External Jugular Vein Aneurysm Presenting as a Cervical Mass

Venous aneurysms are rare causes of neck mass. Among neck veins, aneurysms of the external jugular vein are extremely uncommon. We present a case of a woman with a history of prior internal jugular vein catheterization who presented at a rural primary health care unit with a nontender progressively enlarging swelling in the right supraclavicular region. B-mode and Doppler ultrasound examination revealed a saccular dilatation of the external jugular vein, suggesting a posttraumatic venous aneurysm. Saccular aneurysms of the external jugular vein are uncommon and only rarely lead to serious complications. Access to ultrasound examination can allow early detection of this entity

ECB's unconventional monetary policy and cross-financial-market correlation dynamics

This paper examines the effects of the unconventional monetary policy (UMP) launched by the European Central Bank on the cross-market correlations between bond, stock and currency forward markets. Using a dynamic conditional correlation analysis and several robustness tests, we investigate possible differences on the correlation dynamics across four UMP periods and across a range of developed countries and emerging market economies. The empirical results indicate a spillover effect on both developed and emerging markets, although this impact is not identical across assets and countries. We also find that the new UMP phase started in 2014 has a more prominent impact, highlighting differences on the impact between the earlier and the new wave of UMPs and across cross-market correlations. © 2019 Elsevier Inc

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Production in Pseudomonas sp. phDV1 Strain Grown on Phenol as Carbon Sources

Pseudomonas strains have a variety of potential uses in bioremediation and biosynthesis of biodegradable plastics. Pseudomonas sp. strain phDV1, a Gram-negative phenol degrading bacterium, has been found to utilize monocyclic aromatic compounds as sole carbon source via the meta-cleavage pathway. The degradation of aromatic compounds comprises an important step in the removal of pollutants. The present study aimed to investigate the ability of the Pseudomonas sp. strain phDV1 to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and examining the effect of phenol concentration on PHA production. The bacterium was cultivated in minimal medium supplemented with different concentrations of phenol ranging from 200–600 mg/L. The activity of the PHA synthase, the key enzyme which produces PHA, was monitored spectroscopically in cells extracts. Furthermore, the PHA synthase was identified by mass spectrometry in cell extracts analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Transmission electron micrographs revealed abundant electron-transparent intracellular granules. The isolated biopolymer was confirmed to be polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) by FTIR, NMR and MALDI-TOF/TOF analyses. The ability of strain Pseudomonas sp. phDV1 to remove phenol and to produce PHB makes the strain a promising biocatalyst in bioremediation and biosynthesis of biodegradable plastic

The Beauty of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound: Spot Diagnoses

Introduction Ultrasound is a powerful technique in musculoskeletal (MSK) imaging, and it can replace MR imaging in many specific clinical scenarios. This article will feature some common and less common spot diagnoses in musculoskeletal ultrasound. Spot diagnosis Cases were collected by members of the Educational Committee of the ESSR ( European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology) with expertise in musculoskeletal ultrasound. Sixteen clinical entities are discussed based on the features that allow US spot diagnosis. Conclusion Clinical history, location, and ultrasound appearance are the keys to spot diagnoses when performing musculoskeletal ultrasound. Key Points:  Citation Format </jats:p

Clinical and imaging findings in multifocal orbital vascular lesions: a case series.

A variety vascular disorders can affect the orbit, often manifesting as solitary space-occupying lesions. This study presents a case series of 3 patients with multi-focal orbital vascular conditions emphasizing on the clinical and imaging findings which could assist in the diagnosis and treatment planning. Retrospective consecutive case series of 3 patients with multifocal orbital vascular conditions treated at the Department of Ophthalmology of the University Hospital of Heraklion, in Crete, Greece. Presenting symptoms included diplopia with compensatory head tilt (1 case) and eyelid protrusion enhanced by Valsalva maneuver (2 cases). MRI and CT studies showed multiple contrast-enhancing vascular lesions, associated with calcifications (1 case). Two lesions were surgically removed, proving to be orbital varices. Orbital vascular lesions may present multi-focally and displace adjacent structures. MRI and CT imaging may reveal their multi-focal presence as well as associated features, such as phleboliths