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Early impairment of coronary flow reserve in young men with borderline hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether functional abnormalities in coronary vasomotion are present in young healthy asymptomatic men fulfilling the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for borderline hypertension. BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported reduced coronary flow reserve in middle-aged subjects with sustained hypertension and hypertension-induced microvascular heart disease or left ventricular hypertrophy. METHODS: Myocardial blood flow was measured at baseline and during dipyridamole-induced hyperemia by means of positron emission tomography and oxygen-15-labeled water in asymptomatic young men with borderline hypertension (group 1: n = 16, mean +/- SD age 37 +/- 4 years, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure 135 +/- 10/81 +/- 9 mm Hg) and matched healthy control subjects (group 2: n = 19, age 35 +/- 3 years, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure 119 +/- 8/69 +/- 8 mm Hg, p < 0.001). Left ventricular (LV) mass, dimensions and function were measured by echocardiography. RESULTS: LV mass, dimensions and diastolic function were similar in the study groups. Baseline myocardial blood flow was similar (0.83 +/- 0.21 vs. 0.80 +/- 0.22 ml/g per min, group 1 vs. group 2, respectively, p = NS), and a significant increase in flow was detected after dipyridamole infusion (0.56 mg/kg body weight in 4 min intravenously) in both groups. However, the flow response to dipyridamole was significantly lower in group 1, leading to lower hyperemic flow in group 1 than in group 2 (2.85 +/- 1.20 vs. 3.80 +/- 1.44 ml/g per min, respectively). Consequently, the coronary flow response was lower in hypertensive than in normotensive men (3.46 +/- 1.23 vs. 4.99 +/- 2.5 ml/g per min, group 1 vs. group 2, respectively, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate reduced coronary reactivity present in young asymptomatic men with borderline hypertension and no signs of hypertension-induced angina or left ventricular hypertrophy. Because baseline basal myocardial blood flow was unchanged, the reduction in coronary flow reserve depends on an impaired maximal vasodilator capacity.

Adult↗

Comparative study of diagnostic measures in borderline surgical cases of unilateral cleft lip and palate and noncleft Class III malocclusions.

Patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate present difficult growth problems. Their anteroposterior discrepancies in jaw and dentition are frequently so severe that some epidemiologic studies report the necessity of orthognathic surgery in 25% of their sample. The aims of this study were three-fold: (1) to delineate diagnostic measures in borderline surgical cases of unilateral cleft lip and palate, (2) to verify the significance of negative overjet as a measure of anteroposterior discrepancy, and (3) to compare these diagnostic measures with those of borderline surgical cases of noncleft Class III malocclusions. The sample consisted of 29 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate and 25 noncleft Class III Korean patients (mean age, 18.69 years); all had crossbites of all four incisors. Each of their pretreatment study casts and cephalograms were analyzed. The group with unilateral cleft lip and palate was divided into two subgroups on the basis of the method of their anterior crossbite resolution; 18 subjects were treated with orthodontics alone (Cleft-NS) and 11 subjects with orthognathic surgery (Cleft-Surg). The noncleft Class III group was divided into two subgroups; 6 of the subjects were orthodontically treated (Cl III-NS), and 19 were surgically treated (Cl III-Surg). The group with unilateral cleft lip and palate showed smaller SNA and SNB angles than the noncleft Class III group, but the ANB angles and the amount of anterior crossbites showed no statistical differences. When the Cleft-NS and the Cleft-Surg groups were compared, the ANB angle and the Wits measurements were significantly different. When the Cl III-NS and Cl III-Surg groups were compared, the SNB, ANB, L1GoGn, Wits, and the crossbite showed significant differences. For borderline surgical Class III unilateral cleft lip and palate cases, ANB angle, Wits appraisal, and ABGoGn angle were critical diagnostic parameters. On the other hand, the magnitude of anterior crossbite, the negative overjet, was shown not to be a significant measure of anteroposterior discrepancy.

