Risk of More Advanced Lesions at Hysterectomy after Initial Diagnosis of Non-Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia in Patients with Postmenopausal Bleeding and Oral Anticoagulant Treatment.

Background and Objectives: Endometrial hyperplasia (EH) is a precursor lesion to endometrial cancer (EC), and when cellular atypia is present, in 40% of cases, they are diagnosed with EC on hysterectomy. Usually, EH is clinically manifested by uterine bleeding. In patients with oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT), the uterus is the second most common source of bleeding. The aim of the study was to show that uterine bleeding in postmenopausal patients undergoing OAT may reveal precancerous endometrial lesions with atypia, or neoplastic lesions in patients with an initial diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia without atypia (non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia, NAEH) on dilation and curettage (D&C). We will be able to estimate the risk of a postmenopausal female patient with uterine bleeding during an OAT to have a precancerous endometrial lesion. Materials and Methods: The subjects of the study were 173 female patients with uterine bleeding, who have had total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingoovarectomy, of whom 99 underwent an OAT. There were 101 female patients initially diagnosed with NAEH, of which 60 did not have anticoagulant treatment (mean age 57.36 ± 6.51) and 41 had anticoagulant treatment (mean age 60.39 ± 7.35) (p = 0.006). From the pathology diagnosis moment, the surgery was performed at 42.09 ± 14.54 days in patients without OAT and after 35.39 ± 11.29 days in those who received such treatment (p = 0.724). Results: Initial diagnosis of NAEH established at D&C was changed at the final diagnosis after hysterectomy in EH with cellular atypia (atypical endometrial hyperplasia AEH) or EC in 18.18% of patients without OAT, and in 40.54% of patients who received this treatment. Conclusions: Based on a logistic regression model, it is estimated that female patients with an initial histopathological diagnosis of NAEH and who underwent OAT have, on average, 4.85 times greater odds (OR = 4.85, 95% CI 1.79-14.06) than the others of being identified postoperatively with more advanced lesions.

Elastofibroma Dorsi, a Rare Condition, with Challenging Diagnosis. Case Report and Literature Review.

Elastofibroma dorsi (ED) is known as a particular clinical and biological entity. We report a case of a bilateral elastofibroma dorsi (ED) in a 65-year-old female who presented to the Department of General and Oncologic Surgery of Emergency Clinical Municipal Hospital Timisoara, Romania. The patient was symptomatic on the right side, presenting pain in the interscapulothoracic region associated with a variable tumoral mass, dependent on the position of the right arm. Imaging studies revealed a well-defined, bilateral tumoral mass with alternation of the muscular and fatty tissue. The initial diagnosis of lipoma was taken into consideration based on the CT scan and clinical findings. Surgical excision of the right subscapular tumor was performed without any postoperative complications. Microscopic examination of hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, and orcein stained slides revealed the diagnosis of ED. Considering the high rate of reported postoperative complications and the asymptomatic presentation of the contralateral subscapular mass, the patient underwent clinical and imagistic monitoring for the contralateral tumor. Due to its rare nature, ED is a difficult preoperative diagnosis that can, however, be suggested by its specific location and may require an accurate histopathological examination for a final diagnosis.

Survival Analysis of Patients with Inflammatory Breast Cancer in Relation to Clinical and Histopathological Characteristics.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the survival of patients with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and to correlate these survival rates with the histopathological parameters found in the resection specimen of the tumor. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was based on 27 patients that had been diagnosed and had undergone surgery in the 2nd General and Oncological Surgery Clinic of the County Emergency Hospital in Timisoara, Romania. Data about the patient group were collected from archived patient files over a period of eight years starting from January 2008. The collected data regarded age, tumor size and histopathological type and immunohistochemistry (IHC), presence or absence of tumor embolus in lymphatic or blood vessels and the presence or absence of distant metastases at the time of diagnosis. We evaluated the impact of tumor characteristics on the patients' outcome. RESULTS: The 12-month survival rates postsurgery were significantly increased if tumors were <5 cm compared to those >5 cm (p=0.046), if nodal status was N0 vs N1-2 (p=0.039), as well as in cases where distant metastases were absent, compared to patients with distant metastases (p=0.001, α=0.001) and positive-hormone receptors (p=0.043). Survival was influenced neither by histopathological type (p=0.357) nor by the presence of tumor embolus in the resection specimen (p=0.250) and HER2 status (p=0.763). Survival at 12 months after surgery was equal between those with stage IIIB noninflammatory breast cancer (NIBC) and IBC. At 24 months after surgery, IBC cases presented a significantly lower probability of survival. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of patients with IBC is reserved compared to NIBC, increased tumor size, positive lymph node, hormone receptors negative cases and distant metastases drastically decreasing survival rates.

