High-resolution (2.6-mm) PET in partial complex epilepsy associated with mesial temporal sclerosis

Eleven patients with medically refractory partial seizures underwent positron emission tomography (PET) with a 600-crystal tomograph and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose. All patients had been selected for temporal lobe resection, and the side of the epileptogenic focus had been demonstrated with electroencephalography (EEG). Only patients in whom structural lesions had been excluded with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were studied. Ten of 11 patients were found to have temporal cortical hypometabolism on the same side as the focal abnormality that was demonstrated with EEG. In two patients, PET showed hypometabolism in the mesial temporal cortex only. There were no incorrectly lateralizing PET results. MR imaging showed an abnormality in the corresponding temporal lobe in seven patients. In one patient, both PET and MR images were normal. All patients underwent anterior temporal resection, and histologic examination of resected tissue showed mesial temporal sclerosis in all cases.

Effects of occupational exposure to organic solvents upon cognitive performance

Twenty-three individuals exposed to mixed organic solvents were compared with 23 nonexposed controls on a number of cognitive performance tasks. Solvent exposure resulted in a significantly poorer performance on the forward digit span test, copying of a complex figure, and on semantic memory tests which also measure individual's ability to integrate linguistic information into cohesive units. These tasks rely heavily upon short-term memory and its integrative operations in higher cognitive function. Acute exposure effect was also observed for the linguistic integrative task.

Visualization of the fat planes between the pancreas and the adjacent organs and blood vessels using multi-detector computed tomography

PURPOSE

To explore individual variations in visibility of the fat planes between the pancreatic parenchyma and adjacent organs and blood vessels using the multi-detector-computed tomography (MDCT).

METHODS

Abdominal contrast-enhanced MDCT examinations of 520 consecutive adult individuals were retrospectively analysed by exploring the presence of visible fat planes between the healthy pancreas and the following surrounding structures: stomach, descending duodenum (D2), splenic, portal, superior mesenteric vein (SV, PV, SMV), inferior vena cava (IVC), and coeliac trunk, common hepatic and superior mesenteric artery (CT, HA and SMA). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (r_S) was used to assess the correlation of individual gender, age, body mass and BMI, and visible fat planes towards particular surrounding structures.

RESULTS

Fat planes between the pancreatic parenchyma and surrounding structures was visible as follows: stomach in 76%, D2 11.7%, SV 51.5%, PV 0%, SMV 28.8%, IVC 80.8%, CT 99.4%, HA 90.4% and SMA in 100% participants. The presence of visible fat planes significantly correlated (p < 0.001) with body mass for stomach (r_S = 0.367), D2 (r_S = 0.247), SV (r_S = 0.355), SMV (r_S = 0.384) and IVC (r_S = 0.259); BMI for stomach (r_S = 0.292), SV (r_S = 0.248), SMV (r_S = 0.290) and IVC (r_S = 0.216); age for D2 (r_S = 0.363), SV (r_S = 0.276) and SMV (r_S = 0.409); and male gender for stomach (r_S = 0.160) and SV (r_S = 0.198).

CONCLUSION

Fat planes around the pancreatic parenchyma in the MDCT scan was almost always visible towards the adjacent magistral visceral arteries and IVC, always invisible towards the PV, and variably visible towards the SV, SMV, stomach and duodenum depending on the individual body mass, BMI, age and gender.

Redox Status and Antioxidative Cofactor Metals Influence Clinical and Pathological Characteristics of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma and Colloid Goiter

