Necrotizing fasciitis: unreliable MRI findings in the preoperative diagnosis

The authors present two cases of necrotizing fasciitis (NF), one case of dermatomyositis and one case of posttraumatic muscle injury, which have similar magnetic resonance imaging findings in terms of skin, subcutaneous fat, superficial and deep fasciae and muscle involvement. These cases highlight the need for cautious interpretation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, for they are nonspecific and the preoperative decision should be based mostly on the evolution of the clinical status.     

Prognostic Value of PCNA and Mutant p53 Expression in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The objective of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of p53, and proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Sixty pathologic specimens from the patients with LSCC were examined for the expression of the p53 and PCNA, with complete follow-up data. Sixty-three percent of the cases displayed nuclear p53 overexpression. There was a correlation between p53 overexpression and histological grades (p = 0.03), and localization site (p = 0.05). Median of PCNA index was 42.2 (range 5.9 to 85.2). There was no difference between the p53 overexpression group and the normal group in proliferative activity determined by PCNA (p = 0.73). In univariate analyses, localization site, grade, stage, invasion pattern, lymph node status, were significant factors in estimating disease free survival (DFS). Grade was the most important factor affecting recurrence (p = 0.002). In multivariate analyses, grade was the only significant predictor for DFS (p = 0.001). Grade (p = 0.001) and invasion pattern (p = 0.03) were found to be significant predictors of overall survival. In conclusion, the histological grade was the most reliable important prognostic factor. Further studies are necessary to facilitate understanding of the mechanisms of laryngeal carcinogenesis.     

IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and breast cancer in young women: a pooled re-analysis of three prospective studies.

Prospective cohort studies on breast cancer risk among premenopausal women and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) concentrations have so far included only few cases, and have shown inconsistent relative risk estimates. We pooled 220 cases of breast cancer diagnosed before age 50, and 434 control subjects, from three prospective studies in New York (USA), Ume? (Northern Sweden) and Milan (Italy), and we measured IGF-I and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) with common enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Overall, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 measurements obtained by the common method showed a positive but not significant relationship with breast cancer risk (odds ratios (ORs) 0.90 [95% confidence intervals (95% CI) 0.50-1.62], 1.63 [0.89-2.97], 1.46 [0.78-2.73] and 1.41 [0.75-2.63] for quintiles of IGF-I, and ORs 0.98 [0.54-1.75], 1.06 [0.59-1.91], 1.04 [0.58-1.87] and 1.77 [0.97-3.24] for quintiles of IGFBP-3). Our results give only moderate support for an association of blood IGF-I with breast cancer risk in young women.     

Development of a new instrument for determining the level of chewing function in children

This study aimed to develop a chewing performance scale that classifies chewing from normal to severely impaired and to investigate its validity and reliability. The study included the developmental phase and reported the content, structural, criterion validity, interobserver and intra‐observer reliability of the chewing performance scale, which was called the Karaduman Chewing Performance Scale (KCPS). A dysphagia literature review, other questionnaires and clinical experiences were used in the developmental phase. Seven experts assessed the steps for content validity over two Delphi rounds. To test structural, criterion validity, interobserver and intra‐observer reliability, two swallowing therapists evaluated chewing videos of 144 children (Group I: 61 healthy children without chewing disorders, mean age of 42·38 ± 9·36 months; Group II: 83 children with cerebral palsy who have chewing disorders, mean age of 39·09 ± 22·95 months) using KCPS. The Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS) was used for criterion validity. The KCPS steps arranged between 0–4 were found to be necessary. The content validity index was 0·885. The KCPS levels were found to be different between groups I and II (χ² = 123·286, P < 0·001). A moderately strong positive correlation was found between the KCPS and the subscales of the BPFAS (r = 0·444–0·773, P < 0·001). An excellent positive correlation was detected between two swallowing therapists and between two examinations of one swallowing therapist (r = 0·962, P < 0·001; r = 0·990, P < 0·001, respectively). The KCPS is a valid, reliable, quick and clinically easy‐to‐use functional instrument for determining the level of chewing function in children.     

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.