One Year of Peer Support Work in Forensic Mental Health – Evaluation of Implementation

Introduction

Peer Support Work can be an effective way to support patients and their participation also in psychiatric populations. Unlike in general psychiatry there is less experience with peer support work in forensic mental health inpatient settings. Characteristics different from general psychiatry, e.g., regarding safety, might be a reason for the delay of their implementation.

Objectives

We aim to present the implementation of a peer support worker in a forensic mental health setting for addicted offenders. We address reservations of staff before the implementation and their development during the first year. The perspective of patients about their experiences is taken into consideration. The development of the peer support workers position and tasks is demonstrated.

Methods

Focus groups and interviews were conducted with several groups of people, amongst them employees of several professions, patients and the peer support worker of the clinic. Interviews and focus groups were recorded and transcribed for thematic analysis.

Results

Reservations of staff comparable to these found in general psychiatry occurred in the forensic mental health professionals. These could be diminished during the first year. Most of the patients were able to accept and trust the peer support worker, in some cases after initial mistrust. The peer support worker felt accepted in the team and was able to develop a routine as well as own tasks.

Conclusions

The experiences from one year testified that implementation of peer support work into a forensic mental health inpatient setting is possible. Further patient outcomes are to be explored but the current results are promising.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Morphological and mechanical characterisation of three-dimensional gyroid structures fabricated by electron beam melting for the use as a porous biomaterial

Additive manufactured porous biomaterials based on triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) are a highly discussed topic in the literature. With their unique properties in terms of open porosity, large surface area and surface curvature, they are considered to have bone mimicking properties and remarkable osteogenic potential. In this study, scaffolds of gyroid unit cells of different sizes consisting of a Ti6Al4V alloy were manufactured additively by electron beam melting (EBM). The scaffolds were analysed by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to determine their morphological characteristics and, subsequently, subjected to mechanical tests to investigate their quasi-static compressive properties and fatigue resistance. All scaffolds showed an average open porosity of 71-81%, with an average pore size of 0.64-1.41 mm, depending on the investigated design. The design with the smallest unit cell shows the highest quasi-elastic gradient (QEG) as well as the highest compressive offset stress and compression strength. Furthermore, the fatigue resistance of all unit cell size (UCS) variations showed promising results. In detail, the smallest unit cells achieved fatigue strength at 10⁶ cycles at 45% of their compressive offset stress, which is comparatively good for additively manufactured porous biomaterials. In summary, it is demonstrated that the mechanical properties can be significantly modified by varying the unit cell size, thus enabling the scaffolds to be specifically tailored to avoid stress shielding and ensure implant safety. Together with the morphological properties of the gyroid unit cells, the fabricated scaffolds represent a promising approach for use as a bone substitute material.

Implementation of a peer support worker in a forensic hospital in germany

Experienced Involvement (also called Peer Support Work, PSW) has existed in mental health care in Germany since 2005 though its implementation lags behind, compared to other countries. Due to the unique challenges of forensic-psychiatric settings, implementation of PSW in these settings is even less developed. We prepared the implementation of a peer support worker in our forensic hospital for addicted offenders in Germany in several steps: A survey amongst the 75 forensic hospitals in Germany was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of PSW in these settings. Individual interviews were conducted with directors and peer support workers of forensic clinics nation-wide to investigate their facilities’ experiences with PSW. Focus groups with several occupational groups of the clinic in Rostock addressed staffs opinions, expectations and reservations regarding peer support work. These were recorded and transcribed for thematic analysis. Results: revealed that the majority of forensic hospitals (83.6%) has no experience with peer support work. Interviews with external clinic directors revealed similar concerns and expectations among the employees as our focus groups did. Staff at the clinics expected the peer support worker to offer useful experiences and new perspectives. Concerns occurred about stability of health condition of the peer support worker, trust issues because of former criminal behavior and attitudes towards psychiatric treatment that might interfere with professional treatment negatively. Furthermore the clinic directors stressed the importance of a well prepared implementation and a good “fit” of the peer support workers background to the patients (e.g. regarding diagnosis).

Alterations in the mechanical, chemical and biocompatibility properties of low-cost polyethylene and polyester meshes after steam sterilization

Introduction

In Africa and other Low Resource Settings (LRS), the guideline-based and thus in most cases mesh-based treatment of inguinal hernias is only feasible to a very limited extent. This has led to an increased use of low cost meshes (LCMs, mostly mosquito meshes) for patients in LRS. Most of the LCMs used are made of polyethylene or polyester, which must be sterilized before use. The aim of our investigations was to determine changes in the biocompatibility of fibroblasts as well as mechanical and chemical properties of LCMs after steam sterilization.

Material and methods

Two large-pored LCMs made of polyester and polyethylene in a size of 11 x 6 cm were cut and steam sterilized at 100, 121 and 134 °C. These probes and non-sterile meshes were then subjected to mechanical tensile tests in vertical and horizontal tension, chemical analyses and biocompatibility tests with human fibroblasts. All meshes were examined by stereomicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), LDH (cytotoxicity) measurement, viability testing, pH, lactate and glycolysis determination.

Results

Even macroscopically, polyethylene LCMs showed massive shrinkage after steam sterilization, especially at 121 and 134 °C. While polyester meshes showed no significant changes after sterilization with regard to deformation and damage as well as tensile force and stiffness, only the unsterile polyethylene mesh and the mesh sterilized at 100 °C could be tested mechanically due to the shrinkage of the other specimen. For these meshes the tensile forces were about four times higher than for polyester LCMs. Chemical analysis showed that the typical melting point of polyester LCMs was between 254 and 269 °C. Contrary to the specifications, the polyethylene LCM did not consist of low-density polyethylene, but rather high-density polyethylene and therefore had a melting point of 137 °C, so that the marked shrinkage described above occurred. Stereomicroscopy confirmed the shrinkage of polyethylene LCMs already after sterilization at 100 °C in contrast to polyester LCMs. Surprisingly, cytotoxicity (LDH measurement) was lowest for both non-sterile LCMs, while polyethylene LCMs sterilized at 100 and 121 °C in particular showed a significant increase in cytotoxicity 48 hours after incubation with fibroblasts. Glucose metabolism showed no significant changes between sterile and non-sterile polyethylene and polyester LCMs.

Conclusion

The process of steam sterilization significantly alters mechanical and structural properties of synthetic hernia mesh implants. Our findings do not support a use of low-cost meshes because of their unpredictable properties after steam sterilization.

Abstract 5895: Whole-genome characterization of lung adenocarcinomas lacking alterations in RTK/RAS/RAF/MAPK pathway

