Laparoscopic appendectomy in young female patients: Should we remove the normal-looking appendix?

Objective : This study evaluated whether a significant reduction in unnecessary appendectomies is possible by performing diagnostic laparoscopy before appendectomy in female patients of child-bearing age, leaving behind the normal-looking appendix. Materials and methods : Sixty-one consecutive female patients between the ages of 15 and 45 years with clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis were studied prospectively. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed to detect whether the appendix was inflamed. The appendix was then removed and the result of laparoscopic diagnosis was matched with histological diagnosis. Results : Ten out of the 42 laparoscopically diagnosed appendicitis cases had normal appendices on histological examination. Six out of the 19 laparoscopically diagnosed normal appendices had histological evidence of appendicitis. The sensitivity of laparoscopy was 84% and the specificity was 56.5%. Conclusions : Discrepancies existed between laparoscopic appearance and histological examination in acute appendicitis. The appendices of all those with clinically suspected appendicitis should be removed and sent for histological confirmation.      

Evaluation of oxidative DNA damage in human sperm and its association with male infertility

Recently, there is increasing evidence suggesting that oxidative sperm DNA damage is closely associated with impaired sperm function and male infertility. 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is considered to be a precise and sensitive biomarker of oxidative DNA damage. The present study was thus designed to evaluate the extent of oxidative DNA damage in sperm and its association with male infertility by assaying the 8-OHdG levels in human sperm samples. A total of 114 subjects (60 infertile patients and 54 age-matched healthy workers) participated in this study. The level of 8-OHdG in sperm DNA was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, and the conventional seminal parameters were also measured according to World Health Organization guidelines. It was found that the level of sperm 8-OHdG in infertile patients was significantly higher than that in healthy subjects (10.03 vs. 4.79 8-OHdG/10(5) dG; geometric mean, P < 0.001). The correlation between sperm 8-OHdG levels and conventional seminal parameters were also analyzed. There is a significant positive correlation between 8-OHdG and sperm head defects (r = 0.38, P < 0.001), whereas significant inverse correlations were noted for 8-OHdG with sperm density (r = -0.42, P < 0.001), total sperm number (r = -0.42, P < 0.001), sperm motility (r = -0.24, P < 0.01), and normal sperm morphology (r = -0.39, P < 0.001). Data from this study thus indicate that oxidative damage to sperm DNA may be important in the etiology of male infertility and that the assay of sperm 8-OHdG may have potential diagnostic value in the evaluation of sperm function and male fertility.     

The association of pre‐operative STOP‐BANG scores with postoperative critical care admission

The STOP‐BANG questionnaire screens for obstructive sleep apnoea. We retrospectively analysed the independent association of pre‐operative variables with postoperative critical care admission using multivariable logistic regression for patients undergoing elective surgery from January to December 2011. Of 5432 patients, 338 (6.2%) were admitted postoperatively to the critical care unit. In multivariate analysis, the odds ratios (95% CI) for critical care admission were: 2.2 (1.1–4.6), p = 0.037; 3.2 (1.2–8.1), p = 0.017; and 5.1 (1.8–14.9), p = 0.002, for STOP‐BANG scores of 4, 5 and ≥ 6, respectively. The odds ratio was also independently increased for: each year of age, 1.015 (1.004–1.026), p = 0.019; asthma, 1.6 (1.1–2.4), p = 0.016; obstructive sleep apnoea, 3.2 (1.9–5.6), p < 0.001; and for ASA physical status 2, 3 and ≥ 4, 2.1 (1.4–3.3), 6.5 (3.9–11.0), 6.3 (2.9–13.8), respectively, p < 0.001 for all.     

Who needs a fine-needle biopsy? A comparison of the ATA and ACR TI-RADS guidelines in a single-centre retrospective study

The 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) and 2017 American College of Radiology: Thyroid Imaging, Reporting and Data System (ACR TI-RADS) guidelines are two popular guidelines adopted to stratify sonographic risk of malignancy for thyroid nodules, and to select cases for fine-needle aspiration (FNA). To understand the test performance of the two systems in predicting thyroid malignancy, 164 thyroidectomy cases performed in a regional hospital in Hong Kong between January 2021 and June 2022 were reviewed. Sonographic images of the index nodule in each case were retrospectively classified into different risk categories using the ATA and ACR TI-RADS guidelines, respectively, followed by retrieval of cytological and pathological results, for comparison. The index nodule was proven malignant in 26.8% of cases in the final pathology. There was a strong and positive correlation between the ATA and ACR TI-RADS risk categories assignment (r_s = .931, p < .001). Recommending FNA according to the ATA had a better sensitivity for malignancy than using the ACR TI-RADS (81.8% vs 72.7%), at the expense of a lower specificity (10.8% vs 40.8%). The sensitivity for malignancy of both systems could be further improved if all fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-avid nodules were investigated with FNA regardless of sonographic features and size. There was a statistically significant association between “nodules with FDG avidity and nodules recommended for FNA by the ACR TI-RADS guideline” and an eventual malignant thyroid nodule (p = .002).     

