Adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk for the development of arrhythmias. This study aimed to assess the incidence of unsuspected arrhythmias among adults with CHD identified on electrocardiograms (ECGs) and 24-h ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring (Holter monitoring). A review of the cardiology database at the authors' institution from ...

Aim:  We evaluated the efficacy of response-guided therapy in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2. Methods:  We studied 105 patients with an HCV genotype 2 load of higher than 5.0 Log IU/mL who received more than 75% of the target dose of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin. Among patients with ...

BACKGROUND: -The CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc schema has recently been introduced to complement the CHADS(2) score and improve the identification of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients at 'truly low risk' for thromboembolism. We tested the predictive ability of the CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc, CHADS(2) and van Walraven risk stratification schemes in a cohort of 'lone' AF patients ...

Several studies recognized an overlap between CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) and POTS (postural tachycardia syndrome). We compared the autonomic and neurohormonal phenotype of POTS patients with CFS (CFS-POTS) to those without CFS (non-CFS-POTS), to determine whether CFS-POTS represents a unique clinical entity with a distinct pathophysiology. We recruited 58 patients ...

Because epidermal growth factor (EGF) up-regulation is characteristic of the cirrhotic liver, we hypothesised that the EGF rs4444903 A > G functional polymorphism might be associated with a worse disease course in patients with chronic HBV infection. To verify this hypothesis, 170 HBV-positive patients (125 males) with a median age of 52 ...

OBJECTIVE: To find out the incidence and natural history of IgMN in India. METHODS: Renal biopsies of children ≤12 y age of last 6 y were retrospectively evaluated. Their clinical and biochemical presentation were correlated. Patients with systemic diseases/disorders were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Immunoglobulin M nephropathy (IgMN) constituted 11.9% (n = 28) ...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Synesthesia is a sensory disorder where the stimulation of one sensory modality can lead to a reaction in another which would not usually be expected to respond; for instance, someone might see a color on hearing a word such as a day of the week. Disordered perception ...

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the monoclonal expression of SS through the detection of serum monoclonal immunoglobulins (mIgs) in a large series of patients with Sjögren syndrome (SS), focusing on the etiology, characterization and evolution of the monoclonal band and the association with SS clinical expression and outcomes. METHODS: Serum immunoelectrophoresis (IE) ...

Brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can be a useful tool to identify the epileptogenic zone in selected patients. However, ictal SPECT during spontaneous seizures is difficult to obtain and can be expensive, due to extra hospitalization time and personnel resource utilization. The efficacy of ictal SPECT depends on ...

BACKGROUND: Tourette syndrome patients are reported to show automatic imitation (echopraxia), but this has not yet been proven experimentally. METHODS: Video clips showing either tics of other Tourette patients or spontaneous movements of healthy subjects were presented to Tourette patients and healthy subjects. Participants' responses were assessed using blinded review ...

PURPOSE: Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is increasingly being utilized for staging of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). The purpose of this study was to define how pretreatment PET/CT studies affected postmastectomy radiation treatment (PMRT) planning decisions for IBC. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 62 patients diagnosed ...

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most frequent cause of secondary arterial hypertension. To date 3 forms of familial hyperaldosteronism (FH) have been described accounting for a small percentage of all PA cases. In Germany, the prevalence of FH is currently unknown. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of familiarity ...

OBJECTIVE: The 45,X/46,XY and 45,X/47,XYY group of patients includes some of those previously diagnosed with 'mixed gonadal dysgenesis'. Our aim was to establish the clinical and gonadal spectrum, and early surgical management, of patients with chromosomal mosaicism presenting with genital anomalies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of ...

PURPOSE: To determine optimal timing of assessing postradiation radiographic response on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in pediatric patients with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients were treated on a prospective study at the National Cancer Institute (Protocol #06-C-0219) evaluating the effects of radiotherapy (RT). Standard RT ...

ABSTRACT: Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) causes sudden profound loss of vision with no known cause or cure. Various treatment modalities, both surgical and pharmacologic, have been tried without success. The purpose of our retrospective study was to evaluate the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) as a treatment option ...

Strain dyssynchrony index (SDI), which was a marker of dyssynchrony and residual myocardial contractility, can predict left ventricular reverse remodeling short-term after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). We investigated SDI-predicted long-term outcome after CRT in patients with heart failure (HF). We studied 74 patients with HF who underwent CRT. SDI was ...

Objectives: To report on complications from transrectal ultrasound-guided insertion of fiducial markers for prostate image-guided radiotherapy.Methods: 234 patients who underwent transrectal fiducial marker insertion for prostate cancer image-guided radiotherapy were assessed retrospectively by questionnaire with regard to the duration and severity of eight symptoms experienced following the procedure. Pain during ...

