Approach to sexual dysfunction in women with cancer.

Sexual dysfunction in female cancer patients remains under-diagnosed and under-treated. As sexual dysfunction is becoming an increasingly common side effect of cancer treatments, it is imperative for healthcare providers and especially gynecologic oncologists to include a comprehensive evaluation of sexual health as a routine part of the workup of such patients. Although most oncologists are not experienced in treating sexual dysfunctions, simple tools can be incorporated into clinical practice to improve the management of these conditions. In this review, we propose a practical approach to selecting proper treatment for sexual dysfunctions in female cancer patients. This includes three main steps: knowledge, diagnosis, and sexual counseling. Knowledge can be acquired through a specific updating about sexual issues in female cancers, and with a medical training in female sexual dysfunctions. Diagnosis requires a comprehensive history and physical examination. Sexual counseling is one of the most important interventions to consider and, in some cases, it may be the only intervention needed to help cancer patients tolerate their symptoms. Sexual counseling should be addressed by oncologists; however, select patients should be referred for qualified psychological or sexological interventions where appropriate. Finally, a multidisciplinary team approach may be the best way to address this challenging issue.

Minimally invasive versus standard laparotomic interval debulking surgery in ovarian neoplasm: A single-institution retrospective case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To further investigate the role of MIS comparing patients submitted to MI-IDS with a balanced population treated by standard laparotomy. METHODS: The investigational arm (Cases) includes 30 AEOC patients treated with MI-IDS. The Control arm included a consecutive series of 65 AEOC patients submitted to laparotomic IDS. Inclusion criteria were: age>18years, histologically proven EOC, clinical complete/partial response after NACT, and ECOG PS <2. Preoperative clinical data, perioperative and oncological outcomes were analyzed. General Well-Being Schedule (GWBS) was administered to evaluate quality of life before and after surgery. RESULTS: Both groups were well-balanced. A higher percentage of women among Cases received bevacizumab-containing NACT compared with Controls. No statistical differences were registered in terms of surgical procedures and residual tumor. A significantly longer median OT in Cases was counterbalanced by more favorable EBL and median length of stay and TTC. No statistically significant differences were registered in terms of postoperative complications. Cases showed a 6months longer PFS compared to Controls. However, in multivariate analysis only the administration of Bevacizumab and a shorter TTC were independently associated with a longer PFS. Regarding QoL, no statistically significant differences were registered in Cases between pre- and postoperative GWBS score. Differently from Controls where this difference was statistically significant and a more intense distress were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive approach could represent an advantageous alternative surgical way to perform interval debulking surgery in this specific subset of patients, with no impact on PFS. Based on these findings a randomized clinical trial is now under evaluation in our Institution.

Minimally invasive secondary cytoreduction plus HIPEC for recurrent ovarian cancer: a case series.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the feasibility of laparoscopic/robotic secondary cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal intra-operative chemotherapy (SCS+HIPEC) in a retrospective series of isolated platinum sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated a consecutive series of ovarian cancer patients with isolated platinum sensitive relapse. Isolated relapse was defined as the presence of a single nodule, in a single anatomic site. In all cases the presence of isolated relapse was assessed at pre-operative FDG-PET/CT scan, and confirmed with staging laparoscopy performed immediately before SCS+HIPEC. RESULTS: 84 women with platinum sensitive relapse received SCS+HIPEC during a 4-year period. Among them, 10 cases (11.9%) showed isolated relapse and were treated with laparoscopic/robotic SCS+HIPEC. In all cases complete debulking was achieved. In HIPEC treatment, 9 women received cisplatin at 75 mg/m(2), and the remaining patient oxaliplatin 460 mg/m(2). In 7 patients SCS was performed through the laparoscopic route, and in 3 cases with a robotic approach. The median operative time from skin incision to the end of cytoreductive surgery was 122 min (95-140), estimated blood loss was 50 cm(3) (50-100), and the median length of hospital stay was 4 days (3-7). The interval from surgery to adjuvant chemotherapy was 21 days (19-32). No grade 3/4 surgical, metabolic, or hematologic complications occurred. In all cases post-operative FDG-PET/CT scan was negative, and after a median time of 10 months (6-37) from SCS+HIPEC no secondary recurrence was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive SCS+HIPEC can be safely performed in selected ovarian cancer patients with platinum sensitive isolated relapse.

Antimicrobial efficacy of external fixator pins coated with a lipid stabilized hydroxyapatite/chlorhexidine complex to prevent pin tract infection in a goat model.

