Outcome of Corticosteroid Injections, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, and Radiofrequency Thermal Lesioning for Chronic Plantar Fasciitis

BACKGROUND

Chronic heel pain with plantar fasciitis is relatively common and can affect adults of all ages regardless of an active or sedentary lifestyle. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of corticosteroid injection (CSI), extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), and radiofrequency thermal lesioning (RTL) treatments in chronic plantar heel pain that has been unresponsive to other conservative treatments.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the results of 217 patients treated with CSI (n = 73), ESWT (n = 75), and RTL (n = 69). The treatment efficacy and pain intensity, as measured using the visual analog scale, were recorded and compared at the 6-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Pain intensity decreased significantly in all patients. However, it decreased significantly more in the CSI and RTL groups than in the ESWT group (P < .001). Age, sex, body mass index, calcaneal spur presence, and symptom duration were similar among 3 groups (P > .05). No complications were noted after the CSI, ESWT, or RTL sessions.

CONCLUSION

CSI, ESWT, and RTL successfully treated chronic plantar heel pain that did not respond to other conservative treatments; however, CSI and RTL yielded better therapeutic outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Sevoflurane induced diffuse alveolar haemorrhage in a young patient after orthopedic surgery: A case report

We present a very rare case of Sevoflurane Induced Diffuse Alveolar Haemorrhage in a young male patient with a closed tibial fracture after direct trauma to the right cruris. The patient was operated for tibial fracture, but diffuse alveolar haemorrhage developed after sevoflurane inhalation in the postoperative period following general anesthesia. Diffuse alveolar haemorrhage (DAH) is associated with inhalation injury from halogenated gases and reported as a unique entity in the literature that practicing clinicians should be aware of and consider in post-operative cases of acute respiratory distress. As DAH usually presents with symptoms the presence of hemoptysis, anemia, dyspnoea and radiological alveolar infiltrates, rapid detection of the aetiology and initiation of cause-directed treatment are of great importance on survival.

Randomized Trial Comparing Resection of Primary Tumor with No Surgery in Stage IV Breast Cancer at Presentation: Protocol MF07-01

BACKGROUND

The MF07-01 trial is a multicenter, phase III, randomized, controlled study comparing locoregional treatment (LRT) followed by systemic therapy (ST) with ST alone for treatment-naïve stage IV breast cancer (BC) patients.

METHODS

At initial diagnosis, patients were randomized 1:1 to either the LRT or ST group. All the patients were given ST either immediately after randomization or after surgical resection of the intact primary tumor.

RESULTS

The trial enrolled 274 patients: 138 in the LRT group and 136 in the ST group. Hazard of death was 34% lower in the LRT group than in the ST group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49-0.88; p = 0.005). Unplanned subgroup analyses showed that the risk of death was statistically lower in the LRT group than in the ST group with respect to estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PR)(+) (HR 0.64; 95% CI 0.46-0.91; p = 0.01), human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2)/neu(-) (HR 0.64; 95% CI 0.45-0.91; p = 0.01), patients younger than 55 years (HR 0.57; 95% CI 0.38-0.86; p = 0.007), and patients with solitary bone-only metastases (HR 0.47; 95% CI 0.23-0.98; p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

In the current trial, improvement in 36-month survival was not observed with upfront surgery for stage IV breast cancer patients. However, a longer follow-up study (median, 40 months) showed statistically significant improvement in median survival. When locoregional treatment in de novo stage IV BC is discussed with the patient as an option, practitioners must consider age, performance status, comorbidities, tumor type, and metastatic disease burden.

Abstract P6-16-01: The importance of loco-regional tumor burden and surgery on survival in patients with de novo stage IV breast cancer; post-hoc analyses of protocol MF07-01

Background: The MF07-01 trial is a multicenter phase III randomized controlled trial of treatment naive stage IV BC patients comparing loco-regional surgery (LRS) followed by appropriate systemic therapy (ST) versus ST alone.

Aims: To evaluate the importance of loco-regional tumor burden and surgery on overall survival rate in patients with de novo stage IV breast cancer.

Methods: At initial diagnosis patients were randomized 1:1 to LRS group or ST group. The surgery was a lumpectomy (L) or mastectomy (M) and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) ± axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). After surgery all patients received systemic treatment + endocrine treatment (ET) and Trastuzumab based on pathology results. The demographic, pathologic, and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded.

Results:274 patients were accrued; 138 in the LRS group and 136 in the ST group. The groups were comparable regarding age, BMI, HER2 neu, tumor type and size, histologic grade, and bone and visceral metastasis (all p&gt;0.05). In the LRS group 36 patients (26%) had L+ALND, 92 patients (67%) had M+ALND and 10 patients (7%) had M+SLNB, respectively.

