Trapezius Port Placement in Patients with Breast Cancer: Long-Term Follow-up and Quality-of-Life Assessment

Purpose

To evaluate the long-term results of and patient satisfaction with trapezius ports in breast cancer patients, as an alternative to chest ports.

Correlation of 3-T MRI and CT findings with patient symptoms and treatment outcome in radiofrequency ablation of osteoid osteoma

ObjectiveThe aim of this prospective study was to evaluate pre- and post-treatment MRI and CT findings of osteoid osteoma (OO) patients treated with radiofrequency thermo-ablation (RFTA) and to compare these findings with visual analog scale (VAS) scores.MethodsSixteen patients (4 females and 12 males; mean age of 18.87 ± 8.75 years (range: 8–37)) with OO were examined with CT and MRI, at baseline and at an average of 3 months following the procedure. On pre- and post-procedural CT and MRIs, OO-related findings were recorded. Treatment success was evaluated with VAS scores.ResultsBaseline VAS scores were 8 or 9 and follow-up scores were 0 or 1, indicating no early recurrences.Nidus diameters decreased significantly after the procedure (p = 0.027, p = 0.002, and p = 0.002; and p = 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.001 for AP, ML and CC nidus diameters for CT and MRI, respectively).The mean nidus volume were significantly decreased after the procedure (p = 0.001, for CT and MRI).On post-procedural images, cortical thickening, the signal intensity and contrast enhancement of the nidus and the extent of periostitis were significantly decreased (p = 0.019, p = 0.001, p = 0.001 and p = 0.034, respectively). There was no significant change in nidus calcification, perinidal cortical and intramedullary sclerosis, periosteal reaction, bone deformity, bone marrow and soft tissue edema, joint effusion and synovitis after the procedure (p = 0.253, p = 0.062, p = 0.245, p = 1, p = 1, p = 0.429, p = 0.371, p = 0.625, p = 1).ConclusionAlthough the changes in imaging findings may be helpful in early follow-up of OO patients treated with RFTA, these changes alone cannot be used with accuracy in predicting treatment response.Level of EvidenceLevel IV, Therapeutic Study.     

Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema: How does cohabitation affect respiratory functions?

PurposeCombined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) has emerged as a new syndrome with characteristics of both fibrosis and emphysema. We determined the impacts of radiologic emphysema severity on pulmonary function tests (PFTs), exercise capacity and mortality.Patients and methodsIPF patients (n = 110) diagnosed at the Chest Diseases Clinic between September 2013 and January 2016 were enrolled in the study and followed up until June 2017. Visual and digital emphysema scores, PFTs, pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP), 6-minute walking test, composite physiologic index (CPI), and survival status were recorded. Patients with emphysema and those with pure IPF were compared.ResultsThe CPFE-group had a significantly greater ratio of men(p < 0.001), lower BMI (p < 0.001), lower mean PaO₂ (p = 0.005), higher mean sPAP (p = 0.014), and higher exercise desaturation (p < 0.001). The CPFE group had a significantly higher FVC(L)(p = 0.016), and lower FEV1/FVC ratio (p = 0.002), DLCO, and DLCO/VA ratio(p = 0.03 and p = 0.005, respectively). Lung volumes of the CPFE group had significantly higher VC(p = 0.017), FRC (p < 0.001), RV(p < 0.001), RV/TLC(p < 0.001), and TLC(p < 0.001). There were significant correlations between emphysema scores and FVC (L)(p = 0.01), FEV1/FVC(p = 0.001), DLCO (p = 0.003), VC(p = 0.014), FRC (L)(p < 0.001), RV(p < 0.001), TLC(p < 0.001), and RV/TLC (p < 0.001). Mortality rates were comparable between the two groups. CPI (p = 0.02) and sPAP (p = 0.01) were independent predictors of mortality in patients with CPFE.ConclusionsThe presence and severity of emphysema affects pulmonary function in IPF. Patients with CPFE have reduced diffusion capacity, more severe air trapping, worse muscle weakness, more severe exercise desaturation, and pulmonary hypertension. CPI and pulmonary hypertension are two independent risk factors for mortality in subjects with CPFE.     

Mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease is associated with decreased P300 amplitude and reduced putamen volume

ObjectiveFunctional and structural brain alterations of cognitively normal Parkinson’s disease (PD-CN) and Parkinson’s disease mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) patients were investigated using event-related potentials (ERP) P300 and volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters.MethodsTwenty three patients with PD-CN, 21 with PD-MCI, and 23 demographically-matched healthy controls were included. EEGs were recorded using a visual oddball task and mean amplitude and peak latency values of P300 were measured. Gray matter volumes (GMV) of thalamus, caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, hippocampus, amygdala and nucleus accumbens were obtained using FMRIB Integrated Registration and Segmentation Tool. Correlations among P300, subcortical GMV and cognitive performances were assessed.ResultsPD-CN patients demonstrated reduced P300 amplitudes compared to healthy controls. PD-MCI patients had lower P300 amplitudes than both PD-CN patients and controls and reduced volumes of the putamen compared to controls. Both putamen volumes and P300 amplitudes showed moderate associations with executive functions.ConclusionsOur findings support that P300 amplitude may be a useful marker for the detection of preclinical changes before the appearance of cognitive and structural deterioration in PD, as shown by decreased frontal P300 amplitudes in PD-CN. The reduction further spread to centro-parietal areas in PD-MCI patients, which was accompanied by lower putamen volumes.SignificanceThis study is the first to report on changes in ERP P300 amplitude and subcortical volume in well-matched samples of PD-CN, PD-MCI and healthy controls.     

Comment on “The effect of omalizumab on hematological and inflammatory parameters in patients with chronic spontaneous urticarial”: reply from authors

Abstract

We read Cosansu’s commentary entitled “Effectiveness of the new inflammatory parameters in patients with chronic spontaneous urticarial” to our study with great interest. The author remarked that a limited number of patients had C-reactive protein levels and it was not specified whether there were any other drugs used by the patients and no information was given about the severity of the disease in our study.     

Solid Phase Extraction for the Determination of Methylene Blue Using Lignocellulosic Biosorbent in Aqueous Solutions

The recent introduction of a large number of synthetic dyes, which are toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic, has made the situation worse by disrupting normal aquatic life. For this reason, the detection and removal of dyestuffs in wastewater become important. In this study, for the extraction of methylene blue, used as solid phase extraction adsorbent, lignocellulosic biosorbent of tea waste activated with ZnCl₂ was prepared. The factors affecting its extraction were studied in detail. To determine the sensitivity and certainty of the solid phase extraction process; optimized to have an adsorbent amount (75 mg), wash solvent (3 mL water), loading volume (20 mL), elution solvent methanol/acetic acid (80:20, v/v), and eluent volume (8 mL). As a result of the optimization processes, rates ranging from 94.4% to 98.9% recovery were obtained in methylene blue extraction in aqueous solutions. According to the results obtained, this method can be extensively applied in the efficient removal of colored contaminants.