The role of pelvic lymphocele in the development of early postoperative complications.

With the increasing incidence of gynecologic malignancy, radical hysterectomy represents an important part of the adequate treatment of these patients. The pelvic lymphocele is a known side effect of pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. The aim of our study was to assess the role of the lymphocele in the development of early postoperative complications.A single-center, retrospective analysis between January 2000 and May 2017 revealed 1867 patients with cervical and endometrial cancer, treated through radical or modified radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Postoperative complications and the occurrence of pelvic lymphocele were evaluated.Approximately 47.6% of patients were diagnosed with pelvic lymphocele, with only 5.2% being symptomatic. Early postoperative complications rate recorded an incidence of 8.1%, occurring more frequent if lymphocele were present (P < .001). The pelvic lymphocele represented, in univariate analysis, a risk factor for the development of pelvic abscesses, but not for deep vein thrombosis, lymphedema, or bowel obstruction. Hydronephrosis was found to be significantly correlated with the pelvic lymphocele, but we believe this urological complication to have a different underlining mechanism. Neoadjuvant radiotherapy represented in both uni- and multivariate analysis a risk factor for the occurrence of postoperative complications.In the postoperative context of oncogynecological surgery, pelvic lymphocele occur at high rates, representing a statistical risk factor for hydronephrosis and pelvic abscesses, with neoadjuvant radiotherapy being an independent risk factor for early postoperative complications.

Use of methylene blue in the prevention of recurrent intra-abdominal postoperative adhesions.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of methylene blue in preventing recurrent symptomatic postoperative adhesions. Methods Patients with a history of >2 surgeries for intra-abdominal adhesion-related complications were selected for this study. Adhesiolysis surgery was subsequently performed using administration of 1% methylene blue. The follow-up period was 28.5 ± 11.1 months. Results Data were available from 20 patients (seven men and 13 women) whose mean ± SD age was 51.2 ± 11.4 years. Adhesions took longer to become symptomatic after the first abdominal surgery when the initial pathology was malignant compared with benign. However, the recurrence of adhesions after a previous adhesiolysis surgery had a similar time onset regardless of the initial disease. Following adhesiolysis surgery with methylene blue, the majority of patients did not present with symptoms associated with adhesion complications (i.e., chronic abdominal pain, bowel obstruction) for the length of the follow-up period. Conclusions The use of methylene blue during adhesiolysis surgery appears to reduce the recurrence of adhesion-related symptoms, suggesting a beneficial effect in the prevention of adhesion formation.

Factors influencing the quality of life perception in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of several factors on the patient's perception on quality of life in a group of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 198 patients with T2DM were enrolled according to a consecutive-case population-based study design. In all participants, the perception on the quality of life was measured using the quality of life index - diabetes version III proposed by Ferrans and Powers. We evaluated the impact of several anthropometric and diabetes-related (ie, diabetes history and quality of glycemic control) factors on the patient's perception on the quality of life. RESULTS: The presence of diabetes complications was associated with a decreased quality of life: retinopathy (1 vs 5 points; P<0.001), chronic kidney disease (-1 vs 5 points; P<0.001), and neuropathy (-1 vs 5 points; P<0.001). A significant reverse correlation was found between the patient's quality of life and depression's severity (Spearman's r=-0.345; P<0.001) and body mass index (Spearman's r=-0.158; P=0.026). A positive association between the quality of life and the quality of diabetes-related self-care activities was found (Spearman's r=0.338; P<0.001). No significant association was found between the patient's quality of life and the quality of glycemic control, diabetes duration, age, gender, or smoking status. CONCLUSION: To improve the patient's quality of life, special care should be given to the modifiable diabetes-related factors: the prevention and treatment of diabetes complications, treatment of depression, and weight loss in obese and overweight patients.

In vitro fertilization represents a risk factor for vasa praevia.

Vasa praevia is a rare but very dangerous obstetrical condition. The purpose of our article is to evaluate data available in literature that indicate in vitro fertilization as a risk factor for vasa praevia. PubMed Library and Cochrane Database were searched using the keywords vasa praevia, in vitro fertilization, velamentous cord insertion, placenta praevia. The conditions related to in vitro fertilization that increase the risk of vasa praevia formation were identified and discussed. Also, the diagnosis and management options were reviewed. In vitro fertilization represents a risk factor for vasa praevia and all such pregnancies should be screened by transvaginal ultrasound for vasa praevia.

Anterior commissure laryngeal neoplasm endoscopic management.