Adolescent↗

Frequency shift in baroregulatory oscillation in borderline hypertensive subjects.

The aim of this study was to quantify the frequency shift in vasomotor oscillations in blood pressure we observed in borderline hypertensive individuals in our previous study. Electrocardiogram and intraarterial blood pressure were recorded in 33 normotensive, 29 borderline hypertensive, and 33 mildly hypertensive men (aged 35 to 45 years). Five-minute stationary periods in supine, sitting, and standing positions, and during sleep were extracted from the recordings for autoregressive frequency domain analysis. In borderline hypertensive subjects vasomotor oscillations in the range of 0.05 to 0.12 Hz in blood pressure and heart rate, assumed to be associated with baroreceptor activity, were shifted to lower values as compared with the other two groups. The frequency shift was assessed by median frequency of the oscillations. Significant between-group differences were observed in the supine and sitting positions. No significant between-group differences were seen in normalized spectral power estimates. Further studies are required to determine whether the frequency shift provides prognostic information on cardiovascular morbidity.

Adult↗

Lymph node disorders and prognostic value of nodal involvement in patients treated for a borderline ovarian tumor: an analysis of a series of 42 lymphadenectomies.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate the rate and the clinical outcomes of lymph node involvement in patients treated for borderline ovarian tumor (BOT). STUDY DESIGN: Forty-two patients were treated for BOT with a procedure that included lymphadenectomy. Twenty-four patients underwent a pelvic lymphadenectomy, 6 a paraaortic lymphadenectomy, and 12 both procedures. Thirty-two patients underwent systematic lymphadenectomy, five because of associated cancer (uterine cervix or corpus) and five because of bulky nodes discovered during the surgical procedure. RESULTS: An endosalpingiosis was present in 11 (26%) patients who underwent lymphadenectomy. Eight patients had nodal involvement related to the BOT. All patients with nodal involvement had serous BOT with peritoneal implants. None of the patients with a mucinous tumor had nodal involvement. None of the patients with early-stage disease (without peritoneal disease) had nodal involvement discovered after routine lymphadenectomy. None of the patients with nodal involvement died of borderline tumor. One patient died of a complication of adjuvant therapy (leukemia after chemotherapy). CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of patients with borderline tumors of the ovary and nodal involvement is excellent. Routine lymphadenectomy should not be performed in patients with early-stage disease. This procedure should be carried out in patients with serous tumor and enlarged lymph nodes.

Adolescent↗

Borderline and/or discordant Cobas Amplicor HCV Test version 2.0 results: clinical significance.

BACKGROUND: The Cobas Amplicor HCV Test Version 2.0 (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) allows highly sensitive detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in patient samples (> or =100 copies/ml with 100% reproducibility) and yields reproducible, unambiguous results that correlate well with relevant serological and clinical parameters. Occasionally, however, results are borderline (defined by Roche Diagnostics as optical density 0.15-1.0) and/or discordant upon repetition. Such results are difficult to interpret: do they represent false-positives or reflect very low-level viremia (<100 copies/ml)? OBJECTIVE: To determine whether low-level viremia could be a plausible explanation for the borderline/discordant results observed with this test. STUDY DESIGN: (1) Analyse serial dilutions of two HCV standards and one HCV quantitated patient serum; and (2) correlate ambiguous results from 21 patients with available clinical and laboratory data. RESULTS: (1) All dilutions containing >100 copies/ml yielded 100% concordant positive results, whereas dilutions with <100 copies/ml yielded discordant results, often with borderline values. (2) All patients had either a confirmed HCV infection (n=14, seropositive, most undergoing therapy with interferon-alpha) or had a history of confirmed or suspected contact with HCV without confirmed HCV infection (seronegative): three needle-stick injuries, one newborn of an HCV seropositive mother, one woman with liver cirrhosis of unknown etiology, one iv drug abuser, and one nurse with a prior blood transfusion and "indeterminant HCV results" at a blood donation center. CONCLUSION: Based on our experience to date, borderline results and/or discordant replicates obtained with the Cobas Amplicor HCV Test Version 2.0 are indicative of very low level viremia (<100 copies/ml) due either to an HCV infection (patients will be seropositive) or to transient contact with the virus with or without subsequent HCV infection (patients will be seronegative and may remain so). Follow-up of such patients is mandatory.

