Additional Pathology Research Articles

THE IMPORTANCE OF REMOVING THE INNER BOUNDARY MEMBRANE IN THE TREATMENT OF DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA: A SERIES OF CLINICAL CASES

Vitreoretinal surgery (VRH) is recognized as the preferred method of treating diabetic macular edema (DMO), concomitant with additional pathology of the vitreomacular interface (VMI). Empirical data obtained as a result of numerous studies give contradictory results, therefore, the need for peeling of the internal limiting membrane (VPM) remains unresolved.Purpose. To find out the results of surgical intervention in patients with DMO as a result of epimacular fibrosis (EMF) by comparing cases with and without HPV peeling.Materials and methods. This manuscript presents a comparative assessment of three clinical cases. The patients had similar clinical manifestations and historical medical data. In all cases, patients underwent HRH for DMO combined with EMF. In two cases, the VPM was peeled, and in the third case, the VPM was preserved.Results. An analysis of the observational data and an assessment of anatomical and functional parameters revealed complications in the first and second patients at the late postoperative stage, while in the third patient the condition stabilized. Conclusion. The presented clinical cases show that anatomical and functional results are not always correlated. The increased risk of complications associated with a violation of the architecture and functionality of the retina during peeling requires a critical assessment of the clinical justification of this method.

RADT-48. ANALYSIS OF PROTON RADIATION THERAPY INDUCED CONTRAST ENHANCEMENT: A SINGLE INSTITUTION, RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract Proton radiotherapy (PRT) has superior physical dose distribution with a lesser integral off target radiation dose exposure compared with standard photon radiotherapy resulting in reduced toxicity of uninvolved normal tissues. However, there may be toxicity in areas targeted for high dose treatment as a result of uncertainty about the relative radiobiologic effect (RBE) of proton radiotherapy compared with photon radiotherapy and the potential for localized high doses at the end of the proton beam range (Bragg peak). This may result in radiation-induced contrast enhancement (RICE) reflecting transient toxicity or permanent injury, particularly when associated with concurrent chemotherapy. We analyzed 150 consecutive adult patients, with a histopathologic diagnosis of CNS malignancy, who underwent only PRT at Johns Hopkins Hospital between 2019 – 2023 with least 1 year of follow-up imaging. RICE was defined as a new post-treatment contrast enhancement on MRI within the radiation field. The determination of disease progression or RICE was confirmed with additional follow-up MRI or pathology. RICE was identified in 14 cases (9.3%). The median age was 48 y (range 19 – 72 years), sex 50% female. Diagnosis was 5 astrocytoma, 3 meningioma, 2 glioblastoma, 1 medulloblastoma, 2 oligodendroglioma, 1 tectal glioma. 4/5 astrocytoma patients were grade 2, 2/3 meningioma was grade 1, 1/3 was grade 2, 2/2 oligodendroglioma was grade 2. The median time since completing PRT to development of RICE was 3.5 months. The median radiation dose was 52.20 Gye (range 23.40 - 60.06). Dexamethasone was used in 11 patients (78 %) and in bevacizumab was used 2. Chemotherapy with temozolomide 7 (50%), PCV 1, and none in 5. 12 (85%) patients were still alive. PRT can also be associated with radiation injury in the target, and more information is needed about the incidence, natural history, and associations with localized dosimetry.

Bullectomy with video-assisted thoracic surgery and minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum simultaneously

IntroductionPectus excavatum (PE) is the most common chest wall deformity. Surgical treatment with minimally invasive repair (MIRPE) is the most preferred surgical procedure. In the presence of additional pulmonary pathologies, simultaneous surgical procedures have been considered, but there are few cases reported in the literature.Case presentationMIRPE was planned for a 15-year-old male patient due to PE. The day before the surgery, the patient developed sudden onset of shortness of breath. Pneumothorax was observed on the right side in the chest radiograph. Thereupon, the surgery was brought forward. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) bullectomy was performed in the left lateral decubitus position. MIRPE was then performed through the same incision in the semi-lateral decubitus position. The patient was planned to be discharged on the 7th day, but on the day of discharge, a pneumothorax on the left was observed on the chest x-ray. VATS bullectomy was performed in the left semi-lateral decubitus position. The patient was discharged on postoperative day five.ConclusionSince the long-term results of simultaneous surgical procedures are unknown. With MIRPE, results such as less pain, shorter hospital stays, and earlier involvement in social life are achieved. Keeping in mind that these advantages may be lost with additional procedures, we think that simultaneous procedures should be planned.

