Nasal anomalies review with CT or MRI: from congenital to malignant.

Learning Objectives. To describe imaging findings of a wide spectrum of uncommon nasal cavity masses evaluated at our institution by CT, CBCT and MR imaging, clinically and pathologically proven. Background. In this work we present a succinct review of disease illustrated by a retrospective case series of nasalcavity masses, evaluated at our institution. between 2010 and 2013. Patients have been studied with different imaging modalities including multiraw computed tomography (CT), cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MR) to illustrate the findings and to summarize the main diagnostic keypoints for the differential diagnosis of nasal masses. Clinicopathological correlation is also reported and imaging findings we present have been isthopathologically proven. Images aid in recognition and characterization of the lesions. Many different types of lesions may involve the nasal cavities and imaging studies, CBCT, CT and MR, provide anatomical details and could be helpful first in differentiating benign to malignant lesions and secondary in characterization of the lesion. Referring to non neoplastic lesions, rinoliths, piogenic granuloma and septal mucocele are reported. Referring to benign and borderline tumors osteoma, hamartoma, hemangioma, hemangiopericytoma, cemento-ossifying fibroma, antrochoanal polip and inverted papilloma are reported. Referring to malignant neoplasms intestinal type adenocarcinoma, esthesioneuroblastoma and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma are reported. CONCLUSION. This review of uncommon nasal masses studied with different imaging modalities (CT, CBCT and MRI)should be useful in differential diagnosis of the wide spectrum of nasal tumors and non tumors masses

Clinical Appropriateness of Coronary Angiography

Background: The study evaluates the appropriateness of coronary angiography and the agreement between the used method and the presence of coronary artery disease by the indications proposed from American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (1999). Method: The guidelines allow us to associate to Class I and IIa the judgment of appropriateness, to the Class IIb of uncertainty; to Class III of inappropriateness. Result: On 761 coronary angiography 76.74% were appropriate, 23.13% unsuitable, 0.13% uncertain. The group with the greater value of appropriateness is that one with unstable angina (97.9% appropriate); that one with the lower value is the group with non-specific symptomatology (26.7% appropriate). Conclusion: Considering the false positives, it is important the rate of the greater sensibility and the lower specificity of the not invasive tests carried before coronary angiography, as well as, the probable presence of microcircle disease. Among the false negatives, we must considered the number of patients with effective coronary artery disease which has “jumped” the intermediate stage of the not invasive diagnostic process, before the coronary angiography, but have obtained the same final benefit

Microvascular angina in diabetic patients with uninjured coronary arteries

Abstrac

Studio di segmentazione morfovolumetrica in pazienti con declino cognitivo lieve amnestico (aMCI) e demenza di Alzheimer (AD) rispetto ad un gruppo di controllo (Normal Aging Brain, NAB)

SCOPO: Presentare i risultati preliminari di un’analisi di segmentazione morfovolumetrica (VBM) eseguita in pazienti con aMCI ed AD rispetto ad una popolazione di controllo (NAB). Tali dati saranno in futuro correlati ad altri parametri clinico-psicologici raccolti (età, sesso, scolarità, MMSE, ADL, IADL). MATERIALI E METODI: Sono stati sottoposti ad esame RM encefalo 103 soggetti, utilizzando uno scanner RM GE Signa HDxt da 1,5T ed acquisendo, tra le altre, una sequenza Sag 3D T1 FSPGR IR preped ASSET che è stata utilizzata per l’analisi VBM eseguita con il tool sienax (FSL). I risultati sono stati valutati in termini di valori medi e deviazioni standard mediante applicazione del t-test tra gruppi (α=0.05). Sono stati esclusi pz. con dataset RM incompleti o inficiati, con severa leucoaraiosi o altri insulti parenichimali o reperti accessori che potessero inficiare i risultati delle analisi; a seguito di tale selezione la popolazione di studio è risultata pari a 58 soggetti (27♂ e 31♀; età media 72,95 / range 61-85 / dev. stand. 6,66; naMCI=21, nAD=19, nNAB=18). RISULTATI: Differenze statisticamente significative: tra i vol. di st. grigia (p=0.002) e vol. cerebrali globali (p=0.004) tra AD e NAB; tra i vol. di st. grigia (p=0.005) e vol. cerebrali globali (p=0.004) tra aMCI e AD. Non evidenziate differenze statisticamente significative nei dati di segmentazione tra aMCI e NAB o tra i vol. della st. bianca dei tre gruppi. CONCLUSIONI: I risultati ottenuti, in linea con la letteratura, evidenziano certamente l’importanza di questo tipo di analisi ma al tempo stesso confermano come sia necessario utilizzare altre tecniche di studio per differenziare quadri clinici oggi non discriminabili con tecniche di imaging convenzionali o tecniche di analisi che fanno riferimento alla sola morfovolumetria cerebrale

Dyslipidemia management with medical nutrition therapy: current status and perspectives

In Italy, patients with dyslipidennia account for 15-20% of the adult population with major healthcare and socio-economic impact. According to the ESC/EAS guidelines for the management of dyslipidemias, desirable cholesterol and triglyceride levels can be achieved with a synergy between drug treatment and adequate diet therapy. However, what diets should be adopted? In this review article, different types of dietary treatments are compared, with a special focus on diet education. The new scientific frontier of nutrigenetics is also discussed

A Prototype of Wireless Sensor for Data Acquisition in Energy Management Systems

A prototype of a wireless sensor for monitoring electrical loads in a smart building is designed and implemented. The sensor can acquire the main electrical parameters of the connected load and, optionally, other physical quantities (e.g., room temperature). Unlike other wireless sensors in literature, the proposed sensor is cheap and small, exploits the Wi-Fi network that is commonly available inside buildings, and uses a lightweight message-based communication paradigm. Besides the sensor node, two management nodes are also implemented to manage sensor reconfiguration and the persistence of data. The measured data are stored in an SQLite database and can be used for various purposes, e.g., for the implementation of an Energy Management System (EMS) for optimal use of electricity within the building. Hardware and software components of the proposed sensor are thoroughly described, and their correct operation is verified experimentally

HYPERURICEMIA IN PATIENTS WITH LEFT VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION

Introduction: Hyperuricemia is a cardiovascular risk factor associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, conditions that are involved in the genesis of atherosclerotic disease and in the progression of ischemic heart disease to heart failure. The aim of our retrospective study is to evaluate the variations of serum uric acid level in patients with ventricular dysfunction, in order to highlight any correlations. Methods: We enrolled 118 patients. In our population we identified three groups: patients with systolic and diastolic dysfunction (ejection fraction <50% and E wave 50% and E wave50% and E wave> A wave, n = 54). All patients underwent echocardiography and laboratory test (VES, PCR and serum uric acid). Results: Patients with diastolic dysfunction with or without systolic dysfunction showed higher values of serum uric acid than patients with normal ventricular function (6.54 ± 0.72 vs. 5.42 ± 0.78, p = 0.016). The linear regression in the group of patients with systolic dysfunction, showed a inverse relationship between the two variables analyzed, so with increasing serum uric acid there is a proportional reduction of the ejection fraction. Conclusions: Patients with isolated left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and patients with systolic and diastolic dysfunction had higher uric acid levels than patients with normal ventricular function and the progressive deterioration of systolic function correlates with a gradual increase in the values of serum uric acid