Incidence of needle‐tract seeding following prostate biopsy for suspected cancer: a review of the literature

With the widespread clinical use of prostate‐specific antigen (PSA), biopsy of the prostate has become one of the most commonly performed urological procedures. In general it is well tolerated, although there is some morbidity and risk of infection. In recent years, there have been increasing concerns that prostate biopsy may lead to tumour seeding along the needle tract. The aim of the present paper was to review the evidence on the prevalence of tumour seeding after prostate biopsy and to define the risk of this event in the context of current clinical practice. A PubMed literature search was conducted in January 2014 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analysis (PRISMA) statement. Literature was examined with emphasis on the incidence of seeding, clinical presentation and on risk factors including type of needle used, transrectal vs transperineal approach, as well as tumour grade and stage. In all, 26 publications were identified reporting needle‐tract seeding after prostate biopsy. In all, 42 patients with needle‐tract seeding were identified. In most cases, seeding was reported after transperineal biopsy of the prostate, while nine cases occurred after transrectal biopsy. Based on the reviewed series the incidence of seeding appears to be <1%. The increase in the number of biopsies and cores taken at each biopsy over the years has not resulted in an increase in the reported cases of seeding. In conclusion, seeding along the needle track is a rare complication after prostate biopsy. Its actual incidence is presently difficult to quantify. It is reasonable to advise appropriate counselling and take measures to reduce this event where possible; however, we do not advocate avoidance of biopsies as the benefits of appropriate cancer diagnosis and management outweigh any potential risks from seeding.     

The risk of revision in total knee arthroplasty is not affected by previous high tibial osteotomy: A 15-year follow-up of 32,476 total knee arthroplasties in the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register

Background and purpose — Previous studies have found different outcomes after revision of knee arthroplasties performed after high tibial osteotomy (HTO). We evaluated the risk of revision of total knee arthroplasty with or without previous HTO in a large registry material.Patients and methods — 31,077 primary TKAs were compared with 1,399 TKAs after HTO, using Kaplan-Meier 10-year survival percentages and adjusted Cox regression analysis.Results — The adjusted survival analyses showed similar survival in the 2 groups. The Kaplan-Meier 10-year survival was 93.8% in the primary TKA group and 92.6% in the TKA-post-HTO group. Adjusted RR was 0.97 (95% CI: 0.77–1.21; p = 0.8).Interpretation — In this registry-based study, previous high tibial osteotomy did not appear to compromise the results regarding risk of revision after total knee arthroplasty compared to primary knee arthroplasty.High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a well-established joint preserving procedure for the treatment of medial knee osteoarthritis. The goal is to achieve unloading of the affected medial compartment of the knee to prevent or postpone the need for an artificial knee joint. This is performed by slightly overcorrecting the knee joint from varus malalignment to valgus or neutral position. Osteotomy was a standard treatment option for unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis in earlier years before knee arthroplasty was a surgical option, but osteotomy lost importance in the 1980s because of the success of knee replacement surgery (Smith et al. 2013). However, there has been an increase in osteotomies during the last 15 years, especially in younger patients in some countries (Seil et al. 2013). National arthroplasty registers have demonstrated higher risk of revision for knee arthroplasty in younger patients (under the age of 60) (NAR 2014, SKAR 2013). The 2 most commonly used methods for HTO are lateral closing wedge and medial opening wedge osteotomy. Both methods have shown improvement in knee pain and function (Naudie et al. 1999, van Raaij et al. 2008, Efe et al. 2011, W-Dahl et al. 2012). Nevertheless, some patients later require a second procedure, a total knee arthroplasty (Naudie et al. 1999), depending on the degree of osteoarthritis, their level of pain and function, and the degree of correction achieved. Although total knee arthroplasty appears to be technically more challenging after HTO in cases with severe overcorrection, bone stock loss, altered joint line (Figures 1 and ​and2),2), or patella infera, only a few studies have found inferior results compared to primary TKA (Windsor et al. 1988, Parvizi et al. 2004, Haslam et al. 2007, Farfalli et al. 2012). The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of revision after TKA, comparing primary TKA with and without previous high tibial osteotomy using data from the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register (NAR).Open in a separate windowFigure 1.Example of extra-articular malalignment after high tibial osteotomy (HTO) with opening wedge technique. The red line on the left radiograph (a) indicates the mechanical axis lateral to the knee joint. The radiograph to the right (b) indicates the extra-articular angulation of the tibia in the osteotomy area.Open in a separate windowFigure 2.Example of intra-articular malalignment after high tibial osteotomy (WTO) with closing wedge technique. The solid red line indicates that the tibial plateau has been elevated medially and is not perpendicular to the tibial axis.     