The patients and tumor characteristicsPatients and Tumors Characteristics and Surgical TreatmentSurgerySystemic TherapyP ValueAge (mean /year±SD)51.8 ±12.651.5±13.6NSMedian follow-up (25%,75%)41.0 (24,54)37 (18,49) Tumor Size (%)   T18.7 (12) NST252.2 (72) NST321.7 (30) NST417.4 (24) NSHistologic Grade (%)   I4.4 (6)9.6 (10)NSII39.9 (55)31.7 (33)NSIII55.8 (77)58.9 (61)NS    Surgical Treatment   Lumpectomy+ ALND26 (36)--M + SLNB7 (10)--M + ALND67 (92)---SLNB17 (23)--ALND92.8 (128)--pN+89.1 (123)--30-day mortality1.4 (2)1.5 (2)0.98SLNB-Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; ALND-Axillary Lymph Node Dissection; M-Mastectomy

The axillary positivity rate was 89.1%. There were 76 (55%) deaths in the LRS group and 101 (74%) in the ST group during the median 40 (20-51) month follow-up. Overall survival (OS) was 34% higher in the LRS group compared to the ST group (HR: 0.66, 95%CI 0.49-0.88: p = 0.005).

Overall survival rate was higher in LN (+) (p=0.01), tumor size&lt;5cm (p&lt;0.0001), and high histologic grade (HG III, p&lt;0.008) patients who underwent axillary surgery than ST group ; OS rate was with a marginal significant level in patients without axillary involvement (pN0) in the LRS group compared with ST group (p=0.05).

Conclusion: In this subgroup analysis, we observed that patients with high grade tumor, without skin or chest wall involvement and positive axilla who underwent surgery for primary breast tumor and axilla had better overall survival than ST in de novo stage IV breast. These results can be considered in clinical research design for stratification.

Citation Format: Ozmen V, Ozbas S, Karanlik H, Muslumanoglu M, Igci A, Canturk Z, Utkan NZ, Ozaslan C, Evrensel T, Uras C, Aksaz E, Soyder A, Ugurlu UM, Col C, Cabioglu N, Bozkurt B, Sezgin E, Dagoglu T, Uzunkoy A, Dulger M, Koksal N, Cengiz O, Gulluoglu B, Unal B, Atalay C, Yildirim E, Erdem E, Salimoglu S, Sezer A, Koyuncu A, Gurleyik G, Alagol H, Ulufi N, Berberoglu U, Soran A. The importance of loco-regional tumor burden and surgery on survival in patients with de novo stage IV breast cancer; post-hoc analyses of protocol MF07-01 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-16-01.

Effects of infliximab on bacterial translocation in experimental acute necrotizing pancreatitis

Background & objectives:

Translocation of bacteria from the gut is an important factor in the development of septic complications and mortality in acute pancreatitis (AP). The present study was designed to assess the effects of infliximab treatment on bacterial translocation (BT) in experimental acute necrotizing pancreatitis.

Methods:

Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=45) were allocated into three groups. AP was induced in group II (positive control, n=15) and group III (Infliximab; n=15) by retrograde injection of taurocholate into the common biliopancreatic duct. Group I rats (Sham; n=15) received normal saline infusion into the common biliopancreatic duct as placebo. Groups I and II were treated by normal saline and group III was treated with infliximab intraperitoneally on 6, 30 and 54 h after induction of pancreatitis. All surviving animals were killed 60 h after the induction of pancreatitis, and specimens were collected for amylase measurement as well as histopathologic and microbiologic examinations.

Results:

Oedema, acinar cell necrosis, inflammatory infiltration, haemorrhage, fat necrosis and perivascular inflammation in group III rats were decreased with infliximab treatment when compared with group II (P<0.001). BT to mesentery lymph node in groups I, II and III were 20, 100 and 46 per cent, respectively. BT to peritoneum and pancreas in group III was lower than group II (P<0.05).

Interpretation & conclusions:

Infliximab administration resulted in beneficial effects on BT and histopathologic changes in the experimental necrotizing pancreatitis. Whether anti-TNF therapy has a role in prevention of complications of ANP needs to be established.

Evaluation of flow and structure abnormalities of splanchnic system veins in cirrhotic patients without portal hypertension

AIM

The aim of this study was to evaluate hemodynamic and anatomic alterations of the splanchnic venous system and the efficiency and safety of color Doppler radial endosonography in the assessment of cirrhotic patients by comparing Child A cirrhotic patients without portal hypertension findings versus a non-cirrhotic group.

