The White Blood Cell Count to Mean Platelet Volume Ratio for the Prediction of Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia in Lower Extremity Artery Disease.

Unlabelled: Background: The white blood cell count to mean platelet volume ratio (WMR) is increasingly gaining importance as a promising prognostic marker in atherosclerotic disease, but data on lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) are not yet available. The principle aim of this study was to assess the association of the WMR with the occurrence of CLTI (chronic limb-threatening ischemia) as the most advanced stage of disease.

Methods: This study was performed as a retrospective analysis on 2121 patients with a diagnosis of LEAD.

Low mean platelet volume is associated with critical limb ischemia in peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

Mean platelet volume (MPV) was recently published as a possible marker of coronary artery disease in patients at high risk for major adverse cardiac events. Because platelets play an important role in atherosclerosis, we examined the relationship between critical limb ischemia (CLI) and MPV in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). Our study comprised 2124 PAOD patients.

Loss of the putative tumor suppressor protein spinophilin is associated with poor prognosis in head and neck cancer.

The putative tumor suppressor protein spinophilin has been recently involved in the pathogenesis of lung, liver, and other types of cancer. Previous studies also indicate that a loss of spinophilin in combination with functional impairment of p53 drives tumor progression. To date, no data exist about the role of spinophilin in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Long-term follow-up after treatment of intracranial aneurysms with the Pipeline embolization device: results from a single center.

Background And Purpose: Stent-like, self-expandable devices, the so-called flow diverters, are increasingly used for the treatment of wide-neck cerebral aneurysms. The immediate and short-term results are promising, but no long-term results are available. The purpose of our research was to report the long-term angiographic and cross-sectional imaging results after placement of a PED in 12 patients with wide-neck intracranial aneurysms.

Early single center experience with the solitaire thrombectomy device for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke.

We report the immediate technical and clinical outcome of a new self-expanding fully retrievable stent in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Eleven consecutive patients with acute intracerebral artery occlusions were treated with a self-expandable fully retrievable intracranial stent (Solitaire AB). Four patients had an occlusion of the basilar artery, five had a middle cerebral artery occlusion and two had terminal carotid artery occlusions.

Number of biopsies in diagnosing pulmonary nodules.

Purpose: To determine the number of specimens to be obtained from pulmonary lesions to get the highest possible accuracy in histological work-up.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective evaluation (January 1999 to April 2004) covered 260 patients with thoracic lesions who underwent computer tomography (CT)-guided core-cut biopsy in coaxial technique. All biopsies were performed utilizing a 19 gauge introducer needle and a 20 gauge core-cut biopsy needle.

Accuracy of MSCT Coronary Angiography with 64 Row CT Scanner-Facing the Facts.

Improvements in multislice computed tomography (MSCT) angiography of the coronary vessels have enabled the minimally invasive detection of coronary artery stenoses, while quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) is the accepted reference standard for evaluation thereof. Sixteen-slice MSCT showed promising diagnostic accuracy in detecting coronary artery stenoses haemodynamically and the subsequent introduction of 64-slice scanners promised excellent and fast results for coronary artery studies. This prompted us to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and the negative und positive predictive value of 64-slice MSCT in the detection of haemodynamically significant coronary artery stenoses.

Thick curved planar reformation of unenhanced multislice computed tomography demonstrating urolithiasis.

Objectives: To determine what slice thickness provides optimal curved planar reformation (CPR) images of the urinary tract.

Methods: A total of 75 consecutive patients with acute flank pain were included in a retrospective pilot study and underwent unenhanced multislice computed tomography (MSCT) (collimation 3.75 mm, pitch 6, reconstruction increment 3 mm, working voltage 120 kV, and tube current 100 mA) with CPR reconstruction of the urinary tract.

VEGF 936C > T Polymorphism and Association of BI-RADS Score in Women with Suspected Breast Cancer.

Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent regulator of angiogenesis and thereby involved in the development and progression of solid tumors. A 936C > T polymorphism in the VEGF gene has been associated with reduced VEGF plasma levels. Purpose of the present study was to analyze the potential association between VEGF genotype and radiological appearance of breast lesions by mammography.

Evaluation of three-dimensional changes after sinus floor augmentation with different grafting materials.

Objective: The aim of this retrospective investigation was to assess the dimensional stability of different grafting materials after maxillary sinus floor augmentation with computed tomography (CT) scans.

Materials And Methods: Two postoperative CT scans were available from 16 patients who had undergone maxillary sinus lift procedures. The first scan was made within a few days after the surgical intervention and the second one >6 months later.

Comparison of 18F-FDG and 67Ga-citrate in sarcoidosis imaging.

Aim: (67)Ga citrate has been used long and successfully to diagnose and stage sarcoidosis. (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) has been suggested as a positron emission tomography (PET) tracer for sarcoidosis imaging. This study aimed to analyze possible advantages of (18)F-FDG-PET over (67)Ga citrate scintigraphy during the primary assessment of patients with sarcoidosis.

Common single nucleotide polymorphisms in the vascular endothelial growth factor gene and colorectal cancer risk.

Purpose: Tumor growth requires the formation of new blood vessels, a phenomenon known as angiogenesis. The most important regulator of angiogenesis is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Several common polymorphisms in the VEGF-gene have been associated with different VEGF expression, production and plasma levels according to allele status, and influence the risk of developing different types of cancer.

Review of source images is necessary for the evaluation of gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography for renal artery stenosis.

The purpose of this study was to assess interobserver variability and accuracy in the evaluation of renal artery stenosis (RAS) with gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography (MRA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in patients with hypertension. The authors found that source images are more accurate than maximum intensity projection (MIP) for depicting renal artery stenosis. Two independent radiologists reviewed MRA and DSA from 38 patients with hypertension.

[Renal cell carcinoma metastasis in a microfollicular adenoma of the thyroid gland].

A 60-year-old woman had a nephrectomy of her left kidney because of a renal cell carcinoma. She came to us for an oncologic F-18-fluordeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (F-18-FDG-PET). In the positron emission tomography there was a pathologic fluordeoxyglucose-uptake in the left thyroid gland lobe.