Mill of non-neoplastic cranial complications of malignant disorders

Fitoz, Suat/0000-0002-0180-0013WOS: 000256501400001PubMed: 18553277PURPOSE To depict the well-known and atypical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of non-neoplastic central nervous system (CNS) complications of extra-CNS tumors and portray additional information from advanced techniques, such as diffusion and perfusion MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS MRI scans of 92 patients were retrospectively evaluated based on the non-neoplastic effects induced by treatment or the remote effects of the tumor itself. Patients with brain metastases and/or patients who had whole brain radiation therapy were excluded so as not to take the primary radiation effects into consideration. RESULTS Sixteen patients (9 females and 7 males; age range, 11-68 years; median age, 45 years) had positive findings other than brain metastases. Six patients had posterior reversible encephalopathies, 3 patients had chemotherapy toxicity to the white matter, and 2 patients had acute strokes involving the posterior fossa and bilateral anterior circulation territory. Three patients had bilateral radionecrosis of the temporal lobe due to radiotherapy given for the vicinal tumor (nasopharyngeal carcinoma). One patient had encephalitis in the bitemporal region and one patient had cerebellar degeneration, each of whom had a paraneoplastic syndrome. CONCLUSION One of the major and noteworthy complications of malignancies directly affecting survival is brain metastasis, but non-neoplastic complications are infrequently encountered and are thus underestimated, either due to the absence of a true diagnosis or the lack of information pertaining to the clinical outcome. It is important for the radiologist to recognize these effects so as to help the clinician develop an optimal treatment strategy and avoid irreversible complications

Effects of weight loss on metabolic control, blood pressure, carotid intima-media thickness and abdominal fat distribution in obese geriatric women

Varli, Murat/0000-0003-1176-5255; ARAS, Sevgi/0000-0002-5356-303XWOS: 000285727900003Background and aims: Obesity is a growing health concern worldwide. Few studies have examined the effects of weight loss on metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors in obese elderly. We, therefore, examined the effects of weight loss on metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, carotid intima-media thickness, and abdominal fat distribution in obese geriatric women. Methods: Thirteen obese women aged 66-83 years (mean age 71.2 +/- 4.9 yrs) with a body mass index of 35.6-49 kg/m(2) (mean body mass index 39.9 +/- 4.3 kg/m(2)) were evaluated. Only subjects with uncomplicated obesity were included. Anthropometric parameters, lipid levels, glycemic control, insulin sensitivity homocysteine levels, blood pressure, carotid intima-media thickness and abdominal fat distribution were made before and after a 6-month Orlistat plus hypocaloric diet. Results: Subjects lost an average of 8.4 +/- 1.2 kg (9.4%). Total cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c, fasting insulin, and insulin resistance decreased significantly, whereas other parameters including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, and homocystein did not change after weight loss. In addition, substantial reductions of 24-hour ambulatory systolic and nighttime systolic blood pressures were observed at the end of the study, but not the diastolic blood pressure associated with weight loss. Both carotid intima-media thickness and abdominal fat thicknesses such as intra-abdominal fat and subcutaneous fat decreased significantly after weight loss. Conclusions: Moderate weight loss over 6 months in uncomplicated obese older women produced substantial improvements in the cholesterol levels, hemoglobin A1c, insulin resistance and other cardiovascular risk factors including blood pressure, carotid intima-media thickness and abdominal fat distribution. Obesity and Metabolism 2010; 6: 50-56

Massive Primary Intraventricular Hemorrhage Due to Idiopathic Lateral Posterior Choroidal Artery Aneurysm: Case Illustration

Peripheral aneurysms of the lateral posterior choroidal artery are rare and mostly in association with vascular and occlusive pathologies such as moyamoya disease. To the best of our knowledge, pure lateral posterior choroidal artery aneurysms without association of any other vascular diseases are unique and only 3 cases have been reported in the literature

Orbital wall infarction mimicking periorbital cellulitis in a patient with sickle cell disease

Ciftci, Ergin/0000-0002-4955-160X; Fitoz, Suat/0000-0002-0180-0013; Ertem, Mehmet/0000-0002-8173-7885WOS: 000244724900010PubMed: 17297619Orbital wall infarction and subperiosteal haematomas are unusual manifestations of sickling disorders. Here we report an 11-year-old girl with sickle cell anaemia having multiple skull infarctions including the orbital bony structures associated with subperiosteal haematomas. The diagnosis was made by MRI, which showed bone marrow changes and associated haemorrhagic collections. The patient was successfully managed without surgical intervention

Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Asperger's Syndrome: Correlations with Neuropsychological Test Scores

ozguven, halise/0000-0002-9355-2757; Munir, Kerim M/0000-0002-2404-1806WOS: 000264595300003PubMed: 19306123Objectives: It has been shown that autistic spectrum patients have impaired theory of mind (ToM) performance; however no study has investigated the relationship between ToM performance and brain neurochemistry in these patients. The present study aimed to investigate the correlations between dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA)/choline (Cho), NAA/creatine (Cr), and Cho/Cr values based on H-1 magnetic resonance spectroscopy and ToM tests. Method: The study sample included 13 adult, right-handed, Caucasian males with Asperger's syndrome (AS) (age range: 17-37 years) and 20 controls matched by age, gender, handedness, and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Revised (WAIS-R) full-scale IQ scores. Results: AS cases had significantly lower ToM performance. DLPFC NAA/Cho levels were inversely correlated to ToM scores (r = -0.738, P = 0.004). On the other hand, ToM performance improved as DLPFC Cho/Cr increased (r = 0,655, P = 0.015). ACC MRS variables were not significantly correlated with ToM performance in the AS group. No significant correlation was observed between ACC or DLPFC MRS variables and ToM performance in the control group. Discussion: Because NAA/Cho was inversely correlated with ToM performance and Cho/Cr was correlated with ToM performance, it can be suggested that the Cho level was related to better ToM test performance in the AS group. An increase in the Cho peak was associated with an increase in membrane breakdown or turnover The Cho peak was also thought to reflect cellular density and astrocytosis. It is suggested that membrane turnover and astrocytosis might affect cognitive functioning.FIC NIH HHSUnited States Department of Health & Human ServicesNational Institutes of Health (NIH) - USANIH Fogarty International Center (FIC) [D43 TW005807