Patients with a Bicuspid Aortic Valve (BAV) Diagnosed with ECG-Gated Cardiac Multislice Computed Tomography-Analysis of the Reasons for Referral, Classification of Morphological Phenotypes, Co-Occurring Cardiovascular Abnormalities, and Coronary Artery Stenosis.

: The aim of this study was to analyze a group of patients with a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) examined with ECG-gated cardiac CT (ECG-CT), focusing on the assessment of the clinical reasons for cardiac CT, cardiovascular abnormalities coexisting with their BAV, and coronary artery stenosis. : A detailed statistical analysis was conducted on 700 patients with a BAV from a group of 15,670 patients examined with ECG-CT. : The incidence of a BAV in ECG-CT was 4.

Serum Anti-Zta and Anti-LMP1 Antibodies in Oropharyngeal Cancer Related to Epstein-Barr Virus-Diagnostic Usefulness.

Background: The role of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the first known human oncogenic virus, in the development of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is already well documented. There are few studies in the available scientific literature on oropharyngeal cancer associated with EBV infection. Due to the lack of an effective vaccine against EBV, it is necessary to search for new markers for the early diagnosis and prognosis of this disease.

Determination of the clinical relevance of donor epitope-specific HLA-antibodies in kidney transplantation.

In kidney transplantation, survival rates are still partly impaired due to the deleterious effects of donor specific HLA antibodies (DSA). However, not all luminex-defined DSA appear to be clinically relevant. Further analysis of DSA recognizing polymorphic amino acid configurations, called eplets or functional epitopes, might improve the discrimination between clinically relevant vs.

Ellipro scores of donor epitope specific HLA antibodies are not associated with kidney graft survival.

In kidney transplantation, donor HLA antibodies are a risk factor for graft loss. Accessibility of donor eplets for HLA antibodies is predicted by the ElliPro score. The clinical usefulness of those scores in relation to transplant outcome is unknown.

Serum and Saliva Level of miR-31-5p and miR-let 7a in EBV Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has a well-documented association with head and neck neoplasms, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In the last few years, research aimed at elucidating the role of the miRs in the pathogenesis of head and neck cancer (HNC) has gained importance. The study of miRs expression has set new directions in the search for biomarkers with diagnostic and prognostic value, and even in the search for new therapeutic targets for various tumors, including HNC.

Bilateral double-layered patella in a patient with advanced knee osteoarthritis.

Double layered patella (DLP) is a rare anomaly of the patella that may go undiagnosed, especially in patients with progressive knee dysfunction and early degenerative changes. Clinical symptoms such as motion-dependent pain and anterior knee pain most typically occur in adolescents or young adults; however, gradually increasing pain and early generalised degenerative changes have also been seen in patients over 40 years old. Diagnosis of DLP could be difficult, especially in cases with coexisting arthrosis.

Synthesis of disparlure and monachalure enantiomers from 2,3-butanediacetals.

2,3-Butanediacetal derivatives were used for the stereoselective synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted -epoxides. The procedure was applied for the preparation of both enantiomers of disparlure and monachalure, the components of the sex pheromones of the gypsy moth () and the nun moth () using methyl (2,3,5,6)-3-ethylsulfanylcarbonyl-5,6-dimethoxy-5,6-dimethyl-1,4-dioxane-2-carboxylate as the starting material.

Coronary artery fistulas morphology in coronary computed tomography angiography.

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate coronary artery fistulas (CAFs) in coronary computed tomography angiography (coronary CTA) and verify whether there is correlation between the fistula's morphology and other cardiac functional findings and clinical data.

Materials And Methods: A group of 14,308 patients who were diagnosed in coronary CTA was retrospectively analysed. Achieved data were related to referrals.

Antibodies against ARHGDIB are associated with long-term kidney graft loss.

The clinical significance of non-HLA antibodies on renal allograft survival is a matter of debate, due to differences in reported results and lack of large-scale studies incorporating analysis of multiple non-HLA antibodies simultaneously. We developed a multiplex non-HLA antibody assay against 14 proteins highly expressed in the kidney. In this study, the presence of pretransplant non-HLA antibodies was correlated to renal allograft survival in a nationwide cohort of 4770 recipients transplanted between 1995 and 2006.

Allocation to highly sensitized patients based on acceptable mismatches results in low rejection rates comparable to nonsensitized patients.

Whereas regular allocation avoids unacceptable mismatches on the donor organ, allocation to highly sensitized patients within the Eurotransplant Acceptable Mismatch (AM) program is based on the patient's HLA phenotype plus acceptable antigens. These are HLA antigens to which the patient never made antibodies, as determined by extensive laboratory testing. AM patients have superior long-term graft survival compared with highly sensitized patients in regular allocation.

Development and Validation of a Multiplex Non-HLA Antibody Assay for the Screening of Kidney Transplant Recipients.

The best treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease is kidney transplantation. Although graft survival rates have improved in the last decades, patients still may lose their grafts partly due to the detrimental effects of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) against human leukocyte antigens (HLA) and to a lesser extent also by antibodies directed against non-HLA antigens expressed on the donor endothelium. Assays to detect anti-HLA antibodies are already in use for many years and have been proven useful for transplant risk stratification.

Total anomalous pulmonary vein drainage in a 60-year-old woman diagnosed in an ECG-gated multidetector computed tomography - a case report and review of literature.

Purpose: Total anomalous pulmonary vein drainage (TAPVD) is a congenital cardiac defect in which there is no connection between pulmonary veins and the left atrium. Pulmonary veins form a confluence independent of the left atrium and drain to a systemic vein. TAPVD types are: supracardiac, cardiac, infracardiac, and mixed.

Effect of initial immunosuppression on long-term kidney transplant outcome in immunological low-risk patients.

