An eight-year-old girl with tracheal mass treated as a difficult asthma case.

INTRODUCTION: Endobronchial masses such as mucoepidermoid carcinomas or carcinoid tumors are extremely rare in children and they usually originate from large bronchi. These lesions may cause wheezing and dyspnea with poor response to bronchodilators and mimic the airway obstruction caused by asthma. CASE STUDY: We present the case of an 8-year-old girl with tracheal mucoepidermoid carcinoma who was treated as a difficult asthma case with high dose of inhaled corticosteroids. RESULTS: The characteristic stridor, the lack of response to bronchodilators and to inhaled corticosteroid treatment, combined with the characteristic flow loop in spirometry and the hyperinflation seen on the chest radiograph, all raised the clinical suspicion of a tracheal lesion and indicated the need for flexible bronchoscopy. The bronchoscopy revealed a large lesion obstructing totally the trachea lumen. The latter finding was confirmed by chest high resolution CT. The mass was completely excised via sternotomy under cardiopulmonary bypass, and the pathologic examination showed a low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the trachea. One month after the surgery she was free of symptoms and her spirometry was normal. CONCLUSION: Tracheal lesions mimic the symptoms of airway obstruction caused by asthma and should be always be part of the differential diagnosis in young patients with no response to asthma treatment.

Autotaxin Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. Despite the important progress observed in liver surgery, the survival rates are discouraging. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of autotaxin in hepatocellular carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Liver tissues from 28 human hepatocellular carcinomas were evaluated for the expression of autotaxin by immunohistochemistry. The gender, age, histological grade, lymphovascular invasion, number of tumors, levels of serum alpha-fetoprotein (aFP), presence of liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, surgery and survival rates were recorded. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry confirmed the expression of autotaxin in hepatocellular carcinoma. The histological grade seems to be the only independent predictor of stronger autotaxin expression, as significantly higher levels of autotaxin were detected in histological grades II and III. In addition, levels of autotaxin seem to be the most important independent prognostic factor related to poor survival. There was an eight-fold higher risk of death in patients with high levels of autotaxin compared to patients with low levels. CONCLUSIONS: Autotaxin expression in hepatocellular carcinoma could be of great importance. High autotaxin expression in HCC is detected in patients with histological grade II and III. Further, patients with elevated expression levels were found to possess an eight-fold higher risk of death. Autotaxin role in HCC should be further elucidated.

Intraperitoneal administration of apigenin in liver ischemia/reperfusion injury protective effects.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatic injury caused by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is a clinical problem associated with major liver surgery. Among other flavonoids, apigenin has shown a promising effect on I/R cases. In this study, we have investigated the effects of apigenin after liver I/R injury in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty eight rats were randomized into the following eight groups: (1) Control-sham group: rats subjected to the surgical procedure, except for liver I/R; (2) DMSO group: rats subjected to surgery, except for liver I/R given the apigenin solvent dimethyl-sulfoxide intraperitoneally; (3) C60 group; (4) C120 group; (5) C240 group: rats underwent liver ischemia for 45 min followed by reperfusion for 60 min, 120 min, and 240 min; (6) AP60 group; (7) AP120 group; (8) AP240 group: rats underwent liver ischemia for 45 min, and then given apigenin (5 mg) intraperitoneally followed by reperfusion for 60 min, 120 min, and 240 min. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed on liver tissues to measure BCL-2/BAX expression, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure M30/M65 and ICAM-1. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify M30 biomarker in liver tissues. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Quantitative variables were tested by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, repeated measures analysis of variance/Friedman test. Gene levels were assessed by Student's t-test/Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: BCL-2 levels were significantly higher in I/R apigenin groups than in I/R control groups. BAX levels were lower in the AP240 group than in C240 group. Prolongation of reperfusion resulted in increased activation of M30. ICAM-1 levels were lower in the AP240 group than in C240 group. CONCLUSIONS: Apigenin seems to inhibit the process of apoptosis and ameliorate the hepatic I/R injury.

The effects of apigenin on the expression of Fas/FasL apoptotic pathway in warm liver ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the role of apigenin in liver apoptosis, in an experimental model of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight Wistar rats (apigenin and control groups), 14 to 16 weeks old and weighing 220 to 350 g, were used. They were all subjected to hepatic ischemia by occlusion of the hepatic artery and portal vein for 45 minutes and reperfusion was followed for 60, 120, and 240 minutes. Apigenin was administrated intraperitoneally. Liver tissues were used for the detection of apoptosis by TUNEL assay and caspase 3 antibodies. Expression analysis of Fas/FasL genes was evaluated by real time PCR. RESULTS: The expression analysis of Fas and FasL genes was increasing during reperfusion (significantly in the group of 240 minutes of reperfusion). It was in the same group that apigenin decreased Fas receptor levels and inhibited apoptosis as confirmed by TUNEL assay and caspase 3 antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of apigenin in the Fas/FasL mediated pathway of apoptosis, in the hepatic ischemia-reperfusion, seem to have a protective result on the hepatic cell.

Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein: a potential marker of febrile urinary tract infection in childhood.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are encountered frequently in children, and their early diagnosis and treatment are important. This study evaluates the diagnostic value of serum concentrations of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), an acute-phase protein, in children with febrile UTI and compares it to those of the total white blood cell count (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). METHODS: The study population comprised 77 consecutive patients with a first-episode febrile UTI (33 boys) with a median age of 11 months [interquartile range (IQR), 5.5-33 months], 21 healthy controls (11 boys) with a median age of 10 months (IQR, 5-20.5 months) and 58 febrile controls with a fever due to other causes (28 boys) with a median age of 12.5 months (IQR, 7-30 months). LBP, IL-6, PCT, and CRP were measured for both patients and control groups. RESULTS: The serum levels of LBP (p < 0.001), CRP (p < 0.001), PCT (p = 0.001), IL-6 (p = 0.002), ESR (p = 0.020), and WBC (p < 0.001) were higher in patients with febrile UTI than in the healthy and febrile control groups. The LPB cut-off value for best sensitivity and specificity in patients with febrile UTI was >43.23 mg/l. Furthermore, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was significantly greater for LBP than for CRP (p = 0.014), PCT (p < 0.001), ESR (p < 0.001), WBC (p = 0.002) and IL-6 (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the serum LBP concentration constitutes a reliable biologic marker for the diagnosis of a febrile UTI in children.

Technetium-99m scan in the laparoscopic management of a misdiagnosed Meckel's diverticulum: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Although Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract and modern imaging techniques are available, its diagnosis remains problematic. CASE PRESENTATION: A technetium-99 scan was performed in an 18-year-old man with abdominal pain, vomiting and rectal bleeding to confirm the presence of a Meckel's diverticulum which was not diagnosed laparoscopically elsewhere. The technetium-99 scan was positive and a diagnostic laparoscopy was re-performed which revealed a Meckel's diverticulum that was subsequently resected. CONCLUSION: We suggest that a technetium-99m scan should be performed before laparoscopy in children and adolescents with suspected Meckel's diverticulum. A positive technetium-99m scan may significantly contribute to the laparoscopic definitive diagnosis and treatment of a bleeding Meckel's diverticulum. However, diagnostic laparoscopy should only be performed by experienced surgeons.

Results of surgery for colorectal carcinoma with obstruction.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Emergency surgery for obstructing colorectal carcinoma is thought to be associated with poor survival. The aim of the study is to assess the results of surgery for obstructing colorectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1987 to 2004, 80 patients underwent emergency surgery for completely obstructing colorectal carcinoma (COC), and 171 patients underwent elective surgery for non-obstructing cancer (NOC). Morbidity, mortality, and the late outcome were assessed. RESULTS: The groups were comparable for age, gender, tumor distribution, histopathologic characteristics, stage, morbidity, concomitant operations, recurrence, and sites of recurrence. High ASA class, poor performance status, and high mortality rate were recorded in COC group (p < 0.05). Mortality was related to ASA class (p < 0.001), performance status (p < 0.001), and obstruction (p = 0.014). ASA class was the single independent factor of morbidity (p < 0.001). The groups were comparable for survival (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Obstructing colorectal carcinoma seems to be associated with high mortality rate, but long-term survival seems to be the same with non-obstructing carcinoma.

Acute abdomen in children due to extra-abdominal causes.

BACKGROUND: Acute abdominal pain in children is a common cause for referral to the emergency room and for subsequent hospitalization to pediatric medical or surgical departments. There are rare occasions when the abdominal pain is derived from extra-abdominal organs or systems. The aim of the present study was to establish the most common extra-abdominal causes of acute abdominal pain. METHODS: The notes of all children (1 month-14 years of age) examined for acute abdominal pain in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department of Alexandroupolis District University Hospital in January 2001-December 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. Demographic data, clinical signs and symptoms, and laboratory findings were recorded, as well as the final diagnosis and outcome. RESULTS: Of a total number of 28 124 children who were brought to the A&E department, in 1731 the main complaint was acute abdominal pain. In 51 children their symptoms had an extra-abdominal cause, the most frequent being pneumonia (n = 15), tonsillitis (n = 10), otitis media (n = 9), and acute leukemia (n = 5). CONCLUSION: Both abdominal and extra-abdominal causes should be considered by a pediatrician who is confronted with a child with acute abdominal pain.

Nuttall technique: A method for subumbilical incisional hernia repair revised.

BACKGROUND: Large ventral incisional hernias are frequently repaired either by open or by laparoscopic mesh technique. The technique recommended by Nuttall has been used for the repair of large subumbilical incisional hernias but has not been popularized. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1991 to 2005, 21 patients, mean age 64.6 +/- 13 (44-86) years, underwent repair of large subumbilical incisional hernia with the Nuttall technique by which the rectus muscles are detached from the symphysis pubis and transposed to the opposite side. The exerted tension is minimal to the underlying tissues, and no prosthetic material is required to reinforce the abdominal wall. RESULTS: Morbidity was recorded in five patients (23.8%). The median follow-up time was 84 months, and the recurrence rate was 4.8% (one patient). CONCLUSIONS: Although a small number of patients have undergone repair with the Nuttall technique, the long-term results of the method seem to be encouraging for the repair of large subumbulical incisional hernias.

Complete cytoreduction combined with early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy for ovarian carcinosarcoma. Report of two cases.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of the study is to report two long-term survivors with ovarian carcinosarcomas, which are rare intrapelvic malignancies with unfavorable prognosis. METHODS: Two middle-aged women with palpable abdominal tumors underwent complete cytoreductive surgery and no macroscopic tumor was left behind. Early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy with doxorubicin was used as an adjuvant treatment. RESULTS: The patients are disease-free 2 and 3 years, respectively after the initial therapy. CONCLUSION: Complete cytoreduction combined with early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy seems to be an effective treatment for ovarian carcinosarcoma with peritoneal spread. Further studies are required to define the value of intraperitoneal chemotherapy in ovarian carcinosarcoma.