Comparison of 1998 WHO/ISUP and 1973 WHO classifications for interobserver variability in grading of papillary urothelial neoplasms of the bladder. Pathological evaluation of 258 cases

AIM: Our aim was to compare the interobserver variability between the 1998 WHO/ISUP and 1973 WHO classifications. METHODS: 258 consecutive papillary urothelial carcinomas were reviewed by two pathologists and assigned a tumor grade according to the 1973 WHO and 1998 WHO/ISUP without the knowledge of primary diagnosis and clinical follow-up. All cases were also histologically staged by the two pathologists separately as follows: pTa (noninvasive), pT1 (lamina propria invasion only), pT2 (muscularis propria invasion). Findings of both pathologists and degree of agreement were compared statistically by using Pearson's chi(2) test and kappa statistics respectively. A kappa value of 0.21-0.40 is accepted as fair, 0.41-0.60 moderate and 0.61-0.80 substantial agreement. RESULTS: Regardless of the pathologist, tumor grades of two classifications correlated to each other and the pathological stage (p < 0.05). Overall degree of agreement between pathologists was higher in the 1998 WHO/ISUP (kappa 0.59) than the 1973 WHO (kappa 0.41), but both were still moderate. Papillary urothelial neoplasia with low malignant potential was the group of 1998 WHO/ISUP that showed the lowest degree of agreement and if excluded, interobserver variability of the 1998 WHO/ISUP decreased significantly (kappa 0.84). CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of papillary urothelial neoplasia with low malignant potential and the criteria that differentiates it from low-grade carcinomas needs improvement in order to compare the different studies and therapies and to provide more accurate information for management.     

Comparison of lornoxicam versus tramadol analgesia for transrectal prostate biopsy: a randomized prospective study

Introduction We compared the efficacy of lornoxicam and tramadol to provide analgesia and comfort during transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy of the prostate (TRUSP) as a noninvasive method. Materials and methods A total of 62 men undergoing TRUSP were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomized to three groups. Group 1 (n = 21) received 8 mg of lornoxicam, group 2 (n = 21) received 100 mg of tramadol, and group 3 (n = 20) received saline as a control. The drugs were given intramuscularly half an hour prior to the procedure. All patients were asked to indicate the level of pain experienced after the procedure by visual analog score (VAS), and the patient’s comfort level was scored by a comfort score. Additionally, the patients were asked if they were willing to undergo a future TRUSP. Results The data obtained revealed that both experimental groups receiving lornoxicam and tramadol had lower VAS scores compared to the control group (3.4 and 2.4 vs. 6.4, respectively; P < 0.0001). There were also significant differences in VAS scores between group 1 and group 2 (P = 0.027). There was a significant difference in the comfort score between the drug groups and control (P > 0.0001) and between the lornoxicam and tramadol group (P < 0.05). Pain and discomfort were least in the tramadol group. The percentage of patients who would not consent to future TRUSP was lower in the drug groups compared to control (P < 0.0001). But there were not any differences between the drug groups. Conclusions The use of lornoxicam or tramadol for pain relief in TRUSP is a practical, effective and comfortable method compared to the results of the control group. In addition, tramadol was found to be more effective than lornoxicam.     

Head injuries due to landmines

Summary Background. Landmine explosions cause most of the war injuries in the battlefield and pose a substantial public health risk. Although the lower limbs are usually affected, head injuries also occur. The aim of this study is to describe the types of head injuries caused by the explosion of landmines and the management of the victims. Patients and method. Fifteen patients who sustained a head injury due to a landmine explosion were treated in the Department of Neurosurgery between 2000 and 2006. The average age of the patients was 22.5 (range between 20 and 33). The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ranged between 3 and 15 and was 8 or less in 4. Shrapnel, stone and earth were the wounding agents. Four patients underwent neurosurgical treatment and 11, apart from simple scalp closure, had conservative treatment. Ten patients had associated lesions in the other parts of the body including thorax, upper and lower limbs, and the abdomen. Findings. Two patients died. At the time of admission, one had a GCS score of 3 and the other a score of 4. Infection was observed among 4 patients and a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistula in 1 patient. Conclusion. Landmines occasionally cause head injuries. Surgical intervention is seldom required and survival is likely unless the patient is in deep coma. Multidisciplinary approaches are required in case there are associated lesions in the other parts of the body.     

