Glomus tumours in the long finger and in the thumb of a young patient with neurofibromatosis-1 (Nf-1)

Glomus tumours are rare in adults, and such tumours may be associated with neurofibromatosis-1 (Nf-1). Here we describe successful treatment of two glomus tumours initially in the long finger and, one year later, in the thumb in a 17-year young girl with Nf-1

The effect of harvest time of forage on carbohydrate digestion in horses quantified by in vitro and mobile bag techniques

publishedVersio

Mycobacterium tuberculosis causing tuberculous lymphadenitis in Maputo, Mozambique

BACKGROUND: The zoonosis bovine tuberculosis (TB) is known to be responsible for a considerable proportion of extrapulmonary TB. In Mozambique, bovine TB is a recognised problem in cattle, but little has been done to evaluate how Mycobacterium bovis has contributed to human TB. We here explore the public health risk for bovine TB in Maputo, by characterizing the isolates from tuberculous lymphadenitis (TBLN) cases, a common manifestation of bovine TB in humans, in the Pathology Service of Maputo Central Hospital, in Mozambique, during one year. RESULTS: Among 110 patients suspected of having TBLN, 49 had a positive culture result. Of those, 48 (98 %) were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and one for nontuberculous mycobacteria. Of the 45 isolates analysed by spoligotyping and Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Unit - Variable Number Tandem Repeat (MIRU-VNTR), all were M. tuberculosis. No M. bovis was found. Cervical TBLN, corresponding to 39 (86.7 %) cases, was the main cause of TBLN and 66.7 % of those where from HIV positive patients. We found that TBLN in Maputo was caused by a variety of M. tuberculosis strains. The most prevalent lineage was the EAI (n?=?19; 43.2 %). Particular common spoligotypes were SIT 48 (EAI1_SOM sublineage), SIT 42 (LAM 9), SIT 1 (Beijing) and SIT53 (T1), similar to findings among pulmonary cases. CONCLUSIONS: M. tuberculosis was the main etiological agent of TBLN in Maputo. M. tuberculosis genotypes were similar to the ones causing pulmonary TB, suggesting that in Maputo, cases of TBLN arise from the same source as pulmonary TB, rather than from an external zoonotic source. Further research is needed on other forms of extrapulmonary TB and in rural areas where there is high prevalence of bovine TB in cattle, to evaluate the risk of transmission of M. bovis from cattle to humans.Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency / Department for Research Cooperation (Sida/SAREC) through Eduardo Mondlane University and Karolinska Institutet Research and Training (KIRT) collaboratio

Cyclic Expression of Lhx2 Regulates Hair Formation

Hair is important for thermoregulation, physical protection, sensory activity, seasonal camouflage, and social interactions. Hair is generated in hair follicles (HFs) and, following morphogenesis, HFs undergo cyclic phases of active growth (anagen), regression (catagen), and inactivity (telogen) throughout life. The transcriptional regulation of this process is not well understood. We show that the transcription factor Lhx2 is expressed in cells of the outer root sheath and a subpopulation of matrix cells during both morphogenesis and anagen. As the HFs enter telogen, expression becomes undetectable and reappears prior to initiation of anagen in the secondary hair germ. In contrast to previously published results, we find that Lhx2 is primarily expressed by precursor cells outside of the bulge region where the HF stem cells are located. This developmental, stage- and cell-specific expression suggests that Lhx2 regulates the generation and regeneration of hair. In support of this hypothesis, we show that Lhx2 is required for anagen progression and HF morphogenesis. Moreover, transgenic expression of Lhx2 in postnatal HFs is sufficient to induce anagen. Thus, our results reveal an alternative interpretation of Lhx2 function in HFs compared to previously published results, since Lhx2 is periodically expressed, primarily in precursor cells distinct from those in the bulge region, and is an essential positive regulator of hair formation

