MR imaging of the brachial plexus: comparison between 1.5-T and 3-T MR imaging: preliminary experience

Objective  

To compare 1.5-T and 3-T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the brachial plexus.     

Gardner syndrome: presurgical planning and surgical management of craniomaxillofacial osteomas

Gardner syndrome, a variant of familial adenomatous polyposis, is an autosomal dominant genetic disease characterized by the combined presence of multiple intestinal polyps and extraintestinal manifestations. The extraintestinal manifestations include multiple osteomas, connective tissue tumors, thyroid carcinomas, and hypertrophy of the pigmented epithelium of the retina. Osteoma is a benign neoplasm of bone tissue characterized by slow continuous growth that usually affects the long bones and cranial bones and is a major symptom for Gardner syndrome. The authors report the extraintestinal lesions affecting the maxillofacial regions in 2 male patients (father and son) with Gardner syndrome. The presurgical planning and surgical management of these lesions are described.     

Comparative study of DFDBA in combination with enamel matrix derivative versus DFDBA alone for treatment of periodontal intrabony defects at 12 months post-surgery

The aim of this randomized double-blind, clinical trial was to compare the use of enamel matrix derivative (EMD) and demineralised freeze-dried bone allografts (DFDBA) with DFDBA alone for the treatment of human periodontal intrabony defects at 12 months post-surgery. Fifty-six intrabony osseous defects in 56 periodontis patients were randomly assigned to the test group (DFDBA + EMD) or the control group (DFDBA) for periodontal treatment. Clinical and radiographic measurements were made at the baseline and after 12 months. Compared to baseline, the 12-month results indicated that both treatment modalities resulted in significant changes in all clinical parameters (gingival index, bleeding on probing, probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival recession; P < 0.05) and radiographic parameters (hard tissue fill (HTF) and bone depth reduction; P < 0.05). Furthermore, statistically significant differences were found in the test group compared to the control group in PD reduction (5.0 mm vs. 4.0 mm; P < 0.05), CAL gain (4.0 mm vs. 3.25 mm), and HTF (4.0 mm vs. 3.5 mm; P < 0.05). In the test group, 25% of sites gained >4 mm of CAL, while in the control group, 7.1% of sites gained >4 mm of CAL. Both treatments showed a good soft and hard periodontal tissue response. At 12 months post-surgery, the combined use of DFDBA and EMD seemed to produce a statistically significant improvement of PD reduction, CAL gain, and HTF.     

Novel soy germ pasta improves endothelial function, blood pressure, and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effects of a novel soy germ–enriched pasta, containing isoflavone aglycons, with conventional pasta on endothelial function and cardiovascular risk markers in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This randomized controlled double-blind crossover study compared one serving/day of soy germ pasta and conventional pasta for 8 weeks for effects on brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation, blood pressure, plasma lipids, oxidized LDL cholesterol, 8-iso-PGF2α, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione (GSH), and homocysteine.

RESULTS

Isoflavone-enriched pasta significantly improved arterial stiffness (P = 0.005) and reduced systolic (P = 0.026) and diastolic (P = 0.017) blood pressures. Plasma TAC increased (P = 0.0002), oxidized LDL cholesterol decreased (P = 0.009), 8-iso-PGF2α decreased (P = 0.001), GSH levels increased (P = 0.0003), and homocysteine decreased (P = 0.009) consistent with a reduction in oxidative stress. No significant changes were observed with conventional pasta.

CONCLUSIONS

Pasta enriched with biologically active isoflavone aglycons improved endothelial function and had beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk markers in patients with T2D.The risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke is 3–4 times greater in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) than in the general population (1). It results from loss of normal endothelial function and is associated with increased oxidative stress, production of reactive oxygen species (2), and a decrease in antioxidative defense systems (3). Hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperhomocysteinemia also contribute to overall morbidity and mortality. In a recent study of patients with hypercholesterolemia, a soy germ–enriched pasta containing isoflavones, in mainly the biologically active aglycon form, significantly improved serum lipids and other markers of cardiovascular risk, including arterial reactivity, beyond that of an American Heart Association Step II diet alone (4). Our objective was to determine whether similar effects from this novel food could be attained in patients with T2D.     

Osteonecrosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients: a multicentric case�Ccontrol study

Osteonecrosis (ON) is a rare disabling complication occurring in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection at a higher frequency than in the general population despite effective combination antiretroviral therapy being made available, as recently documented by several retrospective studies. We designed a multicentric case-control study among HIV-infected patients cared for at institutions in the Italian CISAI group (Italian Study Group for Adverse Events in HIV Infection) to search for additional predictors of ON in this special population. All centers which observed at least one case of ON were requested to report data for central re-evaluation. Parallel HIV-positive, ON-free controls were randomly selected and matched with confirmed cases of ON for sex, age and CD4 T-cell counts at the time of HIV diagnosis. Fifteen cases and controls were included in the final sample. Univariate statistical analyses revealed a significant association between ON and exposure to steroids (P?=?0.001), exposure to one or more drugs in addition to HAART (Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy) (P?=?0.03), high titers of total serum IgE (P?=?0.02), loss of working ability (P?=?0.03), triglycerides levels over 200?mg/dL before antiretrovirals (P?=?0.03) and cholesterol levels over 200?mg/dL before and after antiretrovirals (P?=?0.03 and 0.05, respectively). High serum IgE levels and loss of working ability in advance of ON appeared for the first time as possible predictors of ON in HIV patients, while long-term exposure to steroids, combined hyperlipemia and chronic treatment with other drugs in addition to antiretrovirals were confirmed. Predicting and preventing ON in the individual HIV-infected patient is therefore a clinically challenging opportunity.     

Akreos Adapt AO Intraocular Lens Opacification: A Case Report

A 79-year-old hyperglycemic patient was referred to the ‘Santa Maria delle Croci’ Hospital, Ravenna, Italy. He presented with visual impairment in the right eye. Four years ago, he had had an uneventful cataract surgery in the right eye. We observed an opacification of the intraocular lens (IOL) causing significant visual disturbance. The IOL was exchanged. Unfortunately, pathologic analysis was not performed. Patient-related factors such as hyperglycemia and hypertension might have been responsible for the opacification. To our knowledge, there is only one previous report of opacification of the Akreos Adapt AO IOL.Key words: Intraocular lens opacification, Secondary implant, Intraocular lens explantation