METHODS

The study was carried out between January 2009 and February 2010; the study population was 38 cirrhotic patients without portal hypertension and 140 control patients.

RESULTS

Hepatopedal flow was monophasic in all the control patients; the flow pattern was chaotic and irregular in 8% of the cirrhotic patients; in the cirrhotic patients the portal vein diameter was increased and the flow velocity reduced; no differences in flow volume were observed between the two groups. Splenic vein diameter and flow velocity were normal. In the majority of the Child A cirrhotic patients without portal hypertension, no changes were seen in portal vein diameter or flow volume; in some patients no significant increase portal vein diameter was observed and showed the flow volumes were unchanged.

CONCLUSION

Radial Doppler endosonography may be efficient and safe for assessing the splanchnic system.

MYCOTOX® and aflatoxicosis in quails

1. This study was to evaluate the toxic effects of aflatoxin (AF) on growth performance of quail, and to determine the preventive efficacy of MYCOTOX (oxicinol, tymol, micronised yeast). 2. One hundred and eighty 1-d-old quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) of both sexes were weighed and randomly divided into 4 experimental groups each with 5 replicates of 9 birds. 3. There were 4 dietary treatments: (1) control with 0 mg AF/kg diet and 0% MYCOTOX; (2) 0 mg AF/kg diet and 0.5% MYCOTOX; (3) 2.5 mg AF/kg diet and 0% MYCOTOX; (4) 2.5 mg AF/kg diet plus 0.5% MYCOTOX. The chicks were maintained on these treatments to 3 weeks of age. Quail consumed the diets and water ad libitum. 4. Body weight (BW) gains in groups receiving AF alone were the lowest at all periods. Feed intake was lowest in the group consuming the AF diet. The addition of MYCOTOX to the AF diet did not prevent or reduce the toxic effects of AF on feed intake at any time period. Feeding diets containing MYCOTOX alone did not change feed intake significantly. With the exception of the 1 to 7 d period, feed conversion of chicks fed the AF diet was similar to those of the other experimental groups. 5. Bursa of Fabricius weight decreased, whereas the relative weights of liver, kidney and spleen increased in quail consuming diets containing AF and AF plus MYCOTOX. Liver colour was normal in the control and MYCOTOX alone group, but was lighter in groups fed AF. 6. The results indicated that MYCOTOX was not effective in preventing the deleterious effects of AF.

The relation between preoperative ultrasonographic thyroid volume analysis and thyroidectomy complications

OBJECTIVE

To determine the relation between thyroid volume (ThV) and thyroidectomy complications using preoperative ultrasound and ellipsoid volumetric analysis in Turkish patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This prospective study included a total of 500 patients (401 females = 80.2% and 99 males = 19.8%) who were operated for benign goiter. According to their ThV estimated by ultrasound hey were classified in three groups: 1. less than 50 ml (n = 269; 53.8%), 2. between 50 and 100 ml (n = 151; 30.2%), 3. more than 100 ml (n = 80; 15.6%). By comparing the association of thyroid volume with peroperative and postoperative complications it was evaluated whether the thyroid volume could be an effective factor participating in morbidity and mortality of patients.

RESULTS

Total peroperative complication rate was 2% (n = 10) with trachea injury in 2 (0.4%), bleeding in 8 (1.6%) patients. Peroperative complications were significantly more frequent in patients with large volume (p = 0.003). Temporary hypocalcemia rate in patients with less than 50 ml volume was highly significant (p < 0.001). Volume average was low in patients with hypocalcemia as compared to patients without hypocalcemia (p < 0.001). Both the temporary and permanent vocal cord paralysis (VCP) were significantly more frequent in patients with larger volumes (p = 0.002). All four patients with permanent VCP had more than 100 ml volume.

CONCLUSION

Thyroid volume is an important factor affecting thyroidectomy complications. In patients with smaller ThV increased risk of hypocalcemia was found, whereas in those with larger ThV increased risk of recurrent nerve damage and peroperative bleeding was observed.

