What Should Be the Topics of a Prospective Study on Ovarian Masses in Children?-Results of a Multicenter Retrospective Study and a Scoping Literature Review.

PURPOSE: to determine management problems of ovarian masses in girls in order to form a baseline for prospective randomized studies of the established topics and quality improvement of our management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a national analysis of clinical aspects of ovarian masses in girls operated on in Poland, analyzed retrospectively medical files of all consecutive patients aged 0-18 who underwent surgeries for ovarian lesions between 2012 and 2017 at 17 pediatric surgical departments and complemented the analysis with a scoping review of a recent primary research related to ovarian masses in children. RESULTS: The study group comprised 595 patients. Forty-four (7.39%) girls were diagnosed with malignant tumors. The overall preservation rate was 64.54%. The analysis revealed that positive tumor markers (OR = 10.3), lesions larger than 6 cm (OR = 4.17) and solid mass on ultrasound examination (OR = 5.34) are interdependent variables differentiating malignant tumors from non-malignant lesions (X42 = 79.1; p = 0.00000). Our scoping review revealed 10 major branches of research within the topic of ovarian masses in pediatric population. CONCLUSIONS: We have developed an overview of the field with the emphasis on the local environment. Our next step is a multi-institutional prospective study of a quality improvement project implementation based on the obtained knowledge.

Regulation of neurogenesis by extracellular matrix and integrins.

Deciphering the factors that regulate human neural stem cells will greatly aid in their use as models of development and as therapeutic agents. The complex interactions of cells with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins probably contribute to proper central nervous system development mediating processes which regulate proliferation and differentiation of neural stem/rogenitor cells. Many of these interactions involve transmembrane integrin receptors. Integrins cluster in specific cell-matrix adhesions to provide dynamic links between extracellular and intracellular environments by activation of numerous signal transduction pathways which may influence cell behaviour profoundly by influence on both gene expression and post-transcriptional signalling cascade. In this review we introduced and discussed a number of extracellular and intracellular factors engaged in the transduction of signals induced by cell adhesion to its environment, including matrix components, extracellular proteolytic enzymes, integrins and non-receptor tyrosine kinases.

Radiotherapy for pituitary adenomas: long-term efficacy and toxicity.

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy for pituitary adenomas is an effective treatment but remains controversial due to toxicity concerns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective audit of patients referred for radiotherapy during 1974-2003 was conducted, the case records were examined and data linkage to cancer registry and hospital discharge records was performed to assess the overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and late effects (hormone deficiency, reduced vision, second cancer and stroke). RESULTS: Three hundred and eighty-five patients had radiotherapy (median 45 Gy). The OS was 74% and 49%, PFS was 97% and 96%, at 10 and 20 years, respectively. No specific factors influenced local control. Additional hormone deficiencies occurred in 19% (ACTH) and 26% (TSH). Actuarial rate optic neuropathy at 10 years was 0.8%. Seventy-eight patients had a stroke, a RR for a matched Scottish population of 1.45 (CI 1.05-1.18, p=0.03) men and 2.22 (1.56-3.08, p<0.01) women. Four intra-cranial tumours were identified; 20-year actuarial risk 1.9% (CI 0-2.6%), a RR of 5.65 (0.53-20.77, p=0.10) men and 9.94 (0.94-36.56, p=0.04) women. CONCLUSIONS: This treatment is effective with good local control rates at 20 years. A significant proportion developed hypo-pituitarism. The risk of optic neuropathy was low but risk of stroke increased, particularly in women who had slight increased risk of intra-cranial tumours.