Alexandra C Budinsky

• Quality Assurance Specialist at Medical University of Vienna

Background Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in systemic inflammatory responses and organ failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate early circulating plasma levels of MMP‑2, MMP‑9 and their inhibitors TIMP‑1 and TIMP‑2 and their prognostic significance in critically ill patients on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Metho...

A number of studies have shown that mental challenge under controlled experimental conditions is associated with elevations in inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP). However, relatively little work has been done on the effects of ‘naturalistic’ stressors on acute changes in inflammatory markers. The present...

Diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for early complications and mortality in patients with peripheral artery disease. Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is also suggested to be a marker of increased cardiovascular risk. We investigated the association and interaction between diabetes mellitus, lipoprotein(a) and mortality in high risk patients with peripheral...

To report the 5-year results from the prospective randomized Vienna-2 trial, which was designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of adjunctive endovascular brachytherapy (EBT) compared with no further treatment after successful revascularization in patients with long-segment femoropopliteal lesions. Each patient gave written informed consen...

To examine the effect of 24 weeks' rosuvastatin treatment on oxidative stress and changes in immune response to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL). This was an open-label study of patients in Austria receiving 10 or 40 mg rosuvastatin daily alternately during 12 and 24 weeks. Circulating concentrations of antibodies to malondialdehyde-oxidized...

Monocytes derived from patients with early breast cancer (EBC) have shown functional deficiencies. These functional deficiencies are characterized by changes in phenotype and morphology. We have expanded these investigations to dendritic cells generated from monocytes from patients with early breast cancer. - Peripheral blood from 36 patients with...

Isoprostanes (IPs) are indicators of in-vivo oxidative stress, and have been successfully used as markers for chronic inflammatory processes. The presence of chronic periodontal disease and cigarette smoking has been individually linked to the development of atherosclerosis, yet data regarding oxidative stress in this context are not available yet....

To prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of endovascular brachytherapy in the prevention of restenosis after femoropopliteal stent implantation in high-risk patients. Patients provided written informed consent to participate in this study, which was approved by the ethics committee. A total of 88 patients (mean age, 67.7 years +/- 10.1; 57 men [...

To determine the effectiveness of endovascular brachytherapy in the prevention of restenosis in recurrent versus de novo femoropopliteal lesions. Ethics committee approval and patient informed consent were obtained. After they had undergone femoropopliteal angioplasty, 199 patients (mean age, 71.9 years +/- 9.6; 115 men, 84 women) were treated with...

The aim of the trial was to investigate the effect of Iridium-192 gamma endovascular brachytherapy on reduction of restenosis after femoropopliteal angioplasty. Between Oct, 1998 and Jul, 2001 a total of 134 patients have been randomized after successful angioplasty to brachytherapy or sham irradiation in a prospective, randomized, multicenter, dou...

Raloxifene (RX), a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), has demonstrated hypolipidemic and in vitro antioxidant properties. In the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is implicated to play a crucial role. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant properties of RX during in vitro...

As salivary glands concentrate radioiodine the radiation injury associated with 131I-therapy may result in sialoadenitis and xerostoma leading to a lasting impaired quality of life. Recently we reported about prostaglandin concentration changes as biochemical markers for radiation injury. Isoprostanes, a new family of prostaglandin-like compounds,...

To investigate whether endovascular brachytherapy diminishes vascular inflammation in response to femoropopliteal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) or stent implantation in two double-blind randomized-controlled trials. Forty-seven consecutive patients from two double-blind randomized-controlled trials were studied. Patients either underw...

Fibrinogen plays a key role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and complications of atherothrombotic disease. We investigated the prognostic impact of fibrinogen levels on mortality of high risk patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). We studied 486 patients with PAD and several cardiovascular comorbidities. Atherosclerotic risk factors...

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a potent cytokine secreted primarily by activated cells from the monocyte/macrophage lineage which exhibits various antitumoral effects including the induction of apoptosis, necrosis, activation of lytic effector cells as well as upregulation of the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1)...

Prickly pear is traditionally used by Pima Indians as a dietary nutrient against diabetes mellitus. We examined the effect of daily consumption of 250 g in 8 healthy volunteers and 8 patients with mild familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia on various parameters of platelet function. Beside its action on lipids and lipoproteins, prickly pear co...

The survival of 357 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in three treatment groups reflecting different time-periods of diagnosis (A: 1982-1984; B: 1994/1995; C: 1996-1998) was analysed to assess the impact and the potential improvement of changing treatment strategies in our tertiary-care center. Group A (n = 100...

