This case report presents a unique, late complication of breast reconstruction surgery. A woman, who underwent left mastectomy and several reconstruction procedures with silicone implants presented with symptomatic enlarged internal mammary lymph nodes on her contralateral side. The nodes, which were suspicious for breast cancer metastasis on positron-emission tomographic computed tomography, were removed by thoracoscopy. The histopathologic result revealed silicone adenopathy. This report is particularly interesting because it presents a rare case in which silicone has migrated to the contralateral internal mammary nodes. This complication was not previously documented in the medical literature and serves as a possible differential diagnosis to metastatic breast cancer.

Positron emission tomography using F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is increasingly used in breast cancer. The new generation cameras integrate PET and CT within the same camera, allowing the simultaneous assessment of the structural and metabolic aspects of disease. There is presently a controversy on the clinical significance of osteoblastic bone metastases in breast cancer which are not detected on FDG-PET. It has been suggested that these radiologically dense lesions represent the result of successful treatment of initially osteolytic lesions. We report a case of a 65-year-old woman with a suspicion of recurrent breast cancer based on an increasing serum tumor marker. Serial PET/CT showed progressive blastic bone metastases on the CT without FDG uptake. These lesions were confirmed by bone single photon emission computed tomography. This case report shows: first, that progressive osteoblastic lesions can lack FDG-avidity, leading to a false-negative PET; and secondly, that bone scintigraphy should not be replaced by FDG-PET/CT for the detection of bone metastases in breast cancer.

Following previous articles on possible etiologies and context of diagnosing borderline personality, this article discusses treatment for such cases, utilizing a case study of a woman diagnosed as borderline, who received ambulatory psychotherapy and psychiatric hospitalization. In the past, this patient experienced sexual abuse by members of her family. Notwithstanding her praiseworthy efforts to conduct a normal life, her past haunted her, both mentally and realistically.'Borderline' can be envisioned not only as an intrapsychic struggle of aggressive impulses of a destructive quality. It can also be understood as acting out frustration that emanates from lack of empathy from the relevant milieu, and as an unremitting coping with present-life revival of the past traumata. We conclude that an empathic understanding of such considerations is crucial for the success of treatment of borderline personality.

BACKGROUND: This randomized, phase II study assessed the activity of oblimersen sodium, a Bcl-2 antisense oligonucleotide, administered before docetaxel (Taxotere) to patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Chemotherapy-naive patients with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression and testosterone </=0.5 ng/ml received docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) on day 1 or oblimersen 7 mg/kg/day continuous i.v. infusion on days 1-7 with docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) on day 5 every 3 weeks for </=12 cycles. Primary end points were confirmed PSA response (Bubley criteria) and major toxic events. RESULTS: Confirmed PSA response was observed in 46% and 37% of 57 and 54 patients treated with docetaxel and docetaxel-oblimersen, respectively. Partial response (RECIST) was achieved in 18% and 24%, respectively. Oblimersen added to docetaxel was associated with an increase in the incidence of grade >/=3 fatigue, mucositis, and thrombocytopenia. Major toxic events were reported in 22.8% and 40.7% of patients with docetaxel and docetaxel-oblimersen, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The primary end points of the study were not met: a rate of confirmed PSA response >30% and a major toxic event rate <45% were not observed with docetaxel-oblimersen.

Borderline personality is a well known concept in psychiatric literature, however, not fully understood as to its very nature. This article presents a short review of hypothesized etiologies of the borderline personality, starting with so called traditional theories, namely, borderline personality as a consolidated personality organization, in which the patient pathologically deals with his or her inner aggression, or with an enduring developmental failure. More modern hypotheses focus on possible childhood sexual abuse as the origin of the borderline, viewing the adult personality as a chronic, unresolved, post-traumatic disorder. Additionally, a neuro-epigenetic view hypothesized that a unique congenital neurological structure interacts with consequential events in early childhood to create the borderline personality.

The present article critically discusses diagnosing borderline personality, demonstrating ideas raised with a treated case. In contrast to routine diagnoses made by psychiatrists according to common diagnosing systems (such as the American DSM or the WHO's ICD), we wonder whether this diagnosis reflects a medico-social construct, which is associated to the female status in masculine (or even patriarch) society, and probably associated even to the context of a woman diagnosed by a psychiatric system. In the context of critically viewing aetiological hypotheses to borderline personality (presented in our former article as a personality constellated around complex and prolonged trauma) in this article we suggest viewing borderline behaviours and symptoms as manifestations of coping and survival of a woman-victim in abusing surroundings.

This review article presents the improvements made in the field of molecular biology in oncology and their diagnostic and therapeutic consequences. As an illustration, three types of tumors for which these projections strongly modified the management will be used as a basis in this article: breast cancer, kidney cancer and colorectal cancer. Indeed, the last years, new prognostic factors (natural evolution of a specific patient's tumor) and predictive factors (prediction of the responsiveness to anticancer therapies) have emerged for these tumors. In addition, a better comprehension of the mechanisms implied in the development of cancers allowed the advent of many molecular-targeted therapies, which constitute a true revolution in oncology.

BACKGROUND: Eyebrow ptosis and hooding gives the eye a sad, heavy look that often disturbs the visual field. OBJECTIVE: A direct extended scalpel-shaped brow lift is proposed to correct this functional and aesthetic disfigurement. This manuscript reviews our experience with the presented technique and evaluates the clinical results in the light of ongoing concerns regarding the appearance of the postoperative scar. In addition, the indications and patient selection criteria are elaborated. METHODS: An incision was made along the superior border of the brow, extending laterally and downward, often within a "crow's feet" crease. The upper border of the incision joined the 2 extremities of the skin outline of the lower incision in a gentle convex curve. The general outline of the incision resembled the shape of a No. 20 scalpel blade, in which the maximal width is located laterally at the temple "crow's feet" area. RESULTS: Fourteen patients, including 8 males (48-74 yrs of age) and 6 females (67-71 yrs of age) underwent this procedure. The surgical scar was hardly noticeable after 6 to 9 months, and often fell within a preexisting crow's feet crease. Elimination of some of the crow's feet occurred in all the patients. Subjective and objective functional relief with respect to the vision field and the heavy-feeling brow and satisfaction with the aesthetic result were reported by all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The most appropriate candidates for the direct extended scalpel-shaped brow lift are patients older than 50 years of age, with eyebrow ptosis accompanied with lateral hooding, well developed crow's feet, and forehead skin laxity; long, dense eyebrows, and low transverse forehead wrinkles aid in concealment of the scar.