Falloposcopy in conjunction with laparoscopy: possibilities and limitations

Falloposcopy is a transvaginal microendoscopic technique to explore the human Fallopian tube from the uterotubal ostium to the fimbrial end. Falloposcopy provides a unique possibility to visualize endotubal disease and may be used therapeutically for removal of debris and for cutting down filmy intraluminal adhesions. To assess the clinical performance of falloposcopy as part of an infertility investigation, a total of 43 women scheduled for laparoscopy as part of an investigation of infertility had a falloposcopy performed in conjunction with the laparoscopy. All women were investigated at Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm and Akademiska Hospital, Uppsala, during 1995 and 1996. Images from the endosalpinx were obtained in 26 of 43 women (60.5%). In 10 women (23.3%), it was possible to obtain images from both tubes. No images were of sufficient quality to describe the entire tubal mucosa in detail. Falloposcopy represents a unique tool for visualization of endotubal disease and may provide a valuable instrument for in-vivo exploration of tubal physiology. However, certain technical problems limit the usefulness of this method in routine clinical practice. These technical problems have to be solved before falloposcopy can achieve a central position in investigation and treatment of tubal disease.      

High level of unequal meiotic crossovers at the origin of the 22q11. 2 and 7q11.23 deletions

Interstitial chromosomal deletions at 22q11.2 and 7q11.23 are detected in the vast majority of patients affected by CATCH 22 syndromes and the Williams-Beuren syndrome, respectively. In a group of 15 Williams- Beuren patients, we have shown previously that a large number of 7q11.23 deletions occur in association with an interchromosomal rearrangement, indicative of an unequal crossing-over event between the two homologous chromosomes 7. In this study, we show that a similar mechanism also underlies the formation of the 22q11.2 deletions associated with CATCH 22. In eight out of 10 families with a proband affected by CATCH 22, we were able to show that a meiotic recombination had occurred at the critical deleted region based on segregation analysis of grandparental haplotypes. The incidences of crossovers observed between the closest informative markers, proximal and distal to the deletion, were compared with the expected recombination frequencies between the markers. A significant number of recombination events occur at the breakpoint of deletions in CATCH 22 patients (P = 2.99x10(-7)). The segregation analysis of haplotypes in three- generation families was also performed on an extended number of Williams-Beuren cases (22 cases in all). The statistically significant occurrence of meiotic crossovers (P = 4.45x10(-9)) further supports the previous findings. Thus, unequal meiotic crossover events appear to play a relevant role in the formation of the two interstitial deletions. The recurrence risk for healthy parents in cases where such meiotic recombinations can be demonstrated is probably negligible. Such a finding is in agreement with the predominantly sporadic occurrence of the 22q11.2 and 7q11. 23 deletions. No parent-of-origin bias was observed in the two groups of patients with regard to the origin of the deletion and to the occurrence of inter- versus intrachromosomal rearrangements.      

Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism: Ventilation perfusion scintigraphy versus helical computed tomography pulmonary angiography

The present study compared the accuracy of ventilation perfusion scintigraphy (VQS) and CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. This was a prospective observational study of 112 patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) who could be studied with both investigations within 24 h. Results were compared to final diagnosis at completion of 6-month follow up, using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Pulmonary embolism was diagnosed in 27 referred patients (24%). The sensitivity and specificity of VQS and CTPA were similar to that reported from the literature. A normal VQ scan had the highest negative predictive value (100%), while a high-probability VQ scan had the highest positive predictive value (92%). There was no overall difference (area under the ROC curve (AUC)) between VQS (AUC (95% CI) = 0.82 (0.75,0.89)) and CTPA (AUC = 0.88 (0.81,0.94)) for the diagnosis of PE. Among patients with abnormal chest X-rays, CTPA (AUC 0.90 (0.83,0.97)) appeared somewhat better than VQS (AUC 0.78 (0.68,0.88)) but this difference did not reach statistical significance. In this instance, CTPA is at least as accurate as VQS and may provide an opportunity to make alternative diagnoses.     

Histological characterization of a delayed wound healing model in pig

Chronic wounds, such as venous ulcers and pressure ulcers, frequently remain unresponsive to currently available treatments. Several animal models of wound healing have been published, including models of impaired healing developed to mimic the clinical condition of chronic wounds better. We used a delayed wound healing model in the pig that uses irradiation of the skin prior to creation of the surgical wounds and characterized it histologically. Radiation was used on one side of the back prior to making four full-thickness wounds on each side. Clinical observations were performed to record granulation tissue, reepithelialization, and wound area as a function of time. Histology data were obtained at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks, and slides were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for general observations. Immunohistochemistry was performed using laminin as a marker for blood vessels, and the number, size, and circularity of blood vessels found in the granulation tissue were measured. Our results show that this model causes a delay in wound healing that is mostly apparent between days 7 and 15. Granulation tissue took more time to form and fill the wounds on the irradiated side, and blood vessels were slower to develop. Blood vessels were larger and more irregular in shape on the irradiated side than on the control side. After 2 weeks, healing resumed, indicating that the induced damage was not irreversible. These results suggest that this model can be used to test the effects of therapeutic approaches intended to treat chronic wounds.     

The Role of Smoking in Breast Cancer Development: An Analysis of a Mayo Clinic Cohort

Abstract:  The purpose of this study was to assess the predictive value of smoking history on breast cancer diagnosis in a referral clinic population. We conducted a case–control study using clinical data collected on 8,097 female patients (1,225 breast cancer cases and 6,872 controls) seen in the Mayo Clinic Breast Clinic between August 1, 1993 and November 31, 2003. Breast cancer patients and noncancer patients significantly differed with respect to age at time of the index visit (p < 0.001), number of pregnancies (p = 0.006), number of live births (p = 0.002), vital status at last known follow-up (p < 0.001), current menstruation (p < 0.001), age at menopause (p < 0.001), history of hysterectomy (p < 0.001), use of oral contraception (p = 0.05), duration of oral contraception use (p = 0.001), use of other exogenous hormones (p < 0.001), duration of exogenous hormone use (p = 0.05), breast pain at time of index visit (p = 0.002), smoking status (p < 0.001), and use of five or more alcoholic beverages per week (p = 0.002). After adjustment for these baseline characteristics, having a personal history of smoking was found to be predictive of breast cancer diagnosis (odds ratios [OR] = 1.25, p = 0.004). Other positive predictors for breast cancer diagnosis were: age (OR = 1.02, p < 0.001), history of hysterectomy (OR = 0.66, p < 0.001), prior use of oral contraception for more than 11 years (OR = 2.10, p < 0.001), and prior use of other exogenous hormones/estrogen (OR = 1.81, p < 0.001). In this referral practice having a personal history of smoking is predictive of breast cancer diagnosis. Further studies are needed to further explore this relationship.