scholarly journals A Pilot Study of Ultrasound-Guided Cryoablation of Invasive Ductal Carcinomas up to 15 mm With MRI Follow-Up and Subsequent Surgical Resection

2015 ◽  
Vol 204 (5) ◽  
pp. 1100-1108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven P. Poplack ◽  
Gary M. Levine ◽  
Lisa Henry ◽  
Wendy A. Wells ◽  
F. Scott Heinemann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Surgical Resection ◽  
Ultrasound Guided ◽  
Ductal Carcinomas

Pilot study of paclitaxel and carboplatin (P/C) with concurrent radiation therapy (RT) in high risk salivary gland carcinomas (SGC)

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 15538-15538
Author(s):  
M. Langston ◽  
D. Farray ◽  
J. C. Ruzich ◽  
B. Emami ◽  
G. Petruzzelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Surgical Resection ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Combined Modality Therapy ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Cooperative Group ◽  
Salivary Gland Carcinomas ◽  
Grade Iii

15538 Background: Standard therapy for high risk SGC includes surgical resection with adjuvant RT, but a high risk of recurrence exists. The role of chemotherapy in this setting has not been fully defined. Methods: This limited institution pilot study evaluated the use of P/C with concurrent RT as adjuvant treatment of high risk SGC. The primary objective was to assess toxicity of this treatment in anticipation of a larger cooperative group phase II study. Eligible patients (pts.) had a Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) performance status (PS) of 0–2 who after surgical resection of their SGC had high risk features including positive surgical margins, perineural invasion, multiple lymph node (LN) metastases, or extracapsular extension. Treatment included P = 40 mg/m2 intravenously followed by C = AUC of 2 concurrently on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36 of RT. RT consisted of a total dose of 60 Gy in 30 fractions to the primary and regional LN sites of disease. Results: Five pts. were enrolled 4 with adenoid cystic CA and 1 with high grade mucoepidermoid CA. Median age was 59 years (32–69), all with SWOG PS = 0. Four pts. completed the full 6 cycle P/C chemotherapy; all completed RT per protocol. Grade III/IV mucositis, the most common toxicity, occurred in 6 of 30 (20%) P/C cycles, leading to alteration of therapy in 1 pt. There was no reported neuropathy or significant laboratory abnormalities. Median follow up was 17.5 months (mos.); most were disease free at last follow up (13 to 37 mos.); 1 recurred at 14 mos.; this pt. accounts for the only death observed. One year survival was 100%. Conclusions: The regimen of P/C with concurrent RT, as defined, was tolerated well. Grade III/IV mucositis was the main toxicity. Based on the overall tolerability of this regimen, we believe that this postoperative combined modality therapy deserves further study in a larger cooperative group phase II trial to further define its toxicity and efficacy in high risk SGC. We thank Bristol Myers Squibb for support of this study. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

scholarly journals Lymphoepithelial Cysts of the Pancreas: The Use of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration in Diagnosis

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 348-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zamil Karim ◽  
Blair Walker ◽  
Eric C Lam
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Resection ◽  
Endoscopic Ultrasound ◽  
Fine Needle Aspiration ◽  
Lower Abdominal Pain ◽  
Needle Aspiration ◽  
Ultrasound Guided ◽  
Cystic Neoplasms ◽  
Fine Needle ◽  
Lymphoepithelial Cysts

Lymphoepithelial cysts (LECs) are rare non-neoplastic lesions that can appear as a complex cyst or a mass in the pancreas. Cytology from endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) can be helpful in making a diagnosis with the aim of avoiding unnecessary surgical resection. A case involving a 51-year-old woman with lower abdominal pain who was found to have a multiloculated cystic lesion at the junction of the pancreatic body and tail is described. Cytology from EUS-FNA was consistent with a pancreatic LEC. The lesion was managed conservatively and follow-up imaging of the cyst over the following two years was unchanged. The patient remains clinically well. Cytology from EUS-FNA can help distinguish LECs from cystic neoplasms, thus preventing radical surgical resection of this benign pancreatic cyst.

A Pilot Study of Mobile Telephone Message Interventions with Suicide Attempters in China

Crisis ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Chen ◽  
Brian L. Mishara ◽  
Xiao Xian Liu
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Mobile Telephone ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Quick Method ◽  
Suicide Attempters ◽  
To Receive

Background: In China, where follow-up with hospitalized attempters is generally lacking, there is a great need for inexpensive and effective means of maintaining contact and decreasing recidivism. Aims: Our objective was to test whether mobile telephone message contacts after discharge would be feasible and acceptable to suicide attempters in China. Methods: Fifteen participants were recruited from suicide attempters seen in the Emergency Department in Wuhan, China, to participate in a pilot study to receive mobile telephone messages after discharge. All participants have access to a mobile telephone, and there is no charge for the user to receive text messages. Results: Most participants (12) considered the text message contacts an acceptable and useful form of help and would like to continue to receive them for a longer period of time. Conclusions: This suggests that, as a low-cost and quick method of intervention in areas where more intensive follow-up is not practical or available, telephone messages contacts are accessible, feasible, and acceptable to suicide attempters. We hope that this will inspire future research on regular and long-term message interventions to prevent recidivism in suicide attempters.

