Finding MRI features to obviate the need of repeat spinal biopsies in clinically suspected persistent or recurrent spinal osteomyelitis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features that could help differen-tiate the bone destruction due to persistent/recurrent spine infection from worsening bone destruction due to mechanical factors, which could help obviate the need for repeat spine biopsy.

Material And Methods: A retrospective study was performed on selected subjects who were more than 18 years of age, were diagnosed with infectious spondylodiscitis, underwent at least 2 spinal interventions for the diagnosis at the same level, and had MRI prior to each image-guided intervention. Both MRI studies were analysed for vertebral body changes, paravertebral collections, epidural thickening and collections, bone marrow signal changes, loss of vertebral body height, abnormal signal in intervertebral disc, and loss of disc height.

Myocardial fibrosis and calcification are attenuated by microRNA-129-5p targeting Asporin and Sox9 in cardiac fibroblasts.

Myocardial fibrosis and calcification associate with adverse outcomes in nonischemic heart failure. Cardiac fibroblasts (CF) transition into myofibroblasts (MF) and osteogenic fibroblasts (OF) to promote myocardial fibrosis and calcification. However, common upstream mechanisms regulating both CF-to-MF transition and CF-to-OF transition remain unknown.

Dual energy CT in musculoskeletal applications beyond crystal imaging: bone marrow maps and metal artifact reduction.

Dual energy CT (DECT) is becoming increasingly popular and valuable in the domain of musculoskeletal imaging. Gout maps and crystal detection have been predominant indications for about a decade. Other important indications of bone marrow maps and metal artifact reduction are also frequent with added advantages of detection and characterization of bone marrow lesions similar to MR imaging and diagnosis of hardware related complications, respectively.

Adult Wilms tumor: An unusual case report with dedicated literature review.

Wilms tumor is the most common primary renal malignancy in pediatric age group, however, is rare in adults accounting for 0.5% of all adult renal malignancies. The histopathology is similar in both age groups, however the prognosis in adults is poor with tumor being at advanced stage at presentation with increased incidence of metastasis.

Tunneled and routine peripherally inserted central catheters placement in adult and pediatric population: review, technical feasibility, and troubleshooting.

Vascular access procedures are crucial for the management of various critically ill pediatric and adult patients. Venous access is commonly performed in the form routine as well as tunneled peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC). These venous accesses are commonly used in emergency, surgical as well as ICU settings, for various infusions, total parenteral nutrition, long term intravenous antibiotics, frequent blood draws, etc.

Solid pseudopapillary Tumor of the Pancreas: Radiological and surgical review.

Solid Pseudopapillary Neoplasms of the pancreas are rare pancreatic tumors with low-grade malignant potential, typically affecting young females. In this review, we discuss the surgical anatomy; the imaging characteristics, and image reporting essentials for proper surgical planning along with the atypical features which should caution the physician regarding the risk of malignancy. We also discuss the common surgical procedures and organ preservation surgeries along with a comprehensive review of the literature.

Traumatic vertebral artery injury: a review of the screening criteria, imaging spectrum, mimics, and pitfalls.

Purpose: Traumatic vertebral artery injury (TVAI) can have a varied clinical presentation and appearance on imaging. In this review, we present the screening criteria, spectrum of imaging features, grading, and imaging pitfalls of TVAI. Our review focuses on the imaging of TVAI on computed tomography angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and cases of TVAI mimics.

Estrogen rescues heart failure through estrogen receptor Beta activation.

Background: Recently, we showed that exogenous treatment with estrogen (E2) rescues pre-existing advanced heart failure (HF) in mice. Since most of the biological actions of E2 are mediated through the classical estrogen receptors alpha (ERα) and/or beta (ERβ), and both these receptors are present in the heart, we examined the role of ERα and ERβ in the rescue action of E2 against HF.

Methods: Severe HF was induced in male mice by transverse aortic constriction-induced pressure overload.

Presymptomatic change in microRNAs modulates Tau pathology.

MicroRNAs (miRs) are 18~23 nucleotides long non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression. To explore whether miR alterations in tauopathy contribute to pathological conditions, we first determined which hippocampal miRs are altered at the presymptomatic and symptomatic stages of tauopathy using rTg4510 mice (Tau mice), a well-characterized tauopathy model. miR-RNA pairing analysis using QIAGEN Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) revealed 401 genes that can be regulated by 71 miRs altered in Tau hippocampi at the presymptomatic stage.

microRNAs in Neurodegeneration: Current Findings and Potential Impacts.

Significant advancements have been made in unraveling and understanding the non-coding elements of the human genome. New insights into the structure and function of noncoding RNAs have emerged. Their relevance in the context of both physiological cellular homeostasis and human diseases is getting appreciated.

A case of pulmonary arteriovenous malformation: role of interventional radiology in diagnosis and treatment.

Pulmonary arterio-venous malformations (PAVMs) are abnormal pulmonary arteries and pulmonary veins communicating directly without interposition of a capillary bed and about 80-90% of patients with PAVMs eventually may present with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), remaining ones are sporadic cases. On the other hand, about 15-35% of HHT patients may present with PAVMs. The PAVMs have a tendency to grow and increase in size over time and various factors like puberty, pregnancy and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) affect growth.

Immunomodulation: A definitive role of microRNA-142.

Majority of microRNAs are evolutionarily conserved in vertebrates. This is suggestive of their similar roles in regulation of gene networks. In addition to their conserved mature sequences and regulatory roles, a few microRNAs show very cell or tissue specific expression.