Lung adenocarcinomas (LUAD) are typically characterized by genetic activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)/RAS/RAF/MAP kinase (MAPK) pathway. A minority of LUAD cases (20-25%) lack apparent genetic alterations in this pathway, and thus are ineligible for most targeted therapies. These candidate “oncogene negative” LUADs may harbor novel classes of oncogenic drivers or represent a biologically distinct class of tumors. To characterize the genomic landscape of oncogene-negative LUADs, we nominated 98 cases that were found to lack an activating RTK/RAS/RAF/MAPK pathway alteration in a TCGA study utilizing whole exome sequencing, microarray, and transcriptome data. We profiled these tumors with high-depth whole genome sequencing (WGS), with the goal of identifying noncoding and structural variant driver DNA alterations in both known and novel loci. Of the 98 cases, 20 harbored somatic KRAS mutations that had been missed in the prior WES and transcriptome studies because of insufficient coverage, including 8 cases with the recently targetable p.G12C mutation. 16 samples harbored oncogenic or loss-of-function structural variants in FGFR1, MAPK1, EGFR, NF1, RASA1, ARAF, NTRK2 and NRG1. 5 other samples with SNV or indels in EGFR, ERBB2 and SOS1 were reclassified as oncogene positive. Thus via comprehensive genomic analysis, we confirmed that 57 of the 98 WGS cases did not harbor any detectable alterations in genes encoding any known RTK/RAS/RAF/MAPK members, representing 13% cases chosen as “lung adenocarcinomas” for the TCGA study. Among the 57 confirmed oncogene-negative LUADs, we identified focal deletions targeting the promoter and transcription start site of tumor suppressor genes STK11, KEAP1 and SMARCA4 in 10 samples. Expression and methylation profiling suggested an enrichment of the TP53-deficient phenotype, including cell cycle and FOXM1 deregulation, among the oncogene-negative samples. Moreover, novel promoter mutations associated with increased expression were identified in ILF2, which regulates DNA damage response pathways. Finally, a subset of confirmed oncogene-negative LUADs harbored increased expression of neuroendocrine markers, suggesting that these oncogene-negative samples may either be mis-diagnosed as LUAD or represent LUAD with mixed features of other subtypes of lung cancer; indeed, 14 of the 57 confirmed oncogene-negative cases show histological features of large cell neuroendocrine lung carcinoma. This would suggest that 10% of the cases in this study are both lung adenocarcinoma and “oncogene-negative” to date. Our results provide some of the first comprehensive genomic characterization of oncogene-negative LUADs, implicating TP53 and structural variants in the pathogenesis of this common and difficult to treat entity.

Citation Format: Jian Carrot-Zhang, Siddhartha Devarakonda, Nicolas Robine, Xiaotong Yao, Tiago C. Silva, Jeff Damrauer, Aditya Deshpande, Ming-Sound Tsao, Christina Yao, Chris Wong, Lisui Bao, Hyo Young Choi, Ina Felau, Jean C. Zenklusen, Gordon Robertson, Tuan Trieua, Wei-Wei Liang, Meng Zhou, Esther Rheinbay, Neil Hayes, Ekta Khurana, Li Ding, Peter Laird, Olivier Elemento, John Weinstein, David Kwiatkowski, Chris Benz, Josh Stuart, Lixing Yang, Mauro Castro, William Travis, Katherine Hoadley, Ben Berman, TCGA Analysis Network, Matthew Meyerson, Ramaswamy Govindan, Marcin Imielinski. Whole-genome characterization of lung adenocarcinomas lacking alterations in RTK/RAS/RAF/MAPK pathway [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 5895.

Abstract P3-16-01: Using the new pan-cancer clinical data resource (TCGA-CDR) to identify breast cancer genomic correlates associating with different survival outcome endpoints

Introduction The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) generated abundant high quality molecular data, however its relatively short-term patient follow-up limited its immediate clinical utility. We led a PanCanAtlas effort to systematically collate, integrate, and quality check the large body of acquired clinicopathologic data, generated 4 primary clinical outcome endpoints for each case, and created a new Pan-Cancer Clinical Data Resource (TCGA-CDR) for public use. We report here on the utility and validity of this TCGA-CDR in relating breast cancer (BC) genomic information to survival endpoints.

Methods Clinicopathologic data from all data files were integrated and processed. Overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS, an approximation), progression-free interval (PFI), and disease-free interval (DFI)were derived.Tests of the adequacy of the follow-up intervals for each endpoint were performed, and quality evaluation of these endpoints was established by their comparison with different clinical features. As a case study we compared each survival endpoint for significant association (FDR <0.2) with chromosomal aneuploidy.

Results The 4 endpoints were derived for 1097 TCGA BC cases having a median follow-up time of 27.7 months. Median times to events/censorship for OS, DSS, PFI, and DFI were 41.8/25.0, 32.6/26.0, 26.0/25.0, and 25.4/25.0 months respectively. PFI and DFI passed tests for adequate follow-up times; OS and DSS partially passed the same tests signaling some caution with their use in genomic associations.

Using the endpoints, outcomes of patients with ER+ and ER- tumors were compared, along with those of patients with low (I&II) and high (III&IV) stage breast tumors. Univariate analyses suggested patients with ER+ tumors had significantly better survival than patients with ER- tumors when using PFI (p=0.005), DFI (p=0.001), and DSS (p=0.009), with OS not reaching significance (p=0.09). Patients with low stage tumors showed significantly better outcomes than patients with high stage tumors for each endpoint (p<0.001). The 4 endpoints were also evaluated for their significant associations with chromosomal arm aneuploidy. Adjusted for patient age and AJCC stage, tumors with a loss of 8q and 8p (p=0.019, FDR=0.37) had worse PFI; and those with loss of 8q, 20q, and 8p had worse DFI. Tumors with gain of 11q or loss of 14, 7q, 12q, 18q, 20q, 3p, 7p, 8p, 18p, and 20p had worse OS. In contrast, tumors with loss of 16q had better DSS, while those with loss of 3q, 12q, 17q, 18q, 19q, 20q, 3p, 8p, 12p, 18p, 19p, and 20p had worse DSS. The finding that 8p loss associated with worse survival for all 4 endpoints, while 18p loss associated with worse OS and DSS, agrees with literature reports.

Conclusion These findings confirm that PFI and DFI, as extracted from the TCGA-CDR, are valid and appropriate BC survival endpoints, while OS and DSS may be recommended with some caution when employing TCGA data to evaluate new relationships between breast cancer genomic abnormalities and clinical outcomes.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of Army/Navy/Air Force, the Department of Defense, or U.S. Government.

Citation Format: Liu J, Lichtenberg T, Hoadley KA, Cherniack A, Poisson L, Kovatich AJ, Benz C, Thorsson V, TCGA PanCanAtlas Research Network, Shriver CD, Hu H. Using the new pan-cancer clinical data resource (TCGA-CDR) to identify breast cancer genomic correlates associating with different survival outcome endpoints [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-16-01.

Abstract P6-11-01: CDK2 inhibition prevents ERpS294 and restores the ability of tamoxifen to induce regression in breast tumors expressing mutant ESR1

This abstract was withdrawn by the authors.

Abstract P5-09-09: Functional IGF1R variant predicts preeclampsia protection from invasive breast cancer: Novel California teachers study findings

Many studies have reported lower breast cancer risk in women who develop hypertension in pregnancy with a meta-analysis reporting hazard ratios of 0.86 for preeclampsia and 0.83 for gestational hypertension. Our prior work in the Marin Women's Study (MWS) demonstrated both a lower breast density and a lower risk of breast cancer in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) if they possess the TT genotype of IGF1R SNP rs2016347.

Breast cancer in MWS women with PIH by IGF1R genotypers2016347 genotype# with genotype# breast cancer cases% breast cancer casesGG9188.79%GT195147.18%TT8800.00%Fisher's exact = 0.008

The current study was designed to validate and expand upon these findings in the larger California Teachers Study (CTS) which consists of >130,000 female educators. From original participants a case-control study was established in 2012 consisting of all non-Hispanic white women with DNA samples that became cases since entry into the study (N = 2030) and controls without invasive or in situ breast cancer (N = 1552). The current study nests within this case control study. All participants with a self-reported history of preeclampsia were selected (81 cases/56 controls). IGF1R SNP rs2016347 was assessed by Taqman assay.

Results: Women with the TT genotype had an odds ratio (OR) of 0.38 when compared to the GG genotype after adjusting for potential confounders. Stratification by HR+/HR- cases and by age of first birth (AFB) resulted in statistically significant adjusted OR's of 0.26 for HR+ positive cases and 0.15 for women with AFB <30. Both showed significant trend effect for number of T alleles as shown below:

Preeclampsia and breast cancer in CTSrs2016347 genotypeAll cases (N=137)HR+ cases (N=118)AFB <30 (N=106)TT vs GG0.38 (0.13, 1.14)0.26 (0.07, 0.89)*0.15 (0.04, 0.56)*GT vs GG0.53 (0.19, 1.46)0.57 (0.19, 1.74)0.34 (0.12, 1.12)Trend analysisp = 0.09p = 0.03*p = 0.005** p < .05

Overall in the CTS, the adjusted hazard ratio for women with vs without preeclampsia was 0.94 (0.81, 1.08).

