PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Weyler

Publications and source records attributed to J Weyler.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

MR mammography is useful in the preoperative locoregional staging of breast carcinomas with extensive intraductal component.

PURPOSE: To determine the role of magnetic resonance (MR) mammography in detection and assessment of extent of tumors with extensive intraductal component (EIC+). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a prospective study, 233 consecutive women with a suspicious lesion underwent preoperative MR mammography and 209 invasive ductal carcinomas were detected. We studied the prediction of intraductal spread on mammography (MX), ultrasound (US) and MR. We compared the size of the total lesion on MX, US and MR and correlated it with histopathology. Enhancement patterns on MR were described. RESULTS: Of 209 invasive ductal carcinomas, 50 were EIC+ (24%). MX predicted intraductal spread in EIC+ carcinomas in 48.5%, US in 34.2% and MR in 68%. Compared to MX and US, MR was best in assessment of total tumor size. On MR, ductal spread in EIC+ tumors presented as ductal or linear enhancement, long spicules, a regional enhancing area or nodules adjacent to a mass. CONCLUSION: MR had the highest sensitivity to predict intraductal spread and was superior in assessing total tumor size.

Adult↗

Prognostic value of nonangiogenic and angiogenic growth patterns in non-small-cell lung cancer.

An essential prerequisite of nonangiogenic growth appears to be the ability of the tumour to preserve the parenchymal structures of the host tissue. This morphological feature is visible on a routine tissue section. Based on this feature, we classified haematoxylin and eosin-stained tissue sections from 279 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer into three growth patterns: destructive (angiogenic; n=196), papillary (intermediate; n=38) and alveolar (nonangiogenic; n=45). A Cox multiple regression model was used to test the prognostic value of growth patterns together with other relevant clinicopathological factors. For overall survival, growth pattern (P=0.007), N-status (P=0.001), age (P=0.020) and type of operation (P=0.056) were independent prognostic factors. For disease-free survival, only growth pattern (P=0.007) and N-status (P<0.001) had an independent prognostic value. Alveolar (hazard ratio=1.825, 95% confidence interval=1.117-2.980, P=0.016) and papillary (hazard ratio=1.977, 95% confidence interval=1.169-3.345, P=0.011) growth patterns were independent predictors of poor prognosis. The proposed classification has an independent prognostic value for overall survival as well as for disease-free survival, providing a possible explanation for survival differences of patients in the same disease stage.

Adult↗

Enhancing area surrounding breast carcinoma on MR mammography: comparison with pathological examination.

The enhancing area surrounding breast carcinoma on MR mammography is correlated with findings from pathological examination. We studied 194 patients with breast cancer who underwent preoperative MR mammography. Of all malignant lesions presenting with an enhancing surrounding area on MR mammography, morphologic features including long spicules, a ductal pattern, diffuse enhancement or nodules were evaluated and compared with histopathological examination. A double breast coil was used; we performed a 3D FLASH sequence with contiguous coronal slices of 2 mm, before and after injection of 0.2 mmol/kg GD-DTPA, and subtraction images were obtained. In total, 297 malignant lesions were detected at MR mammography and 101 of them had one or more types of enhancing surrounding area. In 49 of the 53 cancers with long spicules and in 49 of the 55 cancers with surrounding ductal pattern of enhancement, pathological examination showed in situ and/or invasive carcinoma. Multiple nodules adjacent to the carcinoma were seen in 20 patients and corresponded with six cases of invasive and ten cases of ductal in situ carcinoma. A diffuse enhancing area next to a mass was seen in ten patients and consisted of carcinoma in all cases: seven in situ and three invasive carcinomas. Enhancing areas including long spicules, a ductal pattern, noduli, or diffuse enhancement surrounding a carcinoma corresponded with in situ or invasive extension of the carcinoma in 92.5, 89, 80 and 100% of cases, respectively.

