Pulmonary cavitary lesions may be one of the presenting features in Ig A nephropathy

Immunoglobulin A (Ig A) nephropathy is the most frequent primary glomerulonephritis. Renal limited disease is the most widespread clinical form of the disease. Pulmonary involvement may also be seen concomitantly and capillaritis with pulmonary hemorrhage is the most frequent pulmonary involvement. In this paper, for the first time in literature, we describe an Ig A nephropathy patient with multiple pulmonary cavities as one of the presenting features of the disease. Also, no other etiology for the cavities was found other than Ig A nephropathy. Herein, possible pathogenesis might be capillaritis or deposition of immune complexes. As a result, it should be kept in mind that pulmonary cavity may be the presenting feature of Ig A nephropathy especially with other frequent signs of the disease

The estimation of the volume of sheep mandibular defects using cone-beam computed tomography images and a stereological method

PubMed: 21346083Objective: The Cavalieri principle of stereological methods is widely used to estimate the volume of structures. Recently in clinical practice, it has become common to use this approach for daily routine purposes. The Cavalieri principle provides quantitative and unbiased volume estimates which are independent of the observer. In the present study, the efficacy of using the Cavalieri principle to estimate the volume of sheep mandibular defects on cone beam CT (CBCT) scans was tested. Methods: 24 differently sized defects were created on 4 sheep mandibles. Before the defects were created, the outer boundaries of the defects were determined using plaster casts. CBCT scans of the defects were taken. The scans were reconstructed in the coronal plane and sections of 0.2 mm thickness with 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm intervals were obtained. The volume of each defect was estimated using the Cavalieri principle. The models were created using light-body silicone for the estimation of the actual volume of each defect. They were immersed in water using a pycnometer and the actual volumes were obtained on the basis of the Archimedean principle. The actual and estimated volumes of the defects were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: The results showed that the volumes from the Cavalieri estimates did not differ from the actual volumes of the defects (P > 0.05). Conclusion: We concluded that the volume of mandibular defects can be accurately estimated using the Cavalieri principle on images from a CBCT scan. © 2011 The British Institute of Radiology

Cervical dermatomal zona misdiagnosed as ulnar nerve entrapment

Herpes zoster is a secondary reactivation of primary contagious varicella-zoster virus in the dorsal root ganglia. While thoracic zona is common, cervical dermatomal zona is a rare segmental complication of herpes zoster and can be easily misdiagnosed as other diseases. This article describes a patient with initial neuralgia without dermatomal lesions that was treated as ulnar nerve entrapment syndrome until manifestation of herpetiform cutaneous lesions appeared. It is important that clinicians should be aware of the possibility of zoster infection when evaluating the onset of neuralgia in a dermatomal distribution in the upper limb, especially without rash

Accuracy and Reliability of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography for Linear and Volumetric Mandibular Condyle Measurements. A Human Cadaver Study

Abstract The accuracy of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) on linear and volumetric measurements on condyles has only been assessed on dry skulls. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of linear and volumetric measurements of mandibular condyles in the presence of soft tissues using CBCT. Six embalmed cadaver heads were used. CBCT scans were taken, followed by the extraction of the condyles. The water displacement technique was used to calculate the volumes of the condyles and three linear measurements were made using a digital caliper, these measurements serving as the gold standard. Surface models of the condyles were obtained using a 3D scanner, and superimposed onto the CBCT images. Condyles were isolated on the CBCT render volume using the surface models as reference and volumes were measured. Linear measurements were made on CBCT slices. The CBCT method was found to be reliable for both volumetric and linear measurements (CV < 3%; CCI > 0.90). Highly accurate values were obtained for the three linear measurements and volume. CBCT is a reliable and accurate method for taking volumetric and linear measurements on mandibular condyles in the presence of soft tissue, and so a valid tool for clinical diagnosis

Demographics, Management Strategies, and Problems in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction from the Standpoint of Emergency Medicine Specialists: A Survey-Based Study from Seven Geographical Regions of Turkey

Background This study aimed to explore the ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) management practices of emergency medicine specialists working in various healthcare institutions of seven different geographical regions of Turkey, and to examine the characteristics of STEMI presentation and patient admissions in these regions. Methods We included 225 emergency medicine specialists working in all geographical regions of Turkey. We e-mailed them a 20-item questionnaire comprising questions related to their STEMI management practices and characteristics of STEMI presentation and patient admissions. Results The regions were not significantly different with respect to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) resources (p = 0.286). Sixty six point two percent (66.2%) of emergency specialists stated that patients presented to emergency within 2 hours of symptom onset. Forty three point six percent (43.6%) of them contacted cardiology department within 10 minutes and 47.1% within 30 minutes. In addition, 68.3% of the participants improved themselves through various educational activities. The Southeastern Anatolian region had the longest time from symptom onset to emergency department admission and the least favorable hospital admission properties, not originating from physicians or 112 emergency healthcare services. Conclusion Seventy point seven percent (70.7%) of the emergency specialists working in all geographical regions of Turkey comply with the latest guidelines and current knowledge about STEMI care; they also try to improve themselves, and receive adequate support from 112 emergency healthcare services and cardiologists. While inter-regional gaps between the number of primary PCI capable centers and quality of STEMI care progressively narrow, there are still issues to address, such as delayed patient presentation after symptoms onset and difficulties in patient admission