Real-world outcomes of Cook Zilver PTX in femoro-popliteal district from multicenter experience.

Background: The purpose is to evaluate the follow-up outcomes after femoro-popliteal stenting with Cook Zilver PTX in a multicenter experience.

Methods: Collected data from four Units were retrospectively joined and analyzed considering Zilver PTX deployed from August 2009 according to the instruction for use. Patient demographics, preoperative comorbidities, Rutherford classification, arterial characteristics and stent data were considered.

CT-guided percutaneous drainage of abdominopelvic collections: a pictorial essay.

CT-guided percutaneous drainage is a safe and effective procedure that allows minimally invasive treatment of abdominopelvic abscesses and fluid collections. This technique has become an alternative for surgery with lower morbility and mortality rates. In this pictorial essay, we aim at providing an overview of the technical approaches, the main clinical indications and complications of CT-guided percutaneous drainage, in order to provide a practical guide for interventional radiologists, with a review of the recent literature.

Renal artery embolization of non-functioning graft: an effective treatment for graft intolerance syndrome.

Background: Percutaneous renal artery embolization is a valid non-invasive technique alternative to nephrectomy for patients with symptomatic non-functioning allograft (graft intolerance syndrome-GIS). The purpose of this article is to report the experience of our centre.

Methods: We analysed retrospectively 15 patients with symptomatic non-functioning renal allograft treated with percutaneous embolization from 2003 to 2017.

Endovascular treatment of iliac artery rupture after septic embolization.

A 56-year man with multiple comorbidities and recent septic embolization presented claudication intermittens (Rutherford3) at right lower limb and complaint in right lower quadrant at abdominal palpation. Duplex and computed tomography angiogram (CTA) showed a 64mm-pseudo-aneurysm (PA) originating from right common iliac artery, occlusion of external iliac and patency of hypogastric artery. An urgent endovascular approach was preferred.

Different Expression of Aldehyde Dehydrogenases 1A1 and 2 in Oral Leukoplakia With Epithelial Dysplasia and in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) may develop malignant characteristics and transform into oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in a range of 1% to 2% of cases. Chronic alcohol consumption is associated with carcinogenesis, but its mechanism has not yet been fully elucidated. ALDH1A1 and 2, isoenzymes responsible for aldehyde oxidation involved in ethanol metabolism may be associated with the development of malignant head and neck neoplasms.

Texture analysis in a rare case of tibial intraosseous lipoma.

Intraosseous lipoma is a very rare lesion, accounting for only 0.1% of all primary osseous tumors (1), first described in 1980 (2). This lesion is considered the rarest of benign bone tumors (3); probably it is not the actual incidence because these lesions are frequently asymptomatic and the introduction of cross-sectional imaging, especially MRI, seems to have increased the detection (4).

Defecography: a still needful exam for evaluation of pelvic floor diseases.

The aim of this discussion is to describe what is a defecography, how we have to perform it, what can we see and to present the main physio-pathological illnesses of pelvic floor and anorectal region that can be studied with this method and its advantages over other screening techniques. Defecography is a contrastographic radiological examination that highlights structural and functional pelvic floor diseases. Upon preliminary ileum-colic opacification giving to patient radiopaque contrast, are first acquired static images (at rest, in maximum voluntary contraction of the pelvic muscles, while straining) and secondarily dynamic sequences (during evacuation), allowing a complete evaluation of the functionality of the anorectal region and the pelvic floor.

MRI findings of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs).

Cystic lesions of the pancreas are relatively frequent imaging findings due to the improvement of imaging technologies. They may be secondary to both benign and malignant disease processes and their prevalence increases with age. In most cases, these lesions are detected incidentally by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed for other reasons.

Are interstitial lung abnormalities associated with COPD? A nested case-control study.

Purpose: In this study, we tested the association between COPD and interstitial lung abnormality (ILA), notably in relation to the presence of computed tomography (CT) signs of lung fibrosis.

Patients And Methods: COPD cases were selected from participants undergoing lung cancer screening (Multicentric Italian Lung Detection trial) for airflow obstruction (n=311/2,303, 13.5%) and 146 consecutive patients with clinical COPD.

Investigation into the elastic properties of ex vivo porcine corneas subjected to inflation test after cross-linking treatment.

Background: The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of cross-linking (CXL) on ex vivo porcine corneal elastic properties, using an inflation procedure.

Methods: Twelve corneas were subjected to standard CXL (370 nm, 3 mW/cm2, 30 minutes), while 12 were used as controls. Corneal thickness was measured by Visante optical coherence tomography, before and immediately after treatment, and before inflation test.

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: A Comprehensive Review.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), also known as extrinsic allergic alveolitis, is a complex pulmonary syndrome mediated by the immune system and caused by inhalation of a wide variety of antigens to which the individual has been previously sensitized. The pathobiology of the disease is not fully understood, but in addition to the triggers that initiate the disease, host/genetic factors are likely to be important, as only a minority of exposed individuals develop HP. Due to the lack of a diagnostic gold standard, the diagnosis of HP is not straightforward and relies on the integration of a number of factors, including history of exposure, precipitating antibodies to the offending antigen, clinical features, bronchoalveolar lavage, and radiological and pathologic features.

Early effects of corneal collagen cross-linking by iontophoresis in ex vivo human corneas.

Purpose: The purpose was to investigate the early modifications induced by collagen cross-linking by iontophoresis of riboflavin (ionto-CXL) in ex vivo human corneas by evaluating different protocols of UVA irradiation.

