Comparison between 18F-FDG PET/CT and diffusion-weighted imaging in detection of invasive ductal breast carcinoma

Objective(s): Breast carcinoma is the most common type of cancer in females. This study aims to compare fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) uptake pattern and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value for the detection of the primary tumour and axillary metastases of invasive ductal breast carcinoma.Methods: This study included 40 breast carcinoma lesions taken from 39 patients. After staging by positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), breast surgery with axillary lymph node dissection or sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed.Results: Primary lesion detection rate for PET/CT and diffusion-weighted MRI was high with 39 of 40 lesions (97.5%). The sensitivity and specificity for the detection of metastatic lymph nodes in axilla were 40.9%, 88.9%, with 18F-FDG PET/CT scans and 40.9%, 83.3%, for dw-MRI, respectively. No significant correlation was detected between ADC and SUVmax or SUVmax ratios. Estrogen receptor (p=0.007) and progesterone receptor (p=0.036) positive patients had lower ADC values. Tumour SUVmax was lower in T1 than T2 tumour size (p=0.027) and progesterone receptor-positive patients (p=0.029). Tumour/background SUVmax was lower in progesterone receptor-positive patients (p=0.004). Tumour/liver SUVmax was higher in grade III patients (p=0.035) and progesterone receptor negative status (p=0.043).Conclusions: This study confirmed the high detection rate of breast carcinoma in both modalities. They have same sensitivity for the detection of axillary lymph node metastases, whereas the PET/CT scan had higher specificity. Furthermore, ADC, SUVmax and SUVmax ratios showed some statistical significance among the patient groups according to different pathological parameters

Semi quantitative evaluation of primary tumor and metastases in patients with lung cancer

Tıpta Uzmanlık TeziAkciğer kanseri tanı ve tedavi alanındaki tüm gelişmelere rağmen tüm dünyada her iki cinste de kanserden ölümlerin birinci nedenidir. Prognozu belirlemede tümörün evresi hala en önemli faktördür. Ancak aynı evredeki hastalarda bile sağ kalım süreleri farklı olması nedeniyle, prognozu belirlemek için ek faktörlere gereksinim vardır. Bu çalışmada, akciger kanserinde pozitron emisyon tomografisinin prognostik faktör olarak rolünü degerlendirmek amacıyla, primer tümörün maksimum standart tutulum değerinin kemik metastazlarıyla ilişkisinin incelenmesi hedeflendi. Çalışmamızda Trakya Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Nükleer Tıp Anabilim Dalı'nda Kasım 2009 ile Mart 2011 tarihleri arasında başvuran tanı almış evre I-IV akciğer kanserli 86 hastanın verileri retrospektif olarak değerlendirildi. Çalışmaya alınan 79 erkek ve 7 kadın hastanın yaş aralığı 46 ile 72 (ortalama:59.44 ±5.99) arasında değişmekteydi. Bu hastaların 10'u küçük hücreli akciğer kanseri (%11.6), 76'sı küçük hücreli dışı akciğer kanseri (%88.4) idi. Ayrıca bu hastaların 35'i kemik metastaz olan hasta (%40),51'i ise kemik metastazı olmayan hasta (%60) idi. Tüm olgularda; primer tümörün standart tutulum değeri ile primer tümör boyutu arasında pozitif yönde, %27.2 düzeyinde ve istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmaktadır (p0.05). Çalışmamızda primer tümör standart tutulum değeri ile primer tümör boyutu arasında pozitif korelasyon saptandı. Ayrıca çalışmamızda istatistiksel olarak anlamsız bulunsa da, 55 standart tutulum değerinin kemik metastazlarıyla ilişkisi arasında taradığımız literatürlerdeki daha önceden tespit edilmemiş bir ilişki bulunabileceğinden, konu üzerinde durulmaya değer görünmektedir. Akciğer kanserinde, kemik metastazlarının standart tutulum değerinin ve kemik metastaz sayılarının prognoz ile ilişkisine yönelik prospektif, çok merkezli, geniş hasta sayılarıyla yapılacak ileri çalışmalara ihtiyaç olduğu görülmektedir. Anahtar kelimeler: Akciğer kanseri, pozitron emisyon tomografisi, standart tutulum değeri.Abstractlthough advanced diagnostic and theraphautic development are achieved, lung cancer is the most leading cause of death in both gender around the world. The stage of tumor is still the most important factor in determining the prognosis of cancer. In this study, in order to determine the role of positron emission tomography as a prognostic factor in lung cancer, the relationship between maximum standardized uptake value and bone metastases was evaluated. The data of 86 lung cancer patients, pathologically diagnosed as stages I-IV either small cell lung cancer or non small cell lung cancer, admitted to the Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Trakya between November 2009 and March 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. The mean age of 7 female and 79 male patients was 59.44 ±5.99 years (range 46-72). Histological distribution of patients was as follows: 10 (11.6 %) small cell lung cancer and 76 (88.4%) non small cell lung cancer. In addition, these patients with bone metastases, 35 patients (40%), and 51 patients without bone metastases (60%), respectively. In all cases, and there were statistically significant relationship at the level of 27.2% with primary tumor size between the positive direction and the primary tumor standardized uptake value (p 0.05) . In our study, positive correlation was observed between maximum standardized uptake value and tumor size. Even though there are also statistically insignificant study, we scanned the literature of the standard uptake value previously undetected bone metastases relationship could have a relationship, the subject seems worthy to mention. Multicentric studies with larger patients groups are needed to identify parameters effecting Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake, number of bone metastasis and standard uptake value of bone metastases with prognosis in lung cancer. Key words: Lung cancer, Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography, standard uptake value