Conclusions: These results suggest significant breast cancer protection in women with preeclampsia that possess the TT genotype, specifically in those women with AFB <30, and for the development of HR+ breast cancer. The overall OR for all women with the TT genotype was low at 0.38 but did not reach statistical significance. This analysis in a second cohort again demonstrates a lower risk of breast cancer in women with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy possessing the same IGF1R variant.

Recent studies have associated the rs2016347 T allele with lower normal tissue expression of IGF1R mRNA, better survival in HR+ breast cancer, and improved pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The protective T allele creates a new microRNA (miR-432) binding site within the IGF1R 3'UTR, offering a potential functional explanation for reduced mammary gland expression of this cancer-associated growth factor. This may interact with alterations of growth and metabolic factors characteristic of preeclampsia to imprint the immature gland with a lasting protective effect from later life breast tumorigenesis. If mechanistically substantiated, these findings could lead to a novel breast cancer prevention strategy.

Citation Format: Powell M, Von Behren J, Neuhausen S, Reynolds P, Benz C. Functional IGF1R variant predicts preeclampsia protection from invasive breast cancer: Novel California teachers study findings [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-09-09.

Comprehensive, Integrative Genomic Analysis of Diffuse Lower-Grade Gliomas

BACKGROUND

Diffuse low-grade and intermediate-grade gliomas (which together make up the lower-grade gliomas, World Health Organization grades II and III) have highly variable clinical behavior that is not adequately predicted on the basis of histologic class. Some are indolent; others quickly progress to glioblastoma. The uncertainty is compounded by interobserver variability in histologic diagnosis. Mutations in IDH, TP53, and ATRX and codeletion of chromosome arms 1p and 19q (1p/19q codeletion) have been implicated as clinically relevant markers of lower-grade gliomas.

METHODS

We performed genomewide analyses of 293 lower-grade gliomas from adults, incorporating exome sequence, DNA copy number, DNA methylation, messenger RNA expression, microRNA expression, and targeted protein expression. These data were integrated and tested for correlation with clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

Unsupervised clustering of mutations and data from RNA, DNA-copy-number, and DNA-methylation platforms uncovered concordant classification of three robust, nonoverlapping, prognostically significant subtypes of lower-grade glioma that were captured more accurately by IDH, 1p/19q, and TP53 status than by histologic class. Patients who had lower-grade gliomas with an IDH mutation and 1p/19q codeletion had the most favorable clinical outcomes. Their gliomas harbored mutations in CIC, FUBP1, NOTCH1, and the TERT promoter. Nearly all lower-grade gliomas with IDH mutations and no 1p/19q codeletion had mutations in TP53 (94%) and ATRX inactivation (86%). The large majority of lower-grade gliomas without an IDH mutation had genomic aberrations and clinical behavior strikingly similar to those found in primary glioblastoma.

CONCLUSIONS

The integration of genomewide data from multiple platforms delineated three molecular classes of lower-grade gliomas that were more concordant with IDH, 1p/19q, and TP53 status than with histologic class. Lower-grade gliomas with an IDH mutation either had 1p/19q codeletion or carried a TP53 mutation. Most lower-grade gliomas without an IDH mutation were molecularly and clinically similar to glioblastoma. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health.).

High-quality Si3N4 circuits as a platform for graphene-based nanophotonic devices

Hybrid circuits combining traditional nanophotonic components with carbon-based materials are emerging as a promising platform for optoelectronic devices. We demonstrate such circuits by integrating single-layer graphene films with silicon nitride waveguides as a new architecture for broadband optical operation. Using high-quality microring resonators and Mach-Zehnder interferometers with extinction ratios beyond 40 dB we realize flexible circuits for phase-sensitive detection on chip. Hybrid graphene-photonic devices are fabricated via mechanical transfer and lithographic structuring, allowing for prolonged light-matter interactions. Our approach holds promise for studying optical processes in low-dimensional physical systems and for realizing electrically tunable photonic circuits.

Abstract P3-07-03: Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor variant associated with decreased breast cancer risk in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension

Introduction: Studies have reported a lower breast cancer risk in women who have experienced pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). Current hypotheses for these observations center on placental dysfunction and a subsequent alteration of levels of circulating hormones, growth factors, and angiogenic and immune modulators.

The Marin Women's Study (MWS) was initiated in 2006 to examine breast cancer in Marin County, an area with historically high breast cancer rates. Enrollment of 13,365 women occurred at mammography sites that participate in the San Francisco Mammography Registry (SFMR), one of seven registries included in the NCI Breast Cancer Consortium. In a prior analysis of MWS data, we demonstrated that PIH is associated with reduced breast density later in life, and the current two-phased study was designed to assess whether this apparent protective effect is modified by individual genetic differences.

Methods: Participants self-reported reproductive history and risk factors on the MWS questionnaire at the time of enrollment. Compositional breast density using single X-ray absorptiometry (SXA) was measured on digital mammography. These readings and breast cancer case status data obtained from the California Cancer Registry was acquired by cooperative agreements with the SFMR. DNA for SNP analyses was extracted from donated saliva specimens.

The first phase analysis focused on breast density and assessed the interaction of 7 SNPs of specific selected genes with a history of PIH. A second phase analysis focused on breast cancer case status for any SNP which appeared to demonstrate interaction in the initial analysis.

Results: After adjusting for potential confounders, only the IGF1R SNP (rs2016347) demonstrated a statistically significant interaction with PIH on mammographic density (GT, p = 0.01, and TT, p = 0.07 compared to baseline GG), although the VEGF SNP (rs3025039) approached statistical significance (CT, p = 0.06 compared to baseline CC) in our sample size of 1240 women.

The second phase of the analysis examined the association of the VEGF and IGF1R SNPs with breast cancer case status in all women in the MWS with a history of PIH, saliva specimen, and case status data (n = 374). There was a statistically significant decrease in breast cancer risk in women with PIH and the IGF1R SNP as shown below:

Breast cancer cases in women with PIH by IGF1R genotypeIGF1R GenotypeNumber with genotypeNumber breast cancer cases% breast cancer casesGG9188.79%GT195147.18%TT8800.00%Fisher's exact = 0.008

There was no statistical association between this SNP and PIH incidence or case status in women without PIH, where 27.1% of breast cancer cases had the IGF1R TT genotype (108/398).

Conclusions: Women with a history of PIH had a lower risk of breast cancer if they had the TT genotype of the IGF1R SNP (rs2016347), and this genotype was also associated with lower breast density. Since this IGF1R variant has previously been associated with mammographic density and found to be an independent prognostic marker for breast cancer recurrence, its expression may play a breast cancer protective role by reducing mammographic density in women with PIH.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P3-07-03.

Is the transnasal access for esophagogastroduodenoscopy in routine use equal to the transoral route? A prospective, randomized trial

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Routine esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is increasingly performed without sedation. Transoral (TO) and transnasal (TN) EGD offer different patient comfort and complications.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

For a controlled, randomized, clinical trial comparing TN-EGD with TO-EGD without sedation, patients were assigned to TN-EGD using a thin endoscope (group 1, 93 patients), or TO-EGD using a standard endoscope (group 2, 90 patients). Physician-rated procedural time and complications as well as patient-rated side effects and preferences were compared. In group 3, patients (118) who had previously undergone TO-EGD, now underwent TN-EGD.

RESULTS

Between group 1 and 2 there was no significant difference for procedural time. Nausea (p = 0.047) and epistaxis (p < 0.001) were significantly more frequent for TN-EGD. Conversion rate from TN- to TO-EGD was low with 4.3 %. For TN-EGD, patients' tolerance was better (p < 0.001), gagging was less (p < 0.001). In case of a future EGD, patients who know both procedures (group 3), strongly vote for TN-EGD (80 %). All groups vote against sedation for future procedures (90 %/90 %/89 %).

