The value of transvaginal ultrasonography in the follow-up of postmenopausal women's endometrium

Endometrial cancer remains, today, a serious problem, especially for postmenopausal women. The aim of our study was to evaluate the utility of the transvaginal ultrasound examination in the management of the endometrial abnormalities in postmenopausal women. We included, in a prospective cohort, 49 successive postmenopausal women: 34 with metrorrhagia (group I) and 15 with no symptoms (group II) and we compared the results obtained by ultrasound examination, Pap smear and endometrial biopsy. Patients in group I had a higher frequency of risk factors and thick and abnormal endometrium. Unlike Pap smear, ultrasound examination and biopsy had comparable values. We could conclude that transvaginal sonography is a reliable technique for the endometrium evaluation in the postmenopausal women. Ultrasound exam could select the cases (without any symptoms) for endometrial biopsy and detect associated gynecological pathology.     

Bullet injury to the pituitary gland: a rare cause of panhypopituitarism

An unusual case of head injury with a direct bullet injury to the pituitary gland is described. The hormonal profile one month after the injury showed severe panhypopituitatism which did not improve one month after surgical removal of the intrasellar bullet fragment.     

Coxsackie virus infections in rheumatic fever

The close relationship between Group A beta Hemolytic Streptococci (GABS) and rheumatic fever is a well established one. However, the concept of the streptococcus as the sole etiologic agent of the rheumatic heart disease (RHD) has been challenged over the past years. Since coxsackievirus group B (CVB) has long been proposed as a cause of acquired valvular disease simulating rheumatic fever, we attempted in this study to document infections with this group of viruses in patients with rheumatic fever. We obtained blood samples from 106 patients with old (quiescent) rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease [group I], 94 patients with acute rheumatic fever (ARF) [group II], and 74 normal matched controls. We tested for the presence of neutralizing antibodies to the 6 serotypes of CVB by a micro neutralization test. We have found that infection with CVB, especially types B2 and B4, was common in the studied population. Forty two percent of normal individuals had evidence of infection with any of the 6 serotypes of CVB. Patients of group I had significantly more frequent infections with CVB 2. Patients in group II had significantly more frequent infections with CVB 2 and CVB 6. There was no clear correlation between such infections and the clinical course of rheumatic fever. There was no difference in the incidence of CVB infections between patients with definite ARF, and patients with suspected ARF. We set a low order association between rheumatic fever and infection with CVB types B2 and B6. We emphasize the importance of pursuing the investigation of the role of CVB in relation to RHD.     

Influence of age and morphological characteristics on whole body,lumbar spine,femoral neck and 1/3 radius bone mineral apparent density in a group of Lebanese adolescent boys

The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationships between age, morphological characteristics (weight, height, body mass index (BMI), fat and lean mass), daily calcium intake (DCI), physical activity and bone mineral apparent density (BMAD) of the whole body (WB), lumbar spine (L2–L4), femoral neck (FN) and 1/3 radius in a group of Lebanese adolescent boys. This study included 60 Lebanese adolescent (16.8 ± 2.1 years old) boys. Body composition and bone mineral density (BMD) were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). BMAD values of the WB, L2?L4, FN and 1/3 radius were calculated. Physical activity and DCI were assessed using questionnaires. Age was positively related to WB, L2–L4 and 1/3 radius BMD and BMAD. Weight, lean mass and BMI were positively related to WB, L2–L4, FN and 1/3 radius BMD. Moreover, weight, lean mass and BMI were positively associated with L2–L4 and FN BMAD but not with BMAD of the WB and the 1/3 radius, while fat mass percentage was negatively associated with WB BMAD. In conclusion, this study shows that weight, lean mass and BMI are positively associated with BMAD of the weight-bearing bones (L2?L4 and FN) but not with BMAD of the WB and the 1/3 radius in adolescent boys.     

Deep venous thrombosis in a patient with Behçet’s disease and homozygous prothrombin (factor II) G20210A mutation on oral contraceptive pills

Behçet’s disease (BD) is a multisystemic disease of unknown aetiology characterized by chronic relapsing oral aphthous lesions, genital ulcers, uveitis, and vasculopathy of both arteries and veins of all sizes. We present the case of a female patient, with BD on oral contraceptive pills, who sustained deep venous thrombosis of the long saphenous vein. The patient was found to be a carrier of a homozygous mutation of the prothrombin (factor II) G20210A gene. Our case suggests that a thrombophilia work-up may be warranted in BD patients, especially young women before they are prescribed oral contraceptives.     

Novel Thiophenes,Thienopyrimidines, and Triazolothienopyrimidines for the Evaluation of Anticancer and Augmentation Effects of γ‐Radiation

New derivatives of thiophenes 2 , 12 , iminoaminothieno[2,3‐d]pyrimidines 3 , 5 , and 6 , triazolothieno[2,3‐d]pyrimidines 8–11 , pyrazolo‐ and triazinothieno[2,3‐d]pyrimidines 4 , 7 , respectively, have been prepared by different synthetic procedures. Structure elucidation of the newly synthesized compounds was carried out via elemental analyses and spectral data. The antitumor activity of compounds 2 , 3 , and 9–12 was evaluated against in‐vitro cell lines (HEPG‐2 and MCF‐7). Compounds 2 , 3 , 10 , 11 , and 12 showed significant in‐vitro cytotoxic activity against hepatocellular carcinoma (HEPG‐2) compared to the reference drug Doxorubicin. Compound 2 showed significant in‐vitro cytotoxic activity against breast cancer (MCF‐7) cells compared to the reference drug Doxorubicin. The augmenting effect of γ‐radiation was assessed; here, compounds 2 , 3 , 10 , and 11 showed the most potent in‐vitro anticancer activity.