Biomedical subjects

H C Ruckle

Publications and source records attributed to H C Ruckle.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

One hundred consecutive laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissections: comparing complications of the first 50 cases to the second 50 cases.

OBJECTIVES: To report the outcome of our first 100 consecutive laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissections (LPLND) and compare the early complication rate of the first 50 cases (14%) to the second 50 cases (4%). METHODS: We reviewed 100 patients who underwent LPLND: Ninety-six patients had carcinoma of the prostate and underwent LPLND prior to radical prostatectomy or definitive radiation therapy. Four patients had histologically proved penile (2) or bladder carcinoma (2) and underwent LPLND to assess their pelvic lymph nodes. RESULTS: We encountered 7 major and minor complications in our first 50 cases, and 2 minor complications in our second 50 cases. The overall complication rate was 9% (9 of 100). CONCLUSIONS: We believe that modification of our operative technique and changes in patient management resulted in a lower complication rate in the second 50 patients. We conclude that although LPLND has a significant learning curve, it is a viable surgical staging option for patients with urologic pelvic malignancies.

Follow-Up Studies↗

PubMed1994

Chinese medicinal herbs inhibit growth of murine renal cell carcinoma.

Tumors are known to produce factors suppressing immune functions. We previously showed that a murine renal cell carcinoma (Renca) suppressed macrophage function in vitro and that this suppression was abolished by co-incubation with extracts of two Chinese medicinal herbs. We now report that these phytochemicals are capable of inhibiting growth of Renca in vivo. BALB/c mice were transplanted intraperitoneally (IP) with 1-2 x 10(5) Renca cells. One day after tumor transplant, mice were randomized into two groups. One group was treated IP, daily for 10 days, with 100 microliters of phytochemicals containing 500 micrograms each of Astragalus membranaceus and Ligustrum lucidum, while the other group received saline as controls. A cure rate of 57% was obtained with these phytochemicals when the initial tumor load was 2 x 10(5), and 100% when the initial tumor load was 1 x 10(5). Additional experiments were performed to investigate the mechanisms involved in this protection. Splenic macrophages from tumor-bearing mice were shown to have depressed chemiluminescent oxidative burst activity, and this depression was restored with phytochemical treatment. Splenocytes from mice transplanted with Renca responded less favorably to interleukin-2 (IL-2) in generating lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells; again this depression was restored with phytochemical treatment. Our data suggest that these phytochemicals may have exerted their antitumor effects via augmentation of phagocyte and LAK cell activities.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Prostate-specific antigen and androgen deprivation therapy.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a kallikrein-like serine protease that, for all practical purposes, is specific for prostatic tissue. PSA is usually detected at low concentrations (0.0-4.0 ng/ml) in the serum and is the most important tumor marker for detecting otherwise unsuspected prostate cancer; it also useful for monitoring the response of prostate cancer to various types of therapy. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) includes bilateral orchiectomy, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists, antiandrogens, and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors. Treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) or prostate cancer with ADT usually decreases the serum PSA concentration. Recent basic science research has demonstrated that the expression of the PSA gene is controlled by androgens acting via the androgen receptor. Therefore, in some patients a low serum PSA concentration will be the result of hormonal down-regulation of the genetic expression of PSA and not the result of the antitumorigenic activity of the therapy. Nevertheless, in spite of the direct effect of ADT on PSA expression, PSA remains a valuable prostate cancer tumor marker for prognosticating the response to ADT and portending clinical progression after this type of treatment for most patients.

5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors↗

PubMed1993

Complications of laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection.

Intraoperative and postoperative complications were assessed in the first 372 patients undergoing laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection at 8 medical centers. In 16 patients laparoscopic node dissection could not be completed due to patient body habitus or technical difficulties. Of these aborted procedures 14 occurred during the initial 8 dissections at each institution. A total of 55 complications (15%) occurred: 14 were noted in the intraoperative and 41 in the postoperative period. Of these patients 13 required open surgical intervention for the treatment of a complication. Complications included vascular injury (11 patients), viscus injury (8), genitourinary problems (10), functional/mechanical bowel obstruction (7), lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (5), infection/wound problem (5), lymphedema (5), anesthetic complications (2) and obturator nerve palsy (2). Based on our experience, there is a significant learning curve associated with performing laparoscopic pelvic node dissection. However, with experience and adherence to laparoscopic surgical principles, the risk of complications may be minimized.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1993

Renal tumors.

Renal tumors including renal cortical adenoma, renal cell carcinoma (hypernephroma), oncocytoma, angiomyolipoma (hamartoma), medullary fibroma, juxtaglomerular cell tumor, nephroblastoma (Wilms' tumor), mesoblastic nephroma, renal blastema, sarcoma, and secondary metastatic lesions are discussed. The syndromes of tuberous sclerosis, von Hippel-Lindau disease, and acquired renal cystic disease are reviewed. Renal cell carcinoma accounts for 85% of clinically relevant renal tumors. Development of renal cell carcinoma appears to be associated with loss of tumor suppressor genes on the short arm of chromosome 3. Over the past year, there were no major advances in the imaging of renal tumors. Ultrasound and computed tomography remain the standards, whereas magnetic resonance imaging, although having a high sensitivity for detection of renal masses, is used primarily for staging the inferior vena cava. The only effective therapy for localized renal cell carcinoma remains surgical resection. There are objective responses seen with immune modulation therapy (interferon-alpha, interleukin-2), but cures are infrequent.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗

PubMed1992

Fracture of penis: diagnosis and management.

Fracture of the penis is a rupture of the rigid corporeal body. Nine consecutive patients with this malady were managed by an operative repair, which included degloving of the penis, evacuation of the hematoma, and closure of the corporeal tear. Postoperatively all patients reported excellent rigidity of a straight penis. We conclude that operative management of a fractured corporeal body is safe and effective.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Phagocytic and natural killer cytotoxic responses of murine transitional cell carcinoma to postsurgical immunochemotherapy.

Postsurgical immunochemotherapy with Corynebacterium parvum (CP) and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (CDDP) was evaluated in mice with transitional cell carcinoma (MBT-2). C3H/He mice were transplanted subcutaneously in the hind limb with 5 x 10(5) tumor cells. Ten to 14 days later when the tumor reached a diameter of five to seven mm., it was surgically removed. Mice were then randomized into four groups to receive a total of three treatments on days 1, 3 and 5 after surgery: 1) saline (control group); 2) CP, 250 micrograms. into the surgical site; 3) CDDP, 5 micrograms./gm. body weight intraperitoneally; and 4) combined CP and CDDP. Recurrence of tumor occurred in 70%, 52%, 55% and 28% of mice receiving surgery only, CP, CDDP, and combined CP and CDDP respectively. In the second part of the experiment, phagocytic activity using chemiluminescence assay and natural killer (NK) activity using chromium-51 release assay were determined with cells from the peritoneum, spleen and inguinal lymph nodes. CP or CDDP alone enhanced the phagocytic and NK activity. The most significant enhancement was obtained with cells from the inguinal lymph nodes of mice receiving combined CP and CDDP, the group with the lowest tumor recurrence. These results suggest that combination of CP and CDDP may be useful in control of postsurgical recurrence of bladder cancer.

Animals↗