Burden of focal cryoablation versus brachytherapy versus active surveillance in the treatment of very low-risk prostate cancer: a preliminary head-to-head comprehensive assessment.

Focal cryoablation (FC), brachytherapy (B) and active surveillance (AS) were offered to patients diagnosed with very low-risk prostate cancer (VLRPC) in an equal access protocol. Comprehensive validated self-report questionnaires accessed patients' erectile (IIEF-5) and voiding (IPSS) functions, Beck scales measured anxiety (BAI), hopelessness (BHS) and depression (BDI), SF-36 reflected patients' quality of life added to the emotional thermometers including five visual analogue scales (distress, anxiety, depression, anger and need for help). Kruskal-Wallis or ANOVA tests and Spearman's correlations were obtained among groups and studied variables. Thirty patients were included, median follow-up 18 months (15-21). Those on AS (n = 11) were older, presented higher hopelessness (BHS) and lower general health perceptions (SF-36) scores than patients opting for FC (n = 10) and B (n = 9), P = 0.0014, P = 0.0268 and P = 0.0168 respectively. Patients on B had higher IPSS scores compared to those under FC and AC, P = 0.0223. For all 30 included patients, Spearman's correlation (rs ) was very strong between BHS and general health perceptions (rs  = -0.800, P < 0.0001), and weak/moderate between age and BHS (rs  = 0.405, P = 0.026) and age and general health perceptions (rs  = -0.564, P = 0.001). The sample power was >60%. To be considered in patients' counselling and care, current study supports the hypothesis that even VLRPC when untreated undermines psychosocial domains.

Mutant p53 protein in serum could be used as a molecular marker in human breast cancer.

p53 wild-type is a tumor suppressor gene involved in DNA gene transcription or DNA repair mechanisms. When damage to DNA is unrepairable, p53 induces programmed cell death (apoptosis). The mutant p53 gene is the most frequent molecular alteration in human cancer, including breast cancer. Here, we analyzed the genetic alterations in p53 oncogene expression in 55 patients with breast cancer at different stages and in 8 normal women. We measured by ELISA assay the serum levels of p53 mutant protein and p53 antibodies. Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR using specific p53 primers as well as mutation detection by DNA sequencing were also evaluated in breast tumor tissue. Serological p53 antibody analysis detected 0/8 (0%), 0/4 (0%) and 9/55 (16.36%) positive cases in normal women, in patients with benign breast disease and in breast carcinoma, respectively. We found positive p53 mutant in the sera of 0/8 (0.0%) normal women, 0/4 (0%) with benign breast disease and 29/55 (52.72%) with breast carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry evaluation was positive in 29/55 (52.73%) with mammary carcinoma and 0/4 (0%) with benign breast disease. A very good correlation between p53 mutant protein detected in serum and p53 accumulation by immunohistochemistry (83.3% positive in both assays) was found in this study. These data suggest that detection of mutated p53 could be a useful serological marker for diagnostic purposes.

[Biliary acute pancreatitis: an etiopathology and evolution review of 148 cases]. / Pancreatitis aguda biliar. Una revisión etiopatogénica y evolutiva de 148 casos.

BACKGROUND: A retrospective analysis of the etiologic factors and physiopathogenic mechanisms underlying an acute biliary pancreatitis episode put in evidence the complexity of the attempt to acquire a clear understanding of the entity. In this presentation the authors try to re-examine the main factors involved in the triggering of the disease. Besides the classic theories and their own approach to the management of an acute pancreatic inflammation episode are discussed. AIMS: The main purpose of this endeavor was to identify and discuss the etiopathogenic mechanisms that were prevalent in a series of 148 patients observed and treated in a 10 years period. Besides, another distinctive aim was to analyze their evolution and somehow to try to assess their probable prognosis. PLACE OF APPLICATION: Close community. POPULATION: The whole group of patients that were admitted with the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in the time period comprised between 1987-1997. METHODS: The acute pancreatitis subgroups and their respective number of patient included were the following: BILIARY ACUTE PANCREATITIS 140 CASES POST ERCP 8 CASES CONCLUSIONS: As a result of the present reviewing endeavour several observations deserve to be pointed out: a. The pancreatic gland undoubtedly is a neuroendocrine organ, that is subjected to complex neural and hormonal influence. b. Undeniably, the involvement of the autonomic nervous system in the physiopathogenic mechanism of acute pancreatitis has been surprisingly disregarded. c. The biliary acute pancreatitis variant is the most frequent. What we consider a simplification is to accept the Opie's postulation without taking into account the intermediate steps, centered on autonomic reflexes, that ultimately lead to the acute inflammatory lesions. d. Although without an absolute proof, it is undeniable that "stress" is a primary etiology in some cases of acute pancreatitis. e. We favor the idea that the pancreas functional status influences on the extension and intensity degree of the acute pancreatic inflammatory lesions.

