Journal of surgery and science最新文献

Background: Pulmonary metastasectomy is an acceptable treatment option in various metastatic lesions. The role of minimally invasive surgery for metastasectomy remains controversial. We report on a recently described hybrid video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (hVATS) technique in the community hospital setting.

Methods: Using a retrospective study design, data on 61 patients undergoing 67 resections between April 2000 and January 2008 was collected at a single institution. Patient demographics, pathology, and clinical outcome data were recorded. Kaplan Meier estimates and multivariate Cox regression were used to assess survival and prognostic factors, respectively.

Results: Mean patient age was 61.7 years. The majority of lesions were solitary, unilateral, and genitourinary or gastrointestinal in origin (69%). R0 resection was achieved in 97% of cases with the most common operation being lobectomy. Mean length of stay was 4.4 days. Mean follow-up was 39.7 months and 5-year overall survival was 63.2% for the cohort; median survival was not reached. The number of lesions (univariate only) and tumor size over 4 cm influenced overall survival.

Conclusions: Hybrid VATS is a safe and feasible technique in the community medical center setting and warrants additional investigation as an alternative strategy in the management of pulmonary metastases.

Background: HER2-positive breast cancer sensitivity to anthracyclines is enhanced when topoisomerase IIα (TOP2A) is co-amplified under both adjuvant and metastatic settings. However, the relationship between anthracycline sensitivity and TOP2A amplification in HER2-positive breast cancers in neoadjuvant settings is not known.

Methods: The TOP2A gene status was examined by FISH in biopsies from 18 patients who received anthracycline and cyclophosphamide before surgery.

Results: The TOP2A gene was amplified in 6/17 patients and was significantly associated with pathological response to the chemotherapy regimen.

Conclusions: TOP2A amplification could predict anthracycline-sensitivity. Thus, the HER2/TOP2A co-amplified subtype may be effectively treated by anthracycline-containing regimens alone.

While the 5-year survival rate of breast cancer is at an all-time high of 90%, this disease remains the second most common cause of cancer-related death, surpassed only by lung cancer in the US. The reasons for this discrepancy stem from cancer subtypes which become resistant to current therapies. These subtypes: "Triple negative" and ErbB2-overexpressing, are discussed in this review.

Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV are considered pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). It has been reported that HIV infection is one of the major risk factors for the development of TB, increasing the incidence by up to 1,000 times, but it often has an atypical presentation. The incidence of extrapulmonary TB is increasing, largely among HIV patients. The diagnosis of intestinal TB is a challenge because of its chronic and nonspecific presentation which often mimics other diseases, and requires a high clinical suspicion to timely diagnose. Massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding due to intestinal TB was once an uncommon complication of TB, but recent reports indicate an increased incidence especially in developing countries. We suspect that co-infection with cytomegalovirus colitis contributes to the massive hemorrhage from intestinal TB. Surgical intervention is the recommended management for intestinal TB complicated by lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Accordingly, it is important for HIV patients to be screened and treated for TB to prevent this complication. Although the diagnosis is a challenge, it is important to consider intestinal TB as a cause of gastrointestinal bleeding in the HIV positive patients.