Motor associations of iron accumulation in deep grey matter nuclei in Parkinson's disease: a cross-sectional study of iron-related magnetic resonance imaging susceptibility.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To determine whether iron deposition in deep brain nuclei assessed using high-pass filtered phase imaging plays a role in motor disease severity in Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: Seventy patients with mild to moderate PD and 20 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers (HVs) underwent susceptibility-weighted imaging on a 3 T magnetic resonance imaging scanner. Phase shifts (radians) in deep brain nuclei were derived from high-pass filtered phase images and compared between groups. Analysis of clinical laterality and correlations with motor severity (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, Part III, UPDRS-III) were performed. Phase shifts (in radians) were compared between HVs and three PD subgroups divided according to UPDRS-III scores using analysis of covariance, adjusting for age and regional area. RESULTS: Parkinson's disease patients had significantly (P < 0.001) higher radians than HVs bilaterally in the putamen, globus pallidus and substantia nigra (SN). The SN contralateral to the most affected side showed higher radians (P < 0.001) compared to the less affected side. SN radians positively correlated with UPDRS-III and bradykinesia-rigidity subscores, but not with tremor subscores. ancova followed by post hoc Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons revealed that SN radians were significantly greater in the PD subgroup with higher UPDRS-III scores compared to both lowest UPDRS-III PD and HV groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Increased nigral iron accumulation in PD appears to be stratified according to disease motor severity and correlates with symptoms related to dopaminergic neurodegeneration. This semi-quantitative in vivo iron assessment could prove useful for objectively monitoring PD progression, especially in clinical trials concerning iron chelation therapies.

Mixed tumor of the vagina: sonographic and magnetic resonance imaging findings.

Mixed tumor of the vagina is a rare benign neoplasm that is composed of epithelial and mesenchymal cells. The majority of tumors are asymptomatic and simple tumor excision is curative. We report a case with pathological confirmation that was seen in a 42-year-old woman. On ultrasound examination the lesion appeared as an ovoid hypoechoic mass, 2.0 x 2.7 cm in size, arising from the lower third of the vagina. The lesion was well defined, solid and showed diffuse hypervascularity on color flow images. Magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis showed a well-circumscribed ovoid mass (2.0 x 2.5 cm) on the left lateral vaginal wall. On T2-weighted images the mass appeared as a homogeneous hyperintense lesion, while on T1-weighted images it was difficult to discern the mass from the vaginal wall. After intravenous administration of gadolinium the mass showed progressively increasing homogeneous enhancement. The lesion was excised without complication and there was no evidence of recurrence at the 10-month follow-up.

Percutaneous CT-guided fine-needle aspiration of pulmonary lesions: Results and complications in 409 patients.

The purpose of this study was to report our centre's experience in the results and complications of percutaneous CT-guided lung biopsy. A retrospective review of 409 patients who underwent percutaneous CT-guided fine-needle aspiration of suspicious lung lesions for more than 5 years was carried out. Nodule sizes ranged from 0.6 to 10 cm. The calibre of the needle used was 21-23 G. Specimen adequacy and patient outcome were evaluated. Each case was reviewed for complications. Sufficient diagnostic material was obtained in 369 (90%) of the 409 fine-needle aspirations. Diagnosis was malignancy in 290 (70%) samples, four (1%) samples were suspicious for malignancy, 65 (16%) samples were negative for malignancy and definite benign findings were identified in 10 (3%) specimens. There were 25 false-negative cases and one false-positive case. Sensitivity was 92% and specificity 98%. Pneumothorax was the most common complication and occurred in 17 (4%) patients. Only one of them required thoracic drainage. Blood effusion around the lesion or along the needle track was detected on the post-biopsy CT in 8 (2%) patients. However, only one of them suffered from a mild haemoptysis. Percutaneous CT-guided biopsy is an effective and fast procedure for diagnosis of suspected pulmonary malignancy, with a low complication rate.

What does impact factor depend upon?

Nobody doubts the importance of the scientific performance's evaluation. The journal impact factor is increasingly employed to evaluate the quality of scientific research. The use of term "impact factor" has gradually evolved, especially in Europe, to include both journal and author impact. This ambiguity often causes problems. It is one thing to use impact factors to compare journals and quite another to use them to compare authors. Journals impact factors generally involve relatively large numbers of articles and citations. Individual authors, on average, produce much smaller numbers of articles. Many scientists consider that impact factor is not the perfect tool to measure the quality of articles but there is nothing better and it has the advantage of already being in existence and is, therefore, a good technique for scientific evaluation. However, the use of journal impact factor is probably the most controversial issue.