Ethyl pyruvate protects colonic anastomosis from ischemia-reperfusion injury

Ethyl pyruvate is a simple derivative in Ca(+2)- and K(+)-containing balanced salt solution of pyruvate to avoid the problems associated with the instability of pyruvate in solution. It has been shown to ameliorate the effects of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in many organs. It has also been shown that I/R injury delays the healing of colonic anastomosis. In this study, the effect of ethyl pyruvate on the healing of colon anastomosis and anastomotic strength after I/R injury was investigated. Anastomosis of the colon was performed in 32 adult male Wistar albino rats divided into 4 groups of 8 individuals: (1) sham-operated control group (group 1); (2) 30 minutes of intestinal I/R by superior mesenteric artery occlusion (group 2); (3) I/R+ ethyl pyruvate (group 3), ethyl pyruvate was administered as a 50-mg/kg/d single dose; and (4) I/R+ ethyl pyruvate (group 4), ethyl pyruvate administration was repeatedly (every 6 hours) at the same dose (50 mg/kg). On the fifth postoperative day, animals were killed. Perianastomotic tissue hydroxyproline contents and anastomotic bursting pressures were measured in all groups. When the anastomotic bursting pressures and tissue hydroxyproline contents were compared, it was found that they were decreased in group 2 when compared with groups 1, 3, and 4 (P < .05). Both anastomotic bursting pressure (P = .005) and hydroxyproline content (P < .001) levels were found to be significantly increased with ethyl pyruvate administration when compared with group 2. When ethyl pyruvate administration doses were compared, a significant difference was not observed (P > .05). Ethyl pyruvate significantly prevents the delaying effect of I/R injury on anastomotic strength and healing independent from doses of administration.

The protective effect of ethyl pyruvate on lung injury after burn in rats

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of administered ethyl pyruvate (EP), a novel anti-inflammatory agent, on oxidoinflammatory and apoptotic pathways in the lung tissue of rats in a full-thickness burn model.

METHODS

The study took place in Ankara Research and Training Hospital Animal Laboratory, Turkey in June 2006. Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into 4 groups in equal numbers as sham, burn, sham+EP, and burn+EP. The burn model, used produced a full thickness burn of the 30-35% of the total body surface area. Ethyl pyruvate was administered as 40 mg/kg intraperitoneally. Rats were sacrificed after 24 hours, acute lung injury (ALI) was evaluated by direct light microscopy and apoptosis was evaluated by caspase-3 staining. Oxidoinflammatory events were evaluated by determining the tissue levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO), lipid peroxidation products, and nitrite.

RESULTS

No significant difference was observed in lung tissue nitrite and malondialdehyde levels among the study groups. Histopathological results revealed that ALI and apoptosis were significantly higher in the burn group and EP prevented this effect. Similar results were obtained in tissue MPO levels.

CONCLUSION

Ethyl pyruvate is a novel, potent anti-inflammatory agent. This agent prevented leukocyte infiltration, ALI, and apoptotic loss of the lung tissue in thermal injury.

The effect of ethyl pyruvate on oxidative stress in intestine and bacterial translocation after thermal injury

BACKGROUND

Thermal injury causes a breakdown in the intestinal mucosal barrier due to ischemia reperfusion injury, which can induce bacterial translocation (BT), sepsis, and multiple organ failure in burn patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ethyl pyruvate (EP) on intestinal oxidant damage and BT in burn injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups. The sham group was exposed to 21 degrees C water and injected intraperitoneal with saline (1 mL/100 g). The sham + EP group received EP (40 mg/kg) intraperitoneally 6 h after the sham procedure. The burn group was exposed to thermal injury and given intraperitoneal saline injection (1 mL/100 g). The burn + EP group received EP (40 mg/kg) intraperitoneally 6 h after thermal injury. Twenty-four hours later, tissue samples were obtained from mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, and liver for microbiological analysis and ileum samples were harvested for biochemical analysis.

RESULTS

Thermal injury caused severe BT in burn group. EP supplementation decreased BT in mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen in the burn + EP group compared with the burn group (P < 0.05). Also, burn caused BT in liver, but this finding was not statistically significant among all groups. Thermal injury caused a statistically significant increase in malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase levels, and EP prevented this effects in the burn + EP group compared with the burn group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our data suggested that EP can inhibit the BT and myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde production in intestine following thermal injury, suggesting anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of EP.

Factors affecting mortality and morbidity in patients with peptic ulcer perforation

BACKGROUND AND AIM

With the introduction of H2 receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors, the incidence of elective surgery for peptic ulcer (PU) diseases has decreased, although complications of PU such as perforation and bleeding have remained fairly constant. The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors that predict morbidity and mortality in patients with perforated PU.

METHODS

The records of 269 patients who were operated on for perforated PU were reviewed retrospectively. The following factors were analyzed in terms of morbidity and mortality: age >65 years; gender; associated medical illness; chronic ingestion of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin, corticosteroids or immunosuppressants; alcohol ingestion and smoking habits; American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) status; season; delayed operation; site of ulcer perforation; and shock on admission and type of operation.