Background: Few studies have evaluated the effect of different immunosuppressive strategies on long-term kidney transplant outcomes. Moreover, as they were usually based on historical data, it was not possible to account for the presence of pretransplant donor-specific human-leukocyte antigen antibodies (DSA), a currently recognized risk marker for impaired graft survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate to what extent frequently used initial immunosuppressive therapies increase graft survival in immunological low-risk patients.

A paired kidney analysis on the impact of pre-transplant anti-HLA antibodies on graft survival.

Background: Pre-transplant donor-specific anti-human leucocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies (DSAs) are associated with impaired kidney graft survival while the clinical relevance of non-donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (nDSAs) is more controversial. The aim of the present paired kidney graft study was to compare the clinical relevance of DSAs and nDSAs.

Methods: To eliminate donor and era-dependent factors, a post hoc paired kidney graft analysis was performed as part of a Dutch multicentre study evaluating all transplantations between 1995 and 2005 with available pre-transplant serum samples.

Toward a Sensible Single-antigen Bead Cutoff Based on Kidney Graft Survival.

Background: There is no consensus in the literature on the interpretation of single-antigen bead positive for a specific HLA antibody.

Methods: To inform the debate, we studied the relationship between various single-antigen bead positivity algorithms and the impact of resulting donor-specific HLA antibody (DSA) positivity on long-term kidney graft survival in 3237 deceased-donor transplants.

Results: First, we showed that the interassay variability can be greatly reduced when working with signal-to-background ratios instead of absolute median fluorescence intensities (MFIs).

Pretransplant C3d-Fixing Donor-Specific Anti-HLA Antibodies Are Not Associated with Increased Risk for Kidney Graft Failure.

Complement-fixing antibodies against donor HLA are considered a contraindication for kidney transplant. A modification of the IgG single-antigen bead (SAB) assay allows detection of anti-HLA antibodies that bind C3d. Because early humoral graft rejection is considered to be complement mediated, this SAB-based technique may provide a valuable tool in the pretransplant risk stratification of kidney transplant recipients.

Differential effects of donor-specific HLA antibodies in living versus deceased donor transplant.

The presence of donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSAs) is associated with increased risk of graft failure after kidney transplant. We hypothesized that DSAs against HLA class I, class II, or both classes indicate a different risk for graft loss between deceased and living donor transplant. In this study, we investigated the impact of pretransplant DSAs, by using single antigen bead assays, on long-term graft survival in 3237 deceased and 1487 living donor kidney transplants with a negative complement-dependent crossmatch.

How can we reduce costs of solid-phase multiplex-bead assays used to determine anti-HLA antibodies?

Solid-phase multiplex-bead assays are widely used in transplantation to detect anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies. These assays enable high resolution detection of low levels of HLA antibodies. However, multiplex-bead assays are costly and yield variable measurements that limit the comparison of results between laboratories.

Role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of inflammatory and infectious vascular disease.

This review article discusses the utility of 18F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosis and management of vascular disease. We stress usefulness of this method in large vessel inflammation and infection. In our work we based on the literature analysis and clinical cases diagnosed in our institution by use of 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Supernumerary renal vessels: analysis of frequency and configuration in 996 computed tomography studies.

Background: Number, course and division pattern of renal vessels is highly variable. Variant renal vasculature is of high interest in nephrectomy for the renal transplantations, both in deceased and living donors. The purpose of the study was to analyse the frequency of supernumerary renal vessels in a large cohort of patients undergoing the multiphase abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT), as well as analyse the possible patterns of coexisting supernumerary arteries in veins.

Clinically relevant anatomical parameters of the replaced right hepatic artery (RRHA).

Purpose: Vascular anatomy of the liver is subjected to many variations. The most common hepatic artery (HA) replacement is the right hepatic artery (RRHA). Variations of the HA are particularly important consideration when choosing the best surgical procedure or if radiological abdominal intervention is required.

Persistent trigeminal artery as a rare cause of ischaemic lesion and migraine-like headache.

The persistent trigeminal artery (PTA) is a rare remnant of the embryonic intracranial circulatory system that forms a carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomosis. In most cases PTA does not have clear clinical implications. However, some authors report the association of PTA occurrence with vertigo, dizziness and nerve palsy, resulting in diplopia, strabismus or trigeminal neuralgia in patients.

Anatomical variations of the coeliac trunk in the homogeneous Polish population.

Background: The abdominal vessels show a number of abnormalities and pathologies knowledge of which is important during open as well as laparoscopic surgeries. One of the most common vessels which pattern has many variations is the coeliac trunk. The present study was undertaken on homogeneous population to assess morphology of the coeliac trunk and to evaluate the possible variability of its branches.

Fatty foci within the heart and the accompanying changes in the coronary arteries diagnosed in electrocardiogram-gated multislice computed tomography of the heart.

Background: The purpose of our study was to analyse the relationship between fatty foci within the heart and the accompanying changes in the coronary arteries supplying the relevant heart chambers in a large group of patients referred to multi-slice computed tomography with electrocardiogram-gating examinations (ECG-MSCT) for various clinical reasons.

Materials And Methods: The ECG-MSCT examinations of 1,830 consecutive patients were analysed. The examinations were performed using 8-row (1,015 patients) and 64-row (815 patients) MSCT, in pre- and postcontrast scanning.

Cardiac sympathetic hyperactivity in chronic kidney disease--a comparison between haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: The effect of renal replacement therapy on cardiac sympathetic function in patients with chronic kidney disease has not yet been completely elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of renal replacement therapy on the activity of cardiac sympathetic nervous system.

Material And Methods: Thirty-four patients with chronic kidney disease were studied: 14 patients (6 men, mean age 48 ± 11 years) were receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD) and 20 patients (20 men, mean age 52 ± 10 years) were receiving haemodialysis (HD).