Isolated Ruptured Inter‐Atrial Septal Cystic Echinococcosis during Pregnancy

Herein, we present a case of asymptomatic isolated cardiac cystic echinococcosis localized entirely to the inter‐atrial septum in a pregnant woman. The patient underwent successful surgery. Cardiac cystic echinococcosis is rarely seen in pregnancy. A high index of suspicion is necessary for the diagnosis of a cardiac cyst hydatid. The treatment of cardiac cyst hydatid is surgical and should not be delayed during pregnancy. Early surgery might prevent septic embolization and cardiac life‐threatening complications and save the lives of both mother and baby as in the present case.     

Immunohistochemical analysis of epidermal growth factor receptor in cyclosporin A-induced gingival overgrowth

Cyclosporin A (CsA)-induced gingival overgrowth represents a tissue of fibrosis and epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been shown to induce extracellular matrix synthesis by fibroblasts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of EGF-receptor (EGF-r) in frozen sections of CsA-induced overgrown gingival tissue using immunohistochemical and semiquantitative techniques. Gingival biopsies were obtained from 12 renal transplant patients receiving CsA as well as 9 systemically and periodontally healthy individuals. Immunohistochemical staining procedures were carried out in frozen sections of gingival tissue and the expression of EGF-r was compared between the two study groups. The expression of EGF-r was more pronounced in the oral gingival epithelium of CsA-induced overgrown gingiva as compared to those of the clinically healthy gingival specimens. The reactivity in the inflammatory infiltrate and connective tissue cells of both of the study groups was similar. In conclusion, the results of the present study may suggest that CsA affects EGF-r metabolism in gingival keratinocytes resulting in an increased number of cell surface receptors, which may eventually play a role in the pathogenesis of gingival tissue alterations.     

Does St. John’s Wort cause regression in gastrointestinal system adenocarcinomas?

St. John’s Wort (SJW) is an old herb which has long been consumed widely for its anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anti-depressive properties. Here we present a detailed clinical evaluation of three cases (two colon and one duodenal adenocarcinoma) with remarkable and intensive lymphoplasmocytic host reaction, at the basal part of tumor, intensive fibrosis, giant cells, plasma cell increase in lymph nodes and few giant cells in germinal centers in resection specimens. The observation of similar host reaction in those tumors having otherwise usual appearance was interesting. None of the cases received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy or additional treatment before surgery but only SJW. These cases are presented to increase the awareness about such cases. Further research is needed to reveal the possible effect of SJW, which has long been consumed for different treatment purposes, on human tumors.     

Successful treatment of massive thrombosis in different locations with prolonged thrombolytic therapy: A life-saving intervention

Venous thrombosis is recognized as one of the most important complications of nephrotic syndrome (NS). In patients with NS, venous thrombosis may develop in the renal veins, the deep veins of the lower limb, and the inferior vena cava. Here, we describe a case report of an NS patient with multiple venous thrombosis in the right renal vein, the left iliac vein, the vena cava inferior, the right atrium, and the pulmonary arteries. Moreover, we describe the successful treatment of multiple venous thrombosis with prolonged thrombolytic treatment in spite of an increased risk of bleeding due to renal biopsy.     

Comparison of Ho:YAG laser and pneumatic lithotripsy in the treatment of impacted ureteral stones: An analysis of risk factors

The aim was to compare pneumatic and holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser in the treatment of impacted ureteral stones with different locations and to identify the risk factors for complications. Between March 2005 and November 2012, a total of 230 patients underwent ureteroscopic lithotripsy for impacted stones. Of the patients, 117 had pneumatic and 113 had laser lithotripsy for the fragmentation of the stones. Treatment outcomes based on evidence of being stone free were evaluated. Preoperative, operative, and postoperative follow-up findings were analyzed and compared. There was a difference between the two groups according to overall stone clearance rate (93.8% vs. 80.3%, p = 0.002). There was no statistically significant difference for distal location between the laser and pneumatic groups (96.8% vs. 91.7%, p = 0.288). For 10 patients with intrarenally migrated stones who were managed with flexible ureterorenoscopy in the same session, laser lithotripsy was more successful than pneumatic for proximal ureteral stone (94.4% vs. 67.9%, p = 0.007). The overall complication rate was 26.1%. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (29% vs. 23%, p = 0.296). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the proximal location was a statistically significant parameter for the occurrence of complications in both groups (p = 0.001 for PL, p = 0.004 for laser). The pneumatic and holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser lithotripsy are effective in the treatment of distal impacted stones. Both treatments with semirigid ureteroscopy are acceptable for proximal impacted ureteral stones, but holmium laser lithotripsy has an advantage of use with flexible ureteroscope for intrarenally migrated stone.     

Comparison of the morphokinetic parameters of embryos according to ovarian reserve in IVF cycles

The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of ovarian reserve and age of women on early morphokinetic parameters of embryos with a time-lapse monitoring system. In total, 197 infertile couples with poor ovarian reserve (Group 1, n?=?41), normal ovarian reserve (Group 2, n?=?59), or polycystic ovaries (Group 3, n?=?97) were included. The time from insemination to the following events were analyzed: pronuclear fading (Pnf) and cleavage to 2, 3, 4 and 5 cells. The optimal ranges for morphokinetic parameters of t5, s2 and cc2 in each group were also evaluated. In total, 1144 embryos were evaluated. Morphokinetic parameters did not differ statistically between the groups. Data were analyzed according to different age groups (20–30, 30–40,?>40). The morphokinetic parameters did not differ statistically in Group 1 and 3. In Group 2, the times from insemination to tPnf, t2, t3, t4 were significantly shorter in the younger age group than the older age group (p?相似文献