Evaluation of Atherosclerotic Plaque in Non-invasive Coronary Imaging

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Over the last decade coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has gained wide acceptance as a reliable, cost-effective and non-invasive modality for diagnosis and prognostication of CAD. Use of CCTA is now expanding to characterization of plaque morphology and identification of vulnerable plaque. Additionally, CCTA is developing as a non-invasive modality to monitor plaque progression, which holds future potential in individualizing treatment. In this review, we discuss the role of CCTA in diagnosis and management of CAD. Additionally, we discuss the recent advancements and the potential clinical applications of CCTA in management of CAD.

Evaluation of Atherosclerotic Plaque in Non-invasive Coronary Imaging

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Over the last decade coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has gained wide acceptance as a reliable, cost-effective and non-invasive modality for diagnosis and prognostication of CAD. Use of CCTA is now expanding to characterization of plaque morphology and identification of vulnerable plaque. Additionally, CCTA is developing as a non-invasive modality to monitor plaque progression, which holds future potential in individualizing treatment. In this review, we discuss the role of CCTA in diagnosis and management of CAD. Additionally, we discuss the recent advancements and the potential clinical applications of CCTA in management of CAD.

Multimodality Imaging in Coronary Artery Disease: Focus on Computed Tomography

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of mortality worldwide, and various cardiovascular imaging modalities have been introduced for the purpose of diagnosing and determining the severity of CAD. More recently, advances in computed tomography (CT) technology have contributed to the widespread clinical application of cardiac CT for accurate and noninvasive evaluation of CAD. In this review, we focus on imaging assessment of CAD based upon CT, which includes coronary artery calcium screening, coronary CT angiography, myocardial CT perfusion, and fractional flow reserve CT. Further, we provide a discussion regarding the potential implications, benefits and limitations, as well as the possible future directions according to each modality.

Protective effects of sulfated derivatives of polysaccharides extracted from Auricularia auricular on hematologic injury induced by radiation

Ionizing radiation induces the production of reactive oxygen species [ROS], which play an important causative role in cell death. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of sulfated derivatives of neutral polysaccharides extracted from Auricularia auricular [SNAAP]. Whole blood samples from healthy donors treated with SNAAP at different concentrations [20, 60, 100 microg/mL] were exposed to various doses of X-rays. Wistar rat spleen lymphocytes, in cultures, were treated with SNAAP at different concentrations [20, 60, 100 microg/mL] in the presence p.o 12 hours prior to 8 Gy gamma radiation exposure. Animals were administered with SNAAP at doses of 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg body weight d p.o 7 days prior to sub-lethal doses [6 Gy] of whole body gamma radiation exposure. SNAAP is an effective radio protector against X-ray radiation induced in vitro cellular damage in human peripheral blood. Furthermore, to support this finding the effect of SNAAP on a rat's spleen lymphocytes, when cultured and examined 24 hours after exposure to 8 Gy gamma of radiation, demonstrated the effect of polysaccharides on a rat's spleen lymphocytes, pretreated by the SNAAP, can increase the cell viability compared with irradiated group at a concentration of 20, 60 and 100 microg/mL. Likewise, this radiation-induced therapy decreased each mouse's body weight and effectively stimulated the immune system of all radiated mice. Moreover, when induced by Co60, the SNAAP decreased the level of malondialdehyde [MDA] and increased the myeloperoxidase [MPO] and the glutathione peroxidase [GSH-Px] activity in the whole blood supply of the irradiated mice. These encouraging results support further research into the clinical pharmacology of SNAAP as a novel agent for human radiation protection

Ficolin-A enhances inhibition of the C-terminal 19 kDa region ofmerozoite surface protein-1 of plasmodium berghei using test in vivo