The CO2 laser surgery represents a treatment method of laryngeal bicordal and anterior commissure glottic cancer T1b, T2, N0. In Department of ENT, Timisoara, Romania, during 1.01.2001-31.12.2011 were analyzed 781 files from patients with laryngeal neoplasm. One hundred twenty-seven patients presented the tumor that involved both vocal cords and anterior commissure, stages T1b, T2 and T3. Therapeutic options included CO2 laser microsurgical excision for 55 (43.30%) patients, frontolateral hemilaryngectomy for 16 (12.59%) patients, total laryngectomy for 42 (33.07%) patients, radiotherapy for 10 (7.87%) patients, and four (3.14%) patients, initially, refused any treatment modality. Endoscopic laser CO2 microsurgery was the primary and solitary management for curative resection of the glottic cancer. All operations were performed under general anesthesia with orotracheal intubations. The mean follow-up was 58 months, with the range between 36 to 84 months. Suspended microlaryngoscopy with CO2 laser surgery has been performed in 43 (33.85%) patients staged T1bN0Mx and 12 (9.44%) patients staged T2N0Mx. In five (9.09%) patients, we encountered local recurrences. The endoscopic CO2 laser surgery is in our view the elective and preferable surgical method in laryngeal glottic cancer stage T1b and T2 for cure, with oncological and functional results superior to those of conventional surgical procedures.

Age and HPV type as risk factors for HPV persistence after loop excision in patients with high grade cervical lesions: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Persistent infections with high risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPV) cause virtually all cervical cancers. METHODS: An observational study was conducted aiming to estimate the rate of HPV infection persistence after LEEP in patients with high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). Moreover, the study investigated if persistence is age related. For this reason a total of 110 patients were included between January 2010 and June 2015. RESULTS: At 6 months after LEEP the overall HPV infection persistence rate was 40.9 %, at 12 months 20 % and at 18 months 11.8 %. Type 16 showed the highest persistence rate: 27.3 % at 6 months, 12.7 % at 12 months and 10 % at 18 months after LEEP. The persistence for HPV type 16 at 6 months after LEEP was significantly higher in the group > =36.5 years old compared to the persistence rate in the group <36.5 years old (p = 0.0027, RR = 2.75, 95 %ϵ(1.34; 5.64)) (see Table 3). CONCLUSIONS: LEEP does not completely eradicate HPV infection. HPV persistence rate after LEEP is higher in infections with type 16 and in women older than 36.5 years.

Human Papilloma Virus Persistence after Cone Excision in Women with Cervical High Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion: A Prospective Study.

Background. Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a necessary event in cervical cancer tumorigenesis. Our objectives were to estimate the rate of HPV infection persistence after large loop excision of the transformation zone (LEEP) in patients with high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and to investigate if HPV persistence is type related. Methods. We conducted a prospective study on 89 patients with HSIL treated with LEEP. DNA HPV was performed before surgery and at 6, 12, and 18 months after LEEP. Results. Four patients were excluded from the study. The HPV persistence in the remaining 85 patients was 32.95% (6 months), 14.12% (12 months), and 10.59% (18 months). Type 16 had the highest persistence rate, 23.5% (6 months), 11.8% (12 months), and 8.2% (18 months). Coinfection was found to be 54.12% before LEEP and 18.8% (6 months), 4.7% (12 months), and 3.5% (18 months) after LEEP. The rate of coinfections including type 16 was 46.83% of all coinfections. Coinfection including type 16 was not correlated with higher persistence rate compared to infection with type 16 only. Conclusions. HPV infection is not completely eradicated by LEEP in patients with HSIL lesion on PAP smear. HPV persistence after LEEP is influenced by HPV type. HPV type 16 has the highest persistence rate.

Impact of neuropathy on the adherence to diabetes-related self-care activities: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the presence and severity of neuropathy and depression on the patient's adherence to diabetes-related self-care activities (DRSCA) in a cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional, noninterventional study, 198 patients with T2DM were enrolled according to a population-based, consecutive-case enrollment principle. In all patients, the adherence to DRSCA was evaluated using the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) questionnaire; a higher SDSCA score is associated with a better adherence. The presence and severity of neuropathy was assessed using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) and the severity of depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). RESULTS: The presence of neuropathy was associated with a decreased SDSCA score (26 points vs 37 points; P<0.001), an increased severe depression prevalence (24.7% vs 4.3%; P<0.001), and an increased PHQ-9 score (12 points vs 7 points; P<0.001). The MNSI score was reverse correlated with SDSCA score (r=-0.527; P<0.001) and positively correlated with PHQ-9 score (r=0.495; P<0.001). The reverse correlation between MNSI score and SDSCA score was present for all the subcomponents of SDSCA questionnaire (diet, exercise, glycemic monitoring, and foot care). CONCLUSION: The presence of neuropathy is associated with decreases in the quality of adherence to DRSCA in patients with T2DM and with increases in the symptomatology of depression. The significant, negative association between the severity of T2DM and the quality of disease self-management points to a possible loop-type relationship between these two components, being possible a reciprocal augmentation with negative consequences on the global management of the disease.