Adult↗

The value of human papillomavirus detection in primary cervical cancer screening.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is present in the vast majority of high-grade gynecological abnormalities (high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and worse) and, therefore, HPV detection has a very high negative predictive value. Nevertheless, introduction of HPV detection into primary screening would result in large numbers of false positives: HPV positive women with normal cytology. The prevalence of HPV in women with cytologically normal smears is age-dependent as has been shown extensively. We hypothesize that women at the age of 50, who are HPV negative and have a cytologically normal smear might be encouraged to refrain from further screening. The data available from the literature on HPV prevalence in elderly women is presented. Data of cohort studies of elderly women with and without HPV infection as well as health-economical analyses to investigate the cost-effectiveness of the proposed hypothesis are still lacking.

Female↗

MR mammography in the pre-operative staging of breast cancer in patients with dense breast tissue: comparison with mammography and ultrasound.

The aim of this study was to determine whether pre-operative MR mammography could predict the extent of breast cancer in patients with dense breasts or whether dense parenchyma will lead to false-positive or inconclusive examinations. Sixty-seven patients with dense breasts with a malignant breast tumor planned for conservative surgery were reviewed. Detection rates of mammography, ultrasound, and MR mammography were studied, and the diameters of the lesions were measured and compared with pathological examination. Pathology revealed breast cancer in 65 patients. Sensitivity for detection of index lesions was 83% for mammography, 70.8% for ultrasound, and 98% for MR mammography. Mammography underestimated tumor extent in 37%, ultrasound in 40%, and MR in 12.5%. Of the 20 patients (31%) with multifocal or multicentric carcinoma, mammography detected the lesions in 35%, ultrasound in 30%, and MR in 100%, with a false-positive rate of 12.5, 14, and 23%. The MR mammography is more accurate in assessing tumor extent and multifocality in patients with dense breasts, but benign changes may lead to false-positive examinations.

Breast↗

Use of anti-emetics after intragastric balloon placement: experience with three different drug treatments.

BACKGROUND: Tropisetron treatment was compared with alizapride treatment. The secondary aim was to assess whether droperidol supplement would still improve the therapeutic outcome of tropisetron. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of 51 obese patients was treated with an intragastric balloon to obtain weight reduction. Patients were divided at random into 3 groups. Each group received a different antiemetic and spasmolytic regimen to control postoperative nausea and vomiting for 24 hours. Statistical analysis of both parameters showed that all 3 populations are comparable and the studied incidence of vomiting was only influenced by the choice of the antiemetics used. A specially developed form was completed during the recovery period every 6 hours until 24 hours postoperatively and recorded all episodes of vomiting. The incidence of vomiting was then calculated as number of episodes/24 hours RESULTS: The incidence of vomiting was significantly lower in the tropisetron group compared to the alizapride group. There was no significant difference between the tropisetron group and the tropisetron plus droperidol group. CONCLUSION: To decrease the incidence of vomiting in patients undergoing intragastric balloon placement, tropisetron proved to be the most effective antiemetic. A supplement of droperidol gave no better results but impaired postoperative mood and wellbeing. Alizapride was least effective.

Adult↗

Early distant relapse in "node-negative" breast cancer patients is not predicted by occult axillary lymph node metastases, but by the features of the primary tumour.

Early distant relapse occurs in a minority of node-negative breast cancer patients. Whether this poor prognosis can be predicted by the features of the primary tumour, or by the presence of occult metastases in the "negative" lymph nodes (LNs), remains a matter of debate. One hundred and four T(1-2)N(0)M(0) breast carcinoma patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (44%) showing early distant relapse with a median disease-free survival of 25 months, and group 2 (56%) showing no evidence of disease after a median follow-up of 91.5 months. All patients had received locoregional treatment only. All tumours were evaluated for medial/lateral location, histological type, size, grade, mitotic activity, fibrotic focus, necrosis, angiogenesis, growth pattern, and lymphatic vessel permeation. The haematoxylin and eosin-stained slides of all axillary LNs were revised and two additional levels were cut from each paraffin block for cytokeratin immunohistochemistry. In 24 patients (23%), occult metastases were found. These consisted of single cells or small clusters (SCs) in the marginal sinus in 17 patients (16%) and of larger colonies of cells in seven patients (7%). All detected metastases were smaller than 2 mm in diameter (micrometastases). There was no significant correlation between the presence of occult LN metastases (SCs or colonies) and the prognostically important features of the primary tumour. Early metastatic disease was significantly correlated with larger tumour size (p=0.02), higher histological grade (p=0.0008), mitotic activity (p<0.0001), presence of necrosis (p=0.0004), presence of fibrotic foci (p=0.0005), angiogenesis (p=0.0009), and lymphatic vessel permeation (p=0.018). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that histological grade and the presence of a fibrotic focus were the only independent prognostic factors and that the presence of occult LN metastases was inversely correlated with early distant relapse. Prospective prognostic studies of occult LN metastases should consider the features of the primary tumour in a multivariate analysis.

