Surgery Archives

More aggressive treatment not necessary for men with a family history of prostate cancer

More aggressive treatment not necessary for men with a family history of prostate cancer – Approximately 10-20 percent of prostate cancer patients have a family history of the disease. There are three major factors that are used to evaluate the extent and aggressiveness of prostate cancer, help make treatment decisions, and estimate prognosis: the Prostate Specific Antigen Level (PSA), Gleason score (GS) from the biopsy, and the digital rectal exam findings (DRE).

Expandable prosthesis resolves advanced aortic valve disease

University Hospitals Case Medical Center physician-scientists participate in new multidisciplinary program and clinical trial – Among individuals 65 years and older, as many as 30 percent have aortic valve sclerosis or stenosis and as a result of their deteriorating health, they cannot enjoy a normal lifestyle.

Children with multiple surgeries before age 2 develop a learning disability

Mayo Clinic study: multiple surgeries and anesthesia exposure – 36.6 percent children who had multiple surgeries before age 2 developed a learning disability later in life, but it should not alter decision-making related to surgery in young children. The new study examines children experiencing anesthesia and surgeries under age 2.

Le Bonheur surgeons separated rare conjoined pygopagus twins

Le Bonheur Surgeons Successfully Separate Rare Conjoined Twins — Most complex surgery in hospital history – Doctors at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital successfully separated conjoined twins, Joshua and Jacob Spates, on Monday, Aug_29. The Spates family is from Memphis. Conjoined twins are identical twins whose bodies do not fully separate in utero. A rare phenomenon, conjoined twins occurs in approximately one in 100,000 births.

Zelboraf approved for late stage skin cancer

FDA approves Zelboraf and companion diagnostic test for late-stage skin cancer — Second melanoma drug approved this year that improves overall survival – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved Zelboraf (vemurafenib), a drug to treat patients with late-stage (metastatic) or unresectable (cannot be removed by surgery) melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer.

Former US President Bill Clinton turns to vegan diet

Former US President Bill Clinton says he has gone totally vegan – no meat, no dairy, no eggs or even oil. – Former US President Bill Clinton is speaking out about his plant based, heart healthy diet, saying that he believes the vegan regimen or vegan diet is helping to reverse the damage to his heart and blood vessels caused by cardiovascular heart disease.

Charla Nash’s amazing recovery by face transplant

A woman mauled by a chimp has received a full-face tranplant, showing it off to the world on Thursday. – Charla Nash, who was mauled by a chimpanzee, revealed her new face to the world Thursday through the hospital where she underwent the transplant. A Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) plastic and orthopedic surgery team, led by Dr. Bohdan Pomahac, performed a full face transplant on Charla Nash, the Connecticut woman who was mauled by a chimpanzee in 2009.

New urine test can detect prostate cancer risk early

Urine test shows prostate cancer risk, U-M study finds — Test for gene fusion can assist in the early detection of prostate cancer – A new urine test can help aid early detection of and treatment decisions about prostate cancer. Examining the urine sample for TMPRSS2:ERG and PCA3 and stratified patient into low, intermediate and high score, indicating their risk of cancer can help.

Therapy reduces early menopause for women with breast cancer

Therapy appears to reduce rate of chemotherapy-induced early menopause for women with breast cancer – Temporarily suppressing ovarian function with use of the hormone analogue triptorelin reduced the occurrence of early menopause induced by chemotherapy among women with breast cancer, according to a study in the July_20 issue of JAMA.

2 types of botulinum toxin compared for cosmetic use

Study compares 2 types of botulinum toxin for cosmetic use – Botulinum toxin, a protein long considered harmful, is now known as a neuromodulator (a chemical that affects nerve impulses) that has cosmetic and medical uses. Not all varieties of botulinum toxin seem to be equally effective in reducing crow’s feet wrinkles, according to a report published by Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Ovarian cancer screening does not improve survival

Ovarian cancer screening does not appear to reduce risk of ovarian cancer death – In a clinical trial that included nearly 80,000 women, those who received ovarian cancer screening did not have a reduced risk of death from ovarian cancer compared to women who received usual care, but did have an increase in invasive medical procedures and associated harms as a result of being screened.

Radiation improves survival in breast cancer surgery patients

Breast cancer surgery patients benefit from adding radiation therapy – Additional radiation treatment improves disease free survival lessening the chance of cancer recurring in women with early breast cancer who have had breast conserving surgery (lumpectomy), interim results of a new study found. The results will be presented Monday, June_6 at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.