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Biomedical subjects

L E Lörelius

Publications and source records attributed to L E Lörelius.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Intraarterial chemoembolisation with lipiodol and epirubicin in hepatocellular cancer--improved survival in some patients?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Arterial chemoembolisation with lipiodol and a cytotoxic drug is reported to give equivocal results in irresectable primary hepatocellular cancer (HCC). In order to further elucidate the possible response to this treatment, we analysed the results of all patients with irresectable HCC treated with chemoembolisation at our hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 58 consecutive patients with HCC were treated with lipiodolepirubicin chemoembolisation between February 1988 - October 1994 and followed until death or October 1998. RESULTS: The average survival was 11.7 months and median survival was 6 months. 17 patients had only one treatment mostly due to death within 6 weeks after the first treatment. Patients with an open portal system at inclusion (50% of all) were found to have significantly increased survival after 6 and 12 months compared to those with portal obstruction. The subgroup of patients displaying a decrease in tumour size as judged by repeated CT scan 6 months after inclusion had significantly increased survival; all survived more than 12 months (median survival 30 months). CONCLUSIONS: Chemoembolisation with lipiodol-epirubicin may have an impact on survival on selected patients with irresectable hepatocellular cancer. The treatment may justifiably be offered patients with an open portal venous system and without liver failure.

Adult↗

Liver embolizations of patients with malignant neuroendocrine gastrointestinal tumors.

BACKGROUND: Patients with neuroendocrine gastrointestinal tumors usually present with inoperable metastatic disease and severe hormonal symptoms. Specific chemotherapy, interferon-alpha (IFN), and somatostatin analogs are established therapies for these patients, but all of them eventually fail. Hepatic arterial embolization can provide reduction of both hormonal symptoms and tumor burden in these patients. METHODS: Between 1981 and 1995, a total of 55 liver embolizations with gel foam powder were performed on 41 patients with histopathologically verified neuroendocrine tumors; 29 had carcinoid tumors and 12 had endocrine pancreatic tumors (EPTs). All patients had received medical treatment, including chemotherapy (n = 18), IFN (n = 31), and octreotide (n = 19), and were experiencing treatment failure when liver embolization was performed at a median of 37 months after diagnosis of liver metastases. Medical treatment was continued after embolization. RESULTS: An overall objective response was noted in 15 of 29 patients with carcinoid tumors (52%). The median duration of effect was 12 months in patients with midgut carcinoid tumors. An overall objective response was observed in 6 of 12 patients with EPTs (50%), with a median duration of effect of 10 months. Adverse events were observed, and, in agreement with earlier reports, the rate of serious complications was 10%. Survival analyses showed a median survival of 80 months and a 5-year survival rate of 60% from the performance of embolization on patients with midgut carcinoid tumors, whereas for patients with EPTs the median survival from embolization was only 20 months. CONCLUSIONS: Liver embolizations performed relatively late in the clinical course in our series appeared to be as effective as "early" embolizations in other series of patients with carcinoid tumors. The results for those with EPTs were poorer, and earlier embolizations may result in better outcomes for these patients. Considering the morbidity associated with the procedure, it is imperative to select patients according to extent of liver involvement, severity of carcinoid heart disease, and somatostatin receptor status.

Adult↗

Value of duplex scanning in evaluation of crural and foot arteries in limbs with severe lower limb ischaemia--a prospective comparison with angiography.

OBJECTIVES: To compare Duplex scanning with angiography for evaluation of crural and pedal arteries in limbs with lower limb ischaemia. DESIGN: The findings obtained during Duplex scanning and angiography were prospectively compared in a blinded manner. SETTING: Departments of Surgery, Diagnostic Radiology and Clinical Physiology, University Hospital. MATERIALS: Duplex scanning and selective angiography of femoropopliteal, crural and foot arteries were performed in 40 limbs (38 patients, 480 segments) with intermittent claudication (n = 6), rest pain (n = 13) and ulcer/gangrene (n = 19). Each arterial segment were graded into four categories: normal, < or = 50% diameter reduction, > 50% diameter reduction and occlusion. Pedal arteries were evaluated as patency or occlusion of dorsal pedal artery and plantar arch. CHIEF OUTCOME MEASURES: Accuracy (AC), sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), positive predictive (PPV), negative predictive (NPV) and kappa values. MAIN RESULTS: The Duplex scanning of the tibioperoneal trunk, crural and pedal arteries had an accuracy of 80% (kappa = 0.6). The SE, SP, PPV and NPV values were 83%, 77%, 79% and 81%, respectively. The SP was relatively low for the peroneal artery (58%) compared to the others. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of Duplex scanning in detecting crural and pedal artery lesions in lower limbs with severe ischaemia.

