PATIENT DOSE IN DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY UTILISING BMI CLASSIFICATION.

Dose audit is important towards optimisation of patients' radiation protection in diagnostic radiography. In this study, the effect of the body mass index (BMI) on radiation dose received by 1869 adult patients undergoing chest, abdomen, lumbar spine, kidneys and urinary bladder (KUB) and pelvis radiography in an X-ray room with a digital radiography system was investigated. Patients were categorised into three groups (normal, overweight and obese) based on the BMI values.

PATIENT DOSES IN COMMON DIAGNOSTIC X-RAY EXAMINATIONS.

A local survey was conducted, to evaluate the radiation dose to adult patients who underwent diagnostic X-ray examinations. Patient-related and technical data were recorded, in 1504 patients, for each of the 11 individual projections, of the 7 most common examinations performed in an X-ray room, with 1 digital radiography system. The patient entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) and the effective dose (ED) were calculated based on the X-ray tube output and the exposure parameters, as well as utilisation of suitable conversion coefficients, respectively.

Frequent Benign, Nontraumatic, Noninflammatory Causes of Low Back Pain in Adolescents: MRI Findings.

Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is common in children and adolescents. There are many factors that cause LBP, including structural disorders, degenerative changes, Scheuermann's disease, fractures, inflammation, and tumors. Magnetic Resonance Imaging is the gold standard for diagnosing spinal abnormalities and is mandatory when neurological symptoms exist.

Comparative effectiveness of different transarterial embolization therapies alone or in combination with local ablative or adjuvant systemic treatments for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: The optimal transcatheter embolization strategy for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains elusive. We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) of different embolization options for unresectable HCC.

Methods: Medical databases were searched for randomized controlled trials evaluating bland transarterial embolization (TAE), conventional TACE, drug-eluting bead chemoembolization (DEB-TACE), or transarterial radioembolization (TARE), either alone or combined with adjuvant chemotherapy, or local liver ablation, or external radiotherapy for unresectable HCC up to June 2017.

Giant ileocolic intussusception in an adult induced by a double ileal lipoma: a case report with pathologic correlation.

Intussusception in adults is rare, accounting for less than 5% of all cases. Unlike the childhood variant, adult intussusception is often associated with a small bowel lesion acting as the "lead point." We herein report an uncommon case of giant intussusception secondary to 2 separate lipomatous lesions located in the ileum, in an adult admitted to our hospital for acute severe abdominal pain.

Common and uncommon intracranial arterial anatomic variations in multi-detector computed tomography angiography (MDCTA). What radiologists should be aware of.

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective study was twofold: (1) to show the role of multi-detector computed tomography angiography (MDCTA) in the evaluation of intracranial arterial anatomic variations; (2) to highlight their clinical importance with illustrated example cases.

Materials And Methods: One thousand seven hundred thirty-nine patients who underwent carotid and/or cerebral CTA using a 16-row multi-detector CT over the last 9 years were retrospectively analysed with attention to the presence of persistent carotid-basilar anastomosis and other intracranial arterial variations.

Results: All kinds of persistent carotid-basilar anastomosis were present in our series.

Extent of silent cerebral infarcts in adult sickle-cell disease patients on magnetic resonance imaging: is there a correlation with the clinical severity of disease?

The aim of this paper is to correlate the extent of silent cerebral infarcts (SCIs) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the clinical severity of sickle cell disease (SCD) in adult patients. Twenty-four consecutive adult asymptomatic SCD patients (11 male and 13 female) with a mean age of 38.4 years (range 20-59) were submitted to brain MRI on a 1 Tesla Gyroscan Intera, Philips MR scanner with a dedicated head coil.

Assessing the use of haemostatic sealants in tubeless percutaneous renal access and their effect on renal drainage and histology: an experimental porcine study.

Objective: To evaluate the mid-term effects of haemostatic sealant application during tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) on renal drainage and histology in an in vivo porcine study.

Materials And Methods: Bilateral percutaneous access was established in 28 porcine renal units. At the end of the procedure, a type 1 absorbable fish origin collagen powder, a human fibrinogen- and thrombin-coated sponge or a cross-linked gelatin granule/topical thrombin matrix were randomly placed on the nephrostomy tracts.

Radiofrequency ablation of osteoid osteomas: five years experience.

The purpose of this study is to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation as a curative treatment method for benign bone tumours. Twenty-nine osteoid osteomas were treated with radiofrequency ablation. Primary success rate was 89.

Altered expression of NFY-C and RORA in colorectal adenocarcinomas.

NFY-C, a subunit of the transcription factor NFY, binds to the promoters of several eukaryotic genes, including cell cycle-related genes. RORA is a steroid hormone receptor implicated in a range of important cellular processes. We evaluated the expression of NFY-C and RORA in colorectal adenocarcinomas and normal colonic tissue.

Ankle post-traumatic osteoarthritis: a CT arthrography study in patients with bi- and trimalleolar fractures.

Purpose: To detect radiographically occult cartilage lesions using CT arthrography (CTa) in patients with malleolar fractures treated with open reduction internal fixation and to correlate the lesions with the functional outcome score.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-one patients (13 men and 8 women, mean age 35 years, range 16-55) underwent ankle CTa after a mean postoperative period of 565 days (range 271-756). CTa images were analyzed by two radiologists.

The effects of anti-VEGFR and anti-EGFR agents on glioma cell migration through implication of growth factors with integrins.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the antitumour effect of an anti-VEGFR (sunitinib) and the anti-EGFR multi-targeted agent (lapatinib), applied either alone or in combination on the migration capacity of two glioma cell lines. Furthermore, this study sought to evaluate the effect of lapatinib in the formation of EGFR-integrin β(1) complex, as well as the effect of sunitinib in the VEGFR-integrin β(3) and PDGFR-integrin β(3) complexes formation.

