Magnetic resonance evaluation of cardiac thrombi and masses by T1 and T2 mapping: an observational study

The purpose of this work was to evaluate CMR T1 and T2 mapping sequences in patients with intracardiac thrombi and masses in order to assess T1 and T2 relaxometry usefulness and to allow better etiological diagnosis. This observational study of patients scheduled for routine CMR was performed from September 2014 to August 2015. All patients referred to our department for a 1.5 T CMR were screened to participate. T1 mapping were acquired before and after Gadolinium injection; T2 mapping images were obtained before injection. 41 patients were included. 22 presented with cardiac thrombi and 19 with cardiac masses. The native T1 of thrombi was 1037?±?152 ms (vs 1032?±?39 ms for myocardium, p?=?0.88; vs 1565?±?88 ms for blood pool, p?<?0.0001). T2 were 74?±?13 ms (vs 51?±?3 ms for myocardium, p?<?0.0001; vs 170?±?32 ms for blood pool, p?<?0.0001). Recent thrombi had a native T1 shorter than old thrombi (911?±?177 vs 1169?±?107 ms, p?=?0.01). The masses having a shorter T1 than the myocardium were lipomas (278?±?29 ms), calcifications (621?±?218 ms), and melanoma (736 ms). All other masses showed T1 values higher than myocardial T1, with T2 consistently >70 ms. T1 and T2 mapping CMR sequences can be useful and represent a new approach for the evaluation of cardiac thrombi and masses.     

Cu(ii) immobilized on Fe3O4@HNTs–tetrazole (CFHT) nanocomposite: synthesis,characterization, investigation of its catalytic role for the 1,3 dipolar cycloaddition reaction,and antibacterial activity

In the present study, Cu(ii) immobilized on an Fe₃O₄@HNTs–tetrazole (CFHT) nanocomposite was designed and prepared. For this, halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) as natural mesoporous substances were modified during several chemical reactions. The synthesis of the CFHT nanocomposite was investigated step by step with the required physicochemical techniques such as FT-IR, EDX, SEM, TEM, XRD, VSM, TGA and CHNS analyses. After ensuring that the nanocomposite was successfully prepared, its catalytic application in the synthesis of the 5-substituted 1H-tetrazole derivatives via multicomponent reactions (MCRs) between aromatic aldehydes, malononitrile, and sodium azide was assessed. According to the experimental results, the prepared nanocomposite exhibited excellent capability for conducting this MCR reaction. All desired products were obtained in a short reaction time (30–40 min) with high productivity (90–97%) and without a complicated workup procedure. Furthermore, the magnetic property of the synthesized heterogeneous nanocomposite empowers it to be recovered and reused in five times successive reactions without any significant reduction in reaction efficiency. Moreover, the remarkable antibacterial activity of the nanocomposite against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was evaluated by agar diffusion and plate-count methods. The zones of inhibition were around 16 and 20 mm for E. coli and S. aureus bacteria, respectively. Also, colony analysis confirms the killing of bacteria by using the CFHT nanocomposite.

In the present study, Cu(ii) immobilized on an Fe₃O₄@HNTs–tetrazole (CFHT) nanocomposite was designed and prepared.     

Novel biocompatible core/shell Fe3O4@NFC@Co(ii) as a new catalyst in a multicomponent reaction: an efficient and sustainable methodology and novel reusable material for one-pot synthesis of 4H-pyran and pyranopyrazole in aqueous media

Today, due to the developing need for inexpensive catalysts, recyclable magnetic nanocatalysts immobilized on polysaccharides possess many advantages over classical heterogeneous catalysts. However, cellulose has been an appealing material in catalysis science and technology. In this work, by controlling the interaction between the inorganic complexes and the support material, we designed a high activity nanostructured combination of a magnetic nanoparticle Fe₃O₄@NFC@Co(ii) terminated complex as a multi-nuclear catalyst. This protocol involves an environment friendly approach using cobalt acetate. The magnetic nanostructure Fe₃O₄@NFC@Co(ii) can be used as a novel, green, and a powerful catalyst that demonstrates a short reaction time, high yield and easy procedure for the cascade Knoevenagel–Michael-cyclocondensation reaction for the one-pot synthesis of 4H-pyrans and pyranopyrazoles. The superparamagnetic nanocomposite could be conveniently separated by using an external magnet. Moreover, the catalyst could be reused at least five times in new reaction runs without a noticeable loss of activity. The prepared catalyst was characterized by FT-IR, XRD, VSM, FESEM, EDAX, TEM, ICP, and TGA techniques. The experiments were achieved with good yields and implied that the catalytic method was effective and convenient for heterocyclic synthesis.

Today, due to the developing need for inexpensive catalysts, recyclable magnetic nanocatalysts immobilized on polysaccharides possess many advantages over classical heterogeneous catalysts.     

