The Role of Cervical Muscles Morphology in the Surgical Treatment of Degenerative Disc Disease: Clinical Correlations Based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies.

Cervical spine musculature still remains a less studied component of the cervical spine anatomical compartments, although it plays a significant role in the mobility of the head and the preservation of cervical spine alignment. The goal of this study was to extract any significant information from the literature regarding the role of cervical spine muscles morphology in the outcome of surgically treated patients for degenerative disc disease (DDD) based on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies. Eleven clinical case series were found, from which four were prospective and seven were retrospective.

Acute reperfusion therapies for acute ischemic stroke patients with unknown time of symptom onset or in extended time windows: an individualized approach.

Recent randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) have revolutionized acute ischemic stroke care by extending the use of intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular reperfusion therapies in time windows that have been originally considered futile or even unsafe. Both systemic and endovascular reperfusion therapies have been shown to improve outcome in patients with wake-up strokes or symptom onset beyond 4.5 h for intravenous thrombolysis and beyond 6 h for endovascular treatment; however, they require advanced neuroimaging to select stroke patients safely.

Clinical and Neuroimaging Characteristics in Embolic Stroke of Undetermined versus Cardioembolic Origin: A Population-Based Study.

Background And Purpose: Evidence suggests that cardioembolism represents the underlying mechanism in the minority of embolic strokes of undetermined source (ESUS). In this population-based study, we sought to compare the clinical and imaging characteristics as well as outcomes in patients with ESUS and cardioembolic stroke (CE).

Methods: We included consecutive patients with first-ever ischemic stroke (IS) from the previously published population-based Evros-Stroke-Registry identified as ESUS or CE according to standardized criteria.

Incidence, characteristics and outcomes in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source: A population-based study.

Embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) represents a subgroup of cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CS) distinguished by high probability of an underlying embolic mechanism. There are scarce population-based data regarding the incidence, characteristics and outcomes of ESUS. Consecutive patients included with first-ever ischemic stroke of undetermined cause in the previously published population-based Evros Stroke Registry were further subdivided into ESUS and non-ESUS CS.

Stroke recurrence and mortality in northeastern Greece: the Evros Stroke Registry.

Up to date there is no population-based study from Greece providing long-term data on incidence of both all-cause mortality and stroke recurrence for patients with first ever stroke (FES). Adult patients with FES were registered during a 24-month period (2010-2012) and followed-up for 12 months. We calculated cumulative incidences of stroke mortality and recurrence.

Endovascular Repair of an Inadvertent Right Vertebral Artery Rupture during Dialysis Catheter Insertion.

Central venous (CV) catheterization is not only an invaluable diagnostic modality but also an essential therapeutic tool for the treating physician, enabling rapid and reliable intravenous administration of drugs and fluids, providing venous access to patients undergoing long-term continuous or repeated intravenous treatment such as chemotherapy, or it can be used for hemodialysis in patients suffering from acute or chronic renal disease. On the other hand, CV catheterization can lead to a wide range of life-threatening complications for the patient especially if left untreated or become late-diagnosed. In particular, arterial injuries are among the most feared complications that require early clinical suspicion for prompt diagnosis and management.

Subcutaneous and total fat at L4-L5 and subcutaneous, visceral and total fat at L3-L4 are important contributors of fasting and postprandial adiponectin levels.

Objectives: Insulin resistance and central obesity have been implicated in the pathogenesis of hypoadiponectinemia in obesity. The aim of this study is to evaluate circulating post-prandial adiponectin in relation to glucose and insulin metabolism, indexes of insulin resistance and sensitivity and, indexes of body fat accumulation and distribution in obese men.

Methods: Twenty-eight non-diabetic men underwent an OGTT followed by an oral fat load and were studied at baseline and for 5 h post-prandially for serum adiponectin, glucose and insulin.

Hybrid reconstruction of the upper limb in a patient with chronic limb ischemia.

Aim: Hybrid vascular interventions performed in patients with chronic limb ischemia are considered minimally invasive techniques for treating complex multilevel arterial occlusive disease.

Methods: We report the case of a 42-year-old woman with a critical upper limb ischemia, who underwent angioplasty and secondary stenting of the distal-third of the axillary artery followed by a brachial-brachial bypass using an autologous graft.

Results: The patient had an uneventful recovery.

Endovascular treatment of aneurysms associated with fenestrated A1 segment of anterior cerebral artery: report of two cases.

Fenestration in A1 segment of anterior cerebral artery is a rare entity. Treatment of aneurysms derived from a fenestrated artery may be more challenging because the fenestrations provide specific difficulties. A thorough radiologic work-up driven by high clinical suspicion is needed.

Treatment response classification of liver metastatic disease evaluated on imaging. Are RECIST unidimensional measurements accurate?

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of unidimensional measurements (response evaluation criteria in solid tumors, RECIST) compared with volumetric measurements in patients with liver metastases undergoing chemotherapy. Forty-four patients with newly diagnosed liver lesions underwent three MRI examinations at treatment initiation, during chemotherapy, and immediately post-treatment. Measurements based on RECIST guidelines and volume calculations were performed on the "target" lesions (TLs).

Knee osteonecrosis due to lead poisoning: case report and review of the literature.

Background: Though rare, a relationship between toxic heavy-metal accumulation and bone necrosis exists.

Case Report: A 28-year-old man suffered from chronic bilateral knee pain accompanied by muscle fibrillations and night cramps. On examiniation he presented tenderness and mild quadriceps muscle atrophy, but unaffected range of movement, sensation, and tendon reflexes and no effuision.

Stereology versus planimetry to estimate the volume of malignant liver lesions on MR imaging.

Liver tumor volume measurements are clinically useful in patients undergoing cancer treatment. The techniques of planimetry and stereology were applied for this purpose on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Fifty-eight malignant liver lesions were depicted on MR images in 20 consecutive patients.