Adult↗

Operative tumour yield obviates preoperative pancreatic tumour localization in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1.

The efficiency of pancreatic tumour localization was prospectively evaluated in 12 consecutive patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), who were subjected to extirpation of 56 islet cell neoplasms of 0.2-4 cm in diameter (mean 0.8 cm) during pancreatic resection and enucleation. Computed tomography, angiography of the coeliac trunc and superior mesenteric artery, and percutaneous ultrasound correctly localized 7-12% of the tumours and 21-37% of the 19 lesions measuring at least one centimetre in diameter. Transhepatic portal vein sampling correctly located tumour sites in the proximal or distal portions of the pancreas in four out of six patients, but demonstrated unsatisfactory specificity. Intra-operative ultrasound and bidigital palpation of the pancreas had overall sensitivities of 86 and 45%, respectively, and eight lesions below 0.3 cm in diameter remained undetected with intraoperative ultrasound. It is concluded that diagnosis of endocrine pancreatic neoplasms is biochemical in MEN1 and that broad screening of tumour markers efficiently reveals pancreatic involvement decades before the development of a clinically overt disease. Intra-operative ultrasound is a requisite for pancreatic endocrine surgery in MEN1, and it obviates the need for conventional pancreatic imaging unless a pre-operative search for metastatic disease and anatomical aberrations is considered important.

Adult↗

Midgut carcinoid tumours. CT appearance.

CT was performed on 80 patients referred for staging and treatment of histologically verified midgut carcinoid tumours. In 17 cases (21%) CT was normal in spite of biochemical signs of tumour (increased U-5-HIAA). The most common finding was liver metastases in 54/80 (68%) of patients. Mesenteric metastases, usually as a soft tissue mass at the mesenteric root, were found in 17/80 (21%). Retroperitoneal adenopathy was found in 19/80 (24%). During a follow-up time of 3 months to 10 years (median 3 years) 445 additional CT examinations were performed on 77 patients. In 39 of these, progressive disease (new lesions) was found after a median time of 15 months (range 3 months-6.5 years). CT is poor in detecting primary carcinoid tumours but helpful in evaluating the extent of tumour spread before surgical exploration and during follow-up once the diagnosis has been established.

Adult↗

Clinical and biochemical effects in vivo of monoclonal antitumor antibody in Verner-Morrison's syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Monoclonal antibodies have not been evaluated in metastasizing endocrine tumors, even though these lesions may induce severe morbidity of hormone excess in absence of considerable tumor burden. METHODS: A murine monoclonal antibody of the IgG2a subtype was generated by immunization with dispersed tumor cells from an endocrine pancreatic carcinoma associated with liver and peritoneal metastases as well as a therapy-resistant Verner-Morrison's syndrome. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining disclosed selective tissue reactivity of the antibody and conspicuous immunostaining on the surface of the tumor cells. Infusion of 100 mg antibody over 2 days into the common hepatic artery of the patient was accompanied by reduced diarrhea volume until death 6 weeks later and transient elevation of total plasma immunoreactivity for vasoactive intestinal peptide due to large molecular forms of the peptide. Postmortem examination demonstrated disappearance of peritoneal metastases as well as absence of immunostaining for the injected antibody and the transferrin receptor within residual hepatic tumors. CONCLUSION: The results substantiate that symptomatic alleviation and perhaps interference with tumor cell mass may be obtained with monoclonal antibodies in patients with endocrine tumors and that the antiidiotypic immunoglobulin response may play a role herein.

Animals↗

Ultrasound monitored laser-induced local hyperthermia in the liver. An experimental study on pigs.

Ultrasound (US) was used to monitor the size of tissue necrosis generated by Nd-YAG laser-induced local interstitial hyperthermia and tissue coagulation in 8 normal pig livers. Four treatments were done in each liver with 4 different energy settings. The size of the tissue necrosis measured on specimens was compared to the size measured on US. The laser energy caused a round tissue necrosis with some charring in the centre surrounded by a zone of white necrosis and a thin border of hyperaemia. A good correlation was found between the true and US-measured size of the necrosis diameters. It therefore seems possible to safely guide and monitor local laser hyperthermia in the liver with real-time US. The water-cooled quartz fibre used in this study has, however, some limitations.

Aluminum Oxide↗

Embolization of spinal metastases reduces peroperative blood loss. 21 patients operated on for renal cell carcinoma.

