mFFE CT-like MRI Sequences for the Assessment of Vertebral Fractures.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance, image quality, and inter- and intra-observer agreement of the 3D T1 multi-echo fast field echo (mFFE) sequence in cervico-thoraco-lumbar vertebral fractures compared with conventional computed tomography (CT) as the gold standard.

Methods: We conducted a prospective single-centre study including 29 patients who underwent spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the surgeon's request, in addition to CT for vertebral fracture assessment and classification. A 3D T1 mFFE sequence was added to the standard MRI protocol.

Effect of Online Training on the Reliability of Assessing Sacroiliac Joint Radiographs in Axial Spondyloarthritis: A Randomized, Controlled Study.

Objective: Radiographic assessment of sacroiliac joints (SIJs) according to the modified New York (mNY) criteria is key in the classification of axial spondyloarthritis but has moderate interreader agreement. We aimed to investigate the improvements of the reliability in scoring SIJ radiographs after applying an online real-time iterative calibration (RETIC) module, in addition to a slideshow and video alone.

Methods: Nineteen readers, randomized to 2 groups (A or B), completed 3 calibration steps: (1) review of manuscripts, (2) review of slideshow and video with group A completing RETIC, and (3) re-review of slideshow and video with group B completing RETIC.

Validation of SPARCC MRI-RETIC e-tools for increasing scoring proficiency of MRI sacroiliac joint lesions in axial spondyloarthritis.

Background: The Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) developers have created web-based calibration modules for the SPARCC MRI sacroiliac joint (SIJ) scoring methods. We aimed to test the impact of applying these e-modules on the feasibility and reliability of these methods.

Methods: The SPARCC-SIJ e-modules contain cases with baseline and follow-up scans and an online scoring interface.

The Role of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography CT Extremity Arthrography in the Preoperative Assessment of Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent disease and the leading cause of pain, disability, and quality of life deterioration. Our study sought to evaluate the image quality and dose of cone-beam computed tomography arthrography (CBCT-A) and compare them to digital radiography (DR) for OA diagnoses. Overall, 32 cases of CBCT-A and DR with OA met the inclusion criteria and were prospectively analyzed.

Unusual phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor mimicking osteoid osteoma.

Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor is a rare tumor characterized by paraneoplastic osteomalacia. The diagnosis is often delayed because of nonspecific symptoms and difficulty to localize the tumor. In this study we report a case of PMT of the left femur detected by Ga-68-DOTATATE PET-CT with radiological features mimicking osteoid osteoma.

What morphological MRI features enable differentiation of low-grade from high-grade soft tissue sarcoma?

Objective: To assess the diagnostic performance of morphological MRI features separately and in combination for distinguishing low- from high-grade soft tissue sarcoma (STS).

Methods And Materials: We retrospectively analysed pre-treatment MRI examinations with T1, T2 with and without fat suppression (FS) and contrast-enhanced T1 obtained in 64 patients with STS categorized histologically as low ( = 21) versus high grade ( = 43). Two musculoskeletal radiologists blinded to histology evaluated MRI features.

Diagnostic criteria for the determination of clinically significant internal carotid artery stenosis using duplex ultrasound.

Background: Carotid endarterectomy is beneficial in symptomatic patients with ≥70% stenosis at the bifurcation of the internal carotid artery. The fact that the duplex ultrasound is widely used, inexpensive and non-invasive for examination of the carotid arteries underlines the importance of high accuracy of this method for grading internal artery stenosis.

Patients And Methods: Duplex scans and arteriograms of carotid arteries of 142 patients were reviewed.

Significance of Borrelia infection in development of dilated cardiomypathy (a pilot study).

A heart involvement known as Lyme carditis (LC), a consequence of Lyme borreliosis (LB), is relatively rare in contrast to the involvement of skin, joints and nervous system; it accounts for < 4% of all these patients in European countries. However, the diagnosis of the disease belongs to the most difficult challenges. While various forms of AV blocks dominate in the USA as confirmed by the literature, there is a clear predominance of arrhythmias of various incidence in the Czech Republic.

[The information value of detection of borrelia antibodies in the healthy blood donors and in the population at risk].

Background: Geographic differences of particular species of ticks and variant strains of Borrelias impede the comparison of local and foreign experience. The authors tried to support some literary observations with their own results and designed a study aimed at determination of anti-Borrelia antibodies (AB) in the selected population samples. The goal of the study was to find and statistically evaluate: a) difference in distribution of values of AB in the sample of probands from the risk and non-risk environment (foresters in Sumava and Prague blood donors, respectively) by means of ELISA method, b) tick bite frequency in the risk and non-risk groups, c) to determine and statistically evaluate the prevalence of probands with increased levels of antiborrelial antibodies in the local study population by ELISA method and the prevalence of probands with non-normal values found by Western blot (WB) method.

[Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy--our experience and review of current knowledge].

