The Added-value of Staging 18F-FDG PET/CT in the Prediction of Overall Survival in the Patients with Bladder Cancer.

Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the prognostic importance of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG)-positive pelvic lymph nodes (LNs) and extra-pelvic disease on staging 18F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in patients with bladder cancer. Methods: Bladder cancer patients who underwent staging 18F-FDG PET/CT were included in the study. Histopathologic features of tumors, therapy histories, presence of distinguishable tumors on CT and PET images, sizes and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of primary tumors, total numbers, sizes, and SUVmax of 18F-FDG-positive pelvic and extra-pelvic LNs, and total numbers and SUVmax of distant metastases (M1a/1b) were recorded. Patients were followed up until death or the last medical visit. Factors predicting overall survival were determined using Cox regression analysis. Results: Fifty-five patients [median age: 70 (53-84), 48 (87.3%) male, 7 (12.7%) female] with bladder cancer were included in this study. Twenty-nine (52.7%) patients had 18F-FDG positive pelvic LNs, while 24 (43.7%) patients had 18F-FDG positive extra-pelvic disease. Patients with 18F-FDGpositive pelvic LNs had a higher rate of extra-pelvic disease (p=0.003). The median follow-up duration was 13.5 months. The median overall survival was 16.3 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 8.9-23.7]. The primary tumor distinguishability on PET (p=0.011) and CT (p=0.009) images, the presence of 18F-FDG-positive pelvic LNs (p<0.001) and 18F-FDG-positive extra-pelvic disease/distant metastases (M1a/M1b) (p<0.001), and the number of distant metastases (p=0.034) were associated with mortality. The 18F-FDG-positive extra-pelvic disease/distant metastases [p=0.029, odds ratio: 4.15 (95% CI 1.16-14.86)] was found to be an independent predictor of mortality in patients with bladder cancer. Conclusion: The presence of 18F-FDG-positive extra-pelvic disease in pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT is an important prognostic factor in bladder cancer patients.

Treatment of ovarian damage induced by chemotherapeutic drugs in female rats with G-CSF and platelet-rich plasma(PRP): an immunohistochemical study correlation with novel marker INSL-3.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impacts of Platelet-Rich Plasma(PRP) and Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor(G-CSF) on a rat model with induced ovarian follicular damage caused by cyclophosphamide(Cy). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into seven distinct groups as; Group 1(control): NaCl intraperitoneal (IP) injection was administered on days D1, D7, and D14. Group 2(Cy):Cy IP injection on D1 + NaCl IP injection on D7 and D14 were administered. Group 3(PRP): PRP IP injection on D1,D7 and D14 were administered. Group 4(Cy + PRP):Cy IP injection on D1 and PRP IP injection on D1, D7 and D14 were administered. Group 5(G-CSF): G-CSF IP injection on D1, D7 and D14 were administered. Group 6(Cy + G-CSF):Cy IP injection on D1+ G-CSF IP injection on D1, D7 and D14 were administered. Group 7(Cy + PRP + G-CSF):Cy IP injection on D1+ PRP IP injection on D1,D7 and D14+ G-CSF IP injection on D1,D7 and D14 were administered. Follicular number, histological scores of AMH and INSL3 stained follicles at different stages of follicular development, and serum Anti-Müllerian hormone(AMH) were evaluated. RESULTS: The primary, secondary, and antral follicle intensity scores for AMH-positive staining were most prominent in Groups 3 and 5. There was no significant difference between groups 4, 6 and 7 compared to group 1 in terms of follicule counts and AMH staining. The intensity scores of AMH-positive staining follicles were notably reduced in group 2 compared to groups 4, 6, and 7, with a significant difference (p < .01). Among the groups, group 2 exhibited the least intense antral follicle staining for INSL3, displaying a significant difference(p < .01) compared to the remaining groups. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous PRP and G-CSF might protect ovarian function in the face of ovarian damage caused by Cy-induced effects.

