Axial Involvement in Psoriatic Arthritis: A Cross-sectional Clinical and Radiologic Studies.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate spinal involvement in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients using clinical and radiographic methods. METHODS: A cross-sectional clinical study was conducted on 50 PsA patients diagnosed according to the CASPAR criteria. Clinical examinations and functional assessments were performed. A radiographic assessment of the spine was performed. RESULTS: Out of 50 PsA patients (mean age of 45.50 ± 9.90 years), (males and females constituted 27 (54.0%) and 23 (46.0%) respectively), 76% had radiological axial involvement; (26%) with inflammatory axial pain and (50%) without inflammatory axial pain (subclinical). Three axial radiographic patterns were detected including spondylitis without sacroiliitis (15.78%), spondylitis with sacroiliitis (78.94%), and sacroiliitis without spondylitis (5.26%). In axial PsA patients, males were more affected than females (χ2=11.679, p = 0.003), with older age (H = 15.817, p < 0.001) and higher body mass index (BMI) (F = 5.145, p = 0.010), increased psoriasis duration (H = 9.826, p = 0.007) and severity (Η=25.171, p < 0.001), and more spinal movement limitations than PsA patients without axial involvement (F = 26.568, p < 0.001). Cervical involvement was higher than lumbar involvement. Axial radiographic severity assessed by the PsA Spondylitis Radiology Index was associated with increased disability as assessed by the Health assessment questionnaire (rs = 0.533, p = 0.001) and decreased quality of life assessed by short form-36 score (rs = -0.321, p = 0.050). CONCLUSION: This study shows that a high percentage of PsA patients had axial involvement with a high percentage of them having asymptomatic radiological findings. The cervical spine is more frequently and severely affected than the lumbar spine. Axial PsA occurs in males more than females with characteristic older age and higher BMI, increased psoriasis duration, and more limitation of spinal mobility.

Sleeve Volume and Preoperative Gastric Volume Assessment Using Three-dimensional MDCT Gastrography and Their Correlation to Short-term Post-Sleeve Gastrectomy Weight Loss.

PURPOSE: Several factors including preoperative stomach capacity and sleeve volume impact weight loss after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). We aimed at measuring these volumes using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) gastrography and correlating them with postoperative weight losses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Morbidly obese patients prepared for LSG during 2018 were included in the study. MDCT gastrography was performed 1 week before, 6 and 12 months after LSG. Preoperative gastric volume and postoperative sleeve volumes were measured. Correlation with preoperative BMI and postoperative %TWL was performed. The change in sleeve volume at 6 and 12 months was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 98 patients (62 F) were included. Mean preoperative BMI was47 ± 7 kg/m2. Follow-up was achieved in 89 patients (91%) and 82 patients (83%) at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Mean %TWL was 24 ± 3 and 32.8 ± 3 at 6 and 12 months, respectively (p < 0.05). Preoperative gastric volume ranged from 800 to 1800 ml (mean ± SD, 1310 ± 307) and dropped significantly to range from 140 to 170 ml (158 ± 9) and from 165 to 210 ml (181 ± 12) at 6 and 12 months postoperatively, respectively. Pouch was not significantly dilated at 12 vs. 6 months postoperatively. Preoperative gastric volume was significantly correlated with preoperative BMI (p = 0.006*) but not with postoperative weight losses. Correlation between postoperative pouch volumes and weight losses at 6 and 12 months postoperatively showed no significance. CONCLUSION: Sleeve pouch is significantly smaller than preoperative stomach, but not significantly correlated to weight loss. Restriction is an important, but not the only factor controlling weight loss after LSG.

Ultrasound elastography in characterization of prostatic lesions: correlation with histopathological findings.

