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K Mayerhofer

Publications and source records attributed to K Mayerhofer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Expression of matrix metalloproteinases in patients with uterine smooth muscle tumors: an immunohistochemical analysis of MMP-1 and MMP-2 protein expression in leiomyoma, uterine smooth muscle tumor of uncertain malignant potential, and leiomyosarcoma.

OBJECTIVE: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been suggested to play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. We compared the expression of MMP-1 and MMP-2 protein in patients with leiomyoma, uterine smooth muscle tumor of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP), and leiomyosarcoma (LMS). METHODS: MMP-1 and MMP-2 expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry from paraffin-embedded tissue in 26 patients with leiomyoma, in 24 patients with STUMP, and in 21 patients with LMS. RESULTS: MMP-1 was expressed in 92% of leiomyomas, in 83% of STUMP, and in 86% of LMS, whereas MMP-2 was expressed in 12% of leiomyomas, in 17% of STUMP, and in 48% of LMS. A statistically significant difference regarding the frequency of MMP-2 expression was observed between LMS and STUMP (P =.025) as well as between LMS and leiomyoma (P =.006), but not between STUMP and leiomyoma (P >.05). Likewise, the staining intensity did significantly differ between LMS and leiomyoma (P =.025), but no statistical significant difference was observed between LMS and STUMP (P >.05) and between STUMP and leiomyoma (P >.05). CONCLUSION: The stronger MMP-2 expression in patients with LMS compared with STUMP and leiomyoma indicates that this protein might be a marker for tumor invasion or metastasis in patients with uterine LMS. Furthermore, MMP-2 seems to be a useful immunohistochemical parameter to distinguish cases of smooth muscle tumors in which histologic features are ambiguous or borderline. Further studies including larger numbers of patients are necessary to establish MMP-2 as a routine marker for tumor invasion and progression.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The effect of epidural analgesia on obstetric lacerations and neonatal outcome during spontaneous vaginal delivery.

The aim of this study was to determine if epidural analgesia is associated with increased risk of obstetric lacerations during spontaneous vaginal delivery. We also assessed the effect of epidural analgesia on maternal and neonatal parameters. This multicenter study consisted of an analysis of data from the delivery databases of the University Hospital of Vienna and the Semmelweis Women's Hospital Vienna. This study was restricted to a sample that included all women with uncomplicated pregnancy, a gestational age >37 weeks and a pregnancy with cephalic presentation. Epidural analgesia was started during the first stage of labour. Techniques and management styles of epidural analgesia were the same in both hospitals. We found that women undergoing epidural analgesia had a prolonged second stage of labour, a higher rate of episiotomy and an increased use of oxytocin. Some of these adverse effects might be caused by the higher rate of primipara in the epidural group. However, epidural analgesia showed no evidence of a detrimental effect on the integrity of the birth-canal and on neonatal outcome during spontaneous vaginal delivery.

Analgesia, Epidural↗
PubMed2003

MMP-1 and MMP-2 expression in uterine leiomyosarcoma and correlation with different clinicopathologic parameters.

OBJECTIVE: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been suggested to play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis because they degrade a wide range of components of the extracellular matrix. In the present study, we analyzed the expression of MMP-1 and MMP-2 proteins in patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma. METHODS: MMP-1 and MMP-2 expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry from paraffin-embedded tissue sections in 21 patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS). The immunohistochemical findings were correlated with different clinicopathologic characteristics of the patients. RESULTS: MMP-1 was expressed in 86% and MMP-2 was expressed in 48% of uterine LMS. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between vascular space involvement and MMP-2 expression (P =.05) and between age and MMP-2 expression, with patients over 50 years old having significantly more frequent MMP-2-positive tumors than patients younger than 50 years (P =.006). The relationship between MMP-2 expression and tumor stage and recurrence disease did not reach statistical significance. A trend towards prolonged disease-free survival was observed in women with MMP-2-negative LMS compared with patients with MMP-2-positive LMS (P =.09). Furthermore, a univariate analysis revealed that early tumor stage (P =.0001), age at diagnosis less than 50 years (P =.02), and the absence of vascular space involvement (P =.04) were associated with longer overall survival. CONCLUSION: The statistically significant positive correlation between MMP-2 expression and vascular space involvement as well as the prolonged disease-free survival rate in patients with MMP-2 negative uterine LMS suggest that MMP-2 plays an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. Further clinical studies with larger numbers of cases need to be performed to verify these findings.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

The effect of epidural analgesia on the occurrence of obstetric lacerations and on the neonatal outcome during spontaneous vaginal delivery.