Das therapeutische Konzept der Bestrahlung der Gefäßwand zur Prophylaxe der Rezidivstenose beruht auf den Erkenntnissen zur Pathogenese der Rezidivstenose. Im Gegensatz zu den bereits großen Erfahrungen in der Kardiologie wurden im peripheren Gefäßgebiet bisher nur wenige Studien zum Einsatz der endovaskulären Brachytherapie (BT) durchgeführt. Dabe...

The therapeutic concept of irradiation of the vessel wall for prevention of restenosis after endovascular procedures is based on increasing knowledge about the pathophysiology of the process leading to restenosis. There is until now only a limited number of studies concerning the use of brachytherapy (BT) in the peripheral circulation, which is in...

Increasing knowledge about the pathophysiology of the process leading to restenosis has given the rationale to investigate the potential role of radiation in the prevention of restenosis. Compared to the rapidly increasing experience in the coronary circulation, there is until now only a limited number of studies concerning the use of brachytherapy...

The hypoglycemic effect of prickly pear is well known by native local Indian population since a long time. Beside the beneficial effects on lipid metabolism, oxidation injury and platelet function has been claimed in experimental animals. We recently found an upregulation of apo-B/E receptor. We therefore examined 10 patients with isolated heterozy...

In industrialised countries, coronary heart- (CHD) and other atherosclerosis-associated diseases (AAD) are, with an increasing incidence, responsible for almost half of the deaths among their respective populations. There is unequivocal evidence that medicine should try to achieve a reduction in manifestations of atherosclerosis by efficient preven...

131I is the treatment of choice for differentiated thyroid cancer and hyperthyroidism. A relationship between low-density lipoprotein oxidation and radioiodine therapy-related side effects, consequently inducing increased formation of 8-epi-prostaglandin F(2 alpha) (PGF(2 alpha)) in situ, has recently been reported by several investigators. Isopros...

Kinetic studies of cell proliferation rates shed light on the growth dynamics of cancer. Most such studies are based on measurements of cell numbers that were evaluated in time intervals of about 12 h. Studies of the initial tumour growth with short measuring intervals are rare. This study was therefore designed with 1 h measuring intervals over a...

Flavonoids among others are found in tea. Many of them were shown to exhibit antioxidative action in vitro. We examined the effect of a 1-month consumption of 500 ml black tea containing 2.0 mg quercetin. While single tea consumption 2 h after finishing the intake did not affect any of the parameters (8-epi-PGF(2 alpha) in plasma and serum, 11-DH-T...

We performed a pilot-study on pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Seventeen patients received 40 mg/m(2) PLD intravenously every 4 weeks. A clinical benefit response was achieved in 50% (complete remission 7%, minor remission 7%, stable disease 36%). Toxicities were moderate. In view of these encouraging fin...

Anti-Her-2/neu antibody is known to induce apoptosis in HER-2/neu overexpressing breast cancer cells. However, exact regulatory mechanisms mediating and controlling this phenomenon are still unknown. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of anti-Her-2/neu antibody on apoptosis of HER-2/neu overexpressing human breast cancer cell lin...

The influence of opuntia robusta (prickly pear), a traditionally used dietary nutrient against diabetes mellitus among the American Indian population, was examined in 15 young patients suffering from familial heterozygous isolated hypercholesterolemia. Oxidation injury was determined via 8-epi-PGF(2 alpha)in plasma, serum and urine. Daily consumpti...

Isoprostanes are known as reliable markers of in vivo oxidation injury. Cigarette smoking has been shown to be associated with a significant increase in 8-epi-PGF(2alpha), a major member of this family of compounds. Quitting smoking reduces 8-epi-PGF(2alpha) values to normal within a couple of weeks only. In this follow-up we checked the 8-epi-PGF(...

Various cytokine combinations have been tested for efficacy in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC). Because several immunologic synergisms between granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating-factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) have been demonstrated, this phase II trial was conducted on the efficacy and toxicity of subcutaneo...

Various cytokine combinations have been tested for efficacy in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC). Because several immunologic synergisms between granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating-factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) have been demonstrated, this phase II trial was conducted on the efficacy and toxicity of subcutaneo...

Various radioisotopic imaging techniques for noninvasive detection of vessel stenosis and for functional investigation of reduced blood flow and follow-up have been developed during the last decade in peripheral vascular disease (PVD), with the aim of replacing invasive techniques and complementing standardized methods. Radionuclide assessment of P...

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of docetaxel in heavily pretreated and anthracycline-resistant patients with metastatic breast cancer in an outpatient setting. Between February 1996 and June 1998, 98 consecutive patients who had progressed during or relapsed following prior anthracycline-containing chemotherapy were enrolled into the trial. Doc...

