Contrast enhancement and elastography in endoscopic ultrasound: an update of clinical applications in pancreatic diseases.

It is well established that endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is fundamental in the characterization of many diseases concerning different organs, i.e. pancreaticobiliary diseases, gastrointestinal pathologic conditions, and lymph nodes of unknown origin.

Case 230: Congenital Inguinal Herniation of the Left Ureter (Extraperitoneal Form).

History A 52-year-old man with a history of urinary tract infections and a previous clinical diagnosis of left inguinal hernia presented to the nephrologist with recent onset of dysuria and increasing swelling in the left inguinoscrotal region in the absence of fever or scrotal trauma. There was no relevant surgical or family history. The general physical examination findings were unremarkable, with a normal abdomen at both visual inspection and palpation; urogenital examination revealed a small left-sided palpable mass of the testis, compatible with an inguinal hernia or hydrocele.

Isolation of Enterobacter aerogenes carrying blaTEM-1 and blaKPC-3 genes recovered from a hospital Intensive Care Unit.

Enterobacter aerogenes has recently emerged as an important hospital pathogen. In this study, we showed the emergence of E. aerogenes isolates carrying the blaKPC gene in patients colonized by carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains.

A rare case of infant sepsis due to the emm-89 genotype of Group A Streptococcus within a community-acquired cluster.

Invasive Group A Streptococcus disease is a severe and sometimes life-threatening infection with only few cases reported in literature. We describe the case of a 49-day-old male infant with invasive Group A Streptococcus infection characterized by acute otitis media and development of septicemia within a probably community-acquired cluster. The causative agent resulted to be a rare emm-89 genotype of Streptococcus pyogenes.

Long-Term Dehydrated Donor Lamella Survival in Anterior Keratoplasty: Keratocyte Migration and Repopulation of Corneal Stroma.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of host keratocytes to colonize the donor lamella transplanted without viable cells (dehydrated) in Descemetic (deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty) and in pre-Descemetic keratoplasty (excimer laser-assisted lamellar keratoplasty).

Method: A total of 17 eyes (8 deep anterior lamellar keratoplasties and 9 excimer laser-assisted lamellar keratoplasties) were included in this observational retrospective study; patients underwent ophthalmic examinations, and histological staining was performed ex vivo on the graft in cases of failure.

Results: In Descemetic keratoplasty, the long-term survival of the graft is compromised with the central corneal thickness decreasing; corneal pachymetry and in vivo and ex vivo keratocyte densities are significantly reduced (pachymetric reduction of -86 μm in the apex and -87 μm in the thinnest point; density cell reduction of 72% at a depth of 100 μm, 62% at a depth of 250 μm, and -66% at a depth of 400 μm).

Anti-chlamydial IgG Neutralizing Ability in Nonzoonotic Atypical Community Acquired Respiratory Tract Infections.

Chlamydophila pneumoniae is a pathogenic agent, involved in various types of infection. This study has evaluated the ability of IgG antibodies in outpatient, with acute respiratory tract infections from C. pneumoniae, to neutralize in vitro purified elementary bodies of this bacterium, revealing a good neutralizing performance of IgG antibodies.

Selectivity evaluation of a new chromogenic medium to detect group B Streptococcus.

Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is an important pathogen that causes serious infections in newborns. Pregnant screening and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis are actually the strategies to prevent GBS disease in neonates because vaccination is under investigation.

Materials And Methods: Simultaneously, 156 isolates of GBS and 156 isolates other than GBS covering 17 different species, were tested to evaluate the selectivity of a new chromogenic medium to screen GBS.

Cytogenetic follow-up of chromosomal mosaicism detected in first-trimester prenatal diagnosis.

Objective: To contribute to the risk assessment of true fetal mosaicism after detection of a mosaic chromosomal anomaly in chorionic villus samples (CVS) in order to enable more effective counseling and pregnancy management.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 7112 consecutive CVS analyzed on both direct preparations and cultured cells. In 135 out of the 177 cases of mosaicism, we performed cytogenetic follow-up and determined the frequency of confined placental mosaicism (CPM) and true fetal mosaicism according to type and distribution of the cytogenetic abnormality.

Excimer laser mushroom penetrating keratoplasty: new technique.

Purpose: To evaluate retrospectively the outcomes of 15 consecutive mushroom-shaped penetrating keratoplasties performed by using excimer laser for both the recipient bed and the fresh donor corneas.

Methods: Fifteen eyes of 14 patients who underwent excimer laser mushroom-shaped penetrating keratoplasty from October 13, 2010, to October 14, 2011, were included in our retrospective study. Eight were men and 6 were women, with a mean age of 31.

Role of cerebral ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in newborns with congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) in comparison with that of cerebral ultrasound (cUS) in predicting neurodevelopmental outcome in newborns with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.

Methods: Forty CMV-congenitally infected newborns underwent cUS and cMRI within the first month of life. Clinical course, laboratory findings, visual/hearing function and neurodevelopmental outcome were documented.

In vitro antimicrobial activity of several antimicrobial agents against Escherichia coli isolated from community-acquired uncomplicated urinary tract infections.