Materials And Methods: U87 and M059K cells were cultured as recommended by the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC).

The role of CT-guided percutaneous gastrostomy in patients with clinically severe obesity presenting with complications after bariatric surgery.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous gastrostomy in patients presenting with complications after bariatric surgery.

Materials And Methods: From January 2003 up to today, 25 patients (20 women), formerly operated for severe obesity, were referred for gastrostomy, after presenting with a complication. The mean age and body mass index were 38±9.

Percutaneous minimally invasive management of iatrogenic ureteral injuries.

Purpose: To present experience with the percutaneous management of iatrogenic ureteral injuries.

Patients And Methods: Eighteen women and six men with a mean age of 59.3 years (range 33-80 years) received a diagnosis of ureteral injury sustained during gynecologic, urologic, and general surgical procedures.

Ureteral stents: new ideas, new designs.

Ureteral stents represent a minimally invasive alternative to preserve urinary drainage whenever ureteral patency is deteriorated or is under a significant risk to be occluded due to extrinsic or intrinsic etiologies. The ideal stent that would combine perfect long-term efficacy with no stent-related morbidity is still lacking and stent usage is associated with several adverse effects that limit its value as a tool for long-term urinary drainage. Several new ideas on stent design, composition material and stent coating currently under evaluation, foreseen to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks of ureteral stent usage.

CT diagnosis of hypertensive brainstem encephalopathy (HBE): A diagnostic challenge in the emergency department.

Hypertensive encephalopathy usually involves the posterior supratentorium, with uncommon involvement of the brainstem. We present a case of acute hypertensive encephalopathy of the brainstem diagnosed by means of CT. The brainstem was markedly hypodense, with no evidence of typical concomitant parieto-occipital involvement.

The potential role of Bcl-2 expression, apoptosis and cell proliferation (Ki-67 expression) in cases of gastric carcinoma and correlation with classic prognostic factors and patient outcome.

Background: This study investigated the presence of apoptosis and proliferation in gastric cancer and assesses their possible correlation with classic prognostic markers and patients' survival.

Patients And Methods: The study comprised 110 patients with gastric carcinoma who underwent gastrectomy for therapeutic reasons, and did not receive any pre- or postoperative treatment. Patients were followed up for 3.

Osteoid osteoma: diagnosis and treatment.

Treatment of small but painful osteoid osteomas was traditionally based on either prolonged medication or resection. In the era of rapidly evolving minimally invasive techniques, reluctance has been posed against surgical interventions mostly due to their relatively high rates of recurrence, complications, or persistent pain. Nonetheless, incomplete pain control and intolerance to anti-inflammatory drugs unfavorably affect prognosis.

Gray and color Doppler ultrasonography in differentiation between chronic viral hepatitis and compensated early stage cirrhosis.

Aim: To assess the value of Gray scale (GS) and Colour Doppler Ultrasonography (CDU) in differentiating the progression of chronic viral hepatitis (CVH) and compensated liver cirrhosis (CIR).

Patients And Methods: Seventy-two patients and 32 normal individuals used as controls were studied. Forty-four patients suffered from CVH and 28 from CIR.

Oval cell proliferation in cirrhosis in rats. An experimental study.

Aim: Oval cells are liver stem cells involved in liver regeneration following liver damage. Previous studies have shown that pretreatment with a hepatocyte inhibitor is required to allow full oval cell activation. This study investigates whether oval cells develop and proliferate in a model of experimental liver fibrosis without pretreatment with a known hepatocyte inhibitor.

Radiofrequency ablation of two femoral head chondroblastomas.

Chondroblastoma is a rare benign cartilaginous bone tumor. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice for pain relief and prevention of further growth. Open surgical techniques are associated with complications, particularly when the tumors are located in deep anatomical sites.

Tumoral and non-tumoral trachea stenoses: evaluation with three-dimensional CT and virtual bronchoscopy.

Background: We evaluated the ability of 3D-CT and virtual bronchoscopy to estimate trachea stenosis in comparison to conventional axial CT and fiberoptic bronchoscopy, with a view to assist thoracic surgeons in depicting the anatomical characteristics of tracheal strictures.

Methods: Spiral CT was performed in 16 patients with suspected tracheal stenoses and in 5 normal subjects. Tracheal stenoses due to an endoluminal neoplasm were detected in 13 patients, whilst post-intubation tracheal stricture was observed in the other 3 patients.

Increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio up-regulates caspase-3 and increases apoptosis in the thymus of patients with myasthenia gravis.

Background: In this study the possible relation of Bax (an apoptosis promoter) to Bcl-2 (an apoptosis inhibitor) ratio with the apoptosis co-ordination enzyme, caspase-3, in the thymus of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) was investigated in correlation with long-term clinical prognosis.

Patients And Methods: The study included 46 patients (17M/29F, mean age 36.60 +/- 16.

Bcl-2, bax and p53 expression in rectal adenocarcinoma. Correlation with classic pathologic prognostic factors and patients' outcome.

Background: Bcl-2 oncoprotein inhibits apoptosis, whereas bax protein promotes apoptosis by enhancing cell susceptibility to apoptotic stimuli. This study examined the bcl-2, bax and p53 expression in rectal adenocarcinomas and their relationship with tumor prognosis.

Patients And Methods: Paraffin-embedded 4-microm tumor sections obtained from patients with rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent colectomy for therapeutic reasons, were analyzed with a standard streptavidin biotin peroxidase method, using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies.

Application of a new guiding system in percutaneous biopsies.

We herein describe the application of a new guiding system designed for percutaneous biopsies. The guiding system set is composed of a 0.41 mm (27G) stainless steel guide stylet and a 22G Chiba needle.