False Positive Reactions↗

Rapid validation of protein identifications with the borderline statistical confidence via de novo sequencing and MS BLAST searches.

Protein identifications with the borderline statistical confidence are typically produced by matching a few marginal quality MS/MS spectra to database peptide sequences and represent a significant bottleneck in the reliable and reproducible characterization of proteomes. Here, we present a method for rapid validation of borderline hits that circumvents the need in, often biased, manual inspection of raw MS/MS spectra. The approach takes advantage of the independent interpretation of corresponding MS/MS spectra by PepNovo de novo sequencing software followed by mass spectrometry-driven BLAST (MS BLAST) sequence-similarity database searches that utilize all partially inaccurate, degenerate and redundant candidate peptide sequences. In a case study involving the identification of more than 180 Caenorhabditis elegans proteins by nanoLC-MS/MS analysis on a linear ion trap LTQ mass spectrometer, the approach enabled rapid assignment (confirmation or rejection) of more than 70% of Mascot hits of borderline statistical confidence.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Clinical evaluation of MRI in the diagnosis of borderline ovarian tumors.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical potential of contrast-enhanced MRI with Gd-DTPA (gadopentetate dimeglumine) in the diagnosis of borderline ovarian tumors. METHODS: Thirteen patients with 14 borderline ovarian tumors were evaluated with serum levels of four tumor markers (CA125, CA19-9, SLX and CEA) and contrast-enhanced MRI. RESULTS: Among the 13 patients, five had normal serum levels of all four tumor markers, and five had high serum levels of plural tumor markers. The positive rates of CA125, CA19-9, SLX, and CEA were 46.2% (6/13), 38.5% (5/13), 30.8% (4/13), and 7.7% (1/13), respectively. With contrast-enhanced MRI, all 13 patients were diagnosed as having malignant tumors using the widely accepted criteria of MRI findings for the diagnosis of malignant ovarian tumors. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, all 14 borderline tumors had similar MRI findings to those of malignant tumors and were diagnosed as ovarian cancers with contrast-enhanced MRI, unrelated to the serum levels of tumor markers.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗

Clinical outcome and risk factors for recurrence in borderline ovarian tumours.

We investigated the long-term prognosis of borderline ovarian tumours and determined risk factors for recurrence. One hundred and twenty-one borderline ovarian tumours treated between 1994 and 2003 at the participating institutions in the Tohoku Gynecologic Cancer Unit were retrospectively investigated for clinical stage, histopathological subtype, surgical technique, postoperative chemotherapy, the presence or absence of recurrence, and prognosis. The median follow-up period was 57 months (1-126 months). One hundred and nine cases (90.6%) were at clinical stage I. The histopathological subtypes consisted of 91 cases of mucinous tumour (75.2%), 27 cases of serous tumour (22.3%), and three cases of endometrioid tumour. Conservative surgery was used in 53 cases (43.8%), radical surgery in 68 cases (56.2%), a staging laparotomy in 43 cases (35.5%), and postoperative adjuvant therapy in 30 cases (24.8%). Recurrence was found in eight cases, but no tumour-related deaths were reported. Although no significant difference in disease-free survival rate was seen between different clinical stages, the difference in disease-free survival rate between serous and non-serous (mucinous and endometrioid) types was significant (P<0.05). The 10-year disease-free survival rate was 89.1% for the radical surgery group and 57.4% for the conservative surgery group -- this difference was significant (P<0.05). In the conservative surgery group, cystectomy and serous tumour were independent risk factors for recurrence. Although recurrence was observed, the long-term prognosis of borderline ovarian tumour was favourable, without tumour-related deaths. Considering the favourable prognosis, conservative surgery can be chosen as far as the patient has a non-serous tumour and receive adnexectomy. However, in cases of serous type and/or receiving cystectomy special care should be given as relative risk rates of recurrence elevate by 2-4-folds.