Effect of Pomegranate Seed Extract on Free Radical Damage and Antioxidant Activity under Cisplatin-induced Oxidative Stress Conditions in Rabbit Testes

The aim of this study is to evaluate the protective effect of pomegranate seed extract on cisplatin-induced oxidative stress in rabbits testes. Rabbits were divided into three groups; (i) being control group, (ii) cisplatin group and (iii) cisplatin + pomegranate seed extract group. The level of malondialdehyde and glutathione, the activity of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, were measured in testes tissue of rabbits. Malondialdehyde levels were increased depending on cisplatin. In the case of cisplatin + pomegranate seed extract, malondialdehyde levels were found to be lower than cisplatin group (p < 0.05). In cisplatin group, catalase, glutathione peroxidase activity and glutathione levels were decreased when compared to control but in cisplatin + pomegranate seed extract group, catalase, glutathione peroxidase activity and glutathione levels were found higher than cisplatin group (p < 0.05). The pomegranate seed extract supplementation may play a protective role or decrease the side effects of cisplatin-induced testes toxicity from cancer medicines

Demonstration of Ischemia in Myocardial Perfusion Scintigraphy before Coronary Revascularization Decreases Acute Coronary Syndrome-related Hospitalizations.

In this study, we compared the patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG), followed by revascularization by coronary artery stent implantation according to the CAG results without any evidence of ischemia with myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS), and the patients who underwent revascularization by coronary artery stent implantation following the detection of ischemia in MPS before CAG in terms of the mortality and hospitalization due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Between January 2009 and January 2016, a total of 407 patients (52% males, 48% females; mean age: 66 ± 9 years; range: 40–85 years) who underwent CAG following diagnosis of stable angina and underwent coronary artery stenting were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (n = 200) included those who had MPS before CAG and in whom ischemia was detected and stent was implanted, and Group 2 (n = 207) included those who had stent implantation according to the CAG results without prior MPS. The mean follow-up was 40 ± 18 months. Although there was no significant difference in the mortality rates between the groups, the rate of hospitalization due to ACS was significantly lower in Group 1 (P = 0.112 vs.P = 0.022, respectively). According to the multivariate Cox-regression analysis, demonstration of ischemia in MPS before revascularization, statin use, clopidogrel use, and higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were found to be associated with a reduced risk of ACS-related hospitalization, whereas the presence of diabetes mellitus and smoking was found to be associated with an increased risk of ACS-related hospitalization

Chemotherapeutic agent-induced Nephrotoxicity in Rabbits: Protective Role of Grape Seed Extract

