Molecular Identification of Human Papillomavirus DNA in Thyroid Neoplasms: Association or Serendipity?

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is recognized as the most important cofactor in the etiology of cancers of the cervix, esophagus, larynx, and nasopharynx. Experimental evidence suggests that HPV could have an oncogenic influence on thyroid follicular cells; however, to the best of our knowledge, there is no record of its role in human thyroid gland neoplasms. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to describe the frequency and the types of HPV present in neoplastic thyroid tissue by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). METHODS:  Over 157 samples were analyzed of paraffin-embedded tissue from malignant and benign thyroid tumors. All the paraffin blocks were selected consecutively from the Pathology Tissue Bank archive of the Western Medical Center. The molecular detection and typing were performed at the Molecular Microbiology Laboratory of the Biomedical Research Center, Mexican Institute of Social Security. RESULTS:  The frequency of HPV findings was 2.5% (four cases). HPV-6 was found in two cases of thyroid hyperplasia (2.5%), and HPV-33 in two cases of papillary cancer (4.6%). CONCLUSION: The presence of HPV is not frequent in thyroid neoplasms, at least in the studied population. Due to the low prevalence of this virus in our sample, it is not possible to reach conclusions. Further research is needed.

Use of fibrin sealant in hypospadias surgical repair reduces the frequency of postoperative complications.

INTRODUCTION: Urethrocutaneous fistulas (UCF) and flap dehiscence (FD) are the most common postoperative complications after hypospadias (HS) surgical repair. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the application of fibrin sealant over the site of surgery and suture lines reduces these complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort of consecutive patients was treated over a 3-year period. 30 patients were submitted to HS surgical repair plus application of fibrin glue over the suture line and surgical site; for comparison, another 56 subjects made up the control group which was submitted to surgical repair only. Variables assessed included: age, type of HS, fibrin sealant used, complications and number of surgical procedures required to treat recurrences. RESULTS: In general, the frequency of complications was 10 vs. 41% for UCF (p = 0.002), 13 vs. 50% for FD (p = 0.001), and for flap necrosis (FN) 6.7 vs. 28.6% (p = 0.01) for the treatment and control groups respectively. The number of surgical reinterventions to treat recurrences was higher in the control group than in the study group (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The incidence of UCF after HS surgical repair can be reduced by applying fibrin sealant over the site of surgery and the suture lines.

[Complications of the management of secondary peritonitis with contained-open abdomen. Comparison of the Bogota's bag vs polypropylene mesh]. / Complicaciones del manejo de la peritonitis secundaria con abdomen abierto contenido. Comparación de la "bolsa" de Bogotá versus malla de polipropileno.

BACKGROUND: Surgery is the cornerstone regarding the treatment of secondary peritonitis, although the complications of the contained-open abdomen are common, and are usually severe. OBJECTIVES: To identify the complications with the use of the "Bogotá's bag" compared with polypropylene mesh in contained-open abdomen. To identify other possible morbidity and mortality risk factors, independently of the mesh type usage. METHODS: One hundred patients with secondary peritonitis were included in this retrospective cohort study. They were treated from January 2000 to March 2002. Fifty subjects were operated on with the "Bogota's bag " (50%) and 50 with the polypropylene mesh (50%). Mannheim's peritonitis severity index, complications and mortality using central tendency and dispersion means, the logistic regression analysis, prevalence and prevalence-ratios were analyzed. RESULTS: Most frequent etiologies of secondary peritonitis were intestinal anastomosis dehiscence, hollow viscera perforation, and severe pancreatitis. Observed complications were: perforation and intestinal fistula in 13 cases (13%); 10 (20%) out of these belonged to the polypropylene mesh group, and 3 (6%) to the Bogota's bag group (p = 0.036). Evisceration was observed in 8 cases (8%); 2 (4%) in the polypropylene mesh group, and 6 (12%) in the Bogota's bag group (p = 0.140). Hemorrhage was present in 30 cases (30%); 16 (32%) in the polypropylene mesh group, and 14 (28%) in the Bogota's bag group (p = 0.662). Colonization was present in 24 cases (24%); and this was mainly evident in the polypropylene mesh group (p = 0.019). Mortality reached 42% (42 cases), and was associated to postoperative bleeding (p = 0.004), peritonitis' severity (p = 0.0012), and surgical reinterventions. CONCLUSIONS: The contained-open abdomen is the best surgical option to treat infection and the compartmental abdominal syndrome in secondary peritonitis, however, complications may be relevant. These results demonstrated a direct relationship between peritonitis severity, the need for surgical re-interventions and mortality. The use of polypropylene mesh was related to an increased risk of intestinal fistulization and prothesis-associated infection.

[Cervical esophagogastrostomy dehiscence after gastric pull-up for type I esophageal atresia. Case report of a patient successfully treated with fibrin glue and a review of the literature]. / Dehiscencia de esófago-gastroanastomosis cervical posterior a ascenso gástrico por atresia esofágica tipo I. Reporte de un caso exitoso tratado con gel de fibrina y revisión de literatura.

INTRODUCTION: The treatment of choice for type 1 esophageal atresia is surgery to re-establish continuity of gastrointestinal tract by colon interposition or gastric pull-up. Incidence of cervical anastomosis dehiscence is 20-40%. Although it is not a serious complication, it requires a fasting period and nutritional support to achieve spontaneous closure within 2-4 weeks. AIM: To report successful treatment of cervical esophageal-gastric anastomosis dehiscence after gastric transposition using fibrin glue. CASE PRESENTATION: A 17-month-old female child, the product of a first pregnancy, was delivered by caesarean section at 35 weeks gestation in response to fetal distress; the child weighed 1,800 g at birth and had APGAR score of 6-8. At 7 h of extra-uterine life, she was diagnosed with type I esophageal atresia and cervical esophagostomy was performed. Stamm-type gastrostomy was used for enteral nutrition until she was 17 months of age. With a weight of 9 kg, the child underwent esophageal substitution with transhiatal gastric transposition, cervical anastomosis, and jejunostomy. On the seventh day postsurgery, surgical wound infection was observed, producing purulent material and saliva (45 ml in 24 h). On the 10th day, esophagogram was performed that revealed 30% anastomosis dehiscence and 2-cm fistulous tract with no abscess. On the 11th day, 3 ml of fibrinogen (80 mg/mL) activated with thrombin (1,000 uL/mL), both of human extraction (Quixil, Omrix, Tel Aviv, Israel) was applied through fistula tract. RESULT: The following day, the patient presented with cough access, expelling the fibrin glue plug. A similar dose was given that achieved a null output volume during the following 24 h. Subsequently, she began oral feeding with liquids, incorporating a normal diet over the following 2 months. At present, she is 3 years 2 months of age, weighs 15 kg, and is able to eat any kind of food without dysphagia. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that use of biological adhesives can shorten time required to achieve closure of high- and low-output volume fistulas. In the present case, use of fibrin glue to obliterate the fistulous tract gave satisfactory results, reducing time to spontaneous closure and facilitating early commencement of oral feeding. Cases of enterocutaneous fistula closure reviewed in the literatura generally involve adults, but the technique can be used in children with this type of complication.