Biomedical subjects

R Jakesz

Publications and source records attributed to R Jakesz.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

[Clinical phase II-evaluation of neoadjuvant, cytostatic combination chemotherapy with docetaxel and epidoxorubicin in female breast cancer patients (T1-4, N0-2, M0)].

BACKGROUND: Preoperative (neo-adjuvant) chemotherapy is very effective in downstaging primary tumors and moreover is able to prevent advancing metastatic growth early in the course of the disease. METHODS: We report on 38 patients with a median age of 54 years (range, 33-70 years) suffering from biopsy-proven breast cancer (T1-T4). Mastectomy had been considered the treatment of choice in all cases. The patients received 194 cycles of chemotherapy with docetaxel (75 mg/m2) and epidoxorubicin (75 mg/m2) on day 1, every 21 days, together with 30 million IU of G-CSF from days 3 to 10. Three to 8 cycles (median 5 cycles) of the treatment were administered until best response was achieved on mammography and clinical assessment. RESULTS: The neo-adjuvant chemotherapy was well tolerated and all patients completed the treatment regimen on an out-patient basis. During 194 cycles we observed leukopenia WHO grade IV only at one occasion (0.5%). WHO-grade III toxicity consisted of leukopenia (0.5%), diarrhoea (2%), and stomatitis (0.5%). Response to treatment was present in 85%, with 4 patients (11%) experiencing a pathological complete response (pCR) of the invasive tumor (T0: n = 2, DCIS: n = 2) and 28 patients (74%) showing a partial pathological response. In 21 patients (52%) a breast-conserving surgical procedure was possible. SUMMARY: We conclude that neo-adjuvant treatment of primary breast cancer with docetaxel and epidoxorubicin is safe and effective. By applying more chemotherapy cycles preoperatively it might even be possible to raise the rate of pCR and prolong survival.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Abdominosacral resection of recurrent rectal cancer in the sacrum.

PURPOSE: Resection of the sacrum is the only curative therapy of isolated sacral recurrence after primarily resected rectal cancer. The aim of the study was to assess whether there is a benefit in terms of overall survival, morbidity, and mortality when sacrum resection is performed more radically and in cooperation between colorectal and orthopedic surgeons. Possible prognostic factors were also assessed. METHODS: Twelve consecutive patients who underwent interdisciplinary partial sacral resection were included in a retrospective cohort study. Furthermore, overall survival rate and survival time were calculated. RESULTS: Histologic examination showed tumor-free resection margins in all cases. Extended resection was necessary in seven patients, including total pelvic exenteration in two. No perioperative death occurred and no patient required early reoperation. Complications were observed in 42 percent of patients, mainly caused by poor wound healing. All patients experienced relief from pain. One-year and three-year overall survival rates were 50 and 17 percent, respectively. The overall mean survival time was 21.7 months. Patients who died of recurrent disease within one year either underwent former resection for locoregional recurrence, had extensive local recurrent tumors affecting pelvic visceral structures, or retrospectively suffered from metastatic sacral tumor manifestation. CONCLUSION: The mortality and morbidity rates observed in the present study seem to justify partial sacral resection as a means to achieve palliation of perineosacral pain in spite of rare overall long-term survival.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1999

[Indications and contraindications for breast preservation in patients with breast cancer].

Roughly 70% of all patients with breast cancer can be treated by breast-preserving procedures under optimal circumstances. Risk factors for the development of local recurrences are age, angioinvasion, poor differentiation of the tumor, negative steroid hormone receptors, extensive intraductal component and positive margins. Contraindications for breast preservation are large tumors without remission after preoperative chemotherapy, multicentricity, extensive intraductal component, large ductal carcinoma in situ, inflammatory breast cancer after preoperative chemotherapy, Paget disease and local recurrence after breast-conserving surgery. Preoperative needle biopsy allows determination of nearly all of the risk factors. To further increase the rate of breast conservation, preoperative chemotherapy should be used more extensively.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed1999

Video assistance reduces complication rate of thoracoscopic sympathicotomy for hyperhidrosis.

