Paraneoplastic cerebellar ataxia associated with anti-Hu antibodies and benign ganglioneuroma

We describe a case of cerebellar ataxia associated with anti-Hu antibodies and benign ganglioneuroma. A 28-year-old woman developed progressive ataxia with hyporeflexia at the age of 19. Brain MRI showed progressive cerebellar atrophy. Neurophysiological studies, screening of immune-mediated ataxias, oncological markers, vitamin E and genetic tests for spinocerebellar ataxia types 1,2,3, Friedreich ataxia and POLG1 were negative. Anti-Hu antibodies were positive in Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence (1:640). Total-body computed tomography revealed a mediastinum mass; the histological diagnosis was maturing ganglioneuroma. Immunohisto - chemistry showed a mild reaction between the tumor and the patient’s serum, and no reaction between the tumor and control serum. After surgery, serum anti-Hu titer decreased, while ataxic symptoms initially worsened and then stabilized. Ganglioneuroma is a benign tumor, usually derived from the maturation of a neuroblastoma. The benign histology and the presence of anti-Hu antibodies could be related to the positive oncological prognosis and to the slow clinical course mimicking a degenerative ataxia

Diagnostic Role of Multi-Detector Computed Tomography in Acute Mesenteric Ischemia

Mesenteric ischemia diagnosis is challenging, with an overall mortality of up to 50% of cases despite advances in treatment. The main problem that affects the outcome is delayed diagnosis because of non-specific clinical presentation. Multi-Detector CT Angiography (MDCTA) is the first-line investigation for the suspected diagnosis of vascular abdominal pathologies and the diagnostic test of choice in suspected mesenteric bowel ischemia. MDCTA can accurately detect the presence of arterial and venous thrombosis, determine the extent and the gastrointestinal tract involved, and provide detailed information determining the subtype and the stage progression of the diseases, helping clinicians and surgeons with appropriate management. CT (Computed Tomography) can differentiate forms that are still susceptible to pharmacological or interventional treatment (NOM = non-operative management) from advanced disease with transmural necrosis in which a surgical approach is required. Knowledge of CT imaging patterns and corresponding vascular pathways is mandatory in emergency settings to reach a prompt and accurate diagnosis. The aims of this paper are 1. to provide technical information about the optimal CTA (CT Angiography) protocol; 2. to explain the CTA arterial and venous supply to the gastrointestinal tract and the relevant ischemic pattern; and 3. to describe vascular, bowel, and extraintestinal CT findings for the diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia

Internal- vs external-connection single implants: A retrospective study in an italian population treated by certified prosthodontists

Purpose: The design of an implant connection that allows prosthetic suprastructures to be attached to implants has long been debated in the dental literature. The goal of this retrospective study was to evaluate the 5-year clinical results for a large number of single implants restored by certified prosthodontists in an attempt to establish whether different clinical outcomes could be detected for external- or internalconnection implants. Materials and Methods: All single implants with internal or external connections inserted in 27 private dental practices from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2007 were evaluated. An initial statistical analysis was performed to describe the sample population at baseline and then to compare the two types of implant-abutment connection configurations and their clinical outcomes. All data were statistically analyzed with STATA12 (StataCorp). Results: Twenty-eight of the 85 active members of the Italian Academy of Prosthetic Dentistry (AIOP) participated in this study. The sample included 1,159 patients and 2,010 implants. Of the implants, 75 were dropped because there was no information about follow-up. Of the remaining implants, 1,431 (74.0%) were followed for at least 5 years, and 332 implants (17.2%) were followed for more than 8 years. Nearly 99% (98.9%) of the implants survived. The difference between the survival frequencies of the two types of implant-abutment connection configurations was not significant for each negative event (log-rank test, P > .05). There was no difference between the two types of implants regarding restoration fracture, implant screw loosening, and peri-implant disease. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, it can be suggested that there is no difference in clinical outcomes of single restorations joined to internal- or external-connection implants

Luminosity-independent measurements of total, elastic and inelastic cross-sections at chem{sqrt {s} = 7,TeV}

Measurement of pp cress section at LHC with sqrt(s)=7Te

Measurement of pseudorapidity distributions of charged particles in proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV by the CMS and TOTEM experiments

Pseudorapidity ( $\eta$ ) distributions of charged particles produced in proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 $~\text {TeV}$ are measured in the ranges $|\eta | < 2.2$ and $5.3 < |\eta | < 6.4$ covered by the CMS and TOTEM detectors, respectively. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of $\mathcal {L} = 45 \mu {\mathrm {b}}^{-1}$ . Measurements are presented for three event categories. The most inclusive category is sensitive to 91–96 % of the total inelastic proton–proton cross section. The other two categories are disjoint subsets of the inclusive sample that are either enhanced or depleted in single diffractive dissociation events. The data are compared to models used to describe high-energy hadronic interactions. None of the models considered provide a consistent description of the measured distributions