Prognostic significance of C1–C2 facet malalignment after surgical decompression in adult Chiari malformation type I: a pilot study based on the Chicago Chiari Outcome Scale

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Michael Lumintang Loe ◽  
Tito Vivas-Buitrago ◽  
Ricardo A. Domingo ◽  
Johan Heemskerk ◽  
Shashwat Tripathi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Chiari Malformation ◽  
Prognostic Significance ◽  
Foramen Magnum ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Type I ◽  
Foramen Magnum Decompression ◽  
Swallowing Function ◽  
Chiari Malformation Type I

OBJECTIVEThe authors assessed the prognostic significance of various clinical and radiographic characteristics, including C1–C2 facet malalignment, in terms of surgical outcomes after foramen magnum decompression of adult Chiari malformation type I.METHODSThe electronic medical records of 273 symptomatic patients with Chiari malformation type I who were treated with foramen magnum decompression, C1 laminectomy, and duraplasty at Mayo Clinic were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative Neurological Scoring System scores were compared using the Friedman test. Bivariate analysis was conducted to identify the preoperative variables that correlated with the patient Chicago Chiari Outcome Scale (CCOS) scores. Multiple linear regression analysis was subsequently performed using the variables with p < 0.05 on the bivariate analysis to check for independent associations with the outcome measures. Statistical software SPSS version 25.0 was used for the data analysis. Significance was defined as p < 0.05 for all analyses.RESULTSFifty-two adult patients with preoperative clinical and radiological data and a minimum follow-up of 12 months were included. Motor deficits, syrinx, and C1–C2 facet malalignment were found to have significant negative associations with the CCOS score at the 1- to 3-month follow-up (p < 0.05), while at the 9- to 12-month follow-up only swallowing function and C1–C2 facet malalignment were significantly associated with the CCOS score (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that syrinx presence and C1–C2 facet malalignment were independently associated with the CCOS score at the 1- to 3-month follow-up. Swallowing function and C1–C2 facet malalignment were found to be independently associated with the CCOS score at the 9- to 12-month follow-up.CONCLUSIONSThe observed results in this pilot study suggest a significant negative correlation between C1–C2 facet malalignment and clinical outcomes evaluated by the CCOS score at 1–3 months and 9–12 months postoperatively. Prospective studies are needed to further validate the prognostic value of C1–C2 facet malalignment and the potential role of atlantoaxial fixation as part of the treatment.

Short-Term Ultramicronized Palmitoylethanolamide Therapy in Patients with Myasthenia Gravis: a Pilot Study to Possible Future Implications of Treatment

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 232-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuela Onesti ◽  
Vittorio Frasca ◽  
Marco Ceccanti ◽  
Giorgio Tartaglia ◽  
Maria Cristina Gori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Myasthenia Gravis ◽  
Repetitive Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Ultramicronized Palmitoylethanolamide ◽  
Open Pilot

Background: The cannabinoid system may be involved in the humoral mechanisms at the neuromuscular junction. Ultramicronized-palmitoylethanolamide (μm-PEA) has recently been shown to reduce the desensitization of Acetylcholine (ACh)-evoked currents in denervated patients modifying the stability of ACh receptor (AChR) function. <p> Objective: To analyze the possible beneficial effects of μm-PEA in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) on muscular fatigue and neurophysiological changes. <p> Method: The duration of this open pilot study, which included an intra-individual control, was three weeks. Each patient was assigned to a 1-week treatment period with μm-PEA 600 mg twice a day. A neurophysiological examination based on repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) of the masseteric and the axillary nerves was performed, and the quantitative MG (QMG) score was calculated in 22 MG patients every week in a three-week follow-up period. AChR antibody titer was investigated to analyze a possible immunomodulatory effect of PEA in MG patients. <p> Results: PEA had a significant effect on the QMG score (p=0.03418) and on RNS of the masseteric nerve (p=0.01763), thus indicating that PEA reduces the level of disability and decremental muscle response. Antibody titers did not change significantly after treatment. <p> Conclusion: According to our observations, μm-PEA as an add-on therapy could improve muscular response to fatigue in MG. The possible modulation of AChR currents as a means of eliciting a direct effect from PEA on the conformation of ACh receptors should be investigated. The co-role of cytokines also warrants an analysis. Given the rapidity and reversibility of the response, we suppose that PEA acts directly on AChR, though further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

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