Relationship Between Metabolic Activity, Cellularity, Histopathological Features of Primary Tumors and Distant Metastatic Potential in Breast Cancer.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the types of distant metastatic spread, histopathological features, and imaging features of primary tumor on positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) for primary staging in newly diagnosed breast invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) patients. Methods: Data from 289 female patients were retrospectively evaluated. Maximum standardized uptake value, metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and minimum apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCmin) values of primary tumors were obtained from PET/MRI. The patients were grouped as non-metastatic, oligometastatic (1-5 metastatic lesions) and multimetastatic (>5 metastatic lesions) disease according to the number of distant metastases, and divided into two groups as isolated bone metastasis (IBM) and mixed/soft tissue metastasis (M-SM) groups according to the sites of metastatic spread. Results: Metabolic parameters had higher values and ADCmin had lower values in the multimetastatic and oligometastatic groups than in the non-metastatic group. MTV was the only parameter that showed significant difference between the multimetastatic and oligometastatic groups. MTV and TLG were significantly higher in the M-SM group than in the IBM group. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET parameters had significantly higher values in grade 3, hormone receptor negative, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive, triple negative, and highly proliferative (Ki-67 ≥14%) tumors. The prediction models that included imaging parameters to predict the presence of distant metastasis had higher discriminatory powers than the prediction models that included only histopathological parameters. Conclusion: Primary tumors with higher metabolic-glycolytic activity and higher cellularity were more aggressive and had higher metastatic potential in breast IDC. Compared with histopathological parameters alone, the combination of imaging parameters and histopathological features of primary tumors may help to better understand tumor biology and behavior.

The efficacy of three regimes of uterotonic agents for prevention of postpartum blood loss at undergoing cesarean section: a prospective randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy of three regimes of uterotonic agents on PPH in women undergoing cesarean section in our RCT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was a randomized controlled study (NCT05083910) performed at the Bezmialem Vakif University between July 2021 and January 2022. All women were randomly allocated into three groups: Group I (n = 52) - oxytocin only; Group II (n = 52) - the combination of oxytocin plus intrauterine misoprostol; Group III (n = 52) - carbetocin only. The primary outcome measures were: PPH to evaluate with the change between the concentrations of preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin, hematocrit and intraoperative blood loss. RESULTS: The blood loss characteristics, including the change in hemoglobin and the change in hematocrit concentration, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative additional hemostatic uterine sutures and the need for additional uterotonics, were lowest in group III, although all groups were comparable in terms of blood loss parameters. Group III had the highest blood loss ratio, exceeding 1000 mL. For the combination of oxytocin and intrauterine misoprostol, the ARR was 3.8% (95% CI 20.02-12.33), with a RR of 1.18 (95% CI 0.58-2.39) and a NNT of 26 (95% CI 8.1-4.9); for carbetocin, the ARR was 5.8% (95% CI 22.15-10.61), with a RR of 1.27 (95% CI 0.63-2.53) and a NNT of 17 (95% CI 9.41-4.51). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that carbetocin shows no superiority in the prevention of PPH in women undergoing cesarean section. Oxytocin still seems to be a highly effective alternative to prevent PPH.

Prognostic value of primary tumor and lymph node volumetric metabolic parameters at pre-treatment F-18 FDG PET/CT in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of volumetric metabolic parameters of pre-treatment PET/CT along with clinical characteristics in patients with non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-nine patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma underwent F18- FDG PET/CT for pretreatment evaluation and included in this study. The patient features (patient age, tumor histopathology, T and N stage, size of primary tumor and the largest cervical lymph node) and PET parameters were analyzed: maximum, mean and peak standardized uptake values (SUVmax, SUVmean, SUVpeak), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) for primary tumor and largest cervical lymph node. After treatment, patients were evaluated for disease progression and mortality. Survival analysis for progression-free survival (PFS) and over-all survival (OS) was performed with Kaplan-Meier method using PET findings and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 29.7 months (range 3-125 months). Among clinical characteristics, no parameters had significance association for PFS. Primary tumor-MTV and cervical lymph node-MTV were independent prognostic factors for PFS (p = 0.025 and p = 0.004, respectively).Patients with primary tumor-MTV >19.4 and patients with lymph node-MTV>3.4 had shorter PFS. For OS, age and the size of the lymph node were independent prognostic factor (p = 0.031 and p = 0.029).Patients with age over 54 years and patients with lymph node size >1 cm were associated with decreased OS. CONCLUSION: Primary tumor-MTV and lymph node-MTV on pre-treatment PET/CT are significant prognostic factors for long-term PFS in non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. We consider that measuring MTV as volume-based metabolic parameter on pretreatment PET/CT may contribute decision of treatment intensity and individualized risk stratification and may improve long-term PFS. Additionally, age and the size of lymph node are independent prognostic factors for mortality.