Adult↗

Conservative treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women: who will benefit?

The aim of the study was to find out which factors can predict the outcome of conservative treatment of urinary stress incontinence in women. One hundred and four women with stress urinary incontinence were evaluated by recall, and by clinical and urodynamic investigation and were given pelvic floor muscle exercises with or without the use of biphasic low-frequency electrostimulation and visual biofeedback. Two groups could be distinguished. The first consisted of 37 patients in whom conservative therapy proved successful; the second consisted of 67 patients in whom incontinence continued. The study investigated whether there was a significant difference in patients' characteristics between the two groups. The number of conservative treatment sessions was not different between the two groups. The presence of a high body mass index, previous pelvic surgery, strong levator muscles and urethral hypermobility appeared to be poor prognostic features. More research is required to evaluate which patients can benefit from conservative treatment and which criteria can predict the outcome of pelvic floor physiotherapy in women with stress incontinence. This way, patients selection is possible and excessive costs can be saved.

Adult↗

The evaluation of proliferative activity in CIN III and microinvasive cervical cancer and its role in recurrence.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the proliferation activity in CIN III lesions and Ia1 carcinoma according to the risk of recurrence. STUDY DESIGN: The proliferation markers PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) and mitotic index were studied in 75 patients with CIN III and in 20 patients with an Ia1 squamous carcinoma of the cervix by staining representative tissue sections for the PCNA and assessing the mitotic index. Associations between the studied proliferation markers and various histopathologic characteristics as well as recurrence were assessed. RESULTS: Three groups of PCNA were constituted: <20, 20--40, > OR =40% positive tumour nuclei, which contained, respectively, 45 (47%), 29 (31%), and 21 (22%) patients. Microinvasive carcinomas have a higher proliferation activity than CIN III (PCNA P=0.005; mitotic index P=0.094). For CIN III, there was a significantly lower risk for recurrence in the group with lower mitotic activity, compared to the group with higher mitotic activity (Kaplan-Meier: log-rank testing P=0.044). Significance was, however, not reached for the different PCNA categories (Kaplan-Meier, log-rank test P=0.068). Multiple regression analysis showed that in our population of CIN III lesions, only age of diagnosis and treatment modality were relevant (independent) prognostic indicators for recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: In CIN III lesions there is evidence for an association between proliferation activity and the risk of recurrence. The observed crude association weakens when adjusting for age at diagnosis and treatment modality. Apparently this feature is associated with more aggressive biological behaviour and could be used to identify women who are at higher risk of recurrence.

Adult↗

Intratumoral hypoxia resulting in the presence of a fibrotic focus is an independent predictor of early distant relapse in lymph node-negative breast cancer patients.

AIMS: To examine the importance of a fibrotic focus-a scar-like area in a carcinoma-as a marker of intratumoral hypoxia that correlates with angiogenesis and with clinical outcome in node-negative breast cancer. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred and four T1-2N0M0 breast carcinoma patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (n=46) showing early distant relapse (median disease-free survival 25 months) and group 2 (n=58) showing no evidence of disease (median follow-up 91.5 months). All tumours were evaluated for medial/lateral location, size, histological grade, mitotic activity, necrosis, fibrotic focus, angiogenesis, vascular permeation and growth pattern. Multiple regression analysis showed that only histological grade and the presence of a fibrotic focus were independent predictors of early distant relapse. A fibrotic focus was present in 53% of the tumours. The relative size (fibrotic focus/tumour ratio) was significantly correlated with an unfavourable outcome. The presence of necrosis inside the fibrotic focus and the absolute and relative size of the fibrotic focus were significantly correlated with angiogenesis. A fibrotic focus was significantly associated with large, expansively growing tumours with high histological grade and numerous mitoses. CONCLUSION: A fibrotic focus can be used as a surrogate for quantifying angiogenesis and is an independent predictor of early metastasis in lymph node-negative breast cancer.

