Tc-99m DTPA scintigraphy in soft tissue tumor

Tc99m-DTPA scintigraphic study were done in Centre For Nuclear Medicine and Ultrasound (CNMU) Mymensingh presented with palpable soft tissue mass. All the patients referred to CNMU for ultrasonic evaluation of the mass. Taking proper consent form patient and we did the Tc-99m DTPA scanning of the masses. The study was carried out using Tc-99m DTPA in three phases dynamic, blood pool after 5 min, followed by a late scan after 2 hr. The uptake was categorized as consistently positive, initially positive but latter (progressively) negative, initially negative but latter (progressively) positive and consistently negative. Among our studied cases there were both benign and malignant lesion that were proved by histopathology after excisional biopsy. Two cases were inconclusive. Histologically proven lipoma showed no uptake of DTPA considered as consistently negative. Two cases of rhabdomyosarcoma showed consistently positive.

Energy dependence of elliptic flow over a large pseudorapidity range in Au+Au collisions at the BNL relativistic heavy ion collider

This Letter describes the measurement of the energy dependence of elliptic flow for charged particles in Au+Au collisions using the PHOBOS detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Data taken at collision energies of square root of s(NN)=19.6, 62.4, 130, and 200 GeV are shown over a wide range in pseudorapidity. These results, when plotted as a function of eta(')=|eta|-y(beam), scale with approximate linearity throughout eta('), implying no sharp changes in the dynamics of particle production as a function of pseudorapidity or increasing beam energy.

Inhibition of two stage renal carcinogenesis, oxidative damage and hyperproliferative response by Nigella sativa

In an earlier communication we reported that Nigella sativa suppresses potassium bromate-induced renal oxidative damage. In the present study, we report the chemopreventive effect of Nigella sativa against ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA)-induced renal oxidative stress, hyperproliferative response and renal carcinogenesis. Fe-NTA (9 mg Fe/kg body weight, intraperitoneally) enhances renal lipid peroxidation, xanthine oxidase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation with reduction in renal glutathione content, antioxidant enzymes and phase II metabolizing enzymes. It also caused increase in blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and thymidine [H] incorporation into renal DNA. It also enhanced DEN (N-diethylnitrosamine)-initiated renal carcinogenesis by increasing the percentage incidence of tumours. Treatment of rats orally with Nigella sativa (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight) resulted in significant decrease in gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, lipid peroxidation, xanthine oxidase, H2O2 generation, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, renal ODC activity, DNA synthesis (P<0.001) and incidence of tumours. Renal glutathione content (P<0.01), glutathione-metabolizing enzymes (P<0.001) and antioxidant enzymes were also recovered to significant levels (P<0.001). Thus, our data suggest that Nigella sativa is a potent chemopreventive agent and suppresses Fe-NTA-induced oxidative stress, hyperproliferative response and renal carcinogenesis in Wistar rats.

Centrality dependence of charged hadron transverse momentum spectra in Au+Au collisions from sqrt[s(NN)]=62.4 to 200 GeV

We have measured transverse momentum distributions of charged hadrons produced in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=62.4 GeV. The spectra are presented for transverse momenta 0.25<p(T)<4.5 GeV/c, in a pseudorapidity range of 0.2<eta<1.4. The nuclear modification factor R(AA) is calculated relative to p+p data at the same collision energy as a function of collision centrality. For 2<p(T)<4.5 GeV/c, R(AA) is found to be significantly larger than in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]= 130 and 200 GeV. In contrast to the large change in R(AA), we observe a very similar centrality evolution of the p(T) spectra at sqrt[s(NN)]=62.4 and 200 GeV. The dynamical origin of this surprising factorization of energy and centrality dependence of particle production in heavy-ion collisions remains to be understood.

Aetiology of male urethritis in patients recruited from a population with a high HIV prevalence

The aetiology of urethritis, the significance of potential pathogens and the relation of urethritis to HIV infection were determined in 335 men (cases) with and 100 men (controls) without urethral symptoms. Urethral swab specimens were tested for different organisms by PCR or by culture for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The prevalence of N. gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis was 52 and 16%, respectively. The potential pathogens: Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Trichomonas vaginalis and herpes simplex virus (HSV), were present in 5, 36, 6 and 6% of the cases respectively. M. genitalium was the only potential pathogen associated with microscopic urethritis. After excluding gonococcal infections, U. urealyticum was more frequent in symptomatic patients, while the prevalence of T. vaginalis was similar among cases and controls. These results strongly suggest an a etiological role for M. genitalium in male urethritis, a possible role for U. urealyticum, but not for T. vaginalis. The control group, with 97% genital ulcer disease patients, was not suitable for the investigation of the role of HSV. The sero-prevalence of HIV was 45%. Current infections were not associated with HIV. However, a history of previous urethral discharge was associated with HIV in a multivariate analysis and supported the hypothesis that non-ulcerative sexually transmitted diseases facilitate HIV transmission.