Background: Tako-tsubo cardiomypathy is a relatively novel heart syndrome characterized by acute onset of reversible left ventricular apical ballooning, in the absence of significant epicardial artery stenosis that mimics acute coronary syndromes. The most common clinical presentations are chest pain and dyspnoea, frequently preceded by an episode of emotional or physiologic stress, ST-segment elevation or T wave changes in the precordial leads, minor cardiac biomarker release, and transient wall-motion abnormalities involving the left ventricular apex and mid-ventricle despite the absence of obstructive epicardial coronary artery disease. The syndrome more often affects postmenopausal women.

Lyme borreliosis infection as a cause of dilated cardiomyopathy.

The relatively low percent of patients affected with the cardiac form of Lyme borreliosis is difficult to diagnose, especially if the disease manifests itself in ways other than atrio-ventricular blockade. The advanced stage of Lyme carditis manifesting as dilated cardiomyopathy is a special case of this affliction. The authors of this report present clinical experience with an attempt to support the working hypothesis about involvement of Lyme borreliosis infection in the development of dilated cardiomyopathy.

[Cardiac abnormalities of lyme borreliosis].

The article summarizes basic characteristics of Lyme borreliosis, its incidence, epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinical image. Particular attention is given to the review of papers aimed at the cardiac abnormalities--the Lyme carditis. Though they are not very frequent, due to the variability of their clinical course and due to various forms, which are difficult to diagnose, they can represent a specific problem.

[Value of duplex ultrasound examination of the proximal part of the common carotid artery].

A significant part of patients with carotid artery stenosis is operated on without preoperative angiography, to reduce the risks and cost of such examination. Duplex ultrasound often cannot reliable visualise the proximal parts of the aortic arch vessels. We evaluated the ability of duplex ultrasound to identify those types of lesions and ascertain their prevalence.

[Mobile thrombus at the origin of the internal carotid artery].

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in many countries worldwide. The vast majority of acute strokes is ischaemic, caused often by embolisation from the large arteries of the head and neck, less frequently by cardiogenic embolisation. A case report of a patient with mobile thrombus at the origin of the internal carotid artery diagnosed by duplex sonography is presented.

[Multiple extrarenal complications in Wegener granulomatosis].

This is a case report of a patient with Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), who initially presented with a corneal perforation. In addition to the eye involvement, the pauciimmune necrotizing glomerulonephritis with crescent formation, E.N.

Borrelia infection as a cause of carditis (a long-term study).

Background: Although the frequency of Lyme carditis is not high, it is one of the most challenging conditions in terms of diagnosis. No long-term studies that would help expand our body of knowledge concerning the circumstances of its development and the natural course of this form of Lyme borreliosis (LB), the most widespread anthropozoonosis in Central Europe, have been reported to date.

Aim: The authors sought to describe and assess the consequences of a less common form of Lyme carditis (LC).

Borrelia burgdorferi as a cause of Morgagni-Adams-Stokes syndrome. Long time follow-up study.

According the literature atrio-ventricular blockade (AVB) is the most frequent and well-known symptom of Lyme carditis. Typical signs of complete AVB include fatigue, lethargy and syncope- Morgagni-Adams-Stokes syndrome (MAS). The authors present their results and experience with 5 patients selected from a long-term study (conducted between 1987 and 1998) comprising 58 patients who developed MAS.

[Structure and dynamics of electrocardiographic changes in patients with Lyme carditis (pilot study)].

A maximum of 10% of the patients suffering from Lyme borreliosis suffer from cardiac damage. This affection is usually the source of diagnostic doubts, mainly because of the significant variability of clinical manifestations, the objectivization of which is difficult. Great variability is pathognomic also for electrocardiograms.

[Borrelia burgdorferi as a cause of sick sinus syndrome?].

The authors describe the case of a 42 years old man, who was implanted a permanent pacemaker on the basis of the sick sinus syndrome, suspected to have been induced by the infection with Borrelia burgdorferi. The review of world literature has indicated that it is an exceptional indication of permanent cardiac stimulation.

[Thromboembolic complications in nephrotic syndrome].

Thromboembolic complications of nephrotic syndrome are very frequent. They can occur in the arterial or venous circulation. Venous thromboses are frequently asymptomatic and are manifested only by pulmonary embolism.

[Transmission of the electrocardiogram via telephone. Analysis of 10 years' experience].

Background: The problem of impaired cardiac rhythm is in recent years in the foreground of the interest of cardiologists. This was influenced not only by the conclusions of the CAST study which changed the therapeutic pattern used for some years but above all the diagnostic pitfalls of impaired rhythm as regards detection and identification. The objective of the present study was to provide evidence of the advantages and usefulness of the method of telephone transmission of the electrocardiogram within the complex of other diagnostic procedures.

[Lyme carditis].

The authors present in the submitted paper the basic characteristics of Lyme carditis as one of the forms of Lyme borreliosis. They mention briefly the clinical symptoms, diagnostic possibilities and causal and symptomatic therapeutic procedures. In the second part they present conclusions which they obtained by comparison of data in the literature and their own experience with dispensary care of 50 patients during several years.