MRI of adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder: distension of the bursa in the superior subscapularis recess is a suggestive sign of the pathology.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic values of the superior subscapularis recess sign in patients with shoulder adhesive capsulitis. The sign consists in evaluating in MRI of the shoulder the presence of fluid distension of the bursa in the superior subscapularis recess.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated MRI of 165 shoulders in 48 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of shoulder adhesive capsulitis in the freezing phase (group I), in 49 short-wide superior cuff tear (group II) and in 65 controls (group III) between 2010 and 2013.

Low-risk chest pain patients younger than 40 years do not benefit from admission and stress testing.

Background: A number of studies have suggested clinical decision rules for patients age <40 who are at low risk for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and may be safe for discharge from the emergency department. Despite this, many such patients continue to be admitted for observation in low-risk observation units. We hypothesized that patients age <40 without coronary artery disease, with a nonischemic electrocardiogram (ECG), and normal initial troponin I (TnI) who are admitted to a CPU are at very low risk (<1%) for ACS or 30-day major adverse cardiac event (MACE) and would not benefit from observation care.

Mass spectrometry and potentiometry studies of Pb(II)-, Cd(II)- and Zn(II)-cystine complexes.

Cd(II)-, Pb(II)- and Zn(II)-cystine complexes were investigated by potentiometric and different mass spectrometric (MS) methodologies. Laser desorption mass spectrometry has provided both the composition and structure of metal-cystine complexes according to the speciation models proposed on the basis of the potentiometric data. Detection of neutral complexes was achieved by protonation or electrochemical reduction during mass spectrometric experiments.

Injury patterns in recreational alpine skiing and snowboarding at a mountainside clinic.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the demographic and injury characteristics of skiing and snowboarding at a mountainside clinic.

Methods: Prospectively collected data of all acutely injured patients at the Big Sky Medical Clinic at the base of Big Sky Ski Area in the Northern Rocky Mountains were reviewed. A total of 1593 patients filled out the study questionnaire during the 1995-2000 and 2009-2010 ski seasons.

Multisite phosphorylation of c-Jun at threonine 91/93/95 triggers the onset of c-Jun pro-apoptotic activity in cerebellar granule neurons.

Cerebellar granule cell (CGC) apoptosis by trophic/potassium (TK) deprivation is a model of election to study the interplay of pro-apoptotic and pro-survival signaling pathways in neuronal cell death. In this model, the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) induces pro-apoptotic genes through the c-Jun/activator protein 1 (AP-1) transcription factor. On the other side, a survival pathway initiated by lithium leads to repression of pro-apoptotic c-Jun/AP-1 target genes without interfering with JNK activity.

MR imaging-guided focused ultrasound for treatment of bone metastasis.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-guided focused ultrasound is an alternative noninvasive method for reducing the pain in skeletal metastases. MR imaging-guided focused ultrasound ablation offers several key advantages over other noninvasive treatment modalities. This technology enables the performance of three-dimensional treatment planning with MR imaging and continuous temperature mapping of treated tissue by using MR thermometry, thereby enabling real-time monitoring of thermal damage in the target zone.

Prognostic implications of node metastatic features in OSCC: a retrospective study on 121 neck dissections.

Lymph node metastases are responsible for shorter survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The aim of the present study was to assess the node metastasis frequency and survival according to the node metastasis features in 121 neck dissections (NDs) performed for OSCC, identifying evidence-based correlations and contrasts with previous literature. The retrospective study involved 121 patients affected by OSCC who had undergone modified radical ND (MRND) for therapeutic, elective reasons or after intraoperative positivity to metastasis of sentinel lymph nodes (SLN+).

Binding ability of glutathione towards alkyltin(IV) compounds in aqueous solution.

The interactions between glutathione (H3GSH) and (CH3)2Sn(2+), (CH3)3Sn(+), (C2H5)3Sn(+) and (C3H7)3Sn(+) cations were studied by potentiometry, UV spectrophotometry, (1)H NMR spectroscopy and electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI MS). Potentiometric measurements evidenced speciation models very similar for all the alkyltin(IV) cation-GSH(3-) systems, with the formation of M(GSH)(z-3), M(GSH)H(z-2) and M(GSH)H2(z-1) species [M(z+)=(CH3)2Sn(2+), (CH3)3Sn(+), (C2H5)3Sn(+), or (C3H7)3Sn(+)] and, for dimethyltin(IV) cation, also the mixed hydrolytic M(GSH)(OH)(2-) one. The equilibrium behavior in NaCl aqueous solution, at different ionic strengths and temperatures, is discussed.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positive classical Hodgkin lymphoma of Iraqi children: an immunophenotypic and molecular characterization of Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg cells.

Background: Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) in children is often associated with EBV infection, more commonly in developing countries.

Procedure: Here we describe the histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular features of 57 cases of HL affecting Iraqi children under 14 years of age.

Results: Histologically, 51 cases were classified as cHL of Mixed Cellularity and Nodular Sclerosis subtypes (MC = 69%; NS = 31%), and 6 cases as Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant HL (NLP-HL).

Impact of mTOR-I on fertility and pregnancy: state of the art and review of the literature.

Successful transplantation should lead to improvements in sexual function and sex hormone disturbances in both men and women, but immunosuppressive drugs may interfere with hormone metabolism. In this regard, several studies have showed a potential negative effect of mTOR inhibitors (mTORi) on male gonadal function, while their role in the female patients is not well documented in the literature. Successful pregnancy is possible after solid organ transplantation.

Diagnosis of Arterial Media Calcification in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Purpose: Arterial media calcification (AMC) is often the only vascular calcification (VC) present in young patients with chronic renal failure and its presence is associated with higher mortality rates. Currently, X-ray imaging (as a standard approach) is able to show AMC in areas without diffuse overlapping arterial intimal calcification (AIC), but X-ray imaging only allows us to identify this lesion when the vessel is widely calcified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using ultrasonography as opposed to X-rays to visualize AMC in patients with chronic renal failure.