BACKGROUND: Thoracoscopic sympathicotomy has proved successful in the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis. However, up to 8% of patients experience Horner's syndrome, and about 50% show compensatory sweating. This study evaluates the role of video assistance in thoracoscopic sympathicotomy for primary hyperhidrosis of the upper limb. METHODS: Six hundred fifty-six thoracoscopic sympathicotomies were performed from below T1 to T4 in 369 patients. Of the operations, 558 were done under direct view (CTS group) and 98, with video assistance (VATS group). Follow-up was complete for 78.3% of patients after a median observation period of 16 years. RESULTS: Dry limbs were immediately achieved in 93% of the CTS group and 98% VATS group (p = 0.98). In the CTS group, Horner's syndrome occurred after 2.2% of all operations and rhinitis in 8.3%. No patient in the VATS group showed any symptom of Homer's triad (p = 0.03 versus CTS group) or rhinitis (p = 0.02 versus CTS group). Compensatory sweating was observed in 66.8% in the CTS group versus 69% in the VATS group (p = 0.73) and gustatory sweating, in 50.4% versus 27.6%, respectively (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In performing thoracoscopic sympathicotomy for excessive upper-limb hyperhidrosis, we observed a significant decrease in the incidence of Horner's syndrome, rhinitis, and gustatory sweating when the procedure was guided by video imaging.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Long-term results of 45 thoracoscopic sympathicotomies for primary hyperhidrosis in children.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Thoracoscopic sympathicotomy (TS) is successful in treatment of excessive hyperhidrosis of the upper limb after limited follow-up observation. The aim of the study was to assess for the first time long-term results of TS in children. METHODS: A total of 26 children (9 boys, 17 girls) aged 11 to 17 years with severe palmar or axillar hyperhidrosis underwent TS, and 19 patients were treated bilaterally. A total of 19 patients were observed after a median follow-up period of 16 years by questionnaire or clinical examination. RESULTS: Permanent relief from palmar hyperhidrosis was given in all examined patients. Twelve patients had compensatory and 12 patients gustatory sweating. Postoperatively, 1 subcutaneous emphysema and 1 temporary miosis and ptosis were noted. Eleven patients were fully satisfied with the result. Seven patients were only partially satisfied because of compensatory or gustatory sweating but would again undergo operation. One patient was not satisfied because of excessive compensatory sweating. CONCLUSIONS: TS is a safe and efficient procedure even after long-term follow-up. Severe palmar hyperhidrosis often starts in childhood; thus, early surgical treatment can improve social development. Compensatory and gustatory sweating are the most frequent and enduring side effects and should be mentioned in preoperative patient and parent information.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Prognostic significance of mutations in the p53 gene, particularly in the zinc-binding domains, in lymph node- and steroid receptor positive breast cancer patients. Austrian Breast Cancer Study Group.

The aim of our study was to evaluate if p53 mutations, especially those in the L2/L3 domains of the p53 gene, add prognostic information for node-positive and steroid receptor positive breast cancer patients. Two hundred and five tumour samples from a randomised clinical trial of 596 lymph node- and steroid receptor positive breast cancer patients were included. All patients had been randomly allocated to receive 20 mg of adjuvant tamoxifen (TAM) daily for 2 years or TAM plus one cycle of low-dose, short-term chemotherapy. For detection of p53 mutations we used in vitro amplification by polymerase chain reaction and consecutively performed temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-TGGE) and direct sequencing. We found p53 mutations in 42/205 (20%) cases: 16/42 (38%) p53 mutations occurred within the L2/L3 domains of the p53 gene, and 26/42 (62%) outside the L2/L3 domains. p53 mutation served as a statistically significant parameter in predicting disease-free survival in univariate (P = 0.02) and multivariate (P = 0.009) analysis. For overall survival, no significant differences were observed. Patients with tumours that had p53 mutations within the L2/L3 domains of the gene showed no significant difference to those with mutations outside the L2/L3 domains for disease-free survival. For overall survival, mutations in the L2/L3 domains showed a marginally significant difference (P = 0.05) in multivariate analysis, but not in univariate analysis (P = 0.13). We conclude that mutation in the L2/L3 domains of the p53 gene is not an independent prognostic indicator of disease outcome for patients suffering from breast cancer with lymph node metastases and positive steroid receptors.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Induction of immunomediated diseases by recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor during cancer treatment?

Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) is widely used in the treatment or prevention of neutropenia induced by cytostatic regimens. Recent studies with this cytokine have shown several local and/or systemic side effects. We herein report on four patients with different tumor entities receiving GM-CSF as a part of their intensified cytostatic regimen. All four patients developed immune phenomena (sicca syndrome, seropositive arthralgia, hyperthyroidism, and pneumonitis, respectively) during or after subcutaneous treatment with GM-CSF. Pathologic alterations in immunologic serum parameters as well as histopathologic findings accompanied the clinical symptoms. These observations suggest that the therapeutic application of GM-CSF might be involved in the clinical emergence of autoimmune diseases.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Randomized trial of low-dose chemotherapy added to tamoxifen in patients with receptor-positive and lymph node-positive breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome in patients with stage II hormone receptor-positive breast cancer treated or not treated with low-dose, short-term chemotherapy in addition to tamoxifen in terms of disease-free and overall survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 613 patients were randomized to receive either low-dose chemotherapy (doxorubicin 20 mg/m(2) and vincristine 1 mg/m(2) on day 1; cyclophosphamide 300 mg/m(2); methotrexate 25 mg/m(2); and fluorouracil 600 mg/m(2) on days 29 and 36 intravenously) or no chemotherapy in addition to 20 mg of tamoxifen orally for 2 years. A third group without any treatment (postmenopausal patients only) was terminated after the accrual of 79 patients due to ethical reasons. RESULTS: After a median follow-up period of 7.5 years, the addition of chemotherapy did not improve the outcome in patients as compared with those treated with tamoxifen alone, neither with respect to disease-free nor overall survival. Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors for disease-free survival revealed menopausal status, in addition to nodal status, progesterone receptor, and histologic grade as significant. Both untreated postmenopausal and tamoxifen-treated premenopausal patients showed identical prognoses significantly inferior to the tamoxifen-treated postmenopausal cohort. Prognostic factors for overall survival in the multivariate analysis showed nodal and tumor stage, tumor grade, and hormone receptor level as significant. CONCLUSION: Low-dose chemotherapy in addition to tamoxifen does not improve the prognosis of stage II breast cancer patients with hormone-responsive tumors. Tamoxifen-treated postmenopausal patients show a significantly better prognosis than premenopausal patients, favoring the hypothesis of a more pronounced effect of tamoxifen in the older age groups.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1999

[Use of the harmonic scalpel (Ultracision) in laparoscopic antireflux surgery].

Gastroesophageal reflux disease can effectively be treated by laparoscopic fundoplication. A new multifunctional device has recently been introduced, Ultracision (UC), which can be expected to be especially effective in laparoscopy. Since 9/1995 laparoscopic fundoplication is being performed at our institution. We routinely divide the "short-gastric vessels" and have been using clip-appliers and Endo-GIAs before dividing the vessels with endo-scissors. Since 2/1997 we also use the UC, which applies ultrasonic energy to cause denaturing of proteins and subsequent hemostasis and dissection. This open, non-randomized study compares operative time, intra- and postoperative complications and conversion rates as well as costs of both methods. Between 2/1997 and 12/1997 20 consecutive patients received a floppy Nissen fundoplication by 2 surgeons. In 8 patients clips/EndoGIA were used (m:w = 5:3, mean age 52 years [33-69]), in 12 patients UC (m:W = 10:2, 53 years [25-74]) was used. 2 patients in each group had had previous open abdominal surgery. In the first group 2 procedures had to be converted to open surgery (1 bleeding, 1 anatomical problem), median operative time was 214 min (135-360). In the UC group all procedures were completed laparoscopically, median operative time 132 min (75-240). Postoperative major complication and mortality rates were 0 in both groups. Use of the harmonic scalpel reduced operative time and costs without increasing conversion rates and perioperative complications.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Outcomes of surgical, percutaneous endoscopic, and percutaneous radiologic gastrostomies.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and compare outcomes and complications in patients having undergone gastrostomy by surgical (SG), percutaneous endoscopic (PEG), or percutaneous radiological (PRG) procedure. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: University-based tertiary care center. PATIENTS: Of 82 patients who met inclusion criteria, 14 patients (median age, 40 years) received a surgical tube placement (SG), in 24 patients (median age, 55 years) a PEG procedure was performed, and in 44 patients (median age, 57 years) the tube was placed under fluoroscopic guidance (PRG). Indications for gastrostomy were similar in all groups, representing mainly cancer of the oropharyngeal, head and neck region (51 [61%]) as well as the upper gastrointestinal tract (6 [8%]), neurological disorders (15 [18%]), and others (10 [13%]). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Catheter function rates, major and minor procedure-related complications, and survival. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 17.2 months. Ten patients (71%) died in the SG group 7 to 855 days (median, 67 days) after the procedure, 7 patients (29%) died 5 to 263 days (median, 103 days) after PEG placement, and 30 patients (68%) died within 3 to 621 days (median, 112 days) after PRG, of their underlying disease or disease-related complications; 1 procedure-related death occurred 6 days after radiological tube placement. We observed a rate of minor complications of 43% (6 patients), 33% (8), and 36% (16) and a major complication rate of 14% (2 patients), 17% (4), and 11% (5) in the SG, PEG, and PRG groups, respectively. Tube function rates at 1 year were 67% (9 patients) and 68% (20) in the SG and PEG groups, respectively, and 10% lower (39) in the PRG group, although the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: There is no major difference between SG, PEG, and PRG concerning procedure-related complications. Tube function tends to be inferior after radiological tube placement.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