Quantitative and visual analyses of the effect of activity reduction on image metrics and quality in 18F-FDG PET/MRI in pediatric oncology.

BACKGROUND: : The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of reduced injected tracer activities on the quantitative image metrics and the visual image quality in whole-body 18F-FDG PET/MRI with TOF capability in pediatric oncology. METHODS: Seventy-seven PET/MRI examinations of 54 patients were analyzed (standard injected activity: 1.9 MBq/kg, standard PET scan duration: 5 min per bed position). Lower activity PET images (1.2 MBq/kg and 0.9 MBq/kg) were retrospectively simulated from the originally acquired list-mode data sets. Quantitative parameters were assessed by measuring the SUV metrics, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR), and textural features in each PET data set. PET images were also evaluated visually for image quality by using a scoring system. RESULTS: SNRs were found as significantly different among PET data sets (p < 0.001) and showed increasing image noise with decreasing activities. CNR values did not show significant differences among PET data sets. The mean relative percentage changes in SUV metrics were found to be lower in 1.2 MBq/kg data set compared to 0.9 MBq/kg data set. Lesion SUVmax, SUVmean, SULpeak, and textural features were significantly different in 0.9 MBq/kg data set compared to the original data set (p < 0.05 for all). However, SUV metrics and textural features did not show a significant difference between the original and 1.2 MBq/kg data sets. While, the mean visual scores in 0.9 MBq/kg data set were significantly different compared to the original data set (p < 0.001), there was no significant difference between the original and 1.2 MBq/kg data sets in terms of general image quality and image sharpness. DISCUSSION: Our analyses showed that the reduction of injected activity to 1.2 MBq/kg may be feasible in pediatric oncological PET/ MRI, with a smaller relative percentage change in quantitative parameters and with similar image quality to the original data set.

Primary tumor heterogeneity on pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT to predict outcome in patients with rectal cancer who underwent surgery after neoadjuvant therapy.

PURPOSE: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the value of texture features of primary tumors in pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT in the prediction of response to treatment, progression, and overall survival in patients with rectal cancer who underwent surgery after neoadjuvant therapy(NAT). METHODS: Patients with rectal cancer who had pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT, and underwent surgery after NAT were included in this study. Clinicopathologic features, date of last follow-up, progression, and death were recorded. Textural and conventional PET parameters(maximum standardized uptake value-SUVmax, metabolic tumor volume-MTV, total lesion glycolysis-TLG) were obtained from PET/CT images using LifeX program. Parameters were grouped using Youden index in ROC analysis. Factors predicting the pathological response to treatment, progression, and overall survival were determined using logistic regression and Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: Forty-four patients (26(59%) male, 18(41%) female; 60.1±11.4 years) with rectal cancer were included in this study. The numbers of patients with responders and non-responders to NAT were 15(34.9%) and 28(65.1%), respectively. One patient' pathology report did not contain the response status to NAT. The median of follow-up duration was 29.9 months. 9(20.5%) showed disease progression, and 8(18.2%) died during the follow-up period. Difference entropyGLCM and correlationGLCM parameters were found as independent predictors for response to NAT. The positivity of surgical margin, intensity interquartile rangeCONV and AUC-CSHDISC texture parameters were independent predictors of progression, while normalized inverse differenceGLCM and LZLGEGLZLM parameters were independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION: The texture parameters obtained from pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT have presented a more robust predictive value than conventional parameters in patients with rectal cancer who underwent surgery after NAT.

