A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMISED STUDY (NAMED SVEA) OF THREE METHODS OF DELAYED BREAST RECONSTRUCTION. STUDY DESIGN,PATIENTS' PREOPERATIVE PROBLEMS AND EXPECTATIONS

A randomised study named SVEA to compare three methods for delayed breast reconstruction was initiated in 1994. The methods were: the lateral thoracodorsal flap, the latissimus dorsi flap, and the pedicled transverse rectus abdominis muscle flap. In the present paper we describe the study design, primary endpoints, and inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results from preoperative questionnaires about problems after mastectomy and expectations of the reconstruction are presented. The preoperative questionnaires, completed before randomisation, included a health related quality of life questionnaire, the SF-36, and a questionnaire concerning the impact of breast loss and expectations of the reconstruction. A total of 87 patients have been randomised in SVEA and 30 patients have been followed up outside the randomised study, comprising a reference group. The results from preoperative questionnaires, completed by 106 of the total 117 women, showed that they encountered many problems after mastectomy, primarily about feeling mutilated and being bothered socially. They held high expectations on the breast reconstruction in these areas. The women in the present study did not differ from Swedish women in general regarding health related quality of life, with two exceptions: the study sample scored lower on physical functioning and mental health.     

SOS1 is the second most common Noonan gene but plays no major role in cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome

Background

Heterozygous gain‐of‐function mutations in various genes encoding proteins of the Ras‐MAPK signalling cascade have been identified as the genetic basis of Noonan syndrome (NS) and cardio‐facio‐cutaneous syndrome (CFCS). Mutations of SOS1, the gene encoding a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Ras, have been the most recent discoveries in patients with NS, but this gene has not been studied in patients with CFCS.

Methods and results

We investigated SOS1 in a large cohort of patients with disorders of the NS–CFCS spectrum, who had previously tested negative for mutations in PTPN11, KRAS, BRAF, MEK1 and MEK2. Missense mutations of SOS1 were discovered in 28% of patients with NS. In contrast, none of the patients classified as having CFCS was found to carry a pathogenic sequence change in this gene.

Conclusion

We have confirmed SOS1 as the second major gene for NS. Patients carrying mutations in this gene have a distinctive phenotype with frequent ectodermal anomalies such as keratosis pilaris and curly hair. However, the clinical picture associated with SOS1 mutations is different from that of CFCS. These findings corroborate that, despite being caused by gain‐of‐function mutations in molecules belonging to the same pathway, NS and CFCS scarcely overlap genotypically.     

Improved prognostication in small (pT1) breast cancers by image cytometry

Summary Feulgen-stained samples from 460 small (pT1) primary breast cancers were investigated by means of an image analysis system. Several DNA, morphometrical and textural parameters were evaluated for each patient, and the prognostic meaning of these parameters was then investigated by the Cox regression analysis. As prognostic criterion a distant recurrence-free survival of five years was considered.All investigated DNA- and morphometrical parameters as well as several textural parameters showed a significant univariate correlation with the clinical course. In a multivariate approach the axillary nodal status was the most important prognostic parameter, followed by a morphometric parameter (anisokaryosis) and two textural parameters (runlength and co-occurrence). None of the DNA histogram derived parameters could add prognostic information in this multivariate approach. By the linear combination of the four selected variables, an individual prognostic factor was calculated. Using this factor the patients could be split into several groups according to their risk for distant metastases. Thus a low risk group of pT1 patients could be identified with a distant recurrence rate of only 2% after 5 years, and also a group of patients with a considerably worse prognosis and a 5-year distant recurrence rate of 53%. In contrast, using the nodal status as single parameter allows the identification of a low risk group of patients (pN0pT1) with a disant recurrence rate of 10.6%. Therefore, morphometrical and textural parameters can provide powerful prognostic information in small breast carcinomas and may allow a better selection of patients for adjuvant therapy.     

