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To study the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by surgical cytoreduction in the management of advanced epithelial ovarian cancers.A prospective hospital based study of patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancers (stage III and IV) was conducted at Gujarat CancerResearch Institute, Ahmedabad during August 2008 to August 2010. Total 50 patients were treated with NACT followed by surgical cytoreduction and followed up till August 2010. Response to NACT, optimal cytoreduction rate and overall response rate were analyzed.There were 43 patients (86%) with stage III disease and 7 (14%) with stage IV disease. All patients were given NACT and after NACT, complete response occurred in 17 patients (34%), 27 (54%) had partial response. Optimal surgical cytoreduction could be achieved in 36(72%) of the patients. The median follow up was 19 months.NACT followed by surgical cytoreduction is a promising treatment strategy for the management of advanced epithelial ovarian cancers.

Background: The objective of this study is to evaluate the predictive value of serum CA-125 changes in the management of patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by interval debulking surgery (IDS) in advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC).Methods: A retrospective hospital-based study of patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancers (stage III and IV) was conducted at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Ahmedabad, for two years. Total 50 patients were treated with NACT followed by surgical cytoreduction and followed up till August 2010. Response to NACT, optimal cytoreduction rate and overall response rate were analyzed.CA 125 levels before (baseline) and after NACT were analyzed.Results: Out of 50, there were 43 patients (86%) with stage III disease and 7 (14%) with stage IV disease. Maximum 37(74%) patients had CA 125 levels >500 on presentation while none of the patients had baseline CA125 levels in the normal range (

6-Phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (PFK-2/FBPase-2) catalyzes the synthesis and degradation of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate, a potent regulator of glycolysis. Previous studies assigned the gene for human liver PFK-2/FBPase-2 (HGMW-approved symbol PFKFB1) to the X chromosome; however, precise localization remained ambiguous, with the gene variously placed between Xcen-q13, Xq27-q28, and Xp11.22-p11.21. We have localized the gene within a YAC contig clustered around ALAS2 (human erythroid delta-aminolevulinate synthase) in Xp11.21 and have identified eight YACs positive for the gene. Four of these overlapping YACs were mapped using rare-cutter restriction enzymes to provide in-depth characterization of an 820-kb region encompassing the PFK-2/ FBPase-2 and ALAS2 genes. PFK-2/FBPase-2 was found to lie close (within approx. 250 kb) and telomeric to ALAS2. Three putative CpG islands were also detected in the region.

Background: In nonmelanoma skin cancer, the clinically visible portion may represent a small fraction of microscopic tumor spread. Previous studies have examined individual risk factors for subclinical spread based on patient and tumor characteristics. However, these risk factors have not been prioritized or studied in combination. Objective: To identify the most predictive risk factors for extensive subclinical tumor spread. Design: Retrospective analysis of 1131 Mohs micrographic surgical cases. Variables analyzed included patient age, sex, and immune status and lesion size, location, histologic subtype, and recurrence. Logistic regression was applied to identify important combinations of tumor characteristics and to quantify relative odds of spread. Setting: Academic referral center. Patients: Consecutive sample of all referred patients treated by a single Mohs micrographic surgeon in a 3-year period. Main Outcome Measure: Number of Mohs micrographic surgical layers required to clear a tumor, with 3 or more layers defined as extensive subclinical spread. Results: The highest-risk tumors, with odds ratios greater than 6.0, were basosquamous and morpheaform basal cell carcinoma (BCC) on the nose, morpheaform BCC on the cheek, and those with a preoperative size greater than 25 mm. Other important risk factors were recurrent and nodular BCC on the nose; location on the eyelid, temple, or ear helix; neck tumors and recurrent BCC in men; and tumor size greater than 10 mm. Patients younger than 35 years were at lower risk. Increasing age and immunocompromise were not significant predictors. Conclusion: Identification of lesions likely to exhibit extensive subclinical spread can help guide management to ensure complete tumor eradication and thereby reduce the risk of recurrence and its associated morbidity and cost.

Closed dressings are thought to promote postoperative wound healing after laser skin resurfacing; however, quantitative data are lacking.To compare postoperative healing after combination carbon dioxide and erbium:YAG full-face laser skin resurfacing in patients who were treated with a silicone occlusive dressing (Silon-TSR; Bio Med Sciences, Inc, Bethlehem, Pa) vs open-wound care consisting of soaks and ointment application.Thirty-five patients with closed dressings compared retrospectively with 35 control subjects with open-wound care. In a prospective evaluation, 27 patients with closed dressings were then compared with 27 historical controls matched by age, sex, skin type, and treatment technique. Erythema, crusting, swelling, pain, pruritus, purpura, long-term complications, and dressing comfort were evaluated.Referral-based academic practice.Prospectively, closed-dressing and open-wound care groups differed significantly in maximum erythema severity (1.8 vs 2.0 on a scale of 0-3; P =.03), noticeable erythema duration (15.4 vs 31.1 days; P =.04), and time until complete erythema resolution (41.8 vs 96.1 days; P =.02). Swelling resolution was more rapid in the dressing group (12.1 vs 29.5 days; P =.02). Crusting was limited to uncovered areas in the dressing group, and crusting duration was shorter (5.0 vs 9.1 days; P.001). Pain was more likely to be reported prospectively, but severity was mild, in the closed-dressing group. Other short- and long-term complications did not differ significantly. Subjective patient attitudes toward the dressing were positive.Occlusive silicone dressing application decreases immediate postoperative morbidity with significantly reduced severity and duration of erythema and decreased duration of swelling and crusting. Long-term results and complication rates remain unchanged.

Background Laser skin resurfacing (LSR) is a common cosmetic surgical procedure, yet there are no prospective long-term studies on patients' perceptions of their procedure. Objective To prospectively document patients' subjective experiences after LSR. Design Twenty-seven consecutive patients who underwent combination carbon dioxide/erbium:YAG full-face laser resurfacing for acne scarring or photodamage were surveyed at postoperative days 1 and 3, within 1 week, at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 30 months and asked standardized questions. Setting Referral-based academic practice. Results One day after LSR, 10 patients (37%) were concerned about the outcome, and 3 (11%) considered it a "terrible" experience. At 2.7 days after the procedure, 23 patients (85%) would recommend LSR, and after 3.7 days, 24 (89%) would have the procedure again. At 3 months, the patients' mean rating of appearance was 2.3 (0-3 scale), and all 27 (100%) felt that their appearance had been improved by LSR. After 30 months, 18 patients (75%) would recommend the procedure, 17 (71%) would have LSR again, 21 (88%) felt that their appearance was improved, and final appearance was rated 1.8 (0-3 scale). Patients undergoing LSR to treat acne scarring were as satisfied as patients treated for photodamage. Conclusions Data on the evolution of patient perspective after LSR can improve patient preparation. This may help the surgeon and patient achieve shared, realistic expectations for the postoperative period and for long-term results.

A 1932 bp cDNA clone encoding a novel isozyme of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (PFK-2/FBPase-2) was isolated from a mouse kidney cDNA library. The sequence encodes 519 amino acids and, based on homology to rat heart genomic sequence, appears to be the product of alternative splicing from PFK-2/FBPase-2 gene B with an extended version of exon 15. Northern blot analysis indicated that this clone corresponds to an 8 kb mRNA expressed in multiple tissues, with the strongest signal in kidney, and detects several additional transcripts which may be alternatively spliced from gene B.