Perception of sexuality and fertility in women living with HIV: a questionnaire study from two Nordic countries

Introduction

As the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive population ages, issues concerning sexuality and fertility, among others, are becoming relevant. HIV is still surrounded by stigma and taboos, and there have been few studies conducted in industrialized settings concerning these questions. We therefore wanted to investigate the perception of sexuality and fertility in women living with HIV (WLWH) in an industrialized setting, using a questionnaire.

Methods

WLWH were recruited at their regular outpatient clinic visits, at the major Departments of Infectious Diseases in Denmark and Finland, from January 2012 to October 2013. A questionnaire was developed, study participants were informed of the nature of study and, if they agreed to participate and signed a consent form, they filled in the questionnaire. Demographic information on the participants was obtained from patient files (in Finland) or from a national HIV cohort (in Denmark). Statistical analysis was performed using STATA^®, version 11.

Results

In total, 560 women were included in the study. The median age was 44 years. The majority were of white European origin, with fully suppressed HIV viral load, CD4 cell count >350 µL and mild or no symptoms of their HIV infection. A total of 62% were sexually active, stating condom use as their sole form of contraception. Of the sexually inactive women, one-third were in steady relationships. Eighty percent reported prior pregnancies, of which the majority had one or more children. Most children were born prior to the women''s HIV diagnosis and the mode of conception was predominantly natural. One-quarter of the participating women desired pregnancy, while more than half did not. The remaining quarter either stated that they already had the desired number of children or chose not to answer the question. Fourteen percent stated that their HIV diagnosis ended their wish for children; of these women, the median time of diagnosis was between 1995 and 1996. Pregnancy had been attempted unsuccessfully in one-quarter of study participants. The final question inquired what the risk of mother-to-child transmission was, with all precautions taken. Fifteen percent estimated the risk to be above two percent.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the majority of WLWH in industrialized settings in Denmark and Finland have few HIV-related symptoms, are sexually active and have a strong desire for children.     

Proctologie pédiatrique courante

The reasons for children to consult in pediatric proctology are various, usually benign and non-surgical. The main infectious diseases are perianal abscess which management remains controversial, and perineal streptococcal infection which is often delayed in diagnosis and has a high recurrence in case of poor compliance or inappropriate treatment. Anal fissure and rectal prolapse are the most frequent non infectious diseases, and they are both related to constipation which must be treated effectively. Cystic fibrosis must be investigated in case of rectal prolapse. Perianal lesions secondary to sexual abuse are often really difficult to diagnose certainly and should not be under- or over-estimated because of a lack of knowledge in perianal findings in children.     

Placental expression of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and its receptor IFN-gamma R2 fail to switch from early hypoxic to late normotensive development in preeclampsia

The inability of the mother to switch from T helper cell type 1 (Th1) to Th2 cytokine profiles at the fetal-maternal interface has been proposed as one of the primary causes of miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and preeclampsia (PE). The Th1 [interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), TNF-alpha, and IL-12] and Th2 (IL-4 and IL-10) cytokines have opposite effects on human pregnancy. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) promotes embryo implantation and sustains pregnancy, whereas IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha are detrimental to pregnancy. Both IFN-gamma and LIF are produced by maternal cells and tissues at the fetal-maternal interface, whereas the IFN-gamma receptors (IFN-gamma R1 and IFN-gamma R2) and LIF receptor are abundantly expressed on the surface of placental trophoblasts. The effect of IFN-gamma on T lymphocyte activation is influenced by the relative membrane density of its two receptors, particularly IFN-gamma R2. In this study we report that in PE (25-40 wk gestation) and PE complicated by IUGR, IFN-gamma R2 protein expression is severely down-regulated and is similar to that observed in early placenta (7-10 wk gestation) developing under low O(2) tension. IFN-gamma production was found to be inversely related to the IFN-gamma R2 protein expression, and LIF receptor protein expression in PE mimicked that in early placental development. These results show that in PE, placental trophoblasts fail to establish an early to late switch with respect to IFN-gamma and IFN-gamma R2 expression. This supports the hypothesis that trophoblasts control the polarization of maternal immune effectors and cytokine profiles at the fetal-maternal interface that could be subject to oxidative stress in PE.     