Response inhibition as a critical executive function in differentiating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder from autism spectrum disorder: a comprehensive attention test study

BackgroundAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are both associated with impairment in executive function, particularly in complex attention. Although previous studies using clinical assessments have attempted to delineate differences between these disorders, the findings have been inconclusive. Our study aims to elucidate the differences of endophenotype between ASD, ADHD, and their co-occurring condition utilizing a uniform computerized test.MethodsThe study included children diagnosed with ASD, ASD co-occurring with ADHD (ASD+ADHD), or ADHD who completed the comprehensive attention test (CAT) at Severance Hospital between October 2013 to May 2023. We excluded children with intellectual disability and comorbid major psychiatric or neurologic disorders possibly affecting attention measurement. The participants were categorized into three groups for the comparative analysis of CAT measures: (a) ASD (n=112), (b) ASD+ADHD (n=155), and (c) ADHD (n=104). The study also conducted an exploratory analysis utilizing multivariate linear regression analysis to examine the association between the CAT measures and parent-reported scales.ResultsNotably, the ASD+ADHD and ADHD groups exhibited higher frequency of commission errors (CE) and perseveration errors (PE) compared to the ASD group. In the exploratory analysis, a significant negative association was observed between reaction time (RT) and both the social communication questionnaire (SCQ) and the child behavior checklist (CBCL) externalization scores in the ASD+ADHD and ADHD groups. The ASD+ADHD group tended to show higher standard deviation of reaction time (RTSD) compared to the ASD group.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that impaired response inhibition is more pronounced in ADHD compared to ASD. We propose altered visual attention, reflecting response inhibition, may serve as potential endophenotypic markers differentiating ADHD from ASD in attentional assessment. Elevated RTSD in the ASD+ADHD group demonstrates additive pathology, suggesting that the neurological mechanisms underpinning impaired sustained attention may differ between the two conditions.

Simultaneous clavicular hook plate fixation in bilateral distal clavicle fractures (Neer type II): A case report.

Bilateral distal clavicle fractures (BDCF) are exceedingly rare types of fractures. This study aimed to evaluate the surgical treatment under a single anesthesia for trauma-induced BDCF (Neer type II) through a case report. The patient brought to the emergency department due to a motor vehicle accident exhibited severe pain, tenderness, swelling, and deformity in both shoulder regions upon physical examination. No significant pain or tenderness was detected in other areas of the body. There were also no signs of additional neurological deficits or vascular pathology in the extremities. Radiographic examinations led to a diagnosis of BDCF (Neer type II). Surgical intervention involved the simultaneous application of a neutral-angled hook plate to both clavicles via open reduction. Postoperative radiographs taken at the 12th week demonstrated complete healing in both fractures and no functional limitations in shoulder movements. BDCF can compromise the stability of the shoulder girdle, necessitating surgical intervention with anatomical reduction and rigid fixation.

Ultrasound Microvessel Imaging of the Human Placenta Demonstrates Altered Vessel Densities in Fetal Growth Restriction With Vascular and Immune Pathologies: A Pilot Case-Control Study.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is commonly associated with placental dysfunction, increasing perinatal morbidity and mortality. Visualizing placental vessels in utero would be advantageous for identifying functional FGR cause and determining proper management strategies. We aimed to utilize high-sensitivity ultrasound microvessel imaging (HUMI) for quantifying placental vessel density (VD) in pregnancies diagnosed with FGR. This pilot case-control study enrolled subjects in the third trimester with a diagnosis of FGR (n = 40) and gestational age-matched controls with normal fetal growth (n = 20) at a 2:1 ratio, respectively. The Verasonics Vantage ultrasound system was used to perform HUMI on each participant at one timepoint. Scanning involved randomized singular value decomposition-based clutter filtering to identify the villous tree, followed by step-by-step scanning to acquire 3-dimensional-like data. Mean VD was calculated from three ultrasound measurements per subject. Additional clinical and pathology data were also collected and compared. Sixteen participants were utilized to establish the scanning protocol and 2 met exclusion criteria at delivery. Thus, VD was successfully measured on 42 pregnancies scanned at 35 weeks 5 days on average. In FGR (n = 24), placental VD was significantly reduced compared to controls (P < .01). VD measures were as good at predicting FGR as systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratios (area under the curve 0.86 versus 0.80). In a smaller cohort, VD in placentas with a diagnosis of inflammatory villitis (n = 10) by histology showed an increase in VD compared to those without inflammation (P = .01). Low VD was correlated with increased S/D ratios (P = .03). HUMI is useful for identifying altered placental vascularization in utero for FGR. VD may be a valuable indicator for placental health and could lead to improved risk stratification methods considering underlying biology.