Adult↗

Early versus late indomethacin treatment for patent ductus arteriosus in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To compare efficacy and side effects of early versus late indomethacin treatment for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants. METHODS: One hundred twenty-seven neonates receiving ventilatory assistance (gestational age: 26-31 weeks) with PDA confirmed by echocardiography were randomly assigned in a prospective multicenter trial to either early (day 3, n = 64) or late (day 7, n = 63) intravenous indomethacin treatment (3 x 0.2 mg/kg every 12 hours). Treatment history and side effects were registered. RESULTS: The PDA closure rate was higher in the early treatment group at both 6 (73% vs 44%, P =.0008) and 9 days of age (91% vs 78%, P =.047). However, there was no significant difference in PDA ligation. Urine output was significantly lower (P <.0001), serum creatinine level was higher (P =.016), and more indomethacin courses were administered in the early treatment group (70 vs 26). Respiratory support, number of deaths, and intraventricular hemorrhages were similar in both groups. However, on the whole, major adverse events (death, necrotizing enterocolitis, and/or localized perforation, extension of hemorrhage, or cystic leukomalacia) occurred more frequently in the early treatment group (P =.017). CONCLUSION: Early indomethacin treatment improves PDA closure but is associated with increased renal side effects and more severe complications and has no respiratory advantage over late indomethacin administration in ventilated, surfactant-treated, preterm infants <32 weeks' gestational age.

Ductus Arteriosus, Patent↗

The risk of endometriosis and exposure to dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls: a case-control study of infertile women.

BACKGROUND: A case-control study was designed to determine the possible association between chronic exposure to dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and the occurrence of endometriosis. The study group consisted of 42 infertile endometriosis cases and 27 mechanical infertile controls, both groups attending one of the collaborating Centres for Reproductive Medicine, enrolled between 1996-1998. METHODS: Exposure assessment to dioxin-like compounds was determined through CALUX (chemical-activated luciferase gene expression)-bioassay to measure dioxin-like total toxic equivalents (dioxins and co-planar PCBs), whereas non-co-planar PCBs were determined through chemical analysis. RESULTS: No association was found between median dioxin-like total toxic equivalents (TEQ) and the occurrence of endometriosis in infertile women [cases (n = 34): 29; controls (n = 27): 24; NS]. When patients were subdivided based on an arbitrary cut-off value of 100 pg TEQ/g serum lipids, no statistically significant association between very high exposure to dioxin-like compounds and endometriosis was found [crude odds ratio (OR) = 4.33; confidence interval (CI) 0.49-38.19; NS]. After adjusting for body mass index, and alcohol consumption, the risk increased slightly to OR = 4.6 (CI 0.48-43.62; NS). There was no confounding by age, ovulatory dysfunction, caffeine intake, smoking or exposure to non-co-planar PCBs. CONCLUSIONS: The study results showed no statistically significant association between exposure to dioxin-like compounds and the occurrence of endometriosis in infertile women.

Adult↗

Prevalence of human papillomavirus in elderly women with cervical cancer.

To investigate the relation between the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and age in cervical cancer patients, material from 93 patients with Ia-IIb cervical carcinoma was analyzed for the presence of HPV by both type-specific and general primer polymerase chain reaction. Patients were divided into 2 groups: 64 years or younger, and 65 years and older. There was no statistically significant difference in either the prevalence of HPV DNA or distribution of genotypes amongst the 2 groups. Therefore, HPV detection can be equally well used in the management and follow-up of elderly cervical cancer patients.

Aged↗

Human papillomavirus infection in the female population of Antwerp, Belgium: prevalence in healthy women, women with premalignant lesions and cervical cancer.

