Endometrial malignancies arising on endometrial polyps and precursor lesions.

INTRODUCTION: Polyps are covered with endometrial epithelium and composed of varying proportions of gland, stroma, and blood vessels. Traditionally, endometrial polyps are accepted as a precursor of cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between malignancies arising on endometrial polyps and precursor lesions of these malignancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of patients who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy because of a malignancy diagnosed on endometrial polyps were obtained retrospectively from pathology archives. RESULTS: When all malignancies on endometrial polyp were considered, 37% of cases were Type I, 55% were Type II, and 7% were carcinosarcoma. Endometrial intraepithelial carcinoma (EIC) was detected as tumor-adjacent areas on the polyp in eight of the patients who were diagnosed with serous carcinoma. CONCLUSION: The authors found a precursor lesion in 20 (74%) of their patients who showed endometrial malignancy developing on endometrial polyps. Even when an overt malignancy is not detected on polyps in the curettage material, precursor lesions should be carefully searched.

The effect of endometrial polyps on pregnancy rates in intracytoplasmic spenn injection cycles.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine reproductive results of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for different endometrial polyps subgroup divided according to polyp size and number. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-three primer infertile patients were retrospectively analyzed. Group A consisted of 36 patients having an endometrial polyp with a diameter ≤ one cm; whereas 47 patients were included in Group B who had a polyp with a diameter > one cm or more than one polyps. All patients underwent a hysteroscopic polypectomy and ICSI treatments were started in the following cycle. RESULTS: Pregnancy was achieved in 16 patients (44.4%) in Group A and 23 patients (48.9%) in Group B. The pregnancy ratios did not reveal a statistically significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The authors concluded that in patients who have undergone hysteroscopic polypectomy before the Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle, the pregnancy rates do not depend on the diameter of the endometrial polyps.

Pre-treatment tumor-infiltrating T cells influence response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is a disease with dismal treatment outcomes. Response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) varies greatly. Although the underlying mechanisms of CRT resistance are not identified, accumulating evidence indicates an important role for local antitumor immunity. To explore the immune microenvironment in relation to response to CRT we performed an in-depth analysis using multiplex immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and mRNA expression analysis (NanoString) to generate a detailed map of the immunological landscape of pretreatment biopsies as well as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of EAC patients. Response to CRT was assessed by Mandard's tumor regression grade (TRG), disease-free- and overall survival. Tumors with a complete pathological response (TRG 1) to neoadjuvant CRT had significantly higher tumor-infiltrating T cell levels compared to all other response groups (TRG 2-5). These T cells were also in closer proximity to tumor cells in complete responders compared to other response groups. Notably, immune profiles of near-complete responders (TRG 2) showed more resemblance to non-responders (TRG 3-5) than to complete responders. A high CD8:CD163 ratio in the tumor was associated with an improved disease-free survival. Gene expression analyses revealed that T cells in non-responders were Th2-skewed, while complete responders were enriched in cytotoxic immune cells. Finally, complete responders were enriched in circulating memory T cells. preexisting immune activation enhances the chance for a complete pathological response to neoadjuvant CRT. This information can potentially be used for future patient selection, but also fuels the development of immunomodulatory strategies to enhance CRT efficacy.

Digital volume tomography in the diagnosis of nasal bone fractures.

Digital volume tomography (DVT) is a kind of cone beam computed tomography and enables high quality 3D images of osseous structures. It is a well-established diagnostic tool in dentistry. High detail resolution is reached with a reduced exposition of radiation dose in comparison to conventional computed tomography. The data volume can be analysed in three orthogonal plains, which can be changed in angle arbitrarily. The aim of the study was to evaluate, if and in which performance DVT is able to detect discrete nasal bone fractures that cannot be seen in conventional radiography occasionally. DVT was performed in sixty-five patients with suspected nasal bone fracture. Five of these patients underwent lateral radiographs of the nasal bones in other departments which failed to show any radiologic signs of a nasal bone fracture, whereas DVT showed clear fracture lines. DVT-findings were also used to classify fractures according to their dimensions. Additionally DVT enabled the reconstruction of three-dimensional volume images. With this technique it is possible to get an image of the extent of the nasal bone fracture and the dislocation of the fragments. Because of these facts as well as its high resolution and low radiation dose, DVT can be recommended as the routine radiological examination in suspected nasal bone fractures.

