Lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy in a patient with upper limb Merkel Cell Carcinoma: a case report and brief review of literature

Sentinel node mapping is an integral part of regional lymph node staging in many solid tumors and plays an important role in surgical oncology. This technique has been used with excellent results for non-melanoma skin cancers including Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC). In the current study, we reported our first MCC patient who underwent successful sentinel node mapping. We also reviewed the available literature regarding the prognostic significance of sentinel node mapping in cN0 MCC patients.Sentinel node mapping is an integral part of regional lymph node staging in many solid tumors and plays an important role in surgical oncology. This technique has been used with excellent results for non-melanoma skin cancers including Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC). In the current study, we reported our first MCC patient who underwent successful sentinel node mapping. We also reviewed the available literature regarding the prognostic significance of sentinel node mapping in cN0 MCC patients

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in upper tract urothelial cancers: an experience with intraoperative radiotracer injection

Background: The feasibility of the sentinel node mapping in upper tract urothelial cancers (UTUC) was evaluated, using a radiotracer as the mapping material. Material and methods: To identify the sentinel lymph nodes, 37 MBq of [99mTc] phytate was injected in five patients with the renal pelvis or ureter cancer, who were candidates for ureterectomy and lymphadenectomy. The radiotracer was injected in a peritumoral fashion following the surgical exposure of the tumour. The sentinel lymph nodes were detected using a handheld gamma probe. Results: By intraoperatively injecting the radiotracer immediately after surgical exposure of the tumour, at least one sentinel lymph node could be detected in each patient, and the detection rate was 100%. The location of sentinel nodes was in the paracaval, renal hill, retro-aortic, para-aortic, common iliac, and external iliac areas, which was dependent on the tumour location. No false-negative case was identified. Conclusions: Sentinel node mapping is feasible in UTUC. Injection technique (intra-vesical approach vs peri-tumoral injection after exposure of the tumour) and location of the tumour (proximal vs distal) may affect the technique’s feasibility

Google Scholar journal metrics: Comparison with impact factor and SCImago journal rank indicator for nuclear medicine journals

ABSTRACT Introduction: In the current study, we compared h5-index provided by Google Scholar (GS), impact factor (IF) provided by web of sciences (WOS), and SCImago journal rank indicator (SJR) provided by SCOPUS for quality assessment of nuclear medicine journals

Citation Analysis of Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences in ISI Web of Knowledge, Scopus, and Google Scholar

Objective(s): Citation tracking is an important method to analyze the scientific impact of journal articles and can be done through Scopus (SC), Google Scholar (GS), or ISI web of knowledge (WOS). In the current study, we analyzed the citations to 2011-2012 articles of Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences (IJBMS) in these three resources.   Material and Methods: The relevant data from SC, GS, and WOS official websites. Total number of citations, their overlap and unique citations of these three recourses were evaluated. Results: WOS and SC covered 100% and GS covered 97% of the IJBMS items. Totally, 37 articles were cited at least once in one of the studied resources. Total number of citations were 20, 30, and 59 in WOS, SC, and GS respectively. Forty citations of GS, 6 citation of SC, and 2 citations of WOS were unique. Conclusion: Every scientific resource has its own inaccuracies in providing citation analysis information. Citation analysis studies are better to be done each year to correct any inaccuracy as soon as possible. IJBMS has gained considerable scientific attention from wide range of high impact journals and through citation tracking method; this visibility can be traced more thoroughly

