases that will justify partial liver resection for cure. Clearly, there is a need for prospective randomized trials on which a more rational policy regarding hepatic metastases in colorectal cancer patients can be based.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Frequency of the delta F508 mutation and XV2c,KM19 haplotypes in cystic fibrosis families from The Netherlands: haplotypes without delta F508 still in disequilibrium.

We have determined the frequency of the major cystic fibrosis (CF) three base pair deletion (delta F508) mutation in 152 CF chromosomes from patients originating from the northern part of The Netherlands. In these patients, the deletion represents approximately 76% of CF mutations. Meconium ileus is strongly associated with homozygosity for the delta F508 mutation. The XV2c,KM19 haplotypes on the CF chromosomes without the delta F508 mutation are in disequilibrium with the population frequency, although showing an increased frequency of the 1 2 haplotype. The surplus of this haplotype is almost entirely made up by the pancreatic insufficient patients.

Cystic Fibrosis↗

Properties of the two circadian oscillators influencing the rabbit's food intake pattern.

Continuous recordings of the pattern in food approaches during ad libitum-feeding were obtained from 15 rabbits which were exposed, for periods of 3-7 months, to continuous illumination (200-250 Lux), total darkness, light-dark alternations of L1:D23 h and L12:D12h and were blinded afterwards. It appears that the circadian pattern in food intake differs markedly in these circumstances and that it is governed by 2 loosely coupled circadian oscillators. These widely diverge in their effect on the eating pattern, in the response of their free-running periods to changes in steady state condition of the retina, and in their entrainment to either the onset or the ending of the illumination phases of 24-h LD regimens. The results indicate that the hypothalamic centres controlling the rabbit's food intake pattern must be strongly influenced by the retinal maintained 'dark' discharge.

Animals↗

Detection of recurrence after surgery for colorectal cancer.

Of all patients operated for colorectal cancer, 1 in 3 will suffer from cancer recurrence, and most of these patients will die from disseminated disease. Postoperative follow-up aims at improving these grim figures. This sound idea has not been supported by any empirical data. In the current article, we discuss some theoretical issues concerning colorectal cancer follow-up, and present results of a cost-effectiveness analysis, used to model the natural history of colorectal cancer recurrence and the costs and effects of follow-up and re-operation. The expected results of three policies were calculated: no follow-up, selective follow-up and intensive follow-up. For most patients, follow-up will only lead to a significant increase in costs, without increase in (quality-adjusted) life expectancy. Colorectal cancer follow-up is not "evidence-based medicine".

Age Factors↗