Caudal Regression Syndrome: A Case Series of a Rare Congenital Anomaly.

Background: Caudal regression syndrome is a rare, neural tube defect characterized by an abnormal development of the caudal aspect of the vertebral column and the spinal cord., It results in neurological deficits ranging from bladder and bowel involvement to severe sensory and motor deficits in the lower limbs. Maternal diabetes, genetic factors and some teratogens have been shown to be associated with its pathogenesis.

Pott puffy tumor.

Pott puffy tumor is osteomyelitis of the frontal bone with associated subperiosteal abscess causing swelling and edema over the forehead and scalp. It is a complication of frontal sinusitis or trauma. We present the case of an 8-year-old girl with frontal swelling.

Role of oxidized lipids in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a multifactorial disease characterized by interplay of many cellular, molecular, and genetic events that lead to excessive proliferation of pulmonary cells, including smooth muscle and endothelial cells; inflammation; and extracellular matrix remodeling. Abnormal vascular changes and structural remodeling associated with PAH culminate in vasoconstriction and obstruction of pulmonary arteries, contributing to increased pulmonary vascular resistance, pulmonary hypertension, and right ventricular failure. The complex molecular mechanisms involved in the pathobiology of PAH are the limiting factors in the development of potential therapeutic interventions for PAH.

Rescue of Pressure Overload-Induced Heart Failure by Estrogen Therapy.

Background: Estrogen pretreatment has been shown to attenuate the development of heart hypertrophy, but it is not known whether estrogen could also rescue heart failure (HF). Furthermore, the heart has all the machinery to locally biosynthesize estrogen via aromatase, but the role of local cardiac estrogen synthesis in HF has not yet been studied. Here we hypothesized that cardiac estrogen is reduced in HF and examined whether exogenous estrogen therapy can rescue HF.

Role of miR206 in genistein-induced rescue of pulmonary hypertension in monocrotaline model.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive lung disease associated with proliferation of smooth muscle cells and constriction of lung microvasculature, leading to increased pulmonary arterial pressure, right ventricular failure, and death. We have previously shown that genistein rescues preexisting established PH by significantly improving lung and heart function. (Matori H, Umar S, Nadadur RD, Sharma S, Partow-Navid R, Afkhami M, Amjedi M, Eghbali M.

Involvement of Opioid Receptors in the Lipid Rescue of Bupivacaine-Induced Cardiotoxicity.

Background: Lipid emulsion (LE) has been successfully used for resuscitation of local anesthetic cardiotoxicity caused by bupivacaine overdose. Opioid receptors have been shown to play a key role in cardio protection. We explored whether this rescue action of LE is mediated through opioid receptors.

Apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptide 4F rescues pulmonary hypertension by inducing microRNA-193-3p.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a chronic lung disease associated with severe pulmonary vascular changes. A pathogenic role of oxidized lipids such as hydroxyeicosatetraenoic and hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids is well established in vascular disease. Apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptides, including 4F, have been reported to reduce levels of these oxidized lipids and improve vascular disease.

Influence of sex differences on microRNA gene regulation in disease.

Sexual dimorphism is observed in most human diseases. The difference in the physiology and genetics between sexes can contribute tremendously to the disease prevalence, severity, and outcome. Both hormonal and genetic differences between males and females can lead to differences in gene expression patterns that can influence disease risk and course.

MicroRNA-20a constrains p300-driven myocardial angiogenic transcription by direct targeting of p300.

Objective: To characterize downstream effectors of p300 acetyltransferase in the myocardium.

Background: Acetyltransferase p300 is a central driver of the hypertrophic response to increased workload, but its biological targets and downstream effectors are incompletely known.

Methods And Results: Mice expressing a myocyte-restricted transgene encoding acetyltransferase p300, previously shown to develop spontaneous hypertrophy, were observed to undergo robust compensatory blood vessel growth together with increased angiogenic gene expression.

New frontiers in heart hypertrophy during pregnancy.

During Pregnancy, heart develops physiological left ventricular hypertrophy as a result of the natural volume overload. Previously we have characterized the molecular and functional signature of heart hypertrophy during pregnancy. Cardiac hypertrophy during pregnancy is a complex process that involves many changes including in the signalling pathways, composition of extracellular matrix as well as the levels of sex hormones.

Intralipid, a clinically safe compound, protects the heart against ischemia-reperfusion injury more efficiently than cyclosporine-A.

Background: We have recently shown that postischemic administration of intralipid protects the heart against ischemia-reperfusion injury. Here we compared the cardioprotective effects of intralipid with cyclosporine-A, a potent inhibitor of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening.

Methods: In vivo rat hearts or isolated Langendorff-perfused mouse hearts were subjected to ischemia followed by reperfusion with intralipid (0.

Morphological changes of olfactory bulbs and grooves: initial report of supernumerary olfactory bulbs.

Background: Observations and measurements of olfactory structures in humans have been difficult and not of common neuroradiological interest. Because of our interest in olfaction, we have studied the presence, size, and function of these structures in normal subjects and in patients with smell loss.

Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging studies of brain were performed in 220 consecutive patients in our medical center for a variety of clinical neurological investigations.

Genistein, a soy phytoestrogen, reverses severe pulmonary hypertension and prevents right heart failure in rats.

Pretreatment with a phytoestrogen genistein has been shown to attenuate the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Because PH is not always diagnosed early, we examined whether genistein could also reverse preexisting established PH and prevent associated right heart failure (RHF). PH was induced in male rats by 60 mg/kg of monocrotaline.