RESULTS

There were 30 female (11.16%) and 239 male (88.84%) patients. Seventy-one (26.4%) patients had associated diseases. Simple closure was performed in 257 (95.5%) patients; 12 patients (4.5%) underwent definitive operations. A total of 108 postoperative complications were present in 65 (24.2%) patients. Twenty-three patients died (8.55%). Multivariate analysis showed that only age, ASA score, treatment delay, presence of shock and definitive operation were independent predictors of mortality. Significant risk factors that led to morbidity were ASA status, time of surgery, season, presence of shock and type of surgery. There was a significant difference concerning morbidity and mortality between simple closure of the perforation and definitive surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Age, delayed surgery, presence of shock, ASA risk and definitive surgery are factors significantly associated with fatal outcomes in patients undergoing emergency surgery for perforated PU. Therefore, proper resuscitation from shock, improving ASA grade, decreasing delay and reserving definitive surgery for selected patients is needed to improve overall results.

The role of serum inflammatory markers in acute appendicitis and their success in preventing negative laparotomy

Improving the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in order to prevent unnecessary surgery is crucial. This study was intended to identify the role of serum inflammatory markers in patients with preliminary diagnosis of acute appendicitis with a retrospective design. Eighty-five patients with the preliminary diagnosis of acute appendicitis were recruited in this study within the period of November-December 2003. The average age was 31.8 years (ranged from 15 to 85). There were 62 males (72.9%) and 23 females (27.1%). In addition to performing routine tests, preoperative serum samples were obtained from the patients to measure C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10. All the patients were operated on for a clinical suspicion of acute appendicitis. Depending on the macroscopic evidence during the operation and the histopathological examination of the specimen, the patients were separated into two groups: the ones who did not have acute appendicitis as the cause for acute abdomen (group I; n = 14) and the ones who had acute appendicitis (group II; n = 71). The ones who had acute appendicitis (group II) were further grouped as noncomplicated appendicitis (group IIA; n = 44) and complicated appendicitis (group IIB; n = 27). Being a male with elevated levels of leukocytes (white blood cells, WBC); C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6); and interleukin-10 increased the probability of having acute appendicitis in patients with evidences of acute abdomen. The risk of complication of acute appendicitis significantly increased when patients had increased levels of C-reactive protein, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and increased interleukin-6 levels, had symptoms for more than 24 h, and were female. Interleukin-10 levels within normal range might be helpful in eliminating the possibility of acute appendicitis. Thus, elevated levels of WBC, IL-6 and CRP might be helpful in confirming a potential diagnosis of acute appendicitis. In addition, normal levels of IL-10 might be of additional help to possibly rule out the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Operative approach in traumatic injuries of the duodenum

BACKGROUND

The management of duodenal traumas remains controversial. The experience of Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital Emergency Surgery Department with duodenal injuries during a 10-year period was analyzed to identify trends in operative management and sources of duodenum-related morbidity and mortality.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Between 1994 and 2003, 1799 patients with blunt abdominal trauma were operated on and the incidence of duodenal trauma was 2.8% (50 patients). The injuries were penetrating in 31 (62%) patients and blunt in 19 (38%). Primary repair (PR) of injury was performed in 24 (48%) patients, primary repair and tube duodenostomy (PRTd) in 8 (16%) patients, complex repair (CR) in 11 (22%) patients, and exploration only without a duodenal procedure in 5 (10%) patients. Two of the patients died during laparotomy. The mortality rate was 12% and the incidence of duodenum-related morbidity was 12%. The overall morbidity rate was 40% (20 patients). The most commonly injured portion of the duodenum was DII (58%), and the most frequent cause of duodenum-related and overall morbidity in our series was Grade III duodenal injury.

CONCLUSION

Our experience suggests that the use of primary repair in grade III injury may be associated with higher duodenum-related morbidity. Our recommendation is to use complex repair for grade III duodenal injuries.

Fournier gangrene. Approaches to diagnosis and treatment

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the factors associated with patients with Fournier's gangrene, and to clarify the effect of diabetes mellitus (DM) as a comorbid disease on morbidity and mortality of patients with Fournier's gangrene.

METHODS

Twenty-six Fournier's gangrene patients who were admitted to the Emergency Department of Ankara Numune Teaching and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey from 1997 to 2003 were examined retrospectively.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 52.8 years. There were 8 female (30.8%) and 18 male (69.2%) patients. The etiological causes were as follows: diseases of the perianal region, history of operations, trauma and injections. Major comorbid disease states were diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension. The lesions in Fournier's gangrene were most commonly located in the perineum and genital region. Female patients with diabetes mellitus had significantly unusual extensive involvement, especially abdominal wall involvement. The most frequently isolated pathogen was Escherichia coli, while staphylococcal infection was most commonly seen in the presence of DM. Colostomy was performed on 53.8% of the patients, and cystostomy on 7.6% of the patients. Average time of staying at the hospital was 25 days with a mortality rate of 34.6%. Patients with DM had high mortality rates and stayed longer at the hospital than the non-diabetic patients.