Pelvic intraoperative iatrogenic oncosurgical injuries: single-center experience.

PURPOSE: Iatrogenic events are more likely to occur during surgical treatment of malignant conditions. Gynecologic and colorectal cancers account for most of the cases that require surgical treatment within the pelvic area. The purpose of this study was to analyze the incidence of intraoperative accidents and the most frequently encountered injuries during surgery for cancers of the pelvic area. METHODS: The records of 2702 patients admitted to our clinic over a 15-year period, (January 2000-December 2014), were analyzed for type and frequency of intraoperative accidents. RESULTS: Urinary tract lesions were the most common injuries seen in this series (63.1%), followed by enteral (28.1%) and vascular (8.8%) injuries, with an overall incidence of 2.9% for the whole group. Iatrogenic injuries showed a statistically significant difference in incidence depending on the type of primary malignancy (p<0.002). Cervical cancer was associated with a higher rate of ureteral lesions, whereas enteral injuries occurred predominantly during surgical resection for ovarian cancer. The use of neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy has been associated with a significantly lower risk of surgical iatrogenic injuries (p=0.004). CONCLUSION: Immediate recognition of the lesion and prompt treatment are recommended in order to lower postoperative complications and to avoid a second operation.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Western Romania.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that most commonly causes asymptomatic infection in immunocompetent hosts, but can have devastating consequences in congenitally infected infants and immunocompromised patients. We evaluated the seroprevalence of T. gondii in the general population in Western Romania. Sera from 304 individuals were analysed with the Pastorex Toxo test, which allows the simultaneous detection of T. gondii IgG and/or IgM antibodies. T. gondii antibodies were demonstrated in 197 individuals (64.8%) and the prevalence increased with age: 35.0% in those < 20 years versus 76.8% in those ≥ 70 years (p < 0.001). There was a higher prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in rural areas (76.9%) than in urban regions (55.3%) (p < 0.001). Our results suggest a high prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in Western Romania.

The value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the characterization of vascular pattern of solid pancreatic lesions.

UNLABELLED: The AIM of our study was to evaluate the accuracy of CEUS in the characterization of pancreatic solid lesions, considering cross sectional imaging techniques (CE-CT/MRI) as the "gold standard" methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective, monocentric study that included 91 solid pancreatic lesions which were evaluated by CEUS and by a second-line contrast imaging technique (CT or MRI), considered as the reference method. RESULTS: The rate of a conclusive diagnosis based on a typical enhancement pattern was 94% (78/83 cases). In 72 cases out of 83 (86.7%) there was a perfect concordance between CEUS and the "gold-standard" imaging method (CE-CT/MRI). In our study, 88% (73/83) of the pancreatic lesions were categorized as malignant due to their typical wash-out aspect in the late phase. The overall accuracy of CEUS for the differential diagnosis of solid pancreatic tumors was approximately 81%. The accuracy of CEUS for the diagnosis of hypoenhancing pancreatic tumors was approximately 89.1%; while for the diagnosis of hyperenhancing pancreatic tumors it was approximately 72.8%. CONCLUSION: CEUS allows the differentiation between hypo- vs. hyperenhancing pancreatic solid lesions, with a considerable diagnostic accuracy, a fundamental step in the precise diagnosis of pancreatic tumors.

Epidemiology of ascariasis, enterobiasis and giardiasis in a Romanian western county (Timis), 1993-2006.

The purpose of this study is to bring new and important data regarding the epidemiology of ascariasis, enterobiasis and giardiasis in the Romanian largest county during a 14-year period. We have performed a retrospective collection and analysis of the available information provided by the general practitioners to the Statistics Department database of the Timis County Public Health Authority. The mean annual incidence of the studied parasitic diseases during 1993-2006 was the following: 194 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (range: 90-304) for ascariasis, 777 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (range: 417-1241) for enterobiasis and 1076 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (range: 93-1770) for giardiasis. Noteworthy is that Romania reported 90.8% of the total cases of giardiasis at the European Union's level during 2006-2008. The general trend of the incidences throughout the studied period was constant for ascariasis (R(2)=0.192, p=0.1), showed no statistically significant variation (R(2)=0.025, p=0.6) for enterobiasis and was upward for giardiasis (R(2)=0.6, p=0.001). Intestinal parasitoses represent an important public health concern in Romania due to the extremely high incidence rates reported. Special attention should be paid to the young population (0-14 years), where the negative disease consequences on children's health and their educational process may be traced for a long-term. Therefore, efficient educational programs and campaigns should be timely implemented.