Menometrorrhagia in magnetic resonance imaging operators with copper intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDS): a case report

The paper describes the cases of 3 female health operators with implanted copper IUDs, developing menometrorrhagia some months after an increase of the working time in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Unit (1.5 T), that progressively disappeared when the previous organization, involving discontinuous work shifts at MRI, was re-established. No known factors possibly related to menometrorrhagia were evidenced in the 3 operators, supporting the hypothesis of a role of the exposure to the electromagnetic fields (EMF) induced by the MRI system in symptoms induction. The possible mechanism remains unsettled, but menometrorrhagia might be triggered by a phlogistic stimulus caused by EMF, possibly the low-frequency currents induced in the wires of the IUD during the movements of the operator inside the static magnetic field generated by the MRI permanent magnet. Until now, the problem of possible interactions between copper IUDs and EMF induced by MRI has been considered in patients undergoing imaging, but the possible risk in MRI Units operators has been largely neglected. To our knowledge, the occurrence of menometrorrhagia is not routinely checked in health surveillance of MRI operators, so these symptoms can pass unnoticed, especially if they are transitory. Therefore, underreporting is rather possible. The cases described here support the need for further research on this topic, especially considering the progressive diffusion of more powerful MRI scanners (3 T and more), and of the interventional magnetic resonance imaging, both potentially involving higher EMF exposures, and a large number of MRI female operators, possibly using IUDs. The possibility that MRI operators with implanted metallic IUDs can be included in the group of "workers at particular risk" according to the EU Directive 2004/40/EC should be considered

The psoriatic great toe or the psoriatic onycho-pachydermo-periostitis of great toe (OP3gt)

The onycho-pachydermo-periostitis of the great toe is a characteristic feature of psoriatic arthritis first described by Fournie in 1980. In the affected patients, the great toe involvement is characterised by a relevant osteo-periostitis of the distal phalanx, a thickening of the distal soft tissues associated with a psoriatic onychopathy. In most cases, the distal interphalangeal joint is spared. Radiographic and scintigraphic osteo-periostitis of distal phalanx of the great toe are frequent, being found in about 44% of patients with psoriatic arthritis. However, clinical manifestations, with inflammatory inflammation of the great toe, are rare

Bringing Particle Scale Properties into Descriptions of Powder Behavior through the Enhanced Centrifuge Method

Inconsistent powder behavior introduces problems such as agglomeration, poor flowability, dust hazards, and segregation that decrease efficiency in powder processing environments. Understanding how a powder interacts with a surface at the particle scale provides insight into how to accommodate individual particle properties and avoid process deficiencies. This project uses an enhanced centrifuge technique to evaluate the adhesion between a stainless-steel surface and a powder comprised of fluorescent particles. Particles are deposited onto stainless steel plates which are rotated in a centrifuge. The adhesion properties are monitored by tracking the rotational speed at which particles of a known size are removed from the steel. To model the adhesion, a simulator was produced in MATLAB to map an ideal model to the experimental observations. In reality, the particles and steel are rough, and the particles are nonuniform in shape. The ideal case assumes the particles are smooth spheres and the steel is smooth. A modified van der Waals force model describes the observed forces. Within this model, a Hamaker constant, which usually describes only the effect of composition on the van der Waals force, is tuned to also describe the effects of the non-uniformity of the particles. This creates a distribution of ‘effective Hamaker constants’ that describes particle scale effects on the adhesion between the bulk powder and the stainless steel. This approach will allow industry to account for the effects of surface roughness, particle shape, and particle size when designing powder processing operations

