Multicentric Experience in Distal-to-Proximal Revascularization of Tandem Occlusion Stroke Related to Internal Carotid Artery Dissection.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Internal carotid dissection is a frequent cause of ischemic stroke in young adults. It may cause tandem occlusions in which cervical carotid obstruction is associated with intracranial proximal vessel occlusion. To date, no consensus has emerged concerning endovascular treatment strategy. Our aim was to evaluate our endovascular "distal-to-proximal" strategy in the treatment of this stroke subtype in the first large multicentric cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospectively managed stroke data bases from 2 separate centers were retrospectively studied between 2009 and 2014 for records of tandem occlusions related to internal carotid dissection. Atheromatous tandem occlusions were excluded. The first step in the revascularization procedure was intracranial thrombectomy. Then, cervical carotid stent placement was performed depending on the functionality of the circle of Willis and the persistence of residual cervical ICA occlusion, severe stenosis, or thrombus apposition. Efficiency, complications, and radiologic and clinical outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients presenting with tandem occlusion stroke secondary to internal carotid dissection were treated during the study period. The mean age was 52.5 years, the mean initial NIHSS score was 17.29 ± 6.23, and the mean delay between onset and groin puncture was 3.58 ± 1.1 hours. Recanalization TICI 2b/3 was obtained in 21 cases (62%). Fifteen patients underwent cervical carotid stent placement. There was no recurrence of ipsilateral stroke in the nonstented subgroup. Twenty-one patients (67.65%) had a favorable clinical outcome after 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment of internal carotid dissection-related tandem occlusion stroke using the distal-to-proximal recanalization strategy appears to be feasible, with low complication rates and considerable rates of successful recanalization.

Combination of bevacizumab and 2-weekly pegylated liposomal doxorubicin as first-line therapy for locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. A multicenter, single-arm phase II trial (SAKK 24/06).

BACKGROUND: pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) and bevacizumab are active agents in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We carried out a multicenter, single-arm phase II trial to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of PLD and bevacizumab as first-line treatment in MBC patients. METHODS: bevacizumab (10 mg/kg) and PLD (20 mg/m(2)) were infused on days 1 and 15 of a 4-week cycle for a maximum of six cycles. Thereafter, bevacizumab monotherapy was continued at the same dose until progression or toxicity. The primary objective was safety and tolerability, and the secondary objective was to evaluate efficacy of the combination. RESULTS: thirty-nine of 43 patients were assessable for the primary end point. Eighteen of 39 patients (46%, 95% confidence interval 30% to 63%) had a grade 3 toxicity. Sixteen (41%) had grade 3 palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, one had grade 3 mucositis, and one severe cardiotoxicity. Secondary end point of overall response rate among 43 assessable patients was 21%. CONCLUSIONS: in this nonrandomized single-arm trial, the combination of bimonthly PLD and bevacizumab in locally recurrent and MBC patients demonstrated higher than anticipated toxicity while exhibiting only modest activity. Based on these results, we would not consider this combination for further investigation in this setting.

Small bowel tumors: diagnosis, therapy and prognostic factors.

BACKGROUND: Tumors of the small bowel are rare, accounting for about 3-6% of all gastrointestinal neoplasms. However, diagnosis and treatment are difficult and an ongoing challenge. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 54 patients with tumors of the small intestine over a period of 10 years to elucidate important factors for diagnosis, therapy and prognosis. RESULTS: 42 patients had malignant (36 primary, 6 secondary) and 12 had benign tumors. Histologically, adenocarcinoma (33%), leiomyosarcoma (17%) and carcinoid (17%) were the most frequent malignancies found. All 12 benign lesions were either leiomyomas or adenomas. Initial symptoms were nonspecific: abdominal pain in 67% and 50%, anemia in 38% and 58% and weight loss in 38% and 42% in patients with malignant and benign tumors, respectively. Upper gastrointestinal series, endoscopy, computed tomography scan and selective angiography were the most useful diagnostic tools. Resectability rate for malignant tumors was 98%; curative resection was achieved in 51%. Survival for malignant tumors has been poor: median postoperative survival was 26.9 months, the 1- and 5-year survival rates were 42.9% and 20.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results document the need for an aggressive diagnostic work-up in these rare tumors with non-specific symptoms, as early diagnosis and radical operative therapy are important prognostic factors.

Periampullary carcinomas: a special entity of duodenal tumors.

DEFINITION: Periampullary carcinomas are rare and constitute a special entity, as diagnosed earlier and having a better prognosis than other duodenal tumors. METHODS: In the present study, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 16 patients with periampullary carcinomas over 10 years. RESULTS: 16 patients, 10 men and 6 women (median age 66.7 years, range 42-80) had a malignant periampullary tumor. Initial symptoms were jaundice (88%), weight loss (69%), nausea and vomiting (50%) and abdominal pain (38%). Gastro-duodenoscopy, ERCP, ultrasound and CT scan were the most useful diagnostic tools. Histologically all the tumors were adenocarcinomas and solitary tumors. 91% were stage pT1 or pT2 tumors, localized in the duodenal wall without any infiltration of the pancreas. 36% of the tumors had metastasized either in lymph nodes or distant organs at diagnosis (18% pN1, 18% pM1). Resectability rate was 81%, curative resection was achieved in 62%. The operations performed were pancreatico-duodenectomy (n = 8), local tumor resection (n = 5) and palliative bypass (n = 3). Morbidity and reoperation rate were 37.5% and 18.8%, respectively; 30-day mortality was 0%. The 1- and 5-year survival rates were 58.3% and 33.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to carcinomas of the small bowel or the exocrine pancreas periampullary carcinomas have a far better 5-year survival rate of more than 30%. Aggressive diagnostic workup in case of the leading symptom jaundice and radical operative therapy are key factors to achieve this goal.

Plasma membrane alterations as a result of heat activation in Dictyostelium spores.

At the end of heat activation the distribution of spore plasma membrane particles between the two fracture faces (PF and EF) is drastically changed. While in dormant spores the particle number ratio of PF/EF was about 1;1, it increased up to 9:1 in heat activated sproes, indicating a subtle change in plasma membrane properties. The permeability of spores increased within 30 min following heat activation as determined by efflux measurements of radioactively labelled spores. At the onset of swelling this efflux was accelerated. During germination the osmotically active material within the spores increased, part of which could be recovered from the supernatant. The combined experiments point to the plasma membrane as possible target site of heat activation in this system.