Anatomical variations of the obturator veins and their surgical implications.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: The obturator veins and their network contribute to major bleeding complications during gynaecologic surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anatomical variations of the obturator veins were studied on 106 patients in which a thorough bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed. RESULTS: Symmetrical drainage on right and left sides was found in 75 cases: only in internal iliac vein in 32 cases, both in external iliac vein and internal in 41 cases, and only in external in two cases (so called "pubic vein"). In 31 procedures, asymmetric drainage was found between the two sides: one side in internal, the other side both in internal and external in 25 patients; in three patients, in external on one side and in both internal and external on the other; and in external on one side and in internal on the other side in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: Anatomical variations of the obturator veins appear quite often.

Abdominal radical trachelectomy (ART) performed during pregnancy: a case report.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: Cervical cancer is one of the most frequent malignant diseases diagnosed during pregnancy. Abdominal or vaginal radical trachelectomies are fertility-preserving alternatives to radical hysterectomy for young women with early-stage cervical cancer that can be performed during ongoing pregnancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors report a pregnancy complicated by cervical cancer treated by abdominal radical trachelectomy (ART) at 16-17 gestational weeks with preservation of the concurrent pregnancy. RESULTS: The pregnancy evolved normally and delivery occurred at 38-39 gestational weeks by elective caesarean section. CONCLUSIONS: Radical trachelectomy could be offered as an option for pregnant patients with early invasive cervical cancer. It may help women to avoid the triple losses of a desired pregnancy, fertility, and motherhood.

Slaughterhouse survey of cystic echinococcosis in cattle and sheep from the Republic of Moldova.

The Echinococcus granulosus tapeworm is responsible for cystic echinococcosis (CE), a zoonotic disease with worldwide distribution. The life cycle of the parasite is mainly domestic and takes place between dogs and livestock species. A slaughterhouse survey was conducted in 2012 in the Republic of Moldova in order to estimate the prevalence of CE. A total of 1525 cattle, 5580 sheep and 12,700 pigs were surveyed. No CE infection was observed in pigs, while prevalence was estimated at 59.3% in cattle and 61.9% in sheep. Infection was significantly higher in animals raised in private households than in those from collective farms. The frequency of infection increased with age in both species. In cattle and in sheep, infection of both the liver and lungs was the most common, while infection in the lungs only was much less frequent. Farm type appears to be an important factor in CE infection in Moldova, due to the extensive farming and the home-slaughtering undertaken in the majority private sector, despite a high prevalence of CE also recorded in the public sector. The low fertility of cysts in cattle (1.1%) compared to sheep (47.6%) confirmed the maintenance of E. granulosus sensu stricto in a dog-sheep life cycle which excludes cattle. Further studies are needed to obtain a complete overview of the parasite's epidemiology in its intermediate and definitive hosts, in order to implement control and preventive measures, with specific attention given to farms in the private sector.

Three synchronous primary pelvic cancers--a case report.

The occurrence of synchronous primary gynaecologic malignancies is a relatively common event. However, the occurrence of three different pelvic cancers is very rare. In this report, the authors describe the clinical, surgical, and pathological findings of a patient with synchronous primary malignancies of the fallopian tube, endometrium, and sigmoid colon. To the authors' knowledge, it is the first case described in the literature with such an association of primary synchronous cancers.

Spontaneous intrauterine pregnancy following abdominal radical trachelectomy--a case report.

The authors describe a case report of spontaneous pregnancy after an abdominal radical trachelectomy because of cervical cancer Stage IB2.

Aging-related attenuation of EGF receptor signaling is mediated in part by increased protein tyrosine phosphatase activity.

As fibroblasts near senescence, their responsiveness to external signals diminishes. This well-documented phenomenon likely underlies physiological deterioration and limited tissue regeneration in aging individuals. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms would provide opportunities to ameliorate these situations. A key stimulus for human dermal fibroblasts are ligands for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). We have shown earlier that EGFR expression decreases by about half in near senescent fibroblasts (Shiraha et al., 2000, J. Biol. Chem. 275 (25), 19343-19351). However, as the cell responses are nearly absent near senescence, other aging-related signal attenuation changes must also occur. Herein, we show that EGFR signaling as determined by receptor autophosphorylation is diminished over 80%, with a corresponding decrease in the phosphorylation of the immediate postreceptor adaptor Shc. Interestingly, we found that this was due at least in part to increased dephosphorylation of EGFR. The global cell phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity increased some threefold in near senescent cells. An initial survey of EGFR-associated protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) showed that SHP-1 (PTPIC, HCP, SHPTP-1) and PTPIB levels are increased in parallel in these cells. Concomitantly, we also discovered an increase in expression of receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase alpha (RPTPalpha). Last, inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatases by sodium orthovanadate in near senescent cells resulted in increased EGFR phosphorylation. These data support a model in which, near senescence, dermal fibroblasts become resistant to EGFR-mediated stimuli by a combination of receptor downregulation and increased signal attenuation.

[Assessment of Tc-99m MIBI uptake mechanism in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and normal cells (fibroblasts and myocytes) cultures]. / Studiul mecanismului de captare a Tc-99m MIBI pe culturi de Mycobacterium tuberculosis si de celule normale (fibroblaste si miocite).

One of the factors which can explain the scintigraphic Tc-99m MIBI positives images in pulmonary tuberculosis could be the Mycobacterium tuberculosis radiotracer uptake; this can be investigated in vitro, on cell culture, in comparison with normal cell types known to have high (myocites) or low (fibroblasts) uptake. Mycobacterium tuberculosis cultures were realised on Löwenstein Jensen medium, by standard methodology. Myocites and fibroblasts cultures were realized from neonatal rat hearts. Monolayer cells culture were incubated with a same 1.85 kBq/?l Tc-99m MIBI concentration, at 37 degrees C for 15, 60 and 90 minutes. The kinetic was stopped by rapidly washing the cells, with a 4 degrees C physiological saline solution and than scrapped cells were counted for the uptaken radioactivity. The results show that radiotracer cellular uptake (reported at the protein concentration) in myocites was maximum at 60 minutes. Cellular uptake in fibroblasts was very low at all the intervals. In Mycobacterium tuberculosis a peak was observed after 15 minutes, the uptake being similar to that of 60 minutes incubated myocites, considered 100%. After 90 minutes the Mycobacterium tuberculosis uptake was smaller than the 15 minutes value (65.82%). In conclusion, Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro uptake results could explain the more positives scintigraphic images in BK positive patients obtain at 15 minutes, in comparison with the delayed images.

[Clinico-epidemiologic observations on the relation of the prevalence of risk factors and the incidence of essential arterial hypertension at a school collective. I]. / Observatii clinico-epidemiologice asupra relatiei dintre prevalenta unor factori de risc si a incidentei hipertensiunii arteriale esentiale într-o colectivitate scolara. Nota I.

In 466 pupils the blood pressure values and the risk factors for essential hypertension were studied. Numerous environmental risk factors were detected, which, depending on each individuals type of reactivity, can be decisive in inducing increase of blood pressure values and the occurrence of arterial hypertension disease at very young ages.