Recent aspects regarding carcinogenesis in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Lung carcinogenesis is a field which is yet to be exploited and its molecular mechanisms to be more clearly defined. The goal of this article is to present the major alterations that occur in lung cancer, especially those that happen in the early stages of carcinogenesis. Finally, in this review we present the latest methods that are used to study the cellular/molecular pathophysiology of lung cancer and their clinical appliance.

Biexponential T2 relaxation time analysis of the brain: correlation with magnetization transfer ratio.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To measure T2 relaxation times of normal white and gray matter using a novel CPMG sequence and investigate if any correlation exists between magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and T2 relaxation-related parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen normal volunteers participated on this study. A single-slice 32-echo sequence was used to calculate the T2 relaxation time of frontal and occipital white matter and cortical gray matter. T2 relaxation analysis included monoexponential and biexponential fitting whereas an F test was used to determine if biexponential fitting was statistically more accurate than monoexponential fitting. Short and long T2 constants were calculated as well as the signal fractions of each pool. MTR calculations were based on a three-dimensional gradient echo (3D FFE) proton density weighted sequence with and without an on-resonance composite prepulse. MTR and T2 relaxation times were calculated and linear regression analysis was applied. RESULTS: Biexponential fitting was more accurate comparing with monoexponential fitting in all WM and GM regions (F > 2.47, P < 0.01). Mean values of short T2 constant for frontal white matter (fWM), occipital white matter (oWM) and gray matter (GM) were 8.10, 9.36, and 22.23 milliseconds, respectively, whereas the mean values of long T2 constant were 85.1, 93.02, and 118.72 milliseconds, respectively. Mean restricted water percentages (RWP)-corresponding to the signal fraction of the protons with short T2-for the fWM, oWM, and GM were 22.01%, 23.36%, and 18.7%. Mean free water percentages (FWP)-corresponding to the signal fraction of the protons with long T2-for the fWM, oWM and GM were 77.99%, 76.64%, and 81.3%. Mean MTR values for fWM, oWM and GM were 68.4%, 68.2%, and 61.3%, respectively. No significant correlation was found in fWM and oWM between MTR and RWP, short and long T2 components while a moderate correlation existed in GM between MTR and RWP (r = 0.57; P = 0.02), MTR and short T2 component (r = -0.69; P = 0.004) and MTR and long T2 component (r = -0.62; P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Two proton pools with different T2 decay characteristics can be separated in normal gray and white matter when using a multiecho sequence with short echo spacing. MTR and T2 relaxation times were significantly correlated in gray matter and the combination of both types of measurements may be helpful in studying myelin related disorders.

Perforation of the alimentary tract: evaluation with computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: To assess the value of computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of perforation of the alimentary tract (AT). METHODS: During a 4-year period 76 patients with proven AT perforation underwent CT within 1 week before surgery or endoscopy. We retrospectively reviewed these CT scans to determine the signs of AT perforation. There were 41 men and 35 women (28-90 years old). Our goal was to establish the diagnosis of AT perforation and, if this was possible, to identify the site and cause of the AT wall rupture. The CT diagnosis of perforation was based on (a) direct findings of extraluminar air or gastrografin and (b) indirect findings of an abscess or an inflammatory mass surrounding an enterolith in the region of appendix or a bowel wall-related phlegmon or abscess with fluid in the mesentery or surrounding radiopaque foreign body. RESULTS: There were 65 true-positive and 11 false-negative cases. Levels of perforation were the esophagus (two), stomach (five), duodenum (12), small bowel (15), appendix (six), and colon (36). Causes were peptic ulcer (11), foreign body (five), trauma (seven), iatrogenic (nine), appendicitis (six), diverticulitis (21), Crohn disease (five), AT carcinoma (eight), and ischemia (four). Level and cause were correctly predicted in 55 and 51 instances, respectively. The sensitivity was estimated to 85.5%. CONCLUSION: CT is a valuable method in the diagnosis of AT perforation. The diagnosis can be established rapidly, without patient preparation and with a high sensitivity.

Peritoneal metastases from transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary tract: CT and MR imaging.

We present three patients with peritoneal metastases from transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary tract. CT scan in one patient showed massive ascites with subtle peritoneal thickening and infiltration of omental fat. We had the opportunity to study the other patients with both CT and MR. Both examinations showed numerous large and small peritoneal implants in the abdomen and pelvis, mostly in the greater omentum.