a transverse and longitudinal mr imaging voxel based morphometry study in patients with primary cervical dystonia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Findings of standard MR imaging examinations are usually normal in primary CD. These findings are now increasingly challenged by studies using advanced neuroimaging techniques detecting abnormalities in brain areas that may be functionally involved in the pathophysiology of CD. Our purpose was to evaluate GM volumes in patients with CD at baseline and 5 years later. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 19 patients (F/M = 15:4, mean age = 53.2 + 11.2 years), 12 of whom were studied at baseline and again approximately 5 years later. Twenty-eight healthy volunteers acted as controls (F/M = 17:11, mean age = 47.5 + 15.6 years). The subjects were imaged with a 1.5T scanner by using a 3D T1-weighted sequence on 150 contiguous axial 1-mm-thick sections to apply VBM. RESULTS: At entry, VBM analysis disclosed significantly lower GM volumes in the left caudate head and putamen and in the premotor and primary sensorimotor cortices bilaterally in patients than in controls. No correlation was found between decreased GM volumes and patient age, severity of dystonia, or disease duration. At the 5-year follow-up, GM volumes in the left primary sensorimotor cortex in patients had decreased significantly from baseline. CONCLUSIONS: The findings obtained at entry and after a 5-year follow-up consistently showed decreased caudate, putamen, and sensorimotor cortex GM volumes in patients with CD, and they probably play a pathophysiologic role in CD

Preliminary evaluations of the environmental impact for the production of 99Mo by fusion neutrons

AbstractENEA is developing an accelerator-driven 14 MeV neutron source exploiting the deuterium–tritium fusion reaction to produce 99Mo medical radioisotope as an alternative production route not based on fission reactors. It is expected that, during normal operation, a number of radionuclides, generated by means of neutron irradiation on the raw material (natural Molybdenum), will be produced and managed. The present manuscript, as foreseen by national law, discusses a hypothetical scenario to test the environmental screening models, in turn evaluating the mechanisms and parameters which affect and control the path of liquid effluents potentially released during normal operation of the facility. The aim is to estimate the amount of radioactivity to be operated and the fraction potentially discharged in this hypothetical scenario, so as to ensure that the radioactive material can be managed without any risk for the population and the environment, according to national regulations and thoroughly fulfilling the international guidelines

Native cattle breeds of Southern Italy: karyological profile

Italian typical products of animal origin are strictly linked to native breeds. Their protection requires control of their reproductive and productive abilities. Hence the need for karyological studies to identify subjects with chromosome abnormalities linked to hypofertility or sterility. We report the results of karyological analyses carried out from January 2008 to December 2008 on 145 cattle of native breeds (Agerolese, Cinisara, Modicana and Podolica) reared in Southern Italy so as to evaluate and characterize the presence of chromosome abnormalities in subjects with normal phenotypes. Besides the 128 karyologically normal subjects (2n=60, XY and 2n=60, XX), 17 were carriers of rob (1;29) and one male was a carrier of cellular chimerism 2n=60, XX/XY. According to our data there is a high frequency of rob (1;29) in Cinisara and Podolica breeds while in Agerolese there was only one case of rob (1;29) and none in Modicana

Structural Brain MR Imaging Changes Associated with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

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Stress and Radiation-Induced Activation of Multiple Intracellular Signaling Pathways

