Assignment Confidence in Localization of the Hand Motor Cortex: Comparison of Structural Imaging With Functional MRI.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assign confidence levels to structural MRI and functional MRI (fMRI) for localization of the primary motor cortex.

Materials And Methods: Ninety-one fMRI studies with at least one motor task (178 hemispheres) were identified. Three anatomic assessments were used to localize the primary motor cortex: relation between the superior frontal sulcus and precentral sulcus; cortical thickness; and configuration of the precentral knob.

Second Trimester Fetal and Maternal Epicardial Fat Thickness in Gestational Diabetic Pregnancies.

Our aim was to evaluate the association between gestational diabetes mellitus and sonographically measured fetal epicardial fat thickness between 24-28 weeks' gestation. This was a cross-sectional study that included 40 pregnancies with gestational diabetes mellitus, matched with 40 normal pregnancies with similar maternal age, body-mass index, gestational age, fetal gender, and fetal abdominal circumference on ultrasound. Fetal epicardial fat thickness was measured and recorded during ultrasonography at 24-28 weeks of gestation.

Benign Cystic Mesothelioma in a Child: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background: Benign cystic mesothelioma (BCM) is a rare tumor with benign characteristic. There are only 8 child cases reported in the English literature. In this report, we present this rare entity a brief review of the literature.

Predictive value of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Aim: We aimed to assess the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and platelet parameters in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: A total of 60 stable COPD patients, 50 acute exacerbation COPD patients and 50 healthy controls were enrolled in this study.

Results: The platelet distribution width and PLR were higher and the mean platelet volume was lower in the COPD patients during acute exacerbation compared with the stable patients and controls.

Investigation of the Roles of Cyclooxygenase-2 and Galectin-3 Expression in the Pathogenesis of Premenopausal Endometrial Polyps.

Background: The pathogenesis and etiology of endometrial polyps has not been elucidated. In this study, we aimed to examine the pathogenic mechanisms of endometrial polyp development using immunohistochemistry. We evaluated the expression of galectin-3 and cyclooxgenase-2 (COX-2) during the menstrual cycle in premenopausal women with endometrial polyps or normal endometrium.

Comparison between resveratrol and cabergoline in preventing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in a rat model.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of resveratrol in a rat model of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and compare with cabergoline.

Design: Randomized controlled, animal study.

Animal(s): Female Wistar rats.

Investigation of the relationship between salivary cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, anxiety, and depression in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of the salivary levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and cortisol with factors related to depression and anxiety in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).

Methods: Forty patients with a diagnosis of HG were selected for the study and matched with 40 control patients according to body mass index, parity, and age. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were investigated using the Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory for Adults, respectively.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with increased osteopontin levels.

Objective: Osteopontin (OPN) is a multi-functional secreted glycoprotein that plays a crucial role in glucose metabolism and inflammatory process. Growing evidence suggests that there is a link between OPN and ovarian function. However, no such link has yet been found for OPN in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

The Protective Effects of Epigallocatechin Gallate Against Distant Organ Damage After Severe Skin Burns--Experimental Study Using a Rat Model of Thermal Trauma.

Background: Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a green tea polyphenol, has potent antioxidant properties.

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to examine the possible preventative effects of EGCG against internal organ injury due to large-surface skin burns in a rat model.

Material And Methods: The study design involved three groups of rats: a sham group and two groups with 25-30% full-thickness burns: (a) the sham group without burns or treatment (n=18); (b) the control burn group (burns+sterile saline, n=18); and (c) the burn treatment group (burns+treatment with EGCG, n=18).

Fahr disease: use of susceptibility-weighted imaging for diagnostic dilemma with magnetic resonance imaging.

Fahr disease (FD) is a well-defined rare neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by idiopathic bilateral symmetric extensive striopallidodentate calcifications. The patients may present with diverse manifestations, most commonly movement disorder, cognitive impairment, and ataxia. Computed tomography (CT) is considered to be critical for accurate diagnosis because it is difficult to reliably identify calcifications by routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Anterior Sacral Meningocele Masquerading as an Ovarian Cyst: A Rare Clinical Presentation Associated with Marfan Syndrome.

Anterior sacral meningocele is a very rare clinical entity characterized by herniation of a meningeal sac through a sacrococcygeal defect. We report a case of a 20-year old female with Marfan syndrome who presented with abdominal distention that was misdiagnosed as an ovarian cyst on pelvic ultrasound. Pelvic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed large, well-defined multiloculated intrasacral and presacral cysts communicating via two separate broad necks and extending through defects in anterior aspect of sacral vertebrae.

Is there a role for DWI in the diagnosis of sacroiliitis based on ASAS criteria?

Purpose: Sacroiliitis based on MRI is one of the main diagnostic criteria of axial spondyloarthritis (SpA). Our purpose was to assess (a) whether apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) differ between regions of bone marrow edema (BME) and subchondral normal-appearing bone marrow (NABM) in active sacroiliitis, (b) whether ADC values can differentiate early SpA and chronic SpA, both in the active and inactive phase, and (c) whether ADC values are related to laboratory findings.

Materials And Methods: 47 patients (24 female, 23 male, mean age: 38.

Atypical developmental venous anomaly associated with contrast enhancement and hyperperfusion in the surrounding basal ganglia.

