Primary ovarian fibrosarcoma: a case report and review of the literature

Primary ovarian fibrosarcomas are very rare tumors with great heterogeneity among reported cases. There are only a few reports of the subject in the literature, and along with the nature of the disease, diagnosis and treatment still remain to be established. In this report, we reviewed the cases published in the English literature within the past 30 years and tried to highlight certain aspects of the disease. A 52-year-old parous woman was admitted to our hospital with the complaints of abdominopelvic pain. Initial diagnostic work-up revealed a solid mass on the right ovary. After explorative laparotomy, the pathologic examination reported a primary ovarian fibrosarcoma. The patient has been free of disease for 1 year without any adjuvant therapy. Although ovarian fibrosarcomas are unusual causes of solid masses in postmenopausal women, it should be kept in mind when evaluating adnexal masses in this age group.     

A multicentered study on efficiency of noninvasive ventilation procedures(SAFE-NIV)

Background/aim To characterize the clinical course of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) and high flow humidified nasal cannula ventilation (HFNC) procedures; perform risk analysis for ventilation failure.Material and methodsThis prospective, multi-centered, observational study was conducted in 352 PICU admissions (1 month-18 years) between 2016 and 2017. SPSS-22 was used to assess clinical data, define thresholds for ventilation parameters and perform risk analysis.Results Patient age, onset of disease, previous intubation and hypoxia influenced the choice of therapy mode: NIPPV was preferred in older children (p = 0.002) with longer intubation (p < 0.001), ARDS (p = 0.001), lower respiratory tract infections (p < 0.001), chronic respiratory disease, (p = 0.005), malignancy (p = 0.048) and immune deficiency (p = 0.026). The failure rate was 13.4%. sepsis, ARDS, prolonged intubation, and use of nasal masks were associated with NIV failure (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.025). The call of intubation or re-intubation was given due to respiratory failure in twenty-seven (57.5%), hemodynamic instability in eight (17%), bulbar dysfunction or aspiration in 5 (10.6%), neurological deterioration in 4 (8.5%) and developing ARDS in 3 (6.4%) children. A reduction of less than 10% in the respiration within an hour increased the odds of failure by 9.841 times (OR: 9.841, 95% CI: 2.0021–48.3742). FiO2 > 55% at 6th hours and PRISM-3 >8 were other failure predictors. Of the 9.9% complication rate, the most common complication was pressure ulcerations (4.8%) and mainly observed when using full-face masks (p = 0.047). Fifteen (4.3%) patients died of miscellaneous causes. Tracheostomy cannulation was performed on 16 children due to prolonged mechanical ventilation (8% in NIPPV, 2.6% in HFNC)ConclusionAbsence of reduction in the respiration rate within an hour, FiO2 requirement >55% at 6th hours and PRISM-3 score >8 predict NIV failure.     

Human leucocyte antigens in tympanosclerosis

This study was designed to evaluate the association between certain HLA antigens and tympanosclerosis. The serum concentrations of HLA antigens were measured by microlymphocytotoxicity technique in patients with tympanosclerosis and compared with a healthy control group. The serum levels of HLA-B35 and -DR3 were significantly higher in the patients with tympanosclerosis. This result suggests that certain types of HLA antigens may play an important role as an indicator or mediator in the pathogenesis of tympanosclerosis.     

Cardiac hydatid cyst in a child: Diagnostic value of echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging

Cardiac hydatid cyst is extremely rare in children. We report a case of a cardiac echinococcal cyst in an 11 year old boy, diagnosed by two-dimensional echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The cyst was located in the posterior wall of the left ventricle and was excised surgically. Echocardiographic and MRI findings are discussed.     

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia III and squamous cell cervical carcinoma, and its correlation with clinicopathologic variables

The objective of the study was to compare cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia III (CIN III) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix, and its correlation with clinicopathologic factors of SCC with a review of the available literature. This study included 25 patients with CIN III and 67 patients with stage I-IIa SCC. All patients in the SCC group were treated with radical hysterectomy plus pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy and postoperative chemoradiotherapy based on their histopathologic risk factors. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on paraffin-embedded sections with COX-2 antibody. COX-2 expression in the SCC group was significantly higher than in the CIN III group (55.2% [37/67] vs 24% [6/25]; P= 0.008). Significantly higher expression of COX-2 was observed in patients with lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) compared to patients without LVSI (61.9% [34/55] vs 33.3% [3/9]; P= 0.02). Additionally, patients with tumor sizes >4 cm had significantly higher COX-2 expression than patients with tumor sizes <4 cm (65.9% [27/41] vs 39% [10/26] P= 0.028). There was no significant relationship with respect to COX-2 expression and parametrial involvement, lymph node metastasis, recurrences, and survival. In multivariate analysis, LVSI was the only statistically significant determinant for COX-2 expression (P= 0.024; OR = 2.35; 95% CI = 1.1-4.9). Our results and a review of the literature both suggest that COX-2 expression may have a role in the development and progression of CIN III and it is related to some clinicopathologic variables of cervical carcinoma. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of COX-2 inhibitors in the management of CIN and SCC.