Adult↗

Analysis of p73 in human borderline and invasive ovarian tumor.

p73 is a novel gene that has high sequence homology and similar gene structure to the tumor suppressor gene p53. We analysed p73 in seven ovarian carcinoma cell lines and a total of 63 human borderline and invasive ovarian tumor samples. Loss of heterozygosity at this locus was observed in 50% of invasive tumors but in none of the borderline tumors. Biallelic expression of the gene was observed in the heterozygous tumor tissues. Direct sequencing and single-strand conformation polymorphism analyses of the p73 cDNA sequence homologous to the highly mutatable region of p53 did not reveal any mutations. When compared to the primary cultures of normal human ovarian surface epithelial cells and immortalized cell lines, four of the seven ovarian carcinoma cell lines, 71% of the invasive tumors, and 92% of the borderline tumor tissues express elevated levels of p73 transcript. Except for the OVCA3 cell line, Western blot analysis of the nuclear extracts prepared from the cell lines showed concordant levels of p73 protein. Our analysis also demonstrated the expression of a spliced variant of p73 transcript with the omission of exon 2 solely in the cancer cell lines and invasive tumor tissues. This exon 2-spliced transcript would give rise to a truncated p73 protein without the N-terminal transactivation domain. In reminiscence of the dominant negative phenotype of the N-terminal truncated variants of another p53-related gene, p63, the expression of the truncated p73 variant form in ovarian tumors may play an important role in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Regional blood flow in borderline and sustained essential hypertension.

1. Cardiac output, lower-limb blood flow, hepatic and renal blood flows were studied in 16 patients with borderline and 16 patients with sustained essential hypertension and compared with 16 age-matched control subjects. 2. In borderline hypertension cardiac output and lower-limb blood flow were significantly elevated, while hepatic and renal blood flows were within the normal range. Cardiac output and lower-limb blood flow were positively correlated. 3. In sustained hypertension cardiac output, lower-limb blood flow and hepatic blood flow were within the normal range. Renal blood flow was significantly reduced. Lower-limb blood flow was negatively correlated with mean arterial pressure. 4. If borderline hypertension is an early stage of fixed hypertension, the present study suggests that the changes in cardiac output observed in hypertension are mainly related to lower-limb (and muscle) blood flow.

Adult↗

Central haemodynamics and plasma prostaglandin E2 in borderline and sustained essential hypertensive patients before and after indomethacin.

1. In basal conditions, plasma arterial prostaglandin (PG) E2 was significantly increased in borderline hypertensive patients (BH) (28.5 +/- 6.7 pg/ml) in comparison with sustained essential hypertensive patients (EH) (11.6 +/- 3.2 pg/ml) and in comparison with control normotensive subjects (NTS) (5.8 +/- 1.4 pg/ml). 2. Plasma arterial PGE2 was positively significantly correlated with cardiac index and negatively significantly correlated with total peripheral resistance in basal conditions. 3. Indomethacin induced more pronounced haemodynamic changes in borderline than in sustained hypertensive patients, with a significant increase in arterial blood pressure and total peripheral resistance and a significant decrease in stroke volume and cardiac index. 4. Indomethacin significantly decreased arterial PGE2 in borderline hypertensive patients. The decrease was less important in sustained hypertensive patients. 5. In the overall population, a significant positive correlation between arterial PGE2 concentration and cardiac index was observed before and after indomethacin treatment. 6. The study suggests an important role of PGE2 in the regulation of cardiac output (positive inotropic effect) and blood pressure of essential hypertensive patients.

Adult↗

The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in a population with borderline iodine deficiency.