The aim of this study was to determine if epidural analgesia is associated with increased risk of obstetric lacerations during spontaneous vaginal delivery. Furthermore we assessed the effect of epidural analgesia on maternal and neonatal parameters. This multicenter study consisted of an analysis of data from the delivery databases of the University Hospital of Vienna and the Semmelweis Women's Hospital Vienna. This study was restricted to a sample that included all women with uncomplicated pregnancy, a gestational age >37(th) weeks and a pregnancy with cephalic presentation. Epidural analgesia was set during the first stage of labour. Techniques and management styles of epidural analgesia were the same in both hospitals. No statistically significant association was found between epidural analgesia and the occurrence of perineal tears (p=0.83), vaginal (p=0.37) or labial trauma (p=0.11). Furthermore the results demonstrated a statistically significant higher rate of primiparous women using epidural analgesia (p=0.001). A statistically significant prolonged second stage of labour was observed in women undergoing epidural analgesia (p=0.0001). Episiotomy was statistically significant more frequent in women requiring epidural analgesia (p=0.0001). Women who were treated with epidural analgesia were more likely to have labour augmented with oxytocin (p=0.001). No statistically significant differences in neonatal outcomes determined by APGAR score (p=0.84) and cord pH (p=0.23) were observed between the two groups. Women undergoing epidural analgesia demonstrated a prolonged second stage of labour, a higher rate of episiotomy and an increased use of oxytocin to augment labour. Some of these adverse effects might be caused by the higher rate of primiparous women using epidural analgesia. However, epidural analgesia showed no evidence of a detrimental effect on the integrity of the birth-canal in spontaneous vaginal delivery. In our opinion it is a save and effective method of pain relief during labour.

