Colposcopy in microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix—an enigma of diagnosis

Summary. Colposcopy and the complementary roles of cervical cytology and biopsy in the diagnosis of microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix were assessed in 26 patients. The cervical cytology indicated cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in 16 (62%) and invasive carcinoma in 10 (38%) patients. A correct colposcopic diagnosis of microinvasive carcinoma was made in only seven (30%) patients while 12 (46%) were diagnosed as having preinvasive carcinoma and four (15%) as having invasive carcinoma. Atypical vessels, characteristic of invasion, were found in less than a third of patients. Microinvasion, therefore, may not be evident on colposcopy alone. Multiple large biopsies under colposcopic guidance are useful with cone biopsy as a back-up.     

Usefulness of the Widal test in diagnosing childhood typhoid fever in endemic areas

Data are presented for 2382 children investigated for fever in a Malaysian hospital between 1984 and 1987 when Widal tests and blood cultures were a routine part of every fever screen. There were 145 children who were culture positive (TYP-CP) for Salmonella typhi, while 166 were culture negative but were diagnosed as having typhoid (TYP-CN). Analyses of the sensitivity and specificity of combinations of initial Widal titres in predicting a positive S. typhi culture in a febrile child (culture positive vs the rest) showed the best model to be an O- and/or H-titre of ≥ 1 in 40 (sensitivity 89%; specificity 89%). While the negative predictive value of the model was high (99.2%) the positive predictive value remained below 50% even for very high titres of O and H (> 1 in 640), at which point the specificity was 98.5%, supporting the clinical view that a high proportion of the TYP-CN patients really were typhoid but were missed by culture. The TYP-CN patients showed a very similar clinical and age profile to TYP-CP patients. The length of history of fever did not affect the initial Widal titre in culture positive cases. The Widal test in children remains a sensitive and specific ‘fever screen’ for typhoid although it will not identify all cases. In children, lower cut-off points for O- and H-titres should be used than are generally recommended.     

Importance of Kissing Balloon Inflation in Bifurcation Stenting

Percutaneous bifurcation intervention is usually sufficient with a single-stent strategy. When the double-stent strategy is employed, higher restenosis and target lesion revascularization (TLR) rates are observed, especially at the side-branch ostium. The results may be improved, however, with refinement in techniques, for example, final kissing balloon inflation and double kissing balloon inflation.     

Effect of Intravesical Prostatic Protrusion on the Characteristics of Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Change after 12‐Week Drug Medication: A Prospective Analysis

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify whether intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP) is related to the characteristics of voiding symptoms improvement after drug treatment in benign prostatic hyperplasia patients. Methods: Ninety male patients with more than 30 g prostate volume were prospectively enrolled. All patients were evaluated with International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS), uroflowmetry, postvoid residual urine (PVR), prostate volume and IPP measurement by transrectal ultrasound. Treatment response was evaluated again by IPSS after 12 weeks of medication. We evaluated the correlation of IPP and IPSS, quality of life (QoL) score, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) and PVR, and compared IPPS and IPSS subscale score change between the IPP and non‐IPP groups. Results: IPP was significantly correlated with total IPSS, voiding/storage symptom subscore and PVR. IPP was inversely correlated with Qmax. IPP showed a significant correlation with storage symptoms after an adjustment of prostate volume. After 12 weeks of medication, the IPP group showed persistently high storage symptoms than the non‐IPP group. Conclusion: BPH patients with IPP showed less improvement of storage symptoms after 12 weeks of medication. This study suggests that IPP may be a possible cause of intractable storage symptoms in early treatment.     

Challenge of One‐incision Midurethral Sling for Female Stress Urinary Incontinence: Current Results

As a result of the understanding of the pathogenesis of stress urinary incontinence in females, a tension‐free vaginal tape procedure has been introduced based on integral theory and is now widely used because of its minimal invasiveness and high success rate. Modifications over the last 10 years include changes to mesh type, technique and route of insertion of sling materials. Long‐term efficacy and quality of life data of the different midurethral sling (MUS) procedures are available. However, complications, such as bladder and urethral injury, persistent groin pain, vascular and nerve injury, and voiding difficulty can occur. Recently, one‐incision MUS procedures without tape outlets have been developed to reduce surgical invasiveness and lower the risk of complications. However, few studies have reported the outcomes following one‐incision MUS procedures. The present report reviews studies of one‐incision MUS procedures to determine whether this technique can be used in the place of older techniques. It appears that while one‐incision MUS procedures may be associated with lower complication rates, success rates may also be lower, although the latest results are promising. It takes a long time for the surgeon to become an expert in performing the technique. Proper sling tension and correct surgical plane are very important. At the moment it seems that the one‐incision sling cannot replace older slings. We need to wait for and review the long‐term prospective results of the new and minimally invasive one‐incision sling for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence.     

Diffuse Conduction Abnormalities in an Adolescent with Familial Sinus Node Disease

We report a case of familial sinus node disease with associated conduction abnormalities in the atrioventricular node and distal conduction system Spontaneous atrial pacemaker activity was absent though the atrium could be depolarized. The pacemaker activity of the heart resided in the atrioventricular junction. The AV node showed impaired automaticity and abnormal conduction properties which partially improved after vagal blockage.     

Congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia: Report of three cases

Between January 1985 and June 1992, the Paediatric Department of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia has diagnosed congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia in three children, two of whom were siblings. The age of onset ranged from 1 to 3 years. All of them became transfusion-dependent before the age of 4 months. One of them was successfully treated with bone marrow transplantation.