CONCLUSIONS

Epistaxis can be relevant after TN-EGD, but can mostly be managed conservatively. TN-EGD is superior to TO-EGD regarding subjective and objective gagging as well as procedural tolerance. Patients who experienced both access routes, prefer TN-EGD. TN-EGD without sedation should be aspired for patient comfort and is recommended for routine use.

Developing safety criteria for introducing new agents into neoadjuvant trials

New approaches to drug development are critically needed to lessen the time, cost, and resources necessary to identify and optimize active agents. Strategies to accelerate drug development include testing drugs earlier in the disease process, such as the neoadjuvant setting. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued guidance designed to accelerate drug approval through the use of neoadjuvant studies in which the surrogate short-term endpoint, pathologic response, can be used to identify active agents and shorten the time to approval of both efficacious drugs and biomarkers identifying patients most likely to respond. However, this approach has unique challenges. In particular, issues of patient safety are paramount, given the exposure of potentially curable patients to investigational agents with limited safety experience. Key components to safe drug development in the neoadjuvant setting include defining a study population at sufficiently poor prognosis with standard therapy to justify exposure to investigational agents, defining the extent and adequacy of safety data from phase I, detecting potentially harmful interactions between investigational and standard therapies, improving study designs, such as adaptive strategies, that limit patient exposure to ineffective agents, and intensifying safety monitoring in the course of the trial. The I-SPY2 trial is an example of a phase II neoadjuvant trial of novel agents for breast cancer in which these issues have been addressed, both in the design and conduct of the trial. These adaptations of phase II design enable acceleration of drug development by reducing time and cost to screen novel therapies for activity without compromising safety.

Randomized study comparing chemotherapy with and without estrogen priming in advanced breast-cancer

A randomized trial was performed to determine if combination chemotherapy (CT) with estrogen (E) priming (E+ study arm) was superior to CT alone (E- study arm) in patients with advanced breast cancer. CT for both arms included adriamycin + vincristine (AV) starting on day 7 alternating with cytoxan + methotrexate + fluorouracil (CMF) starting on day 28, the entire cycle repeated every 6 weeks. Estrogen priming consisting of 2 mg estradiol + 1 mg estriol (E+ arm) was given orally twice daily beginning on day 1 and continuously through CT until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Performance status (KPS) for all patients (n=19, E+ arm; n=22, E- arm) ranged between 70-100%. Mean age (53 y, E+ arm; 56 y, E- arm), menopausal and estrogen receptor status and treatment duration (approximately 38 weeks) were similar for both groups. Estrogen priming did not alter or enhance CT toxicity. Objective responses (CR,PR) were noted in 79% on the E+ arm (CR=11%, PR=68%) and in 73% on the E- arm (CR=9%, PR=64%). Thus, estrogen priming in this cohort of patients with advanced breast cancer did not appear to add to the toxicity or palliative benefit of CT.

[What kind of school do children need?]

At every age abilities mature and are internalized through corresponding experience. Every child wants to develop and learn, but at his own pace. In this process the child is not only active, but also selective, that is, it seeks experiences that correspond to its stage of development. The task of the school consists of making it possible for the child to gain learning experience that suits its stage of development in the respective areas of competence. Not only does the cognitive competence of children vary, but they also have differing needs as to emotional security and social experience. If it is possible to create an optimal balance in each of the three areas, learning experience, emotional security and socialization, between the needs and the individual development of the child and its environment, then the child can develop in the best possible way.

P1-07-23: Absolute Quantification of Estrogen Receptor alpha in Breast Cancer

Estrogen receptor alpha (ER) is the first biomarker to have been clinically validated as a predictor of cancer therapy response. Measurements of tumor ER expression were based on radiolabeled ligand binding to receptor present in tumor lysates. Despite substantial tissue requirement, lack of specificity for ER isoforms (alpha versus beta) or receptor integrity, quantitative determination of tumor ER content (fmol/mg total protein) was possible. Introduction of anti-ER antibodies later permitted immunohistochemical (***lHC) evaluation of ER expression. IHC determination of ER status in newly diagnosed breast cancer is now a standard of care. While these IHC assays have been shown to be as predictive of endocrine responsiveness as ligand binding assays, they remain semi-quantitative at best reporting tumor ER status either categorically (e.g. + or -) or as a numeric score which is subjective and lacks a linear relationship with endocrine responsiveness. Thus the lack of precision for quantifying ER as a predictive biomarker is one of the most important unresolved issues in breast cancer. We are working to develop a proteomic liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) assay to help resolve this issue. Samples included recombinant ER (rER), immunoprecipitated (IP) rER, and IP ER from MCF7 cells. ER was digested with trypsin, lyophilised and solubilised in 5 femto-mol/microliter (100 μl) heavy peptide internal standard mix. ER peptides were resolved by LC (100 μl/minute) and detected by selected reaction monitoring MS. The area under the total ion chromatogram for each peptide were used to quantify the amount of analyte present in each sample as a single point reference to the signal of the heavy peptide spike. An 11 point calibration curve (0.1-1000 fmol on column (o/c)) of light peptides with each point in the curve spiked with 100 fmol heavy peptide was also produced to determine assay characteristics such as limits of detection (LOD), limits of quantification (LOQ), linearity, accuracy and precision. Three ER peptides were selected for quantification as they gave the greatest LOD, LOQ, linearity as well as reasonable intra- and inter-assay precision following multiple digestions of rER (intra = 3 digestions in 1 day; inter = 9 digestions over 3 weeks).

Breast Cancer Risk Asssessment in the High Risk Marin County Population Using OncoVue® Compared to SNPs from Genome Wide Association Studies

Background: Models for accurate assessment of individualized risk of developing breast cancer are important for effectively guiding clinical decisions regarding early detection and prevention. Marin County (MC), California (located immediately north of San Francisco) has long been recognized as a population with high incidence rates of breast cancer. In a population-based case-control study conducted from 1997 to 1999 in MC, no classical epidemiological risk factors such as age at menarche, age at first live birth, number of first-degree relatives with breast cancer, and history/outcome of previous breast biopsies were associated with breast cancer risk. Thus, the widely used National Cancer Institute-Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (BCRAT) or Gail Model is not an effective risk assessment tool for this population. Recently, we found that a new breast cancer risk assessment model (OncoVue) that integrates information from 22 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 5 personal risk factors effectively stratified risk in the MC population. Several genome wide association studies (GWAS) have also recently derived a consensus of seven independent candidate SNPs strongly associated with breast cancer risk that are not included in the OncoVue model. Here we have evaluated these SNPs from GWAS to determine their utility in risk estimation and stratification of the high risk MC population.Materials and Methods: Study DNAs were genotyped for the following SNPs in seven genes: rs2981582 (FGFR2), rs3817198 (LSP1), rs889312 (MAP3K), rs4415084 (MRPS30), rs13281615 (POU5F1P1), rs13387042 (TNP1), and rs3803662 (TOX3, formerly TNRCR9). The analyses were performed on white women ages 30-69 and included 164 cases and 173 controls that were genotyped for all seven SNPs. Association of individual genotypes with breast cancer risk was evaluated by calculating odds ratios (ORs). Composite risk for each individual in the study was calculated by assigning risks from published studies for each genotype and multiplying them. The clinical utility of composite risk scores was evaluated by calculating positive likelihood ratios (PLR) as the proportion of patients with breast cancer with an elevated risk estimate divided by the proportion of disease-free individuals with an elevated risk estimate.Results: Carriers of the rare allele for FGFR2, MAP3K, and TNP1 exhibited statistically significant associations with breast cancer risk. Over a range of risk levels, composite risk scores exhibited PLRs of approximately 1.0 but at the highest end of the risk spectrum a PLR of 2.3 indicates useful risk stratification. The women at this risk level represent &lt;10% of the control population.Conclusions: In the high risk MC population the seven GWAS SNPs stratify risk at the highest end of the risk. In contrast, overall OncoVue exhibits higher PLRs at high risk levels and may prove to be more clinically useful for directing prevention and screening decisions.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 3057.

