Diffusion weighted MRI in evaluation of transplanted kidney: Preliminary clinical experience

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic performance ofDiffusion Weighted (DW) magnetic resonance(MR) imaging in evaluation of transplantedkidneys.Patients and methods: One hundred twelve patientswith transplanted kidney from live kidney donorswere evaluated with coronal T2w and DW MRI ofthe kidney. There was 86 males and 26 females andthe mean age was 26.911.5ys (range 10-55).Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) wascalculated and the kidneys studied for any areasdiffusion restriction. Our patients classified into 2groups: Group 1 included 81 patients with stablekidney function and normal serum creatinine andthe second group included 31 patients with alteredkidney function, it includes 18 patients with chronicnephropathies and 13 patients with acute cellularrejection.Results: The mean ADC values for group 1 was2.70.26 x 10-3 mm2 /sec (range 1.93-3.6). In casesof chronic nephropathies, the mean ADC valueswas 2.30.22mm2/sec (range 2.05-2.77) while incases of acute cellular rejection it was1.80.2mm2/sec (range 1.7-2.2). When we use the2.4mm2/sec as a low cutoff ADC value fordiagnosis of normal kidney function, the sensitivity,specificity and overall accuracy for DWI MRI was80%, 96% and 93.5% respectively.When we used the ADC value of 2mm2/sec as acutoff value between acute cellular rejection andchronic nephropathies, the sensitivity, specificityand overall accuracy of DWI MRI was 90%, 98%and 90% respectively.Conclusion: In this relatively large study includingstable and abnormal function in transplantedkidneys, we can conclude that DW MRI isrelatively a new technique that allows diagnosis oftransplanted kidney with normal and alteredfunction

Adrenal Hemangioma: Findings at Multidetector CT with Short Review of the Literature

We present the computed tomography (CT) imaging findings of a 44-year-old male with incidentally discovered right adrenal hemangioma displaying imaging pattern of nonadenomatous pattern, associated with multiple hepatic hemangiomata using 64-slice multidetector scanner with reviewing published CT imaging findings with short review of the literature

Static T2w MRU in Noncalcular Urinary Obstruction: Comparison of Its Two Techniques

The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of T2-weighted (T2w) MR urography (MRU) techniques — the standard MRU using fast spin echo (FSE) and postprocessing maximum intensity projection (MIP) and the single-shot MRU — in the diagnosis of ureteric obstruction in patients with noncalcular urinary obstruction. The study included 150 patients admitted to our center between January 2005 and December 2006. There were 203 renal units with noncalcular obstruction; 53 patients had bilateral obstruction. Patients with calcular obstruction were excluded. There were 85 males and 65 females with a mean age of 50 (range: 5–83) years. All patients were examined with static MRU using both single-shot (thick slab) and multisection MRU. Using single-shot MRU, we obtained images at the direct coronal and oblique coronal, as well as sagittal, planes for each renal unit. Postprocessing MIP for the standard coronal heavy T2 source images to obtain coronal and oblique images was done. Among the obstructed 203 units, the intrinsic causes were present in 157 units (151 were stricture and six were ureteric tumors), while the extrinsic causes were present in 46 units (35 bladder tumor, four ureterocele, five retroperitoneal fibrosis, one prostatic tumor, and one local pelvic recurrence after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer). The overall accuracy of single-shot MRU was 89% and was 93% for the multisection MRU in cases of intrinsic ureteric obstruction, while in cases of extrinsic obstruction, it was 20% for single-shot MRU and 96% for multisection MRU. T2w static MRU is a very useful technique in diagnosing noncalcular ureteric obstruction. Multisection MRU has a high diagnostic accuracy and reliability over that of the single-shot technique. The single-section technique is very rapid and useful in diagnosing ureteric stricture so it could be used as a localizer, while multisection images with postprocessing MIP is mandatory, especially in cases of suspected ureteric tumors or extraureteric causes

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in camels recently imported to Egypt from Sudan and a global systematic review.

INTRODUCTION Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are closely related intracellular protozoan parasites of medical and veterinary concern by causing abortions and systemic illness. Limited or ambiguous data on the prevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum in camels triggered us to conduct this study. METHODS Camels (n = 460) recently imported from Sudan and destined mainly for human consumption, were tested for specific antibodies against these protozoans using commercially available ELISAs. From the two only quarantine stations for camels from Sudan, 368 camels were sampled between November 2015 and March 2016 in Shalateen, Red Sea governorate, and 92 samples were collected between September 2018 and March 2021 from Abu Simbel, Aswan governorate. RESULTS & DISCUSSION Overall, seropositive rates in camels were 25.7%, 3.9% and 0.8% for T. gondii, N. caninum and mixed infection, respectively. However, marked differences were found between the two study sites and/or the two sampling periods: For T. gondii, a higher rate of infection was recorded in the Red Sea samples (31.5%, 116/368; odds ratio 20.7, 5.0-85.6; P<0.0001) than in those collected in Aswan (2.2%, 2/92). The opposite was found for N. caninum with a lower rate of infection in the Red Sea samples (0.82%, 3/368; odds ratio 23.7, 6.7-83.9; P<0.0001) than in the samples from Aswan (16.3%, 15/92). Additionally, our systematic review revealed that the overall published seroprevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum was 28.6% and 14.3% in camels worldwide, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first record of seroprevalence of both T. gondii and N. caninum in recently imported camels kept under quarantine conditions before delivery to other Egyptian cities and regions. In addition, our review provides inclusive data on the prevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum in camel globally. This knowledge provides basic data for the implementation of strategies and control measures against neosporosis and toxoplasmosis