CONCLUSION

In addition to early diagnosis, early and aggressive debridement and administration of multiple wide spectrum antibiotics chosen for the causative agent are the golden standard for decreasing the mortality and morbidity. Diabetes mellitus has been found to be an important factor to increase mortality rates of patients with Fournier's gangrene.

Are pretreatment serum albumin and cholesterol levels prognostic tools in patients with colorectal carcinoma?

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to determine if pretreatment serum albumin and cholesterol levels are prognostic factors in patients with colorectal carcinomas.

MATERIAL/METHODS

Ninety-nine patients with colorectal carcinoma were included in this study. Retrospective data analysis included the clinicopathological parameters of age and gender; emergent surgical intervention; stage at presentation; tumor location, size, and differentiation; lymph node metastases; lymphatic, venous and perineural invasion; preoperative serum albumin, cholesterol, hemoglobin, and CEA levels; the presence of preoperative and postoperative metastases; and tumor recurrence.

RESULTS

Low levels of serum albumin, advanced TNM stage, presence of venous invasion, and high CEA levels were independently correlated with prognosis in multivariate analysis. Advanced stage and low levels of serum cholesterol were found to be a statistically significant parameter for disease free survival. Mean serum albumin levels were found to be decreased in patients with advanced stage, which correlated with increased tumor burden. Although not statistically significant for cholesterol levels, the patients with low serum albumin and low cholesterol levels had shorter overall survival than patients with normal serum albumin and normal cholesterol levels.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that a preoperative low level of serum albumin can be an indicator for the malignant potential of the tumor and represents an unfavorable prognosis for patients with colorectal carcinoma.

A confirmatory report for the close interaction of Helicobacter pylori with gastric epithelial MUC5AC expression

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with the development of gastritis and peptic ulcer and is presumed to be a risk factor for low-grade B-cell lymphoma and gastric cancer. H. pylori also causes critical alterations in gastric mucin structure. Our aim was to determine the effect of H. pylori on MUC1, MUC2, and MUC5AC expression.

METHODS

Thirty H. pylori-positive and 15 H. pylori-negative antral gastric endoscopic biopsy specimens were evaluated for MUC1, MUC2, and MUC5AC expression with immunohistochemical staining. From the same specimens, we scrutinized the presence of H. pylori infection by hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS

In H. pylori infected patients, the expression of MUC5AC was found to be localized to the cells in the superficial epithelium and upper parts of the gastric glands. The number of MUC5AC-expressing cells and the staining intensity of MUC5AC were shown to decrease in patients with H. pylori infection. Histopathology and immunostaining patterns of gastric mucins implied that H. pylori was physically associated with extracellular MUC5AC and MUC5AC-producing cells. H. pylori infection does not significantly affect staining intensity and patterns of MUC1 and MUC2 expressions. MUC1 was not found in dysplastic tissues or intestinal metaplasia areas. MUC5AC was expressed in dysplastic areas, but not in intestinal metaplasia. MUC2 was expressed in both dysplastic and intestinal metaplasia areas.

CONCLUSION

H. pylori decreases the amount of MUC5AC expression. With reducing MUC5AC-producing cells and MUC5AC mucin, H. pylori may potentially cause significant alterations of the structure and function of gastric mucins. H. pylori-dependent inhibition of mucin synthesis deserves more investigations to clarify the role of H. pylori and gastric MUC5AC interaction.

The relationship between prognostic factors of breast cancer and thyroid disorders in Turkish women

BACKGROUND

Breast carcinoma is a frequent disease that affects the female population. As for other malignant diseases, several studies have been carried out in an attempt to identify its etiology, yet the etiological agent has not been clearly defined. The etiological relationship between thyroid disease and breast cancer is still being investigated. However, most of the studies in this field are conflicting and discussions on this relationship still continue.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

Our prospective open study was conducted on 136 consecutive patients operated for breast carcinoma. As a control group, 68 individuals with normal breast examination, who did not have any known malignancy and/or thyroid disease, living in the same geographical region and with matching socio-cultural and economical status, were included in the study. We aimed to identify the occurrence and frequency of thyroid pathologies in both groups to compare the clinical and the laboratory features of thyroid disease and breast carcinoma in an attempt to contribute to the studies investigating the relationship between these two entities.

