Uterine Fibroid Embolisation for Symptomatic Uterine Fibroids: A Survey of Clinical Practice in Europe

Item does not contain fulltextPURPOSE: To assess current uterine fibroid embolisation (UFE) practice in European countries and determine the clinical environment for UFE in different hospitals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In May 2009, an invitation for an online survey was sent by e-mail to all members of the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiologic Society of Europe, representing a total number of 1,250 different candidate European treatment centres. The survey covered 21 questions concerning local UFE practice. RESULTS: A total of 282 respondents completed the questionnaire. Fifteen questionnaires were excluded because they were doubles from centres that had already returned a questionnaire. The response rate was 267 of 1,250 centres (21.4%). Ninety-four respondents (33%) did not perform UFE and were excluded, and six centres were excluded because demographic data were missing. The remaining 167 respondents from different UFE centres were included in the study. Twenty-six percent of the respondents were from the United Kingdom (n = 43); 16% were from Germany (n = 27); 11% were from France (n = 18); and the remaining 47% (n = 79) were from other European countries. Most centres (48%, n = 80) had 5 to 10 years experience with UFE and performed 10 to 50 procedures annually (53% [n = 88]) of respondents). Additional demographic data, as well as specific data on referral of patients, UFE techniques used, and periprocedural and postprocedural, care will be provided. CONCLUSION: Although UFE as an alternative treatment for hysterectomy or myomectomy is widespread in Europe, its impact on the management of the patient with symptomatic fibroids seems, according to the overall numbers of UFE procedures, somewhat disappointing. Multiple factors might be responsible for this observation

Alternative splicing and the progesterone receptor in breast cancer

Progesterone receptor status is a marker for hormone responsiveness and disease prognosis in breast cancer. Progesterone receptor negative tumours have generally been shown to have a poorer prognosis than progesterone receptor positive tumours. The observed loss of progesterone receptor could be through a range of mechanisms, including the generation of alternatively spliced progesterone receptor variants that are not detectable by current screening methods. Many progesterone receptor mRNA variants have been described with deletions of various whole, multiple or partial exons that encode differing protein functional domains. These variants may alter the progestin responsiveness of a tissue and contribute to the abnormal growth associated with breast cancer. Absence of specific functional domains from these spliced variants may also make them undetectable or indistinguishable from full length progesterone receptor by conventional antibodies. A comprehensive investigation into the expression profile and activity of progesterone receptor spliced variants in breast cancer is required to advance our understanding of tumour hormone receptor status. This, in turn, may aid the development of new biomarkers of disease prognosis and improve adjuvant treatment decisions

Steam sterilization of previously-assembled laparoscopic instruments Esterilización por vapor de los instrumentos laparoscópicos previamente armados Esterilização pelo vapor dos instrumentos laparoscópicos previamente montados

Video-laparoscopy represents one of the greatest surgical advances in the recent past. Reprocessable laparoscopic instruments are complex devices that, if completely disassembled for sterilization, would cause problems for the surgical teams at the moment of their use in the surgery. The method of choice for the sterilization of this equipment is saturated steam under pressure. The goal of this review was to describe the state-of-the-art in the search for safe results in autoclaving the previously-assembled reprocessable laparoscopic instruments, since they are difficult to assemble at the moment of surgery. The PUBMED database was consulted, using controlled and free keywords, as well as their combinations, without time or language restrictions. The study investigating the exact issue of this research found contamination in both assembled (1/24) and disassembled (1/30) instruments, demonstrating equivalent risks. In view of the results and considering the lack of studies, a new experimental laboratory study is recommended, using a contamination challenge.<br>El video-laparoscopía representa uno de los mayores avances en el área de la cirugía en los últimos tiempos. Los instrumentos laparoscópicos reprocesables son artículos complejos, que si son esterilizados totalmente desarmados ocasionan trastornos a los equipos quirúrgicos en el momento de su utilización en el campo operatorio. El método de elección para la esterilización de esos instrumentos es el vapor saturado bajo presión. El objetivo de esta revisión fue describir el estado del arte en búsqueda de los resultados de la seguridad en el autoclavado del instrumental laparoscópico reprocesable, previamente armado, teniendo presente las dificultades de su montaje en el momento de la cirugía. Se consultó la base de datos PUBMED, usando vocablos controlados, libres y la combinación de ambos, sin restricción de tiempo e idioma. Fueron localizados apenas dos artículos que permitieron conclusiones favorables para la práctica del autoclado de los instrumentos laparoscópicos previamente armados. En el estudio que investigó exactamente el asunto de la investigación encontró contaminación después de la esterilización, tanto en instrumentos armados (1/24) como en los desarmados (1/30), demostrando equivalencia de riesgo. Frente a los resultados, y considerando la escasez de trabajos al respecto, se recomienda un nuevo estudio experimental de laboratorio randomizado utilizando contaminación desafío.<br>A vídeo-laparoscopia representa um dos maiores avanços na área da cirurgia nos últimos tempos. Os instrumentos laparoscópicos reprocessáveis são artigos complexos, que se esterilizados totalmente desmontados trazem transtornos às equipes cirúrgicas no momento da sua utilização no campo operatório. O método de escolha para a esterilização desses instrumentos é o vapor saturado sob pressão. O objetivo dessa revisão foi descrever o estado da arte em busca dos resultados da segurança na autoclavação do instrumental laparoscópico reprocessável, previamente montado, tendo em vista as dificuldades de montagem deles no momento da cirurgia. Foi consultada a base de dados PUBMED, usando vocábulos controlados, livres e a combinação deles, sem restrição de tempo e idioma. Foram localizados apenas dois artigos que permitiram conclusões favoráveis para a prática de autoclavar os instrumentos laparoscópicos previamente montados. O estudo que investigou exatamente a questão da pesquisa encontrou contaminação após a esterilização, tanto em instrumentos montados (1/24) como nos desmontados (1/30), demonstrando equivalência do risco. Frente aos resultados, e considerando a escassez de trabalhos sobre o assunto, recomenda-se um novo estudo experimental laboratorial randomizado utilizando contaminação desafio