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the endocrine neoplasm that occurs the most often worldwide, and its molecular pathophysiology is still not well characterized. Redox status is recognized as an important factor of carcinogenesis, but its influence on the PTC's clinical course needs to be better elucidated. The aim of this research was to determine the tissue redox status of 65 PTC and 45 colloid goiter (CG) patients together with antioxidative cofactor metal profiling. The malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was used to access the prooxidation level, while antioxidant mechanisms were estimated by assaying the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR). The antioxidative cofactor metals included quantification of Se, Cu, Zn, and Mn concentration. PTC tissues had normal prooxidation levels and increased GPx and GR activity. The activity of SOD has been significantly reduced in multicentric PTC dissemination and increased in smokers. SOD activity was directly dependent on MDA levels in CG tissues. CG patients with retrosternal goiter had reduced MDA concentration and SOD activity. Numerous correlations between redox parameters in PTC tissues reveal good co-activation of antioxidative mechanisms and cooperative response on prooxidation. PTC tissues had decreased Se levels and increased concentration of Cu and Mn in comparison to other tissues. MDA concentration and SOD activity were significant predictors of PTC's multicentric dissemination and for the existence of lymph node metastases, respectively. Particularly, the concentration of Cu predicted the retrosternal localization in CG patients. Significant findings presented in this study provide a possibility for development of novel prognostic molecular biomarkers of PTC and CG.

Correction to: Redox Status and Antioxidative Cofactor Metals Influence Clinical and Pathological Characteristics of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma and Colloid Goiter

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake.

Pyritinol treatment of SDAT patients: evaluation by psychiatric and neurological examination, psychometric testing and rCBF measurements

A group of 26 patients with the diagnosis of Senile Dementia of Alzheimer type (SDAT) was included by random assignment in a double-blind, cross-over trial of pyritinol versus placebo. The patients had a mild to moderate degree of dementia. Psychiatric and neurological examination, psychometric testing, and measurement of the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) at rest and during mental activation were used to assess treatment effects. The results of the study showed that pyritinol was associated with a significant improvement in cognitive performance. RCBF data showed that treatment with pyritinol normalized the pattern of blood flow increase during activation and improved the score on the test used for activation.

Role of autologous fibrin tissue adhesive in abdominal surgery

Fibrin tissue adhesive (FTA) is an agent developed for achieving better hemostasis and adhesion of living tissue. FTA appears to have no tissue toxicity, promotes a firm seal in seconds to minutes, is reabsorbed in days to weeks following application, and appears to promote local tissue growth and repair. It can be used in various surgical procedures. It has been used preoperatively, perioperatively and postoperatively in abdominal surgical procedures. There were no side effects. Improvement of surgical hemostasis was obvious in all patients. Anastomotic leakages were closed in a shorter time without surgical intervention. Sero-lymphatic drainage after surgical procedures that include extensive lymph node dissections was less. Use of FTA in treatment of fistula in ano was successful. The data would indicate that use of FTA may be a good alternative in solving various conditions in every day clinical practice, although a bigger randomized series, and longer follow up is needed.

Detection of gastrointestinal and abdominal infections by 99mTc-ciprofloxacin

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The aim of the study is detection and evaluation of the abdominal and gastrointestinal infective foci using 99mTc-ciprofloxacin (Laboratory for radioactive isotopes, Vinca).

METHODOLOGY

In total 21 patients with clinical suspicion on abdominal or gastrointestinal infection were investigated. In all the patients, planar liver/spleen scintigraphy was performed. Ciprofloxacin chloride (3.5 mg) was mixed with 555 MBq of 99mTc in 3 mL of physiological solution and incubated for 20 min. After slow i.v. injection in a cubital vein, dynamic acquisition (1 f/min) was performed during the first 60 min in the position of interest, followed by static acquisition (500,000 imp) anterior and posterior view, abdomen and pelvis after 1 h and 4 h in all patients. When necessary, additional scintigrams were acquired after 24 h. In all the patients with negative or equivocal findings of planar scintigraphy, emission computerized tomography (SPECT) was performed (60 positions, 6 degrees). Interpretation was made by three independent observers. Additional data were provided using clinical findings, ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, laboratory analyses, and surgical or microbiological confirmation of infection.

RESULTS

There were eleven true-positive findings, seven true negative, two were false negative while one was false positive due to intestinal obstruction. Sensitivity was 79%, specificity 91%, positive predictive value 92%, negative predictive value 77%, accuracy 84%.

CONCLUSIONS

According to our results, scintigraphy with radiolabeled ciprofloxacin is a useful method for detection and assessment of exact localization of abdominal and gastrointestinal infections.