Different normal anatomical variations of the transverse dural sinus in magnetic resonance venography (MRV): do age and sex matter?

The anatomical variations of the intracranial venous dural sinuses must be put in consideration in diagnosing magnetic resonance venography (MRV) to avoid the diagnostic pitfalls resulting from over-diagnosis of cerebral venous dural sinus occlusion or thrombosis. The available data regarding the age and sex difference of the magnetic resonance venography (MRV) anatomical variations is still limited. A retrospective study is done for 500 patients ranging from 20 to 70 years. Only 363 patients (142 males and 221 females) were included in our final analysis: all have normal MRI brain & posterior fossa. Magnetic resonance venography (MRV) is done to detect the presence or absence of the transverse venous dural sinuses and to detect any age-or sex-related differences. Also 64 dry Egyptian skulls (41 males and 23 females) were employed to detect symmetry of transverse sulcus and to determine age and sex difference. Hypoplastic left transverse sinus was by far the commonest asymmetrical transverse sinus variants representing 22.0% of total: it was noted in 38 male and 38 female. Even if the asymmetrical transverse sinus is more common in females, there is no significant difference between both genders. In the dry skull, symmetrical transverse sulcus was observed in 67.2% of total, while asymmetrical transverse sulcus was recorded in 32.8% of total, which were more observed in female skull 17.2% of total with no significant difference

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Residual hepatitis C virus in peripheral blood mononuclear cell as a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma after achieving a sustained virological response: a dogma or fiction.

BACKGROUND: Clinical worsening after achieving a sustained virological response (SVR) needs to be clarified and explained. Persistence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen interacts with the host proteins to interfere with signaling pathways and increases the susceptibility to hepatic carcinogenesis. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the risk factors that increase the progression of liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma in a subgroup of HCV patients who achieved a SVR. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-nine HCV patients with hepatic decompensation were selected 8.2 ± 1.8 months after achieving SVR24. HCV core antigen and HCV RNA were detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Matched control (n = 100) and training (n = 200) groups were recruited. RESULTS: Eighty-five patients showed a progression of Child-Turcotte-Pugh and model for end-stage liver disease scores, with positive RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (357.4 ± 42.1 IU/million cell) and positive hepatitis C virus core antigen (n = 73); four patients were excluded. Susceptibility to decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma after direct-acting antiviral drugs increased with age [odds ratio (OD) = 1.87], and was associated with male sex (OD = 1.65), diabetes (OD = 3.68), thrombocytopenia (OD = 2.44), pretreatment Alfa-fetoprotein (OD = 3.41), and occult HCV (OD = 4.1). CONCLUSION: Clinical deterioration after SVR could be explained by occult HCV mainly in older male patients with diabetes and thrombocytopenia.

Optical properties and colorimetry of gelatine gels prepared in different saline solutions.

Gelatine has been widely used in many multidisciplinary research fields due to its biocompatibility. Using saline solutions in the gelation of gelatine allows for new properties to be incorporated into the prepared gels. This study examined the optical and colour properties of gelatine gels prepared in saline solutions, containing three different metal chlorides (NiCl2·6H2O, CoCl2·6H2O, and CrCl3·6H2O) with concentrations of up to 50%, to prepare three groups of gels. FTIR spectroscopy indicated a loss in the helical structure of the metal-containing gelatine gels, and a shift in the amide bands towards lower wavenumbers. From the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), the starting degradation temperatures (SDTs) of the prepared gelatine gels were found to be correlated to the concentration of the gelling solutions. All SDTs were above 250 °C, making these gels suitable for standing temperatures beyond the daily range. UV-vis spectroscopy showed that d-d transitions were responsible for the colour properties of the metal-containing gelatine gels. It is concluded that the studied properties and the measured parameters were found to depend on both salt type and concentration. With the current findings, the prepared gels can be used as optical thermometers, colour-selective corner cube retroreflectors, laser components, and coatings for OLEDs.