The effect of intraurethral heparin on inflammation and spongiofibrosis in a rat model of experimentally induced urethral trauma.

AIM: To determine the effect of heparin administered during the early post urethral trauma period on inflammation and spongiofibrosis in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 24 male rats that were randomized into 3 groups of 8 each. The urethra was traumatized using a 24-G needle sheath in all rats. Group 1 (control group) received intraurethral saline 0.9% injected b.i.d. for 27 days, group 2 received intraurethral Na-heparin (liquemine-Roche) 1500 IU kg-1 injected b.i.d. for 27 days, and group 3 received intraurethral Na-heparin 1500 IU kg-1 injected b.i.d and saline 0.9% s.i.d. for 27 days. On day 28 the rats' penises were degloved and penectomy was performed. Inflammation, spongiofibrosis, and congestion in the urethra were investigated in each group. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was found between the three groups (control, heparin, and heparin + saline) in the histopathological status of spongiofibrosis, inflammation, and congestion, respectively (P = 0.0001, P = 0.002, P = 0.0001). Severe spongiofibrosis was observed in six (75%) of the rats in group 1 (control group), whereas severe spongiofibrosis was not observed in group 2 (heparin) or group 3 (heparin + saline). CONCLUSION: We observed that intraurethral Na-heparin 1500 IU kg-1 injectioned during the early posturethral trauma period in rats significantly decreased inflammation, spongiofibrosis, and congestion.

Clinical features of metaplastic breast carcinoma: A single-center experience.

AIM: Metaplastic breast cancer (MBC) is a rare subtype with unusual clinical features. We aimed to analyze treatment results and define patients' characteristic features in our large MBC patient series. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-six patients with early MBC who received adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) in our center were included in the study. The age, sex, subtypes of MBC, histopathology, hormone and nodal status, tumor size, and types of treatment were retrospectively provided from hospital records. RESULTS: The median tumor size was 4 (1.3-16.5) cm, and triple-negative MBC cases were 38 (67.8%) of all patients. Axillary nodal involvements were present in 25 (44.6%) patients. The median follow-up time was 45.8 (4.9-130) months; the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) for 5 years were 67% and 64%, respectively. While distant metastases were seen in 15 (26.7%) patients, local recurrences were seen in only 4 patients. The median OS and DFS were higher in patients with ≤5.2 cm tumor than >5.2 cm ([130 vs. 49 months, P = 0.01] and [130 vs. 30 months, P = 0.009], respectively). Nodal involvement, hormone receptor status, surgical treatment, and type of RT had no effect on survival. In multivariate analysis, tumor size was not an independent prognostic factor for OS (P = 0.068; hazard ratio [HR]: 3.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.91-12.8), whereas age >65 years was found an independent poor prognostic factor for OS ([HR: 4.25, 95% CI: 0.23-0.78, P = 0.021] and DFS [HR: 3.1, 95% CI: 0.02-0. 87; P = 0.04], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Distant metastasis is at the forefront rather than local recurrence in MBC patients. More studies are needed to determine the factors that affect survival independently in MBC.

Transducing-Like Enhancer of Split 1: A Potential Immunohistochemical Marker for Glomus Tumor.

Glomus tumors (GTs) are rare, perivascular soft tissue tumors. Although GTs are usually found in the subcutaneous tissue, they may be detected in extracutaneous sites and mucosal areas. Transducing-like enhancer of split 1 (TLE1) is a highly useful immunohistochemical marker, which basically helps in differential diagnosis of synovial sarcoma. Based on a coincidental detection of TLE1 in one GT case, we studied 26 additional GT cases to establish the importance and distribution of TLE1 in GTs. Of 24 subcutaneous GTs, 22 (91.6%) were positive for TLE1 antibody and the remaining 2 mucosal GTs were negative. Of the 22 positive cases, 10 showed strong nuclear positivity. There was no difference between the subtypes of the GTs. Although TLE1 expression is significantly correlated to SS18 (SYT) rearrangements in synovial sarcomas, the fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses of the GTs showed no evidence of translocation involving this locus. TLE1 is a potential immunohistochemical marker for GTs, but further studies are required to confirm this finding.

Primary mucosal malignant melanoma of the cervix: case report and review of the literature.

The incidence of primary mucosal malignant melanoma (PMMM) is 1.3% among all malignant melanomas (MM). Cervical involvement is very rare; the number of cases of cervical PMMM reported so far is around 80. In our patient, a dark color, 2-cm diameter, nonulcerated tumor formation was observed upon examination of the cervix. Tumoral tissue consisted of atypical melanocytic cells containing numerous mitotic figures. In immunochemical studies, S-100, Melan-A, and HMB-45 positivity were observed. The tumor was 20 mm in invasion depth, Breslow IV, and FIGO stage IB1. Radical surgery was followed by adjuvant radiotherapy, and subsequently interferon treatment was applied. Examination and scans 20 months after surgery were free from tumor.

What is the impact of Helicobacter pylori density on the success of eradication therapy: a clinico-histopathological study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence of any possible association between H. pylori density in the stomach and the efficacy of triple (lansoprazole 30 mg b.i.d., clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d. and amoxicillin 1g b.i.d. for 14 days) and bismuth-containing quadruple (colloidal bismuth subcitrate 300 mg q.i.d., lansoprazole 30 mg b.i.d., tetracycline 500 mg q.i.d. and metronidazole 500 mg t.i.d. for 14 days) eradication therapies. METHODS: Eighty-five cases with H. pylori infection (proved by rapid urease test and histology) were studied. In each case, the density of H. pylori colonization was graded according to the updated Sydney classification. H. pylori eradication was determined via the (14)C-Urea breath test performed 4 weeks after the end of therapy. RESULTS: The eradication rate of H. pylori was 50% (30 out of 60) in the triple therapy and 92% (23 of 25) in the quadruple therapy group. In the triple therapy group, the eradication rate of H. pylori decreased as the initial density of H. pylori increased (density of H. pylori: 1, 58.3%; 2, 54.5%; 3, 52.4%; 4, 38.5%; 5, 33.3%). In two cases with eradication failure after quadruple therapy, the grades of bacterial density were 1 and 3. CONCLUSION: H. pylori density, as assessed by histological grading, may predict the usefulness of triple therapy. The higher the H. pylori density, the less effective triple therapy will be at successful eradication of H. pylori. Quadruple therapy does not seem to be negatively affected by bacterial density.