Malaria remains a serious public health problem with significant morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted to identify whether ficolin-A could play an active role of against malaria infection. The function of ficolin-A was analyzed in mouse model. The open reading frame of ficolin-A was cloned from the liver of new born C57BL/6 mice by RT-PCR and then inserted into the expression vector of eukaryon to construct p VAX1-ficolin-A plasmid. Meanwhile, the open reading frame of the 19-kDa fragment of merozoite surface protein-1 of Plasmodium berghei [MSP1[19]] was cloned and then the expression vector of eukaryon, p VAX1- MSP1[19] was constructed. Both recombinant vectors were used in the mouse model of infection by Plasmodium berghei. p VAX 1-ficolin-A alone could not significantly suppress parasite density and prolong survival time of infection mice; however, when injected p VAX1-ficolin-A and p VAX1- MSP1[19] together, the percent of invasion by Plasmodium was decreased [from 43.78% to 22.23% at 10 day after infection, compared to vector] and the survival time was prolonged significantly in the infection mouse model [P=0.01]. Ficolin-A can enhance the immunoprotection of MSP1[19], it implies ficolin-A may be used as immunoenhancer in the study of vaccine defending malaria

Imaging in orbital trauma

Orbital trauma is one of the most common reasons for ophthalmology specialty consultation in the emergency department setting. We survey the literature from 1990 to present to describe the role of computed tomography [CT], magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and their associated angiography in some of the most commonly encountered orbital trauma conditions. CT orbit can often detect certain types of foreign bodies, lens dislocation, ruptured globe, choroidal or retinal detachments, or cavernous sinus thrombosis and thus complement a bedside ophthalmic exam that can sometimes be limited in the setting of trauma. CT remains the workhorse for acute orbital trauma owing to its rapidity and ability to delineate bony abnormalities; however MRI remains an important modality in special circumstances such as soft tissue assessment or with organic foreign bodies

Imaging of eyelid lymphatic drainage

Traditional descriptions of lymphatic drainage show eyelids emptying into the submandibular or preauricular basin. However recent studies based on in vivo lymphatic imaging show a possible predilection for the preauricular basin. We describe lym-phoscintigraphy and report findings in patients with eyelid malignancies undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy [SLNB]. Retrospective chart review of 15 consecutive patients at a single institution with eyelid carcinoma undergoing SLNB. The primary outcome measure was primary facial lymphatic drainage site from the eyelid as determined by lymphoscintigraphy. The preauricular basin was the site of focal radioactive uptake in all 15 patients. The location of the primary tumor was as follows: medial upper eyelid [1], medial canthus [3], medial lower eyelid [3], lateral upper eyelid [3], and lateral lower eyelid [5]. The types of tumor were: invasive squamous cell carcinoma [7], malignant melanoma [3], and sebaceous cell carcinoma [2], Merkel cell carcinoma [2], and conjunctiva! spindle cell carcinoma [1]. Lymphoscintigraphy is increasingly used in the context of SLNB for periocular malignancy. The recent literature suggests that the preauricular lymph node basin may be the primary site of eyelid lymphatic drainage and this is corroborated by our series. Further data will elucidate the biology of eyelid lymphatic channels in humans but the preauricular basin may be the prime lymphatic metastastic site in eyelid malignancies

Opportunities for 2-18F Fluoro-2-Deoxy-D-Glucose PET/CT in Cervical-Vaginal Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: Case Series and Literature Review

OBJECTIVE: Neuroendocrine cervical carcinoma is a rare subtype of cervical cancer. These tumors exhibit an aggressive behavior with early regional lymph node and distant metastases. The purpose of our study was to describe five cases of neuroendocrine cervical-vaginal carcinoma and to discuss the potential of the 2-[18F] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) scan for the detection of this rare malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five cases of cervical-vaginal neuroendocrine tumor were retrospectively collected, during a two year (from September 2009 to August 2011) period in our hospital. The clinical staging distributions were International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IB2 (1 of 5), stage IIA (3 of 5) and stage IVA (1 of 5). RESULTS: Two cases (cases 1 and 4) were restaged after 18F-FDG PET/CT scan in the initial staging process. Post-treatment 18F-FDG PET/CT scans, in three patients, revealed positive findings for tumor recurrence or lymph node metastases. Two patients (cases 2 and 3) died of tumor within two years. CONCLUSION: 18F-FDG PET/CT scan is a useful tool in cervical-vaginal neuroendocrine tumor. In its initial staging, the 18F-FDG PET/CT scan may help assess the possible nodal involvement or early hematogeneous spreading. We can also use the 18F-FDG PET/CT to detect local recurrence and to evaluate the treatment response after clinical manipulation.