[Value of punch biopsy in diagnosis of palpable breast tumors. A prospective analysis of 150 patients].

To reduce the need for excisional biopsies in the diagnosis of breast masses, the accuracy of core needle biopsy (CNB) was determined in a university hospital setting. 150 consecutive women with solitary palpable breast masses underwent CNB over a 2-year period. Histological diagnosis was established, and in the case of cancer the type, grade and estrogen and progesterone receptors were determined. CNB findings were compared with those independently obtained from the subsequently excised lesions. There were 103 malignant and 47 benign lesions. CNB diagnosed 136 lesions (90.7%) correctly. Fourteen biopsies were inconclusive. Histological type was correct in all cases and grading in 83.5%. Correct hormone receptor status was obtained in 97.1% of cases for estrogen and 91.3% for progesterone. Diagnosis of histological type, grading, and hormone receptors obtained from CNB material is a safe way to analyze palpable breast lesions and therefore a useful tool to select patients for preoperative treatment.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Very low-dose adjuvant chemotherapy in steroid receptor negative stage I breast cancer patients. Austrian Breast Cancer Study Group.

A randomised clinical trial was performed to test whether or not low-dose chemotherapy lasting only 35 days improves the outcome of breast cancer patients with stage I disease and negative oestrogen and progesterone receptors (ER-, PgR-). Between 1984 and 1990, 277 stage I breast cancer patients with tumours negative for both oestrogen and progesterone receptors were randomised to receive either low-dose short-term chemotherapy or no chemotherapy. Chemotherapy consisted of one cycle of doxorubicin, vincristin (AV) and one cycle of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, fluorouracil (CMF). Patients were stratified for tumour stage, type of surgery, menopausal status and participating centre. Results were analysed both by univariate and multivariate statistical. After a median length of follow-up of 84 months, disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) did not differ significantly between patients having received adjuvant chemotherapy and the control group. Uni- and multivariate analysis did not show any significant prognostic or therapy related factor. A low-dose short-term adjuvant chemotherapy is insufficient to improve the prognosis of patients with breast cancer stage I with ER-, PgR-tumours.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Aneuploidy of chromosome 8 as detected by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization is a recurrent finding in primary and metastatic breast cancer.

Previous work from our laboratory demonstrated aneuploidy for several chromosomes by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in a high proportion of breast cancer specimens. In the literature, only limited data are available concerning chromosome 8 anomalies in breast cancer. To determine chromosome 8 ploidy status in primary and metastatic specimens from 81 breast cancer patients, FISH analysis with a DNA probe recognizing chromosome 8 centromeres was performed. In all primary tumor specimens (n = 30), significant proportions of cells were aneuploid exhibiting gain of chromosome 8 copy numbers; in 75% of effusion specimens previously classified as malignant by cytology and/or FISH for various chromosomes (n = 40), cell populations aneuploid for chromosome 8 were detected; effusions previously classified non-malignant (n = 11) were diploid in 10 cases, whereas one specimen contained rare hyperdiploid cells. Among these cells complex chromosomal aneuploidy could be demonstrated by two-color FISH, suggesting malignancy. Trisomic and tetrasomic clones were predominant in the majority of samples, but a marked intratumor cytogenetic heterogeneity was observed in most cases. Primary tumors and corresponding positive axillary lymph nodes revealed similar distributions of chromosome 8 copy numbers, analogous to previous findings with other chromosomes. This implies that, by using suitable FISH probes after examination of the respective primary tumor, an efficient search for (micro)metastasis might be feasible.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

It is possible to omit postoperative irradiation in a highly selected group of elderly breast cancer patients.