The prevalence of asthma and allergic symptoms in Manisa, Turkey (A western city from a country bridging Asia and Europe)

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of asthma and allergic symptoms in Manisa city center, Turkey, to evaluate the determinants effective on those values, and to review the prevalence rates reported from different parts of the country. Data were collected from 610 households and complete interviews were conducted with 1,336 adults over 18 years of age by using European Community Respiratory Health Survey-ECRHS questionnaire. The prevalences of current asthma, cumulative asthma and asthma-like symptoms were found in 1.2, 1.0 and 25.0%, respectively, of the 20-44 years age group and the prevalences of allergic rhinitis, allergic dermatitis and family atopy were found in 14.5, 10.9, and 15.2%, respectively, in all age group. Wheezing with breathlessness, wheezing without cold, woken up with shortness of breath and woken up with cold were reported by 9.1%, 6.9%, 6% and 16.1% of the study population, respectively. Gender, age, active or passive smoking, family atopy and home condition effect on prevalence of asthma and allergic symptoms. In this study prevalence of asthma correlated with the studies reporting low prevalence rates of Turkey.     

Prognostic Significance of NOTCH1 and FBXW7 Mutations in Pediatric T-ALL

The NOTCH signaling pathway plays important role in the development of multicellular organisms, as it regulates cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. In adults, it is essential for the T- or B-lymphocyte lineage commitment. NOTCH1 and FBXW7 mutations both lead the activation of the NOTCH1 pathway and are found in the majority of T-ALL patients. In this study, the mutation analysis of NOTCH1 and FBXW7 genes was performed in 87 pediatric T-ALLs who were treated on the ALL-BFM protocols. In 19 patients (22%), activating NOTCH1 mutations were observed either in the heterodimerization domain or in the PEST domain and 7 cases (10%) demonstrated FBXW7 mutations (2 cases had both NOTCH1 and FBXW7 mutations). We also analyzed the relationship of the mutation data between the clinical and biological data of the patients. NOTCH1 and FBXW7, NOTCH1 alone were found correlated with lower initial leucocyte counts which was independent from the sex and T- cell immunophenotype. However, NOTCH1 and FBXW7 mutations were not predictive of outcome in the overall cohort of pediatric T-ALLs.     

The effect of antidepressant treatment on N-acetyl aspartate levels of medial frontal cortex in drug-free depressed patients

The medial frontal cortex has been shown to modulate emotional behavior and stress responses, suggesting that the dysfunction of this region may be involved in the pathogenesis of depressive symptoms. The present study was performed to determine whether there was any effect of antidepressant treatment on the metabolite levels in the left medial frontal cortex as measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in depressed patients. Twenty patients diagnosed as having major depressive disorder according to DSM-IV and 18 healthy volunteer subjects were included in the study. Twelve of patients had their first episode and were drug-na?ve. Other depressed patients were drug-free for at least 4 weeks. The severity of depression was assessed by HAM-D and Clinical Global Impression Scale-Severity (CGI-S). Single voxel, 8 cm(3), 1H MR spectra of left medial frontal cortex was acquired both before and following antidepressant treatment. The concentrations and ratios of N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), Creatine+Phosphocreatine (Cr+PCr) and Choline (Cho) were measured. Pretreatment NAA/Cr values of patients were lower than those of healthy controls, but this difference did not reach to statistically significant levels (t=1.83, df=36, p=0.07). However, antidepressant treatment had significant effect on NAA/Cr ratios (groupxtreatment interaction: F=9.93 df=1,36, p=0.03). After the treatment, NAA/Cr values of patients increased significantly compared to pretreatment values (t=3.32, df=19, p=0.004). No significant difference was observed between the post-treatment NAA/Cr values of patients and those of controls (t=1.64, df=36, p=0.19). Correlation analysis detected negative correlation between pretreatment CGI-S scores and NAA/Cr ratios (r=-0.51, p=0.02). This preliminary result suggests that there might be a possible defect in the neuronal integrity in the left medial frontal cortex (mainly left anterior cingulate cortex) of depressed patients. Antidepressant treatment with its neurotrophic effects might play a positive role in restoring the neuronal integrity. Further studies are needed to support these initial findings.     