OBJECTIVE: We lack information on the influence of borderline iodine deficiency on the occurrence of thyroid dysfunction. Iodine deficiency has been reported to facilitate the development of toxic nodular goitre, whereas a high iodine intake may increase the prevalence of autoimmune hypothyroidism. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of a random sample of the general population in our region with borderline iodine deficiency 2656 (65%) of 4073 men and women aged 41 to 71 years participated. Records were made of previous thyroidal illness. Blood samples were drawn for thyroid parameters and TPO Ab values. Iodine and creatinine was assessed in casual urine samples. RESULTS: Previous or present hyperthyroidism was reported by 1.4% of the participants whereas 0.6% had unknown biochemical hyperthyroidism. All cases of undiagnosed hyperthyroidism were among women. Previously diagnosed and treated hypothyroidism was reported by 1.0% and undiagnosed hypothyroidism was found in 0.4%. Subclinical hyperthyroidism was found in 1.3% and subclinical hypothyroidism in 0.7%. TPO Ab titres >200 kU/l were found in 16.9% of the women and 6.6% of the men, and 83% of participants with TSH >5 mU/l had TPO Ab titres >200 kU/l. Participants with TPO Ab titres between 100 and 200 kU/l had no increased frequency of thyroid dysfunction. The median iodine excretion rate was estimated as 103 microg/day. Serum TSH values were higher in women than in men and showed higher dispersion in women as well as in old age. Serum free T3 was found to be higher in women than in men and increased with age. Serum free T4 showed no sex difference but values increased with increasing age. CONCLUSION: In our region with borderline iodine deficiency more than 5% of the general population has clinical or subclinical thyroid dysfunction. We found a relatively high prevalence of hyperthyroidism, especially previously undiagnosed disease, but a low prevalence of hypothyroidism as would be expected in an area of iodine deficiency. Hypothyroidism was related to TPO Ab titres of >200 kU/l. Thyroid hormone levels varied with age and sex.

Adult↗

Subtyping borderline nuclear changes: is it of value in predicting high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia on histology?

The aim was to determine the association between the subtypes of borderline nuclear changes (BNC) in cervical smears and high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (HCIN). BNC was reported in 23236 smears received in our laboratory over a 7-year period, 3278 patients were referred for colposcopy. Analysis was restricted to 2007 cases, which fitted the criteria of: (1). consistent subtyping of borderline change and (2). cervical histology result within 12 months of the last abnormal smear. BNC was reported in six categories and correlated with histology. Atypia bordering on dyskaryosis, atypical metaplastic cells and endocervical atypia, were associated with HCIN in 25%, 25.4% and 23.8% of cases, respectively. Dyskeratosis and koilocytotic atypia were associated with HCIN in 19.2% and 13.7% of cases, respectively. Some subtypes of borderline change are more frequently associated with HCIN. The difference is not sufficient to dictate clinical management.

Cell Nucleus↗

The clinical significance of fetal isolated cerebral borderline ventriculomegaly: report of 31 cases and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical significance of fetal isolated borderline cerebral lateral ventriculomegaly defined as a width of the atrium of the lateral cerebral ventricles of 10-15 mm in the absence of other sonographically demonstrable malformations. DESIGN: Retrospective study of the outcome of fetuses with a sonographic diagnosis of isolated borderline cerebral lateral ventriculomegaly and review of the English-language literature. RESULTS: Of 31 fetuses, two had chromosomal aberrations (trisomy 21 and trisomy 13) and three had neurological complications (one infant developed shunt-dependent hydrocephalus, one lissencephaly and one cerebral hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia). The literature search revealed eight independent studies. Including the present series, 234 cases were available for analysis. An abnormal outcome was documented in 22.8% of cases. Perinatal death occurred in 3.7%. Chromosomal aberrations, mostly trisomy 21, were present in 3.8%, malformations undetected at a second-trimester sonogram in 8.6% and neurological sequelae, mostly a mild to moderate delay in cognitive and/or motor development, were present in 11.5%. The risk of an abnormal neurological outcome was increased in females versus males (22.6% versus 4.6%, relative risk 4.892; 95% confidence interval 1.356-17.656), when the atrial width was 12 mm or more (13.9% versus 3.8%, relative risk 3.6, 95% confidence interval 1.035-12.846) and when the diagnosis was made in the second trimester versus later in gestation. CONCLUSIONS: In most cases, isolated borderline cerebral lateral ventriculomegaly has no consequence. However, this finding carries an increased risk of cerebral maldevelopment, delayed neurological development and, possibly, chromosomal aberrations. The optimal management of these cases remains uncertain.