Moyamoya angiopathy in Europe

Over the past 6 years we at the Neurosurgery Department in Zürich have had the opportunity to manage increasing numbers of patients, especially children, with Moyamoya angiopathy. With increasing awareness of presence of this angiopathy in Europe the number of referrals from all across Europe is constantly on the increase. We have also been able to readdress the presence of the entity of Moyamoya angiopathy i.e. both the Moyamoya disease and the Moyamoya syndrome in the European population. Thorough presurgical workup is mandatory for evaluation of surgical candidates for the type of effective revascularisation procedure and therefore for their successful management. Apart from scrutinizing the routine yet indispensable presenting symptomatology with clinical examination of the patients, our preoperative diagnostic workup mainly consists of a 6 vessel cerebral angiography, cerebral perfusion studies with HMPAO-SPECT and H(2)15O-PET examinations and transcranial Doppler. Longterm follow-up of these patients is indispensable and of great interest to us in terms of etiology and progression of the disease process as well as the choice of effective revascularisation procedure especially in our European population.

Basilar bifurcation aneurysms. Lessons learnt from 40 consecutive cases

Basilar bifurcation aneurysms are lately treated frequently with endovascular technique. Microsurgical clipping occlusion technique has, however, still its solid position because of its completeness. This standard technique is required often due to unfeasibility and/or incompleteness at the time of application of the endovascular technique for aneurysms of this location. The authors suggest following strategies and tactics for safe and secure occlusion of aneurysms of this location: pterional approach, selective extradural anterior clinoidectomy SEAC, no transection of the posterior communicating artery, isolation of perforating arteries at the time of neck clipping with oxycellulose and combination of the use of fenestrated clip and conventional clip (especially for aneurysms projected posteriorly), controlled hypotension (systolic pressure of around 100 mmHg), temporary clipping (trapping) procedures of usually less than 15 min. All these are aimed for prevention of intraoperative premature rupture, and of injury of perforating arteries and for complete occlusion of aneurysms in the narrow depth of the operative field.

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration and ubiquitin immunohistochemistry

We set out to determine the frequency of the different pathologies underlying frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) in our brain bank series, by reviewing all cases of pathologically diagnosed FTD over the last 12 years. We identified and reviewed 29 cases of FTD and classified them using the most recent consensus criteria with further histological analysis of 6 initially unclassifiable cases. Detailed histological analysis of these 6 cases revealed variable numbers of ubiquitin-positive (tau and alpha-synuclein-negative) inclusions in 5 cases, consistent with the diagnosis of frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin-only-immunoreactive neuronal changes (FTLD-U). As a consequence of the current re-evaluation, 18 (62%) of the 29 cases with FTD have underlying pathology consistent with FTLD-U. Therefore in our brain bank series of frontotemporal degeneration, most cases were non-tauopathies with FTLD-U accounting for 62% of all the diagnoses.

Pseudorapidity distribution of charged particles in d+Au collisions at sqrt[sNN]=200 GeV

The measured pseudorapidity distribution of primary charged particles in minimum-bias d+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV is presented for the first time. This distribution falls off less rapidly in the gold direction as compared to the deuteron direction. The average value of the charged particle pseudorapidity density at midrapidity is <dN(ch)/d eta>|eta|< or =0.6)=9.4+/-0.7(syst) and the integrated primary charged particle multiplicity in the measured region is 82+/-6(syst). Estimates of the total charged particle production, based on extrapolations outside the measured pseudorapidity region, are also presented. The pseudorapidity distribution, normalized to the number of participants in d+Au collisions, is compared to those of Au+Au and p+(-)p systems at the same energy. The d+Au distribution is also compared to the predictions of the parton saturation model, as well as microscopic models.

Human cytomegalovirus-associated periodontitis in renal transplant patients

BACKGROUND

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is associated with renal transplant failure. Periodontal pockets may be reservoirs for HCMV replication.

OBJECTIVES

This study was done to determine active HCMV replication in saliva and gingival crevicular fluid of renal transplant patients affected by periodontitis.

METHODS

HCMV pp67-mRNA amplification was analyzed in oral fluids of 38 transplant recipients at 6 months' posttransplantation. Patients received antiviral therapy until 3 months' posttransplantation. The HCMV-positive cell line VR-977 was the positive control, and oral fluids from healthy volunteers served as the negative control. Periodontitis was diagnosed by clinical examination. Serum HCMV IgG and IgM were analyzed to differentiate recent and latent infection.

RESULTS

Prevalence of gingival overgrowth was 68.4%. HCMV gene transcripts were detected in the saliva of 21% and the gingival crevicular fluid of 18% of patients. All patients (100%) with HCMV pp67-mRNA detected in saliva demonstrated clinical manifestations of viral infection, as did 86% of patients with HCMV pp67-mRNA detected in the gingival crevicular fluid. Serum IgM was positive in 7.9% of patients and IgG in 65.8%; however, associations with active mRNA replication were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Renal transplant patients affected by periodontitis are at risk of viral replication within the periodontal tissues despite antiviral therapy. This study suggests that use of HCMV pp67-mRNA detection in saliva and gingival crevicular fluid provides markers of active viral infection, and evidence for a link between HCMV-associated periodontitis and renal transplant complications.