Cardiometabolic profiles in women with adenomyosis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the reproductive profiles, metabolic parameters and cardiometabolic risk assessed by surrogate indexes in women with adenomyosis. Ninety-six premenopausal women who were diagnosed with adenomyosis by transvaginal ultrasound and 97 age-body mass index (BMI) matched controls with normal ultrasound during routine examination were included. Women with adenomyosis were more likely to have higher gravidity and had more abortions than women without adenomyosis. Regarding the individual metabolic syndrome components, the adenomyosis group was more likely to have higher prevalence of hypertension, low HDL-C and central obesity. No significant difference was found between the groups in terms of visceral adiposity index, lipid accumulation product and fatty liver index. Only higher blood pressure (BP) remained statistically significant after adjustment for confounding factors in multivariate analysis. Women with adenomyosis had remarkably high risk of hypertension. It may be advisable to monitor their BP closely.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? The only anthropometric characteristic assessed in women in relation to adenomyosis is body mass index (BMI). A case-control study showed that women who are obese are more likely to have adenomyosis. The gravidity, number of spontaneous abortions and previous uterine surgeries such as dilatation and curettage (D&C) and caesarean section were found significantly associated with adenomyosis.What do the results of this study add? A remarkable finding of our study was the increased incidence of higher systolic BP in women with adenomyosis. No difference was observed in adiposity indices between women with and without adenomyosis. Higher prevalence of central obesity and lower HDL-C levels were seen in women with adenomyosis.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The study identifies that adenomyosis is associated with an increased risk of hypertension, and women with adenomyosis may be monitored closely for blood pressure changes. Our report also provides novel information about the metabolic risk profiles associated with adenomyosis.

Sleep, depression, anxiety and fatigue in women with premature ovarian insufficiency.

PURPOSE: To assess sleep disturbances, levels of anxiety, depression and fatigue in women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 62 women with POI and 62 age-matched controls. Women in both groups completed questionnaires. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Insomnia severity index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Fatigue Severity Scale were used. RESULTS: We found poor sleep quality, higher levels of insomnia in women with POI than in controls. Depression was much more prevalent and severe in POI women. Total anxiety score, the severity of anxiety and fatigue did not differ significantly between the groups. According to the multivariable logistic regression analysis, being married and having POI were associated with worse quality of sleep, and having more children was associated with an increase in depression levels in the whole cohort. Backward analysis showed that when POI status was taken as a reference, married women were at 6.5 fold increased risk of poor sleep quality. CONCLUSIONS: Women with premature ovarian failure are more likely to suffer from poor sleep quality, insomnia and depression than healthy women.

A Rare Extramedullary Involvement Site in Patients With Multiple Myeloma: Stomach.

ABSTRACT: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy associated with uncontrolled clonal proliferation of plasma cells. Extramedullary disease in MM is an aggressive entity with a poor prognosis. Moreover, involvement of the gastrointestinal tract is a rare aggressive biological sign. 18 F-FDG PET/CT is an irreplaceable modality in the assessment of extramedullary disease. We present 2 cases with gastric involvement of MM that were shown by 18 F-FDG PET/CT and confirmed as plasma cell infiltration pathologically. 18 F-FDG PET/CT studies of MM patients should be interpreted carefully for gastrointestinal involvement, and it should be kept in mind that it can mimic other malignancies.

Administration of rectal cytotec versus rectal buscopan before hysteroscopy.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to compare the effect of rectal misoprostol (Cytotec) versus rectal hyoscine-n-butyl bromide (Buscopan) on patients undergoing hysteroscopy. We hypothesised that HBB may have a role in cervical priming. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This trial was conducted at Bezmialem Vakif University Hospital. Women of reproductive age between 18-50 years who were scheduled for operative hysteroscopy indicated by type 1 submucous myoma or endometrial polyps were recruited for the study. Ninety patients were divided randomly into three groups. Group 1 received placebo treatment. Group 2 received rectal 200 mcg misoprostol and Group 3 received rectal 20 mg hyoscine-n-butyl bromide two hours before the procedure. Procedures were performed using a bipolar 26 F (9 mm) continuous-flow rigid resectoscope with a 30° lens. The outcome measures included cervical dilation width and time, ease of cervical dilation, procedure time and operative complications. Postoperative self-rated pain was assessed one hour after the procedure. RESULTS: Thirteen patients (43. 3%) in the placebo treatment group, 11 patients (36.7%) in the misoprostol group and four patients (13.3%) in the hyoscine-n-butyl bromide group needed analgesics postoperatively (p = .02). The mean duration of cervical dilation time was longest in Group 1 and shortest in Group 3, however this difference did not reach statistical significance (p=.11). There was no difference with regard to other studied parameters. SUMMARY: HBB reduced the need for pain medication compared to placebo. Larger studies are needed to further investigate the role of HBB in facilitating pre-operative cervical priming.