Comparison of cyclopentolate versus tropicamide cycloplegia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose: The aim of the present meta-analysis is to compare the efficacy of cyclopentolate and tropicamide in controlling accommodation during refraction. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Science direct and Ovid databases by the key words: “tropicamide”; “cyclopentolate”; “cycloplegia” and “cycloplegic” from inception to April 2016. Methodological quality of the literature was evaluated according to the Oxford Center for Evidence Based Medicine and modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Statistical analyses were performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (version 2; Biostat Inc., USA). Results: The present meta-analysis included six studies (three randomized controlled trials and three case–control studies). Pooled standardized difference in the mean changes in the refractive error was 0.175 D [lower and upper limits: −0.089; 0.438] more plus in the cyclopentolate group compared to the tropicamide group; however, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.194; Cochrane Q value = 171.72 (p < 0.05); I2 = 95.34%). Egger's regression intercept was −5.33 (p = 0.170). Considering type of refractive errors; refractive assessment procedure and age group; although cycloplegic effect of cyclopentolate was stronger than tropicamide; however, this effect was only statistically significant in children; hyperopic patients and with retinoscopy. Conclusion: We suggest that tropicamide may be considered as a viable substitute for cyclopentolate due to its rapid onset of action. Although these results should be used cautiously in infants and in patients with high hyperopia or strabismus when using tropicamide as the sole cycloplegic agent especially in situations that the findings are variable or there is no consistency between the examination results and clinical manifestations of the visual problems. Resumen: Objetivo: El objetivo del presente meta-análisis es comparar la eficacia de ciclopentolato y tropicamida a la hora de controlar la acomodación durante la refracción. Métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda amplia en la literatura en las bases de datos de PubMed, Scopus, Science direct y Ovid, utilizando las palabras clave: “tropicamida”, “ciclopentolato”, “cicloplejia” y “ciclopléjico” desde sus inicios a Abril de 2016. La calidad metodológica de la literatura se evaluó con arreglo a Oxford Center for Evidence Based Medicine y la escala Newcastle-Ottawa modificada. Los análisis estadísticos se realizaron utilizando el software Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (versión 2, Biostat Inc., EEUU). Resultados: El presente meta-análisis incluyó seis estudios (tres ensayos controlados aleatorizados y tres estudios de casos-control). La diferencia estandarizada combinada de los cambios medios del error refractivo fue de 0,175 D [límites inferior y superior: −0,089, 0,438], más acusada en el grupo ciclopentolato con respecto al grupo tropicamida aunque, sin embargo, esta diferencia no fue estadísticamente significativa (p = 0,194, Valor Q de Cochrane = 171,72 (p < 0,05), I2 = 95,34%). El valor del intercepto de regresión de Egger fue de −5,33 (p = 0,17). Considerando el tipo de errores refractivos, el procedimiento de valoración refractiva y el grupo de edad, aunque el efecto ciclopléjico de ciclopentolato fue más fuerte que el de tropicamida, dicho efecto fue únicamente significativo en niños, pacientes hipermétropes, y con retinoscopia. Conclusión: Sugerimos la consideración de tropicamida como sustituto viable de ciclopentolato, debido a su rápido inicio de acción. Aunque estos resultados deberían utilizarse con precaución en niños y en pacientes con elevada hipermetropía o estrabismo al utilizar tropicamida como único agente ciclopléjico, especialmente en situaciones en las que los hallazgos sean variables, o no exista consistencia entre los resultados del examen y las manifestaciones clínicas de los problemas visuales. Keywords: Tropicamide, Cyclopentolate, Cycloplegia, Cycloplegic, Palabras clave: Tropicamida, Ciclopentolato, Cicloplejia, Ciclopléjic

Medical treatment for hepatopulmonary syndrome: a systematic review

Hepatopulmonary syndrome is known as a chronic liver disease associated with severe pulmonary deoxygenation due to intrapulmonary vascular vasodilation. Although liver transplantation is accepted as a main treatment of HPS, identifying effective drugs for recovery of HPS can be effective in postponing the transplantation and decreasing the mortality rate of patients before the transplantation. In this study we briefly reviewed the pathogenesis of HPS and also systematically reviewed the current pharmacological treatment of HPS. Method: Pubmed, Scopus, and Google scholar were searched for the relevant English language clinical and experimental articles about the medications used in the treatment of HPS. Results: A total of 38 articles were included in this study which mostly resulted in decreasing NOS expression, NO production, endothelin-1 activation, intrapulmonary angiogenesis and increasing oxygenation. Conclusion: Various drugs have been proposed in treatment of HPS but more large controlled trial studies, is necessary to determine the exact efficacy of each drugs for HPS recovery

Intra-Operative Lymphatic Mapping and Sentinel Node Biopsy in Laryngeal Carcinoma: Preliminary Results

Introduction: Sentinel node mapping has been used for laryngeal carcinoma in several studies, with excellent results thus far.In the current study, we report our preliminary results on sentinel node mapping in laryngeal carcinoma using intra-operative peri-tumoral injection of a radiotracer.   Materials and Methods: Patients with biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx were included in the study. Two mCi/0.4 cc Tc-99m-phytate in four aliquots was injected on the day of surgery, after induction of anesthesia, in the sub-mucosal peri-tumoral location using a suspension laryngoscopy. After waiting for 10 minutes, a portable gamma probe was used to search for sentinel nodes. All patients underwent laryngectomy and modified radical bilateral neck dissection. All sentinel nodes and removed non-sentinel nodes were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining.   Results: Ten patients with laryngeal carcinoma were included. At least one sentinel node could be detected in five patients (bilateral nodes in four patients). One patient had pathologically involved sentinel and non-sentinel nodes (no false-negative cases).   Conclusion:  Sentinel node mapping in laryngeal carcinoma is technically feasible using an intra-operative radiotracer injection. In order to evaluate the relationship of T-stage and the laterality of the tumor with accuracy, larger studies are needed