Diffusion-Weighted Imaging for the Discrimination of Benign and Malignant Breast Masses; Utility of ADC and Relative ADC

Purpose: To determine the contribution of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and relative ADC (rADC) values to differentiate between benign and malignant breast masses. Materials and Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of patients with benign or malignant breast masses diagnosed either by histopathological findings or by follow-up imaging were evaluated retrospectively. Histopathological analyses were performed for 71 lesions (80.7%) while the remaining were followed up every six months for one year. DWI was performed using b-values of 0 and 1000 sec/mm2, and ADC and rADC were calculated and compared. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Youden index were used to evaluate the parameter’s optimal threshold and diagnostic value. Statistical significance was set as p < 0.05. Results: Eighty-eight lesions from a total of 81 patients, aged between 16 and 73 (mean age 42 ± 11.3) years were obtained and evaluated. Pathological results of 34 (38.6%) out of 71 lesions were malignant and 37 lesions (42%) were benign. Seventeen (19.3%) lesions remained stable at one-year follow-up and were accepted as benign breast masses. Mean ADC values of benign and malignant lesions were 1.584 × 10–3mm2/sec and 0.884 x 10–3mm2/sec (p < 0.05), respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of ADC were 88% and 87%, respectively at a cut-off value of 1.04 x 10–3mm2/sec. Mean rADC was 0.931 for benign lesions and 0.557 for malignant lesions (p < 0.05). Sensitivity and specificity were 82% and 83% at a cut-off value of 0.639. No prominent superiority of rADC over ADC is identified in the differentiation of breast masses. Conclusion: ADC and rADC values derived from DWI can be equally useful in clinical setting to differentiate benign from malignant breast masses

In vitro activities of antifungals alone and in combination with tigecycline against Candida albicans biofilms

Background. Candida may form biofilms, which are thought to underlie the most recalcitrant infections

In vitro activities of antifungals alone and in combination with tigecycline against Candida albicans biofilms

WOS: 000439944000005PubMed ID: 30065873Background. Candida may form biofilms, which are thought to underlie the most recalcitrant infections. Methods. In this study, activities of antifungal agents alone and in combination with tigecycline against planktonic cells and mature and developing biofilms of Candida albicans isolates were evaluated. Results. Amphotericin B and echinocandins were found to be the most effective agents against mature biofilms, whereas the least effective agent was fluconazole. Furthermore, the most effective anti-fungal monotherapies against biofilm formation were amphotericin B and anidulafungin, and the least effective monotherapy was itraconazole. The combination of tigecycline and amphotericin B yielded synergistic effects, whereas combinations containing itraconazole yielded antagonist effects against planktonic cells. The combination of tigecycline and caspofungin exhibited maximum efficacy against mature biofilms, whereas combinations containing itraconazole exhibited minimal effects. Combinations of tigecycline with amphotericin B or anidulafungin were highly effective against C. albicans biofllm formation. Discussion. In summary, tigecycline was highly active against C. albicans particularly when combined with amphotericin B and echinocandins.Research Fund of Istanbul University [32917]This work was supported by the Research Fund of Istanbul University (project number 32917). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

The Comparison of Bacterial Contamination and Antibacterial Effi cacy of the Anti-Glaucomatous Eyedrops with and without Preservatives

Purpose: To investigate the bacterial contamination risks and antimicrobial activities of the preservative-free and preservative-containing anti-glaucomatous ophthalmic solutions. Materials and Methods: Ophthalmic solution bottles of preservative-free brimonidine 0.15% (D1), benzalkonium chloride-containing (BAK) brimonidine 0.15% (D2), purite-containing brimonidine 0.15% (D3) and BAK-containing timolol maleate dorzolamide fi xed combination (D4) were included in this study in terms of microbial contamination risk. Moreover, microbial contamination of the two bottles [preservative-free brimonidine 0.15% (D7) and BAK-containing brimonidine 0.15% (D8)] was investigated after contacting their tips with the lower eyelid edge of a researcher. Every day twice a day for 60 days; the caps of the bottles were opened and they were closed after waiting for 20 sec. One drop was added from these six bottles 11 times during the study period (60 days) to the six separate and renewed blood-agar mediums. Microbial contamination was evaluated every visit by examining the blood agar mediums by the same microbiologist. In terms of antimicrobial effi cacy; D1, D2, D3 and D4 were compared with the antibiotic containing ophthalmic solutions; moxifl oxacin (D5) and tobramycin (D6) by using agar well diffusion method. Results: No bacterial growth was observed in the mediums of D1, D2, D3, D4 and D8 bottles. The bacterial growth of methicillin-susceptible and resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci was observed in the medium of D7 bottle on some days. A large inhibition zone was seen around D5 and D6, whereas a smaller inhibition zone was detected around D2 and D4. No inhibition zone was detected around the D1 and D3 bottles. Conclusions: Multi-dose preservative-free antiglaucomatous ophthalmic solutions have not any risk of bacterial contamination unless the tip of the bottle is contaminated

Evaluation of histologic changes in the urinary tract of hypercalciuric rats

Idiopathic hypercalciuria (IH) has been speculated to have a predisposing role in the development of urinary tract infection (UTI), due to the uroepithelial cell damage it leads to. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of hypercalciuria on the bladder, ureters, and kidneys in rats with experimentally induced hypercalciuria

Increased Amount of Visceral Fat in Patients with Psoriasis Contributes to Metabolic Syndrome

Background: Psoriasis is associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is associated with visceral fat accumulation. There is no study on the accumulation of visceral fat in patients with psoriasis. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the visceral fat accumulation in patients with psoriasis and controls. Subjects and Methods: 46 patients with psoriasis and 46 sex-and age-matched control patients were included in this study. The abdominal fat area [visceral fat area (VFA), subcutaneous fat area (SFA) and total fat area (TFA)] at the level of the umbilicus was evaluated by computed tomography. Results: The mean VFA value and VFA/SFA ratio of the psoriasis patients were significantly higher compared with the control patients (123.4 +/- 80.3 vs. 81.2 +/- 59.8 cm(2) and 0.734 +/- 0.593 vs. 0.491 +/- 0.336; p = 0.005 and p = 0.017, respectively). Fasting blood sugar levels were also found to be significantly higher in psoriasis patients, compared with the control patients (101.8 +/- 43.5 vs. 83.4 +/- 9.1 mg/dl; p = 0.005). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that waist-to-hip ratio, age, body weight, the presence of psoriasis and metabolic syndrome were significantly associated with VFA. Conclusion: Psoriasis patients had a higher amount of VFA, compared with the control patients. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Base

Lamivudine resistance mutations in patients infected with hepatitis B virus genotype D

AIM: To determine the distribution of viral genotypes for primary or acquired lamivudine resistance