Q fever in Egypt: Epidemiological survey of Coxiella burnetii specific antibodies in cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats and camels

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. Clinical presentation in humans varies from asymptomatic to flu-like illness and severe sequelae may be seen. Ruminants are often sub-clinically infected or show reproductive disorders such as abortions. In Egypt, only limited data on the epidemiology of Q fever in animals are available. Using a stratified two stage random sampling approach, we evaluated the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii specific antibodies among ruminants and camels in 299 herds. A total of 2,699 blood samples was investigated using enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Coxiella burnetii specific antibodies were detected in 40.7% of camels (215/528), 19.3% of cattle (162/840), 11.2% of buffaloes (34/304), 8.9% of sheep (64/716) and 6.8% of goats (21/311), respectively. Odds of seropositivity were significantly higher for cattle (aOR: 3.17;95% CI: 1.96-5.13) and camels (aOR: 9.75;95% CI: 6.02-15.78). Significant differences in seropositivity were also found between domains (Western Desert, Eastern Desert and Nile Valley and Delta) and 25 governorates (p 0.05). Only 8.7% of the interviewed people living on the farms consumed raw camel milk and none reported prior knowledge on Q fever. Findings from this nationwide study show that exposure to Coxiella burnetii is common in ruminants and camels. Disease awareness among physicians, veterinarians and animal owners has to be raised. Future epidemiological investigations have to elucidate the impact of Q fever on human health and on the economy of Egypt

Effect of Spirulina on Somatic Cell Count and Milk Quality

Subclinical mastitis is a major problem threating the cows' industry in Egypt. This study aimed to investigate the impact of SCC on the milk composition and evaluate the effect of spirulina supplementation on SCC and milk quality. Total of 270 milk samples were examined using CMT, BacSomatic and MilkoscanTMFT1 system. For evaluation of spirulina effect, ten cows were supplemented with spirulina powder (20 g per head for one month).The prevalence of SCM according to CMT and SCC was 32.2% and 54.4%, respectively.  SCC negatively correlated with Fat, protein, lactose, and casein% which had Means of 2.94±0.75, 3.48±0.37, 4.82±0.23, and 2.58±0.39, respectively at SCC (&lt;200 ×103cell/ml) while, at SCC above 400 ×103cell/ml were 2.43±0.95, 3.24 ±0.33, 4.61±0.22, and 2.4±0.38, respectively. There was a significant decrease in the average of SCC from 6638.9±4675.9×103 to 361.1±321.4×103cell/ml after 3 weeks of spirulina supplementation. The Mean of Fat, protein, lactose, and casein% were increased from 2.84±0.29, 3.02±0.4, 4.49±0.4 and 2.34±0.28, respectively to reach 3.62±0.16, 3.65±0.43, 4.86±0.41 and 2.59±0.3, respectively and Milk yield increased from average of 21.7±3.23 kg/day to 24.2±2.39kg after 21 days of spirulina treatment. Therefore, milk quality and quantity can be improved by using Spirulina supplementation which reduces SCC.

Evaluation of CT perfusion parameters for assessment of split renal function in healthy donors

Objectives: To assess feasibility of automatically calculated CT perfusion parameters using two different methods of drawing regions of interest (ROIs) to reflect split renal function in comparison with MAG3 renography. Methods and materials: 51 potential kidney donors (24 males, 27 females) were prospectively evaluated by preoperative CT perfusion. Post processing was done twice; one with ROI around renal cortex only and the other around cortex and medulla. Perfusion parameters (perfusion, peak enhancement intensity PEI and blood volume BV) were compared between the two methods. Split values for each of these parameters were calculated and compared to split renal function measured by MAG3 renography using paired samples t test. Results: Perfusion was significantly lower in method 2 than in method 1 while PEI and BV showed no significant difference between the two methods. Split values of CT parameters showed no significant difference from corresponding renography split function (p value > 0.1) except BV by method 1 and perfusion by method 2 which showed significant difference (p value < 0.05). Conclusion: Certain CT perfusion parameters can reflect split renal function. Perfusion was more accurate in reflecting split renal function with ROI around the cortex while BV was more accurate with ROI around the whole parenchyma