OBJECTIVE: Ultrasound elastography is increasingly used in the diagnosis of prostate cancer, however results are heterogeneous. We correlate in a large sample-size prospective study the accuracy of elastography, aiming to settle an accurate cut-off point for diagnosis and possibility of use as a screening tool. METHODS: Prospective study that included 120 patients with mean age 59.5 ± 9.8 years, showing enlarged prostate by clinical examination with prostate-specific antigen >4 ng ml-1.The study was done using high frequency high resolution endorectal probe with real time tissue elastography.Grayscale ultrasound examination was done first with Doppler followed by elastography color-coded map and strain ratio measurement. Then, transrectal ultrasound-guided core biopsy was done from suspicious areas detected by elastography (totally or partly stiff by color-coded map or with relative increased strain ratio), besides standard six-quadrant core biopsy samples. RESULTS: There was statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) regarding strain ratio in benign and malignant lesions. Strain ratio showed significant proportionate correlation with prostate-specific antigen level and Gleason pathological score, while no significant correlation noted with the age or the prostatic volume. A strain ratio with a cut-off value of 1.9 showed a sensitivity of 100%, specificity 93.8%, positive predictive value of 79.3%, negative predictive value 100 and 95% accuracy in differentiating between malignant and benign lesions. CONCLUSION: Strain ratio improves the detection of prostatic cancer with high sensitivity (100%) and high negative predictive value (100%). ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Different prostatic lesions are mostly similar in grayscale ultrasound.Imaging plays an important role in differentiation of prostatic nodules.Ultrasound elastography may play an important role in distinguishing benign from malignant nodules.

Significance of endometrial polyps detected hysteroscopically in eumenorrheic infertile women.

AIM: To determine if the incidence of small endometrial polyps detected hysteroscopically in an infertile eumenorrheic population differed from that in an apparently fertile eumenorrheic population. Evidence was sought to determine whether removal of such lesions would enhance reproductive performance. METHODS: In a prospective study, 266 consecutive infertile women had undergone complete fertility evaluation. None of the women had experienced any change in their menstrual cycle. They were divided into two groups; 235 infertile patients (group 1) and 31 requesting a reversal of a previous tubal sterilization (group 2). All patients were examined by simultaneous combined laparoscopy and hysteroscopy as part of their routine infertility evaluation. When endometrial polyps were noted they were removed by hysteroscopy and histopathologically examined. Patients in whom the only apparent finding was endometrial polyps were followed up to determine their reproductive outcomes subsequent to removal of the polyps. RESULTS: Of the 224 uterine cavities successfully visualized in the infertile group, 134 were judged to be normal (60%) and 90 were abnormal (40%). Endometrial polyps were noted in 35 patients of group 1 and in one patient of group 2 (P < 0.01). Most polyps were located in the region of the utero-tubal junction and proved to be functional. A 50% pregnancy rate was achieved by hysteroscopic polypectomy. Fertility-related factors in women whose only apparent finding was endometrial polyps before and after hysteroscopy were comparable. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic hysteroscopy should be used routinely in the work-up of infertile woman, even in the presence of eumenorrhea. Persistent functional endometrial polyps, even if small, are likely to impair fertility in this select patient group. Removal of such lesions may improve subsequent reproductive performance.

Combined diagnostic approach of laparoscopy and hysteroscopy in the evaluation of female infertility: results of 612 patients.

AIM: To clarify the role of a combined diagnostic approach using laparoscopy and hysteroscopy in the evaluation of female infertility in developing countries. METHODS: In a prospective study, 612 consecutive infertile women underwent complete fertility evaluation at a tertiary university infertility clinic: 300 complained of primary infertility, 221 of secondary infertility, and 91 were requesting reversal of a previous tubal ligation. All the patients were examined by simultaneous combined laparoscopy and hysteroscopy as a part of their routine infertility evaluation. Focused hysteroscopic evaluation of the region of utero-tubal junction was attempted. RESULTS: Laparoscopy was successful in 608 and hysteroscopy in 597 patients. The most frequent pathologies detected hysteroscopically in the infertile group were adhesive in nature and believed to be post-traumatic and/or post-phlogistic. The number of intrauterine abnormalities found by hysteroscopy was significantly greater than by hysterosalpingography. The rate of diagnosis of significant lesions by laparoscopy of 64.3% rose to 76.6% when the hysteroscopic findings were included. A significant number of women with secondary infertility had abnormal hysteroscopic findings when compared to either women with primary infertility or those requesting sterilization reversal. Hysteroscopic evaluation of the region of utero-tubal junction revealed significant lesions believed to have caused infertility in comparison with those requesting sterilization reversal. CONCLUSION: The combined diagnostic approach of laparoscopy and hysteroscopy is recommended in the evaluation of female infertility in communities where the risk of pelvic infections is great.