Relationship between complications due to prostate biopsy and the scores of pain and discomfort

INTRODUCTION: Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy is routinely performed in the prostate-specific antigen era. In this study, we evaluated morbidity and complications observed in patients undergoing TRUS-guided prostate biopsy following intrarectal lidocaine application and the relation of these complications to pain and discomfort. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2000 and August 2002, a total of 128 patients underwent TRUS-guided prostate biopsy. The procedure was carried out following an intrarectal application of 10 cm(3) 2% lidocaine gel. Immediately after the biopsy, pain and discomfort scores were determined using a 10-point linear visual analog scale. The patients were seen 10 days later and questioned for complications. RESULTS: At least one complication was observed in 107 patients (84%). Most frequent complications were macroscopic hematuria (90%), hematochezia (36%), and hematospermia (13%). The mean pain and discomfort scores of the patients were found to be correlated to each other (p < 0.01). The complication-negative group had significantly lower pain and discomfort scores (p < 0.01). The scores of the patients with hematochezia were significantly higher than the scores of the patients with other complications (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Minor complications like hematuria, hematochezia, and hematospermia are frequently seen in patients undergoing TRUS-guided prostate biopsies. The pain and discomfort scores may be predictors of minor complications, particularly of rectal bleeding.     

Geriatric problems in otolaryngology

Overall data in the feld of 'gerontology' are scarce in India. Some major geriatric problems in otolaryngology like presbyacusis, disequilibrium, vertigo, tinnitus, nasal and pharyngeal changes, voice change, dysphagia, arthritis, snoring, falls, have been briefly addressed to in the present article.     

Analysis of CHEK2 gene for ovarian cancer susceptibility

OBJECTIVES: A deletion variant in the CHEK2 gene (del1100C) has been implicated as a low-penetrance risk factor for breast cancer. We sought to determine contribution of CHEK2 mutations to the etiology of ovarian cancer (OvCa). METHODS: We used cases ascertained from the United States through Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) protocols 172, 182, and 144, the University of Hawaii Cancer Research Center, and Creighton University. Control women were recruited from Pittsburgh and Hawaii. Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography, sequence analysis, and single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping by Pyrosequencing were employed to analyze the CHEK2 gene. RESULTS: Mutation screening of the CHEK2 gene in 48 cases who had a first-degree relative with OvCa uncovered only del1100C and A252G variants. Altogether, the del1100C variant was detected in none of 751 unselected cases, in 1 of 52 (1.9%) cases who had a first-degree relative with OvCa, and in 3 of 521 (0.6%) unselected controls. The frequencies of del1100C and A252G variants did not show statistically significant differences between the cases and the controls. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that variations in CHEK2 do not make a significant contribution to the pathogenesis of OvCa in the U.S. population.     

Endovascular treatment of an “anterior cerebral artery” aneurysm in a patient with “embryonic unfused middle cerebral artery” anomaly: a case report

We report a unique case of an anterior cerebral artery aneurysm in a patient with embryonic unfused middle cerebral artery anomaly. The arterial twigs of the middle cerebral artery supply the entire middle cerebral artery territory including the lenticulostriate branches. There was a vessel incorporated into the aneurysm, which was referred to as an accessory middle cerebral artery and it gave rise to a lenticulostriate branch. The aneurysm was occluded with detachable coils using a remodeling technique. After successful occlusion of the aneurysm the so-called accessory middle cerebral artery including its lenticulostriate branch started to fill from the anomalous middle cerebral artery network and the patient did not experience any ischemic injury.     

Value of Ultrasonography and Helical Computed Tomography in the Diagnosis of Stone-Free Patients after Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (USG and Helical CT after SWL)

Aim: To define the value of different radiologic modalities in determining the patients who believed to be stone-free after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) with plain abdominal X-ray, by evaluating the same patients with ultrasonography (USG) and helical computed tomography (CT). Patients and methods: Between March 2002 and February 2003, 76 patients with urolithiazis who were treated with SWL and considered to be stone-free with plain abdominal X-ray, were evaluated with USG and helical CT. The results were compared for the accuracy of the stone-free diagnosis. Results: Residual stones were detected in 9 (11.8%) with USG and in 17 (22.3%) with CT of 76 patients who were thought to be stone-free with plain abdominal X-ray alone. Conclusions: Although plain abdominal X-ray has been accepted as the first line diagnostic tool in the follow-up after SWL with its cheap and practical use, helical CT was found to be more valuable in diagnosis of residual stone fragments which has not been found in plain abdominal X-ray. If we take these considerations which can change our clinical approach and patient follow-up into account, we believe that the routine use of helical CT can give more accurate information in patient controls after SWL.     