RESULTS

We found thyroid pathology in 77.9% of breast cancer patients while this was 47.1% in the control group. Breast cancer patients had higher levels of free-T3 and more frequent diffuse and nodular enlargement of thyroid gland in ultrasonography when compared to the control group. Furthermore, in the presence of thyroid disease, breast cancer patients had statistically significant increases in the number of metastatic lymph nodes, vascular invasion, and tumor size.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the frequency of thyroid pathology is higher in breast cancer patients compared to controls indicating a relationship between breast carcinoma and thyroid pathology. Our study shows that the presence of thyroid pathology in breast cancer patients can be influential on the spread of cancer and adversely affect its prognosis. We thought further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to explain the reason for co-occurrence of breast cancer and thyroid disease and furthermore to investigate the prognosis and survival of breast cancer patients in the presence of thyroid pathology.

Prognostic significance of mucin expression in gastric carcinoma

In patients with gastric carcinomas, the role of the alteration of mucin expression in overall survival has been a matter of some speculation, but few studies have been reported. The aim of our study was to determine the relationship between MUC1, MUC2, and MUC5AC expression and patient survival, with a secondary aim designed to investigate the alteration of MUC expression within various clinicopathologic parameters. Forty-four specimens from gastric carcinoma patients were immunohistochemically evaluated using the monoclonal antibodies for MUC1 (EMA, clone E29), MUC2 (CCP58), and MUC5AC (human gastric mucin, clone 45M1). MUC1 expression increased in gastric carcinoma. MUC1 positivity was determined to be statistically significant, with poor clinicopathological parameters and decreased long-term survival. MUC5AC expression decreased in gastric carcinoma. In addition, patients with MUC5AC-positive tumors also had poor clinicopathological parameters and showed shorter survival than those with MUC5AC-negative tumors. MUC2 expression was not significantly associated with patient survival. We confirmed that the expression of mucins is associated with characteristics of differentiation in gastric carcinoma. Poor patient outcomes were seen in gastric carcinomas with MUC1 mucin expression and MUC5AC positivity.

Follow-up problems and changes in obliteration of the residual cystic cavity after treatment for hepatic hydatidosis

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

In this prospective open clinical study, we investigated the problems that might arise during the obliteration of the residual cavity in hepatic hydatidosis. These problems might be related to the duration of the obliteration period and to the effects of omentoplasty on the residual cavity.

METHODS

We operated on 54 hepatic hydatidosis patients with cystodrainage and omentoplasty. We followed these patients for a period of 8 years after the operation. We used ultrasonography (US) to evaluate the obliteration of the cystic cavity; evaluations were made by serological tests as well (hemagglutination test, IHA, and IgE radioallergosorbent test, RAST).

RESULTS

Most of the reductions in the size of the cystic cavity were observed within the first 30 days following the operation (69.7%). At the end of the first postoperative year, cystic cavity obliteration was not complete in 34 patients, and 5 of these cases had positive indirect IHA and IgE RAST tests for Echinococcus granulosus. These patients were treated with extension of albendazol therapy. In 2 of these 5 patients, obliteration of the cystic cavity was complete within 12 months; their serological tests became negative at 15 and 21 months, respectively. In the remaining 3 whose serological tests were still positive at the end of the first year, obliteration of the cystic cavity was complete by 27, 33, and 45 months respectively. Of these 3 patients, the tests became negative at 30 and 52 months for the first 2 patients; the last patient is still serologically positive although we have not determined any findings related to the recurrence of the cyst.

CONCLUSIONS

Omentoplasty is the preferred method in the surgical treatment of hepatic hydatidosis. However, we should keep the following facts in mind while following these patients with US: the technique can be insufficient, the obliteration of the residual cavity takes time and can be misdiagnosed as a recurrence, and ultrasonographic appearances can mimic some other diseases whether they are benign or malignant. Moreover, follow-up studies should be complemented with the serological tests. Thus, all these steps will minimize a misdiagnosis and unnecessary reoperations for hepatic hydatidosis.