Developmental venous anomalies (DVAs) are the most common type of cerebral vascular malformations. They are generally accepted as variants of venous development and frequently identified incidentally, particularly on contrast-enhanced MR imaging. Most of the DVAs do not affect the integrity of the surrounding parenchyma.

A rare cause of odynophagia: infected tracheal diverticulum.

Tracheal diverticulum is a relatively rare lesion. Tracheal diverticula are divided into two subgroups as congenital and acquired with different characteristics and etiologies. The majority of these anomalies is asymptomatic and found as incidental findings on radiological imaging.

Limbic pathway lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a well-known demyelinating disease to cause cognitive dysfunction. The limbic system, relevant to memory, can be easily overlooked in conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Purpose: To investigate the distribution and frequency of demyelinating lesions affecting white matter connections of the limbic system based on localization with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-derived fractional anisotropy (FA) color maps compared to three-dimensional T2-weighted (T2W) and FLAIR volumes in MS patients.

Brain diffusion changes in unilateral carotid artery stenosis with non-shunt endarterectomy: Correlation with white matter lesions.

Objective: Carotid stenosis is associated with hemodynamic cerebral ischemia. Diffusion-weighted MR imaging allows for the assessment of changes related to alterations in tissue integrity. The aim of this study was to investigate (a) whether white matter lesions (WML) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values differ between ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres, (b) whether ADC values are related to WMLs and common vascular risk factors, and (c) whether ADC values differ after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) without a shunt in patients with unilateral internal carotid artery stenosis (ICAS).

Detecting Metastatic Bladder Cancer Using (18)F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron-Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively investigate the contribution of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG-PET/CT) to detection of metastatic bladder cancer.

Materials And Methods: The present study included 79 patients (69 men and 10 women) undergoing (18)F-FDG-PET/CT upon suspicion of metastatic bladder cancer between July 2007 and April 2013. The mean age was 66.

Does uterine prolapse alter endometrial cyclooxygenase 2 expression and promote the development of premalignant lesions?

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and its association with the development of premalignant lesions in gland structures of the endometrium in patients with uterine prolapse, a condition which exposes the uterus to mechanical and infectious stress.

Methods: The study included 102 patients who underwent hysterectomy to correct grade 3-4 uterine prolapse and 105 patients who underwent hysterectomy for other causes. Endometrial gland structures underwent immunohistochemical staining and COX-2 expression was graded.

Successful Colchicine Therapy in a Patient With Follicular Bronchiolitis Presumed to Be Asthma.

Follicular bronchiolitis (FB) is a rare small-airway pathology that is associated mainly with connective tissue diseases. This case report presents a new, diagnosed, different airway disease in a non-smoker with rheumatoid arthritis in remission who was treated for presumed asthma, but was not controlled. She was ultimately diagnosed with FB after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Adult Stem Cells and Diabetes Therapy.

The World Health Organization estimates that diabetes will be the fourth most prevalent disease by 2050. Developing a new therapy for diabetes is a challenge for researchers and clinicians in field. Many medications are being used for treatment of diabetes however with no conclusive and effective results therefore alternative therapies are required.

Placenta percreta resulting in incomplete spontaneous abortion in first trimester.

Placenta percreta is a rare complication potentially fatal to fetus and the mother. We present here a 41-year-old female patient who underwent curettage for incomplete abortion at 6(th) week of pregnancy. She had persistent vaginal bleeding for 2 months after the curettage, for which she was treated with hysterectomy.

Endometriosis localized to urinary bladder wall mimicking urinary bladder carcinoma.

Although endometriosis is a common disease in women of reproductive age, urinary system endometriosis is an exceedingly rare disease that may cause important clinical problems. In this paper we discussed a 42-year-old woman who had urinary bladder endometriosis misdiagnosed as urinary bladder tumor in imaging modalities. The diagnosis of endometriosis was made by histopathological examination of the operative material after partial resection of the urinary bladder.

Adenomyosis and accompanying gynecological pathologies.

Objective: The aim of the present study is to determine the potential risk factors for adenomyosis and to investigate its relationship with accompanying gynecological pathologies and clinical characteristics.

Materials And Method: This study is a retrospective analysis of 945 patients who underwent hysterectomy between May 2005 and January 2013 at the Sifa University Medical Faculty Hospital, Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The study included 327 patients with adenomyosis and 618 patients without adenomyosis by histopathological examination of the uterus.

Dilatation of the Virchow-Robin spaces as an indicator of unilateral carotid artery stenosis: correlation with white matter lesions.

Background: Virchow-Robin space (VRS) dilatation is related to many pathologic conditions, mostly associated with vascular abnormalities. White matter lesions (WMLs) are commonly seen on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with advancing age and generally considered as potential markers for vascular disease.

Purpose: To investigate if asymmetric dilatation of VRSs and WMLs are associated with unilateral internal carotid artery stenosis (ICAS) and to test the relationship between dilated VRSs and common vascular risk factors.

Vena Cava ınvasion by Adrenal Leiomyosarcoma.

Primary adrenal mesenchymal tumors are extremely rare. These tumors are hard to diagnose, and similar to certain adrenal tumors, as they do not produce hormones, and they can only manifest themselves when the tumor reaches an advanced size. These tumors are generally detected incidentally.