Fourier analysis of STimulated echoes (FAST) for the quantitative analysis of left ventricular twist

Purpose:

To validate a novel method for the rapid and facile quantification of left ventricular (LV) twist from tagged magnetic resonance images and demonstrate the potential clinical utility in a series of 20 healthy volunteers.

Materials and Methods:

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) short‐axis images were acquired with tissue tagging in 20 healthy subjects and six canines. The tagged images were processed using a novel Fourier Analysis of the STimulated echoes (FAST) method, which uses a series of Fourier‐space operations to measure LV twist with limited user interaction. A subset of eight healthy subjects and the canine data were compared to results from previously validated “gold standard” software (FindTags). Interobserver and intraobserver coefficients of variation (CV_INTER and CV_INTRA), linear regression, and Bland–Altman analyses were used to assess agreement between observers and methods.

Results:

CV_INTRA for peak systolic twist (2.9% and 2.6%) and CV_INTER (4.3% and 4.2%) were all small. Linear regression analysis of the FAST and FindTags twist values indicated very good agreement in healthy subjects (R = 0.91) and in canines (R = 0.95). Bland–Altman comparison of the FAST and FindTags twist results indicated excellent agreement in healthy subjects (bias of ?0.5°, 95% confidence intervals (?4.3°, 4.3°)) and canines (bias of 0.2°, 95% confidence intervals (?2.7°, 3.1°)). Peak systolic twist in healthy subjects averaged 10.5 ± 1.9° degrees.

Conclusion:

The FAST method for quantifying LV twist produces results that are not significantly different from the current “gold standard” in a fraction of the user interaction time and has demonstrated feasibility in human subjects. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;35:587‐593. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

     

The effect of diet induced obesity on testicular tissue and serum oxidative stress parameters

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of diet induced obesity on semen parameters and serum antioxidant enzyme levels.Material and methodsSix-week-old male rats were randomized into three groups are as follows: group 1 (n = 10) received a control diet, group 2 (n = 9) received a high-fat diet and group 3 (n = 11) received high-fat diet plus anastrozole. At the completion of a 10-week period, testicular tissues were obtained and spermatogenesis was evaluated with Johnsen Score System. The normal Johnsen Score was accepted as >9.39. In addition, serum antioxidant enzyme levels, triglyceride, cholesterol, testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimilating hormone (FSH) and estradiol levels were measured in serum.ResultsBody weight were significantly increased in mice fed with a high-fat diet compared to normal diet (P < .05). The mean triglyceride levels was 64.00 ± 20.48 mg/dl, 98.89 ± 27.80 mg/dl and 95.27 ± 15.02 mg/dl in group 1, group 2 and group 3, respectively (P < .05). Male rats fed with a high-fat diet had significantly lower levels of testosterone compared with the control diet male rats (P = .005). Testicular pathology revealed that Johnsen Score System were 9.60 ± 0.15, 8.72 ± 1.81 and 9.29 in group 1, group 2 and group 3, respectively (P = .169). In addition serum nitric oxide (NO) levels were higher in group 2 and group 3 compared to group 1 (P < .05).ConclusionAs a result it may be concluded that obesity may induce oxidative stress and decrease testosterone levels. These changes may alter testicular functions and consequently it may be speculated that obesity can be important causative factor in the etiology of the male infertility.     

Genetic basis of cystinosis in Turkish patients: a single-center experience

We report the molecular findings for the CTNS gene in 12 Turkish cystinosis patients aged 7-29 years. All presented initially with severe failure to thrive, polyuria, and polydipsia. Cystinosis was diagnosed at age 1 month to 9 years. Seven patients reached end-stage renal failure at ages ranging from 6.5 to 15 years. Whereas three of the remaining five have renal Fanconi syndrome with proteinuria, two have had kidney failure of varying degrees. Molecular analyses involved an initial multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine the presence or absence of the 57-kb northern European founder deletion in CTNS, followed by sequencing of the ten coding exons of CTNS. Comprehensive mutation analysis verified that none of the 12 patients carried the common 57-kb deletion. We identified four previously reported nucleotide variations associated with cystinosis and five new variants: a 10-kb deletion, three missense variants, and a nucleotide substitution in a potential branch point site of intron 4. This study is the first molecular analysis of Turkish cystinosis patients and provides guidance for the molecular diagnosis of cystinosis in this population.     

