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Several studies have suggested that male infertility and testicular cancer may have common aetiological factors. Scrotal ultrasonography (US) has an important role in the diagnosis of testicular tumours when not palpable by physical examination. In this study, we present two infertile men referred to our clinic. Patients were evaluated by a detailed physical examination, semen analyses and hormonal assessment. Both patients underwent scrotal US examination. Semen analysis of the patients revealed oligoasthenospermia in both patients. Scrotal US revealed hypoechoic masses in the left and right testes of both patients, which were nonpalpable by physical examination. Scrotal exploration and subsequent orchidectomy were performed. Histopathological examination revealed mixed germ cell tumour and Sertoli–Leydig cell tumour in case 1 and case 2 respectively. With these cases, we discussed the role of scrotal US in the routine diagnostic evaluation of infertile men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To investigate the value of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), an indicator of stellate cell activation, in predicting fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Methods and results: The liver biopsy specimens of 30 patients with a clinical diagnosis of CHB were obtained before treatment and scored by Knodell's histological activity index. The specimens were then immunohisto-chemic ally stained with α-SMA and semiquantitatively evaluated. Fibrosis and the immunoreactivity of α-SMA in the periportal, perisinusoidal and pericentral areas were compared. Fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity in CHB patients were significantly correlated (P = 0.022). Furthermore, the degree of α-SMA expression and the scores of fibrosis (in periportal, perisinusoidal and pericentral areas) were highly correlated (P = 0.000, 0.001, 0.000, respectively). Conclusions: In liver biopsy samples, α-SMA may prove to be a valuable marker in the evaluation of stellate cell activation and fibrosis progression and an early indicator of the development of fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the ability and the utility of diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with high and low b values to visualize benign and malignant renal lesions, and to determine which b value (b =100, 600, or 1000s/mm2) was most useful in differentiating benign from malignant renal lesions. Materials and methods: Fifty-eight patients with 67 renal lesions and 50 normal contralateral kidneys (as control) were enrolled in the study. DW imaging was performed with b values of 100, 600, and 1000s/mm2. Results of the histopathological evaluation were compared with the DW MRI results. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values, and the sensitivity and specificity for differentiating malignant renal lesions from benign renal lesions were calculated for each b value. Results: The mean ADC values of normal renal parenchyma with b =100, 600, and 1000s/mm2 values were (3.14±0.54)×10−3, (2.52±0.30)×10−3, and (2.16±0.43)×10−3 mm2/s, respectively. The mean ADC values of benign renal lesions (n =35) with b =100, 600, and 1000s/mm2 values were (2.88±0.88)×10−3, (2.58±0.91)×10−3, and (2.10±0.93)×10−3 mm2/s, respectively. The mean ADC values of malignant renal lesions (n =32) with b =100, 600, and 1000 values were (2.74±0.58)×10−3, (2.09±0.63)×10−3, and (1.66±0.51)×10−3 mm2/s, respectively. Using DW imaging malignant renal lesions could be differentiated from benign renal lesions, and also angiomyolipomas and oncocytomas could be differentiated from renal cell carcinoma. Conclusions: DW MRI with quantitative ADC measurements can be useful in the differentiation of benign and malignant renal lesions. High b values (b = 600 and 1000s/mm2) had the best specificity and sensitivity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]