Worldwide there is a strong relation between the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and the development of cervical cancer. This study investigated the prevalence and genotype of HPV in women with normal smears, women with premalignant lesions and women with cervical cancer in Antwerp, Belgium. Type-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HPV types 16 and 18 and general primer PCR (GP5+/6+) was performed on DNA extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue from women with lesions or fresh material from controls. HPV was detected in 11% of controls, 61% of women with atypia, 77% of women with CIN lesions and 88% of women with cervical carcinoma (chi2 trend, 273, p<0.001). The odds ratio for high-risk HPV types was 9.3 for atypia (95%CI. 4.3-19.8), 33.6 for CIN lesions (95%CI, 19.3-58.6) and 78.8 for cervical cancer (95%CI, 39.2-158.3). In total, 19 different HPV genotypes were detected, including five low risk HPV types. Seven of the 14 high-risk HPV types were detected in cervical cancer patients. Based on our study it is suggested that a prophylactic vaccine based on a cocktail of a limited number of high-risk HPV types should be considered in order to protect most women from developing cervical cancer.

Adolescent↗

A comparison of ibuprofen and indomethacin for closure of patent ductus arteriosus.

BACKGROUND: Indomethacin is the conventional treatment for hemodynamically important patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants. However, its use is associated with various side effects. In a prospective study, we compared ibuprofen and indomethacin with regard to efficacy and safety for the early treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants. METHODS: We studied 148 infants (gestational age, 24 to 32 weeks) who had the respiratory distress syndrome and an echocardiographically confirmed, hemodynamically important patent ductus arteriosus. The infants were randomly assigned at five neonatal intensive care centers to receive three intravenous doses of either indomethacin (0.2 mg per kilogram of body weight, given at 12-hour intervals) or ibuprofen (a first dose of 10 mg per kilogram, followed at 24-hour intervals by two doses of 5 mq per kilogram each), starting on the third day of life. The rate of ductal closure, the need for additional treatment, side effects, complications, and the infants' clinical course were recorded. RESULTS: The rate of ductal closure was similar with the two treatments: ductal closure occurred in 49 of 74 infants given indomethacin (66 percent), and in 52 of 74 given ibuprofen (70 percent) (relative risk, 0.94; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.76 to 1.17; P=0.41). The numbers of infants who needed a second pharmacologic treatment or surgical ductal ligation did not differ significantly between the two groups. Oliguria occurred in 5 infants treated with ibuprofen and in 14 treated with indomethacin (P=0.03). There were no significant differences with respect to other side effects or complications. CONCLUSIONS: Ibuprofen therapy on the third day of life is as efficacious as indomethacin for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants with the respiratory distress syndrome and is significantly less likely to induce oliguria.

Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors↗

Comparison of persistent organic pollutant residues in serum and adipose tissue in a female population in Belgium, 1996-1998.

This study was performed to determine and compare persistent organic pollutant (POP) levels in different matrices in a female population. A total of 96 serum and 46 adipose tissue samples were collected from infertile women (n = 101) attending Centers for Reproductive Medicine in Belgium from 1996 to 1998. Gas chromatography with electron-capture detection was used to quantify residue levels on a lipid basis of seven organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and seven polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). There was a strong association between adipose tissue and serum residues. The adipose tissue levels of CB-138, 153, 180 and p,p'-DDE were explained by the serum residues. Besides, the accumulation pattern for CB-153 and CB-180 in serum and adipose tissue are mirror images of each other.

Adipose Tissue↗

The association between vascular endothelial growth factor, microvessel density and clinicopathological features in invasive cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyse the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in a series of cervical carcinomas and to compare the results with the microvessel density (MVD) and clinicopathological features. STUDY DESIGN: The immunoreactivity for VEGF was studied in 130 invasive cervical carcinomas and in 22 patients with a carcinoma in situ of the cervix. The results were compared with the MVD. RESULTS: Staining for VEGF of less then 50% per slide occurred in 80% of the invasive carcinomas and in 82% of the in situ carcinomas. The median MVD was 261 vv/mm(2) (range: 11-1000) in the invasive group and 146 vv/mm(2) (range: 25-536) in the in situ group. Unlike the microvessel density there was no association between VEGF expression and survival. The MVD was higher in VEGF poorer (<50%) tumours (P=0.055). Beside tumour histology (P=0.012) there were no other significant relationships between the remaining histopathological findings and VEGF expression. CONCLUSION: Tissue VEGF expression has no prognostic value in contrast with the MVD in patients with invasive cervical cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