Objectives: In previous experiments, we demonstrated a decreased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule I (ICAM-1) on both tumour cells and antigen-presenting cells derived from patients with breast cancer, resulting in an abrogation of antigen presentation and tumour cell lysis. Recently, increased levels of a soluble isoform of ICAM-1 (sI...

Previous experiments from our laboratory have shown that immune mechanisms aiming at the destruction of tumour cells including the recognition of target cells and their elimination via the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1; CD54), the production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) by monocytes and appropriate function...

Previous experiments from our laboratory have shown that immune mechanisms aiming at the destruction of tumour cells including the recognition of target cells and their elimination via the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1; CD54), the production of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) by monocytes and appropriate function of lymph...

Previous experiments from our laboratory have shown that immune mechanisms aiming at the destruction of tumour cells including the recognition of target cells and their elimination via the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1; CD54), the production of tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) by monocytes and appropriate function of lymph...

Male breast cancer is uncommon; so far, only 10 cases with chromosome banding analysis have been published. We report the cytogenetic findings of two invasive breast cancers in two Caucasian men lacking a history of familial breast cancer and more than 70 years of age. Both had ductal carcinomas with lymphangiosis carcinomatosa and positive lymph n...

Because of the known efficacy of several cytokines in the treatment of advanced renal cell cancer (RCC), we have conducted a phase II trial of the efficacy and toxicity of subcutaneous interferon gamma (IFNgamma) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). 63 patients with progressive metastatic RCC were treated with 100 microg recombinant IFNgamma1b administered th...

Glutathione has been shown to be an effective chemoprotector against cisplatin-induced side effects in patients with ovarian cancer. In view of this fact, we performed a randomized clinical pilot-trial in the management of other solid tumors in order to compare application of Glutathione to intensive hydration in patients undergoing chemotherapy wi...

Background: Because of the known efficacy of several cytokines in the treatment of advanced renal cell cancer (RCC), we have conducted a phase II trial of the efficacy and toxicity of subcutaneous interferon γ (IFNγ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). Methods: 63 patients with progressive metastatic RCC were treated with 100 μg recombinant IFNγ1b administer...

Second-line treatment of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC) progressing under therapy with biological response modifiers (BRM) is an unresolved issue. Thirty-seven patients with MRCC progressing under treatment with BRM received vinorelbine i.v. at a dose of 30 mg/m2 q 22 days and 4,800,000 IU interferon (IFN)-alpha2c s.c. thrice...

Second-line treatment of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC) progressing under therapy with biological response modifiers (BRM) is an unresolved issue. Thirty-seven patients with MRCC progressing under treatment with BRM received vinorelbine i.v. at a dose of 30 mg/m2 q 22 days and 4 800 000 IU interferon (IFN)-α2c s.c. thrice week...

Uncontrolled proliferation and a defect of apoptosis constitute crucial elements in the development and progression of tumours. Among many other biological response modifiers known to influence these mechanisms, the efficacy of retinoids and interferons in the treatment of various malignant entities is currently matter of discussion. In the present...

Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) is widely used in the treatment or prevention of neutropenia induced by cytostatic regimens. Recent studies with this cytokine have shown several local and/or systemic side effects. We herein report on four patients with different tumor entities receiving GM-CSF as a part...

Amplification and over-expression of the HER-2/neu proto-oncogene are associated with poor prognosis in women with both node-positive and node-negative breast cancer. Therefore, the encoded surface glycoprotein represents an attractive target for cancer immunotherapies. Furthermore, the extracellular domain of HER-2/neu is released from the cell su...

Adhesion molecule expression is known to be defective in various tumor models. In order to study adhesion molecule expression and its consequences for cellular recognition, the presence of adhesion molecule ICAM-1 which constitutes a ligand for adhesion molecule LFA-1 present on lymphokine activated killer cells was studied on specimens from breast...

In order to study adhesion-molecule expression and its consequences for cellular recognition, the presence of adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1, VLA-4, LFA-1, alpha, LFA-1 beta, LFA-3, β1-integrin and β3-integrin was studied on specimens from breast tissue by immunohistochemistry and on cells from breast cell lines propagated in vitro. Breast-cance...

Numerous clinical studies showed efficacy of biological response modifiers (BRM) in the treatment of advanced RCC. In this phase II study, we investigated efficacy, toxicity, and feasibility of lFN-γ in combinalion with 1L-2 in patients with advanced RCC. One cycle of therapy consisted of 100 mcg lFN-γ sc 3x/week for two weeks, 4.5 MIU 1L-2 sc over...