Successful treatment of pulmonary mucormycosis in an allogenic bone-marrow transplant recipient with combined medical and surgical therapy

Mucormycosis is a rare, but severe, complication in allogenic bone-marrow recipients with a mortality rate of about 80%. Moreover, its incidence appears to have increased within the last decade. We report a case of pulmonary and nasal mucormycosis in a 55-y-old patient, which occurred 1 y after BMT. Treatment combining 4 months of amphotericin B, early surgical resection of infected tissue and discontinuation of immunosuppressive treatment allowed the cure of this mould infection.     

Capture of plasma membrane fragments from target cells by trogocytosis requires signaling in T cells but not in B cells

Upon recognition of their respective cellular partners, T and B cells acquire their antigens by a process of membrane capture called trogocytosis. Here, we report that various inhibitors of actin polymerization or of kinases involved in intracellular signaling partially or fully inhibited trogocytosis by CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells, whereas they had no effect on trogocytosis by B cells. Similarly, trogocytosis by T cells was inhibited at 4°C, whereas in B cells it was independent of temperature, indicating that trogocytosis by B cells does not rely on active processes. By contrast, most inhibitors we tested impaired both T-cell and B-cell activation. The differential effect of inhibitors on T-cell and B-cell trogocytosis was not due to the higher affinity of the B-cell receptor for its cognate antigen compared with the affinity of the T-cell receptor for its own antigen, but it correlated tightly with the abilities of T cells and B cells to form conjugates with their target cells in the presence of inhibitors. Trogocytosis thus has different requirements in different cell types. Moreover, the capture of membrane antigen by B cells is identified as a novel signaling-independent event of B-cell biology.     

Bedside Coagulometry During Intravenous Heparin Therapy after Coronary Angioplasty

In order to assess the applicability of a bedside coagulometer for measurement of b-APTT, serial blood samples were obtained from 20 patients receiving intravenous heparin treatment following PTCA, and from 5 healthy volunteers. B-APTT was analysed bedside on the Hemochron® coagulometer; p-APTT and p-heparin, measured asfactor anti-Xa activity, were analysed ex-vivo in the laboratory. B-APTT values, determined by the Hemochron coagulometer, were closely correlated to p-heparin (r=0.83, p<0.001, SD=52 seconds (sec), n=89), and duplicate determinations of b-APTT on the Hemochron coagulometer showed an acceptable repeatability. However, an APTT ratio of 1.5–2.5 was not related to a therapeutic p-heparin level, neither as measured by the Hemochron device nor in the laboratory. Abstract. Background: When administering intravenous heparin during angioplasty procedures, a quick and reliable method for safe and effective monitoring of anticoagulation is necessary. Objective: To assess the applicability of a bedside coagulometer, measuring the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) in patients receiving intravenous heparin treatment after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Methods: In patients with stable angina pectoris, receiving intravenous heparin treatment following PTCA, serial blood samples were obtained by venipuncture and from the arterial sheath for analysis of whole blood APTT (b-APTT), and plasma heparin concentration (p-heparin). Additionally, in healthy volunteers blood samples were obtained after a single bolus injection of heparin. B-APTT was analysed bedside on the Hemochron® coagulometer; p-APTT and p-heparin, measured as factor anti-Xa activity, were analysed ex-vivo in the laboratory using conventional analytical methods. Results: In 20 patients a total of 94 venous and 69 arterial blood samples were analysed, and in five healthy volunteers analyses were performed in 20 venous blood samples. B-APTT values, determined by the Hemochron coagulometer, were closely correlated to p-heparin (r=0.83, p<0.001, SD=52 seconds (sec), n=89). An APTT ratio of 1.5–2.5 was not related to a therapeutic p-heparin level, however, neither when using APTT assessed by the Hemochron device nor APTT measured in the laboratory. Duplicate determinations of b-APTT on the Hemochron coagulometer showed an acceptable repeatability; the mean difference between duplicate measurements was 4[emsp4 ] sec (coefficient of variation (c.v.)=6%, p<0.05, n=163). Conclusions: In patients receiving intravenous heparin after PTCA treatment, b-APTT values measured by the Hemochron method showed an acceptable repeatability and were significantly correlated to p-heparin.