Metastatic Outcome of Estrogen Receptor (ER)-Negative Breast Cancer Appears Independent of Both Age-at-Onset and Tumor Proliferative Potential

Breast cancers arising in younger women are associated with worse survival outcome when compared with stage-matched breast cancers diagnosed in older women; to date, however, the poorer outcome of these younger onset breast cancer cases has not been fully explained by prognostic biomarkers or biological mechanisms. Collecting age cohorts of node-negative, estrogen receptor (ER)-positive sporadic breast cancers, we recently showed that younger onset cases can be distinguished from older onset ER-positive cases by expression profiling but not by genomic profiling, revealing a predictive age signature and enrichment of a proliferation gene expression signature (Perou et al., 2000) among younger ER-positive breast cancer cases (Yau et al., 2007). To further explore the impact of age on the outcome and biology of early stage breast cancers stratified by ER status, we pooled outcome and expression microarray data on adjuvant-untreated, node-negative cases obtained from three sources (van de Vijver et al., 2002; Wang et al., 2005; Desmedt et al., 2007). Dichotomized age-at-onset cohorts were defined as either younger (Y) ≤ 39 y or older (O) ≥ 40 y cases. Gene expression data from 447 ER-positive (61 Y, 386 O) and 178 ER-negative (40 Y, 138 O) cases, generated from either of two microarray platforms (Affymetrix, Agilent), were mapped by gene symbol and combined using distance weighted discrimination (DWD), to produce pooled datasets for each ER subtype containing 6209 unique genes. Distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) was plotted by Kaplan-Meier analysis out to 15 years for 563 of the pooled 624 cases (400 ER-positive: 52 Y and 348 O; 163 ER-negative: 36Y and 137 O), and log rank significance testing was performed. DMFS of all 163 ER-negative cases was significantly worse than that of all 400 ER-positive cases (p = 0.05); and DMFS of all 88 Y cases was significantly worse than that of all 475 O cases (p = 0.02). DMFS of ER-positive Y cases was significantly worse than ER-positive O cases (p = 0.02), but DMFS of ER-negative Y cases was not significantly different than that of ER-negative O cases (p = 0.66). Consistent with our earlier results, expression of a 38-gene proliferation signature was significantly enriched in ER-positive Y cases relative to ER-positive O cases. In contrast, this proliferation signature was not differentially enriched in ER-negative Y cases relative to ER-negative O cases. While high proliferation gene signature expression correlated with worse DMFS in ER-positive Y and O cases, it did not correlate with ER-negative DMFS in either Y or O cohorts. Thus, metastatic outcome analyses indicate that for node-negative breast cancers without systemic treatment, age is a prognostic factor only for ER-positive and not for ER-negative disease. Moreover, gene expression analyses indicate that the better prognosis of ER-positive breast cancers arising after age 39 may be attributed to their lower proliferative potential while the worse DMFS of younger onset ER-positive breast cancers may be attributed to their higher proliferative potential. In contrast, the metastatic outcome of ER-negative breast cancer appears independent of both age-at-onset and tumor proliferative potential.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 4051.

Abstract B116: Molecular profiling of breast cancer cell lines using signatures reported in prognostic and predictive patient studies

Background: Breast cancer cell lines recapitulate complex tumors in humans and have been widely used to shed light on oncogenesis and characterize the response to established and new therapeutics. Gene signatures may be used to assess which oncogenic pathways are deregulated in breast cancer cells and to guide targeted therapy. Browser-based access to CGH and expression array profiles has begun to provide systems biology information on these cell lines. Since RT-PCR is increasingly being used to profile gene signatures in patient breast cancer tumors and due to often observed discordance between arrays and RT-PCR, we embarked on a translational study to profile the expression levels of constituent genes and derived scores of reported signatures in commonly used breast cancer cell lines.

Methods: RNA from 47 cell lines with substantial overlaps with cell line collections reported by Neve et al. (36/51), Kao et al. (36/52) and the Integrated Cancer Biology Program (ICBP-45) (43/45) was profiled using RT-PCR for individual genes of the signatures reported by Paik et al. (21-gene Recurrence Score and subset gene groups), Tutt et al (14-gene metastasis score), and Teschendorff and Caldas (7-gene immune response score). The relative changes in gene expression were calculated as previously described. Individual gene and group weightings were as reported.

Results: The 14-gene metastasis signature was highly correlated with the Proliferation Group of the Recurrence Score (r2=0.78). In ER positive cell line subset analysis, this same comparison resulted in r2=0.72. The ER Group of the Recurrence Score was correlated to the overall Recurrence Score (r2=0.65) and highly correlated to the level of the progesterone receptor (r2=0.82). The HER2 mRNA level alone was highly correlated to the HER2 Group of the Recurrence Score (r2=0.73). The metastasis score differentially-weighted with the hormone receptor levels was correlated with the Recurrence Score (r2=0.70). The 7-gene immune response gene set was not correlated with proliferation indices or composite scores in the combined or ER-negative cell line collections. Correlations with the luminal and basal tumor subtypes required composite scores of proliferation, HER2 and hormone receptor status.

Conclusion: Breast cancer cell lines of commonly used collections have an elevated and continuous range of molecular proliferation indices as determined by groups of genes in signatures reported in community and randomized control trial settings. Even though sharing only a limited number of genes, composite scores encompassing proliferation, hormone receptors and growth factor RNA levels are similar. Gene sets focused on immune response may provide discrete additional information. Knowledge of pharmacologic responses of these cell lines to established and new therapeutics with associated subgroup and derived overall scores may contribute to our understanding of the discrete oncologic pathways involved and inform future individualized patient management.

Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(12 Suppl):B116.

Efficacy of intraoral topical anesthetics in children

OBJECTIVES

The literature reports mixed results regarding the efficacy of intraoral topical anesthetics. Only a few studies have been performed in children. Some non-placebo controlled studies have been carried out to compare the efficacy in reducing children's injection pain between different topical anesthetics

METHODS

In a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study with split-mouth design 104 children were enrolled to evaluate the efficacy of four topical anesthetics (Gingicain Spray, Gingicaine Topical Anesthetic, Legecain-Solution, EMLA Crème) when used prior to buccal injections within the conservative treatment of carious upper primary molars. The heart rate change and a Face Pain Scale were used as primary variables. The Visual Analog Scale, the modified Children's Hospital Pain Scale and the Sound-Eyes-Motor Scale were also evaluated.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between the placebo and any corresponding topical anesthetic with regard to the primary variables (HRC and FPS). A significant difference was found in favour of Gingicain Spray and Gingicaine Topical Anesthetic according to secondary variables (VAS, S(E)MS).

CONCLUSION

While the secondary variables point to a benefit of the topical anesthetics Gingicain Spray and Gingicaine Topical Anesthetic compared to placebo, the results of the primary variables showed no differences in effectiveness of topical anesthetics and their corresponding placebos.