The purpose of this study was the evaluation of the necessity of routinely applied postoperative radiotherapy in a highly selected patient-group after breast conserving surgery. Between 1983 and May 1994, 356 women over 60 years of age with Stage I or II breast cancer were treated by quadrantectomy and axillary dissection followed by either adjuvant irradiation or no radiotherapy. We have analysed our data retrospectively to investigate whether irradiation has any benefit in elderly patients with respect to locoregional recurrence rates. After a median follow-up of 60 months the multivariate model revealed lymph node status (p = 0.002) as highly significant with regard to local recurrence free survival. We were not able to identify a positive effect of adjuvant irradiation in patients with negative lymph nodes and positive receptor status: both patient groups with or without irradiation had similar locoregional recurrence rates of 3%. In a subgroup of patients who were lymph node negative, receptor positive, and received adjuvant tamoxifen therapy, the local recurrence rates were as low as 2% in both groups. Concerning these results it may be possible to avoid the morbidity and potential psychological side effects of radiotherapy in breast cancer patients over 60 years of age treated by breast conserving surgery (T1, N0, positive hormone receptor, adjuvant tamoxifen) without increasing risk of locoregional recurrence. These data have to be confirmed in a prospectively randomized fashion.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

Early effects of catecholamine therapy on mucosal integrity, intestinal blood flow, and oxygen metabolism in porcine endotoxin shock.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the early effects of therapy of endotoxin (ET) shock with epinephrine, norepinephrine, or dopexamine on splanchnic circulation, oxygen metabolism, sigmoid mucosal pHi, bacterial translocation, and morphologic integrity of the ileal, colonic, and sigmoid mucosa. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Conflicting concepts exist concerning the catecholamine therapy of septic shock, but little is known about the effects of catecholamine treatment on splanchnic circulation and mucosal integrity. METHODS: ET shock was induced in pigs by ET infusion over 30 minutes, and animals were studied for 4 hours. All animals were resuscitated with fluid. To mimic the treatment of septic shock in humans, mean arterial pressure was maintained in two groups at >70 mm Hg with the administration of epinephrine or norepinephrine. A third group of animals received dopexamine at 7 microg/kg per minute. Systemic and splanchnic blood flow and oxygen metabolism were studied, sigmoid colon mucosal pHi was obtained tonometrically, and bacterial translocation was determined by culture of portal venous blood, mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen, and lung specimens. Histologic sections of ileal, colonic, and sigmoid mucosa were morphometrically examined for therapy effects. RESULTS: All investigated catecholamines increased cardiac output and systemic oxygen delivery, whereas intestinal blood flow and oxygen delivery remained unchanged. Sigmoid mucosal pHi decreased in all study animals, but the decrease was most pronounced in the epinephrine group. Pigs receiving epinephrine also showed >40% damage of the mucosa of the ileum and colon, whereas animals receiving ET alone, norepinephrine, or dopexamine showed only moderate lesions with signs of restitution. No animal showed bacterial translocation. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic hemodynamics and oxygen metabolism data do not reflect intestinal perfusion. Norepinephrine or dopexamine administration in ET shock causes no additional impairment of intestinal integrity. Epinephrine therapy, in contrast, is associated with a significant reduction of mucosal pHi and considerable early mucosal damage. Its application in septic shock is hazardous.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

[Therapy studies of the Austrian Breast Cancer Group (ABC)].

The Austrian Breast Cancer Group (ABC) consisting of more than 60 participating centers in Austria has randomized more than 5800 patients in 11 randomized trials since 1984. At present, roughly 30% of all patients with the diagnosis primary breast cancer are accrued in protocols throughout the country. Due to specific activities, the breast conservation rate raised from an initial 20% to more than 60% in the last years. Multicenter trials are not only the basis for progress in medicine but also tools for quality control and quality improvement.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗

PubMed1998

[Neoadjuvant chemotherapy of patients with breast carcinoma].

Adjuvant therapy has shown to be of significant benefit in patients with breast cancer. Among the possibilities to further improve the results, preoperative chemotherapy is a promising tool. So far, we have treated 178 patients and found that downstaging permits breast conservation in 60% of patients who would otherwise undergo mastectomy. The significance of this method for further improvement of survival has to await results of ongoing trials.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

[Restorative surgery of a Hartmann status for relief of chronic sphincter problems].

The Hartmann situation is a temporary intestinal diversion to treat diseases of the rectosigmoid. In case of benign rectosigmoidal disorders the entirely laparoscopic performance of the colon disconnection and reconstruction is an advantage due to its minimal invasive nature. A patient suffering from chronic anorectal fistula with temporary relief exclusively performed by laparoscopic approach is reported.

Adult↗