Exposure of cells to a variety of stresses induces compensatory activations of multiple intracellular signaling pathways. These activations can play critical roles in controlling cell survival and repopulation effects in a stress-specific and cell type-dependent manner. Some stress-induced signaling pathways are those normally activated by mitogens such as the EGFR/RAS/PI3K-MAPK pathway. Other pathways activated by stresses such as ionizing radiation include those downstream of death receptors, including pro-caspases and the transcription factor NFKB. This review will attempt to describe some of the complex network of signals induced by ionizing radiation and other cellular stresses in animal cells, with particular attention to signaling by growth factor and death receptors. This includes radiation-induced signaling via the EGFR and IGFI-R to the PI3K, MAPK, JNK, and p38 pathways as well as FAS-R and TNF-R signaling to pro-caspases and NFKB. The roles of autocrine ligands in the responses of cells and bystander cells to radiation and cellular stresses will also be discussed. Based on the data currently available, it appears that radiation can simultaneously activate multiple signaling pathways in cells. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species may play an important role in this process by inhibiting protein tyrosine phosphatase activity. The ability of radiation to activate signaling pathways may depend on the expression of growth factor receptors, autocrine factors, RAS mutation, and PTEN expression. In other words, just because pathway X is activated by radiation in one cell type does not mean that pathway X will be activated in a different cell type. Radiation-induced signaling through growth factor receptors such as the EGFR may provide radioprotective signals through multiple downstream pathways. In some cell types, enhanced basal signaling by proto-oncogenes such as RAS may provide a radioprotective signal. In many cell types, this may be through PI3K, in others potentially by NFKB or MAPK. Receptor signaling is often dependent on autocrine factors, and synthesis of autocrine factors will have an impact on the amount of radiation-induced pathway activity. For example, cells expressing TGFalpha and HB-EGF will generate protection primarily through EGFR. Heregulin and neuregulins will generate protective signals through ERBB4/ERBB3. The impact on radiation-induced signaling of other autocrine and paracrine ligands such as TGFbeta and interleukin 6 is likely to be as complicated as described above for the ERBB receptors.Fil: Dent, Paul. Virginia Commonwealth University; Estados UnidosFil: Yacoub, Adly. Virginia Commonwealth University; Estados UnidosFil: Contessa, Joseph. Virginia Commonwealth University; Estados UnidosFil: Caron, Ruben Walter. Virginia Commonwealth University; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Amorino, Geroge. Virginia Commonwealth University; Estados UnidosFil: Valerie, Kristoffer. Virginia Commonwealth University; Estados UnidosFil: Hagan, Michael P.. Virginia Commonwealth University; Estados UnidosFil: Grant, Steven. Virginia Commonwealth University; Estados UnidosFil: Schmidt Ullrich, Rupert. Virginia Commonwealth University; Estados Unido

A contemporary dose selection algorithm for stereotactic radiosurgery in the treatment of brain metastases - An initial report.

Indications and treatment goals for SRS have changed since the publication of RTOG 90-05. We present initial retrospective outcomes from a new dose selection algorithm in use at our institution felt to be more contemporary with doses being used in the radiosurgery community today and report our local control and toxicity outcomes. This dose selection algorithm will be subject to a forthcoming prospective phase 2 trial.To evaluate safety and efficacy of an institutional dose selection algorithm in the treatment of brain metastases (BM) with single fraction radio-surgery (SRS).The medical records of 65 patients with ≤10 BM treated with GK at our institution between April 2012 and October 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. The prescription doses used in this study ranged from 16-22Gy and were based upon RTOG 90-05 guideline doses subsequently modified at our institution depending on lesion number, lesion volume, institutional experience and prior history of whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT). Primary endpoint was local recurrence (LR) with additional outcomes measured including distant intracranial recurrence (DIR), death without local recurrence (DWLR) and alive and disease free (ADF). Fine Gray competing risk analysis was used to examine factors affecting local recurrence.Median follow up was 8.9 months (range 1.0-29.6months) and 12 month overall survival was 37% (95% CI 24.9-49.1%). Overall local recurrence rate was 7.7%. On competing risks regression analysis, no variable was significantly associated with local recurrence, including previous whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT), (SHR 1.21 [95%CI 0.13-11.5], p=0.87 and radioresistant versus radiosensitive histology (SHR 0.51 [95% CI 0.06-7.73], p=0.55). No patient developed grade 3 or higher neurotoxicity at 12 months following GK.Initial local control and toxicity results from our institutional dose selection algorithm are reported here. Comparison of our results with RTOG 90-05 is difficult due to significant differences in the patient population and their treatments. The applicability of this algorithm merits further investigation across multiple centers for the purpose of treatment and clinical trial standardization in single fraction SRS and will be the subject of a forthcoming phase 2 prospective study within our own institution