The evaluation of renal hemodynamics changes in Familial Mediterranean fever with color Doppler sonography.

BACKGROUND: Renal resistive index (RRI) scanned through renal Doppler is a practical marker employed in measuring blood flow in renal and intrarenal arteries and in noninvasive evaluation of renal vascular resistance. We aimed to investigate the renal hemodynamic variations in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-nine FMF patients and 51 healthy subjects suitable for age and sex were included. Patients were divided into two groups according to their urinary albumin excretion. Fifty-two patients with 0-29 mg/day albuminuria were included in the normoalbuminuric group while 27 patients with 30-299 mg/day albuminuria were included in the microalbuminuric group. RESULTS: RRI values were higher in patients with FMF compared to the healthy subjects (p < 0.0001). Additionally, RRI values were found to be higher in the microalbuminuric patients group compared to the normoalbuminuric patients group, and RRI values were also higher in normoalbuminuric patients group compared to the control group (p = 0.002, p < 0.0001). The ROC curve analysis suggested that the optimum RRI cutoff value for microalbuminuria in patients was 0.63, sensitivity of 66%, specificity of 60%, and p = 0.013. CONCLUSION: RRI may be a marker that may be used in assessing resistance to renal blood flow, early renal damage, and progression of renal damage in FMF patients.

Correlation of right ventricular dysfunction on acute pulmonary embolism with pulmonary artery computed tomography obstruction index ratio (PACTOIR) and comparison with echocardiography.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the pulmonary artery computed tomography obstruction index ratio (PACTOIR) in patients who have been diagnosed with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) with multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and to research the predetermination efficiency of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) compared with echocardiography (ECHO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred patients (50 males, 50 females), who had ECHO findings and were diagnosed with APE, were subsequently examined in this study. Patients who had RVD on ECHO, tricuspid regurgitation, and pulmonary hypertension parameters that were completely positive were accepted to have RVD. RESULTS: RVD was identified in 52 patients (52 %) on echocardiography. The PACTOIR value for patients with RVD were evaluated to be significantly higher than those without RVD (41 ± 17 vs 20 ± 12 %, p < 0.001). In the ROC analysis, the PACTOIR cut-off value was 37.5 %, the sensitivity value was 67.3 %, and specificity value was 93.7 % (AUC 0.839, 95 % CI 0.752-0.905). We determined that the patients with RVD and PACTOIR values over 37.5 % can be recognized with a 92.1 % positive predictive value. CONCLUSION: Our conclusions indicated that the PACTOIR rate in RVD diagnosis in patients with APE can recognize the patients with and without RVD.

An MRI study of age-related changes in the dimensions related temporal lobe.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect age-related changes on the MRI-based parameters related to several measurement of temporal lobe in the lifespan of adult persons. MRI scans of head (n=236) were reviewed retrospectively to identify abnormalities of temporal lobe, third ventricle, and temporal horn of lateral ventricle. Patients were divided into 3 study groups according to their age. Using axial and coronal views of the cerebral hemispheres, interuncal distance, thickness of temporal lobe, Evans' ratio, and the width of third ventricle, height of hippocampus, width of choroid fissure, and width of the temporal horn were measured. The mean age of study group was 44.2±17.7 (18 to 86). The gender ratio (F/M) of study group was 129/107. There is mild-moderate significant correlation between age and Evans' ratio (r=0.35, p<0.05). There is mild significant correlation between age and interuncal distances (r=0.24, p<0.05). There was no correlation between age and third ventricle widths, temporal lobe widths, and temporal horn widths of left and right sides of brain (p>0.05). A mild and significant correlation was present between these variables (r=0.14 and r=0.17, respectively; p<0.05). There was a mild and significant correlation between these variables. (r=-0.14 and r=-0.19, respectively; p<0.05). Although several parameters including our measurements were developed for the assessment of size and structure of temporal lobe. It is not ease to determine MRI-based markers for the prediction, diagnosis, and follow-up of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease in the elderly.