Chromosome Aberrations↗

Ovarian serous borderline tumors: a critical review of the literature with emphasis on prognostic indicators.

BACKGROUND: The behavior of ovarian serous borderline tumors (SBTs) and significance of various prognostic factors are unclear and difficult to evaluate because of inconsistencies and confusion in the literature. Recent studies have suggested that the morphological features of the primary tumor (presence or absence of micropapillary features) and the peritoneal "implants" (presence or absence of invasive features) can reliably subclassify SBTs into benign and malignant types. The aim of the current review was to test two hypotheses. First, that the alleged malignant behavior of SBTs is poorly documented, and second, that the morphological features of the primary ovarian tumors and the associated peritoneal implants are sufficient to separate SBTs into benign and malignant types, thereby obviating the need for the category. METHODS: 245 studies reporting approximately 18,000 patients with borderline ovarian tumors were reviewed. After excluding series that lacked clinical follow-up or were not analyzable for other reasons, there remained 97 reports that included 4,129 patients. In addition to recurrences and survival, we evaluated the type of peritoneal implants, microinvasion, lymph node involvement, late recurrences, and progression to carcinoma, as these features have served as the underpinning of the concept of "borderline malignancy" or "low malignant potential." RESULTS: Among 4,129 patients with SBTs reviewed, the recurrence rate after a mean follow-up of 6.7 years was 0.27% per year for stage I tumors, the disease-free survival was 98.2%, and the overall disease-specific survival rate was 99.5%. For patients with advanced-stage tumors, the recurrence rate was 2.4% per year. However, the majority (69%) of reported recurrences were not pathologically documented, and only 26 cases (8.4% of all recurrences) were documented to have recurred from an adequately sampled ovarian tumor. The most reliable prognostic indicator for advanced stage tumors was the type of peritoneal implant. After 7.4 years of follow-up, the survival of patients with noninvasive peritoneal inplants was 95.3%, as compared with 66% for invasive implants (P < .0001). Microinvasion in the primary ovarian tumor was associated with a 100% survival rate at 6.7 years, and lymph node involvement was associated with a 98% survival rate at 6.5 years. The few reported cases of stage IV disease, progression to invasive carcinoma, and very late (>20 years) recurrences were poorly documented. The survival for all stages among approximately 373 patients in 6 prospective randomized trials followed for a mean of 6.7 years was 100%. CONCLUSION: Surgical pathological stage and subclassification of extraovarian disease into invasive and noninvasive implants are the most important prognostic indicators for SBTs. Survival for stage I tumors is virtually 100%. Survival for advanced stage tumors with noninvasive implants is 95.3%, whereas survival for tumors with invasive implants is 66%. Invasive implants behave as carcinomas and are most likely metastatic. The precise nature of so-called noninvasive implants is not clear, but they behave in a benign fashion. The presence of a micropapillary architecture in the primary ovarian tumor is a strong predictor of invasive implants. These data support the recommendation that ovarian tumors with a micropapillary architecture be designated "micropapillary serous carcinomas," and those lacking these features, "atypical proliferative serous tumors."

Cystadenoma, Serous↗

[Long-term studies of patients with borderline tumors of the ovaries].

