Value of Multiple Computed Tomography Criteria for Prediction of Malignancy in Patients with Ovarian Mass

Objective: Computed tomography (CT) can be used as a safe, accurate and noninvasive technique for the prediction of ovarian malignancy with several criteria. We aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of presence of multiple CT malignancy criteria for the prediction of ovarian malignancy in patients with ovarian mass. Study Design: From a total of 734 patients diagnosed with an adnexal mass, ovarian mass was determined in 91 contrast-enhanced abdominopelvic CT images were examined for the presence of tumoral diameter (>50 mm), thick septa, wall thickness, solid component, contrast involvement, invasion, ascites, and bilaterality. The ratios of these parameters and the value of their combined use for the prediction of ovarian malignancy was assessed. Results: Of the 91 patients included in the study, in patients with benign [in 66 (72.5%) patients] and malign [(in 25 (27.5%) patients] ovarian mass, the mean (range) ages were 43.5 (17-82) and 58.0 (34-88) years, respectively. A statistically significant relationship was determined between ovarian malignancy and all the CT criteria (p<0.05) except the tumoral diameter (>50 mm) and wall thickness (p>0.05). The ROC analysis revealed that with the presence of 3 or more criteria among the 8 CT criteria, the ovarian mass can be predicted as malignant at least with a sensitivity of 76% and specificity of 70%. Conclusion: The presence of 3 or more parameters among the 8 selected CT criteria, the ovarian malignancy can be predicted at least with a sensitivity of 76% and specificity of 70% in patients with ovarian mass

The importance of MTHFR C677T/A1298C combined polymorphisms in pulmonary embolism in Turkish population

Background and objective: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is an important cardiovascular emergency with high mortality. There are still problems related to the diagnosis of PE and genetic research may play a key role on diagnosis as well as determining risk stratification. In the present study, the aim was to evaluate MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms that play a role on folate metabolism in PE patients. Materials and methods: A total of 118 PE patients and 126 controls were enrolled in the current study. Genomic DNA was isolated and genotyped using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses for the MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms. Results: There was no association between clinical and demographic characteristics of PE patients and both MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms. Allele frequencies showed a significant difference between patients and controls. T allele frequency was significantly higher in the patients\u27 group than the control group. There was an association between PE and combined MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms. Conclusion: We found an association between MTHFR C677T/A1298C combined mutations and PE in the Turkish population. Future genetic studies investigating combined mutations could be very helpful to identify risk population in PE

SDF-1/CXCL12 and CXCR4 gene variants, and elevated serum SDF-1 levels are associated with preeclampsia

Objective: We aimed to compare the frequencies of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) 3′A and CXCR4 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and serum SDF-1 levels in patients with preeclampsia (PE). Methods: In total, 89 women with PE and 89 control women were included in the study. Genotyping was done by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was used to measure serum SDF-1 level. Results: For SDF-1 3′A SNP, the frequency of GA genotype, total number of GA and AA genotypes, and the A allele frequency was higher in PE patients than controls (p = 0.04, 0.023, and 0.029, respectively). For CXCR4 SNP, the frequency of CT genotype, total number of CT and TT genotypes, and the T allele frequency were higher in PE patients than controls (p = 0.04, 0.006, and 0.005, respectively). SDF-1 serum level was detected higher in preeclamptic women compared with controls (p = 0.001). In PE patients, there was no significant association between serum SDF-1 levels and genotypes of SDF-1 3′A SNP. SDF-1 level was significantly higher in patients bearing CXCR4 CT genotype than CC genotype (p = 0.001). Furthermore, SDF-1 levels in patients bearing CT+TT genotype were found higher than that of patients with CC genotypes (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Results of our study suggest that SDF-1 3′A and CXCR4 polymorphisms and elevated serum SDF-1 levels may have a role in the development of PE

Dual Energy CT Evaluation of the Severity of Pulmonary Thromboembolism: Correlation of Pulmonary Perfusion Score with CT

Bozdag, Mustafa/0000-0002-0741-587XWOS: 000567599300005Background: Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients and computed tomographic angiography (CTA) has become the gold standard diagnostic examination for suspected PTE. Dual energy computed tomography (DECT) not only detects thromboembolic filling defects but also provides functional perfusion information by generating iodine distribution maps. Objectives: the objective of the study is to determine the value of perfusion defect score (P score) in detection of the severity of acute PTE and to correlate it with pulmonary obstruction score (Qanadli score), other CTA parameters and clinical findings. Patients and Methods: Fifty five patients, with acute PTE who underwent DECT were reviewed. We calculated P score, Qanadli score, ratio of the right ventricle diameter to the left ventricle (RV/LV ratio) and the main pulmonaryartery(PA) diameter by using the dual energy CTA images. the correlation between CTA parameters and clinical- echocardiographic data was investigated. Results: Correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between the P score and Qanadli score (r= 0.748, P < 0.001). There was also a significant positive correlation between P score and RV/LV ratio (r = 0.432, P = 0.001) and between Qanadli score and RV/LV ratio (r = 0.424 P = 0.001). Echocardiographic data was present in 39 patients (70.9 %). P score was significantly higher in patients with RV dilatation (P = 0.022) and RV dysfunction (P = 0.001) on echocardiography. Likewise, similar interaction was present between Qanadli score and RV dilatation (P = 0.023) and RV dysfunction (P = 0.003). No correlation was present between P score and blood gas analysis [partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2), partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2),(PaO2)/fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO(2)), oxygen saturation] and hemodynamic data (blood pressure and pulse). Conclusion: P score is seen as a good adjunctive tool to other CTA parameters and echocardiography in detection of PTE severity. Addition of perfusion changes to clinical risk assessment will help in the management of patients

Evaluation of the Anticancer and Biological Activities of Istaroxime via Ex Vivo Analyses, Molecular Docking and Conceptual Density Functional Theory Computations

Cancer is a disease that occurs as a result of abnormal or uncontrolled growth of cells due to DNA damage, among many other causes. Certain cancer treatments aim to increase the excess of DNA breaks to such an extent that they cannot escape from the general mechanism of cell checkpoints, leading to the apoptosis of mutant cells. In this study, one of the Sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ATPase (SERCA2a) inhibitors, Istaroxime, was investigated. There has been very limited number of articles so far reporting Istaroxime’s anticancer activity; thus, we aimed to evaluate the anticancer effects of Istaroxime by cell proliferation assay and revealed the cytotoxic activity of the compound. We further determined the interaction of Istaroxime with topoisomerase enzymes through enzyme activity tests and detailed molecular modeling analysis. Istaroxime exhibited an antiproliferative effect on A549, MCF7, and PC3 cell lines and inhibited Topoisomerase I, suggesting that Istaroxime can act as a Topoisomerase I inhibitor under in vitro conditions. Molecular docking analysis supported the experimental observations. A chemical reactivity analysis of the Istaroxime molecule was made in the light of Density Functional Theory computations. For this aim, important chemical reactivity descriptors such as hardness, electronegativity, and electrophilicity were computed and discussed as detailed