Analgesia, Epidural↗
PubMed2001

Perineal lacerations during spontaneous vaginal delivery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of perineal lacerations during normal spontaneous vaginal delivery and to evaluate potential risk factors. METHODS: The study is based on an analysis of data from the obstetric database of the University Hospital of Vienna and the Semmelweis Women's Hospital Vienna, from February 1999 through to July 1999. Women with vaginal deliveries, uncomplicated pregnancies, uncomplicated first and second stage of labor, gestational age > 37 weeks and pregnancies with cephalic presentation were included. RESULTS: Of 1009 women, 36.2% had perineal lacerations (18.1% had first-degree, 15.2% second-degree, and 2.9% third-degree perineal tears). Univariate logistic regression models showed that only low parity (p = 0.004), the absence of episiotomy (p = 0.0001), and a large head diameter of the infant (p = 0.005) increased the risk for perineal laceration. After adjustment in multivariate analysis, low parity (p = 0.0001), the absence of episiotomy (p = 0.0001) and a large head diameter (p = 0.0004) remained independent risk factors for perineal laceration. Additionally, advanced age of the mother was associated with an increased risk of perineal laceration (p = 0.03). When analyzing the probability for third-degree perineal tears, a strong association with primiparity (p = 0.01), the use of episiotomy (p = 0.0001), a prolonged second stage of labor (p = 0.0001), a large head diameter of the infant (p = 0.01) and the use of oxytocin (p = 0.008) was found. CONCLUSIONS: Primiparous women who are being delivered of a large child are at a greater risk for severe perineal lacerations. In the study population episiotomy did not appear to protect against severe perineal lacerations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Interleukin-8 serum level shift in patients with ovarian carcinoma undergoing paclitaxel-containing chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Paclitaxel has been described to induce interleukin-8 (IL-8) transcription and secretion in human ovarian carcinoma cells. The objective of this study was to investigate possible clinical implications of the effect of paclitaxel on IL-8 serum levels in patients suffering from ovarian carcinoma. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with ovarian carcinoma who were treated with combination chemotherapy consisting of paclitaxel and carboplatin entered the study. IL-8 serum levels and CA 125 serum levels were detected three times for each patient directly before chemotherapy, after three cycles of chemotherapy, and after six cycles of chemotherapy. In addition, serum samples from 59 healthy, age-matched women were obtained. A quantitative human IL-8 immunoassay was used to determine the IL-8 serum levels. RESULTS: Seventy-eight percent of patients responded to chemotherapy, with 61% achieving a complete response and 16% achieving a partial response. The median IL-8 serum level before chemotherapy was 75 pg/mL (range, 2.7-903.3 pg/mL), the level during chemotherapy was 23.75 pg/mL (range, 0.5-248.2 pg/mL), and the level after chemotherapy was 17.65 pg/mL (range, 0.6-377.0 pg/mL). The median IL-8 serum level in controls was 15.6 pg/mL (range, 1.4-106.3 pg/mL). The authors found a statistically significant decrease in both IL-8 serum levels (P < 0.05 and P < 0.05) and CA 125 serum levels (P < 0.05 and P < 0.05) from the first to the second measurement and from the first to the third measurement, respectively. They found no correlation between the shifts of IL-8 serum levels and CA 125 serum levels during chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The authors found a significant decrease in IL-8 serum levels in patients undergoing a paclitaxel-containing chemotherapy regimen, indicating that IL-8 possibly acts as a useful monitoring marker in patients with ovarian carcinoma.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Prognostic parameters in endometrial stromal sarcoma: a clinicopathologic study in 31 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior of endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESS) in relation to their clinical and pathologic features and to identify possible prognostic factors. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with histologically proven ESS were included in the analysis. Endometrial stromal sarcoma is characterized by proliferations composed of cells with endometrial stromal cell differentiation. A breakpoint of 10 mitoses per 10 high-power fields was used in the statistical analysis to distinguish between low-grade and high-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma and to evaluate the prognostic value of mitotic count in patients with ESS. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 72 months (range 34-110). The median overall survival of the 31 patients was 127 months, resulting in a 5-year overall survival rate of 62%. Adjuvant therapy was administered to 25 patients; among those, 20 patients received postoperative radiotherapy and 5 patients received chemotherapy. Ten of the irradiated patients and 3 patients undergoing chemotherapy developed disease recurrence. Concerning the response rate to adjuvant chemotherapy, 1 patient showed a complete response, 1 patient a partial response, 1 patient stable disease, and 2 patients progressive disease. Altogether, 14 patients developed recurrent disease with a median disease-free survival of 11 months (range 5-60). Twelve patients died of the disease. A univariate model revealed that early tumor stage (P < 0.0007), low myometrial invasion (P < 0.008), and low mitotic count (P < 0.005) were associated with a lengthened overall survival in patients with endometrial stromal sarcoma. Age and adjuvant therapy did not influence overall survival of patients with ESS. CONCLUSION: Early tumor stage, low myometrial invasion, and low mitotic count are associated with a lengthened overall survival in patients with ESS.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Risk factors for third-degree perineal tears in vaginal delivery, with an analysis of episiotomy types.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk factors for third-degree perineal tears during vaginal delivery and to investigate the relation between different types of episiotomy and the occurrence of such tears. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective multicenter study consisted of an analysis of data from the delivery databases of the University Hospital of Vienna and Semmelweis Frauenklinic Wien between February and July 1999. The study was restricted to a sample that included all women with uncomplicated pregnancy as well as uncomplicated first and second stages of labor, gestational age > 37 weeks and a pregnancy with cephalic presentation. Women with multiple gestations, noncephalic presentation, cesarean deliveries, shoulder dystocia and gestational age < or = 37 weeks were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Among the 1,118 births, 37 women (3.3%) experienced third-degree perineal tears. The use of episiotomy per se and the type of episiotomy (midline) as well as forceps delivery, primiparity, large infant head diameter, prolonged second stage of labor and use of oxytocin were identified as risk factors for third-degree perineal tears during vaginal delivery. When analyzing different types of episiotomy, there was approximately a sixfold-higher risk of third-degree perineal tears in women undergoing midline episiotomy as compared to mediolateral episiotomy. A stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that episiotomy, prolonged second stage of labor and large infant head diameter remained independent risk factors for third-degree perineal tears. CONCLUSION: We found several risk factors for third-degree perineal tears. The use of midline episiotomy was associated especially with an increased risk of severe anal sphincter tears. To prevent women from long-term sequelae due to third-degree perineal tears, avoidable risk factors should be minimized whenever possible.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Paclitaxel does not cause central nervous adverse effects: a prospective vigilance-controlled EEG mapping study in ovarian cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate potential adverse effects of paclitaxel-containing chemotherapy on the central nervous system in women with ovarian cancer. METHODS: Twenty-eight women with histologically confirmed epithelial ovarian carcinoma and treated with combination chemotherapy consisting of paclitaxel and carboplatin were entered into the study. Patients were tested with vigilance-controlled EEG before and after chemotherapy. Additionally, a battery of neuropsychologic tests before, after 3 cycles and at the end of the chemotherapy were performed. RESULTS: Twenty of the 28 patients responded to chemotherapy (71%). Eleven patients (39%) developed peripheral neurotoxicity. A reduced vigilance in patients with ovarian cancer prior to chemotherapy compared to healthy controls was observed (clearly demonstrated by an attenuated total power, a decrease in fast alpha and slow beta activity, an increase in delta and theta activity as well as a deceleration of the centroid of the total power spectrum). On the other hand, an improved vigilance in patients with ovarian cancer treated with paclitaxel/carboplatin was observed (demonstrated by an increase in total power and an increase in beta power, being more pronounced in the right than in the left hemisphere, between pre- and post-treatment). The results of EEG mapping concurred with those of psychometric tests. The test results did not deteriorate during chemotherapy. A statistically significant improvement in the alphabetical crossout test from the first to the third measurement was observed, indicating an improvement in short-term attention, concentration and the constancy of work during chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Combination chemotherapy consisting of paclitaxel and carboplatin does not cause encephalopathy, but a trend towards an improved vigilance and an improvement of short-term attention and concentration was observed in patients with ovarian cancer after chemotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Serum homocyst(e)ine levels in women with preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction has been described as the final common pathophysiological pathway in the development of preeclampsia. Since it has been suggested that homocyst(e)ine damages endothelial cells, we measured serum homocyst(e)ine levels in women with preeclampsia and in healthy pregnant women in order to find a new prognostic parameter for women with preeclampsia. METHODS: Forty-five women with preeclampsia and 45 healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies, matched for age and parity, were entered into the study. Serum homocyst(e)ine levels were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis and correlated to clinical data. Logistic regression models were used to analyse the influence of serum homocyst(e)ine levels on the presence of preeclampsia versus healthy pregnant women and on the risk of premature termination of pregnancy due to preeclampsia. RESULTS: Median serum homocyst(e)ine levels in women with preeclampsia and healthy pregnant women were 14.2 (range 5.7-38.1) mumol/L and 15.1 (range 5.2-23.1) mumol/L, respectively (Mann-Whitney U-test, p = 0.8). In univariate logistic regression models, serum homocyst(e)ine levels had no significant influence on the odds of presenting with preeclampsia versus healthy pregnant women (univariate logistic regression model, p = 0.8) and on the odds of premature termination of pregnancy due to preeclampsia (univariate logistic regression model, p = 0.3). CONCLUSIONS: Serum homocyst(e)ine levels are not elevated in women with preeclampsia and are not associated with clinical outcome in women with preeclampsia.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Serum soluble Fas levels in ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of serum soluble Fas levels as a prognostic marker for survival of women with ovarian cancer and as a discriminator between benign and malignant adnexal masses. METHODS: Serum soluble Fas levels were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 52 women with ovarian cancer, 30 women with benign ovarian cysts, and 35 healthy women. RESULTS: Median serum soluble Fas levels in women with ovarian cancer, women with benign ovarian cysts, and healthy women were 3.7 (range 1.6-14.5), 2.3 (range 1.3-4.1), and 1.5 ng/mL (range 0.1-5.6), respectively (P <. 001). A univariate logistic regression model showed a significant influence of serum soluble Fas and CA 125 levels on the odds of presenting with ovarian cancer versus benign cysts (P <.001 and P =. 001, respectively). In a multivariable logistic regression model for soluble Fas and CA 125, both markers showed a statistically significant influence on the odds of presenting with ovarian cancer versus benign cysts (P =.01 and P =.01, respectively). Increased pretreatment serum soluble Fas levels were associated with shortened disease-free and overall survival (P =.002 and P =.001, respectively). A multivariable Cox regression model identified serum soluble Fas levels as a significant prognostic factor for disease-free and overall survival, independent of tumor stage (P =. 04 and P =.03, respectively). CONCLUSION: Soluble Fas levels might be useful as a discriminator between benign ovarian cysts and ovarian cancer, adding to the information obtained with the use of the established tumor marker CA 125. Pretreatment serum soluble Fas levels also might be an independent prognostic factor for disease-free and overall survival.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗
PubMed1999

