Acute alcohol consumption is associated with increased interatrial electromechanical delay in healthy men

Background: Acute alcohol consumption can cause atrial fibrillation in patients with, and without, heart disease. Increased atrial electromechanical delay (EMD) has been associated with atrial fibrillation. We evaluated the atrial conduction properties by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) echocardiography in healthy men following acute alcohol intake. Methods: Thirty healthy male volunteers were included in this study. Baseline ECG, heart rate, blood pressure, and TDI echocardiographic findings were compared to readings taken one hour after drinking six 12-oz cans of beer (76.8 g of ethanol). Results: Although the blood pressure and heart rate remained similar before and one hour after alcohol intake, Pmax and Pd values were significantly prolonged (114.2 &#177; 10.4 vs 100.8 &#177; 10.6, p = 0.002; 50.6 &#177; 9.6 vs 34.5 &#177; 8.8, p < 0.0001). Interatrial EMD was significantly increased after drinking alcohol compared to the baseline (19.8 &#177; 9.2 vs 14.0 &#177; 5.5 ms, p < 0.0002). Conclusions: Acute moderate alcohol intake was associated with an increased interatrial EMD obtained by TDI echocardiography. This finding may help explain how these patients express increased susceptibility to atrial fibrillation. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 6: 682&#8211;686

Contribution of SPECT/CT to Evaluate Urinary Leakage Suspicion in Renal Transplant Patients

WOS: 000444969500012PubMed ID: 30059433It is known that renal scintigraphy is the best imaging modality in the diagnosis of urinary leakage. Usually, only planar images are diagnostic but sometimes they are unclear when urinoma is small and adjacent to kidney or bladder. In other respects, planar images can be false-positive in the case of increased blood flow of abdominal wall. We suggested using SPECT/CT in differential diagnosis. An atlas of SPECT/CT is presented, which includes 3 cases that urinoma was diagnosed by SPECT/CT, which were unclear on planar images, and one case that urinary leakage suspicion on planar image was ruled out by SPECT/CT

The Contribution of Fluorine F-18-FDG PET/CT to Lung Cancer Diagnosis, Staging and Treatment Planning

WOS: 000435003600004PubMed ID: 29889029Objective: Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death throughout the world, and the correct choice of treatment based on early diagnosis and staging increases the chance of survival. The present study aims to investigate the contribution of fluorine 18-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-18-FDG PET/CT) to the management of lung cancer. Methods: In this study, 50 patients who underwent F-18-FDG PET/CT for lung cancer diagnosis and staging between February 2012 and February 2014 were included. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the primary lung lesion along with other findings of F-18-FDG PET/CT and the results of histopathologic and conventional examinations were evaluated retrospectively. The mean survival time of patients was determined, and the findings were compared by using statistical methods. Results: Histopathologic examinations revealed 51 lung cancers in 50 patients. The sensitivity, accuracy and positive predictive value of F-18-FDG PET/CT in detecting primary malignancy were 94%, 94%, 100%, respectively. Adenocarcinoma (n=23, 16.8 +/- 13.5) and squamous cell carcinoma (n=15, 17.9 +/- 5.6) did not differ significantly regarding their mean SUVmax values (p=0.2). A statistically significant positive correlation (r=0.4) was identified between tumor size and SUVmax value for 51 tumors (p=0.002). The F-18-FDG PET/CT result was true negative in nine, false positive in six, true positive in two, and false negative in four patients who underwent histopathologic evaluation of their lymph nodes. The F-18-FDG PET/CT changed treatment planning in 34% of the patients. No significant relationship was identified between SUVmax value of the tumor and patient survival in patients (p=0.118). Conclusion: The present study concluded that PET/CT was an efficient method in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer since it provided useful information in addition to conventional methods. It was also observed that PET/CT scanning resulted in a change in therapeutic plans in the majority of patients. However, there was no statistically significant relationship between survival and the SUVmax of the primary mass

The effects of regular swimming exercise during sodium valproate treatment on seizure behaviors and EEG recordings in pentylenetetrazole-kindled rats

We investigated the effects of alone/combined regular swimming exercise and sodium valproate on epileptic seizure behaviors and EEG recordings, anti-oxidative mechanism, learning, and memory in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-kindled rats. Forty-eight healthy rats were randomly divided into eight equal groups as control (CONT), swimming exercise (EX), sodium valproate (SV), SV+EX, PTZ, EX+PTZ, SV+PTZ and SV+EX+PTZ. The rats were forced to regular swimming exercise for 60 min every other day, 13 doses of PTZ (40 mg/kg) were given to induce epileptic seizures and 200 mg/kg SV was given for 28 days. Epileptic seizures were evaluated by visual observation and EEG recordings (total spike numbers and number of epileptiform discharges). Memory and learning skills were assessed with passive avoidance test. According to our visual seizure observations, seizure latency was prolonged only in SV+EX+PTZ (p < 0.001) group, seizure severity score decreased in SV+PTZ (p < 0.05) and SV+EX+PTZ (p < 0.001) groups and seizure frequency was reduced in SV+PTZ (p < 0,001), EX+PTZ (p < 0,001), and SV+EX+PTZ (p < 0,001) groups. Total spike numbers and number of epileptiform discharges highly increased in PTZ group, whereas they decreased in swimming exercise and/or SV treatment groups. The most effective result was seen in the combined therapy group. Memory deficit was observed in PTZ -kindling group, but it didn't change with exercise or SV. Based on our results, regular swimming exercise had positive effects on PTZ-induced seizure frequency, and combined therapy of regular swimming exercise and SV is the most effective way to ameliorate visual seizure behaviors and decrease spike numbers and number of epileptiform discharges according to EEG recordings. Regular swimming exercise could be an alternative option to reduce the dose of SV and the side effects of SV can be avoided in clinical aspects

