Recent Advances in Melanoma Staging and Therapy

Background: Recent advances in the staging and treatment of melanoma were reviewed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41420/1/10434_1999_Article_467.pd

. Biomarkers in exhaled breath condensate: a review of collection, processing and analysis.

Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a potential rich source for countless biomarkers that can provide valuable information about respiratory as well as systemic diseases. EBC has been studied in a variety of diseases including allergic rhinitis, asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Although numerous biomarkers have been discovered and studied in EBC, the methods of collection and biomarker detection have not been fully standardized. While leaving standardization methods up to individual labs for the present time is optimal for the continued discovery of new biomarkers in EBC, this decreases the reproducibility and generalizability of the findings. In this review we will discuss specific biomarkers studied in specific diseases as well as some of the related technical issues including collection, processing and analysis

Artrodesis C1C2 con tornillos transarticulares en artritis reumatoidea: experiencia y revisión de la literatura Artrodese C1 C2 com parafusos transarticulares em artrite reumatoide: experiência e revisão de literatura C1 C2 arthrodesis with transarticular screws in rheumatoid arthritis: experience and literature review

OBJETIVO: Describir los resultados clínicos e imagenológicos utilizando la técnica de fijación C1 C2 con tornillos transarticulares y asas de alambre en pacientes portadores de AR en un seguimiento a largo plazo y revisar la literatura actual. MÉTODO: Entre los años 2002 y 2006, 11 pacientes (9 mujeres y 2 hombres) con inestabilidad C1 C2 secundaria a AR fueron intervenidos quirúrgicamente. Se realizó fijación C1 C2 con tornillos transarticulares por vía posterior más asas de alambre y aplicación de injerto óseo autólogo de cresta ilíaca. Se registró Índice de Ranawat pre y posoperatorio, Distancia Anterior Atlas Odontoides (DAAO) pre y posoperatorio, tiempo operatorio, días de hospitalización, complicaciones intra y posoperatorias y tiempo de consolidación radiológica, con un seguimiento promedio de 34 meses. RESULTADOS: Todos los pacientes presentaron mejoría del Índice de Ranawat en el postoperatorio. La DAAO preoperatoria promedio fue de 11,9 mm (DS ± 2,57), rango 7 a 16, y la DAAO postoperatoria promedio fue de 3 mm (DS ± 1,20), rango 2 a 6. El tiempo quirúrgico fue de 94 minutos en promedio y el promedio de días de hospitalización fue de 7 días. No se presentaron complicaciones intraoperatorias. Un caso presentó seroma de herida operatoria que requirió tratamiento quirúrgico. El tiempo de consolidación fue en promedio 14 semanas. CONCLUSIÓN: La artrodesis atlantoaxial con tornillos y amarras es una buena alternativa para el manejo de la inestabilidad C1-C2 en pacientes portadores de AR, consiguiendo buenos resultados clínicos e imagenológicos en un seguimiento a largo plazo.<br>OBJETIVO: Apresentar a experiência com a técnica de fixação C1-C2 com parafusos transarticulares e cerclagem de fio metálico nos pacientes portadores de AR, assim como a revisão da literatura. MÉTODO: Entre os anos 2002 e 2006, 11 pacientes (9 mulheres e 2 homens) com instabilidade C1-C2 e portadores de AR foram submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico. Foi realizada a fixação C1-C2 com parafusos transarticulares por via posterior e cerclagem com fio metálico e enxerto autólogo. O Índice de Ranawat pré e pós-operatorio foi registrado, assim como a distância anterior atlas-dontoide (DAAO), o tempo operatório, os dias de hospitalização, as complicações trans e pós-operatórias e o tempo de consolidação. O seguimento médio foi de 34 meses. RESULTADOS: Todos os pacientes apresentaram melhora do Índice de Ranawat no pós-operatório, a DAAO pré-operatória média foi de 11,9 cm (DP ± 2,57), variação de 7 a 16, e a DAAO pós-operatória média foi de 3 cm (DP ± 1,20), com a variação de 2 a 6. O tempo cirúrgico médio foi de 94 minutos e o período médio de de hospitalização foi 7 dias. Não foram observadas complicações intraoperatórias. Um paciente apresentou seroma de ferida operatória que necessitou de tratamento cirúrgico. O tempo de consolidação foi em média 14 semanas. CONCLUSÃO: A artrodese atlanto-axial com parafusos e cerclagem com fio metálico é uma boa alternativa no tratamento da instabilidade C1-C2 nos pacientes portadores de AR, proporcionando bons resultados clínicos e radiológicos.<br>OBJECTIVE: Present the long term clinical and radiological results in C1-C2 transarticular screws technique with posterior wiring in RA patients and presenting the current literature review. METHODS: From 2002 to 2006, eleven patients (9 women and 2 men) with RA and C1-C2 instability underwent C1-C2 arthrodesis with transarticular screws plus posterior wiring and autologous iliac crest bone graft. A retrospective chart and radiographic review was performed. Ranawat Index was recorded in pre- and post-operative, as well as anterior atlantodental interval (AADI), operating time, days of hospitalization and complications. The mean follow up (FU) was 34 months. RESULTS: All patients presented improved Ranawat Index at follow up. Average pre-operative AADI was 11,9mm (SD ± 2,57), range 7 to 16. Average post-operative AADI was 3mm (SD ± 1.20), range 2 to 6. The average operating time was 94 minutes and the average days of hospitalization was 7 days. No intra-operative complications were found. Post-operative seroma was found in one case and surgical drainage was required. All patients achieved solid fusion at 14 weeks in average. CONCLUSIONS: C1-C2 arthrodesis with transarticular screws plus posterior wiring and autologous bone graft is a good alternative for atlantoaxial instability due RA, with good clinical and radiographic outcomes

Clinical application of C2 laminar screw technique

C2 laminar screws have become an increasingly used alternative method to C2 pedicle screw fixation. However, the outcome of this technique has not been thoroughly investigated. A total of 35 cases with upper cervical spinal instability undergoing C2 laminar screw fixation were reviewed. All cases had symptoms of atlantoaxial instability, such as craniocervical junction pain, and were fixed with the Vertex cervical internal fixation system. A total of 68 screws were placed and hybrid constructs (a C2 translaminar screw combined with a C2 pars screw) were incorporated in two patients. In this series, there were no intraoperative complications and no cases of neurological worsening or vascular injury from hardware placement. Computed tomographic scans demonstrated a partial dorsal laminar breach in ten patients. None of these resulted in neurological symptoms. None of the patients was found to have a breach of the ventral laminar cortex. All the C2 laminar screws fixations were performed successfully. There was no instability seen on the films with no evidence of hardware failure or screw loosening during the follow-up period in all patients. In conclusion, C2 laminar screw technique is straightforward and easily adopted; it can efficiently and reliably restore upper cervical stability. It is an alternative method to C2 pedicle screw fixation, especially in patients with unilateral occlusion of vertebral artery and pedicle deformity of C2