CDDP is a widely used antitumor agent effective in the treatment of solid tumors. Efforts to improve the response rates in advanced disease by escalating the dose have been limited by unacceptahle toxicity. Based on experimental and clinical studies indicating that reduced GSH is a protective agent against CDDP-induced neuro-, oto-, and nephrotoxic...

Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (rh GM-CSF) is widely used in the treatment or prevention of neutropenia induced by cytostatic regimens. Recent studies with this cytokine have shown several local and/or systemic side effects. We herein report on four patients with different tumor entities receiving rh GM-CSF as a...

The extracellular domain of the HER-2/neu (c-erbB-2) oncogene protein can be found in soluble form in the sera of patients with breast cancer. We have analyzed serum levels of soluble HER-2/neu in 42 patients prior to any therapy and put it into relation to the overexpression and amplification of HER-2/neu in the primary tumor after surgical excisi...

Metastatic soft tissue sarcoma constitutes a major therapeutic problem potentiated by the development of drug resistance. The present pilot study was therefore undertaken in order to study the possibility of modulation of drug resistance by tamoxifen in patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma after the administration of combined cytostatic the...

20 patients (12 males, 8 females) with unresectable locally advanced PC were treated with combined modality therapy. Median age was 57 years (range, 31–70 yrs.) and median WHO performance status was I (range, 0–2). 8 pts. had stage II and 12 pts. had stage III, histology was ascertained during explorative laparatomy or by CT-guided aspiration cytol...

Adhesion molecules are membrane proteins responsible for cell adhesion and cellular recognition. In order to further our knowledge about the role of adhesion molecules (AM) in the context of breast cancer, the following experiments were designed. By using cell lines ZR-75–1, MCF-7, SK-BR-3, and HBL-100, the expression of AMS, ICAM-1, V-CAM, VLA-4,...

Purpose The rationale of the present study was to validate the hypothesis of a favorable influence of a perioperative start of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with operable breast cancer of various prognostic groups, as suggested by results of experimental data. Patients and methods Patients with operable breast cancer were entered into a prospe...

30 patients (pts) with unresectable HCC were treated with oral TAM 160 mg/day for 9 days, and EPI administered as a continuous infusion over 24 hous on day 8 with an initial dose of 70 mg/m². Subsequent EPI dose escalation levels were 80, 90, 100, and 110 mg/m². Consecutive cohorts of 3 to 6 pts were planned at each dose level. Treatment cycles wer...

Successful cytogenetic analysis was performed on tumor material from 26 patients with resectable colorectal cancer. 9 women and 17 men, aged 43 to 92 years, median 67 years. Clonal anomalies were found in twenty patients; five tumors showed mainly slight numerical changes such as trisomy 7 and loss of Y (2 cases). The remaining 15 tumors had highly...

Lymphedema of the arm is one of the most disabling and serious complications of breast cancer. Apart from tumor infiltration or fibrosis of lymphatic pathways, little is known about factors favoring the development of lymphedema. In the present study, we investigated the impact of rheologic parameters, e.g. red cell aggregation (EA) and plasma visc...

We analyzed short term cultures from tumor material of 26 patients with advanced colorectal carcinomas. Clonal anomalies were found in 20 patients. Five tumors showed only slight numerical changes (+7, — Y in 2/5 pt). The remaining 15 tumors had highly complex karyotypes. Structural aberrations affected all chromosomes, except Y. The most frequentl...

We have analyzed serum levels of soluble HER-2/neu by using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in 42 patients prior to any therapy and put it into relation to the overexpression and amplification of HER-2\neu in the primary tumor after surgical excision and to data obtained by pathohistological staging. In addition, we have investigated the sera...

Immunosuppression has been often associated with the course of malignant diseases. In the present study, the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in response to mitogenic stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) was assessed prospectively in 90 patients with stage I-III breast cancer. Whereas PHA-induced proliferation of PB...

Adhesion molecules are membrane proteins responsible for the complex functions of cell adhesion and cellular recognition and are thus of importance in inflammatory as well as neoplastic diseases. Adhesion molecules seem to play a significant role at each level of the metastatic cascade, including the destruction of normal cell-cell as well as cell-...

Patients with testicular cancer can be cured by cisplatin-based chemotherapy in many cases. Thus, concern about possible late toxicities of treatment is warranted. In this investigation, the absolute number of natural killer (NK) cells according to their CD56+ phenotype, NK cell activity, and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) were inv...

Background. Patients with testicular cancer can be cured by cisplatin-based chemotherapy in many cases. Thus, concern about possible late toxicities of treatment is warranted. Methods. In this investigation, the absolute number of natural killer (NK) cells according to their CD56+ phenotype, NK cell activity, and antibody dependent cellular cytotox...