Management of premature ejaculation -- a comparison of treatment outcome in patients with and without erectile dysfunction

This study evaluated the problem of premature ejaculation (PE) in patients treated for erectile dysfunction. The aim was to compare the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the management of primary PE and PE associated with sildenefil treatment. Eighty-seven patients with PE seen over a period of 17 months were recruited into this prospective study. They were categorized into two groups: primary PE (GPI) and PE in sildenefil-treated patients (GPII). All patients recruited into GPII had erectile dysfunction (ED) that was successfully treated with sildenefil citrate for at least a year. Both groups of patients were given sertraline 50 mg 4 h before expected time of sex. The minimum follow-up was 6 months. The ejaculation latency before and after treatment of the two groups were compared. The sexual satisfaction scores of the patients in the two groups were also sought and analysed. Twenty-eight percent of patients with ED who were successfully treated with sildenefil developed PE. Subjects in group GPI were younger and have less comorbid factors than those in group GPII. There was no significant difference in the mean ejaculation latency for both groups (46 vs. 34.6 sec for GPI and GPII, respectively). However, there was highly significant difference in the ejaculation latency between the two groups after treatment with sertraline for 6 months (247.2 vs. 111.6 sec for GPI and GPII, respectively). There was also significant difference in the sexual satisfaction score for group GPI post-treatment, but not for GPII. No significant side-effect of sertraline was reported from patients in both groups. Successful treatment of ED could not assure sexual satisfaction. At least a quarter of sildenefil treated ED patients might develop PE which would continue to frustrate these patients sexually. While selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) was effective in the management of primary PE, they were not as effective in patients with sildenefil corrected ED.     

Synergistic effects of Nell-1 and BMP-2 on the osteogenic differentiation of myoblasts.

Osteogenesis is synergistically enhanced by the combined effect of complimentary factors. This study showed that Nell-1 and BMP-2 synergistically enhanced osteogenic differentiation of myoblasts and phosphorylated the JNK MAPK pathway. The findings are important because of the osteochondral specificity of Nell-1 signaling and the potential therapeutic effects of coordinated BMP-2 and Nell-1 delivery. INTRODUCTION: BMPs play an important role in the migration and proliferation of mesenchymal cells and have a unique ability to alter the differentiation of mesenchymal cells toward chondrogenic and osteogenic lineages. Signaling upstream of Cbfa1/Runx2, BMPs effects are not limited to cells of the osteoblast lineage. Thus, additional osteoblast-specific factors that could synergize with BMP-2 would be advantageous for bone regeneration procedures. NELL-1 (NEL-like molecule-1; NEL [a protein strongly expressed in neural tissue encoding epidermal growth factor like domain]) is a novel growth factor believed to preferentially target cells committed to the osteochondral lineage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: C2C12 myoblasts were transduced with AdLacZ, AdNell-1, AdBMP-2, or AdNell-1+AdBMP-2 overexpression viruses. Effects were studied by cell morphology, alkaline phosphatase activity, osteopontin production, and MAPK signaling. Additionally, in a nude mouse model, viruses were injected into leg muscles, and new bone formation was examined after 2 and 8 wk. RESULTS: C2C12 myoblasts co-transduced with AdNell-1+AdBMP-2 showed a synergistic effect on osteogenic differentiation as detected by alkaline phosphatase activity and osteopontin production. Nell-1 stimulation on AdNell-1 + AdBMP-2 preconditioned C2C12 cells revealed significant activation of the non-BMP-2 associated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) MAPK signaling pathway, but not the p38 or extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) MAPK pathways. Importantly Nell-1 alone did not induce osteogenic differentiation of myoblasts. In a nude mouse model, injection of AdNell-1 alone stimulated no bone formation within muscle; however, injection of AdNell-1+AdBMP-2 stimulated a synergistic increase in bone formation compared with AdBMP-2 alone. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are important because of the confirmed osteochondral specificity of Nell-1 signaling and the potential therapeutic effects of enhanced BMP-2 action with coordinated Nell-1 delivery.     

Posteromedial thigh (PMT) propeller flap for perineoscrotal reconstruction: A case report

Fournier's gangrene can lead to extensive defects of the perineoscrotal area with exposure of the testes. Such defect poses challenging tasks for both functional and cosmetic reconstruction. Due to its proximity, medial thigh skin appeared to be the most versatile donor site for perineoscrotal reconstruction. In this report, we present a case of reconstruction of a large perineoscrotal defect because of Fournier's gangrene using a posteromedial thigh (PMT) perforator propeller flap. A 58 year‐old male who suffered from Fournier's gangrene resulted in a scrotal defect of 10 × 12 cm² with a large dead space. A pedicled PMT propeller flap measuring 9 × 23 cm² with two perforators that originated from the profunda femoris artery (PFA) was harvested for scrotal defect reconstruction and dead space obliteration. The flap survived completely, with no recipient or donor site morbidity. The length of followup was 3 months and was uneventful. The pedicled PMT propeller flap may be considered as a valid option for perineoscrotal reconstruction. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 35:569–572, 2015.