Complexed prostate specific antigen density is better than the other PSA derivatives for detection of prostate cancer in men with total PSA between 2.5 and 20 ng/ml: results of a prospective multicenter study

PURPOSE: This prospective, multicenter study was initiated to evaluate the diagnostic performance of PSA, free/total PSA (f/tPSA) and complexed PSA (cPSA) with volume-based parameters for early detection of prostate cancer in patients with PSA between 2.5 and 20 ng/ml. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 408 subjects with serum PSA values between 2.5 and 20 ng/ml regardless of digital rectal examination (DRE) were included in to the study. The diagnostic validity, sensitivity, specificity and cut-off values were evaluated by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: Of 408 patients 77 (18.9%) were positive for prostate cancer. Digital rectal examination was non-suspicious in 86% (351/408) of the patients. Area under curve (AUC) values for cPSA were better than PSA and f/tPSA in patients with PSA values of 2.5-10 ng/ml and 4-10 ng/ml, as well as the whole group. Furthermore, on ROC curve analysis cPSAD was the best predictor of prostate cancer for all PSA ranges regardless of the DRE findings except PSA values between 2.5 and 4 ng/ml. The cut-off value of cPSAD at 90% sensitivity was 0.06 ng/ml/cm(3) with a 35.3% specificity saving 126 unnecessary biopsies in the whole group. CONCLUSION: cPSA might be a better initial test than PSA for prostate cancer detection and measurement of cPSA alone and its derivatives obviate the need for additional fPSA testing.     

Obstetric and gynecologic malpractice in Turkey: incidence, impact, causes and prevention

The Forensic Medicine Association was established in Turkey by law number 2659 for the purpose of providing expertise in legal cases. In this study the opinions given by the lawcourts and public defenders in the Forensic Medicine Association's First, Second, Third, and Fifth Specialization Divisions between the years 1990 and 2000 (approximately 680,000 files) were examined retrospectively. It was determined from these that there were 636 cases of medical malpractice. In examining the distribution of cases based on specialty branch, it was established that 16.82% (n=107) were in the area of obstetrics and gynecology, 10.69% (n=68) in general surgery, 10.53% in neurology and neurosurgery, and the remaining areas were found to be at lower percentages. It also showed that in recent years there has been an increase in the number of cases claiming medical malpractice in the area of obstetrics and gynecology, and that 58% of the cases (n=62) from 1998 to 2000 were in this area. 96% of the 107 cases that claimed malpractice in the area of obstetrics and gynecology were found to be related to obstetrics and 3.8% (n=4) to gynecology and surgical procedures. In 31% (n=33) of the 107 cases fault was found; all of the cases where medical malpractice was found were in the area of obstetrics and none of the cases related to gynecology were found to have an element of error. Cases that had an element of error were evaluated from the aspect of profession of the health care personnel at fault, areas of fault, places where fault occurred, situations that resulted in death, cause of death, whether or not an autopsy was done, injury that resulted from fault, intervention that was done, and obstetric and gynecologic risk factors that set the stage for claims. Care standards and breach of standards were examined.     

Outcome of kidney transplantation for renal amyloidosis:a single-center experience

The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the results of kidney transplantation in patients with renal amyloidosis. We analyzed the results of renal transplantation in 13 amyloidotic transplant recipients compared with those in a control group of 13 nonamyloidotic patients. While the etiology of amyloidosis was rheumatoid arthritis in one patient, in all of the others it was secondary to familial Mediterranean fever. Acute rejection episodes developed once in six and twice in one patient. The renal function in these patients was improved by antirejection treatment. Chronic rejection did not develop in any patient. However six patients (46%) died due to various complications despite functional grafts. The others are still being followed with well-functioning grafts. Among the control group, acute and chronic rejection were diagnosed in three and two patients, respectively: one patient returned to hemodialysis after 26 months of transplantation, while the others are still alive with functional grafts. There was no death in the control group. The 5- and 10-year actuarial patient survival rates of the amyloidosis and control groups were 52.2%, 26.6%, and 100%, 100%, respectively (P = .002). However, the graft survivals of the amyloidosis versus control groups were 100%, 100%, versus 87.5%, 87.5, respectively (P = .47). In conclusion, we observed a high rate of early mortality among recipients with amyloidosis associated with infectious complications. Moreover, patient survivals were lower among amyloidotic renal recipients.     

Evidence for theory of mind deficits in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVE: i) To investigate the subtle ToM (theory of mind) deficits in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder. ii) To investigate the impact of non-ToM cognitive deficits on ToM abilities. METHOD: Forty-three euthymic patients with bipolar disorder and 30 healthy control subjects were involved in this study. ToM was assessed by the Eyes test and the Hinting task. Both groups were also evaluated with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery including tasks for basic emotion and face recognition. RESULTS: The patient group was impaired on both of the ToM tasks. The patient group also showed impairment in many cognitive tasks including tasks related to sustained attention. CONCLUSION: Even euthymic patients with bipolar disorder may be impaired in advanced ToM tasks. Executive dysfunction and some other cognitives deficits such as basic emotion recognition may be at least partly responsible for this result.