Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with less risk of complications after the removal of common bile duct stones by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several studies recommend prompt laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for choledocholithiasis. However, histopathological alterations in the gallbladder during this time interval and the role played by ERCP in causing these changes have not been sufficiently elucidated. To compare early period LCs with delayed LCs following common bile duct stone extraction via ERCP with regard to operation time, hospitalization period, conversion to open cholecystectomy rate, morbidity, mortality, and histopathological alterations in the gallbladder wall. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 85 patients were retrospectively divided into three groups: early period LC group (48-72 h; n=30), moderate period LC group (72 h-6 weeks; n=25), and delayed period LC group (6-8 weeks; n=30). RESULTS: The operation time was significantly shorter, and the total number of complication rates and hospital readmission was significantly less frequent in the early period LC group (p<0.05). Ultrasound showed a significantly thicker gallbladder wall (>3 mm) in the moderate and late period LC groups than in the early period LC group (p<0.001). Culture growth was significantly higher, and fibrosis/collagen deposition in the gallbladder wall with injury to the mucosal epithelium was significantly more frequently detected by histopathological examination in the moderate and late period LC groups than in the early period LC group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Early period LC following stone extraction by ERCP is associated with shorter operation time, fewer fibrotic changes in the gallbladder, and lower risk for the development of complications. Therefore, LC can be performed safely in the early period after ERCP.

Is there a difference in the number of interstitial cells, neurons, presence of fibrosis and inflammation in ureteropelvic junction tissues of patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction with and without crossing vessels?

OBJECTIVE: We compared the number of interstitial cells (ICs), nerves, presence of fibrosis and inflammation at the level of full-thickness human ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) tissues obtained from normal subjects, and patients with UPJ obstruction with and without crossing vessels. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Normal UPJ tissues (n=12) histopathologically confirmed to be without tumor involvement were obtained from subjects who underwent radical nephrectomy for kidney mass. Additional UPJ tissues were obtained from patients who underwent pyeloplasty due to UPJ obstruction. Crossing vessel was identified in 17 patients. In 57 patients, no crossing-vessel was noted. ICs were stained immunohistochemically with anti-human CD117 (c-kit) antibody. Neural tissue was stained with S-100. The numbers of ICs and neurons were compared between the groups: controls with normal UPJ (Group I), Ureteropelvic junction obtruction (UPJO) with crossing vessel (Group II) and UPJ obstruction without crossing vessel (Group III). Groups were also compared in terms of the presence of fibrosis and inflammation. RESULTS: The mean age of total population included in the study was 30.5±18.5 years. No significant differences were detected between the three groups regarding mean and median numbers of ICs at the level of UPJ (lamina propria and muscle layer) and mean and median numbers of neurons at the level of lamina propria (p>0.05). Likewise, no significant differences were detected between the three groups regarding the presence of fibrosis and inflammation (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Number of ICs, neurons, presence of fibrosis and inflammation seem to be similar in the intact UPJ and UPJ with obstruction with and without crossing vessel. Cellular function rather than the number ICs might play a role that warrants further research.

Diabetic ketoacidosis as the presenting manifestation of pancreatic adenocarcinoma with cystic features.

The common presenting symptoms of pancreatic cancer are abdominal pain, weight loss, and jaundice. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis is a very rare emergent clinical condition. However, pancreatic ductal cystadenocarcinoma presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis was not reported. We describe a 60-year-old man with pancreatic cystadenocarcinoma presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis as the initial manifestation. It must be kept in mind that in diabetic ketoacidosis cases, the precipitating factor may be pancreatic ductal cystadenocarcinoma.

Milia-like calcinosis cutis in a girl with Down syndrome.

Milia-like idiopathic calcinosis cutis (MICC) is a very rare dermatological disorder characterized by multiple whitish to skin colored, milia-like papules, mostly found on the hands. MICC can disappear spontaneously by adulthood; therefore, its early recognition is crucial to avoiding unnecessary interventions. Herein, we present a case of MICC in a 6-year-old girl with Down syndrome.

Milia-like calcinosis cutis in a girl with Down syndrome

Abstract: Milia-like idiopathic calcinosis cutis (MICC) is a very rare dermatological disorder characterized by multiple whitish to skin colored, milia-like papules, mostly found on the hands. MICC can disappear spontaneously by adulthood; therefore, its early recognition is crucial to avoiding unnecessary interventions. Herein, we present a case of MICC in a 6-year-old girl with Down syndrome.

Assessment of the Correlation between Endoscopic Activity and Histological Activity in Ulcerative Colitis Patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the concordance between the Rachmilewitz endoscopic activity index (EAI) and the Harpaz histopathological activity scoring system (HSS), which are used for evaluating the disease activity of ulcerative colitis (UC). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study included 109 patients with UC. Based on the disease extent, patients were divided into two groups as left-sided colitis and pancolitis. Patients were grouped as inactive, mild, moderate and severe depending on the Rachmilewitz EAI and Harpaz HSS. Kendal's tau and kappa (x03BA;) statistics were used to assess the agreement between endoscopic and histopathological scores. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was also analyzed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of endoscopic scores to predict inactive histopathological disease. RESULTS: In the left-sided colitis group, there were slight and poor agreements in the inactive endoscopic subscores (ESS) with inactive Harpaz HSS (x03BA;: 0.598, p < 0.001) and moderate ESS with moderate Harpaz HSS (x03BA;: 0.236, p = 0.046). There was no agreement between mild ESS and mild Harpaz HSS and between severe ESS and severe Harpaz HSS (x03BA;: 0.071, p = 0.573 and x03BA;: 0.160, p = 0.151, respectively). In the pancolitis group, there was no significant agreement between inactive, mild, moderate and severe ESS and the equivalent Harpaz HSS grades (x03BA;: -0.194, p = 0.187; x03BA;: 0.125, p = 0.397; x03BA;: 0.148, p = 0.175 and x03BA;: 0.174, p = 0.153, respectively). The ROC curve showed that the ESS indicating inactive disease had a low sensitivity to predict histologically inactive disease. CONCLUSION: The concordance between the endoscopic and histopathological indices was poor. Using both scores in the follow-up of patients with UC is necessary for treatment planning.

Cytomorphological effects of mitomycin C on urothelial cells: eosinophils may be clue to the drug-induced changes.

Cytomorphological changes of mitomycin C on urothelial cells may be misinterpreted as a neoplastic process. A 60-year old male patient who was given an eight-week course of intravesical mitomycin C due to non-invasive low grade transitional cell carcinoma. During his follow-up care, the findings of a urine cytology exam were as follows: nuclear enlargement of cells, wrinkled nuclear membranes, little hyperchromasia, pleomorphism, abnormal nuclear morphology and disordered orientation of the urothelium. Furthermore, there were eosinophils nearby the atypical cells. This report aimed at reminding the cytomorphologic changes of mitomycin C may be misinterpreted as carcinoma, so the presence of eosinophils is required to predict the drug-induced changes.

Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix: a case report and review of the literature.

We report an extremely rare case of a patient with clear cell carcinoma of the cervix who had no history of in utero diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure. Although clear cell adenocarcinoma is an uncommon tumor, it must be considered in the differential diagnosis in young women and children who have cervico-vaginal lesions even without in utero DES exposure history. We present the case of 2 girls, a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old, who were admitted to hospital because of intermittent vaginal bleeding and the presence of a cervical mass diagnosed as clear cell cervix carcinoma. Neither of them had a history of exposure to DES.