Effect of intraurethral Mitomycin-C on healing and fibrosis in rats with experimentally induced urethral stricture

BACKGROUND: In the pathogenesis of urethral stricture, fibrosis is associated with an excessive collagen increase. After the recognition that topical application of Mitomycin-C (MMC) inhibits fibroblast proliferation and is effective in preventing scar formation, many studies have been carried out on this subject outside the scope of urology. The aim of the present study is to observe the intraurethral impact of the employment of low doses of MMC on scar formation and fibrosis in experimental rat model. METHODS: Urethral injuries were made by internal urethrotomy knife. The study was carried out with 35 adult male Wistar albino rats. Five rats were allocated to the control group (group 1), 10 to a group that was administered 2 mg/L MMC (group 2) and 20 to a group that was administered 10 mg/L MMC (group 3). Mitomycin-C was administered to the injured urethra in the form of irrigation for 5 min. The rats were sacrificed 14 days later in order to evaluate chronic inflammation and fibrosis and their penises were histopathologically examined under light microscopy with hematoxilen eosin and trichrom stains. RESULTS: When group 2 was compared with control group, the differences in hemosiderin-laden macrophages (HLM), mononuclear cell infiltration (MCI) and fibrosis were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.005, respectively). When group 3 was compared with control group, the differences in HLM, MCI and fibrosis were also found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.005, respectively). In the comparison of group 2 with group 3, no statistically significant differences were found in terms of the these parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Although MMC is toxic at high doses, the antifibrotic effect of the intraurethral low dose MMC may be useful in combination therapy for internal urethrotomy.     

Ploidy status and the response of T1 glottic carcinoma to radiotherapy

Flow cytometric DNA ploidy measurements were performed on formalin fixed paraffin embedded tumour specimens from patients with a T₁ glottic laryngeal carcinoma in order to evaluate the role of DNA content in relation to local control. From 1980 to 1987, a consecutive series of 90 patients with a T₁ glottic laryngeal carcinoma were treated by radiotherapy with curative intent. Biopsies from 44 of these patients were readily available for DNA flow cytometry. In this group aneuploidy was associated with a significantly higher risk (P= 0.018) of local recurrence within 2 years after completion of radiotherapy (38% vs. 9% in the diploid group).     

Peritoneal albumin leakage: 2 year prospective cardiovascular event occurrence and patient survival analysis

Aim: High peritoneal transport status is a determinant of morbidity and mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. It was hypothesized that 24 h peritoneal albumin leakage predicted 2 year prospective cardiovascular outcome and survival in patients receiving PD. Methods: Sixty‐six patients were included. A simplified peritoneal equilibration test was performed and 24 h peritoneal albumin leakage was calculated. Patients were followed up for 2 years. Patient outcome (alive or dead) and occurrence of a cardiovascular event were recorded. Results: During a 2 year follow‐up period, 10 (15.2%) patients had suffered from a cardiovascular event and seven (10.6%) patients had died. Patients who had suffered from a cardiovascular event during the follow up period were older (54.0 ± 9.4 years vs 44.3 ± 14.5 years, P = 0.025), had lower serum pre‐albumin concentrations (29.3 ± 10.0 g/dL vs 36.0 ± 9.2 g/dL, P = 0.034) and had higher 24 h peritoneal albumin leakage (median, 3.4 g/day (1.66–15.4 g/day) vs 2.4 g/day (0.76–7.31 g/day), P = 0.011) than patients who did not suffer from a cardiovascular event. In the Cox proportional hazards multivariate analysis of factors which differed significantly between patients with and without a cardiovascular event (age, serum pre‐albumin and 24 h peritoneal albumin leakage), only advanced age (hazards ratio, 1.083; 95% confidence interval, 1.023–1.147, P = 0.006) was an independent predictor of a cardiovascular event. Conclusion: In contrast to the hypothesis, 24 h peritoneal albumin leakage is not a predictor of 2 year prospective cardiovascular outcome and patient survival. Only advanced age independently predicts the occurrence of a cardiovascular event in patients receiving PD.     

Irritable bowel syndrome in haemodialysis: Prevalence,link with quality of life and depression

Aim: Health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) is decreased in haemodialysis (HD) patients. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is highly prevalent in general population. This study evaluated the prevalence of IBS and its association with HRQOL and depression in HD. Methods: Sociodemographic and laboratory variables were recorded. Severity of depressive symptoms and HRQOL were assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Short Form 36 (SF‐36), respectively. Diagnosis of IBS was based on Rome II criteria. Results: Among 236 patients 69 (29.2%) had IBS. Patients with IBS had lower SF‐36 scores and had higher depressive symptoms than patients without IBS. Presence of IBS was associated with sleep disturbance (odds ratio (OR) = 2.012; P = 0.045), physical component summary score (OR = 0.963, P = 0.029), mental component summary score (OR = 0.962, P = 0.023), BDI score (OR = 1.040, P = 0.021) and albumin (OR = 0.437, P = 0.01). Conclusion: IBS is highly prevalent in HD patients. Presence of IBS is closely related with HRQOL and depression.     

Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare cutaneous tumour that typically arises in the head and neck area of elderly patients. The tumour often follows an aggressive course with frequent local recurrences and (regional) metastases, especially when localized above the clavicles. Five patients with a Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck, treated in our institute since 1984, are presented, illustrating the need for radical initial treatment consisting of surgery and radiotherapy, and showing how rapidly progressive the disease can be. Four of the five patients were cured of disease by a combination of surgery and radiotherapy.     

Staging and prognostic factors in carcinoma of the base of the tongue

During the period 1966-1985, 66 patients were submitted for curative treatment of a carcinoma of the base of the tongue in the Netherlands Cancer Institute. Treatment consisted of radiotherapy (59 patients), surgery and post-operative radiotherapy (4 patients) and surgery alone (3 patients). Patients were staged according to the UICC (1982) and UICC (1987)/AJCC (1988) criteria. Regrouping by the latter system caused enlargement of the N2-group and of stage IV. The crude 5-year survival was 22%, the 5-year tumour control was 36% and the locoregional control was 47%. The most important prognostic factors for the tumour-free interval are the T-category (P = 0.01) and stage grouping (UICC 1982) (P = 0.022). The same factors predict the locoregional control (P = 0.005 and 002 respectively). Crude survival is lower in smokers, and in patients in poor general condition (P = 0.04 and 0.007 respectively).