Seasonal variations in hospital admissions due to aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage in the state of Zurich, Switzerland

INTRODUCTION

In clinical practice, the occurrence of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) often coincides with a particular season. Our objective was to examine seasonal variations in hospital admissions due to aneurysmal SAH.

METHODS

The study population consisted of 489 patients with aneurysmal SAH who were admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland, between 1st of January 1996 and 31st of December 2002. Statistical significance of seasonal variation was determined by applying Roger's r test.

RESULTS

Statistically significant seasonal variation was only found among patients younger than 60 years, showing a first peak in spring and second lower peak in autumn (Roger's r=6.89, p<0.05). A borderline significance was found in men younger than 60 years (Roger's r=5.96, p=0.051). A trend was observed in patients presenting with Fisher grade 1-2 (Roger's r=5.70, p=0.058).

CONCLUSIONS

Previous studies from different countries have shown significant seasonal variations, with the peak period for aneurysmal SAH differing widely. There appears to be some link between aneurysmal SAH and the season of the year or variations in weather conditions. Further investigations are desirable to evaluate which weather or climatic parameters correlate well with SAH.

A case of idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis

No abstract available.

Meningioma - a review of 52 cases

Meningiomas are extra-axial neoplasms representing 15 - 20% of primary intracranial neoplasms. Incidence peaks in patients aged 40 - 60 years, and they more commonly affect women than men. Most meningiomas arise from arachnoidal cells on the inner surface of the dura and they thefore grow inward toward the brain to form bulky intradural tumour masses. Most meningiomas are benign, but ~6% are atypical or aggressive, and 1 - 2% are frankly malignant. Common locations for meningiomas include the cerebral convexity, parasagittal region, sphenoid wing, olfactory groove, tuberculum sella, posterior fossa, and cavernous sinus.

The changing face of radiology

No abstract available.

A case of renal artery stenosis - FMD or artherosclerosis, a diagnostic dilemma

No abstract available.

A case of bilateral persistent sciatic arteries

No abstract available.

Comparison of sonourethrography and retrograde urethrography in the evaluation of anterior urethral strictures

Radiographic retrograde urethrography (RUG) has traditionally been the preferred technique used by urologists to image the anterior urethra. Since originally described by McAninch et aL in 1988, ultrasonic imaging of the urethra has evolved into a powerful and clinically useful tool for the accurate delineation of urethral pathology. However the posterior urethra cannot be assessed reliably using this technique. Sonourethrography has proved to be more accurate than conventional radiographic urethrography in measuring stricture length throughout the anterior urethra. The objective and purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of sonourethrography in the evaluation of anterior urethral strictures and also to explain its many advantages over traditional imaging technique.

Variants of the left aortic arch branches

The normal aorta has three branches from its arch, but variations in this pattern are not uncommon. Our interest was to correlate the documented statistics to the variants observed in our patients. This was done by randomly selecting 60 patients on whom arch aortograms were performed. Our patients did not demonstrate all of the variants described. There was close correlation between the documented values and our patients except for the aberrant right subclavian artery which was more than three times more common in our patients.

Middle aortic syndrome

No abstract available.

Descending necrotising mediastinitis

No abstract available.

A case of popliteal artery entrapment

No abstract available.

Comparison of the OptiMAL rapid antigen test with field microscopy for the detection of Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum: considerations for the application of the rapid test in Afghanistan

To establish the sensitivity and specificity of a batch of 'OptiMAL 48' rapid antigen tests procured by the World Health Organization in Afghanistan, a sample was tested, in parallel with routine, microscopical diagnosis, at basic health units (BHU) within Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan. The results of both methods of field diagnosis were compared with those of cross-checking microscopy at a reference laboratory, which were taken as the 'gold standard'. Out of 499 patients examined, 36% were diagnosed as malaria cases by field microscopy and 34% by the rapid test. For the OptiMAL 48 test, cross-checking of the corresponding smears at the reference laboratory gave a sensitivity of 79.3% and a specificity of 99.7% for Plasmodium falciparum and corresponding values of 86.1% and 98.7% for P. vivax infections. The performance of the field microscopy was better, with a sensitivity and specificity of 85.2% and 99.7% for P. falciparum, and 90.4% and 98.7% for P. vivax, respectively. These results show that the performance of OptiMAL 48 is adequate for acute- and post-emergency situations when the alternative is just clinical diagnosis. However, in the developing health system of Afghanistan, the main focus should be on the expansion of the existing network for microscopical diagnosis and quality control, to meet the needs of a stable situation. Rapid antigen tests are more suited to investigations of outbreaks in remote situations, where health services are deficient or absent.