Comparison between laser scanning in vivo confocal microscopy and noncontact specular microscopy in assessing corneal endothelial cell density and central corneal thickness.

Purpose: To compare central corneal thickness (CCT) and endothelial cell density (ECD) with laser scanning confocal microscope Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT) II Rostock Corneal Module and noncontact specular microscope Tomey EM-3000 and to assess intra- and interobserver agreement in normal corneas.

Methods: This prospective study included 48 normals (69.6 ± 7.

Magnetic resonance imaging in patients with nipple discharge: should we recommend it?

Objectives: Comparing the sensitivity of Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CEMRI), mammography and ultrasonography in patients with nipple discharge (ND).

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 38 women with ND who underwent mammography, ultrasound and 1.5 T CEMRI between March 2007 and July 2009.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients at multidetector CT: hepatic venous phase versus delayed phase for the detection of tumour washout.

Objectives: Our aim was to compare retrospectively hepatic venous and delayed phase images for the detection of tumour washout during multiphasic multidetector row CT (MDCT) of the liver in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: 30 cirrhotic patients underwent multiphasic MDCT in the 90 days before liver transplantation. MDCT was performed before contrast medium administration and during hepatic arterial hepatic venous and delayed phases, images were obtained at 12, 55 and 120 s after trigger threshold.

[Outcome of pregnancy for immigrant women: a retrospective study].

Aim: Italy is experiencing a continuous increase in female immigration and, as a consequence, the number of births by immigrant mothers. The objective of our study was therefore to compare indices for maternal-foetal wellbeing as regards immigrant as opposed to autochthonous pregnant women.

Methods: An analysis was made of CEDAP data from 2001 to 2008 concerning parturients at Udine Obstetric and Gynaecological Clinic, DRG clinical data for 2008 and clinical records for 2008 of foreign parturients: the focus was on which geographical area they came from, hypertensive and metabolic symptoms during pregnancy, maternal serology, gestational period up to childbirth, weight at birth, Apgar index, duration of hospitalisation for the mother and infant.

Introducing Broselow colour coded system for paediatric emergency management in a non paediatric general hospital.

Paediatric emergency management is a very stressful clinical event especially when it occurs in a non paediatric hospital. Low self confidence, non familiarity with drug dosages and proper equipment selection are the main cause of professional insecurity. In this paper, after a short review dealing with main differences between child and adult patient, we consider the advantages offered by Broselow method approach to paediatric emergences.

Megaduodenum: an unusual presentation of amyloidosis?

Amyloidosis, a potentially fatal disease, is characterized by an abnormal deposition of autologous proteins. Heart, liver, kidneys, lung, thyroid, skin and the gastrointestinal tract can be involved; in this last case mucosal alterations or disturbances of the motility leading to pseudo-obstruction, bleeding, diarrhea and malabsorption can be present. However, the data concerning the possible gastrointestinal presentations of amyloidosis are scanty and heterogeneous.

Optic disc damage staging system.

Purpose: To evaluate the optic disc damage staging system (ODDSS); a new clinical method of optic disc (OD) classification based on OD size, neural rim (NR) loss severity and localization. Accuracy, reproducibility, and reliability were studied. Agreement of ODDSS with the Heidelberg-Retina-Tomograph (HRT) results was evaluated.

Short-term effect of intravitreal injection of Ranibizumab (Lucentis) on intraocular pressure.

Purpose: To investigate short-term effect on intraocular pressure (IOP) after intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (Lucentis) (IVIL).

Materials And Methods: This prospective study included 1 eye of 54 patients (64+/-12 y) with wet age-related macular degeneration treated with IVIL. IOP measurements with TonoPen were taken: immediately before and 5 seconds, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60 minutes, and 1 day after IVIL.