Methods: In this experimental study 46 ex vivo human corneas obtained from the Eye Bank of Mestre (Italy) were divided in different groups: six were utilized as control (CTL); eight were treated with ionto-CXL at 3 mW/cm(2) power for 30 min (I-3); eight were treated with ionto-CXL at 10 mW/cm(2) for 9 min (I-10); eight were treated with iontophoretic delivery of riboflavin only (I-0); eight were treated with the standard CXL at 3 mW/cm(2) for 30 min (S-3); and eight were treated with CXL at 10 mW/cm(2) for 9 min (S-10). All samples were evaluated by haematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemical analysis using different markers (Connexin 43, CD34, Collagen I, TUNEL assay).

CT-guided biopsy of pulmonary nodules: is pulmonary hemorrhage a complication or an advantage?

Purpose: We aimed to assess the correlation between pulmonary hemorrhage and pneumothorax in computed tomography (CT)-guided transthoracic fine needle aspiration (TTFNA), particularly its possible value as protection against the development of pneumotorax.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed the CT images of 538 patients (364 males and 174 females, mean age 70 years, range 36-90 years) who underwent CT-guided TTFNA of pulmonary nodules between January 2008 and September 2013. The following CT findings were assessed: pulmonary hemorrhage (type 1, along the needle track; type 2, perilesional; low-grade, ≤6 mm; high-grade, >6 mm), pneumothorax, distance between the target nodule and the pleural surface, and emphysema.

The value of chest radiograph and computed tomography in pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Imaging makes a significant contribution to the diagnosis, prognosis and follow-up in sarcoidosis. Despite its increasing use, the role of computed tomography (CT) scanning in patients with known or suspected pulmonary sarcoidosis is still undefined. This review aims to compare the utility and limitations of chest radiograph and CT in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis, with regards to the most critical clinical issues such as the diagnostic sensitivity, the differential diagnosis, and the prediction of the disease reversibility.

Computed tomography-histologic correlations in lung cancer.

The multidisciplinary approach is ideal in the management of patients with lung cancer. Multidisciplinary evaluation strengthens the differential diagnosis of aspecific radiological findings, indeed. Notably, the differential diagnosis of early stage lung cancer is a current challenge of CT imaging because the earlier the detection, the lower the accuracy of radiological features.

Transepithelial riboflavin/ultraviolet. a corneal cross-linking in keratoconus: morphologic studies on human corneas.

Purpose: To evaluate histologic and molecular changes in human keratoconic corneas after the procedure of transepithelial collagen cross-linking (CXL), without the removal of corneal epithelium.

Design: Experimental laboratory investigation.

Methods: Thirty corneal buttons were examined, 18 of which were from patients affected by severe keratoconus and submitted to penetrating keratoplasty (PK).

Keratoconus corneal architecture after riboflavin/ultraviolet A cross-linking: ultrastructural studies.

Purpose: Study to investigate the effects of collagen cross-linking on the ultrastructural organization of the corneal stroma in the human keratoconus cornea (KC).

Methods: Three normal, three keratoconus (KC1, KC2, KC3), and three cross-linked keratoconus (CXL1, CXL2, CXL3) corneas were analyzed. The KC corneas were treated with a riboflavin-ultraviolet A (UVA) treatment (CXL) method described by Wollensak et al.

Predictive factors of diagnostic accuracy of CT-guided transthoracic fine-needle aspiration for solid noncalcified, subsolid and mixed pulmonary nodules.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyse factors predicting the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography (CT)-guided transthoracic fine-needle aspiration (TTFNA) for solid noncalcified, subsolid and mixed pulmonary nodules, with particular attention to those responsible for false negative results with a view to suggesting a method for their correction.

Materials And Methods: From January 2007 to March 2010, we retrospectively reviewed the CT images of 198 patients of both sexes (124 males and 74 females; mean age, 70 years; range age, 44-90) used for the guidance of TTFNA of pulmonary nodules. Aspects considered were: lesion size and density, distance from the pleura, and lesion site.

Azithromycin: assessment of intrinsic cytotoxic effects on corneal epithelial cell cultures.

Purpose: To compare the cytotoxic effects of preservative-free azithromycin on corneal epithelial cells in vivo with those of preservative-free netilmicin and levofloxacin, and the preservative benzalkonium chloride (BAK).

Methods: Rabbit corneal epithelial cells in vitro were incubated for 15 minutes or 6 hours with commercially available ophthalmic preservative-free netilmicin 0.3%, levofloxacin 0.

In vivo confocal microscopy in chloroquine-induced keratopathy.

In vivo confocal microscopy is becoming a mandatory examination to study corneal abnormalities such as drug deposits in systemic disease. A female diagnosed with fibromyalgia on systemic chloroquine for 9 months presented for an ophthalmic examination. Confocal microscopy was performed using the Confoscan 4 (Nidek Co.

Crystalline corneal deposits in monoclonal gammopathy: in-vivo confocal microscopy.

Purpose: To describe the in-vivo confocal microscopy corneal findings in a patient with bilateral corneal deposits caused by an underlying monoclonal gammopathy.

Methods: A 68-year-old man came to our center for an ophthalmologic examination. Besides visual acuity, the examination included slit-lamp biomicroscopy, intraocular pressure, and fundoscopy.

Corneal thickness measurements using time-domain anterior segment OCT, ultrasound, and Scheimpflug tomographer pachymetry before and after corneal cross-linking for keratoconus.

Purpose: To compare minimum corneal pachymetry assessment using three measurement methods in eyes before and after corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) for keratoconus.

Methods: Fifty patients (54 eyes) who underwent CXL for keratoconus were evaluated with the Visante (Carl Zeiss Meditec), Pentacam (Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH), and ultrasound pachymetry (USP) (Optikon Pacline) to assess corneal thickness at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment.

Results: Using USP, mean thickness was 456 μm at baseline, decreased by approximately 8 μm at 1 month, and then recovered to initial values.