BACKGROUND: Pin tract infection is a common complication of external fixation. An antiinfective external fixator pin might help to reduce the incidence of pin tract infection and improve pin fixation. METHODS: Stainless steel and titanium external fixator pins, with and without a lipid stabilized hydroxyapatite/chlorhexidine coating, were evaluated in a goat model. Two pins contaminated with an identifiable Staphylococcus aureus strain were inserted into each tibia of 12 goats. The pin sites were examined daily. On day 14, the animals were killed, and the pin tips cultured. Insertion and extraction torques were measured. RESULTS: Infection developed in 100% of uncoated pins, whereas coated pins demonstrated 4.2% infected, 12.5% colonized, and the remainder, 83.3%, had no growth (p < 0.01). Pin coating decreased the percent loss of fixation torque over uncoated pins (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that the lipid stabilized hydroxyapatite/chlorhexidine coating was successful in decreasing infection and improving fixation of external fixator pins.

Development, characterization, and anti-microbial efficacy of hydroxyapatite-chlorhexidine coatings produced by surface-induced mineralization.

The surface-induced mineralization (SIM) technique was used to produce hydroxyapatite (HAP) coatings on external fixation pins with the antimicrobial agent, chlorhexidine, incorporated within the coating. The SIM process involved surface modification of the substrate with organic functional groups followed by immersion in aqueous supersaturated calcium phosphate solutions. X-ray diffraction spectra confirmed that hydroxyapatite coatings were formed. Chlorhexidine was incorporated into the coating by placing the substrate into various chlorhexidine solutions in between mineralization cycles. Total uptake was measured by dissolution of the coating into a 0.1 M nitric acid solution and measuring the chlorhexidine concentration using UV spectroscopy at 251 nm. Release rates were measured by submersion of coated substrates into saline solutions and measuring chlorhexidine UV absorbency at 231 nm as a function of time. Results show an initial rapid release followed by a period of slower sustained release. The anti-microbial efficacy of the HAP-chlorhexidine coatings was evaluated in vitro using a Staphylococcus aureus cell culture. Initial results show a large "inhibition zone" formed around the chlorhexidine/HAP coating vs. coatings with HAP only. This preliminary work clearly demonstrates that SIM HAP coatings have great potential to locally deliver antimicrobial agents such as chlorhexidine at implantation sites, which may greatly reduce the incidence of pin tract infection that occurs in external fixation.

Scleroderma in childhood: a 35-year history of cases and review of the literature.

Scleroderma is a connective tissue disease with a variety of clinical presentations. The purpose of our study was to review representative cases of scleroderma in childhood to determine the initial presentation, course of the disease, orthopaedic manifestations, and the necessity and success of surgical intervention. Records from the four medical centers were retrospectively reviewed to identify the patients who were diagnosed with scleroderma over the past 35 years. Data on disease presentation, course, treatment, and response were collected. Seventeen cases representing the variety of clinical presentations are presented. Scleroderma characteristically presents with asymmetric lesions involving the extremities and remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Treatment must be individualized to the patient and his or her specific limitations brought about by the disease. Early diagnosis, supportive care, and physical therapy combined with early orthopaedic surgical intervention to release joint contractures are among the most efficacious treatments.

An intra-articular bioabsorbable interference screw mimicking an acute meniscal tear 8 months after an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

SUMMARY: Seven months after a quadrupled semitendinosus anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, a 44-year-old active-duty soldier reported symptoms consistent with a medial meniscus tear. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging showed an intra-articular bioabsorbable interference screw within his intercondylar notch. The screw was retrieved arthroscopically. The graft was intact and functional except for a small portion of the anterior fibers, which were debrided. The patient returned to full activities without complaints.

Ensuring accurate femoral guide pin placement in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

The correct placement of the femoral tunnel is of critical importance in successfully reconstructing a knee with a deficient anterior cruciate ligament. By inserting the femoral guide pin through the anteromedial portal with the knee fully flexed, and subsequently withdrawing the pin from the anterior thigh until just the end of the pin remains at the insertion site at the posterior aspect of the intercondylar notch, the knee can then be safely extended and a thorough arthroscopic evaluation performed. In addition, the arthroscope can now be introduced into the medial portal to better evaluate the pin placement. Thus, visualization of the pin position and accurate placement based upon the intended tunnel size can be confirmed prior to drilling of the femoral tunnel, and more reproducibility in anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions can be achieved.