Aim: For frequency Escherichia (E.) coli is the agent of urinary tract infections (UTIs). The objective of the present study was to evaluate in vitro activity of several antimicrobial agents to guide empirical treatment of uncomplicated UTIs.

Laboratory diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection with direct and indirect diagnostic techniques.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii infection, common parasitic zoonoses, is an important cause of spontaneous abortion, mental retardation, encephalitis, ocular disease and death worldwide. Today the major diagnostic techniques for the toxoplasmosis are serological assays, but its have many limitations.

Aim: The goal in this study is to improve the diagnostic accuracy of T.

The effects of different preservation processes on the total protein and growth factor content in a new biological product developed from human amniotic membrane.

The aim of this work is to quantify the total protein and growth factors content in a tissue-suspension obtained from processed human amniotic membrane (hAM). hAM was collected, frozen, freeze dried, powdered and sterilized by γ-irradiation. At each step of the process, samples were characterized for the total protein amounts by a Bradford protein assay and for the growth factor concentrations by ELISA test of the tissue suspensions.

Comparison of prognostic value of echographic [corrected] risk score with the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) and Global Registry in Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) risk scores in acute coronary syndrome.

Risk stratification in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is achieved today by clinical models, "blind" to the prognostic support of imaging methods. To assess the value of simple at rest cardiac chest sonography in predicting the intra- and extrahospital risk of death or myocardial infarction, we enrolled 470 consecutive in-patients (312 men, age 71 ± 12 years) who had been admitted for ACS. On admission, all had received a clinical score using the Global Registry in Acute Coronary Events and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction systems and, within 1 to 12 hours, a comprehensive cardiac-chest ultrasound scan.

Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty with dehydrated, 4 °C-stored, and rehydrated lenticules.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the outcomes of 124 consecutive deep anterior lamellar keratoplasties (DALK) performed by using dehydrated, 4 °C stored, and rehydrated lenticules.

Methods: A total of 124 eyes of 109 patients, which had undergone DALK from August 11, 2000, to December 13, 2007, were included in our retrospective study; 88 cases were male and 36 female, with a mean age of 39.45±15.

Enzymatic descemetic lamellar keratoplasty: pilot study.

Purpose: This was a pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of a new surgical technique of descemetic anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) with the help of enzymatic hyaluronidase solution.

Methods: We selected 10 patients, 6 male and 4 female, with surgical keratoconus, with a mean age of 45+/-16 years (range 29-61), with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Neglected rupture of the Achilles tendon treated with a percutaneous technique.

Introduction: Neglected rupture of Achilles tendon is an infrequent but debilitating injury. Several surgical methods of treatment have been described to repair neglected Achilles tendon rupture.

Material And Methods: In our study we reviewed 20 patients (18 male and 2 female).

Total hip arthroplasty revision in elderly people with cement and Burch-Schneider anti-protrusio cage.

Total hip arthroplasty revision is increasingly becoming a common procedure, but the acetabular bone loss and the advanced age of the patients make revision procedures extremely complex and technically demanding. The aim of the present work is to examine the clinical and radiological results of the Burch-Schneider anti-protrusio cage (APC) implanted in revision hip arthroplasty with severe acetabular bone deficiency in elderly people. Between February 1994 and November 2005, a total of 60 revision operations of acetabular components were performed in 60 select patients (42 females and 18 males), using the Burch-Schneider APC.

Preparation of donor corneas: a study of the endothelial population.

Purpose: To quantify the endothelial damage in corneal rim excisions prepared in different ways.

Methods: From the Imola branch of Eye Bank of Emilia Romagna, 24 corneal rim excisions which belonged to 12 pairs of enucleated eye globes were selected. The endothelial mortality was quantified by Trypan blue staining and counting the endothelial cells in a central area of about 5 square mm of each cornea.

Suspension made with amniotic membrane: clinical trial.

Purpose: To investigate if a suspension made with amniotic membrane could have a beneficial effect on ocular surface diseases.

Methods: In the Imola branch of the Eye Bank of Emilia Romagna, the authors prepared a suspension containing homogenized amniotic membrane previously conserved at -80 degrees Celsius. Subsequently, the authors gave this preparation to 21 patients: 8 had undergone lamellar keratoplasty, 4 had undergone penetrating keratoplasty, 2 had undergone photorefractive keratectomy with a delay of epithelialization, 3 had neurotrophic corneal ulcers, 2 had corneal burning, 1 had torpid corneal ulcer, and 1 had Sjogren syndrome.

Suspension made with amniotic membrane: Clinical trial.

Purpose: To investigate if a suspension made with amniotic membrane could have a beneficial effect on ocular surface diseases.

Methods: In the Imola branch of the Eye Bank of Emilia Romagna, the authors prepared a suspension containing homogenized amniotic membrane previously conserved at -80 degrees Celsius. Subsequently, the authors gave this preparation to 21 patients: 8 had undergone lamellar keratoplasty, 4 had undergone penetrating keratoplasty, 2 had undergone photorefractive keratectomy with a delay of epithelialization, 3 had neurotrophic corneal ulcers, 2 had corneal burning, 1 had torpid corneal ulcer, and 1 had Sjogren syndrome.