We evaluated the peroperative blood loss in 21 patients who were treated with 29 operative procedures for thoracolumbar spinal renal cell carcinoma metastases. Embolization was undertaken prior to 11 operations. At posterior surgery the average blood loss was one third after embolization compared with when embolization had not been performed. The blood loss was also lower during anterior surgery, although this difference was smaller. We recommend that preoperative embolization should precede surgical treatment of spinal metastases of renal cell carcinoma where it can be anticipated that the operation will extend into the pathological tissue.

Aged↗

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1: a 10-year prospective screening study in four kindreds.

A total of 80 individuals in 4 kindreds with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1) have been subjected to repeated biochemical screening during a 10-yr period with the principal aim being to analyze characteristics of the developing pancreatic lesion. Age at presentation of the MEN 1 trait averaged 18 yr in 7 previously unaffected individuals, and this effect of the screening procedure represented a lowering by almost 2 decades. Pancreatic endocrine involvement was recognized at a mean age of 25 yr and constituted the presenting lesion in a majority of the patients. A standardized meal test and basal values of serum pancreatic polypeptide, insulin, proinsulin, and gastrin were the most efficient markers for the pancreatic lesion and preceded signs of pancreatic tumors upon radiological examinations by a mean of 3.5 yr. A 75% penetrance of the islet cell disease and 90% for primary hyperparathyroidism within the affected individuals equalled the prevalences reported in autopsy studies. Two of the kindreds showed signs of intrafamilial homogeneity with respect to the profile of peptide excess (P less than 0.05) and considerable discrepancy in the malignant potential of the pancreatic lesions. The results of early detection and surgical intervention of the pancreatic tumors in MEN 1 suggested an impact on morbidity, while any effect on the mortality of these individuals remains to be clarified.

Adult↗

Continuous recording of muscle nerve sympathetic activity during percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in renovascular hypertension in man.

We have previously shown that during percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) there is a transient increase in plasma renin activity (PRA) that is partly mediated by adrenergic beta-receptors. Despite a concomitant increase in plasma aldosterone, no increase in blood pressure occurred. The aim of this study was to record sympathetic outflow in man during PTRA as reflected by muscle nerve sympathetic activity and arterial plasma noradrenaline. Nine patients with hypertension and unilateral renal artery stenosis underwent PTRA by the Grüntzig technique and simultaneous microelectrode recording of muscle nerve sympathetic activity in the peroneal nerve. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded and blood specimens were drawn for determination of noradrenaline and PRA. During total occlusion of the renal artery, muscle nerve sympathetic activity and the heart rate were unchanged. In the first 6 min after occlusion PRA increased transiently, but there was no significant change in muscle nerve sympathetic activity, arterial noradrenaline, heart rate or blood pressure. From 10 min after PTRA, muscle nerve sympathetic activity was significantly increased and after 40 min there was a significant increase in noradrenaline. The heart rate remained unchanged throughout the procedure, but the blood pressure decreased progressively and the diastolic blood pressure was significantly reduced at 40 min, indicating successful dilation. Despite activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and the sympathetic nervous system, two strong pressor systems, the only circulatory reaction was a decrease in diastolic blood pressure. These findings indicate simultaneous activation of a potent depressor mechanism during PTRA.

Adult↗

Neuroendocrine pancreatic tumours: clinical presentation, biochemical and histopathological findings in 84 patients.

A prospective study has been performed on 84 patients with endocrine pancreatic tumours evaluated at the Medical Department in Uppsala. Available information concerning the patients' presenting symptoms, age at diagnosis, clinical syndrome, tumour location, location of metastases, diagnostic radiology, biochemical and histopathological findings has been analysed. Our results indicate that most patients initially show rather vague and non-specific symptoms, with dyspepsia and pain being the most frequent presenting features. The median delay between appearance of the first symptom and diagnosis was 2 years; the delay was 35 months in sporadic cases and 14.5 months in familial cases. In spite of improvements in diagnostic methods, the median age at diagnosis (53 years) has not been reduced, and most patients are encountered when the tumour has reached an advanced stage. There is a need for a method of screening patients with still uncharacteristic abdominal symptoms for a neuroendocrine tumour. The presence of elevated levels of plasma chromogranin in all patients with a proven tumour suggests that such possibilities exist, and the use of this biochemical marker in the future might reduce the age at diagnosis and thus improve the likelihood of cure and survival of patients with endocrine pancreatic tumours.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗

Preoperative localization of endocrine pancreatic tumours by intra-arterial dynamic computed tomography.