First case of isolated small bowel transplantation at the university of cologne: rejection-free course under quadruple immunosuppression and endoluminal monitoring with video-capsule

Intestinal transplantation is the only curative form of treatment for fulminant short bowel syndrome. Results have been hampered by frequent rejection episodes as well as technical and infectious complications. We report the first case of complete small bowel transplantation performed at our institution. A 37-year-old male patient suffered from massive gut infarction due to a superior mesenteric artery embolus from a thrombus in the descending aorta resulting from hereditary protein S and C deficiency. The primary surgery resulted in a duodenocolostomy requiring total parenteral nutrition. The course was further complicated by multiple central line infections and pre-renal kidney failure induced by dehydration. After 17 months, we performed a cadaveric small bowel transplant using systemic venous drainage. The ileum was anastomosed end-to-end to the recipient ascending colon. The proximal jejunum was used to create a jejunostomy, with an end-to-side duodenojejunostomy. Immunosuppression consisted of a single-administration of antithymocyte globulin (ATG), tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and methylprednisolone given enterally from day 1. Biopsies of the upper jejunum showed no signs of rejection. The graft was monitored via capsule video endoscopy after 9 weeks and appeared normal. The patient was discharged on day 35, completely on an enteral diet and gaining weight with a good quality of life. Oral valganciclovir was given for the cytomegalovirus prophylaxis infection (donor-positive, recipient-negative constellation), with no clinical or serologic signs of infection. The early course after small bowel transplantation using a quadruple regimen was clinically successful. The use of video-capsules allows for noninvasive visual monitoring of bowel segments that cannot be reached endoscopically.

Digital photography: exposures, editing images, and presentation

The digital camera is one of the most important electronic articles on the wish list in the private sector, and professional users are also making increasing use of the possibilities that the digital image provides. In dental medicine, nothing speaks for the analog image anymore, and thus many dentists are searching for an expedient solution. Anyone who is faced with deciding on a digital camera will often be confused by the immense variety of models and concepts, which are also subject to rapid change. Fortunately for dental medicine, however, the current camera generation--both viewfinder and SLR systems--offers quality features which will be able to satisfy even high demands for many years.

Underestimation of nodules while staging hepatocellular carcinoma prior to neoadjuvant treatment on waiting list for transplantation

Neoadjuvant therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has increasing importance for patients awaiting liver transplantation, as waiting time increases. The therapeutic options (ethanol injection, radiofrequency ablation, chemoembolization) are only effective locally. Therefore, occult carcinomas can overcome the efficacy of these therapies. To evaluate the impact of occult nodules, we analyzed the staging results and histology from 21 HCC patients. The average pretransplant waiting time was 5.2 +/- 3.2 months. The staging before transplantation was reliable concerning the maximum diameter of the HCC. The number of HCC nodules increased from 30 at the time of clinical staging to 59 in histology, hence from 1.4 +/- 1.5 to 2.8 +/- 1.9 per patient. Patients with pT1/2 HCCs experienced an even larger increase (from 1.3 to 3.2 nodules) than patients suffering of pT3/4 HCCs (2.6 to 3.4 nodules). All occult HCCs were less than 2 cm in diameter and showed no prognostically negative histological features such as vascular invasion. The 3-year survival of the patients with small HCCs was 86% compared to 34% for those with advanced cancer. The survival of patients with small HCCs was similar to the survival of patients receiving a transplant for a nonmalignant indication. Only after neoadjuvant therapy with radiofrequency ablation or ethanol injection but not with chemoembolization, was significant necrosis of HCC observed. Considering the current average waiting time, repetitive staging and treatment of new nodules seems justified to achieve a low dropout rate during the waiting time.

Pancreatic endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients with chronic pancreatitis: a single-center experience in 171 consecutive patients

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

In recent years, interest in endoscopic therapy techniques for pancreatic diseases has been constantly increasing. The aim of the present study was to assess the technical success, technique, and complications of endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy (EPS) in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 171 patients with chronic pancreatitis and abdominal complaints were identified in whom at least one attempt at EPS was carried out. During the procedure, sphincterotomy was carried out using a guide-wire sphincterotome or a needle-knife papillotome. Patients were followed up after EPS for at least 24 h, including clinical symptoms and laboratory data (pancreatic enzymes and hemoglobin/hematocrit).

RESULTS

EPS was performed in 167 of the 171 patients (technical success rate: 97.7 %). In 24 patients (14 %), a precut technique was necessary using a needle-knife sphincterotome. Sphincterotomy-related complications were observed in seven of the 171 patients (4.1 %), including three cases of bleeding, three patients with mild pancreatitis, and one with retroduodenal perforation. All complications were managed medically. There was no treatment-related mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic sphincterotomy of the pancreatic duct in patients with chronic pancreatitis is a fairly safe procedure with a high technical success rate.

Does the insertion depth in push enteroscopy depend on the working length of the enteroscope?

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Using push enteroscopy, the small bowel can only be investigated in part. This preliminary prospective randomized study examined whether increasing the length of the enteroscope can have a beneficial effect on the insertion depth.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between August 1999 and December 1999, 28 consecutive patients were investigated using push enteroscopy and were randomly assigned to two groups. One group was investigated using the Olympus push enteroscope SIF-100 (working length 2200 mm). In the other group, the Olympus push enteroscope SIF-Q140 (working length 2500 mm) was used. All investigations were carried out using an overtube. The insertion depth was estimated by counting the folds in the small bowel. In addition, the insertion length was estimated in centimeters by withdrawing the instrument to the pylorus after straightening.

RESULTS

The two groups were comparable in terms of age, sex distribution, indication for enteroscopy, investigation time, and pathological findings. There were no significant differences in the insertion length between the two types of instrument. With the SIF-100, the median number of folds was 95 (range 30 - 213) and the insertion length was 72.5 cm (range 40 - 110 cm); and with the SIF-Q140, the median number of folds was 79 (range 18 - 203) and the insertion length was 70.0 cm (range 20 - 140 cm).

CONCLUSIONS

As there was no significant difference in the insertion depth between the shorter instrument (Olympus SIF-100) and the longer one (Olympus SIF-Q140), it can be concluded from this preliminary study that there is no advantage in using a longer enteroscope. To document a significant difference, further studies with a larger numbers of patients would be necessary.

Expression of apoptosis and apoptosis-related peptides in various stages of rejection in the human transplanted liver

BACKGROUND/AIMS

In the transplanted liver, the role of apoptosis and apoptosis-related proteins are largely unknown. This study addresses the question whether hepatocyte or leukocyte apoptosis plays an important role in acute rejection of the transplanted human liver and which pathways are involved.

METHODOLOGY

Cryosections from liver biopsies with acute rejection were stained with the TUNEL technique for detection of apoptosis and labeled immunohistochemically with antibodies against CD95, bcl-2, TGF-beta and iNOS. A double-labeling protocol was developed for simultaneous detection of iNOS and apoptosis. Liver tissue with chronic viral hepatitis, with hepatitis reinfection and tissue without pathological findings served as a control.

RESULTS

Leukocyte apoptosis was markedly reduced in severe compared to mild or moderate acute rejection. Hepatocyte apoptosis is detected rarely in acute rejection with a slight increase from mild to severe despite a strong expression of CD95 and TGF-beta on hepatocytes. The hepatocyte expression of iNOS is weak in acute rejection but strong in control slides with hepatitis B/C reinfection. In acute rejection, simultaneous expression of iNOS and apoptosis could be demonstrated in Kupffer-cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Severe acute rejection in the human transplanted liver is characterized by a lack of apoptosis of infiltrating portal lymphocytes probably caused by a reduced downregulation of lymphocyte function. Secondly, in spite of the strong expression of CD95 and TGF-alpha, hepatocyte apoptosis plays a limited role for liver damage in acute rejection. Finally, Kupffer cell apoptosis is increased in acute rejection and seems to be induced by nitric oxide.

Acute and nonacute complications associated with interscalene block and shoulder surgery: a prospective study

BACKGROUND

The incidence, etiology, and evolution of complications after interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) are not well-known. The authors prospectively monitored 521 patients for complications during the first 9 months after ISB.

METHODS

A total of 521 adults scheduled for elective shoulder surgery performed with an ISB were included in this prospective study. The ISB procedure was standardized for all patients Acute complications were recorded. Patients were observed daily (for 10 days) for paresthesias, dysesthesias, pain not related to surgery, and muscular weakness and were evaluated at 1, 3, 6, and 9 months after surgery. Persistence of paresthesias dysesthesias, pain not related to surgery, or muscular weakness was investigated at 1 or 3 months by means of electroneuromyography. Final evaluation was performed at 9 months.