Radiation injury of the lung after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for lung cancer: a timeline and pattern of CT changes.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a new radiotherapy treatment method that has been applied to the treatment of Stage I lung cancers in medically inoperable patients, with excellent clinical results. SBRT allows the delivery of a very high radiation dose to the target volume, while minimizing the dose to the adjacent normal tissues. As a consequence, CT findings after SBRT have different appearance, geographic extent and progression timeline compared to those following conventional radiation therapy for lung cancer.

Pulsar perimetry in the diagnosis of early glaucoma.

Purpose: To assess the ability of Pulsar perimetry (Pulsar) in detecting early glaucomatous visual field (VF) damage in comparison with Frequency Doubling Technology (FDT), Scanning Laser Polarimetry (SLP, GDx VCC), and Heidelberg Retina Tomography (HRT).

Design: Prospective observational cross-sectional case study.

Methods: This multicenter study included: 87 ocular hypertensives (OHT); 67 glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON) patients; 75 primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients; and 90 normals.

Unusual malignant tumors of the breast: MRI features and pathologic correlation.

Unusual malignant breast tumors are well-differentiated subtypes of invasive ductal carcinoma, including mucinous, tubular, medullary and papillary carcinomas, and account for about 10% of malignant breast tumors. They are increasingly being encountered during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations of the breast. Therefore, breast radiologists should be aware of their appearance on MRI.

Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness analysis with scanning laser polarimetry (GDx VCC) in normal children.

Purpose: To assess the use of scanning laser polarimeter with variable corneal compensation (GDx VCC) in children; to compare GDx VCC parameters between normal children and adults; and, to evaluate peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness variation with age in normals.

Patients And Methods: Ninety-eight normal children (mean age 8.5+/-2.

Radionuclide evidence for reversible ischemia after percutaneous treatment of anomalous right coronary artery with dynamic compression by great vessels.

Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left sinus is a rare congenital anomaly, possibly related to myocardial ischemia by dynamic compression. We present a case of percutaneous treatment of this coronary anomaly resulting in regression of inducible ischemia, as demonstrated by radionuclide scintigraphy.

[Nutrition, acid-base metabolism, cation-anion difference and total base balance in humans].

The relationship between dietary intake and acid-base metabolism has been investigated in the past by means of the inorganic cation-anion difference (C(+)(nm)-A(-)(nm)) method based on dietary ash-acidity titration after the oxidative combustion of food samples. Besides the inorganic components of TA (A(-)(nm)-C(+)(nm)), which are under renal control, there are also metabolizable components (A(-)(nm)-C(+)(nm)) of TA, which are under the control of the intermediate metabolism. The whole body base balance, NBb(W), is obtained only by the application of C(+)(nm)-A(-)(nm) to food, feces and urine, while the metabolizable component (A(-)(nm)-C(+)(nm)) is disregarded.

Asthma induced by inhalation of flour in adults with food allergy to wheat.

Background: Wheat is one of the major food allergens and it is also an inhalant allergen in workers exposed to flour dusts. Food allergy to wheat in adulthood seems to be rare and has never been reported to be associated with asthma induced by flour inhalation.

Objective: The study aimed at detecting adults with food allergy to wheat and screening them for the presence of specific bronchial reactivity to inhaled wheat proteins.

Limited long-term durability of the Cryolife O'Brien stentless porcine xenograft valve.

Background: Despite the fact that early and midterm hemodynamic and clinical results of the Cryolife O'Brien (CLOB) stentless valve have been reported to be favorable, the long-term durability and clinical results of this valve are largely unknown. Accordingly, we analyzed 10-year outcomes after aortic valve replacement with this valve.

Methods And Results: From January 1994 to September 2004, 185 patients (67, 73, and 75 years, 25th, 50th, and 75th quartiles, respectively; 38% older than 75 years; 56% females) underwent aortic valve replacement with the CLOB valve.

Blunt traumatic abdominal aortic rupture: CT imaging.

Blunt abdominal aortic trauma is a rare but potentially lethal event. It is commonly associated with high-speed motor vehicle accidents. Intimal flap, thrombosis, and pseudoaneurysm of the abdominal aorta are the more common findings.