Imaging of benign solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura: a pictorial essay

Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (SFTP) is a mesenchymal tumor that tends to involve the pleura, and is also described in other thoracic and extrathoracic sites. SFTP usually presents as a peripheral mass abutting the pleural surface, to which it is attached by a broad base or by a pedicle that allows it to be mobile. SFTPs exist in benign and malignant forms. A precise pre-operative diagnosis can be arrived at with a cutting-needle biopsy, although most cases are diagnosed with postoperative histology and immunohistochemical analysis. In this pictorial essay, we review a large series of cases, with emphasis on the radiographic appearance of these lesions and their findings from computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography and positron emission tomography

1054 Noninvasive Qp/Qs ratio measurement with phase-contrast cine MRI in patients with atrial septal defect: comparison with heart catheterization

The correlation analysis showed a good overlap between measurements (Qp: r = 0.65, p = 0.0004; Qs: r = 0.64, p = 0.0005; Qp/Qs ratio: r = 0.68, p = 0.0002), also confirmed by regression analysis (R2 = 0.42, p < 0.001 for Qp; R2 = 0.41, p = 0.001 for QS; R2 = 0.46, p < 0.001 for Qp/Qs ratio), and by the Bland-Altman statistical analysis for method comparison (see Figure 1). The interobserver variability was low

Measuring the effect of Mankai® (Wolffia globosa) on the gut microbiota and its metabolic output using an in vitro colon model

10openInternationalInternational coauthor/editorMankai® is a cultivated strain of Wolffia globosa an aquatic plant of the family Lemnaceae commonly known as Duckweeds. Recent studies suggest that consumption of a Mankai® enriched diet may provide positive health effects by decreasing body weight and improving glucose homeostasis and plasma lipid profiles. However, the effects of Mankai® alone on the composition and metabolic output of the human gut microbiota has not been fully investigated. Here, Mankai® was digested and fermented in vitro using a batch culture model of the proximal colon. Inulin and cellulose were used as readily and poorly fermentable control fibers respectively. Mankai® significantly stimulated the production of phenolic metabolites and short chain fatty acids by the gut microbiota (p<0.05). Three major microbial metabolites, 3-4-hydroxyphenyl propionic acid, 3-3-hydroxyphenyl propanoic acid and protocatechuic acid were significantly increased after 24 h fermentation. Moreover, Mankai® treatment lowered the overall microbial diversity (p<0.05), in line with a selective microbiome modulation.openDiotallevi, Camilla; Gaudioso, Giulia; Fava, Francesca; Angeli, Andrea; Lotti, Cesare; Vrhovsek, Urska; Rinott, Ehud; Shai, Iris; Gobbetti, Marco; Tuohy, KieranDiotallevi, C.; Gaudioso, G.; Fava, F.; Angeli, A.; Lotti, C.; Vrhovsek, U.; Rinott, E.; Shai, I.; Gobbetti, M.; Tuohy, K

The Renalase Asp37Glu polymorphism is not associated with hypertension and cardiovascular events in an urban-based prospective cohort: the Malmo Diet and cancer study

Background: Renalase (gene name RNLS), a recently discovered enzyme with monoamine oxidase activity, is implicated in the degradation of catecholamines. Recent studies delineate a possible role of this enzyme in blood pressure (BP) maintenance and cardiac protection and two single nucleotide polymorphisms, RNLS rs2576178 A > G and rs2296545 C > G have been associated with hypertension. The latter SNP leads to a non synonymous Asp to Glu substitution deleting a flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) binding site with possible impaired functionality. We tested the hypothesis that these polymorphisms could affect BP levels, hypertension prevalence, and risk of incident cardiovascular events in middle-aged Swedes. Methods: The polymorphisms were genotyped in 5696 participants of the population-based Cardiovascular Cohort of the "Malmo Diet and Cancer" (MDC-CC). The incidence of cardiovascular events (coronary events [n = 408], strokes [n = 330], heart failure [n = 190] and atrial fibrillation/flutter [n = 406]) was monitored for an average of approximately 15 years of follow-up. Results: Both before and after adjustment for sex, age and BMI the polymorphisms did not show any effect on BP level and hypertension prevalence. Before and after adjustment for major cardiovascular risk factors, the hazard ratio for cardiac and cerebrovascular events was not significantly different in carriers of different genotypes. A significant interaction was found between the rs2296545 C > G and age with respect to BP/hypertension. Conclusions: Our data do not support a major role for these RNLS polymorphisms in determining BP level and incident events at population level. The positive interaction with age suggest that the effect of the rs2296545 C > G polymorphism, if any, could vary between different ages

Prediction of Blood Pressure Changes Over Time and Incidence of Hypertension by a Genetic Risk Score in Swedes.

Recent Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have pinpointed different single nucleotide polymorphisms consistently associated with blood pressure (BP) and hypertension prevalence. However, little data exist regarding single nucleotide polymorphisms predicting BP variation over time and hypertension incidence. The aim of this study was to confirm the association of a genetic risk score (GRS), based on 29 independent single nucleotide polymorphisms, with cross-sectional BP and hypertension prevalence and to challenge its prediction of BP change over time and hypertension incidence in >17 000 middle-aged Swedes participating in a prospective study, the Malmö Preventive Project, investigated at baseline and over a 23-year average period of follow-up. The GRS was associated with higher systolic and diastolic BP values both at baseline (β±SEM, 0.968±0.102 mm Hg and 0.585±0.064 mm Hg; P<1E-19 for both) and at reinvestigation (β±SEM, 1.333±0.161 mm Hg and 0.724±0.086 mm Hg; P<1E-15 for both) and with increased hypertension prevalence (odds ratio [95% CI], 1.192 [1.140-1.245] and 1.144 [1.107-1.183]; P<1E-15 for both). The GRS was positively associated with change (Δ) in BP (β±SEM, 0.033±0.008 mm Hg/y and 0.023±0.004 mm Hg/y; P<1E-04 for both) and hypertension incidence (odds ratio [95% CI], 1.110 [1.065-1.156]; P=6.7 E-07), independently from traditional risk factors. The relative weight of the GRS was lower in magnitude than obesity or prehypertension, but comparable with diabetes mellitus or a positive family history of hypertension. A C-statistics analysis does not show any improvement in the prediction of incident hypertension on top of traditional risk factors. Our data from a large cohort study show that a GRS is independently associated with BP increase and incidence of hypertension