Hydrothermal zinc oxide nanowire growth with different zinc salts

The effect of the use of different zinc salts as zinc sources during hydrothermal growth of zinc oxide nanowires was systematically investigated. Change in the temperature, pH, and transmittance of the growth solutions prepared with three different zinc salts was monitored and used to provide a broad explanation to the effect of the salt. In addition to conventional heating process, microwave heating of the growth solutions was also performed, and differences in the ZnO nanowires synthesized through both heating methods were examined. It was found that ionization of zinc in growth solutions is influencing the formation of ZnO nanowires leading to growth with different aspect ratios, and zinc acetate dihydrate salt allows the synthesis of nanowires with the highest aspect ratio

I-131 uptake in malignant fibrous histiocytoma

WOS: 000247557700024PubMed ID: 1758135

Risk factors for persistent disease in papillary thyroid carcinoma with lymph node metastasis

WOS: 000378613000006PubMed ID: 26967062PurposeIt is known that the presence of neck lymph node (LN) metastasis is correlated with persistent disease in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients. After appropriate therapy, most patients become disease free, whereas some may still have persistent disease. The present study aimed to determine the potential variables affecting the clinical course of the disease and persistent disease patterns in PTC patients with LN metastasis.Materials and methodsThe study group included consecutive PTC patients with LN metastasis. Clinicopathological characteristics and persistent disease pattern during the follow-up period were examined to identify risk factors for persistent disease using univariate and multivariate analyses.ResultsAt the end of a median follow-up of 84 months, 90 (69%) patients became disease free and 40 (31%) patients had persistent disease. Univariate analysis showed that male sex, older age at initial diagnose (45 years), larger tumor size (>4cm), presence of lateral cervical LN metastasis, extrathyroidal invasion, and higher number of metastatic LN (10) were significant predictors for persistent disease. Multivariate analysis showed that extrathyroidal involvement, presence of lateral cervical LN metastasis, and older age at initial diagnosis (45 years) were independent predictors for persistent disease.ConclusionDespite the presence of LN involvement, most patients may become disease free with therapy. Patients with extrathyroidal invasion, lateral cervical LN involvement, and those at least 45 years old at initial diagnosis are more likely to have persistent disease. However, disease control can be achieved with close clinical follow-up and therapy

Two Different Causes of Decreased Activity on Ipsilateral Iliac Artery in Renal Transplant Scintigraphy

WOS: 000435346400033PubMed ID: 2974260

Comparison of Renal Transplant Scintigraphy With Renal Resistance Index for Prediction of Early Graft Dysfunction and Evaluation of Acute Tubular Necrosis and Acute Rejection

WOS: 000330356100010PubMed ID: 24152633Purpose: We discuss whether resistance index (RI) and renal scintigraphy obtained within 48 hours after operation could predict the early graft dysfunction. We also aimed to assess the uses of scintigraphy and RI in diagnosis of acute rejection (AR) and acute tubular necrosis (ATN). Methods: A total of 153 studies were performed in 109 patients. T-1/2 of perfusion peak, perfusion curve grades, and accumulation index (R20/3) were used as scintigraphic parameters. Baseline studies obtained within 48 hours after transplantation were evaluated for prediction of early graft dysfunction. All data were then assessed for specific diagnosis. Results: Scintigraphic parameters were significantly higher in patients with delayed graft function (DGF) and slow graft function (SGF) than in patients with immediate graft function. These parameters in DGF were also considerably different from those in SGF. The mean RI was significantly high in DGF, but there was no difference between SGF and immediate graft function. In diagnostic groups, the mean values of all tests were significantly different between normal functioning grafts and pathological grafts (ATN + AR). There was no significant difference between AR and ATN. However, renal scintigraphy has higher sensitivity and specificity for AR as compared with RI of Doppler ultrasonography (US). Conclusions: In predicting graft dysfunction and separating normal functioning graft from pathological graft (ATN + AR), renal scintigraphy provides more accurate information than Doppler US. Even though it is superior to Doppler US, renal scintigraphy also cannot reliably separate ATN from AR. The major advantage of renal scintigraphy is the early detection of reduced renal function