Osteoclast-like giant cells in leiomyomatous tumors of the uterus. A case report and review of the literature.

Osteoclast-like giant cells (OLGC) in leiomyomatous tumors of the uterus are rarely seen, and their significance is unknown. We present a case of a large leiomyomatous tumor in which OLGC were found in only few sections showing leiomyosarcoma whereas the majority of sections revealed a leiomyoma. Though radically operated, the patient died a few months later with recurrent tumor in the pelvis and metastases to the lungs.

Case report: obstructive sleep apnea--an air safety risk.

Aviation safety reports indicate that many incidents are related to fatigue. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by irregular snoring with repeated apnea episodes during sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness. Deprived of sleep, patients suffer from daytime sleepiness and involuntary sleep attacks. The prevalence of OSA among adult men is more than one percent, 0.5% in women. Predisposed are men aged 40-65 yr. Many patients, including pilots, are unaware of their sleeping disturbance and the symptoms are not easily recognized. Therefore, this condition may not be discovered during a regular health examination. However, this condition can be effectively treated. In our opinion, pilots suffering from OSA do not necessarily have to lose their certificate. Diagnosis and treatment can be conducted, followed by regular check-ups. We suggest that questions about sleep be included in pilots' health examinations.

Airway dimensions and head posture in obstructive sleep apnoea.

The present cephalometric study aimed to describe the antero-posterior diameters of the pharyngeal airway in a sample of 50 male obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) patients and a reference sample of 103 male students, and to examine the relationship between these diameters and the posture of the head and the cervical column. Subjects were recorded in the cephalometer standing with the head in its natural position (mirror position). Pharyngeal airway diameters were measured at seven levels ranging from the maxillary tuberosity to the vallecula of the epiglottis. The largest difference was observed at the level behind the soft palate where the diameter was 50 per cent narrower in the OSA sample than in the reference sample. Extension of the cranio-cervical angle and forward inclination of the cervical column were correlated with an increase in the three most caudal airway diameters in the OSA sample: at the uvula, the root of the tongue, and the epiglottis, but only to increase in the lowest diameter in the reference sample. The findings were considered to reflect a compensatory physiological postural mechanism that serves to maintain airway adequacy in OSA patients in the awake erect posture, most efficiently so at the lowest levels of the oropharyngeal airway.

Treatment of sleep apnoea in spinal cord injured patients.

Little is known about sleep disorders in spinal cord injured (SCI) patients. Three SCI patients who reported severe daytime sleepiness and sleep complaints were evaluated with nocturnal polysomnography and oxygen saturation with pulsoximeter on several occasions at home. In addition respiratory registration was preformed during overnight stay in the hospital. Two patients who had sleep apnoea episodes with reduced oxygen saturation during sleep were treated with continuous positive airway pressure with good results on sleep architecture, oxygen saturation, and daytime sleepiness. One obese patient was advised to lose weight and to reduce smoking and alcohol consumption, and following this advice his sleep related problems were reduced with no further treatment necessary. It is suggested that SCI patients who complain about sleep related disorders should be appropriately screened, with inclusion of nocturnal polysomnography, oxygen saturation, and respiratory registration and, depending on the screening results, appropriate advice/treatment applied.

[Sleep apnea. Improved quality of life with continuous positive pressure respiration]. / Søvnapnø. Ny tilvoerelse for patienter under kontinuerligt positivt luftvejstryksbehandling.

Patients with obstructive sleep apnoea complain of excessive daytime sleepiness and unwanted sleep attacks. Treatment with nasal continuous positive airway pressure, CPAP, normalizes the sleep pattern and the daytime symptoms disappear. Twenty-five patients evaluated their situation by questionnaire before and during CPAP treatment. Treatment improved their working capacity and their social life. Almost all patients report treatment as giving them a new life, i.e. vastly improving their quality of life. CPAP treatment is cheap.

[Obstructive sleep apnea and abnormal fatigue]. / Obstruktiv søvnapnø og unormal traethed.

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome is characterized by irregular snoring during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness and in some cases unwanted sleep attacks. The patient has a disturbed night sleep with numerous wakenings. Disturbed sleep at night causes daytime problems with attention, concentration and work performance. Furthermore, it may eventually result in errors and accidents. Excessive sleepiness sometimes necessitates the suspension of the patient's driving license. It is of importance to identify patients with obstructive sleep apnoea and daytime sleepiness, because the condition can be treated effectively. Many Danish patients are still unidentified. Diagnostic and treatment possibilities vary from one part of Denmark to another.

[Heterotopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilization]. / Heterotop graviditet efter in vitro fertilisering.

