Ultrasound‐guided wire localization of focal ductal dilatation in the evaluation and treatment of pathologic nipple discharge

Patients presenting with pathologic nipple discharge (PND) often pose a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. We used ultrasound to identify focal ductal dilatation—hypothesized to be a radiographic manifestation of the causative lesion—in patients with PND and no relevant clinical or radiographic findings. Twenty‐two excisions guided by ultrasound wire localization of focal duct dilation were performed. Surgical pathology revealed papilloma in 20 cases (91%); atypia or carcinoma was detected in 7 cases (32%). The ultrasound finding of focal duct dilatation enables excision of otherwise occult though clinically significant lesions and is worthy of further study.     

Comparing the effects of root surface scaling with ultrasound instruments and Er,Cr:YSGG laser

There are several studies done to show the comparability of laser scaling and root planing with routine methods. The most suitable wavelengths for such an application are reported as 2,940 and 2,780 nm. The superficial interactions of the current wavelength with root surface is investigated in this study to compare the crater and crack formation during the procedures between ultrasound and Er,Cr:yttrium-scandium-gallium garnet (YSGG; 2,780 nm) laser-treated teeth. Thirty human teeth with calculus on their root surface, which were extracted because of the severe periodontitis, were selected for this interventional in vitro study. Calculus area were divided into two equal parts: One of them was prepared for Er,Cr:YSGG (Biolase, Waterlase, USA) laser irradiation and the other one for ultrasound treatment (Dentsply cavitron, DENTSPLY International, USA). The Er,Cr:YSGG laser was specified as follows: pulse energy = 50 mJ, power = 1 W, wavelength = 2,780 nm, pulse repetition rate = 20 pulse per seconds, tip length = 6 mm, and tip diameter = 600 microm. Nineteen of the laser samples (95%) and eight of ultrasound ones (40%) out of 20 samples in each group had craters showing a statistical significant difference (p < 0.001). The number and depth of these craters are also evaluated. Thirteen samples of the laser cases (65%) and all samples of the ultrasound group showed cracks with significant differences (p = 0.008). In addition, the number and width of cracks in both groups are reported. As a general conclusion, the laser-treated samples show more craters but less cracks.     

Pre-treatment or post-treatment with hydroxychloroquine demonstrates neuroprotective effects in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion

Stroke is a serious life-threatening medical condition and is one of the principal reasons for death and disabilities worldwide. The aim of the present study was to determine the neuroprotective effects of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and the timing of its administration in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in rats. A global I/R model was used, and HCQ was administered in either pre- or post-treatment doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg. Effects of HCQ on infarct size, histological changes, oxidative stress, and learning and memory were evaluated. Phospho-AMPK and SQSTM1/p62 protein levels were also measured to elucidate the possible mechanisms involved. HCQ in both pre- (at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg) or post-treatment (at a dose of 50 mg/kg) protocols reduces brain infarct size and histopathological changes and improves learning and memory after cerebral I/R. Pre-treatment with HCQ reduced AMPK activity with no significant effect on SQSTM1/p62 increment. Post-treatment with HCQ increased AMPK activity and SQSTM1/p62 protein levels. Our results show the neuroprotective effects of HCQ on cerebral I/R through the reduction in infarct size, histopathological changes, and improvement in memory and learning functions. Moreover, AMPK and autophagy may play a role in this protective effect.     

Effects of stimulus structure and target-distracter similarity on the development of visual memory representations in schizophrenia

Introduction. In a previous study (Silverstein, Bakshi, Chapman, & Nowlis, 1998a, Cognitive Neuropsychiatry) we demonstrated that while schizophrenia patients showed similar learning curves as nonpatient controls when determining whether a configural pattern of elements has been seen before or not, they did not demonstrate any learning curve with nonconfigural stimuli (in contrast to controls). Methodological limitations of that study, however, precluded generalisability of those effects.Methods. In the present study, therefore, different groups of schizophrenia patients (n = 18) and controls (n = 22) were administered a modified version of the familiarity judgement task used in Silverstein et al. (1998a). In the new version of the task: (1) the patterns that repeated were different for each participant; and (2) half of the nonrepeating patterns were configural and half were nonconfigural.Results. These indicated stronger perceptual learning effects for the configural compared to the nonconfigural patterns, and overall better performance and more pronounced learning effects for the control group.Conclusions. The data provide further evidence for a schizophrenia-related impairment in perceptual organisation and in the ability to develop memory representations for novel stimuli.     

High prevalence of low bone density in young Iranian healthy individuals

With the increasing life expectancy, osteoporosis is becoming a major worldwide health problem, more particularly in the Middle East region. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the hip, lumbar spine, and forearm was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry (Lunar) in 2085 (25% men, 75% women) healthy Iranian subjects aged 20–88 yr. The prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in at least one measured site in subjects aged 50 yr and older were 36.1% and 43.9% in women, and 24.5% and 70.8% in men, respectively. Among subjects younger than 50 yr, 49.6% of women and 59.6% of men had low bone mass, respectively. In addition, more than one third of subjects showed discordance between different sites of measurement. The high incidence of low bone density in young ages requires our proper attention and planning for prevention. Measurement of BMD in all three sites seems necessary and clinicians should look for possible causes of discordance between different sites of measurement and develop an appropriate strategy approaching to these patients.