Diagnostic utility of serum biomarkers in large vessel vasculitis and their correlation with positron emission tomography.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between vascular inflammation, as detected by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and interleukin-6 (IL-6), pentraxin3, and B-cell-activating factor (BAFF) in subjects with LVV. METHODS: The study included newly diagnosed giant cell arteritis (GCA, n = 27) or Takayasu arteritis (n = 9) patients and healthy control (HC, n = 31) subjects. PET scan and blood samples were obtained before the introduction of treatments. IL-6, PTX3, and BAFF levels were determined quantitatively by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients with LVV (20 females, 16 males; age 64.5 ± 16.6 years) and 31 HC (14 females, 17 males; age 37.1 ± 9.6 years) were included. Serum levels of IL-6, PTX3, and BAFF were increased in patients with newly diagnosed LVV compared with healthy control subjects. In receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis, serum IL-6 and BAFF provided excellent discrimination of newly diagnosed LVV patients from HC (area under the ROC curve of >0.90 and >0.80, respectively). None of the inflammatory markers correlated with vascular inflammatory activity determined by PET scanning. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that IL-6 and BAFF may serve as markers of large vessel vasculitis, while PTX3 is not useful. None of the inflammatory markers correlated with PET assessed vasculitis activity.

The role of histopathological and biochemical parameters for predicting metastatic disease on 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of histopathological and biochemical parameters in the prediction of the presence and number of PSMA positive lesions consistent with the metastatic spread of prostate cancer on 68 Ga-PSMA PET images. METHODS: Biochemical, histopathological and imaging data of 302 prostate cancer patients who underwent 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT or PET/MR imaging for primary staging were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups as "PET positive" and "PET negative" according to the presence of pathologic extraprostatic PSMA involvement. "PET positive" patients were additionally divided into two groups: oligometastatic (1-3 metastatic lesion) and multimetastatic (>3 metastatic lesions). RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 66.8 ± 7.6 years. Imaging modality was PET/MR in 223 (73.8%) and PET/CT in 79 (26.2%) of patients. Total PSA, PSA density (PSAD), ALP, and tumor ratio in biopsy specimens were found to be significantly higher in "PET positive" group compared to "PET negative" group and in multimetastatic group compared to oligometastatic group. PET positivity was observed in 3.8% of the low-intermediate risk groups (ISUP 1-3 and total PSA ≤ 20 ng/ml and PSAD < 0.15 ng/ml/cc). This ratio was 46% in the high-risk group (ISUP 4-5 or total PSA > 20 ng/ml or PSAD ≥ 0.15 ng/ml/cc) with a relative risk of 12 (p < .001). The prediction models to predict the PET positivity and the presence of distant metastasis had AUCs of 0.901 and 0.925, respectively; with ALP, total PSA, and tumor ratio in needle biopsy specimen as significant independent predictors (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET positivity was significantly higher in the high-risk patient group than in the low-intermediate risk groups. The prediction models used for predicting the PET positivity and the presence of distant metastasis on PET imaging were successful with high discriminatory powers. In addition to total PSA and ISUP GG, ALP and tumor ratio in biopsy specimens can be used to identify high-risk patients.

Diagnostic Role of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography for the Evaluation of Patients With Inflammation of Unknown Origin.

