Six Cases of Prenatal and Neonatal Torsion of the Spermatic Cord

Torsions of the spermatic cord occurring from the intrauterine period to the end of the first year of life are termed perinatal. These are divided into prenatal and postnatal torsions, depending on their occurrence in the intrauterine or postuterine period. From January 1984 to January 1996, 6 cases were identified at our institution, involving 4 prenatal and 2 postnatal extravaginal torsions of the spermatic cord. These cases are reviewed with regard to optimal therapeutic approaches for the treatment of both the affected gonad as well as the contralateral one, and whether the event occurred prenatally or postnatally. The authors also propose several clinical indications useful for obstetricians, pediatricians, urologists and nurses.     

Combined use of antisense oligonucleotides and chemotherapeutics in the treatment of refractory prostate cancer

Throughout the past six decades, our understanding of cancer of the prostate and the treatment of the disease using endocrine therapy has been centred on the classical investigations of Charles Huggins, which established that tumor tissue of the prostate as well as the normal tissue of the gland retained some degree of androgen dependence. Attention must now be focussed on the 20-40% of patients who are resistant to endocrine therapy. These patients are non-responders to conventional endocrine treatment after 3 to 6 months, quickly progress and die of the disease. In terms of molecular endocrinology related to the progressive stage of the disease, it would be expected that the cancer is being driven by the uncontrolled action of growth factors. Experiments combining oligonucleotide treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents demonstrated a marked increase in the sensitivity of the prostate cancer cells. Results indicate that despite the presence of Bcl-x pre-mRNA in a number of cell types, the effects of modification of its splicing by antisense oligonucleotides vary depending on the expression profile of the treated cells. The transition from androgen-dependent to androgen non-dependent prostate cancer is accompanied by a number of molecular genetic changes, including overexpression of the Bcl-2 gene. Overexpression of Bcl-2 protein decreases the pro-apoptotic response to such cellular insults as irradiation, chemotherapy, and androgen withdrawal. The future looks promising and this kind of treatment offers a novel approach to alternative therapeutic options for advanced prostate cancer. Although numerous chemotherapeutic regimens have been evaluated for patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer, none has improved survival.     

ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 gene polymorphisms and serum lipid levels in young Greek nurses

Objective  

The ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) is essential protein involved in lipid metabolism. The present study was undertaken to detect the possible association of polymorphisms in the ABCA1 gene [rs2230806 (R219K) and rs2230808 (R1587K)] and lipid profile in Greek young nurses.     

Transcranial Doppler versus transthoracic echocardiography for the detection of patent foramen ovale in patients with cryptogenic cerebral ischemia: A systematic review and diagnostic test accuracy meta‐analysis

Schwannomatosis is a genetic disorder characterized by the occurrence of multiple peripheral schwannomas. Segmental schwannomatosis is diagnosed when schwannomas are restricted to 1 extremity and is thought to be caused by genetic mosaicism. We studied 5 patients with segmental schwannomatosis through microstructural magnetic resonance neurography and mutation analysis of NF2, SMARCB1, and LZTR1. In 4 of 5 patients, subtle fascicular nerve lesions were detected in clinically unaffected extremities. Two patients exhibited LZTR1 germline mutations. This appears contrary to a simple concept of genetic mosaicism and suggests more complex and heterogeneous mechanisms underlying the phenotype of segmental schwannomatosis than previously thought. Ann Neurol 2016;80:625–628     

Reversal of Experimental Posthepatectomy Liver Failure in Pigs: A New Application of Hepatocyte Bioreactors

Postoperative liver failure remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality after extensive hepatectomies. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a hepatocyte bioreactor in the treatment of experimental post‐hepatectomy liver failure. Our experimental model included a combination of a side‐to‐side portacaval shunt, occlusion of the hepatoduodenal ligament for 150 min, 70% hepatectomy, and reperfusion. Following the development of liver failure, 12 pigs were randomized into a control group (n = 6) and a treatment group (n = 6). Both groups underwent extracorporeal perfusion through a plasma separation device, a membrane oxygenator, and two parallel bioreactors. In the latter group, the bioreactors were loaded with 10 billion fresh hepatocytes, isolated from a donor pig. Following hepatocyte treatment, all animals were maintained for 24 h under mechanical ventilation, with intravenous fluid and glucose supplementation. Hemodynamic parameters, intracranial pressure, and biochemical parameters were measured. Liver biopsies were obtained during the 24‐h autopsy. The extracorporeal circuit was well‐tolerated hemodynamically. Treated animals had lower intracranial pressure compared with controls (at 24 h, 15 ± 3.1 vs. 22 ± 3.5 mm Hg, P = 0.006). Plasma ammonia in treated animals was lower compared with controls at 12 h (100 ± 29 vs. 244 ± 131 µmol, P = 0.026). Liver histological study showed decreased necrosis and increased regeneration activity in treated animals compared with controls. Treatment through an extracorporeal hepatocyte bioreactor attenuates brain edema and improves histological and functional parameters of the liver remnant of pigs with posthepatectomy liver failure.     

Right colon and liver hemangiomatosis： A case report and a review of the literature

INTRODUCTION Hemangiomas constitute 7% of all benign vascular tumors and are characterized by increased numbers of normal or abnormal vessels filled with blood and are usually local- ized; however, when they involve a large number of organs in the body th…     

Perinatal Epstein Barr virus infection in a premature infant.

This is a case of an infant boy born at 28 weeks gestational age who presented on the 42nd day of life with hepatosplenomegaly, haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia and atypical lymphocytes on the peripheral blood smear. He had an Epstein Barr virus (EBV) viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgM antibody titre of 1:160 and a positive test for heterophil antibodies. The cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgM titre was 0.600 and CMV IgG 70 Au/ml. The infant died 10 d later and the autopsy showed CMV inclusion bodies in the lungs, liver and kidneys. EBV infection acquired perinatally, probably co-existing with CMV, may have led to a fatal disease.     

Metastatic neoplasms of the ovaries: a clinicopathological study of 97 cases

Objective  

To present the clinicopathological features of metastatic ovarian neoplasms with emphasis in the diagnostic challenge.     

Myxoid leiomyosarcoma of the uterus in a patient receiving tamoxifen therapy: a case report.

In this paper, we present a case of myxoid leiomyosarcoma development in a patient receiving tamoxifen for 3 years because of breast cancer. The myxoid leiomyosarcoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of any uterine tumor with a predominantly myxomatous composition. A review of the literature indicates that tamoxifen may increase not only the risk for endometrial cancer but also for uterine sarcoma, suggesting vigilance for uterine cancer in women who are being treated with this drug.     

Mixed metaplastic carcinoma of the breast associated with pregnancy: Diagnostic dilemmas in fine‐needle aspiration cytology

Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast represents a rare entity characterized by the simultaneous presence of ductal, squamous, and/or mesenchymal components in several proportions. There are limitations in fine‐needle aspiration diagnosis due to its pathological heterogeneity. When it develops under pregnancy and lactation influence, the cytologic evaluation appears to be more difficult and accurate diagnosis often proves challenging. We describe a case of mixed metaplastic carcinoma with dominant areas of squamous metaplasia, sarcomatoid stroma with spindle cells, and a minor component of cartilaginous metaplasia. We notify our experience in diagnostic approach of this entity focusing on differential diagnosis. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.