Access to Hysterectomy-What Is the Realistic Rate for Pure Vaginal Hysterectomy? A Single-Center Prospective Observational Study.

Background/Objectives: Hysterectomy (HE) is the most common surgical procedure in gynecology worldwide. The guidelines of most countries unanimously recommend vaginal hysterectomy (VH) as the access of first choice. However, there are significant international differences in the implementation of this recommendation. Methods: In the consistent implementation of the national guidelines, the aim of this prospective observational cohort study was to evaluate how many hysterectomies can be performed vaginally under real-world conditions for benign indications excluding genital prolapse and extensive endometriosis. For this purpose, the requirements of the guidelines were implemented for all HE cases. All HEs were performed by a single, experienced surgeon. The aim was not to go to the limits of the method, but to develop a reproducible benchmark with the lowest possible complication rate. Results: From 2011 to 2020, 230 hysterectomies were performed for benign indications. A VH was performed in 146 cases (63.5%), and a laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH) in 75 cases (32.6%). An abdominal hysterectomy (AH) was only required in nine cases (3.9%). The decision for LH was made in half of the cases due to the assumed presence of endometriosis or a significantly enlarged uterus. The median duration of VH was 32 min (range 16-118 min), and the uterine weights were 15-540 g. The rate of postoperative complications of VH was 3.4%. Conclusions: In line with international guidelines, VH is possible in over 60% of cases with a short surgical time and a low complication rate. LH procedures are useful in the presence of assumed additional pathology in 35%. AH is reserved for huge uteri. A reduction in AH below 10% is possible. The global target could be a rate of 60-30-10% for VH, LH, and AH.

The effect of B-Lynch uterine compression suture performed for uterine atony on future menstrual pattern and reproductive outcome.

The effects of B-Lynch (UCS) compression sutures applied in postpartum hemorrhage cases due to uterine atony on menstrual pattern, fertility, obstetric outcomes, dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia were evaluated. Between January 2012 and March 2017, 77 patients (study group 37, control group 40) diagnosed postpartum hemorrhage in our clinic were included in the study. The long-term results of the patients were evaluated comparatively. In the B-Lynch UCS group, an increase in the postoperative menstrual cycle length and the intensity of dyspareunia measured by the VAS score, and a statistically significant decrease in the duration of menstrual bleeding were observed. In the control group, a decrease in the self-estimated time of postpartum menstrual bleeding and a statistically significant increase in dyspareunia VAS values ​​were observed. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of menstrual cycle length only after treatment. B-Lynch UCS can be used effectively and safely in PPH due to uterine atony without causing any additional pathology in menstrual pattern, fertility, dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia complaints other than the length of the menstrual cycle.

A shrapnel migration from a peripheral vein to the right ventricle: case report

Abstract Background Foreign bodies that migrate into the heart may include medical devices dislodged from their original location or, rarely, external particles (shrapnel and other foreign bodies) that penetrate the vein, remain intraluminal, and migrate via the venous blood flow to the right heart. Most reported entry sites of these external foreign bodies were in the torso, thigh, or neck; none of them penetrated through a distal extremity of the body. We report a case where shrapnel was found in the right ventricle (RV) following penetrating injury to the hand. Case summary An otherwise healthy 24-year-old man presented with an isolated shrapnel injury to his right hand and forearm from an explosion trauma. Computed tomography demonstrated multiple small metal objects in the forearm, hand, and wrist. Additionally, a 3 × 3.5 mm metal object was found in the RV, consistent with a metal shrapnel embolus from the forearm. Echocardiography indicated the fragment to be in a fixed position within the RV, without any additional pathology. Discussion Even shrapnel that penetrates through the hand or forearm may migrate to the heart. In this case, following a multidisciplinary discussion, a conservative approach was recommended based on the following condition: lack of symptoms, small size of the foreign body, no obstruction of venous effluent, low risk of significant embolization to the pulmonary vasculature, absence of fever or endocarditis, no current evidence or risk of valve dysfunction, and no myocardial irritation indicated by arrhythmia. The patient was instructed to avoid magnetic resonance imaging scans.

Reattachment rate with pneumatic retinopexy versus pars plana vitrectomy for single break rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

AimTo assess the primary reattachment rate (PARR) in pneumatic retinopexy (PnR) versus pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) meeting the Pneumatic Retinopexy versus Vitrectomy for the Management...

