MRI for the diagnosis of ultrasonographically indeterminate pelvic masses.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging in ultrasonographically indeterminate masses of female pelvis against histopathological findings. METHODS: The comparative cross sectional, analytical study was conducted at Liaquat National Medical College and Hospital, Karachi, from January to December 2006. Female patients with pelvic masses in whom the definite diagnosis of the mass could not be determined by ultrasonogaraphy were further evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis. All patients subsequently underwent a surgical procedure for a definite histopathological diagnosis. The imaging results were then compared with the pathological results to determine the sensitivity and specificity of magnetic resonance imaging for the determination of the nature of mass and anatomical site of the origin of mass. RESULTS: The age of the 63 patients in the study ranged between 14 and 84 years. The sensitivity and specificity of the imaging procedure for the assessment of benign lesion was 95.8% and 93.3% respectively, and for malignant lesion, 93.3% and 95.8% respectively. In diagnosing uterine mass, the values were 100% and 97.5% respectively, for ovarian mass, 97.3% and 96% respectively, and extra uterine/extra ovarian mass, 66.6% and 100% respectively. CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance imaging was highly accurate in characterising the pelvic masses as benign and malignant and in determining their site of origin.

A comparative study of various grains from the different cities of Pakistan.

The fate of trace elements (like Ca, Fe, Al, Pb, K, and Cu) in various pulses (mash, mung, lentils and red kidney beans) of Pakistan has been studied. Samples were collected from two districts (Mansehra and Rawalpindi) and analyzed by wet acid digestion method using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Experimental results show that the intensity of heavy metal accumulation in plants depends upon the type of the soil, the species of plants, the physicochemical properties of heavy metals, and their content in the soil. The obtained values were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards for food quality. The grains from District Mansehra contained greater amount of trace metals as compared to those collected from District Rawalpindi. However, those values did not exceed the upper limits described by the WHO in nearly all the cases. Based on these findings, the consumption of pulses in larger amounts may easily be recommended.

Emulsification of oil in water as affected by different parameters.

The aim of this investigation was to develop a basic understanding of the emulsification process by considering simple systems such as n-hexane, n-heptane, n-decane, and kerosene oil in water. The technique employed for the purpose was ultrasonification. The effect of ultrasonification time, chain length, viscosity, surface tension, oil content, and ionic strength of the media on the quality of emulsion has been studied. The emulsions were viewed through microscope to measure the number, size, and size distribution of droplets. Quantification of turbidity and viscosity was also used to characterize the emulsions. It has been found that the number and size of the droplets vary with the time of ultrasonification, contents of oils, molecular mass of the oils, and ionic strength of the media, and hence the quality of the emulsion is influenced by these parameters. The droplet size decreases, whereas the number of drops increases with the time of emulsification, approaching an optimum distribution at about 15 min of ultrasonification. Further, the increase in the molecular mass of the oil increases the size of the droplets and hence decreases the stability of the emulsion. The addition of electrolytes encourages coalescence and enhances the instability in the system. The results are in accord with the equations proposed by us.