Primary intrapulmonary thymoma associated with myasthenia gravis

Primary intrapulmonary thymomas are very rare. So far, research in the field has identified only 31 cases. In all databases, a total of two published articles describing primary intrapulmonary thymoma with myasthenia gravis were encountered between 1950 and 2010. We admitted a 58-year-old male patient with a mass in the right lower lobe of his lung. The tumor was excised, and histological findings were found to be consistent with Type AB thymoma. The patient was intubated due to respiratory distress during the postoperative period, and his acetylcholine receptor antibody was determined positive. He was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. Pyridostigmine therapy and plasmapheresis were scheduled; yet, we could not begin therapy because of rapid deterioration of the patient's respiratory status due to myasthenia gravis and subsequently resulting in intubation-associated pneumonia. The patient's health rapidly worsened, and he died.     

The effects of EGb 761 on lipid peroxide levels and superoxide dismutase activity in sunburn

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Free oxygen radicals are involved in inflammatory skin reactions induced by ultraviolet B (UVB). In this study, the effect of a herbal antioxidant Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) was investigated in UVB irradiated mice skin. METHODS: The study was carried out on four groups of mice (n = 6 in each group). The first group was a control group (G1). The second group (G2) was only exposed to acute UVB irradiation. The third group (G3) received 100 mg/kg/day of EGb 761 orally for 5 days before UVB irradiation and the fourth group (G4) was given only a single dose of EGb 761 immediately after UVB irradiation. Eighteen hours after exposing to UVB, lipid peroxide levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were studied and UVB damage was evaluated histopathologically according to "sun-burn cell count". RESULTS: The SOD activities and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in G2, G3 and G4 were found to be decreased significantly when compared with G1 (P < 0.05). The SOD activities of G3 and G4 were higher when compared with G2 (P < 0.05). The number of sunburn cells (SBCs) was the highest in G2. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that EGb 761 may have an important effect, both as a protective and therapeutic agent, in sunburn after UVB irradiation.     

Immunohistochemical analysis of the infiltrated cells in tinea capitis patients

Tinea capitis is a fungal infection of the skin and the hair with involvement of the hair shaft and the pilosebaceous unit. It may be the most common of all cutaneous mycoses in children. Tinea capitis can be inflammatory or noninflammatory. It is thought that humoral and cell-mediated immunities play a role in the formation of the clinical types of the disease. We studied twelve patients with acute inflammatory disease, four patients with chronic non-inflammatory disease, and one patient with a black-dot variant of tinea capitis. The composition of inflammatory infiltrates present in lesional skin was analyzed by antibodies to T cells (CD3) and B cells (CD20). Anti-CD3 revealed large numbers of T cells in twelve patients with acute, inflammatory dermatophytosis, whereas anti-CD20 revealed marked infiltrates of both B and T cells in all patients with chronic, non-inflammatory dermatophytosis. As a result, we thought that cell-mediated immunity might play a role in the acute, inflammatory type of tinea capitis and that humoral immunity might do so in the chronic, non-inflammatory type of tinea capitis.     

Bilateral Clavicle Fracture in Two Newborn Infants

Background

The fracture of clavicle is the most frequently observed bone fracture as birth trauma and it is usually unilateral. It is seen following shoulder dystocia deliveries or breech presentation of macrosomic newborns.

Case Presentation

We report two macrosomic newborns with bilateral clavicle fracture and brachial plexus palsy due to birth trauma. Chest X-rays confirmed bilateral fracture of clavicles. Both patients were recovered without any sequel.

Conclusion

Bilateral clavicular fracture should be considered in any neonate with bilateral absent Moro reflexes.