Incidence, Nature and Natural History of Additional Histological Findings in Preimplantation and Implantation Kidney Transplant Biopsies.

The quality assurance provided by preimplantation biopsy quantification of chronic damage may allow greater use of kidneys from expanded criteria donors, and thereby expand the deceased donor pool. Preimplantation biopsy may, however, identify additional acute or chronic pathologies not considered in the scoring of chronic damage, and these may influence the decision to implant or discard the kidney. This single-centre retrospective cohort study of a contemporary UK donor population systematically characterised the nature of additional findings in 1,046 preimplantation and implantation biopsies over an eight-year period. A diverse range of findings were identified in 111/1,046 (11%) organs; most frequently diabetic glomerulopathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, (micro)thrombi, neutrophil casts, and immunoglobulin/complement staining. Seventy (63%) of these were transplanted, with subsequent biopsy in 41 (58%) cases confirming that 80% of the initial acute changes had spontaneously resolved, while there was no progression of diabetic glomerulopathy, and the lesions of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis were not identified. Over 75% of assessable grafts with additional histological findings at the time of transplant showed adequate function at one-year following transplant. In conclusion, most histological abnormalities that may be identified in addition to chronic scarring in preimplantation kidney biopsies would not preclude transplantation nor predict poor graft function.

Mixed Supervision of Histopathology Improves Prostate Cancer Classification From MRI.

Non-invasive prostate cancer classification from MRI has the potential to revolutionize patient care by providing early detection of clinically significant disease, but has thus far shown limited positive predictive value. To address this, we present a image-based deep learning method to predict clinically significant prostate cancer from screening MRI in patients that subsequently underwent biopsy with results ranging from benign pathology to the highest grade tumors. Specifically, we demonstrate that mixed supervision via diverse histopathological ground truth improves classification performance despite the cost of reduced concordance with image-based segmentation. Where prior approaches have utilized pathology results as ground truth derived from targeted biopsies and whole-mount prostatectomy to strongly supervise the localization of clinically significant cancer, our approach also utilizes weak supervision signals extracted from nontargeted systematic biopsies with regional localization to improve overall performance. Our key innovation is performing regression by distribution rather than simply by value, enabling use of additional pathology findings traditionally ignored by deep learning strategies. We evaluated our model on a dataset of 973 (testing n=198 ) multi-parametric prostate MRI exams collected at UCSF from 2016-2019 followed by MRI/ultrasound fusion (targeted) biopsy and systematic (nontargeted) biopsy of the prostate gland, demonstrating that deep networks trained with mixed supervision of histopathology can feasibly exceed the performance of the Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) clinical standard for prostate MRI interpretation (71.6% vs 66.7% balanced accuracy and 0.724 vs 0.716 AUC).

The effect of thoracic trauma scoring system in thoracic trauma patients with rib fracture

Objective Rib fractures are common in thoracic trauma patients. There are various factors, including flail chest, pulmonary contusion, and accompanying conditions, affecting morbidity and mortality. The study aimed to identify high-risk patients for morbidity and mortality with a scoring system that the authors created. Methods Cases over the age of 18 admitted due to trauma and diagnosed with rib fractures between 1 January 2019 and 1 March 2023, were included. Trauma scores were determined by applying the new trauma scoring system. Trauma scores and other variables regarding morbidity and mortality were evaluated. Results A total of 1023 cases were included in the study. The total trauma scores were higher in bilateral and multiple fractures. In those without respiratory failure, the total score was statistically significantly lower than in the groups with respiratory failure. The total score was significantly higher in those who needed surgery, those who were hospitalized, and those who needed intensive care compared to the non-surgical groups. However, there was no correlation between intensive care unit stay and total score. Trauma mechanism, presence of additional extrathoracic pathology, and thoracic trauma-age score were independent predictors of survival. Conclusion The present study demonstrated that the number of rib fractures and the presence of pulmonary contusion did not have an effect on mortality and morbidity. The presence of extrathoracic pathology and age significantly affect survival.