Comparison of infracondylar versus subsartorial approach to saphenous nerve block: A randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Only a few different approaches are currently utilized for saphenous nerve block. Our study aimed to compare two different ultrasound (US)-guided saphenous nerve blocks and designed this study to test the hypothesis that the medial infracondylar approach has more success rate than the subsartorial approach applied in saphenous nerve blockage. METHODS: The study included 76 patients (18-65 years old) with the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status of I-III, who were scheduled for below-knee surgery by the orthopedics clinic. The patients who underwent US-guided saphenous nerve blockade were randomly divided into two groups: Group S (subsartorial approach) and Group M (medial infracondylar approach). For all patients who had a block procedure, the pinprick test was performed using a blunt needle on the saphenous nerve dermatome. Success rate, time of block performance (TBP), onset time of block (OTB), and duration of sensory blockade (DSB) were recorded using a patient follow-up form. RESULTS: The US-guided saphenous nerve block success rate was similar (88% vs. 91%) or both techniques. The DSB values were 415.2 ± 65.3 min (95% confidence interval [CI]: 286.3-539.8) for Group S and 369.7 ± 52.2 min (95% CI: 265.6-467.8) for Group M (P = 0.04), and no significant differences in the TBP and OTB were observed between the groups. CONCLUSION: Both of the different anatomical approaches have equally high success rates. Although the DSB was found to be significantly longer in the subsartorial approach, this is clinically unimportant, and the medial infracondylar approach is still a viable alternative technique during saphenous nerve blockage.

Squat test performance and execution in children with and without cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge on lower extremity strength is imperative to informed decision making for children with cerebral palsy (CP) with mobility problems. However, a functional and clinically feasible test is not available. We aimed to determine whether the squat test is suitable for this purpose by investigating test performance and execution in children with cerebral palsy and typically developing (TD) peers. METHODS: Squat test performance, defined by the number of two-legged squats until fatigue (max 20), was assessed in twenty children with bilateral CP (6-19years; gross motor function classification system I-III) and sixteen TD children (7-16years). Muscle fatigue was assessed from changes in electromyography (EMG). Joint range-of-motion and net torque were calculated for each single squat, to investigate differences between groups and between the 2nd and last squat. FINDINGS: Fifteen children with CP performed <20 squats (median=13, IQR=7-19), while all TD children performed the maximum of 20 squats. Median EMG frequency decreased and amplitude increased in mm. quadriceps of both groups. Ankle and knee range-of-motion were reduced in children with CP during a single squat by 10 to 15°. No differences between 2nd and last squat were observed, except for knee range-of-motion which increased in TD children and decreased in children with CP. INTERPRETATION: Squat test performance was reduced in children with CP, especially in those with more severe CP. Muscle fatigue was present in both children with CP and TD peers, confirming that endurance of the lower extremity was tested. Minor execution differences between groups suggest that standardized execution is important to avoid compensation strategies. It is concluded that the squat test is feasible to test lower extremity strength in children with CP in a clinically meaningful way. Further clinimetric evaluation is needed before clinical implementation.

Muscle fatigue during repetitive voluntary contractions: a comparison between children with cerebral palsy, typically developing children and young healthy adults.

AIM: To combine peak torque and EMG analyses to investigate the hypothesis that 1) children with cerebral palsy (CP) have lower muscle fatigability than typically developing children (TD) and whether 2) muscle fatigue correlates with muscle strength. METHODS: Seven CP children, eight TD children and ten young healthy adults (YHA) performed an all-out fatigue test of 35 maximal concentric knee extension and flexion contractions on an isokinetic dynamometer. Angular velocity was set at 60°/s. Peak torque (PT) was determined per repetition and either normalized to bodyweight or maximum voluntary torque. Surface-EMG of quadriceps and hamstring muscles was measured to obtain changes in median frequency (EMG-mf) and smooth rectified EMG amplitude per contraction. RESULTS: Decline in PT differed between all groups for extensors and flexors, where YHA showed the largest decline and CP children the smallest decline over the course of the test. YHA showed a larger decline in EMG-mf of all quadriceps and hamstrings than TD and CP children, while TD children showed a larger decline in EMG-mf of m.rectus femoris and m.vastus lateralis than CP children. INTERPRETATION: Results confirm that children with CP show lower fatigability than TD children and that the lower fatigability coincides with lower maximal muscle strength.