Until December 1991, 1171 pregnancies had been established in Denmark after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Thirteen of these pregnancies were heterotopic (1.1%). Three patients were asymptomatic, four patients presented with an acute abdomen, five had abdominal pain and only two patients had vaginal bleeding. In five cases the diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy was made by ultrasound, while eight cases were diagnosed at the time of surgery. Eleven patients were treated in the first trimester, while two patients were treated at 23 and 38 weeks of gestation, respectively. In nine of the thirteen cases the intrauterine pregnancy resulted in term delivery. Heterotopic pregnancy occurred in 1% of pregnancies following IVF-ET. Abdominal pain was the predominant symptom, while vaginal bleeding was absent in the majority of women. In most cases removal of the ectopic gestation allowed the intrauterine pregnancy to proceed until term.

[Pulse oximetry and obstructive sleep apnea]. / Pulsoximetri og obstruktiv søvnapnø.

We report a case of a 54 years old man, treated with Methylphenidate (Ritalin) because of narcolepsy, who was referred with suspected vertebro-basilar insufficiency. In the hospital, apnoea during sleep attacks were observed. A polysomnography showed marked obstructive sleep apnoea with a disturbed hypnogram, but during the apnoeas the oxygen saturation only decreased by three to six percent. If a patient suspected for obstructive sleep apnoea has only small desaturations, an oximetry can be insensitive as the only "sleep examination", and a full polysomnography is recommended.

Endometrial cancer in postmenopausal women with and without previous estrogen replacement treatment: comparison of clinical and histopathological characteristics.

Clinical and histopathological features of postmenopausal endometrial cancer were studied in 63 patients who had received exogenous estrogens previously and in 76 patients who had never been exposed to estrogens. All treatments were primarily surgical. Estrogen users were younger than nonusers (P < 0.001). Body mass index, age at menarche and menopause, parity, and blood pressure were comparable in the two groups. Prevalence of diabetes mellitus was higher in nonusers (P < 0.01). Tumor stage was earlier (P < 0.001) and the histologic grade was lower (P < 0.001) in estrogen users compared to nonusers, and the frequency of clear cell and adenosquamous carcinoma was lower in estrogen users. Myometrial invasion was less pronounced in estrogen users, independently of grade and stage (P < 0.01). Number of mitoses correlated significantly with grade and with estrogen use. Features such as squamous metaplasia and "foam" cells were not related to tumor grade or use of estrogens. The receptor content correlated inversely with grade but was not related to estrogen use. Duration of estrogen treatment was not associated with tumor stage and grade. Our findings support the theory that endometrial cancer of estrogen users may be less aggressive than cancer of nonusers.

Heterotopic pregnancies after in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer--a Danish survey.

Thirteen cases of heterotopic pregnancy were diagnosed among 1171 pregnancies established in Denmark after in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Thus the frequency of heterotopic pregnancy was 13/1171 or 1.1%. In five cases the diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy was made by ultrasound at 6-9 weeks of gestation; three of these patients were asymptomatic, while two patients presented with abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. All these patients had an unruptured ectopic pregnancy. Eight cases were diagnosed at the time of surgery; all these patients presented with abdominal pain. Only two of the 13 patients had vaginal bleeding. In nine of the 13 cases the intra-uterine pregnancy resulted in term delivery, while one pregnancy is ongoing. In pregnancies following IVF-ET, this diagnosis should particularly be considered in cases with abdominal pain; vaginal bleeding may be absent. Ultrasound examination may lead to early diagnosis even in asymptomatic cases. In most cases, removal of the ectopic gestation will allow the intrauterine pregnancy to proceed to term.

Biochemical and immunohistochemical estrogen and progesterone receptors in adenomatous hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma: correlations with stage and other clinicopathologic features.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates clinicopathologic associations of estrogen and progesterone receptor content in endometrial carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred fifty-two patients with endometrial cancer and 12 with adenomatous hyperplasia were included. Dextran-coated charcoal receptor assay and immunohistochemical analysis were used. The immunohistochemical analysis receptor content was estimated semiquantitatively by a total and a cancer immunohistochemical histologic score. Multiple regression analysis was used in testing independence of established correlations. RESULTS: Estrogen and progesterone receptor dextran-coated charcoal values and immunohistochemical histologic scores correlated inversely (p < 0.001) with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics grade of tumor. An inverse correlation (p < 0.0001) between clinical stage and dextran-coated charcoal values was independent of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics grade. Age of patient, years since menopause, and previous estrogen treatment were not related to receptor content. In adenomatous hyperplasia high progesterone receptor levels were seen. CONCLUSION: The inverse correlation between clinical stage of endometrial carcinoma and content of estrogen and progesterone receptors may reflect tumor biologic behavior.