National records of 3000 European bee and hoverfly species: A contribution to pollinator conservation

peer reviewedPollinators play a crucial role in ecosystems globally, ensuring the seed production of most flowering plants. They are threatened by global changes and knowledge of their distribution at the national and continental levels is needed to implement efficient conservation actions, but this knowledge is still fragmented and/or difficult to access. As a step forward, we provide an updated list of around 3000 European bee and hoverfly species, reflecting their current distributional status at the national level (in the form of present, absent, regionally extinct, possibly extinct or non-native). This work was attainable by incorporating both published and unpublished data, as well as knowledge from a large set of taxonomists and ecologists in both groups. After providing the first National species lists for bees and hoverflies for many countries, we examine the current distributional patterns of these species and designate the countries with highest levels of species richness. We also show that many species are recorded in a single European country, highlighting the importance of articulating European and national conservation strategies. Finally, we discuss how the data provided here can be combined with future trait and Red List data to implement research that will further advance pollinator conservation

Reduction of metal artifacts in MR imaging of patients with total hip arthroplasty

Aims of the studies: To apply and compare MR imaging metal artifact reducing sequences (MARS) including subtraction imaging after contrast application in patients with metal-on-metal (MoM) hip prostheses, investigate the prevalence and characteristics of periprosthetic abnormalities, as well as their relation with pain and risk factors. [Paper I]. To evaluate the distortion and artifact area of metal in MR images and to compare artifact reduction using different MARS in patients with MoM and polyethylene-on-metal (PoM) total hip prostheses (THA). [Paper II]. To develop methods for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of MRI artifacts near metallic prostheses, and to compare the efficiency of different artifact suppression techniques with different types of hip prostheses. [Paper III]. To investigate prevalence and characteristics of periprosthetic changes in PoM total hip arthroplasty patients using MR metal artifact reducing sequences (MARS). [Paper IV] Results: TSE VAT detected the highest number of osteolyses. Soft tissue mass (STM), effusion, and capsular thickening were common, whereas osteolyses in acetabulum and femur were less frequent. Contrast enhancement occurred in bone, synovia, joint capsule, and the periphery of STM. There was no significant relation between MRI findings and pain or risk factors. [Paper I]. The T1 VAT+SEMAC sequence showed the least distortion compared to T1 VAT and T1-hiBW (150°, 127° and 102°, p<0.001, in MoM; 152°, 143° and 128°, p≤0.014, in PoM). The artifact area was smaller in MoM prostheses using the T1 VAT sequence compared to T1 hiBW and T1 VAT+SEMAC (2506 mm compared to T1-hiBW (4296 mm STIR-hiBW (MoM 4559 mm by up to 50% compared to TSE, but did not reduce through-plane artifacts. SEMAC reduced through-plane artifacts by 60-80% compared to TSE and VAT. SEMAC in-plane artifacts were from 20 % higher (6 encoding steps) to 50% lower (16 steps) than VAT. Total artifacts were reduced by 60-80% in the best sequence (SEMAC, 16 steps) compared to the worst (TSE). The titanium prosthesis produced 3-4 times lower artifact scores than the other prostheses. [Paper III]. Prevalence of STM was numerically higher in the symptomatic than in the asymptomatic group (64 % versus 36 %), as was osteolysis in acetabular (73% vs. 36%) and femoral bones (55% vs. 36%), although these differences were not statistically significant. Acetabular osteolysis was significantly larger in the symptomatic group (p=0.04), whereas the size and capsular thickness of the STM, and the osteolysis of femur were not significantly different. [Paper IV] Conclusions: MARS and gadolinium subtraction imaging are useful for evaluation of complications to MoM prosthesis. TSE VAT had the highest sensitivity for osteolysis. Contrast enhancement might indicate activation of aseptic lymphocyte dominated vasculitis associated lesion (ALVAL). Pain, small head, or steep prosthesis inclination angle are not useful predictors of periprosthetic abnormalities, and wide indications for MR follow-up are warranted. [Paper I]. Metal artifacts in MR imaging examinations of hip prostheses can be evaluated for distortion using a distortion angle (ARA) and the degree of signal artifact as determined by measuring the largest cross-sectional artifact area. T1 VAT+SEMAC showed the least distortion; T1 VAT and STIR-mRFp were most efficient for reduction of the artifact area. [Paper II]. A rectilinear grid phantom is useful for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of artifacts provoked by different MR imaging protocols and prostheses models. VAT and SEMAC were superior to TSE with high bandwidth. A proper number of z-encoding steps in SEMAC was critical. The titanium prosthesis caused least artifacts. [Paper III]. MARS detected osteolyses in acetabular and femoral bone preoperatively with good precision. Acetabular osteolysis was significantly larger in the symptomatic group. There were numerically more periprosthetic changes in the symptomatic compared to the asymptomatic control group, but this latter difference was not statistically significant. Finally, nearly exclusively the fluid content of the soft tissue masses was homogeneous. [Paper IV