Kartagener's syndrome (KS) is characterised by bronchiectasis, paranasal sinusitis and situs inversus totalis (SIT). Association of diffuse bronchiolitis (DB) with KS has been documented from Japan only. Fourteen patients with SIT were seen in one unit over 7 years. All patients underwent a similar work up which included high resolution ...

Abstract Methods. The newly described - multigene analysis test (DiBiCol) identifying 7 inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-specific genes in colonic mucosal biopsy differentiating between ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) with active inflammation - is a new addition to existing methods with a higher stated sensitivity and specificity. Method biopsy ...

Abstract Objective. Sessile serrated adenomas (SSAs) are precursors to colorectal cancer (CRC). The purpose of this study is to determine the occurrence of new polyps and CRC in patients with an SSA over a 5-year follow-up interval. Methods. This study is a retrospective chart review of patients with SSAs diagnosed ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Postpartum angiopathy (PPA), a rare cause of stroke in the puerperium, is heralded by severe headaches within 1-2 weeks after delivery. Angiography demonstrates segmental vasoconstriction that often resolves spontaneously. PPA is generally regarded as benign. We aimed to define clinical presentations, radiological findings, and outcomes of patients ...

Abstract Background. The utility of prehospital intubation is controversial, as uncontrolled studies in trauma patients suggest adverse outcomes with prehospital intubation, perhaps secondary to inappropriate ventilation once intubation is accomplished. Objectives. The objectives were 1) to establish, immediately upon arrival to the emergency department (ED), the prevalence of abnormal end-tidal ...

Introduction: Most patients with acute hydrocephalus have ventriculomegaly and high intracranial pressure (ICP). However, there is a subset of patients who are symptomatic with acute ventriculomegaly and inappropriately low ICP. Methods: Two patient groups were defined. Each patient presented with clinical deterioration that included a significant decrease in level of ...

Kong KH, Lee J, Chua KS. Occurrence and temporal evolution of upper limb spasticity in stroke patients admitted to a rehabilitation unit. To document the temporal development and evolution of upper limb spasticity, and to establish clinical correlates and predictors of upper limb spasticity in a cohort of stroke patients. ...

To review the results of patients who were referred for posthysterectomy of abnormal cytology based on screening indications. We performed a retrospective review of 64 patients who have been referred for posthysterectomy vaginal colposcopy to the gynecologic oncology service. Patients' demographics, clinical features, reason for screening, and final diagnosis were ...

Purpose: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the major risk factors for ischemic stroke, and 90% of thromboembolisms in these patients arise from the left atrial appendage (LAA). Recently, it has been documented that an LAA occlusion device (OD) is not inferior to warfarin therapy, and that it reduces mortality ...

Purpose: The association between survivor motor neuron (SMN) gene deletion and spinal muscular atrophy suggests that sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (sALS) may be related to SMN deletion. We examined the association between the SMN genotype and susceptibility to and severity of sALS. Materials and Methods: We genotyped the copy number ...

Our purpose was to describe the computed tomography features of transmural colonic ischemia in correlation with clinical, laboratory and histopathological findings of 14 patients who underwent colectomy (9 female and 5 male; mean age, 68 years). Seven patients died (50%). Transmural necrosis involved the right colon in 10 patients (10/14, ...

Our purpose is to demonstrate the deformity of the cranial nerves by arterial compression using a novel technique, multislice motion-sensitized driven equilibrium (MSDE). Subjects were 10 patients with neurovascular compression (5 patients with trigeminal neuralgia and 5 patients with hemifacial spasm). We observed the existence and extent of deformity of ...

The purpose of this study was to describe CT findings in patients with Kawasaki disease with cervical lymphadenopathy. Twelve patients with cervical lymphadenopathy were difficult to diagnose at the initial visit and underwent CT for the assessment of lymphadenopathy. Computed tomographic images were assessed for numbers, sizes, locations of enlarged ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recent reports have indicated that mechanical thrombectomy may have the potential to treat acute ischemic stroke. This study aims to describe the safety and effectiveness of Trevo Retriever, using Stentriever technology, in revascularization of patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: Prospective study evaluating the clinical, radiological, and ...

In acute myeloid leukemia (AML) the subset with complex karyotype (CK) is traditionally regarded as the worst prognostic group. However, ≥3, ≥4 or ≥5 abnormalities have been variably used for its definition. Recently, "monosomal karyotype" (MSK) was suggested to indicate an even inferior outcome. We tested which definition fits best ...

One-hundred patients were included to evaluate the role of cerebral computed tomography (CT) to improve patient selection in asymptomatic internal carotid stenosis. Symptomatic patients were assigned to group A, asymptomatic patients to group B. A cerebral CT pattern A was observed in groups A and B in 60% and 20%, ...