RESULTS

A total of 520 patients completed the study; one was excluded after surgical axillary nerve damage. Two hundred thirty-four patients had an interscalene catheter. Acute complications consisted of one pneumothorax (0.2%) and one episode of central nervous system toxicity (incoherent speech; 0.2%). A 10 days, 74 patients (14%) were symptomatic, and none had muscular weakness. At 1 month, 41 patients (7.9%) had symptoms, and none had muscular weakness. Thirty patients under went electroneuromyography; sulcus ulnaris syndrome (n = 8) carpal tunnel syndrome (n = 2), and complex regional pain syndrome (n = 1) were diagnosed. At 3 months 20 patient (3.9%) were symptomatic, and none had muscular weakness All underwent electroneuromyography; carpal tunnel syndrome (n = 2), complex regional pain syndrome (n = 4), plexus neuropathy (n = 1), and plexus damage (n = 1) were diagnosed. At 6 months, 5 patients (0.9%) were symptomatic. At 9 months 1 patient (0.2%) had persistence of dysesthesia.

CONCLUSIONS

Interscalene brachial plexus block performed with a standardized technical approach, material, and drugs is associated with an incidence of short- and severe long-term complications of 0.4%. In case of persistent paresthesia, dysesthesia, or pain not related to surgery after ISB, sulcus ulnaris syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, or complex regional pain syndrome should be excluded since specific treatment may be required.

Do we need the overtube for push-enteroscopy?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Push-enteroscopy is well established in many gastroenterological departments. There is no agreement about whether the use of an overtube is helpful to optimize the depth of insertion. In this prospective and randomized study we investigated the effect of the overtube for push-type enteroscopy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between August 1999 and August 2000, 80 patients (47 male, 33 female; age 63.1, range 20 - 90 years), who underwent investigation by push-enteroscopy were randomly allocated to two groups. Group T underwent investigation with the Olympus push-enteroscope SIF 100 with an overtube and group NT without an overtube. The length of insertion was estimated by fluoroscopy, by counting the folds of the small bowel and by insertion length in centimeters, while the scope was drawn back to the pylorus. The number of pathological findings was documented and patient comfort was measured by means of a standard questionnaire completed after enteroscopy.

RESULTS

Both groups were comparable with regard to age, gender, indication for enteroscopy and pathological findings. There was a highly significant correlation between the length of insertion measured in centimeters and the counted folds in both groups (correlation 0.57, P < 0.001 in group T; 0.80, P < 0.001 in group NT). The length of insertion estimated by means of fluoroscopy was not reliable in determination of the exact length of insertion. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the insertion depth between group T (mean values: insertion length 72.4 cm, counted folds 99.3) and group NT (mean values: insertion length 60.8 cm, counted folds 74.1).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of an overtube in push-enteroscopy is advantageous with respect to the depth of insertion (significant difference between group T and NT in counted folds and the insertion depth in centimeters). At this time, this gain of insertion length did not result in a higher rate of pathological findings. Nevertheless, we would recommend the use of an overtube in performing push-type enteroscopy in order to increase the number of pathological findings.

The relationship between juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula and disorders of the biliopancreatic system: analysis of 350 patients

BACKGROUND

Data concerning the association of juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula (JPDD) with biliopancreatic disorders are inconsistent, but an association between bile duct stones and JPDD is widely accepted. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of JPDD and its association with biliopancreatic disorders in patients undergoing ERCP.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted of 5497 consecutive ERCP procedures performed in 2925 patients. Matched-pair analysis yielded 350 pairs of patients with and without JPDD, matched for definite risk criteria such as age, gender, and indication for ERCP.

RESULT

The incidence of JPDD was 12%. Patients with JPDD were significantly older than patients without JPDD (71 vs. 62 years; p < 0.0019) and had a significantly higher bleeding rate after endoscopic sphincterotomy (8.8% vs. 4.8%; p = 0.039). The presence of JPDD correlated with gallbladder stones (29.4% vs. 20.8%; p = 0.039), bile duct stones (46% vs. 33.1%; p < 0.001), and recurrence of bile duct stones (6.6% vs. 1.4%; p = 0.002). There were no significant differences in frequency of acute and chronic pancreatitis as well as pancreas divisum. After multivariate logistic regression analysis, technically difficult ERCP, bleeding after endoscopic sphincterotomy, and bile duct stones remained as independent risk factors.

CONCLUSION

JPDD appears to be a risk factor for complications of endoscopic sphincterotomy and for gallbladder stones, bile duct stones, and their recurrence.

Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation vs. sphincterotomy for removal of common bile duct stones: a prospective randomized pilot study

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is the standard procedure for gaining access to the common bile duct for removal of bile duct stones. However, the procedure is associated with both short-term and long-term complications. Recent reports have described the use of endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EBD) as an effective and safe alternative to EST. We conducted a prospective randomized pilot study to compare the efficacy and short-term complication rates of these two established methods for removing uncomplicated bile duct stones.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixty patients were randomly assigned to receive either EST (n = 30) or EBD (n = 30) prior to removal of bile duct stones (maximum size 20 mm, maximum number five). The patient groups were comparable with regard to sex and age ratios, the size of the stones (EST: mean 10 +/- 4.7 mm; EBD: mean 7 +/- 3.5 min; not significant) and the numbers of stones (EST: mean 1.8 +/- 1.5 mm; EBD: mean 1.6 +/- 1.1 mm; not significant). EBD was carried out using a balloon-tipped biliary catheter (Maxforce, Microvasive, Boston, Massachusetts, USA) with a maximum diameter of 24 Fr for 45-60 s. Bile duct stones were removed using Dormia baskets or retrieval balloons, or both.

RESULTS

The two methods were successful in all patients studied. Subsequent stone removal was possible in all 30 patients after EST (100%) and in 23 of the 30 who underwent EBD (77%), respectively (P<0.01). After conversion to EST, complete bile duct clearance was also achieved in the remaining seven EBD patients. The mean duration for the whole procedure was 17 +/- 12 min for EST and 29 +/- 15 min for EBD (not significant). Complications (WHO grades 2-4) were observed in five of the 30 EST patients (three cases of mild pancreatitis, two of hemorrhage) and in nine of the 30 EBD patients (three cases of cholangitis, four of mild pancreatitis, and two of severe pancreatitis), showing a trend toward higher complication rates in the EBD group. Postintervention hyperamylasemia was observed in six patients (three in each group).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this prospective randomized pilot study indicate that EST is superior to EBD in terms of stone removal, duration of the procedure, and complication rates. EST will therefore continue to be the standard procedure for stone removal in the near future. Further studies will be needed in order to compare the longer-term results with EST and EBD.

MHC class I-subversive gene functions of cytomegalovirus and their regulation by interferons-an intricate balance

Multiple glycoproteins of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encoded by the genes US2, US3, US6 and US11 interrupt the MHC class I pathway of antigen presentation at distinct checkpoints to avoid recognition of infected cells by cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes. The action of cytokines like interferon (IFN)-gamma, IFN-alpha/beta and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) compensate for the viral inhibition and restore antigen presentation in HCMV-infected cells. This finding was explained by their effects on cellular rather than viral genes and reflected by an increase in the production, assembly and maturation of MHC class I molecules resulting in an escape of MHC I from viral control. Here we reproduce the IFN-gamma-mediated effect when MHC I-subversive gene functions of HCMV are tested in isolation, but the efficacy of IFN-gamma to restore MHC I surface expression in US2-, US6- and US11-transfectants differs significantly. In addition, in HCMV-infected cells IFN-gamma strongly affects the synthesis of the US6-encoded glycoprotein. Despite the capability of HCMV to block the interferon signaling pathway the IFN-gamma driven enhancement of MHC class I and class II expression remains effective provided that cells are exposed to IFN-gamma before infection. Our findings illustrate a complex interplay between host immune factors and viral immune evasion functions.

