Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor expression in pediatric tumors: a comparative immunohistochemical study

Background/aim: Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) is a pivotal receptor tyrosine kinase involved in the cell cycle and malignant tumor transformation. It is differentially expressed in various types of tumors. We aimed to determine the expression of IGF-1R in different pediatric tumors and to shed light on possible new indications of anti-IGF-1R treatment approaches. Materials and methods: A total of 147 specimens were analyzed according to their expression of IGF-1R. Specimens included those from rhabdomyosarcomas, Wilms tumors, Ewing sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumors, peripheral neuroblastic tumors, acute lymphoblastic lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, retinoblastoma, pleuropulmonary blastoma, Langerhans cell histiocytosis, endodermal sinus tumors (ESTs), and myeloid sarcoma. Analysis was performed on tissue sections by immunohistochemically staining for IGF-1R expression. Results: All six specimens of EST cases showed positivity for IGF-R1. Additionally, about 56\% of the Hodgkin lymphoma, 80\% of the rhabdomyosarcoma, and 70\% of the Wilms tumor specimens showed positivity for IGF-R1 expression. Conclusion: All ESTs examined in our study expressed IGF-1R and to our knowledge this is the first report regarding ESTs and IGF-1R expression. IGF-1R could be included among confirmatory markers for ESTs and, from a therapeutic viewpoint, ESTs should also be examined for IGF-1R expression for beneficial regimens

Is there a role of interstitial cells of Cajal and mast cells and eosinophils in appendicitis in children?

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to compare the distribution of interstitial Cajal cells, eosinophils, and mast cells in normal and inflamed appendices, and to evaluate the correlation of presence of these cells with severity of inflammation in appendicitis. Materials and methods: The appendicitis group (n = 30) was divided further into three groups according to the macroscopic description and the histological findings. Ten normal appendices served as controls. Tissue samples were processed for routine histological examination. Additionally, all sections were immunohistochemically stained with CD117 and mast cell tryptase antibodies. Results: When specimens were compared in terms of Cajal cells, the observed mean number for the appendicitis group was 4.9 and for the control group it was 8.3. In contrast, eosinophils and mast cells were significantly increased in the appendicitis group when compared with the control group. Conclusion: We detected that eosinophils and mast cells are increased in appendicitis, and correlate with the degree of inflammation of the appendix. The density of interstitial Cajal cells was significantly lower in patients with severe appendix inflammation compared to controls. The histopathological differences observed in this study may help elucidate the pathophysiology of appendicitis

Do submucous myoma characteristics affect fertility and menstrual outcomes in patients underwent hysteroscopic myomectomy?

Background: Submucous myomas may be associated with menorrhagia, infertility and dysmenorrhea. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the long term effects of submucousal myoma resection on menorrhagia and infertility; also to detect whether the type, size, and location of myoma affect the surgical success. Materials and Methods: .Totally 98 women referred to hysteroscopy for symptomatic submucousal fibroids (menorrhagia (n=51) and infertility (n=47)) between 2005- 2010 were enrolled in this historical cohort study Pregnancy rates and menstrual improvement rates were compared according to myoma characteristics (size, type and location). Results: After a mean postoperative period of 23±10 months in 51 patients with excessive bleeding, 13 had recurrent menorrhagia (25%). In Other 38 patients excessive bleeding was improved (75%). The improvement rates by location and myoma type: lower segment 100%, fundus 92%, and corpus 63%; type 0) 70%, type 1) 78%, type 2) 80%. The mean sizes of myoma in recurred and improved patients were 23.33 mm and 29.88 mm respectively. 28 of 47 infertile women spontaneously experienced thirty pregnancies (60%). Pregnancy rates according to myoma location and type: lower segment 50%, fundus 57%, and corpus 80%; type 0) 75%, type 1) 62%, type 2) 50%. The mean myoma size in patients who became pregnant was 30.38 mm; in patients who did not conceive was 29.95 mm. Conclusion: The myoma characetesitics do not affect improvement rates after hysteroscopic myomectomy in patients with unexplained infertility or excessive uterine bleeding

Confounders for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Admission ın Neonates of Mothers with Preeclampsia

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of some maternal and neonatal clinical parameters on the neonatal intensive care unit admission rates of neonates born to mothers who had preeclampsia. Study Design: Study included 402 singleton pregnant women with preeclampsia who admitted to Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit of Zeynep Kamil Children and Women’s Health Training and Research Hospital. Pregnancies with uterine rupture, chorioamnionitis and congenital malformations were excluded. Some maternal and neonatal clinical characteristics were assessed to predict neonatal intensive care unit admission. Results: Among 402 neonates, 140 (35%) of them had an indication for neonatal intensive care unit admission, among 140 neonates, 136 (97%) of them were preterm neonates. Comparison of groups with and without neonatal intensive care unit admission indicated significant differences between groups in terms of gestational age, Apgar scores at 1st and 5th minutes, birth weight, some maternal laboratory parameters (Hemoglobin, hematocrit, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin). In multivariate analysis, among all study population, gestational age at delivery, birth weight and Apgar scores were found to be significantly associated with neonatal intensive care unit admission. On the other hand, in subgroup of term neonates, none of the variables was shown to be associated with neonatal intensive care unit admission. Conclusion: Gestational age at delivery and the birth weight are the main risk factors for neonatal intensive care unit admission of neonates born to mothers who had preeclampsia

Maternal serum sestrin 2 levels in preeclampsia and their relationship with the severity of the disease

Objective: To investigate sestrin 2 (SESN2) levels in preeclampsia (PE) cases and uncomplicated pregnancies. Methods: Cross-sectional study including 26 pregnant women with PE, 24 with severe-PE, and 30 randomly selected healthy pregnant women. Results: The mean arterial pressure, severe proteinuria, number of HELLP syndrome cases, and serum SESN2 levels in the severe PE group were significantly higher than those in the other groups (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.006, and p = 0.004, respectively). Negative correlation was found between the birth interval (r = −.262, p = 0.019) and the SESN2 level. Conclusion: SESN2 seems to play a role in the pathophysiology of PE, especially in severe PE cases