No pituitary gland volume change in medication-free depressed patients

Increased serum cortisol levels and a hyperactive hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis have been proposed to play an important role in the pathophysiology of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). However, there are inconsistent results regarding pituitary gland volume (PGV), which is one of the key elements of the HPA axis evaluated by MRI in depressed patients. In this study, we analyzed the PGV of medication-free moderately depressed MDD patients (N=34) and age and sex matched healthy controls (N=39). PGV did not differ between MDD patients and healthy controls [mean volume+/-S.D.; 0.76+/-0.17 cm3 and 0.75+/-0.14 cm3; ANCOVA, F1,69=1.25 p>0.05; respectively]. Our results confirm that volumetric PGV changes are not crucial for depression pathophysiology among unmedicated, moderately depressed adults.     

Surgical management and outcome of large orbitocranial osteomas

OBJECT: The goal of this study is to review the surgical management and outcome of patients who were treated for large orbitocranial osteomas at Gulhane Military Medical Academy over a period of 7 years. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with large orbitocranial osteomas were evaluated retrospectively. All patients were male and between 19 and 25 years old. Surgery was performed in all patients. The main surgical procedure was resection of the osteoma using orbitotomy and/or craniotomy followed by orbital reconstruction and cranioplasty. Cranioplasty was performed in 16 patients, using methyl methacrylate in 5 patients (31%) and porous polyethylene in 11 patients (69%). Thin, flexible, porous polyethylene was preferred for orbital reconstruction in 10 patients. The cranioplasty materials were attached to the intact bone using miniplates. RESULTS: There were no severe postoperative complications. Mild transient periorbital ecchymosis was noted in 19 patients. The mean follow-up period was 11.7 months (range 9-24 months) after surgery. No tumor regrowth was observed in any patient at the end of the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Large osteomas of the orbitocranial region must be resected for cosmetic and functional reasons. Selection and planning of the surgical technique should be based on the direction of the tumor growth and on the size of the tumor and the structures that are compressed by the tumor.     

The effect of previous psychotic mood episodes on cognitive impairment in euthymic bipolar patients

OBJECTIVES: Cognitive dysfunctions in several domains were proposed to be trait markers of bipolar patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of previous psychotic features on neuropsychological measures, including sustained attention, in remitted bipolar patients. METHODS: The study participants were 40 euthymic psychotic, 25 non-psychotic bipolar I patients and 30 healthy control subjects. Participants were assessed with a battery of neuropsychological tests targeting attention, executive functions, psychomotor speed, verbal learning and memory. RESULTS: Euthymic psychotic bipolar patients performed worse than controls on most of the measures, after controlling for the confounding effects of education, age and residual symptoms. Non-psychotic patients were also impaired on tasks of attention, fluency and psychomotor speed. 'Number of Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) categories' achieved was the only measure on which psychotic patients performed significantly worse compared to non-psychotic patients. Differences among patient groups were not explained by illness severity measures. The duration of illness was related to slowness in psychomotor speed tasks. Verbal memory deficits may be related to serum lithium levels and age of onset of disease. CONCLUSIONS: Deficits in cognitive flexibility may be a candidate for being a trait marker of psychotic features among bipolar patients. However, verbal fluency, psychomotor speed and sustained attention deficits may be candidates for vulnerability indicators of bipolar disorder in general.