Vollständige Tumorremission bei metastasierendem retroperitonealem Angiosarkom mit Ifosfamid und Doxorubicin

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Cocaine use in pregnancy in Amsterdam

To study the effects of cocaine use in pregnancy in Amsterdam, clinical data on cocaine-using pregnant women ( n = 21) and their offspring ( n = 23) were obtained retrospectively (1987–1994) at the Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam. Infants exposed to cocaine had a median gestational age of 39 weeks and a median birth weight of 3090 g. There were six preterm infants, two small-for-gestational-age infants and five infants with a small head circumference. Three infants had a congenital malformation. One infant (Potter's syndrome) died shortly before birth. One infant had congenital syphilis, four had intracerebral abnormalities on ultrasound and four had abnormal neurologic symptoms in the neonatal period. One infant died after 21 days of life. At follow-up four infants showed abnormal development. In 12 of the 23 infants (52%), one or more possible effects of cocaine were found.     

Evaluation of oxaliplatin dose intensity in bimonthly leucovorin and 48-hour 5-fluorouracil continuous infusion regimens (FOLFOX) in pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer

Background:studies of bimonthly 48-hour regimens of high-doseleucovorin (LV) (FOLinic acid), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) by continuous infusioncombined with OXaliplatin (FOLFOX) in pretreated patients with metastaticcolorectal cancer suggest that oxaliplatin dose intensity is an importantprognostic factor for response rate and progression-free survival (PFS). Tohelp define the optimal dose schedule for oxaliplatin in pretreated metastaticcolorectal cancer, we retrospectively analyzed data from three phase IIstudies using different FOLFOX regimens (FOLFOX2, 3 and 6). Patients and methods:Data on 126/161 patients were analyzed.FOLFOX2 included oxaliplatin 100 mg/m²; FOLFOX3, 85mg/m²; and FOLFOX6, 100 mg/m² (added to a simplifiedLV–5-FU regimen), all as two-hour infusions. A total of 47 patientsreceived low dose intensity oxaliplatin (LDI: 85 mg/m²/2 weeks)and 79 patients high dose intensity oxaliplatin (HDI: >85mg/m²/2 weeks). Results:Objective responses occurred in 31 (39%) HDIpatients and 9 (19%) LDI patients (P = 0.03). Median PFS was28 weeks, with 52% of HDI patients progression free at 6 months, and26 weeks with 36% of LDI patients progression free at six months(P = 0.02). Increased oxaliplatin dose intensity was not associatedwith increased neurotoxicity or other toxicities. FOLFOX are among the mosteffective regimens for treating LV–5-FU-resistant metastatic colorectalcancer. Conclusions:This study shows that oxaliplatin doseintensification significantly improves response rate and PFS in pretreatedmetastatic disease without increasing severe toxicity.     

Foot morbidity following toe to hand transfers

Toe-to-hand transfers to replace missing fingers have become a common reconstructive practice in our clinic. The purpose of this article is to evaluate morbidity of the donor site on the foot following the transfer. A group of 72 patients were assessed; 95 feet were examined post-transfers, i.e., 23 patients had transfers from both feet. The groups were arranged according to the numbers of patients as follows: group A (37 cases), second toe from one foot; group B (17 cases), second toes from both feet; group C (6 cases) with wrap-around flap; and group D (5 cases), the whole big toe. This was followed by group E (7 patients), who had the combination of the second and third toes harvested simultaneously, the great toe or wrap-around flap in combination with harvesting the second toe from the same or contralateral foot. Scar quality of the donor site, standing on tiptoe and tiptoeing, discomfort after prolonged walking, stair climbing, need to change the shoe size, and participation in special activities, such as sports and overall patient satisfaction, were evaluated. The least significant problems occurred in patients with the second toe harvested, they had minimum complaints with static loading and minor complaints with dynamic loading. Patients with the second toes harvested from both feet also had minimum complaints with static loading and minor complaints in dynamic loading. More problems were observed with both static and dynamic loading in the patients with the great-toe transfer. The biggest troubles were reported by the patients with the wrap-around flap or in case of multiple toe transfers. Only one patient from the sample had to seek medical help of a specialist due to some problems following the toe harvest. In the retrospective subjective evaluation of patient satisfaction and benefits of the operation, all patients declared that they would undergo the reconstruction again despite the problems encountered at the donor site.