The sodium-phosphate co-transporter SLC34A2, and pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis: Presentation of an inbred family and a novel truncating mutation in exon 3.

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis is a disorder in which many tiny fragments (microliths) of calcium phosphate gradually accumulate in alveoli. Loss of function mutations in the gene SLC34A2 coding for the sodium phosphate co-transporter (NaPi-IIb) are responsible for genetic forms of alveolar microlithiasis. We now report a consanguineous Italian family from Calabria with two affected members segregating alveolar microlithiasis in a recessive fashion.

Differential activation of signaling pathways by low-osmolar and iso-osmolar radiocontrast agents in human renal tubular cells.

Radiocontrast media (RCM)-induced nephrotoxicity (CIN) is a major clinical problem accounting for 12% of all hospital-acquired cases of acute kidney injury (AKI). The pathophysiology of AKI due to RCM is not well understood, but direct toxic effects on renal cells have been postulated as contributing to CIN. It is believed that iso-osmolar RCM (IOCM) are less nephrotoxic than low-osmolar RCM (LOCM) but clinical data have been controversial.

Whole-body MRI and PET/CT in multiple myeloma patients during staging and after treatment: personal experience in a longitudinal study.

Purpose: Diagnostic imaging plays a pivotal role in staging and prognostic assessment of multiple myeloma (MM) as well as planning and monitoring treatment. The aim of our study was to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of wholebody magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in MM patients studied before and after treatment.

Materials And Methods: We considered 22 consecutive patients (10 males, 12 females; age range, 48-83 years) with newly diagnosed MM (NDMM group), and the same 22 patients underwent at least one re-assessment after treatment (previously treated MM, PTMM group).

Neurological applications for myocardial MIBG scintigraphy.

Signs or symptoms of impaired autonomic regulation of circulation are typically present in patients affected by Parkinson's disease (PD), in agreement with the cardiac sympathetic denervation discovered by Goldstein more than 15 yrs. ago. In particular, the majority of PD patients have a diffuse left ventricular myocardial sympathetic denervation, being a normal neurological condition present only in a small number of affected subjects.

Peptide imaging with somatostatin analogues: more than cancer probes.

Somastostatin (SS) scintigraphy (SRS) is an effective diagnostic tool for neuroendocrine tumours (NET). High diagnostic accuracy is based on the high affinity binding between SS and its receptors (sstr) expressed both in NET and in some non neoplastic cells. Different SS analogues have been proposed in clinical practice because of the short half-life of the native peptide.

Bone metastases radiopharmaceuticals: an overview.

The skeleton is one of the preferential sites for metastases of solid tumors, and metastatic disease is the most common malignancy of the bone. Diagnosis and evaluation of skeletal metastases require more frequently a combined approach of different diagnostic methods. Between the currently available imaging modalities, a major role is devoted to two radionuclide functional techniques namely scintigraphy and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging.

Nuclear medicine in multiple myeloma -- more than diagnosis.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a neoplastic monoclonal proliferation of plasma cells, mainly involving bone marrow. To properly stage and manage patients with MM the clinician needs, at first, a complete skeletal survey, being more rarely present also extra skeletal locations. Today none of the available diagnostic imaging methods is able alone to answer to all the questions regarding staging, treatment, and follow up.

Differential activation of signaling pathways involved in cell death, survival and inflammation by radiocontrast media in human renal proximal tubular cells.

Radiocontrast media (RCM) are widely used in clinical medicine but may lead to radiocontrast-induced nephropathy (RCIN). The pathogenesis of acute renal failure secondary to RCM is not fully understood, but direct toxic effects are believed to be a major cause of RCIN. We have investigated the effect of different types of RCM on signaling pathways known to play a role in cell death, survival, and inflammation.

Current status of PET/CT for tumour volume definition in radiotherapy treatment planning for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Target volume delineation of lung cancer is well known to be prone to large inter-observer variability. The advent of PET/CT devices, with co-registered functional and anatomical data, has opened new exciting possibilities for target volume definition in radiation oncology. PET/CT imaging is rapidly being embraced by the radiation oncology community as a tool to improve the accuracy of target volume delineation for treatment optimization in NSCLC.

CT guided percutaneous fine needle biopsy of small lung lesions in outpatients. Safety and efficacy of the procedure compared to inpatients.

Purpose: To compare the safety and efficacy of CT-guided fine needle biopsy (FNAB) of small (<15 mm) lung lesions in inpatients and outpatients.

Materials And Methods: 108 consecutive inpatients (69 M, 39 F, mean age 56) and 121 consecutive outpatients (90 M, 31 F, mean age 50) who underwent CT-guided FNAB of small lung lesions were included. Lesion size, depth, number of needle passes, presence of emphysema were recorded.

Multidetector row CT angiography of the abdominal aorta and lower extremities in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease: diagnostic accuracy and interobserver agreement.

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of four channel multidetector row CT angiography (MDCTA) of the abdominal aorta and lower extremities arteries compared with digital subtraction angiography (DSA).

Materials And Methods: In our prospective study 42 patients with peripheral vascular occlusive disease (27 M, 15 F, age range 40-79 years) underwent MDCTA and DSA within 5 days. Images were blindly interpreted by two radiologists.

Chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: effect of intraarterial lidocaine in peri- and post-procedural pain and hospitalization.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of intraarterial lidocaine on peri- and post-procedural pain and on length of hospital stay in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing chemoembolization.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-eight patients (19M, 9F, age range 49-76) who underwent hepatic chemoembolization at our Institution between March 2000 and February 2002 were included in the study. Group A consisted of 14 patients who received intraarterial lidocaine immediately before and during chemoembolization, while in the 14 patients of group B lidocaine was substituted with saline solution.

Upper thoracic sympathetic chain neurolysis under CT guidance. A two year follow-up in patients with palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy, safety and middle-term results of upper thoracic sympathetic chain neurolysis performed under CT guidance in patients with palmar/axillary hyperhidrosis.

Materials And Methods: From April 1999 to July 2000 we performed 30 upper thoracic sympathetic chain neurolysis in 15 patients presenting with palmar/axillary hyperhidrosis (6 M, 9 F, mean age 29.5 years).