The Role of Intersectional Stigma in Coronary Artery Disease Among Cisgender Women Aging with HIV.

Cisgender women living with HIV experience elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk that increases with age, a concern given extended life expectancies for people living with HIV. The CVD risk disparity among cisgender women aging with HIV is understudied and remains unclear. Taking a psychoneuroimmunology approach, given this group's intersecting marginalized identities, one potential driver of the disparity is intersectional stigma.

Utility of exercise testing to assess athletes for post COVID-19 myocarditis.

Purpose: This study assessed a functional protocol to identify myocarditis or myocardial involvement in competitive athletes following SARS-CoV2 infection.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated competitive athletes (n = 174) for myocarditis or myocardial involvement using the Multidisciplinary Inquiry of Athletes in Miami (MIAMI) protocol, a median of 18.5 (IQR 16-25) days following diagnosis of COVID-19 infection.

Salivary Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin Sampling Feasibility in Acute Renal Colic.

Purpose: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels in the serum and urine are predictive biomarkers of acute kidney injury with correlation to complication and survival in major surgery. Salivary levels of NGAL during acute renal colic may reflect the degree of renal injury as it appears in different compartments encompassing body response in time perspective. Our aim is to evaluate and examine the feasibility and correlation of salivary NGAL with serum and urine levels in acute renal colic event.

Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Simulating Thoracic Aortic Dissection.

We present a 70-year-old woman who had an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) in its deflated state in the aorta during a computed tomography angiogram scan. The scan was performed to assess for aortic dissection. The deflated IABP created a curvilinear filling defect in the aortic lumen that suggested an intimal flap.

CT pulmonary angiogram quality comparison between early and later pregnancy.

Purpose: Pregnancy increases the risk for thromboembolic disease. CT pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) is widely used for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolus (PE); however, a significant number of scans are suboptimal or non-diagnostic in pregnant patients. This phenomenon is attributed to physiology during the gravid state.

Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiogram Dynamic Parameter Correlation With Pulmonary Pressure and Pulmonary Hypertension Etiologies.

Objective: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is caused by etiologies that differ in pathophysiology. Patients with undiagnosed PH may have a computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) scan during workup. Static measurements on computed tomography correlate with PH; however, dynamic parameters have received less attention.

Occult Lung Cancer Occluding a Pulmonary Vein with Suspected Venous Infarction, Mimicking Pneumonia and a Pulmonary Embolus.

Background: Patients with lung cancer present to the emergency department (ED) in a variety of ways. Symptoms are often nonspecific and can lead to a delay in diagnosis. Here, a lung cancer mimicked two illnesses, adding to the diagnostic complexity.

Superior Vena Cava Obstruction in Hemodialysis Patients: Symptoms, Clinical Presentation and Outcomes Compared to Other Etiologies.

The incidence of superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction associated with non-malignant diseases is on the rise, and a large percentage of these patients are on hemodialysis (HD). The objective was to characterize the presentation, symptoms and outcomes of HD patients with SVC obstruction identified on computerized tomography (CT) compared to patients with other etiologies such as neoplasm. A search was performed through the PACS system using key words to identify patients with SVC obstruction.

Provision of information leaflet before urodynamic study reduces the pre-examination anxiety level.

Aims: To find out if information leaflets reduce anxiety levels before urodynamic studies (UDS).

Methods: One hundred and four patients (age 60 ± 15 years) who were referred for multichannel UDS were prospectively recruited and randomized into 2 groups: (1) received a leaflet containing detailed information regarding the examination; (2) did not receive a leaflet. Patients who were unable to complete the questionnaire due to mental disorders and patients who had previously undergone UDS were excluded.

Cardiac Physiology for Radiologists: Review of Relevant Physiology for Interpretation of Cardiac MR Imaging and CT.

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provide clinicians with important insights into cardiac physiology and pathology. However, not all radiologists understand the language and concepts of cardiac physiology that are used daily by cardiologists. This review article covers basic cardiac physiology as it relates to cardiac CT and MR imaging.

Pain during Female Urethral Catheterization: Intraurethral Lubricant Injection versus Catheter Tip Lubrication--A Prospective Randomized Trial.

Purpose: Urethral lubrication during catheterization can be performed by instilling the gel directly in the urethra or by pouring the gel on the catheter tip. In this study we compared the pain level associated with each technique during female urethral catheterization in the setup of a multichannel urodynamic study.

Materials And Methods: A total of 94 women with a mean ± SD age of 55 ± 14 years who were referred for a multichannel urodynamic study were prospectively randomized into 2 groups according to lubrication technique, including 1) instillation of 5 ml 2% lidocaine gel in the urethra 5 minutes before catheterization or 2) lubrication of the distal part of the catheter with 5 ml 2% lidocaine gel.

Downhill esophageal varices: a prevalent complication of superior vena cava obstruction from benign and malignant causes.

