A study of antigen-specific anti-cytomegalovirus antibody reactivity in patients with systemic sclerosis and concomitant anti-Ro52 antibodies

Rheumatology International - Anti-Ro52 autoantibody (autoAb), highly prevalent in Sjogren’s syndrome (SjS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is also frequent in systemic sclerosis...     

Dental status of women with gestational diabetes on a Greek island

This study evaluated the dental tissues in pregnant women with gestational diabetes. The study group consisted of 39 pregnant women with gestational diabetes and the control group included 62 pregnant women without the disorder. The plaque index, decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMF index) and the relationship of these measures to a series of variables (socio-demographic, oral hygiene and diet) were evaluated. Clinical evaluation was performed during 34–36 weeks of pregnancy. The plaque index and DMF were increased among women with gestational diabetes compared with control patients but the differences were not significant ( p = 0.167 and p = 0.436, respectively). The DMF increased with respect to age ( p < 0.001) and frequency of snacks before pregnancy ( p = 0.058). The DMF and plaque index decreased ( p = 0.031 and p = 0.004, respectively) among women with a higher level of education. This study detected no significant differences in dental status between pregnant women with gestational diabetes and pregnant women without the disorder.     

Common and Uncommon Artifacts in T1 FLAIR SAG Sequences of MRI Brain

ObjectiveThis study aims at identifying, classifying, and measuring the frequency the different artifacts that show up in the images of the Sagittal T1 Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) sequence.Materials and MethodsA total of 101 subjects underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging examination with the following sequences: Axial T1 FLAIR, Axial T2-weighted imaging, Diffusion Weighted Imaging, 2D Multiple Echo Recombined Gradient Echo, Sagittal T1 FLAIR, Coronal T2 Turbo Spin Echo, Spin Echo T1-weighted imaging, and 3D Fast Spoiled Gradient-echo. In these images, we observed the following categories of artifacts: (a) ghost artifacts, (b) aliasing behind the occipital bone, (c) aliasing inside the sphenoid cavity, (d) susceptibility artifacts, and (e) pulsation artifacts. In order to recognize and verify the artifacts, we used not only the Sagittal T1 FLAIR sequence, but also Sagittal reconstructions from the 3-dimensional Fast Spoiled Gradient-echo sequence and the other routine sequences.ResultsAliasing artifacts and especially aliasing of nose are present in 41% of the cases. In 45% of these cases the uncommon aliasing artifacts, which took place into the brain parenchyma (sphenoid cavity, subarachnoid bay, or pituitary) originated from nose. In 33% of the subjects, ghost artifacts are presented, which stem from the nose, the orbits, or other pulsating structures (pulsation artifacts) or even from fat tissue. Moreover, susceptibility artifacts comprise 8% of all the artifacts. Finally, 19% of brains were presented without artifact.ConclusionsWe suggest in addition to T1 FLAIR, the application of Sagittal SE or TSE sequences in magnetic resonance imaging examination of brain, trying to include the nose in the square of FOV.     

Bioavailability of aspirin in fasted and fed states of a novel pharmaceutical lipid aspirin complex formulation

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis - Dyspeptic symptoms are common with aspirin and clinicians frequently recommend that it be taken with food to reduce these side effects. However, food can...     

SPECT and PET imaging in Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia. Beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) of abnormal hyperphosphorylated tau protein are the pathological hallmarks of the disease, accompanied by other pathological processes such as microglia activation. Functional and molecular nuclear medicine imaging with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) techniques provides valuable information about the underlying pathological processes, many years before the appearance of clinical symptoms. Nuclear neuroimaging in AD has made great progress in the past two decades and has extended beyond the traditional role of brain perfusion and glucose metabolism evaluation. Intense efforts in radiopharmaceuticals research have led to the development of various probes able to detect Aβ deposits, tau protein accumulation, microglia activation and neuroinflammation. As a result, SPECT and PET have proposed to serve as biomarkers in recently revised diagnostic clinical criteria for the early diagnosis of AD and the prediction of progression to AD in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects.     

6-Month Outcomes of Tricuspid Valve Reconstruction for Patients With Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation

Background

Severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates with limited treatment options.

Antiplatelet pretreatment and outcomes in intravenous thrombolysis for stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Journal of Neurology - Since there are contradictory data regarding the association of antiplatelet pretreatment (AP) with safety and efficacy outcomes of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) for acute...