Preliminary results of classifying otosclerosis and disarticulation using a convolutional neural network trained with simulated wideband acoustic immittance data

Current noninvasive methods of clinical practice often do not identify the causes of conductive hearing loss due to pathologic changes in the middle ear with sufficient certainty. Wideband acoustic immittance (WAI) measurement is noninvasive, inexpensive and objective. It is very sensitive to pathologic changes in the middle ear and therefore promising for diagnosis. However, evaluation of the data is difficult because of large interindividual variations. Machine learning methods like Convolutional neural networks (CNN) which might be able to deal with this overlaying pattern require a large amount of labeled measurement data for training and validation. This is difficult to provide given the low prevalence of many middle-ear pathologies. Therefore, this study proposes an approach in which the WAI training data of the CNN are simulated with a finite-element ear model and the Monte-Carlo method. With this approach, virtual populations of normal, otosclerotic, and disarticulated ears were generated, consistent with the averaged data of measured populations and well representing the qualitative characteristics of individuals. The CNN trained with the virtual data achieved for otosclerosis an AUC of 91.1 %, a sensitivity of 85.7 %, and a specificity of 85.2 %. For disarticulation, an AUC of 99.5 %, sensitivity of 100 %, and specificity of 93.1 % was achieved. Furthermore, it was estimated that specificity could potentially be increased to about 99 % in both pathological cases if stapes reflex threshold measurements were used to confirm the diagnosis. Thus, the procedures’ performance is comparable to classifiers from other studies trained with real measurement data, and therefore the procedure offers great potential for the diagnosis of rare pathologies or early-stages pathologies. The clinical potential of these preliminary results remains to be evaluated on more measurement data and additional pathologies.

Presence of Additional Pathology in Low-Grade Acromioclavicular Joint Injuries.

To determine if additional pathology is present in low-grade acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries. Prospective case series. Patients were assessed by primary care sports medicine physicians at a single institution between 2019 and 2023. Patients aged 18 to 65 years diagnosed with a type I to III AC injury based on clinical and radiographic evaluation. Consenting patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation within 21 days of injury. All injuries were treated nonoperatively. Additional pathologies identified on MRI were reported in a standardized fashion by fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists. Twenty-nine patients (26 men/3 women) were consented with a mean (±SD) age of 28.6 ± 9.5 years. The mean time from injury to MRI was 8.1 ± 5.9 days. Twenty-three injuries were sport related, and 6 were accidental traumas. Based on MRI, injury type was reclassified in 16 of 29 patients, and 13 remained unchanged. Additional pathologies identified included 14 muscle injuries, 5 rotator cuff tears, 5 labral tears, 1 nondisplaced fracture, and 1 intra-articular body. MRI evidence suggests that most AC joint injuries are more severe than clinically diagnosed. Identifying additional pathology may alter diagnostic and treatment guidelines for type I to III AC joint injuries.

Production and characterization of novel monoclonal antibodies against pathological human TDP-43 proteins.

The RNA/DNA-binding protein TDP-43 plays a pivotal role in the ubiquitinated inclusions characteristic of TDP-43 proteinopathies, including most cases of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD-TDP) and Alzheimer disease (AD). To understand the mechanisms of pathological TDP-43 processing and identify potential biomarkers, we generated novel phosphorylation-independent monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) using bacteria-expressed human full-length recombinant TDP-43. Remarkably, we identified a distinctive MAb, No. 9, targeting an epitope in amino acid (aa) region 311-360 of the C-terminus. This antibody showed preferential reactivity for pathological TDP-43 inclusions, with only mild reactivity for normal nuclear TDP-43. MAb No. 9 revealed more pathology in FTLD-TDP type A and type B brains and in AD brains compared to the commercial p409/410 MAb. Using synthetic phosphorylated peptides, we also obtained MAbs targeting the p409/410 epitope. Interestingly, MAb No. 14 was found to reveal additional pathology in AD compared to the commercial p409/410 MAb, specifically, TDP-43-immunopositive deposits with amyloid plaques in AD brains. These unique immunopositivities observed with MAbs No. 9 and No. 14 are likely attributed to their conformation-dependent binding to TDP-43 inclusions. We expect that this novel set of MAbs will prove valuable as tools for future patient-oriented investigations into TDP-43 proteinopathies.

Should the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) be imaged before radiotherapy in cases of unexpected early acute coronary syndrome?