Objective: Downhill esophageal varices (DEV) usually develop secondary to superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction. Downhill esophageal varices have been less well characterized compared to uphill varices. The aim of the study was to characterize the anatomy and etiology of DEV by contrast-enhanced computed tomography.

Pulmonary hypertension detection using dynamic and static measurable parameters on CT angiography.

Objective: The aim was to assess dynamic and static parameters on routine computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) that may detect pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Methods: Fifty patients underwent CTPA and echocardiograms. Twenty-six patients had PH, and 24 patients did not have PH.

Liquid paraffin is superior to 2% lidocaine gel in reducing urethral pain during urodynamic study in men: A pilot study.

Aims: To compare the pain perception between intraurethral instillation of 2% lidocaine gel and liquid paraffin during Urodynamic study in men.

Methods: A randomized, single-blind comparison trial was conducted. Forty men scheduled to undergo multichannel Urodynamic study were randomized to receive either 10 ml of 2% lidocaine gel (group 1, n = 20) or 10 ml of liquid paraffin (group 2, n = 20).

Prevalence and etiology of focal liver opacification in patients with superior vena cava obstruction.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and etiologies of focal liver opacification (FLO) in the setting of superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction.

Methods: An archival search using key words to identify patients with SVC obstruction or severe narrowing and who had computed tomographic scans with intravenous contrast was performed at our institution.

Results: Thirty-one patients were included.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for hemorrhagic radiation cystitis.

Background: Hemorrhagic radiation cystitis (HRC) is a significant clinical problem that occurs after pelvic radiation therapy and is often refractory.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) for HRC.

Methods: Daily 90 minute sessions of HBO at 2 ATM 100% oxygen were given to 32 HRC patients with ASTRO grades 3-4 hematuria.

Penetrating atherosclerotic aortic ulcer rupture causing a right hemothorax; a rare presentation of acute aortic syndrome.

Acute aortic syndrome is a spectrum of diseases that have similar presentation and clinical background and include aortic dissection, intramural hematoma, and penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer. Presented here is an 82-year-old woman with a medical history of diabetes, hypertension, nephrectomy, and chronic renal failure who complained of sudden abdominal pain radiating to epigastrium and back. At presentation, the patient was hemodynamically stable with a hemoglobin level of 10.

The predominance of benign histology in small testicular masses.

Objectives: To evaluate the concordance between testicular tumor size and benign histology in order to identify a cut-off size, below which the rate of benign lesions would be highest.

Methods And Materials: During the years 1995-2008, we performed 131 consecutive testicular operations for testicular tumors. Ten of these were testicular preserving surgery, whereas the other 121 patients had radical orchiectomy.

Is stent placement necessary after uncomplicated ureteroscopy for removal of impacted ureteral stones?

Background And Purpose: Ureteral stent placement after ureteroscopic lithotripsy has some advantages and disadvantages. In this randomized study, the necessity of ureteral stent placement after uncomplicated ureteroscopy for impacted ureteral stones was assessed.

Materials And Methods: Between 2005 and 2007, 60 evaluable patients were equally randomized to groups with and without stents.

Testicular sparing surgery for small masses.

Objectives: To determine the proportion of benign testicular lesions among candidates for testicular sparing surgery (TSS) and to assess the safety and efficacy of this procedure.

Methods And Materials: Sixteen patients underwent surgical exploration for testicular tumors with TSS intent in our center. Surgery was performed via an inguinal approach with temporary cord occlusion and frozen section (FS) analysis of the lesions.

Abnormalities of the axial and proximal appendicular skeleton in adults with Laron syndrome (growth hormone insensitivity).

Objective: To investigate abnormalities in the skeleton (with the exclusion of the skull, cervical spine, hands and feet) in patients with Laron syndrome, who have an inborn growth hormone resistance and congenital insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) deficiency.

Design And Patients: The study group was composed of 15 untreated patients with Laron syndrome (seven male and eight female) aged 21-68 years. Plain films of the axial and appendicular skeleton were evaluated retrospectively for abnormalities in structure and shape.

Ultrashort intracorporeally maneuverable cryoprobes for laparoscopic renal cryoablation in the porcine model.

Aim: To determine the feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic renal cryosurgery using a novel ultrathin ultrashort intracorporeal cryoprobe in a porcine model.

Material And Methods: Novel cryoprobes 4 cm in length and 1.5 mm in diameter were manipulated intracorporeally after insertion via a designated 15 mm laparoscopic port.

99mTc-methylene diphosphonate single photon emission tomography of the knees: intensity of uptake and its correlation with arthroscopic findings.

Objective: To examine whether single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can determine the severity of knee pathology, based on intensity of uptake and, therefore, possibly substituting this technique for more invasive and expensive diagnostic procedures, such as arthroscopy, in certain patient populations.

Methods: The study results of patients referred for knee SPECT followed by an arthroscopy at our institution were evaluated retrospectively. The scintigraphic and arthroscopic findings for the menisci and femoral condyles were each graded on a numeric scale.