BACKGROUND: The clinical spectrum of adult coeliac disease (ACD) is varied with limited Irish data. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyse the presenting symptoms, associated conditions and complications in a consecutive series of patients with ACD. METHODS: Data were obtained from database on patients with ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Serum autoantibodies against the water channel aquaporin-4 (AQP4) are important diagnostic biomarkers and pathogenic factors for neuromyelitis optica (NMO). However, AQP4-IgG are absent in 5-40% of all NMO patients and the target of the autoimmune response in these patients is unknown. Since recent studies indicate that autoimmune responses ...

PURPOSE: Appendiceal diverticulitis has been difficult to distinguish from acute appendicitis clinically and radiologically. The purpose of this study was to describe multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) features of cases of pathologically proved appendiceal diverticulitis at our institution over a 36-month period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven of 156 patients who underwent ...

We investigated the neurological and MRI findings of 21 patients with pure midbrain infarction. The locations of the infarcts were classified into paramedian (PM) area (13 patients), lateral area (6 patients), and PM and lateral areas (1 patient), based on the distribution of each penetrating artery of the midbrain. The ...

Purpose:  Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission computed tomography (FDG-PET) hypometabolism is important for surgical planning in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), but its significance remains unclear in patients who do not have evidence of mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We examined surgical outcomes in a group of ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Localization of spinal CSF leaks in CSF hypovolemia is critical in directing focal therapy. In this retrospective review, our aim was to determine whether GdM was helpful in confirming and localizing spinal CSF leaks in patients in whom no leak was identified on a prior CTM.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Forty-one ...

In 1982, Goldberger described an electrocardiographic triad (SV(1) or SV(2) + RV(5) or RV(6) ≥3.5 mV, total QRS amplitude in each of the limb leads ≤0.8 mV, and R/S ratio <1 in lead V(4)) that was 70% sensitive and >90% specific for detecting severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. To confirm ...

The purpose of our study was to compare the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) derived from diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of prostate cancer (PCa) patients with three classes of pathological Gleason scores (GS). Patients whose GS met these criteria (GS 3 + 3, GS 3 + 4, and GS 4 + 3) ...

We assessed the performance of galactomannan and (1→3)-β-D-glucan in 29 serum samples from patients with multiple myeloma and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia without invasive fungal disease to address issues of false positivity and uninterpretable results previously reported among patients with these conditions. Galactomannan and (1→3)-β-D-glucan assays were not falsely elevated in any ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It is unclear whether patients with transient ischemic attack with an ABCD(2) score <4 can be safely evaluated within the following week as recommended by some national guidelines rather than in emergency. METHODS: A total of 1679 patients in the SOS-TIA prospective cohort had a definite or ...

OBJECTIVE: To address the issue of sexual function and fertility in PUV patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 47 patients (age > 18 years) treated for PUV in infancy 28 were contactable. They were sent a standard questionnaire requesting details on voiding dysfunction symptoms, and experience of erection, orgasm and ejaculation. RESULTS: Of ...

BACKGROUND: -Catheter ablation of ganglionated plexi (GP) in the left atrium has been proposed in different subgroup of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Anatomical studies found a high prevalence of GP in the posterior surface of the right atrium (RA). Experimental data suggested the potential role of right atrial GP ...

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrabeculation/noncompaction (LVHT) is associated with stroke or embolism (S/E). The aim of this study was to assess if the Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age >75 years, Diabetes, and Stroke (CHADS(2)) and CHA(2)DS(2)VASc scores are different between LVHT-patients with and without stroke/embolism. METHODS: Records of LVHT patients were ...

An auditory brainstem implant (ABI) that stimulates the cochlear nucleus in the brainstem was initially designed for patients with neurofibromatosis type-2. Recently, promising surgical outcomes after ABI have been reported in nontumor patients with sensorineural hearing loss including those with cochlear nerve aplasia or ossified cochlea. We herein describe the ...

We have retrospectively evaluated the uric acid control status and renal function changes over a period of up to 7 years in 35 patients with renal impairment who had stage 3 or higher chronic kidney disease (CKD; stage 3 in 32 patients, stage 4 in 2 patients, and stage 5 ...

OBJECTIVE:: To examine the clinicopathologic features and clonal relationship of multifocal intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas. BACKGROUND:: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms are increasingly diagnosed cystic precursor lesions of pancreatic cancer. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms can be multifocal and a potential cause of recurrence after partial pancreatectomy. METHODS:: ...

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of a wide range of assistance levels during neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) and pressure support ventilation (PSV) on respiratory pattern, breathing variability, and incidence of tidal volumes (V (T)) above 8 and 10 ml/kg in acute respiratory failure patients. METHODS: Eight increasing NAVA levels (0.5, ...