Comparison of intraoperative frozen section consultation and hysterectomy characteristics in patients diagnosed with EIN in endometrial biopsies

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the likelihood of detecting cancer in final pathology and evaluate the accuracy of intraoperative frozen-section assessment in cases of endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN).Material and methodsWe included patients diagnosed with EIN at Hacettepe University Hospital who subsequently underwent hysterectomy at the same center between January 2011 and March 2023. EIN diagnoses made at other institutions were re-evaluated and confirmed by co-author gynecopathologists.ResultsA total of 354 patients diagnosed with EIN underwent hysterectomy. The majority of patients (68.5%) had a final diagnosis of EIN. Endometrial cancer (EC) was identified in 11.3% (n = 40) of patients in the final pathology. Advanced age (≥50 years) (OR = 2.52; 95% CI: [1.27–4.96]; p = 0.006) and menopausal status (OR = 2.62; 95% CI: [1.34–5.11]; p = 0.004) were significantly associated with an increased risk of EC. Among 263 patients who underwent intraoperative frozen-section assessment, EC was detected in 12.9% (n = 34). The sensitivity and specificity of frozen-section assessment for EC detection were 41.1% and 100%, respectively. The frozen-section assessment failed to identify only one of the seven patients who required staging surgery.ConclusionOur study demonstrates that a preoperative EIN diagnosis carries an 11.3% risk of concurrent EC. Additionally, the likelihood of EC is significantly higher in older and postmenopausal patients. The majority of patients requiring staging surgery were identified by frozen-section assessment. Our findings indicate that frozen-section assessment provides the necessary information for adequate surgical treatment in EIN cases

The Level of Knowledge of Healthcare Workers, Excluding Physicians, Regarding HIV, and Their Approach to People Living with HIV

Since its discovery, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) continues to be a major health concern globally. Unofficial records show that over 14000 cases of HIV have been reported in Turkey, and this number is on the rise. People living with HIV (PLHIV) have become subjected to stigmatisation and discrimination all around the globe, including Turkey. This approach had a negative impact on PLHIV, especially in the healthcare industry. Previous studies, in Turkey and globally, have shown that healthcare workers lacked sufficient knowledge about HIV and PLHIV. Consequently, their approach to PLHIV was at times inappropriate and unequal. This study aimed to look at the level of knowledge of healthcare workers, excluding physicians, and their approach to PLHIV. A survey based on a questionnaire was conducted in 3 private hospitals in Istanbul, Turkey. A total of 161 participants-of which 67 were nurses, 54 were receptionists, 16 were laboratory technicians, 13 were physiotherapists, and 11 were caregivers-took part in this study. The questionnaire consisted of 14 total questions, divided into three sections; ‘Modes of HIV transmission’, ‘Protection from HIV transmission’ , and ‘HIV in the workplace’ . On average, 41% of healthcare workers lacked sufficient knowledge regarding modes of HIV transmission, and 48% lacked sufficient knowledge regarding protection from transmission of HIV. Furthermore, 48% had a different approach to PLHIV compared to other patients. Healthcare workers lack sufficient knowledge regarding HIV, and this reflects on their approach towards PLHIV. As a result of this stigmatisation, PLHIV are subjected to discriminative attitudes from the moment they set foot in a hospital environment. Therefore, educating healthcare workers about HIV is crucial to ensure that their approach to PLHIV is equal to that of other patients

The association between homocysteine in the follicular fluid with embryo quality and pregnancy rate in assisted reproductive techniques

To investigate the association between follicular fluid homocysteine levels and embryo quality and pregnancy rates in patients undergoing assisted reproduction

The association between homocysteine in the follicular fluid with embryo quality and pregnancy rate in assisted reproductive techniques

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between follicular fluid homocysteine levels and embryo quality and pregnancy rates in patients undergoing assisted reproduction. METHODS: Fifty infertile women who were admitted to our clinic were enrolled in the study. Ovulation induction was performed by using GnRH agonist and gonadotropins. For each patient, homocysteine level in the follicular fluid was measured by using nephelometric method after the oocyte pick-up. The association between the homocysteine concentration in the follicular fluid and the oocyte–embryo quality, pregnancy rates and hormone levels were investigated. RESULTS: Mean ± SD Hcy was 9.6 ± 2.02 μmol/L and 14.9 ± 2.93 μmol/L in pregnant and non-pregnant women, respectively (p < 0.0001). There were no statistically significant differences between pregnant and non-pregnant women in mean age, duration of infertility, body mass index, the oocyte–embryo quality parameters, and hormone levels. Homocystein did not have any correlation with M2, late M2, and total number of oocytes, number of fertilized oocytes and transferred embryos, and embryo quality grade. Area under curve (AUC) of hcy for prediction of pregnancy failure was 0.922 (p = 0.0001, 95% Confidence interval 0.85–0.99). A threshold of 11.9 μmol/L of hcy had a sensitivity of 82%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100% and negative predictive value of 91.6% for prediction of pregnancy failure. The subgroup analysis in male factor infertility group (n = 28), showed that mean homocystein was 9.9 ± 2.44 μmol/L and 14.1 ± 2.72 μmol/L in pregnant and non-pregnant women, respectively (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Low follicular fluid homocysteine level is associated with a better chance of clinical pregnancy

Global variation in postoperative mortality and complications after cancer surgery: a multicentre, prospective cohort study in 82 countries

© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licenseBackground: 80% of individuals with cancer will require a surgical procedure, yet little comparative data exist on early outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared postoperative outcomes in breast, colorectal, and gastric cancer surgery in hospitals worldwide, focusing on the effect of disease stage and complications on postoperative mortality. Methods: This was a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for primary breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer requiring a skin incision done under general or neuraxial anaesthesia. The primary outcome was death or major complication within 30 days of surgery. Multilevel logistic regression determined relationships within three-level nested models of patients within hospitals and countries. Hospital-level infrastructure effects were explored with three-way mediation analyses. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03471494. Findings: Between April 1, 2018, and Jan 31, 2019, we enrolled 15 958 patients from 428 hospitals in 82 countries (high income 9106 patients, 31 countries; upper-middle income 2721 patients, 23 countries; or lower-middle income 4131 patients, 28 countries). Patients in LMICs presented with more advanced disease compared with patients in high-income countries. 30-day mortality was higher for gastric cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (adjusted odds ratio 3·72, 95% CI 1·70–8·16) and for colorectal cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (4·59, 2·39–8·80) and upper-middle-income countries (2·06, 1·11–3·83). No difference in 30-day mortality was seen in breast cancer. The proportion of patients who died after a major complication was greatest in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (6·15, 3·26–11·59) and upper-middle-income countries (3·89, 2·08–7·29). Postoperative death after complications was partly explained by patient factors (60%) and partly by hospital or country (40%). The absence of consistently available postoperative care facilities was associated with seven to 10 more deaths per 100 major complications in LMICs. Cancer stage alone explained little of the early variation in mortality or postoperative complications. Interpretation: Higher levels of mortality after cancer surgery in LMICs was not fully explained by later presentation of disease. The capacity to rescue patients from surgical complications is a tangible opportunity for meaningful intervention. Early death after cancer surgery might be reduced by policies focusing on strengthening perioperative care systems to detect and intervene in common complications. Funding: National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licenseBackground: Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide. Methods: A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study—a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital. Findings: Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3·85 [95% CI 2·58–5·75]; p<0·0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63·0% vs 82·7%; OR 0·35 [0·23–0·53]; p<0·0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer. Interpretation: Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised. Funding: National Institute for Health and Care Research