Assessment of perfusion in normal carpal bones with dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MRI at 3 tesla.

PURPOSE: To investigate the normal enhancement patterns of the scaphoid, lunate, and capitate bones with dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was approved by the hospital's Ethics Committee. Nineteen volunteers (13 female, 6 male; mean age 38 years) were examined and all gave written consent. Perfusion was assessed at 3 Tesla using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. After two-dimensional (2D) motion correction of the data set, regions of interest were placed in the capitate, lunate, and distal and proximal pole of scaphoid bone and from the mean signal intensities (SI), the enhancement was computed. The four locations were compared for time to peak, delay time, maximum enhancement, and maximum slope using Friedman's two-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: Typical SI versus time curves revealed two components: a faster component with strong contrast enhancement and a slow component with prolonged enhancement. The mean value (standard deviation, SD) for maximum enhancement was 51 (33)% in the capitate, 54 (25)% in the lunate, 51 (34)% in the proximal pole and 51 (28)% in the distal pole of the scaphoid. The result of the Friedman test showed no significant difference (P < 0.05) in the perfusion variables between the capitate, lunate, and distal and proximal scaphoid bones. CONCLUSION: Assessment of perfusion in normal carpal bone using contrast-enhanced MRI is possible. Optimization of the method and understanding of the normal perfusion may allow evaluation of pathological conditions such as osteonecrosis. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Increased perfusion in dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MRI correlates with areas of bone repair and of bone necrosis in patients with Kienböck's disease

Background: Osteonecrosis of the lunate, Kienböck's disease, can lead to fragmentation of the lunate, carpal collapse, and severe osteoarthritis. Since the etiology of Kienböck's disease is impaired circulation, a diagnostic method capable of assessing perfusion would be valuable. Recent studies have suggested that dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MR examinations at 3 T can assess perfusion in healthy carpal bones. Purpose: To evaluate the use of DCE-MR for assessing perfusion in the lunate bone in patients with Kienböck's disease. Furthermore, to compare perfusion with histopathology with a focus on bone viability. Study Type: Prospective case–control study. Population: Fourteen patients with Kienböck's disease and a control group of 19 healthy subjects. Field Strength: 3 T with T1-weighted fat-saturated contrast-enhanced gradient echo series. Assessment: Features of the enhancement curves from the DCE-MR examinations, time to peak (TTP), maximum slope (MS), and maximum enhancement (ME) assessed by a radiologist. Six of 14 patients were surgerized with lunate excision, allowing comparison between features of the enhancement curves and histopathology. Statistical Tests: Mann–Whitney U-test. P < 0.05 was considered a statistically significant difference. Results: Patients with Kienböck's disease showed significantly higher and faster perfusion parameters compared with the control group, the mean value of the TTP in patients was 126.73 sec, in controls 189.79 sec (P = 0.024), ME in patients 173.55 AU, in controls 28.46 AU (P < 0.001), and MS in patients 5.04 AU, in controls 1.06 AU (P < 0.001). When compared with histopathology, increased perfusion was seen in areas of bone formation but also in necrosis. Areas of normal bone showed low perfusion. Data Conclusion: DCE-MRI at 3 T can diagnose altered perfusion in patients with Kienböck's disease. Increased perfusion cannot definitely be used as a marker of bone viability. Level of Evidence: 1. Technical Efficacy: Stage 3. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018