Leiomyosarcoma of the uterus: a clinicopathologic multicenter study of 71 cases.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior of uterine leiomyosarcomas in relation to their clinical and pathologic features and to identify possible prognostic factors. METHODS: Seventy-one patients with histologically proven uterine leiomyosarcoma were included in the analysis. Leiomyosarcomas were defined as uterine smooth-muscle tumors with five or more mitoses per 10 high-power fields and cytologic atypia. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify independent prognostic factors. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 108 months; 5-year overall survival rate was 65%. Evaluating the correlation between several clinicopathologic parameters, tumors with vascular space involvement had a statistically significantly higher stage than tumors without vasular space involvement (P = 0.015). In a univariate Cox model early tumor stage (P < 0.0001), age <50 years (P < 0.0001), low mitotic count (P = 0.05), and the absence of vascular space involvement (P < 0.0005) were associated with good prognosis. In a multivariate analysis age (P = 0.002), tumor stage (P = 0.004), vascular space involvement (P = 0.003), and mitotic count in stage I tumors (P = 0.002) were found to be independent parameters for good prognosis in patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma. CONCLUSION: Early tumor stage, age <50 years, and absence of vascular space involvement were independently associated with good prognosis. Mitotic count was detected to be a strong prognostic parameter in early tumor stage, but failed to act as an independent prognostic parameter in patients with tumor stage II-IV disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 serum levels in ovarian cancer patients.

The chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 is an important mediator of monocyte infiltration in various solid tumours of epithelial origin. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of MCP-1 in the natural history of ovarian cancer and to determine its value as differentiation marker and prognostic marker regarding disease free and overall survival. This retrospective study comprises 86 patients with ovarian cancer, 48 with primary ovarian cancer and 38 with recurrent ovarian cancer, 67 patients with benign ovarian cysts and 42 healthy women. Median serum levels in patients with primary ovarian cancer, recurrent ovarian cancer, benign ovarian cysts and in healthy women were 535.6 (range 129.6-1200) pg ml(-1), 427.3 (range 193.4-1101) pg ml(-1), 371.2 (range 222-986.8) pg ml(-1) and 318.7 (range 241.3-681.4) pg ml(-1) respectively (Mann-Whitney U-test, P < 0.001). Univariate logistic regression models revealed a significant influence of MCP-1 serum levels on the odds of presenting with primary ovarian cancer versus benign cysts and versus healthy women respectively (univariate logistic regression, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001 respectively). In a multivariate logistic regression model considering MCP-1 and CA 125 serum levels simultaneously, both MCP-1 and CA 125 revealed statistical significance on the odds of presenting with primary ovarian cancer versus benign cysts (multivariate logistic regression, P = 0.05 and P < 0.001 respectively). In ovarian cancer patients, MCP-1 serum levels showed a statistically significant correlation with histological grade (Mann-Whitney U-test, P = 0.02) and age at the time of diagnosis (Mann-Whitney U-test, P = 0.03). Elevated MCP-1 serum levels prior to therapy were not associated with disease-free and overall survival (log-rank test, P = 0.2 and P = 0.7 respectively). In summary these data indicate that MCP-1 might play a functional role in the natural history of ovarian cancer and might serve as differentiation marker between benign ovarian cysts and ovarian cancer, providing additional information to the established tumour marker CA 125.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Cytosol concentrations of CD44 isoforms in breast cancer tissue.