Minilaparoscopy versus conventional laparoscopy in the diagnosis of hepatic diseases

BACKGROUND

Minilaparoscopy (ML) is being used increasingly in the diagnosis of liver disease. This is a prospective study of the accuracy and safety of ML compared with conventional laparoscopy (CL) in the diagnostic workup of liver disease.

METHODS

One hundred four patients with suspected liver disease were randomized either to undergo CL (n = 50) or ML (n = 54). CL was performed with a standard Storz laparoscope (Ø 11 mm, Storz GmbH, Tuttlingen, Germany) according to accepted guidelines. For ML a 1.9-mm small-diameter optical telescope was used (Richard Wolf GmbH, Knittlingen, Germany). In all cases, an attempt was made to obtain a liver biopsy specimen.

RESULTS

Laparoscopy could successfully be performed in 100 of 104 (96%) patients with simultaneous procurement of biopsy specimens of the liver. In 4 cases, postoperative adhesions prevented sufficient inspection of the liver and in another patient the technique was switched from CL to ML for the same reason. Minor self-limiting bleeding at the biopsy site was observed in 20% of CL and 15% of ML examinations. One patient in each group required surgery for uncontrollable bleeding from the biopsy site. The patients' subjective perception of the examination was comparable in both groups. Compared with CL, ML could be performed in a significantly shorter time (27 vs. 22 min, p < 0.05). Liver cirrhosis diagnosed during laparoscopy was histologically confirmed in 77%, independent of the method of examination. Cirrhosis was diagnosed by histology in 1 of 14 (7%) and 1 of 21 (5%) patients without macroscopic signs of cirrhosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopy with a small diameter telescope in the workup of liver disease is comparable in terms of results to CL. Possible advantages of ML are a shorter examination time and a subjective impression of lower degree of invasiveness.

An HPLC assay and a microbiological assay to determine levofloxacin in soft tissue, bone, bile and serum

A simple, specific and sensitive HPLC assay for levofloxacin in serum, bile, soft tissue and bone was evaluated and validated. The samples were prepared by protein precipitation with acids and methanol, which yielded high recoveries (for serum and bile>98% and for bone and soft tissue>90%). The compounds were separated on a reversed phase column with an acidic mobile phase containing triethylamine. The eluate was monitored by fluorescence detection. The HPLC assay is linear over the usable concentration range (0.1-40 microg/ml) and it provides good validation data for accuracy and precision. Although comparison of HPLC results to the results of a microbiological assay showed congruent results (regression coefficients>0.967). HPLC should be the method of choice for determination of levofloxacin in biological matrices.

Immunogenicity of two accelerated hepatitis B vaccination protocols in liver transplant candidates

OBJECTIVE

It is common practice to immunize patients against hepatitis B virus infection prior to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). We compared the seroprotection rates of two accelerated schedules with a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in patients awaiting OLT.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Patients were prospectively recruited and vaccinated with either 20 micrograms (group 1, n = 14) or 40 micrograms (group 2, n = 20) hepatitis B surface antigen per dosage. Thirty-nine healthy volunteers served as a historical control group. Patients in all groups were vaccinated with an accelerated schedule (0, 7 and 21 days). All patients underwent clinical and laboratory examinations (HBs antibodies, CD4/CD8 ratio, transaminases).

RESULTS

The accelerated hepatitis B vaccination schedules were well tolerated. Eight weeks after the third injection, no significant differences in seroprotection rates were observed between group 1 (31%) and group 2 (26%). There was no correlation with respect to seroconversion rates and gender, smoking habits or CD4/CD8 ratio.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that accelerated vaccination schedules with a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine are safe and well-tolerated, but only achieve poor seroconversion rates in OLT candidates. Increasing the vaccine dose to 40 micrograms hepatitis B surface antigen per injection did not result in a higher response rate. Because of the low risk of acquiring de novo hepatitis B infection after transplantation, it should be questioned whether routine hepatitis B vaccination with standard recombinant vaccines prior to liver transplantation should be recommended any longer.

Prognostic and predictive significance of ErbB-2 breast tumor levels measured by enzyme immunoassay

PURPOSE

A retrospective analysis to assess the prognostic and predictive clinical value of breast tumor ErbB-2 receptor expression quantified by enzyme immunoassay (EIA), to compare levels measured by EIA with ErbB-2 status determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and to correlate receptor content with levels of phosphorylated (Y1248-P) ErbB-2, a measure of functional tyrosine kinase activity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

EIA quantification of ErbB-2 was performed on membrane extracts from 3,208 well-characterized primary breast cancers. Overall, relapse-free, distant disease-free, and local/regional-free patient survival data were available on 1,123 of these tumors. IHC scoring for ErbB-2 status (HercepTest; DAKO, Glostrup, Denmark) was performed on adjacent sections of 151 cases, and receptor functionality was measured in 230 tumors by an antibody specific for phosphorylated (Y1248-P) ErbB-2.

RESULTS

Unlike nonmalignant breast tissues, breast tumors showed increased ErbB-2 levels in a bimodal distribution, with 12% constituting a distinct set of ErbB-2-overexpressing tumors. The intermodal threshold value for ErbB-2 overexpression distinguished tumors with reduced estrogen and progesterone receptor content, high IHC score for ErbB-2, and significantly increased levels of phosphorylated (Y1248-P) ErbB-2 receptor. By multivariate analysis, EIA-determined ErbB-2 overexpression predicted significantly reduced patient survival that was unaffected by tamoxifen or cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil adjuvant therapy.

CONCLUSION

Determination of ErbB-2 receptor expression by EIA offers a clinically valuable alternative to semiquantitative IHC assessment of breast tumor ErbB-2 overexpression and affords the opportunity to evaluate ErbB-2 phosphorylation, which may represent an important predictive parameter of receptor functionality.

[Laparoscopic tumor staging in gastrointestinal carcinomas: significance of internal medicine laparoscopy]

This study was performed to assess the role of additional diagnostic laparoscopy in the preoperative staging of patients with gastric cancer and pancreatic cancer prior to intended curative surgery. Furthermore patients with ascites of unknown origin were evaluated. 127 patients with primary solid abdominal tumors were eligible for evaluation; of those 66 patients had a gastric cancer and 61 a pancreatic cancer. Patients without histologically proven metastases proceeded to laparotomy. Ascites of unknown origin was the indication for performing a diagnostic laparoscopy in 23 patients. Metastases were detectable laparoscopically in 13 of 66 patients (20%) with gastric cancer. Intraoperatively metastases were evident in further 7 cases. In 14 of 61 patients (23%) with pancreatic cancer metastases were detected by laparoscopy and in further 5 patients intraoperatively. A peritoneal carcinosis was diagnosed laparoscopically in 17 of 23 patients with ascites of unknown origin. Preoperative staging by additional diagnostic laparoscopy proved effective in patients with gastric- and pancreatic cancer.

The role of serum liver enzymes in the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy has increased the need for preoperative diagnosis of common bile duct stones. The purpose of this study is to verify the sensitivity of the liver function tests in the detection of duct stones.

METHODOLOGY

We evaluated 438 patients (223 retrospectively and 215 prospectively) who underwent endoscopic papillotomy for bile duct stones in two different services. In every case, blood samples for liver function tests levels were collected prior to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

RESULTS

The most sensitive test was gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, that was abnormal in 92.2% of the cases. Alkaline phosphatase was elevated in 74.7% of the patients with choledocholithiasis. The least sensitive parameter was AST, altered in only 50.8% of times. The sensitivity of all liver tests for the diagnosis of choledochal stones taken together was 94.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

Liver function tests are very sensitive in the detection of common bile duct stones, however these blood tests are in the normal range of about 5% of endoscopically treated patients.