Effect of Nicotine Replacement on the Cigarette Withdrawal Syndrome

The effect of nicotine replacement on the cigarette withdrawal syndrome was investigated in 48 smokers, who were randomly allocated to chew either 2 mg or. 5 mg nicotine gum over 24 hours of cigarette abstinence. Characteristic withdrawal symptoms were observed on the low dose (.5 mg) gum: i.e. increased irritability, depression, restlessness, dizziness and hunger, and decreased ability to concentrate, sociability and composure when in company. In addition there was a drop in heart rate and urinary adrenaline excretion. The 2 mg gum alleviated problems of irritability, depression, and difficulties related to social interaction but not hunger or ability to concentrate. It also reduced the drop in heart rate from 14.9 to 9.7 bpm. The results support the view that nicotine deprivation per se plays a significant role in certain withdrawal effects.     

Randomized comparison of low-dose versus high-dose interferon-alfa in chronic myeloid leukemia: prospective collaboration of 3 joint trials by the MRC and HOVON groups

The optimal dose of interferon-alfa (IFN) for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is unknown. Retrospective analyses suggest that low doses are as effective as high doses, with less toxicity and fewer patients abandoning the drug. The Dutch Hemato-Oncology Association (HOVON) and British Medical Research Council (MRC) cooperative groups jointly performed randomized trials in newly diagnosed CML patients, comparing high-dose IFN (5 MIU/m(2) daily) with low-dose (3 MIU, 5 times a week). Both arms allowed additional hydroxyurea to keep the white blood cell count lower than 5 x 10(9)/L. Quality of life data were collected in a subset of patients. Between 1993 and 2001, 407 patients were randomized. At a median follow-up of 53 months, there were no significant differences in overall survival (odds ratio = 1.09, 95% confidence interval, 0.81-1.46), progression-free survival, and complete hematologic or major cytogenetic responses. Fewer patients in the low-dose group abandoned IFN for reasons other than transplant or progressive disease (P =.002, 58% vs 72% at 5 years). Quality of life data showed comparable results in both arms for most factors. There is no evidence of benefit for high-dose IFN compared with low-dose for the treatment of CML. Therefore, when IFN is combined with other drugs, low-dose IFN is advised, to minimize toxicity and costs.     

Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas: ‘Experiences’ and ‘Lessons’ at a tertiary‐care oncology center

Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas (SPT) is a rare and fascinating entity of elusive histogenesis and unpredictable biology. It has a peculiar proclivity to afflict young females and involve the pancreatic body‐tail region. Cytology diagnosis of these rare neoplasms remains a challenge. We analyzed the cytology features of all SPT cases diagnosed on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) from 2003 to 2009 along with their histopathology slides. Nineteen consecutive cases were diagnosed as SPT on FNAC. Fifteen out of nineteen cases were confirmed as true SPT on histopathology. Amongst the true SPT, all except one occurred in females. Age ranged from 14 to 50 years. Pseudopapillae bearing stout branches terminating in bulbous tips and enclosing transgressing vessels, separated from a collar of tumor cells by a clear zone of myxohyaline coat were pathognomonic of SPT. Singly dispersed monomorphic tumor cells with bland chromatin formed the second diagnostic component of SPT. Nuclear grooves and hyaline globules were in addition helpful in segregating SPT from its close differentials. In four cases diagnosed as SPT on FNAC, histopathology revealed a different final diagnosis (one case each of paraganglioma, extragastrointestinal stromal tumor, metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma and inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor). Conversely, one case of SPT had been erroneously diagnosed as neuroendocrine tumor on FNAC. Six cases (40%) developed metastasis; commonest site being liver. In conclusion, cytology in conjunction with clinico‐radiologic findings plays a key role in making a correct diagnosis. Awareness of unique cytomorphological features is important in distinguishing this tumor from its diverse mimics. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Efficacy of fine‐needle aspiration biopsy in diagnosis of breast cancer: A retrospective study of 303 cases in Bahrain

Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in many countries worldwide and breast lesions remain a common diagnostic dilemma. Fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) has been suggested as the most important, first line, minimally invasive measure in the management of patients with breast lesions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of FNAB in patients with breast lesions by comparing the diagnostic accuracy of cytology results with that of the definitive histological examination outcome and also to investigate the added value of a single aspirator experience to the overall diagnostic precision and compared with the internationally published results. A retrospective study of 303 breast FNAB samples were carried out by a single experienced cytopathologist with complete comparison records. The prevalence of positive cytologic diagnosis for the breast cancer was determined to be 20.4%. The overall diagnostic accuracy of FNAB was 97.9%, with a specificity and sensitivity of 98.3 and 96.5%, respectively. The overall positive and negative predictive values were determined to be 93.2 and 99.2%, respectively. In addition, the sensitivity was comparable in cases that have been attempted by palpation‐guided sampling compared with those aspirations that were carried out under US guidance. Results from this study confirm that FNAB biopsies performed and reported by a dedicated, single, skilled cytopathologist are highly effective in diagnosis of breast lesions and reliable in differentiating benign and malignant breast lesions with an overall high efficacy in a specialized laboratory‐based FNAB clinic. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Effect of Cavity Shaving on Reoperation Rate Following Breast‐Conserving Surgery

Abstract: Breast‐conserving surgery (BCS) without adequate margin clearance carries a high risk of local recurrence. We introduced cavity shaving at primary surgery 31 months ago, to assess tumor margin involvement. The aim of this study was to determine how cavity shaving affects the re‐excision rate. We compared a group of 394 patients who underwent BCS with cavity shaving of macroscopically clear margins at primary operation, from March 2003 to September 2005 with a group of 392 patients who underwent BCS only from January 2000 to February 2003. Cavity shaves and re‐excision specimens were measured and oriented with reference to the primary cancer. Pathological results of all the specimens were analyzed and re‐excision rates in both groups were recorded. Compared with BCS alone where 49 of 392 patients (12.5%) required reoperation for margin clearance, only 22 of 394 patients (5.58%) of the group who had concurrent cavity shaves required further surgery (p < 0.01). Analysis of re‐excised specimens suggests that reoperation could have been avoided in 44 of 49 patients, if they had standard sized cavity shave at primary operation. We conclude that cavity shavings during primary BCS significantly reduce the re‐excision rate to ensure microscopic clearance.     

Atypical Kyrle''s Disease

Atypical Kyrle's disease developed on the limbs and on the palmar and plantar surfaces of an African man. Unusual histopathologic features, such as degenerating cells under the parakeratotic plug and eccrine duct in the parakeratotic plug, are described and the diagnostic criteria for Kyrle's disease are reviewed.     

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis due to absidia corymbifera

Summary We report two cases of rhinocerebral mucormycosis due toAbsidia corymbifera, an extremely uncommon causal agent. Both occurred in patients with haematological disorders and both had a fatal outcome, despite antemortem diagnosis and aggressive treatment. We discuss the factors which generally contribute to the poor prognosis in this group of patients and suggest another possible mechanism which may contribute to the high mortality.

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Rhinozerebrale Mucormykose durch Absidia corymbifera

Zusammenfassung Wir berichten über zwei Fälle von rhinozerebraler Mukormykose durchAbsidia corymbifera, einen extrem seltenen Erreger. Bei beiden Patienten lag eine hämatologische Grunderkrankung vor, beide Fälle verliefen tödlich, obwohl die Diagnose gestellt und eine aggressive Therapie eingeleitet worden war. Die bei dieser Patientengruppe für eine schlechte Prognose verantwortlichen allgemeinen Faktoren werden diskutiert, wir stellen außerdem einen möglichen Pathomechanismus vor, der die hohe Letalität der Infektion mit verursachen kann.

     

Hepatic Granuloma in Saudi Arabia: A Clinicopathological Study of 59 Cases

The identification of hepatic granuloma (HG) as a histiocytic or epithelioid cell collection is generally an easy task for the pathologist. However, most workers agree that arriving at a specific etiologic diagnosis, based solely on the morphology of the granuloma, may prove quite a tedious exercise. Of 404 histologically reviewed liver biopsies from 404 patients, 40 were normal, 62 showed carcinoma, and 243 revealed evidence of either acute or chronic nongranulomatous liver disease (NGLD). The remaining 59 biopsies had HG, constituting an incidence figure of 14.6%. The latter 59 patients qualified for further clinicopathological analysis, which constituted the material for this study. The HG was due to schistosomiasis in 32, tuberculosis in 19, brucellosis in four, drugs in two, and to typhoid and ruptured fat cysts (lipogranuloma) in one patient each. The study was done to delineate the histological and other features that might be of value in identifying the etiology of HG.