Pancreatitis aguda biliar. Una revisión etiopatogénica y evolutiva de 148 casos. / [Biliary acute pancreatitis: an etiopathology and evolution review of 148 cases]

BACKGROUND: A retrospective analysis of the etiologic factors and physiopathogenic mechanisms underlying an acute biliary pancreatitis episode put in evidence the complexity of the attempt to acquire a clear understanding of the entity. In this presentation the authors try to re-examine the main factors involved in the triggering of the disease. Besides the classic theories and their own approach to the management of an acute pancreatic inflammation episode are discussed. AIMS: The main purpose of this endeavor was to identify and discuss the etiopathogenic mechanisms that were prevalent in a series of 148 patients observed and treated in a 10 years period. Besides, another distinctive aim was to analyze their evolution and somehow to try to assess their probable prognosis. PLACE OF APPLICATION: Close community. POPULATION: The whole group of patients that were admitted with the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in the time period comprised between 1987-1997. METHODS: The acute pancreatitis subgroups and their respective number of patient included were the following: BILIARY ACUTE PANCREATITIS 140 CASES POST ERCP 8 CASES CONCLUSIONS: As a result of the present reviewing endeavour several observations deserve to be pointed out: a. The pancreatic gland undoubtedly is a neuroendocrine organ, that is subjected to complex neural and hormonal influence. b. Undeniably, the involvement of the autonomic nervous system in the physiopathogenic mechanism of acute pancreatitis has been surprisingly disregarded. c. The biliary acute pancreatitis variant is the most frequent. What we consider a simplification is to accept the Opies postulation without taking into account the intermediate steps, centered on autonomic reflexes, that ultimately lead to the acute inflammatory lesions. d. Although without an absolute proof, it is undeniable that [quot ]stress[quot ] is a primary etiology in some cases of acute pancreatitis. e. We favor the idea that the pancreas functional status influences on the extension and intensity degree of the acute pancreatic inflammatory lesions.

[Acute pancreatitis of uncommon etiology: a physiopathologic approach]. / Pancreatitis agudas de etiologías poco frecuentes: una aproximación fisiopatogénica.

A review of 73 cases of acute pancreatitis (A.P.) of *A in frequent etiology is critically analyzed. The patients were allocated to the following categories: post ingestion of a large meal, dyslipemic, post ERCP, post operative, pregnancy, and puerperium linked., post urlian parotiditis, post stress, idiopathic, drug associated, post traumatic. In each of the above groups those hypotheses that are currently primarily accepted as been mainly concerned with the etiopathogenesis of the inflammatory episode were given preference. One factor upon which the authors has put special emphasis is that of frequent involvement of the nervous system through different types of autonomic are reflexes. This pathogenic mechanism is surprisingly disregarded in the literature. The interrelation ship between the severity of an AP episode and the background provided by the "pancreon" secretory activity is also emphasized. The mortality rate of the whole series was of 7 cases (9.6%). The groups that disclosed the highest rates were related to abdominal surgery (50%) and to dyslipemia (17%).

