Indications for intraoperative frozen section in robot assisted radical prostatectomy: a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate indications for intraoperative frozen section (IFS) during robot assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALRP) in our series. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospectively documented 80 patients with prostate cancer (PCa) who underwent RALRP were evaluated between June 2010 and July 2012. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether systematically IFS was performed or not. Group 1 (n=66) consisted of patients on whom systematic IFS was performed, Group 2 (n=14) consisted of patients on whom IFS was not performed. All recorded data evaluated and statistical analyses were performed for determining indications and predictive factors for IFS during RALRP. All patients were operated by single surgeon and IFS, pathological assessments were performed by experienced uro-pathologist. Statistical significant p value was p < 0.05. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 15±6 (25-4) months. Pre-operative prostate volume in trans- rectal ultrasonography (TRUS) was statistically higher in Group 1 than Group 2 (p = 0.037). The other parameters were statistically similar in both groups. According to outcomes of our study IFS was a dependent factor for positive surgical margin. Additionally, the cut off value of prostate volume in TRUS for IFS was 55.5 cc for IFS. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative measured prostate volume in TRUS may be an indicator of IFS. Therefore, more accurate information may be given to patients with prostate cancer (Pca) before RALRP by using preoperative prostate volume in TRUS.

Diagnosis and demarcation of skin malignancy using elastic light single-scattering spectroscopy: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Elastic light single-scattering spectroscopy (ELSSS) is a noninvasive and real-time technique that has been used to differentiate tumors from surrounding nontumor tissue in animal models and humans. OBJECTIVE: To investigate potential application of ELSSS as an adjunctive tool for noninvasive, in vivo, real-time differentiation of malignant and benign skin lesions and to detect positive surgical margins of excised biopsy samples. METHODS: In vivo spectroscopic measurements were performed on 28 lesions in 23 patients. The distribution of the lesions was as follows: nine basal cell carcinoma (BCC), four melanoma, two squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and 13 benign lesions. Intraoperative margin assessments were performed on the 28 biopsy samples using ELSSS. RESULTS: The sign of the spectral slopes was positive for benign and negative for malignant tissues. It was used as a discrimination parameter between malignant and benign lesions with a sensitivity and specificity of 87% and 85%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of the system in detecting positive surgical margins on 14 excised biopsy samples were 80% and 90%, respectively. CONCLUSION: ELSSS has the potential for use as an adjunctive tool to reduce the number of negative biopsies and to detect positive surgical margins in real time.

Surfactant protein A and D in the reproductive tract of stallion.

The presence of surface-active material in the lung alveolus has been known for several decades as being essential for normal lung function. The host defense and controlling inflammatory processes of the lung are the major functions of SP-A and SP-D. SP-A and SP-D were originally demonstrated in alveolar type II cells, but recent studies have shown extrapulmonary expression of SP-A and SP-D indicating systemic roles of these proteins. Present study describes the presence of SP-A and SP-D in the stallion genital tract, prepuce, prostate, testis, and seminal vesicle using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. This paper presents the first evidence for the existence of SP-A and SP-D glycoproteins in the stallion genital tract. We examined genital system organs and tissues from stallion and were able to show that surfactant protein A and D reactive with surfactant-specific antibodies were present in the stallion genital tract tissues and organs. On the basis of results, it can be postulated that surfactant proteins in the stallion reproductive tract contribute to the immune surveillance and to active barrier defense mechanism.