The role of the adhesion molecule CD44 in the natural history of breast cancer is controversial. We investigated the CD44 isoform CD44v5 and CD44v6 concentrations in the cytosol of 90 breast cancer specimens, 9 fibroadenomas and 22 normal breast tissue specimens by means of ELISA. CD44v5 and CD44v6 cytosol concentrations were statistically significantly higher in breast cancer compared with fibroadenoma and normal breast tissue (Mann-Whitney U-test, p = 0.009 and p < 0.001, respectively). When CD44 isoforms were correlated with lymph node involvement, histological grading, histological type, tumor stage and age at diagnosis, we found no statistically significant correlation with any of the investigated clinico-pathological parameters. In univariate and multivariate analyses, CD44v5 and CD44v6 were of no prognostic relevance regarding disease-free survival in breast cancer patients (log-rank test, p = 0.16 and p = 0.08, respectively). Our results indicate that CD44 isoforms are increased in samples from tumors relative to normal tissue. Our data show that CD44v5 and CD44v6 isoform expression, although up-regulated by malignant transformation, is not required to acquire a metastatic phenotype in breast cancer. Furthermore, our data support the assumption that cytosolic CD44 isoforms are of no prognostic relevance for disease-free survival of breast cancer patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the uterine cervix: case report and review of the literature.

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) of the female genital tract usually occurs during childhood in the vagina. In rare cases, RMS can originate in the uterine cervix, with a peak incidence in the second decade. A combined modality approach to treating RMS using multidrug chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery has markedly improved survival. Early stage embryonal RMS of the cervix has been found to have an excellent prognosis. The present case and literature review indicate that extensive surgery does not improve survival in patients with stage I disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Influence of acupuncture on duration of labor.

The aim of this case control study was to evaluate the thus far controversially discussed influence of acupuncture (AP) on the duration of labor. Fifty-seven women with AP treatment (group A) were included in our study after spontaneous vaginal full-term delivery. The control group included 63 women (group B). Median duration of the first stage of labor was 196 min in group A and 321 min in group B (Wilcoxon 2-sample test, p < 0.0001). Median duration of the second stage of labor was 57 min in group A and 57 min in group B (Wilcoxon 2-sample test, p = 0.82). Thirty women had a premature rupture of the membranes (PROM), in group A 66.7% and in group B 33.3% (chi2 test, p = 0.02). Women without AP (group B) received significantly more often oxytocin during the first stage of labor compared with group A women (85 and 15%, respectively, chi2 test, p = 0.01) as well as during the second stage of labor (72 and 28%, respectively, chi2 test, p = 0.03). Our study suggests that AP treatment is a recommendable form of childbirth preparation due to its positive effect on the duration of labor, namely by shortening the first stage of labor.

Acupuncture Analgesia↗
PubMed1997

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human breast cancer: correlation with disease-free survival.

Studies have shown that microvessel density influences breast-cancer prognosis. Since tumor angiogenesis is considered to be substantially affected by the excretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from tumor cells, we examined whether VEGF concentration is different in malignant and in non-malignant breast tissue. It was also of interest to discover whether intratumoral VEGF concentration influences disease-free survival (DFS) of breast-cancer patients. Analysis is based on 120 tissue specimens taken from breast fibromas (n = 23), normal epithelial breast tissue adjacent to fibromas (n = 8) and invasive breast cancer (n = 89). VEGF concentration was quantified by using an immunoassay. Microvessel density was determined by immunostaining for factor-VIII-related antigen. Median VEGF concentration is given in pg/mg protein (25%-quantile-75%-quantile) and it was 0 (0-1.8) in normal breast tissue, 9.8 (0.52-43.0) in fibromas and 130.4 (50.8-362.2) in invasive carcinomas. A univariate Cox model revealed that node status, tumor size, estrogen-receptor concentration, histological grading and microvessel density were prognostic factors for disease-free survival in breast cancer. We found a significant correlation between VEGF concentration and microvessel count, but VEGF concentration did not significantly influence disease-free survival. Although VEGF protein was found at a significantly higher concentration in malignant than in non-malignant tissue, determination of intratumoral VEGF protein by an enzyme immunoassay was not prognostically relevant in our patient population.

Analysis of Variance↗