Cisplatin (CP) is one of the most effective cancer chemotherapeutic agent used against various solid tumors. This study was designed to investigate the antioxidant effects of Grape Seed Extract (GSE) on CP induced oxidative damage in rabbit kidney. The material of study was consist of 18 male New Zealand rabbit. Animals were divided into 3 groups. The first group was administered a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) dose of 0.9% saline. The second group of rabbits was treated with CP (a single i.p. dose of 5 mg kg-1 body weight); The third group of rabbits was treated with GSE by gavage at the dose of 250 mg kg-1 body weight for 6 consecutive days before and 6 consecutive days after a single i.p. CP injection. As a result of CP administration, kidney function tests; urea, BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) and creatinine levels were increased (p0.05). GSE treatment has high levels of MDA to compared to normal levels (p<0.001) but not an increase in CAT (p<0.05). In CP treatment group, severe acute tubular necrosis was seen. It was determined that in CP+GSE group mild degenerative changes were received instead of acute tubular necrosis. GSE has been found to be partially protective effect against CP induced biochemical and histopathological changes in rabbit kidney

Comparison of visual and topographic outcomes of deep-anterior lamellar keratoplasty and penetrating keratoplasty in keratoconus

AIM: To compare visual, surgical and topographic outcomes of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) and penetrating keratoplasty (PK) for keratoconus (KC). METHODS: In this multicenter, prospective, randomized clinical trial 76 eyes of 71 KC patients operated between January 2011 and July 2014 in 2 tertiary referral hospitals were included. Consecutive patients were alternately selected to receive one of the two surgical methods. Thirty eight eyes underwent DALK with the big-bubble technique and 38 eyes underwent PK. RESULTS: Mean best spectacle corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) at the first postoperative week (P=0.012) and the first postoperative month (P＜0.001) was statistically significantly higher in DALK group. The mean BSCVA at 12mo was not significantly different for DALK (0.30±1.99 logMAR) versus PK (0.40±0.33 logMAR) (P=0.104). The 76.3% of the eyes had a BSCVA over 0.5 in DALK and 47.4% in PK group (P=0.009). The 7.9% of the eyes had a BSCVA of 1.0 in DALK and 5.3% in PK group (P=0.644). Mean spherical equivalent was -2.94 D in DALK and -3.09 D in PK group. Mean topographic astigmatism was 4.62 D and 4.18 D respectively. Regular topographic patterns were observed in 31 (81.6%) of DALK and 29 (76.3%) of PK (P=0.574). The most frequent topographic pattern was oblate asymmetric bow tie, seen in 39.5% in DALK and 23.7% in PK. CONCLUSION: Big bubble DALK provides an earlier visual improvement compare to PK. However, visual and topographic outcomes are similar to those in PK at 1y. Postoperative complications including rejection and intraocular pressure elevation are more frequent in PK. DALK is a safer alternative to PK for KC. However, intraoperative perforation of the Descemet’s membrane is a significant complication

The solubility, pH value, chemical structure, radiopacity, and cytotoxicity of four different root canal sealers: an in vitro study

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate solubility, pH value, chemical structure, radiopacity, and cytotoxicity of AH Plus BC, TotalFill BC, AH Plus, and AH Plus Jet sealers.Materials and methodsCytotoxicity analysis with direct and extraction tests at 3 different concentrations (1:1, 1:2, 1:4 v/v%) and time (24 h, 48 h, and 72 h) on Saos-2, PdLF, and THP-1 cell lines, chemical structure with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis, solubility, pH, and radiopacity values of AH Plus BC, TotalFill BC, AH Plus, and AH Plus Jet were evaluated. For statistical analyses of the groups, repeated measures, factorial, and one-way ANOVA tests were used. The statistical significance level was set at p .05.ResultsResin-based sealers showed higher cytotoxicity values than the bioceramic-based sealers (p 0.05). Time and concentrations were effective on the cell viabilities for cell lines. Higher peaks of calcium were detected bioceramic-based sealers and higher amount of zirconium was detected in AH Plus BC (p 0.05). AH Plus BC showed similar radiopacity value with AH Plus, AH Plus Jet, whereas TotalFill BC showed the lowest radiopacity (p 0.05). Bioceramic-based sealers had higher pH values in all experiment periods, and the difference between resin- and bioceramic-based sealer groups was significant (p 0.05). However, the solubility values of the tested root canal sealers revealed no differences (p > 0.05).ConclusionsThe newly produced AH Plus BC Sealer showed similar properties with TotalFill BC, and their biological properties were better than AH Plus and AH Plus Jet.AH Plus Bioceramic Sealer, AH Plus Sealer, and AH Plus Jet Sealer to the study were provided by Dentsply Sirona (# E-2022-07).~AH Plus Bioceramic Sealer; AH Plus Sealer; AH Plus Jet Seale