Serum lactate dehydrogenase and its isoenzymes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Tunisia

Our prospective study interested 41 patients, from 13 to 70 years old, and present a nasopharyngeal carcinoma confirmed histologically, during the period going from September 1999 to March 2000, and 45 healthy controls. A blood sample was collected from each patient before any treatment, as well as controls to measure serum LDH and its isoenzymes. Two groups of patients were selected after a period varying from 12 to 37 months with a mean of 29 months: 29 with favourable evolution, 12 with non favourable evolution. The mean serum total LDH and its isoenzymes values were significantly higher in patients than those in controls with values of variable p of 0.001 to 0.05. A significant correlation was found between ganglionnary extension and serum values of total LDH, LDH3 and LDH5. No significant difference were observed between the means serum total LDH before treatment and the clinical evolution of patients. Diagnostic contribution of total LDH is limited, by its ubiquitary character, but could constitute for LDH3 a good marker of the disease progression.     

Recurrent Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease revisited: fake or reality?

The objective of this study was to assess the course, the epidemiologic features and the prognosis of recurrent Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. We reviewed seven reported cases and one personal case of recurrent Perthes' disease. In all cases, complete recovery from the previous episode was documented, and a thorough diagnostic work-up to rule out other diseases was undertaken. There were five boys. Age at onset ranged from 2 to 6 years. Five patients had bilateral involvement. Recurrence took place 1-5 years after complete healing of the initial one. Clinical and radiological pictures were similar to those found in primary Perthes' disease of the adolescent and consisted in a greater epiphyseal involvement. Recurrent Perthes' disease is very rare. We did not identify any risk factors for recurrence. A worse outcome is more closely related to an older age of the patient at recurrence than to recurrence itself.     

Comparison of the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection in obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia in the first cycle: a report of case series and meta-analysis

To investigate the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection with fresh and cryopreserved-thawed testicular spermatozoa in the first cycle in patients with obstructive azoospermia (OA) and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), a total of 90 cases, 48 OA and 42 NOA were studied. All patients underwent sperm retrieval by testicular sperm extraction (TESE) while their wives received conventional ovarian hyperstimulation. The hormone levels, testicular histology, the rates of sperm retrieval, fertilization, implantation and pregnancy were analysed and evaluated. This study and other four similar studies were subjected to meta-analysis. Sperm retrieval was successful in 100% OA and 61% NOA. Fresh spermatozoa were used in 87.5% and 92.4% of OA and NOA cases respectively; while cryopreserved-thawed spermatozoa were used in 12.5% and 7.6% of OA and NOA, respectively. The fertilization, implantation and clinical pregnancy rates were 65.5%, 15% and 25% respectively in OA group, and 54.2%, 5% and 23.1% respectively in NOA group. Sperm status (fresh or thawed), male partner's age, female age and male serum follicle-stimulating hormone had no significant effect upon fertilization rate, implantation rate, or pregnancy rate per embryo transfer. The results of meta-analysis indicate that there is no statistically significant difference in clinical pregnancy rates between the two groups. There was a significantly higher fertilization rate among OA patients in all analysed studies (95% CI = 14.29-15.71, d.f. 832, T = 1.96). In conclusion, although the fertilization rate was significantly higher in the OA group in our study and from the given meta-analysis, there were some differences as regards pregnancy rates. Although the overall effect was more or less similar pregnancy rates in both subtypes of azoospermia, this may not be true if non-male infertility variables were controlled for in all studies.     

The interaction between polymerization initiators and inhibitors in solutions. 1. The reaction of benzoyl peroxide with p-benzoquinone in dilute solutions in chlorobenzene

The reaction of benzoyl peroxide with p-benzoquinone in dilute solutions in chlorobenzene was investigated by isolation and identification of some of the reaction products. The reaction is complex; the identified products were phenyl benzoquinone, benzoyloxy benzoquinone, quinhydrone of p-benzoquinone, benzoic acid, and chlorobiphenyls. There was a considerable amount of tarry quinoid products of unspecific physical properties. Neither simple disubstituted quinoid products, nor mono- or di-ethers of hydroquinone were detected. A mechanism based on these findings has been suggested for the reaction.     

Detectability of liver metastases in malignant melanoma: prospective comparison of magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography

PURPOSE: We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) for detection of liver metastases in malignant melanoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients with 39 combined unenhanced MRI and fluorine-18 deoxyglucose (F-18 FDG) PET scans were prospectively studied. In discordant imaging findings final diagnosis was proven by clinical follow-up >6 months and demonstration of progressive liver metastases by at least one imaging method. Sensitivities and specificities were compared and the influence of lesion size and melanin content on diagnostic accuracy was determined. RESULTS: MRI and PET were concordantly negative for presence and number of liver metastases in 28 patients and positive in four patients. PET and MRI were false positive in one patient each. In one patient MRI showed a single metastases not seen by PET and in one patient MRI demonstrated more metastases at the first examination. In follow-up investigations MRI revealed more metastases than PET in both patients. The sensitivities for lesion detection were 47% (16/34) for PET and 100% for MRI. Lesion detectability by PET was related to lesion size (P < 0.0001) but not to melanin content. CONCLUSION: MRI is more sensitive in the detection of liver metastases in patients with malignant melanoma. Small lesions are easily missed by PET, while melanin content does not influence detectability by PET.