Percutaneous cryoablation for tuberous sclerosis-associated renal angiomyolipoma with neoadjuvant mTOR inhibition

We have observed different clinical responses to botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) in patients who had similar urodynamic parameters before the procedure. Furthermore, some bladders evaluated by cystography and cystoscopy during the procedure had different characteristics that could influence the outcome of the treatment. The aim of this study was to assess whether cystography and urodynamic parameters could help predict which patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) refractory to anticholinergics respond better to treatment with injection of BTX-A. In total, 34 patients with spinal cord injury were prospectively evaluated. All patients emptied their bladder by clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) and had incontinence and NDO, despite using 40 mg or more of intravesical oxybutynin and undergoing detrusor injection of BTX-A (300 IU). Pretreatment evaluation included urodynamic, and cystography. Follow-up consisted of urodynamic and ambulatory visits four months after treatment. The cystography parameters used were bladder shape, capacity and presence of diverticula. Urodynamic parameters used for assessment were maximum cystometric capacity (MCC), maximum detrusor pressure (MDP), compliance and reflex volume (RV). After injection of BTX-A, 70% of the patients had success, with 4 months or more of continence. Before the treatment, there were significant differences in most urodynamic parameters between those who responded successfully compared to those who did not. Patients who responded successfully had greater MCC (p = 0.019), higher RV (p = 0.041), and greater compliance (p = 0.043). There was no significant difference in the MDP (0.691). The cystography parameters were not significantly different between these groups bladder shape (p = 0.271), capacity (p > 0.720) and presence of diverticula (p > 0.999). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (version 20.0) and included Student’s t-test for two paired samples and Fisher’s exact test, with a significance threshold of 0.05. This study suggests that the cystography parameters evaluated cannot be used to help predict the response to injection of BTX-A in the treatment of refractory NDO. However, the urodynamic parameters were significantly different in patients who responded to the treatment, with the exception of the MDP.     

Surgically treated bladder hemangiopericytoma/solitary fibrous tumor: report of a 12-year asymptomatic follow-up

Hemangiopericytoma (HPC)/solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is an uncommon vascular tumor suggested to be originating from pericytes. There are few reports on bladder HPC/SFT. We present a case of huge bladder HPC/SFT measuring 13.9 × 12.2 × 11.1 cm with invasion to right iliac vein in a 54-year-old man. The patient underwent radical surgical tumor excision without chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The patient is symptom-free without recurrence or metastasis during the 12-year follow-up period. This case is the longest follow-up reported to date for bladder HPC/SFT.     

Gender effects on the coordination of subdivisions of the trapezius muscle during a repetitive box-folding task

This study aimed at investigating gender difference in the coordination of the subdivisions of the trapezius muscle during a repetitive box-folding movement task. Twenty-two healthy volunteers (11 males and 11 females) performed the repetitive box-folding task for 34 min. During the task, perceived exertion and surface electromyographic (EMG) signals from the upper, middle, and lower trapezius subdivisions were recorded. Absolute and normalised root mean square (RMS) values as well as normalised mutual information (NMI) values were calculated to assess, respectively, activation levels within muscle subdivisions and functional connectivity among subdivisions. Females compared with males were characterised by higher normalised RMS values in the upper trapezius (P < 0.05) and higher NMI values within the upper–middle subdivision pair (P < 0.05) during repetitive box-folding. The elevated normalised level of activation of the upper trapezius as well as the enhanced functional connectivity among upper–middle trapezius subdivisions underlined that females adopted a different motor strategy than males did during a dynamic repetitive task. Such differences within and among muscle subdivisions may not be a favourable trait and could partly contribute to the higher prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders reported in females.     

Mortality and functional disability after spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage: the predictive impact of overall admission factors

To determine the effects of different prognostic factors, including previous antiplatelet therapy, admission data, and radiographic findings on discharge and 3-month neurological condition using modified Rankin scale (mRS) and mortality at 30 days and 3-month follow-up in patients presenting to the emergency department with spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage (sICH). Between January and July 2012, 120 consecutive patients (males 62 %, females 38 %), who were admitted within 48 h of symptoms onset, were included. We recorded the following data on admission: demographics; functional scores of ICH, Glasgow Coma Scale, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale; vital signs; smoking status; use of illicit drug; preadmission antiplatelet treatment; results of laboratory tests (platelet count, serum glucose, sodium and creatinine levels, and prothrombin time); and primary neuroimaging findings [intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), midline shift, and hydrocephalus]. In multivariate analysis using adjusted model for demographics and prior antiplatelet therapy; functional scores, laboratory results, and diabetes history correlated with mortality during 30 days after the event. Moreover, the parameters on the initial computed tomography scan significantly increased 30-day fatality rate and was correlated with increase in the discharge mRS score of survivors. The odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) of early mortality associated with IVH presentation was 2.34 (CI 1.76–3.02, p = 0.003). The corresponding ORs in those with midline shift displacement and hydrocephalus were 2.18 (95 % CI 2.08–3.80, p = 0.01) and 1.62 (95 % CI 1.01–2.63, p = 0.02), respectively. In patients with ICH, prognostic factors, include various clinical parameters and paraclinical findings of admission time.