Chirurgische Therapie des Analkarzinoms

The primary therapy of anal cancer is curative radiochemotherapy. Following a confirmed diagnosis the role of the surgeon is the treatment of local complications of anal cancer by securing bowel passage and protection of the perineum by laparoscopic placement of a preternatural anus or stoma. For patients with a persistent or recurrent tumor following radiochemotherapy a clear improvement in the oncological process can be achieved by surgical salvage therapy using an abdominoperineal rectum extirpation. However, this is accompanied by a high morbidity of up to 80%. Of particular importance here are disturbances in wound healing in the perineum; therefore, a primary myocutaneous flap surgery can be used to cover the perineal resection wound and the rate of disturbances in wound healing can be substantially reduced.     

Infertilität bei Männern

Although male reproductive functions are impaired in about half of the infertile couples seeking offspring, even today the examination and treatment of the male partner continues to be neglected. Despite the lack of evidence for a “sperm crisis”, so highly touted in the press, the public remains worried, while the fact that male fertility declines beyond the age of 40 years and is accompanied by increasing genetic risks for the offspring goes largely unnoticed. In addition to a thorough physical examination supplemented by imaging techniques such as ultrasonography of the scrotal organs, semen analysis according to WHO guidelines, hormone determinations, and cyto- and molecular genetic analyses form part of the routine investigation of the infertile male. Few disorders have become subjects of rational treatment, such as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with gonadotropins or GnRH, treatment of sexually transmitted diseases by antibiotics, and microsurgical reconstruction of blocked seminal ducts. Early treatment of maldescended testes in boys or changing lifestyle (e.g., discontinuation of smoking) are important preventive measures. In the age of evidence-based medicine, most empirical treatments have been demonstrated to be ineffective. Thus, pregnancy rates from patients with varicocele who underwent long-practiced surgical or radiologic interventional therapy were not different from those of patients receiving counseling. At present, in cases of non-obstructive azoospermia or severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using single sperm derived from semen or extracted from testicular biopsy tissue (TESE) represents the most successful treatment modality, although it remains symptomatic and not curative.     

Clinical and microbiological efficacy and toxicity of colistin in patients infected with multidrug-resistant gram-negative pathogens

Polymyxins have recently again become important because of multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative pathogens. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and microbiological efficacy and toxicity of different dosages of colistin in patients infected with MDR microorganisms that were sensitive only to colistin. The study was conducted in the 1,200-bed Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital. Patients with normal renal function who received colistin for 48 h or more were retrospectively evaluated. Clinical response was defined as resolution of fever and clinical and laboratory findings. Microbiological response was defined as bacteriological eradication from the infection site. Nephrotoxicity was defined as at least two consecutive serum creatinine measurements with an increase of 0.5 mg/dl from baseline at least 24 h apart after 2 or more days of colistin therapy. Twenty-four patients were included in the study: total clinical response was obtained in 17 of 24 (70.8 %) patients and microbiological response in 15 of 24 (62.5 %) patients. Patients were grouped according to colistin dosage of 3 × 1 million units (MU) versus 3 × 2 MU. Clinical response rates were 69.2 % and 72.7 %, respectively (p = 0.65). Microbiological response rate was similar (p = 0.62). Nephrotoxicity was revealed in 1 of 13 patients (7.7 %) for the 3 × 1 MU group and 2 of 11 patients (18.2 %) in the 3 × 2 MU group (p = 0.57). The nephrotoxicity rate was greater with higher dosages of colistin, but the difference was not statistically significant. Renal function of patients receiving higher dosages of colistin should be more closely monitored.     

Long-Term Single-Center Results of Management of Ethmoid Adenocarcinoma: 95 Patients over 28 Years

Objectives  

To assess management options for ethmoid adenocarcinoma.     

Dietary factors in functional dyspepsia

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is characterized by upper gastrointestinal symptoms, which are frequently exacerbated by meal ingestion. While subgroups of FD patients exhibit a range of disturbances in upper gastrointestinal motor function, including delayed gastric emptying and abnormal intragastric meal distribution, which may reflect impaired proximal gastric relaxation and/or antral dysmotility, the association between symptoms and abnormalities in motor function appears to be relatively weak. More recently, the concept of visceral hypersensitivity to mechanical and chemical/nutrient stimuli has been promoted as important in the aetiology of dyspeptic symptoms. Somewhat surprisingly, the role of 'dietary' factors, that is, those factors, related directly to food ingestion, including patterns of nutrient intake, potential intolerance to specific foods or macronutrients, as well as cognitive factors, have been largely ignored. Moreover, presently available treatments fail to take into account the fact that symptoms are frequently induced by eating. This review focuses on the relevance of 'dietary' factors to FD.     

Liver resection for breast cancer metastasis: Does it improve survival?

Purpose To assess the outcome and prognostic factors of liver surgery for breast cancer metastasis. Methods We retrospectively examined 16 patients who underwent partial liver resection for breast cancer liver metastasis (BCLM). All patients had been treated with chemotherapy or hormonotherapy, or both, before referral for surgery. We confirmed by preoperative radiological examinations that metastasis was confined to the liver. The survival curve was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analysis were conducted to evaluate the role of the known factors of breast cancer survival. Results The median age of the patients was 54 years (range 38–68) and the median disease-free interval between the diagnoses of breast cancer and liver metastasis was 54 months (range 7–120). Nine major and 7 minor hepatectomies were performed. There was no postoperative death. The overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 94%, 61%, and 33%, respectively. The median survival rate was 42 months. Univariate analysis revealed that hormone receptor status, number of metastases, a major hepatectomy, and a younger age were associated with a poorer prognosis. The survival rate was not influenced by the disease-free interval, grade or stage of breast cancer, or intraoperative blood transfusions. The number of liver metastases was identified as a significant independent factor of survival according to the Cox proportional hazard model (P = 0.04). Conclusions Liver resection, when done in combination with adjuvant therapy, can improve the prognosis of selected patients with BCLM.