Chronic fatigue self-management in primary care: a randomized trial.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of brief fatigue self-management (FSM) for medically unexplained chronic fatigue (UCF) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in primary care.

Methods: A randomized controlled design was used wherein 111 patients with UCF or CFS were randomly assigned to two sessions of FSM, two sessions of symptom monitoring support (attention control; AC), or a usual care control condition (UC). Participants were assessed at baseline and at 3 and 12 months after treatment.

Augmenter of liver regeneration, a protective factor against ROS-induced oxidative damage in muscle tissue of mitochondrial myopathy affected patients.

Mitochondria-related myopathies (MM) are a group of different diseases defined by a varying degree of dysfunctions of the mitochondrial respiratory chain which leads to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation followed by oxidative stress and cellular damage. In mitochondrial myopathy muscle tissue an overexpression of antioxidant enzymes has been documented probably as an attempt to counteract the free radical generation. We previously documented, in human non-pathological muscle fibres, the expression of the augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR), a sulfhydryl oxidase enzyme, whose presence is related to the mitochondria; indeed it has been demonstrated that ALR mainly localizes in the mitochondrial inter-membrane space.

Imaging of the carotid artery vulnerable plaque.

Atherosclerosis involving the carotid arteries has a high prevalence in the population worldwide. This condition is significant because accidents of the carotid artery plaque are associated with the development of cerebrovascular events. For this reason, carotid atherosclerotic disease needs to be diagnosed and those determinants that are associated to an increased risk of stroke need to be identified.

Comprehensive assay of flavanones in citrus juices and beverages by UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS and derivatization chemistry.

Flavanones, a class of flavonoids present in large amounts in fruits and vegetables, have been assayed by LC-MS/MS and derivatization chemistry using d0/d3-labelled derivatized internal standards obtained by simple reaction procedures which involves d0/d3 methoxyamine. The assay method considers 13 flavanones including aglycones, neohesperidosides, rutinosides and 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl derivatives. The strengths of the method consist in a relative short analysis time (16 min) and good repeatability and reproducibility values which are in most cases under 10% (RSD%).

Comparison of Insulin Lispro Protamine Suspension with NPH Insulin in Pregnant Women with Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes.

Insulin therapy is still the gold standard in diabetic pregnancy. Insulin lispro protamine suspension is an available basal insulin analogue. Aim.

Sex disparities in the quality of diabetes care: biological and cultural factors may play a different role for different outcomes: a cross-sectional observational study from the AMD Annals initiative.

Objective: To investigate the quality of type 2 diabetes care according to sex.

Research Design And Methods: Clinical data collected during the year 2009 were extracted from electronic medical records; quality-of-care indicators were evaluated. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was applied to estimate the likelihood of women versus men to be monitored for selected parameters, to reach clinical outcomes, and to be treated with specific classes of drugs.

Very long-lasting remission of refractory T-large granular lymphocytes leukemia and myeloma by lenalidomide treatment.

Background: Large granular lymphocyte leukemias (LGLLs) represent a spectrum of biologically distinct lymphoproliferative diseases originating from either mature T cells (CD3+) or natural killer (NK) cells (CD3-). Both T-cell and NK-cell LGL leukemia can manifest as indolent or aggressive neoplasia. These rare lymphoproliferative disorders are often associated with autoimmune diseases and impaired hematopoiesis.

Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid: high expression of COX-2 and low expression of KAI-1/CD82 are associated with increased tumor invasiveness.

Background: We have previously demonstrated that expression of COX-2 is upregulated by hepatocyte growth factor in thyroid papillary carcinoma (TPC) cells and is associated with increased invasiveness of tumor cells. COX-2 upregulation was associated with downregulation of KAI-1/CD82, a metastasis suppressor molecule that has been associated with the metastatic potential of several solid tumors. In the present study, we have investigated the possibility that downregulation of KAI-1/CD82 may contribute to the invasiveness of papillary carcinoma cells.

Regulation of the expression of CLU isoforms in endometrial proliferative diseases.

Clusterin (CLU) is a nearly ubiquitous multifunctional protein synthesized in different functionally divergent isoforms, sCLU and nCLU, playing a crucial role by keeping a balance between cell proliferation and death. Studying in vivo CLU expression we found a higher mRNA expression both in neoplastic and hyperplastic tissues in comparison to normal endometria; in particular, by RT-qPCR we demonstrated an increase of the specific sCLU isoform in the neoplastic and hyperplastic endometrial diseases. On the contrary, no CLU increase was detected at the protein level.

Primary pain palliation and local tumor control in bone metastases treated with magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficacy in pain management of magnetic resonance (MR)-guided focused ultrasound for the primary treatment of painful bone metastases and to assess its potential for local control of bone metastases.

Materials And Methods: This was a prospective, single-arm research study with approval from the institutional review board. Eighteen consecutive patients (female, 8; male, 10; mean [SD] age, 62.

Experiences of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes during delivery from four Italian centers: a retrospective observational study.

Objectives: An optimized metabolic control during delivery is mandatory to prevent maternal-neonatal complications. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) during delivery in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. The secondary aim was to assess the impact of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM) added to CSII versus CSII alone.

MR-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound: current status of an emerging technology.

The concept of ideal tumor surgery is to remove the neoplastic tissue without damaging adjacent normal structures. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) was developed in the 1940s as a viable thermal tissue ablation approach. In clinical practice, HIFU has been applied to treat a variety of solid benign and malignant lesions, including pancreas, liver, prostate, and breast carcinomas, soft tissue sarcomas, and uterine fibroids.