Explore the vast range of titles available.

Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) is a known marker for apoptotic balance and cell detoxification. Recently, an association of baseline GGT levels and breast cancer incidence, tumor progression and chemotherapy resistance was shown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of pre-therapeutic GGT levels, clinical-pathological parameters and survival in patients with primary metastatic breast cancer (PMBC). In this multicenter analysis, pre-therapeutic GGT levels and clinical-pathological parameters of 114 patients diagnosed with PMBC between 1996 and 2012 were evaluated. The association between GGT levels and clinical-pathological parameters were analysed. Patients were stratified into four GGT risk-groups (GGT < 18.00 U/L: normal low, 18.00 to 35.99 U/L: normal high, 36.00 to 71.99 U/L: elevated and ≥ 72.00 U/L: highly elevated) and survival analyses were performed. Patients in the high risk GGT group had a poorer overall survival, when compared to the low risk group with five-year overall survival rates of 39.5% and 53.7% (p = 0.04), respectively. Patients with larger breast tumors had a trend towards higher GGT levels (p = 0.053). Pre-therapeutic GGT levels were not associated with indicators of aggressive tumor biology such as HER2-status, triple negative histology, or poorly differentiated cancers. Pre-therapeutic GGT serum level might serve as a novel prognostic factor for overall-survival in patients with PMBC.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic role of the duration of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer (EOC). Within the present study we retrospectively evaluated the data of 165 consecutive patients with EOC treated with primary surgery followed by six completed cycles of platinum-taxan based intravenous adjuvant chemotherapy. Medians of total duration of chemotherapy were compared with clinical-pathological parameters. Patients were stratified into four risk groups according to the delay in days of total duration of chemotherapy, and univariate and multivariable survival analyses were performed. The median duration of six completed cycles of chemotherapy comprised 113 days (IQR 107-124 days). Uni- and multivariable survival analyses revealed a delay of total duration of chemotherapy of at least 9 days to be associated with progression-free (PFS), cancer-specific (CSS) and overall survival (OS). Hazard ratios (HR), confidence intervals (95% CI) and p-values for PFS, CSS and OS due to delay of chemo-duration were 2.9 (1.6-5.4; p = 0.001), 2.9 (1.3-6.2; p = 0.008) and 2.6 (1.3-5.4; p = 0.008), respectively. Prolonged total chemo-duration was associated with the amount of postoperative residual disease (p = 0.001) and the patients' age (p = 0.03). The present study suggests a prolonged duration of adjuvant chemotherapy after primary surgery to adversely affect PFS, CSS and OS in patients with EOC. Yet larger studies are required to validate our results.

Adjustable gastric banding and esophagogastric banding may affect the function of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and esophageal motility in the long-term. Both methods were evaluated in a prospective randomized trial. Group 1 comprised 28 patients who underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and Group 2 consisted of 24 patients in whom adjustable esophagogastric banding was performed. Swedish Adjustable Gastric Bands were used in all patients. Body mass index (BMI), perioperative complications and reflux symptoms were assessed and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, esophageal barium studies, esophageal manometry and 24-hour esophageal pH-monitoring were performed pre- and postoperatively. 18 (Group 1) and 14 (Group 2) patients completed the postoperative follow-up procedure after a median of 23 and 24 months, respectively. Postoperatively the median BMI dropped equally in both groups. Perioperative complications requiring re-intervention were significantly more frequent in Group 2 than in Group 1. Heartburn improved equally in both groups following surgery; however, regurgitation and esophagitis were significantly more common in Group 2 than in Group 1.24-hour esophageal pH-monitoring and the LES resting pressure improved equally in both groups, but there was a significant impairment of the LES relaxation and the esophageal peristalsis, which was more pronounced in Group 2 than in Group 1. This caused significant esophageal stasis as shown by barium studies. Both techniques, gastric and esophagogastric banding, provide effective weight loss in morbidly obese patients but affect the esophagogastric junction. Although both procedures strengthen the antireflux-barrier, LES relaxation becomes impaired, thus promoting esophageal dilatation and esophageal stasis. This is more pronounced following esophagogastric banding than following the classic procedure. Since the esophagogastric banding results in more complications requiring re-intervention, we believe that this procedure should not be used any more.

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is effective in inducing weight loss, as well as being minimally invasive, totally reversible, and adjustable to the patient's needs. Nevertheless, leakage of the adjustable balloon is a known complication. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and reasons for balloon leakage of the Swedish adjustable gastric band (SAGB). Between January 1996 and December 2002, 566 patients (475 women, 91 men) underwent a laparoscopic SAGB implantation. Two groups of patients were analyzed: patients with early postoperative leakage (Group E) and patients with late postoperative leakage (Group L). All data (age, gender, pre- and postoperative weight, time of weight gain, band filling status) were prospectively collected in a computerized data bank. For the detection of gastric band leakage, radiography and the technetium-99m colloid scintigraphy was used. 25 band leakages were observed in 22 patients (4.4%). All these patients had a silent presentation of band leakage, with weight regain and an ability to eat without major restriction. Band leakages in group E were detected during the band filling period after a median follow-up of 8 months and after 30.3 months (P <0.0001) in group L. In group E, all 13 leakages possibly resulted from inappropriate handling of the device during surgery. In 2 cases in group L, a tear of the balloon had occurred where it is fixed to the band. The other 10 bands showed breaks at the edges of the inner side of the balloon. All leakages could be detected by (99m)Tc colloid scintigraphy, whereas only 58% of the leakages could be detected by radiography. Band leakage is a rare complication and should be considered if a patient starts to regain weight. Operative failure as well as material defects may account for this complication. The balloon leakage can effectively be detected by (99m)Tc colloid-scintigraphy.

Adjustable gastric banding has become the preferred procedure in Europe for the treatment of morbid obesity. A complication of this treatment is the presence of leakage in the system. The knowledge of the localization of the leak is essential for planning the reoperation procedure. In a series of 325 adjustable gastric bandings, we observed 10 band leakages. In 3 cases, fluoroscopy failed to detect fluid extravasation. We present a sensitive and simple scintigraphic method for the detection of gastric band leakage in these patients using 37 MBq of a 99mTc-human albumin colloid suspension. Imaging was started immediately after the dose application. During the first minute, images were acquired dynamically with 1 frame every 2 seconds. Afterwards, a static image was obtained every 10 minutes, up to 60 minutes post-injection. Then the system was emptied completely to detect tracer extravasation and consecutive reabsorption during 60 minutes. The study was analyzed by using the regions of interest (ROI) technique drawn on the following points: injection reservoir, tube, anterior band, posterior band, and an adjacent region which was taken as background. During the first hour, ROI analysis showed a clear diminution in the number of counts contained in the defect parts of the band, whereas it remained constant in the other locations. After system emptying, detection of tracer extravasation further strengthened the diagnosis of band leakage in all patients. This new approach using the 99mTc-human albumin colloid suspension with ROI analysis is an effective and simple method to detect occult leakages in adjustable gastric bands which escaped detection by fluoroscopy. In contrast to previously described scintigraphic methods, this investigation is able to demonstrate the exact site of leakage.