Diagnostic Accuracy of High-Resolution 3D T2-SPACE in Detecting Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Assessment of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis on MR imaging can be challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of high-resolution 3D T2 sampling perfection with application-optimized contrasts by using different flip angle evolution (SPACE) in patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and to compare its performance with contrast-enhanced 3D T1-MPRAGE.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a blinded retrospective analysis of T2-SPACE and contrast-enhanced MPRAGE sequences from patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and a control group. The results were compared with a reference standard, which was based on all available sequences and clinical history. Subanalyses were performed according to the venous segment involved and the clinical stage of the thrombus.

RESULTS

Sixty-three MR imaging examinations from 35 patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and 51 examinations from 40 control subjects were included. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity calculated from the initial MR imaging examination for each patient were 100% each for T2-SPACE and 95%, 91%, and 98%, respectively, for contrast-enhanced MPRAGE. The interrater reliability was high for both sequences. In the subanalysis, the accuracy for each venous segment involved and if subdivided according to the clinical stage of thrombus was ≥95% and ≥85% for T2-SPACE and contrast-enhanced MPRAGE, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Both T2-SPACE and contrast-enhanced MPRAGE offer high accuracy for the detection and exclusion of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis; however, T2-SPACE showed a better overall performance and thus could be a useful tool if included in a multiparametric MR imaging protocol for the diagnosis of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, especially in scenarios where gadolinium administration is contraindicated.

A laboratory study to test the responses of human dental pulp stem cells to extracts from three dental pulp capping biomaterials

AIM

This laboratory study aimed to investigate the effects of three endodontic biomaterials; MTA-HP, iRoot-BP-Plus and ACTIVA on the proliferation, adhesion and osteogenic differentiation of human Dental Pulp Stem Cells (hDPSCs).

METHODOLOGY

The hDPSCs were isolated from the dental pulps of 21 patients scheduled for surgical extraction of their impacted third molars. The MTT assay was used for assessing cellular proliferation. Ninety-six-well plates were used and the experiment was repeated four times under the same condition and the assay was done in triplicate. Four groups were assigned in which the hDPSCs were cultured in complete media only and considered as negative control. Whilst in the 2^nd , 3^rd and 4^th groups, the cells were treated with CM supplemented with 1.5 μl MTA-HP (CM-MTA, iRoot-BP-Plus (CM-BP), and ACTIVA(CM-AC) extracts, respectively. Attachment adhesion and growth morphology of hDPSCs were observed using SEM and the osteogenic differentiation assay was evaluated by Alizarin red stain test (ARS). The data of proliferation and osteogenic differentiation were analysed using two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc multiple comparison test. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant to analyse the differences amongst the means of groups.

RESULTS

Both CM-MTA and CM-BP groups were associated with a significant increase in hDPSC proliferation in comparison with CM-AC and CM groups (p = 0.001). hDPSCs exhibited a greater cellular attachment to iRoot-BP-Plus surfaces followed by MTA-HP, whilst less attachment was observed in the ACTIVA group. Moreover, at day 7 there was a significant difference in formation of mineralizing nodules; CM-BP, CM-MTA and CM-AC groups respectively (p = 0.001). Whilst there was no significance of difference between CM-AC and CM groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In a laboratory setting, ACTIVA, MTA-HP and iRoot-BP-Plus promoted hDPSCs proliferation, mineralization and attachment, which may explain their in-situ success as endodontic biomaterials.

