Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2014;36(8):335-339
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2014;36(8):340-346
DOI 10.1509/SO100-720320140005034
To examine the expression of AKT and PTEN in a series of HER2-positive primary invasive breast tumors using immunohistochemistry, and to associate these expression profiles with classic pathologic features such as tumor grade, hormone receptor expression, lymphatic vascular invasion, and proliferation.
A total of 104 HER2-positive breast carcinoma specimens were prepared in tissue microarrays blocks for immunohistochemical detection of PTEN and phosphorylated AKT (pAKT). Original histologic sections were reviewed to assess pathological features, including HER2 status and Ki-67 index values. The associations between categorical and numeric variables were identified using Pearson's chi-square test and the Mann-Whitney, respectively.
Co-expression of pAKT and PTEN was presented in 59 (56.7%) cases. Reduced levels of PTEN expression were detected in 20 (19.2%) cases, and these 20 tumors had a lower Ki-67 index value. In contrast, tumors positive for pAKT expression [71 (68.3%)] were associated with a higher Ki-67 index value.
A role for AKT in the proliferation of HER2-positive breast cancers was confirmed. However, immunohistochemical detection of PTEN expression did not correlate with an inhibition of cellular proliferation or control of AKT phosphorylation, suggesting other pathways in these mechanisms of control.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2014;36(8):347-352
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320140005061
To evaluate the validity of cervicovaginal cytology performed at LAPER, the main Laboratory of Pathology of the State of Roraima, Brazil, by interrater agreement (external monitoring) and agreement with histopathologic results.
One hundred women were included, a population-based convenience sample. Their cervical cytological exams were evaluated by the laboratory staff and reviewed by expert medical pathologists, external to the laboratory. Cohen's Kappa index, sensitivity and specificity were evaluated. The study was approved by LAPER coordination and Federal University of Roraima Research Ethics Commitee.
Regarding the prevalence of human papillomavirus-related atypical, there was no concordance between the results issued by LAPER and by the external pathologists (k=0.21). A low sensitivity (28.5%) and specificity (89,2%) was detected for the diagnostic performance of LAPER, with a high proportion of false positive and false negative results. The cytological reports of the external pathologists showed higher sensitivity and specificity (71.4 and 98.9%, respectively), ruling out the possibility that errors related to collection methods and staining would explain the low performance of the laboratory.
A low diagnostic accuracy of cervicovaginal cytology can be a barrier against the control of cervical cancer in Roraima. We emphasize the need for professional training and internal and external monitoring in Brazilian states with a high incidence of cervical cancer.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2014;36(8):367-371
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320140005052
To study the incidence of tumors in a Brazilian sample of women with systemic lupus erythematosus.
This is a retrospective study of 395 medical charts from women with systemic lupus erythematosus diagnosed by the presence of at least 4 of the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for the diagnosis of this disease and followed for the last 10 years in a rheumatology outpatient clinic. Demographic data (age and ethnicity of patients), data on disease duration, use of immunomodulators and on the presence of neoplasms were listed. Results are presented in frequency and contingency tables. The incidence rate of malignancies in women with lupus was compared with that of the general population for the same demographic region for the past ten years, using data published by the Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA). Association studies were carried out by the Fisher and χ tests, when the data were nominal, and by Mann-Whitney test, when numeric. The level of significance was set at 5%.
Twenty-two cases of malignant tumors were identified during these 10 years of follow-up (22 cases/395 or 5.5% of the sample), being the most common those of the uterine cervix (10 cases/395 or 2.5% of the sample) and breast cancer (9 cases/395 or 2.2% of the sample). The presence of tumors was associated with disease duration (p=0.006) and was not influenced by treatment with methotrexate (p=0.1), azathioprine (p=0.9), cyclophosphamide (p=0.6) and glucocorticoids (p=0.3). Breast and uterine cervix tumors were more common in systemic lupus erythematosus women than in the general population (p<0.0001 for both).
A high prevalence of malignant tumors was found in this sample, with tumors being more common in patients with longer disease duration. The most frequent tumors affected the breast and uterus at a higher incidence than in the general population. The presence of tumors was not influenced by the use of glucocorticoids or immunosuppressors.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2014;36(8):372-376
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320140005006
To compare the concentration of serum alpha-tocopherol during the postpartum period in women admitted to public and private hospitals in Natal (RN), Brazil.
The study included 209 women in the postpartum period, 96 of them from private hospitals and 113 from public hospitals, studied between 24 and 48 hours postpartum. Inclusion criteria were: mothers aged 12 years or more, without diseases associated with pregnancy, who had given birth to a singleton with no malformations. Clinically decompensated women with multiple fetuses were excluded. A 5 mL blood sample was obtained from each participant under fasting conditions, before the first meal of the day. The concentration of alpha-tocopherol in serum (µg/dL) was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The statistical difference between means was tested by the Student's t-test.
The mean concentration of alpha-tocopherol was 1.115.7 µg/dL in puerperae from the public network and 1.355.7±397.6 µg/dL in puerperae from the privte network , with a significant difference between groups (p=0.000687). Vitamin E concentration was determined individually and an alpha-tocopherol level <11.6 µmol/L or <499.6 µg/dL was considered to indicate deficiency. Vitamin E deficiency was detected in 5.3% of puerperae from the public network (n=6), whereas no deficiency was detected among women from the private network. However, low concentrations of alpha-tocopherol (11.6 to 16.2 µmol/L or 499.6 to 697.7 µg/dL) was detected in both groups, i.e., in 9.7% of the women from the public network (n=11) and in 4.2% for the women from the private network (n=4).
These results highlight that women assisted in the public sector were more vulnerable to developing low concentrations of alpha-tocopherol than women assisted in the private sector.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2014;36(8):377-380
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320140005019
Renal angiomyolipoma is a benign tumor, composed of adipocytes, smooth muscle cells and blood vessels. The association with pregnancy is rare and related with an increased risk of complications, including rupture with massive retroperitoneal hemorrhage. The follow-up is controversial because of the lack of known cases, but the priorities are: timely diagnosis in urgent cases and a conservative treatment when possible. The mode of delivery is not consensual and should be individualized to each case. We report a case of a pregnant woman with 18 weeks of gestation admitted in the emergency room with an acute right low back pain with no other symptoms. The diagnosis of rupture of renal angiomyolipoma was established by ultrasound and, due to hemodinamically stability, conservative treatment with imaging and clinical monitoring was chosen. At 35 weeks of gestation, it was performed elective cesarean section without complications for both mother and fetus.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2014;36(8):381-381
DOI 10.1590/SO100-72032014T0002