Annals of surgery
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To evaluate the response of human cholangoicarcinoma cells to TMX treatment through the Fas pathway by pretreatment with IFN-gamma. ⋯ TMX exposure to human cholangiocarcinoma after pretreatment with IFN-gamma allows for induction of apoptosis in vitro and significant inhibition tumor xenograft growth. The combination of these two compounds may provide novel treatment regimen for cholangiocarcinoma.
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To identify the risk of systemic metastases from T1a and T1b N0 breast cancers in patients treated in an academic center, and to seek factors to identify the patients at greatest risk of such failure. ⋯ The risk of systemic failure from such tumors barely exceeded 1% at 10 years. Unless future studies can identify a subgroup at higher risk, the cognitive changes associated with cytotoxic chemotherapy or the loss of estrogen involved do not appear to have sufficient offsetting benefit to warrant chemotherapy for this group of women.
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The aim of this study was to determine if a significant genetic component contributes to the pathogenesis of symptomatic gallstones. ⋯ These data suggest that genetic factors are responsible for at least 30% of symptomatic gallstone disease. However, the true role of heredity in gallstone pathogenesis is probably higher because data based on symptomatic gallbladder disease underestimates the true prevalence in the population.
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To assess the quality of life (QOL) of patients after surgical reconstruction of a major bile duct injury from laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). ⋯ This study provides formal data evaluating QOL after surgical repair of major bile duct injuries from LC. Although there was a significant difference in the QOL as evaluated from a psychological dimension, bile duct injury patients reported QOL scores in the physical and social domains comparable to those of control patients. The decreased QOL assessment in the psychological dimension may be attributable to the prolonged, complicated, and unexpected nature of these injuries. The presence of a lawsuit appears to be associated with a poorer QOL assessment.
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To test the hypothesis that pancreatic ductal anatomy may predict the likely success of percutaneous drainage of pseudocysts of the pancreas. ⋯ Pancreatic ductal anatomy provides a clear correlation with the failure and successes of pseudocysts managed by percutaneous drainage as well as predicting the total length of drainage. Percutaneous drainage is best applied to patients with normal ducts and is acceptably applied to patients with stricture but no cyst-duct communication.