This retrospective investigation comprises a follow-up observation of 51 patients with borderline tumours of the ovaries, who had been treated at the Department of Gynaecology of the University of Erlangen between January 1st 1966 and December 31st 1986. The average age was approx. ten years younger that of patients with invasive carcinomas and 65% of the patients were in stage I. For women in stage Ia desiring children, unilateral adnexectomy is sufficient in the context of meticulous staging laparotomy. The remaining ovary should be further exposed by wedge excision. Once the family is complete, hysterectomy and adnexectomy should then be carried out retrospectively in view of the high risk of bilaterality. In ovarian tumours of borderline malignancy stages II and III, the surgical therapy should correspond to the procedure for invasive carcinomas, with the objective of postoperative freedom from tumour. Lymphonodectomy is not obligatory in view of the very rare involvement of lymph nodes. The question as to the necessity of adjuvant therapy is still open. Our observations indicate, that combination chemotherapy, containing cisplatinum is effective as adjuvant therapy in advanced stages as well as in recurrences, which cannot be completely resected surgically. 18% of our patients with borderline tumours suffered a recurrence or tumour progression, in consequence of which five died (10%). The recurrences were manifested clinically after 33 months at the earliest, and after 164 months at the latest, so that the follow-up in these patients should extend over a period of more than ten years.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗

Improved assessment of the hemodynamic significance of borderline iliac stenoses with use of hyperemic duplex scanning.

OBJECTIVE: To improve the assessment of the hemodynamic significance of borderline iliac stenoses (stenosis with a peak systolic velocity [PSV] ratio between 1.5 and 3.5) by means of hyperemic duplex scanning. The duplex ultrasound parameter-absolute increase in PSV across the stenosis after exercise (Delta PSV(e))-was studied prospectively. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-eight legs in 53 consecutive patients with symptomatic arterial obstructive disease with borderline iliac stenosis were studied prospectively. Ultrasound velocity data collected after exercise on a bicycle ergometer at 2 W/kg during 2 minutes were judged against the assessment of the hemodynamic significance by means of intraarterial pressure measurement, before and after the administration of 50 mg papaverine. RESULTS: On the basis of receiver operating characteristic curves traced for 43 iliac stenoses in 39 patients who finished the exercise, Delta PSV(e) > or = 1.4 m/s had optimal sensitivity of 93% (95% confidence interval [CI],.77-.99), specificity of 87% (95% CI,.60-.98), positive predictive value of 93% (95% CI,.77-.99) and negative predictive value of 87% (95% CI,.60-.98). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that Delta PSV(e) with a cutoff value of 1.4 m/s in combination with the PSV ratio improves the assessment of the hemodynamic significance of borderline iliac artery stenoses if the patient can accomplish the workload.

Adult↗

Pregnancy outcome and recurrence after conservative laparoscopic surgery for borderline ovarian tumors.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of conservative laparoscopic management of borderline ovarian tumors, and to assess pregnancy outcome and recurrence after fertility-sparing surgery. METHODS: From 1995 to 2005, 43 patients of reproductive age presented with adnexal mass, which was subsequently diagnosed as a borderline tumor of the ovary. These patients were treated by conservative laparoscopic surgery, with intraoperative staging of the disease. Patients were evaluated every 3 months for the first 2 years, and then every 6 months thereafter, to determine the best modality for following patients after conservative surgery. RESULTS: Three (7%) patients developed a recurrence after conservative treatment. Among the 43 patients who had conservative surgery, 21 (49%) became pregnant during the follow-up period; 12 (57%) conceived spontaneously, and the remaining 9 (43%) patients underwent caesarean section. CONCLUSIONS: In our opinion, conservative laparoscopic treatment of borderline ovarian tumors is an appropriate and reasonable therapeutic option for young women with low-stage disease who wish to preserve their childbearing potential, because the fertility results are encouraging. Recurrence can be noted after this type of treatment, but the cases of recurrent disease can be detected with close follow-up and treated accordingly. Careful selection of candidates for this kind of treatment is, of course, necessary, and close follow-up is required.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