Tuberculosis is a Mimicker of JIA: A Rare Case Report

Cystic tuberculosis of the bone is a rare form of tuberculosis (TB). The condition presents like Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) of children. In children, the lesions symmetrically involve the peripheral skeleton, which are less sclerotic than adults. A case report is presented here where the patient presented with i) the extensive involvement of bones with cystic lesion, ii) Hand & feet involvement with multiple bony exostosis iii) Synovial swelling of multiple joints and 4) fever for 6 months. Swelling of the joints was disproportionately greater than pain. For the last 6 month patient developed low grade fever with evening rise of temperature & dry cough. There was associated anorexia & significant weight loss. Patient was moderately anaemic & there was cervical lymphadenopathy on both sides. The chest examination revealed features suggestive of consolidation in the right lung. Regarding MSK findings there was swelling of both knee & right wrist with G-II tenderness, sublaxation of both anterior and posterior cruciate ligament with mild effusion. Bony exostosis at the base of left index finger & at the base of right middle finger was found. Investigation shows low Hb, very high ESR, positive tuberculin test. X-ray Chest suggestive of consolidation, FNA of right cervical lymph node consistent with tuberculosis. X-ray Pelvis has shown expansile mixed sclerotic radiolucent areas with interval septation involving upper part of both femoral shafts. MRI findings of right knee joint were suggestive of tuberculous osteomyelitis. At this stage the patient was put on Anti-TB chemotherapy. After 2 month and 4 month of follow up with Anti-TB drug both MSK & lung condition was improved significantly. Ultimately the patient was diagnosed as cystic tuberculosis of bone & continued Anti-TB drugs.

Susceptibility-weighted MR imaging for diagnosis of capillary telangiectasia of the brain

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

BCT is a benign entity, whose appearance on conventional MR imaging makes its differentiation from neoplastic, inflammatory, or subacute ischemic disease challenging. SWI is sensitive to susceptibility effects from deoxyhemoglobin with excellent spatial resolution. Only scarce case reports have described the utility of SWI in cases of BCT. Our aim was to show the diagnostic value of SWI applied to a larger series of cases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was an observational retrospective study of 33 BCTs in 27 consecutive patients examined from August 2009 to January 2011 with MR imaging, including SWI. Morphology, signal intensity characteristics, and additional vascular malformations were analyzed. Preceding or follow-up examinations were available in 18 patients with a median time interval of 14.5 months (range, 2-115 months).

RESULTS

Twenty-five pontine and 8 supratentorial BCTs demonstrated distinct signal-intensity loss on SWI in combination with postcontrast enhancement. Mean lesion diameter was 4.9 mm (range, 1.5-17 mm). Thirty-nine percent showed slight signal-intensity changes on T1 and/or T2; the remainder were isointense to normal brain. In 30%, a prominent draining vessel was observed. Additional cerebral vascular malformations were found in 5 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

SWI represents a valuable tool for confirmation of presumed BCT. Demonstration of signal-intensity loss on SWI in an enhancing focal brain lesion, otherwise unremarkable on conventional MR images, is highly specific for BCT, thus excluding serious pathology and reassuring the patient and referring physician. This is particularly helpful for BCT in less typical locations.

Tuberculosis of knee joint and tubercular pyomyositis of gastrocnemius muscle

Extra-spinal musculoskeletal tuberculosis (TB) is rare and tubercular pyomyositis is extremely rare. Tuberculosis of the knee-joint is a haematogenous infection secondary to a focus of active disease elsewhere in the body which may not be found. Tubercular pyomyositis usually caused by invasion from the adjacent structures rather than a secondary spread. Here we describe a 40 years old male patient who presented to us with pain in the right knee joint for one and half years and pain and swelling of right calf muscle for fifteen days. He was eventually diagnosed as a case of tuberculosis of the right knee joint and tubercular pyomyositis of right gastrocnemius muscle on the basis of fine needle aspiration from the right calf that showed caseation necrosis with clusters of epithelial cells despite absence of systemic symptoms, the absence of other foci of active tuberculosis and a normal chest radiograph.

Hepatic fibrosis in hamsters experimentally infected with S. mansoni

Adult males Schistosoma mansoni were detected in the liver of experimentally infected hamsters induced a lesser intense granulomatous reaction than that induced by living bilharzial ova. This pathological reaction may be induced by immune complex formation.

The effect of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) on embryonic chicken gonads

Chicken embryos were exposed to a single dose of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) on the 15th day of the incubation period. Five days later, the female embryos showed a significant increase in ovarian weight, ovarian thickness and oocyte count. In contrast, the male embryos showed a significant decreased in testicle weight, seminiferous cord diameter and gonocyte number. The opposite response of testes and ovaries is discussed.