BACKGROUND: Sometimes, the underlying causes of inflammation cannot be established despite meticulous investigation, including medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests, and radiologic procedures. Rheumatologists are often faced with patients whose condition is known as inflammation of unknown origin (IUO). Differential diagnosis of IUO is diverse, and investigation of these cases is challenging and time-consuming. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to assess the diagnostic role of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in the evaluation of patients with IUO. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 97 adult patients with IUO who have not been previously diagnosed with an infectious, inflammatory, or malignant disease. The necessary data were collected from January 2015 to June 2018 with a 6-month follow-up period. The patients were screened using PET/CT after a specific diagnosis could not be established with detailed laboratory and radiologic evaluations. RESULTS: A final diagnosis was established at follow-up, and 47 (54%) of the 97 patients had inflammatory diseases, 30 (34.4%) had malignancies, and 10 (11.4%) had infections. Despite meticulous investigation, 10 patients were left undiagnosed in the follow-up. PET/CT aided diagnosis in 59 patients (60.8%), but it was not helpful in 38 patients (39.2%). PET/CT was positive in 30 (63%) of the 47 patients with inflammatory diseases, whose final diagnosis was inflammatory rheumatic disease, as follows: large-vessel vasculitis in 19 patients, polymyalgia rheumatica in 7 patients, and seronegative arthritis or other rare miscellaneous diseases in 4 patients. The sensitivity of PET/CT was 67% with a specificity and diagnostic accuracy of 100% and 71%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Investigation of the underlying etiology of IUO is time-consuming and challenging. PET/CT may help identify the final diagnosis more quickly by locating an obscure inflammatory site; thus, it may reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies, diagnostic time, anxiety, work loss, morbidity, and mortality.

Short and middle-term outcomes of vaginally assisted laparoscopic sacropolpopexy.

OBJECTIVE: Vaginally assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (VALS), which is a combined surgical approach where a vaginal hysterectomy is initially performed, followed by transvaginal placement of synthetic mesh and laparoscopic suspension, can be an alternative to overcome the dissection, suturing limitations of laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy. The aim of this study was to compare the operative times and middle-term anatomic outcomes of women with uterovaginal prolapse undergoing VALS with those of women undergoing abdominal sacrocolpopexy. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study that evaluates operation times, anesthesia times, estimated blood loss, middle-term outcomes, perioperative and postoperative complications. We compared the results of 47 women who had the VALS to that of 32 abdominal sacrocolpopexy (AS). RESULTS: The mean follow up was 22.4 months for AS group and 20.5 months for VALS group. The VALS group (median 1 day) had shorter hospitalization duration than the AS group (median 3 days). The mean operation time was significantly shorter in the VALS group (125.9 minutes) than the AS group (151.9 minutes) (P = .03). There was no significant difference in perioperative and postoperative complication rates. Objective failure rate (8.5% in VALS, 15.6% in AS), subjective failure rates (6.4% in VALS, 9.4% in AS), recurrence (2.1% in VALS, 9.4% in AS) and mesh exposition rates (2.1% in VALS, 9.4% in AS) were similar in both procedures. CONCLUSIONS: VALS with shorter operative time and hospitalization than conventional AS is a promising modification minimally invasive technique for sacrocolpopexy especially for those inexperienced in laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy.

Evaluation of brain FDG PET images in temporal lobe epilepsy for lateralization of epileptogenic focus using data mining methods

Background/aim: In temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), brain positron emission tomography (PET) performed with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is commonly used for lateralization of the epileptogenic temporal lobe. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the success of quantitative analysis of brain FDG PET images using data mining methods in the lateralization of the epileptogenic temporal lobe. Materials and methods: Presurgical interictal brain FDG PET images of 49 adult mesial TLE patients with a minimum of 2 years of postsurgical follow-up and Engel I outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. Asymmetry indices were calculated from PET images from the mesial temporal lobe and its contiguous structures. The J48 and the logistic model tree (LMT) data mining algorithms were used to find classification rules for the lateralization of the epileptogenic temporal lobe. The classification results obtained by these rules were compared with the physicians' visual readings and the findings of single-patient statistical parametric mapping (SPM) analyses in a test set of 18 patients. An additional 5-fold cross-validation was applied to the data to overcome the limitation of a relatively small sample size. Results: In the lateralization of 18 patients in the test set, J48 and LMT methods were successful in 16 (89%) and 17 (94%) patients, respectively. The visual consensus readings were correct in all patients and SPM results were correct in 16 patients. The 5-fold cross- validation method resulted in a mean correct lateralization ratio of 96% (47/49) for the LMT algorithm. This ratio was 88% (43 / 49) for the J48 algorithm. Conclusion: Lateralization of the epileptogenic temporal lobe with data mining methods using regional metabolic asymmetry values obtained from interictal brain FDG PET images in mesial TLE patients is highly accurate. The application of data mining can contribute to the reader in the process of visual evaluation of FDG PET images of the brain.