Eleven patients with biochemically confirmed endocrine pancreatic tumours were examined with intra-arterial (i.a.) dynamic computed tomography (CT) and angiography preoperatively. Seven of the patients suffered from the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1) syndrome. All patients were operated upon and surgical palpation and ultrasound were the peroperative localization methods. Of the 33 tumours which were found at histopathologic analysis of the resected specimens in the 11 patients, 7 tumours in 7 patients were correctly localized by both i.a. dynamic CT and angiography. Six patients with MEN-1 syndrome had multiple tumours and this group of patients together had 28 tumours, of which 5 (18%) were localized preoperatively by both CT and angiography. I.a. dynamic CT, with the technique used by us, does not seem to improve the localization of endocrine pancreatic tumours, especially in the rare group of MEN-1 patients, as compared with angiography.

Adult↗

Arterial segmental vasoconstriction in hypercholesterolaemic patients.

Regular, wave-like constriction in medium-sized arteries, arterial segmental vasoconstriction (ASV), has been observed at arteriography and described by many authors. We found ASV in arteriograms of the superficial femoral artery in 13 of 107 hypercholesterolaemic patients, enrolled in the Probucol Quantitative Regression Swedish Trial (PQRST). The arteriograms were digitized and studied with a quantitative computer-assisted technique. The frequency of ASV was higher than has been reported earlier in clinical materials, possibly because of an increased vasoreactivity in hypercholesterolaemia, as recently observed experimentally. The ASV patients were, on average, younger, had lower blood pressure and less atherosclerosis, than the non-ASV patients. ASV was not found in any of the 19 patients in the material who either had symptoms of peripheral vascular disease or arteriographically verified arterial occlusions. No significant correlations with smoking habits or serum cholesterol levels were found. A computer-based index of ASV and measurement of ASV wavelength are discussed.

Adult↗

Phlebographic evaluation of nonthrombotic deep venous incompetence: new anatomic and functional aspects.

The anatomy, valvular function, and reflux patterns in the deep veins of the lower extremities were studied by ascending and descending phlebography in 126 limbs with nonthrombotic deep venous incompetence. The most common patterns were isolated reflux in the superficial femoral vein (51%), and combined reflux in the superficial femoral and the deep femoral veins (44%). Isolated deep femoral vein reflux occurred in 5%. As the degree of reflux in this vein varied considerably, a grading system for classification of deep femoral vein reflux was proposed. Depending on variations in the deep femoral vein anatomy, four different patterns could be distinguished. This study demonstrated that contrast filling of the deep femoral vein during ascending phlebography may indicate the presence of reflux in this vein. Complete visualization of the deep femoral vein is a new diagnostic sign that strongly correlates (p less than 0.001) with reflux in the deep femoral vein. The mean number of valves in the superficial femoral vein was reduced with increasing degree of reflux compared with a reference group consisting of 41 extremities without reflux. The diameter of the popliteal vein was significantly increased in the presence of pathologic reflux, which may indicate that vein wall dilation is a major cause of primary nonthrombotic deep venous incompetence.

Female↗

The spatial distribution of parenterally administered monoclonal antibodies against CEA in a human colorectal tumour xenograft.

A recently developed experimental model consisting of athymic rats carrying human colonic tumours from the cell line LS 174 T in both hind legs was used. 125I-labelled anti-carcinoembryonic (anti-CEA) monoclonal antibodies were injected either intra-arterially after a bolus injection of mannitol, or intra-peritoneally with or without mannitol. On the fourth day the rats were killed and pieces from the tumours and various organs were measured in a well scintillation counter. Tumour pieces were then submitted to autoradiography and immunohistochemistry for examination of the antibody distribution at the cellular level. In all examined tumours injected with anti-CEA antibodies, most of the antibodies were located in the periphery close to fibrovascular septa. It appears, in addition to the specificity of the antibody for the CEA, that the tumour vascular permeability and anatomy are of utmost importance for tumour targeting in this experimental model with the particular antibody used.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Angiographic runoff patterns in patients undergoing lower limb revascularization.

Intraoperative postreconstruction serial angiography was performed in 194 patients undergoing lower-limb revascularization (206 limbs), in order to analyze the atherosclerotic involvement of the lower leg and foot arteries. Occlusion of two or three leg vessels was found in 71% of the diabetic patients, and in 52% of the non-diabetics. The peroneal artery was less frequently affected than the other leg arteries. Severe involvement of the foot arteries was commonly observed in patients with only one or no patent leg vessel. The posterior foot arch was less commonly affected than the anterior. Complete visualization of the lower leg and foot arteries is suggested to be important for adequate evaluation of the distal vascular runoff. Pedal runoff may have prognostic significance in femoropopliteal as well as femorodistal bypass surgery.

Adult↗