Long-Term Follow-up after Endoscopic Treatment of Bile Duct Calculi in Cholecystectomized Patients

p = 0.006, Fisher’s exact test) predicted late biliary complications after EST in patients with recurrent calculi. These findings confirm that endoscopic treatment of CBD calculi in cholecystectomized patients has a low long-term rate (5 of 135; 3.7%) of recurrent nonmalignant bile duct disease (three patients with CBD calculi and two with cholangitis).     

Endobiliary stents for palliation in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice

BACKGROUND: Endobiliary drainage for malignant obstructive jaundice presents a viable palliative alternative. Its role and efficacy depend on factors related to the stent, procedure, and patient. GOALS: To review the evidence in the literature in which settings plastic or metal stents are cost-effective, and whether adjuvant measures or patient-related factors affect duration of stent patency. STUDY: Using databases a literature search was performed for papers published from 1979 to April 2004. All retrieved papers reporting experimental or clinical observations were rated according to strength of evidence, and carefully analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Metal stents (Wallstent) stay patent longer than plastic stents (large-bore polyethylene with side-holes), overall median 250 and 110 days, respectively, and seem cost-effective in patients with longer than about 6 months survival, which cannot be accurately predicted. Antibiotics or choleretic agents do not prolong stent patency in clinical settings. In case of stent occlusion, indicated stent exchanges and insertion of a plastic stent, respectively, seem cost-effective in patients initially treated with plastic and metal stents.     

In vivo validity and reliability of IR fluorescence measurements for caries detection and quantification

Studies of detection and quantification of dental caries by KaVo DIAGNOdent have shown high diagnostic accuracy and high inter-operator agreement in vitro. The aim of the present study was to determine whether comparable results could be achieved under clinical conditions. In Part I (occlusal surfaces), 52 occlusal sites (suspected caries) were examined by visual inspection, bitewing radiography, and two DIAGNOdent devices. The fissures were then opened, and lesion depth established according to a four point scale. In Part II (smooth surfaces), two operators performed DIAGNOdent measurements of incipient carious lesions on the buccal surface of 30 molar teeth. The readings were compared with corresponding measurements by Quantitative Light-induced Fluorescence (deltaF). The results for occlusal surfaces disclosed very low correlation between lesion depth and readings by the two DIAGNOdent devices. The intra-operator agreements were very good (0.80-0.92), and the inter-operator agreement was good (0.71-0.87). A significant systematic difference in readings by the two devices precludes general recommendations of cut-off levels. However, individually suitable cut-off values for dentinal lesions gave good qualitative information about the surface (77%-85% over all correct observations), rather than quantitative information in terms of lesion depth within the dentine. In this context, the DIAGNOdent device might be of help for the clinician in the process of decision making about invasive therapy. For smooth surfaces, the correlation between readings obtained with the DIAGNOdent device and deltaF were acceptable (0.57-0.73). The intra-operator agreement was 0.94 for both operators (excellent), and the inter-operator agreement ranged from 0.79 to 0.87 (very good).     

GPs' decisions on drug treatment for patients with high cholesterol values: A think-aloud study

Background  

The purpose was to examine how General Practitioners (GPs) use clinical information and rules from guidelines in their decisions on drug treatment for high cholesterol values.     

The quality of different types of child care at 10 and 18 months: a comparison between types and factors related to quality

The quality of care offered in four different types of non-parental child care to 307 infants at 10 months old and 331 infants at 18 months old was compared and factors associated with higher quality were identified. Observed quality was lowest in nurseries at each age point, except that at 18 months they offered more learning activities. There were few differences in the observed quality of care by child-minders, grandparents and nannies, although grandparents had somewhat lower safety and health scores and offered children fewer activities. Cost was largely unrelated to quality of care except in child-minding, where higher cost was associated with higher quality. Observed ratios of children to adults had a significant impact on quality of nursery care; the more infants or toddlers each adult had to care for, the lower the quality of the care she gave them. Mothers' overall satisfaction with their child's care was positively associated with its quality for home-based care but not for nursery settings.