Clinical and metabolic characteristics of Turkish adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome.

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical, endocrine, metabolic features and prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MBS) in Turkish adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the differences in metabolic parameters between adolescent PCOS with or without the presence of polycystic ovaries (PCO) on ultrasound. Subjects (n = 77) were classified into two groups: oligomenorrhea (O) and clinical and/or biochemical hyperandrogenism (HA) (n = 38), without PCO and O + HA with PCO (n = 39). The control group consisted of 33 age-matched adolescents. Adolescents with PCOS had a significantly higher body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and levels of LH, LH/FSH ratio, triglyceride, insulin, HOMA-IR, free androgen index and lower levels of SHBG and FSH. After adjustment for BMI, LH, LH: FSH ratio remained significantly higher. Adolescents with PCOS had a higher prevalence of MBS. No significant differences in lipid profiles, insulin levels and insulin sensitivity in both the PCOS groups were seen. HDL-C levels were lower in the O + HA + PCO group compared to the controls. BMI may be the major contributing factor in the development of metabolic abnormalities in adolescents with PCOS. Impact statement Many studies have investigated the effect of PCOS on metabolic and cardiovascular risks. It is thought that PCOS increases metabolic and cardiovascular risks. Increase in metabolic and cardiovascular risks associated with PCOS may be handled with early diagnosis and early intervention of PCOS in adolescents, although the diagnosis of PCOS in adolescents could be hard because of the features of PCOS overlapping normal pubertal physiological events. However, early identification of adolescent girls with PCOS may provide opportunities for prevention of well-known health risks associated with this syndrome and reduction of long-term health consequences of PCOS by reducing androgen levels and improving metabolic profile. Our results also support that BMI may be the major contributing factor in the development of metabolic abnormalities in adolescents with PCOS.

Dynamic thiol-disulphide homeostasis in low-grade gliomas: Preliminary results in serum.

OBJECTIVE: Maintaining of precise balance between oxidation and anti-oxidation is important in both physiological and pathological states. Knowledge about this balance may give an idea about the process of the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate dynamic thiol-disulfide homeostasis in patients with low-grade gliomas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serial serum samples were collected in 13 patients operated on low-grade gliomas before and after surgery. Control serum samples were obtained from venous cord blood from 13 healthy women during cesarean section. Total thiol, native thiol, and disulfide bond formation were measured and compared with the controls. RESULTS: Total thiols, native thiols, and disulfide bond formation were significantly elevated in patients before the surgery compared to the controls (p<0.05). Even after the surgery, these three parameters were still high in patients, and the differences were significant (p<0.05). Although no significant difference was found between patients and controls regarding the ratios of disulfide/total thiol, disulfide/native thiol, and native thiol/total thiol (p>0.05), the balance seemed to shift to oxidative side. CONCLUSIONS: Thiol-disulfide homeostasis was disrupted in patients with low-grade gliomas, and oxidation may play a role in the process of this disease. Supplementation with antioxidants before and after surgery may be taken into consideration.

Serum endocan levels before and after surgery on low-grade gliomas.

BACKGROUND: Endocan has been shown to be a marker for several cancers and may show degree of malignancy. The aim of this study is to assess serum levels of endocan before and after surgery on low-grade gliomas (LGGs). METHODS: Endocan was assayed by commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits in a total of 19 patients and 12 controls. Serial serum samples were obtained before and after surgery (1st day, 1st week, and 1st month of surgery). Control samples were collected from cord blood during cesarean section. The results were compared with control brain tissues. RESULTS: Controls showed significantly lower serum endocan levels compared to before and after surgery (P < 0.05). There is a trend of increase in mean serum levels from before surgery and during the very early period after surgery (during first week); however, in the first month, mean serum levels became lower. CONCLUSION: Endocan, a vital molecule for angiogenesis, is highly expressed before and after surgery in LGGs, but long-term data is needed. Furthermore, future studies should include high-grade gliomas to discuss whether endocan is associated with recurrence and response to treatment.