Infarction of the corpus callosum: computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) features of corpus callosum (CC) infarctions. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively 352 consecutive cranial CT and MR scans showing cerebral infarcts. Involvement of the CC was identified in 28 patients. RESULTS: Infarctions of the CC were diffuse (n = 3) or focal (n = 25). The former were seen in the setting of diffuse cerebral ischemia secondary to cardiopulmonary arrest or status epilepticus. The latter were divided into those affecting predominantly the genu, body or splenium. The most common location of the insult was the splenium (n = 13), followed by the body (n = 6) and genu (n = 3). In the remaining three patients combined genu/body infarctions were seen. CONCLUSION: Infarction of the CC may be more common than previously thought and is most often the result of cerebral embolism. MR is better suited than CT for the detection of vascular lesions of the CC.

MR cholangiopancreatography at 0.5 T with a 3D inversion recovery turbo-spin-echo sequence.

The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) at 0.5 T. The MRCP technique was performed in 28 patients with symptomatology referrable to the biliary system. A three-dimensional (3D) inversion recovery turbo-spin-echo (TSE) sequence was used to create 3D reconstructions of the bile ducts. Dilation of the biliary tree or pancreatic duct in 23 patients due to tumor, calculi, or strictures was depicted with excellent contrast resolution. The approximate level of obstruction and all calculi were accurately predicted by MRCP. In another 3 patients no cause was found for the biliary dilatation. In the last 2 cases no abnormalities were found by either MRCP or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The MRCP technique at 0.5 T is an accurate method for the assessment of pathology of the biliary tree.

Case report: sclerotic skeletal haemangiomatosis presenting with spinal cord compression--CT and MRI findings.

We report the case of a 59-year-old man with skeletal haemangiomatosis who presented with progressive bilateral lower extremity weakness. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) located the causative lesion in the neural arch of the T4 vertebra. CT demonstrated osseous expansion with a mixed lytic and sclerotic pattern. MRI of the lesion showed hypointensity on T1 weighted images, mixed signal intensity on T2 weighted images and moderate contrast enhancement. Similar but less extensive lesions were present in other vertebrae as well as ribs.

Acute subarachnoid haemorrhage: detection with magnetic resonance imaging.

The purpose of this study was the evaluation of fluid attenuated turbo inversion recovery (FLAT TIRE) MR pulse sequence for detecting acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Seven patients with SAH were studied within 6 days of ictus. Six of them underwent both CT and MRI and one MRI only. Pulse sequences included T1 spin echo (SE), PD and T2 turbo spin echo (TSE) and FLAT TIRE (TR/TI/TE = 6500/1800/140-180). All studies were performed on a 0.5 T system (Gyroscan T5, Philips Medical Systems). Simulated acute SAH was also studied with MRI. The FLAT TIRE sequence was better than the SE and TSE in all seven cases and better than CT in two cases. In two cases MRI was equivalent to CT, and in another two MRI underestimated the extent of SAH. The simulated acute SAH could be detected easily with the FLAT TIRE sequence, with difficulty on the T1 weighted images and not at all on the PD/T2 weighted images. The specific FLAT TIRE sequence used seems promising for the detection of acute SAH.

Evaluation of hydatid disease of the heart with magnetic resonance imaging.

Two patients with cardiac involvement of hydatid disease are presented: one with hydatid cyst of the interventricular septum and pulmonary arteries and the other with multiple pulmonary cysts associated with intracardiac and pericardial cysts. The ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to provide a global view of cardiac anatomy in any plane with high contrast between flowing blood and soft tissue ensures it an important role in the diagnosis and preoperative assessment of hydatid disease of the heart.

Bone marrow lesions: evaluation with fat-suppression turbo spin echo MR imaging at 0.5 T.

The purpose of this study was the assessment of the diagnostic value of fat-suppression T2-weighted images for a variety of bone marrow lesions. We performed 40 studies of the axial or appendicular skeleton in 33 patients (age range 4-80 years) with neoplastic, inflammatory or traumatic lesions with a 0.5 T system (Gyroscan T5, Philips Medical Systems, Best, The Netherlands). Fat-suppression T2-weighted images [turbo spin echo (TSE) with spectral presaturation with inversion recovery (SPIR)] were obtained in addition to the routine T1-weighted SE and T2-weighted TSE sequences. Fat-suppression TSE T2-weighted images were better than standard TSE T2-weighted images in 25 studies. In 11 of them demonstration and characterization of the lesions (known from T1-weighted images) was possible only after fat suppression. In the other 14 patients demonstration of the full extent of the lesion especially to the nearby soft tissues was possible only after fat suppression. In 13 studies no advantage was conferred by SPIR, whereas in two instances T2-weighted images were better. Fat-suppression T2-weighted images are diagnostically useful in a variety of lesions of the musculoskeletal system, but their limitations should be known.