Serum leptin, prolactin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in patients with breast cancer

Angiogenesis plays an important role in tumor growth and metastasis in solid tumors. VEGF is an important regulator of tumor angiogenesis. Both leptin and prolactin have also been suggested to have roles in the regulation of angiogenic process. In our study, we measured serum leptin, prolactin and VEGF levels in 30 metastatic, 55 non-metastatic breast cancer patients and 25 control subjects. Serum leptin levels were found to be similar in non-metastatic (38.1+/-19.5 ng/ml), metastatic patients (39.6+/-16.3 ng/ml) and control subjects (35.6+/-13.9 ng/ml) (p>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between patients with visceral metastasis (44.0+/-16.8 ng/ml) and patients with bone metastasis (35.2+/-15.0 ng/ml) (p>0.05). Serum prolactin levels were found to be similar in non-metastatic (12.2+/-10.7 ng/ml), metastatic patients (11.6+/-8.2 ng/ml) and control subjects (12.3+/-8.1 ng/ml), (p>0.05). Moreover, serum prolactin levels were not different in patients with visceral (11.4+/-8.8 ng/ml) and bone metastasis (11.8+/-8.0 ng/ml), (p>0.05). Metastatic patients had higher serum VEGF levels (249.8+/-154.9 pg/ml), when compared to the non-metastatic patients (138.7+/-59.3 pg/ml) and control subjects (108.4+/-47.7 pg/ml), (p<0.05). There was no difference in serum VEGF levels in non-metastatic patients and control subjects (p>0.05). Patients with visceral metastasis (337.0+/-168.0 pg/ml) had higher serum VEGF levels, when compared to patients with bone metastasis (162.6+71.8 pg/ml), (p<0.05). Serum VEGF activity may be used to evaluate angiogenic and metastatic activity in breast cancer patients. However, serum leptin and prolactin levels does not seem to be related with angiogenic activity and metastasis in breast cancer patients.

Serum leptin levels are associated with tamoxifen-induced hepatic steatosis

PURPOSE

Tamoxifen, used in breast cancer treatment, may induce hepatic steatosis. It has been suggested that leptin, which has a relationship with body fat stores, may be involved in the pathogenesis of hepatic steatosis. In this study, we compared serum leptin levels in tamoxifen-treated patients with and without hepatic steatosis.

METHODS

Thirty-four women with breast cancer receiving tamoxifen were included in the study. Serum samples were obtained from the patients before and 3 months after tamoxifen therapy.

RESULTS

Increased hepatic steatosis was detected in 15 of 34 (44%) patients after 3 months of tamoxifen therapy. Serum leptin levels were found to be significantly elevated in patients with increased hepatic steatosis (37.3 +/- 17.7 to 50.5 +/- 22.4 ng/ml, p = 0.023) compared to (48.2 +/- 20.2 to 42.6 +/- 14.9 ng/ml, p > 0.05) after tamoxifen treatment.

CONCLUSION

Leptin may play a role in tamoxifen-induced hepatic steatosis. The exact mechanism involved should be investigated in further studies.

Expression of MUC5AC in colorectal carcinoma and relationship with prognosis

Overexpression and alterations in the glycosylation of gastric mucins have been described in colorectal carcinoma. The purpose of our study was to confirm aberrant expression of MUC5AC in colorectal carcinoma, to investigate relationships between clinicopathological parameters and MUC5AC expression, and to determine if MUC5AC expression may be a prognostic factor for colorectal carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining using an antibody against MUC5AC tandem repeat epitopes was performed on colorectal tumor specimens (n = 41), their metastatic tumors in regional lymph nodes (n = 21) and normal colonic mucosa (n = 41). We also documented clinicopathological parameters such as the age and sex of the patient, location, size, Dukes stage, histological type and grade of the tumor, pre-sence and number of metastatic lymph nodes, lymphatic, venous and perineural invasion, presence of preoperative and postoperative metastatic tumors and tumor recurrence. MUC5AC was expressed in 34.1% of tumor samples, 24.4% of normal colonic mucosa samples and 19% of lymph node metastases. MUC5AC showed ectopic expression in colorectal carcinoma and was also expressed strongly in mucinous carcinoma (60%). The number of tumors that expressed MUC5AC was lower in patients older than 60 years, in rectum-localized tumors and in patients who had evidence of recurrence and/or metastasis in the postoperative period. The patients with MUC5AC-negative tumors had a lower incidence of being disease free and of overall survival. In conclusion, the patients with MUC5AC-negative tumors had poor clinicopathological parameters and showed worse survival than patients with MUC5AC-positive tumors. Absence of MUC5AC expression in tumors can be a prognostic factor for more aggressive colorectal carcinoma.

Metastatic carcinoma of the gallbladder due to renal cell carcinoma in the ectopic kidney

We report a rare case of secondary involvement of the gallbladder by metastatic renal cell carcinoma originating from ectopic kidney. The first diagnosis of the patient is a gallbladder carcinoma due to a polypoid mass within the gallbladder. The preoperative examinations revealed that there was also a synchronous renal cell carcinoma. The histopathologic examination of the polypoid mass and kidney after operation revealed the resected polypoid mass to be metastasis of renal cell carcinoma.