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements None. Case A 41-year-old male patient presented to the cardiology outpatient clinic with a complaint of exertional chest pain persisting for the past 4 months, along with occasional palpitation attacks. In his medical history, aside from being diagnosed with lymphoma 15 years ago, there were no known additional comorbidities. The electrocardiogram (EKG) revealed sinus rhythm (84 beats/minute), and the blood tests showed creatinine: 0.81 mg/dL, WBC: 11.26 mm^3, LYM: 3.69 mm^3. Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated an ejection fraction (EF) of 60%, with no additional pathologies except for grade 1 diastolic dysfunction. Considering the presence of typical chest pain, coronary imaging was performed to assess for stable angina. The coronary imaging revealed a lesion extending from the left main coronary artery (LMCA) to the proximal left circumflex artery (CX), with an 80% stenosis in the mid-segment of the LMCA, a 60% stenosis at the narrowest point of the CX proximal segment, and an 80% stenosis in the proximal right coronary artery (RCA). The left circumflex artery obtuse marginal branches (CX OM) appeared thin and extensively diseased (Figure-1) The patient was promptly scheduled for early coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), transferred to the cardiac surgery intensive care unit, and underwent a successful coronary bypass procedure with LAD-LIMA, Ao-saphenous-IM-saphenous-CxOM1 (sequential) grafting. Throughout the postoperative follow-up period, the patient continued to experience exertional chest pain despite medical treatment. A repeat coronary angiography was performed, revealing that the bypass grafts were opened, but a diffuse 80% stenosis was detected at the mid-segment of the LIMA graft, prior to the anastomosis.(Figure-2) Successful stent placement was performed at the narrowest point of the LIMA mid-segment (Figure-3).The patient had no anginal complaints during post-procedure follow-up and has been stable under observation. Discussion Routine clinical practice does not involve LIMA imaging in patients who have undergone diagnostic coronary angiography with multi-vessel involvement and a CABG decision. However, the use of coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) may entail a risk of rendering the graft unusable due to extensive mediastinal fibrosis and radiation-induced damage to the left or right mammary artery. Therefore, in patients with a history of radiation exposure in the thoracic region and a CABG decision, the visualization of the intermammary artery during coronary angiography and the consideration of alternative grafts, such as the radiation-free radial artery, or the necessity for high-risk percutaneous stent implantation, should be discussed.figure-1figure-2

Alcohol Consumption Is a Coping Mechanism for Male Patients with Severe Anxiety Disorders Treated with Antidepressants Monotherapy.

Background: Anxiety disorders are prevalent mental health conditions often accompanied by various comorbidities. The association between anxiety and liver disease, as well as fluctuations in blood sugar levels, highlights the importance of carefully evaluating patients with anxiety undergoing antidepressant therapy. The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative assessment of liver function and blood glucose levels in patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders while considering potential gender-specific differences. Methods: An analysis was conducted over a 24-month period. This study included 88 patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders, with symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization, aged 18 or older, undergoing antidepressant monotherapy, without any additional pathologies. Liver enzymes (AST, ALT, GGT), AST/ALT ratio, and blood glucose levels were measured and compared. Results: While no significant differences were found between antidepressant classes, increased GGT levels were observed in men older than 40 years compared to women of the same age, suggesting that alcohol consumption may be a coping mechanism for anxiety. This gender difference was not observed among young patients. Conclusions: Early detection of alcohol consumption is essential in patients with anxiety disorders in order to prevent alcohol-related liver damage and to adjust the management of both conditions accordingly.

Clinicopathologic Features of Eyelid Sebaceous Gland Carcinoma Requiring Immunohistochemical Diagnosis

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinicopathological features of eyelid sebaceous gland carcinoma (SGC), which requires immunohistochemical examination for a definitive diagnosis. Methods: Twenty-seven patients with a final diagnosis of eyelid SGC at Toyama University Hospital between April 2016 and April 2022 were retrospectively studied. In cases with a strong clinical suspicion of SGC, if the initial pathological diagnosis by hematoxylin-eosin staining was non-SGC, additional detailed pathology was performed, including immunostaining for adipophilin (ADP) and androgen receptor (AR). Results: Five patients (18.5%) had a diagnosis other than SGC, including three with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), one with basal cell carcinoma, and one with Bowen disease. In these 5 cases, detailed pathology, including immunostaining for ADP and AR, was performed again, which ultimately led to the diagnosis of SGC. ADP was positive in all 5 cases, and AR was positive in 4 cases. The 3 patients diagnosed with SCC were characterized by a high Ki-67 index, active mitosis, and relatively low differentiation. Conclusion: SGC can be pathologically diagnosed in other cancers, such as SCC and BCC. When SCC was diagnosed, it was often hypo-differentiated and required more attention. Immunostaining for ADP and AR is invaluable for confirming SGC diagnosis.

Evaluation of the Presence of Additional Knee Pathology on Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Chondromalacia Patella

Evaluation of the Presence of Additional Knee Pathology on Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Chondromalacia Patella