Pancreatitis agudas de etiologías poco frecuentes: una aproximación fisiopatogénica / Acute pancreatitis of uncommon etiology: a physiopathologic approach

Los autores presentan 73 casos de pancreatitis agudas (P.A.) de causas poco frecuentes. Ellas fueron divididas en ingestión copiosa, displémicas, postcolangioretrógrada endoscópica, postoperatorias, tercer trimestre de embarazo, puerperio inmediato, parotídica, por stress e idiopáticas, medicamentosa y por trauma. Se evalúan las teorías etiopatogénicas probables haciendo hincapié en la importancia del Sistema Nervioso Autónomo (S.N.A.) como responsables de las lesiones glandulares. El estado funcional del páncreas, previo al ataque agudo, es uno de los factores predisponentes de mayor envergadura. La mortalidad de la serie fue de 7 casos (9.58 por ciento) siendo las postoperatorias (50 por ciento) y las dislipémicas (16.6 por ciento) las de mayor índice de mortalidad. (AU)

Pancreatitis agudas de etiologías poco frecuentes: una aproximación fisiopatogénica / Acute pancreatitis of uncommon etiology: a physiopathologic approach

Los autores presentan 73 casos de pancreatitis agudas (P.A.) de causas poco frecuentes. Ellas fueron divididas en ingestión copiosa, displémicas, postcolangioretrógrada endoscópica, postoperatorias, tercer trimestre de embarazo, puerperio inmediato, parotídica, por stress e idiopáticas, medicamentosa y por trauma. Se evalúan las teorías etiopatogénicas probables haciendo hincapié en la importancia del Sistema Nervioso Autónomo (S.N.A.) como responsables de las lesiones glandulares. El estado funcional del páncreas, previo al ataque agudo, es uno de los factores predisponentes de mayor envergadura. La mortalidad de la serie fue de 7 casos (9.58 por ciento) siendo las postoperatorias (50 por ciento) y las dislipémicas (16.6 por ciento) las de mayor índice de mortalidad.

Pancreatitis agudas de etiologías poco frecuentes: una aproximación fisiopatogénica. / [Acute pancreatitis of uncommon etiology: a physiopathologic approach]

A review of 73 cases of acute pancreatitis (A.P.) of *A in frequent etiology is critically analyzed. The patients were allocated to the following categories: post ingestion of a large meal, dyslipemic, post ERCP, post operative, pregnancy, and puerperium linked., post urlian parotiditis, post stress, idiopathic, drug associated, post traumatic. In each of the above groups those hypotheses that are currently primarily accepted as been mainly concerned with the etiopathogenesis of the inflammatory episode were given preference. One factor upon which the authors has put special emphasis is that of frequent involvement of the nervous system through different types of autonomic are reflexes. This pathogenic mechanism is surprisingly disregarded in the literature. The interrelation ship between the severity of an AP episode and the background provided by the [quot ]pancreon[quot ] secretory activity is also emphasized. The mortality rate of the whole series was of 7 cases (9.6

). The groups that disclosed the highest rates were related to abdominal surgery (50

) and to dyslipemia (17

).

Use of a new transdermal delivery system for estrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women.

This study reports on the use of a new transdermal delivery system for estrogen replacement therapy. This was a 12 week open multicenter trial using patches that delivered 0.05 mg/24 hour of 17 beta-estradiol applied twice weekly, every 72 hours, with one week interval after each 3 weeks. Results indicate an overall significant improvement on climacteric complaints with a highly significant and time-related reduction in the two most frequent symptoms: hot flushes and night sweating. Neither local nor systemic side effects were prevalent. By the end of treatment mean plasma levels of estradiol and FSH were 50.6 pg/ml and 46.8 mIU/ml, respectively. It is concluded that this new system of transdermal estrogen replacement therapy significantly reduces the main postmenopausal symptoms, produces adequate plasma estradiol levels and allows good compliance to treatment.

Tratamento cirúrgico conservador do câncer de mama / Conservative surgical treatment of cancer of the breast

Os autores descrevem as variaçöes técnicas da quadrantectomia e a incisäo padräo axilar para o tratamento do carcinoma de mama estádios I e II. Salientam a importância do planejamento pré-cirúrgico, onde a presença do cirurgiäo plástico é indispensável a fim de se obter um bom resultado estético. Após o tratamento primário, as 77 pacientes foram tratadas com irradiaçäo e 36 delas receberam quimioterapia, devido ao envolvimento ganglionar axilar. As complicaçöes dos tratamentos foram mínimas. Após seguimento médio de 50 meses, näo se observou diferença quanto à recidiva local (2,5% x 3,89%) e metástases a distância, quando se comparou estas pacientes àquelas tratadas com mastectomia radical, mantendo-se equiparáveis o intervalo livre de doença e a sobrevida total