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Objective: Atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular events are quite common in patients with psoriasis. We aimed to evaluate the role of serum sortilin as a potential marker for subclinical atherosclerosis in psoriasis patients. Materials and Methods: Serum levels of sortilin were measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) in 33 psoriasis patients and 33 healthy controls. Waist circumference and body mass index were recorded for both groups; fasting plasma glucose (FPG), Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), serum lipid levels, and sortilin levels were also measured. Carotid and femoral intima-media thicknesses (CIMT, FIMT) were measured by ultrasonography (USG). Additionally, demographic characteristics, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), age of onset, total duration, and presence of nail involvement were documented for patients in the study. Results: The mean serum sortilin level was 6.20±3.11 ng/mL in the patient group and 7.82±4.97 ng/mL in the control group. No statistically significant difference was found between serum sortilin levels in both groups (p=0.729). There was no statistically significant relationship between serum sortilin levels and disease severity (p=0.597). The right and left CIMT values of the patients were significantly higher than those of the controls (p=0.012, p=0.020, respectively). There was no significant difference in FIMT values between the two groups. A statistically significant relationship was found between serum sortilin levels and right CIMT in patients (p=0.031). Conclusion: The positive correlation between the level of sortilin and right CIMT in our patient group supports the notion that sortilin may be an indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis in psoriasis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Several studies in the literature have used contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging to investigate arachnoid granulations protruding into the cranial dural sinuses. The current study aimed to investigate the protrusion of arachnoid granulations into the superior sagittal sinus, transverse sinus, straight sinus, and confluence of sinuses and determine the frequency of brain herniation into giant arachnoid granulations using contrast-enhanced 3-dimensional T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Materials and Methods: Images of 550 patients with intra-sinus arachnoid granulations who underwent contrast-enhanced 3-dimensional T1-weighted thin-slice magnetic resonance imaging were retrospectively re-evaluated. Only 300 patients with at least 1 intra-sinus arachnoid granulation were included in the study. The protrusion of arachnoid granulations into superior sagittal sinus, transverse sinus, straight sinus, and confluence of sinuses was investigated. In addition, large arachnoid granulations and brain herniations into arachnoid granulations were also noted. Results: A total of 889 focal filling defects of arachnoid granulations, at least 1 in the dural sinus, were detected. Of the filling defects of arachnoid granulations, 183 were in the right transverse sinus, 222 in the left transverse sinus, 265 in superior sagittal sinus, 185 in straight sinus, and 34 in confluence of sinuses. Brain herniation into arachnoid granulations was detected in 8 (2.7%) of the patients included in the study. All the filling defects detected in the dural sinuses on post-contrast 3-dimensional T1-weighted images were isointense with cerebrospinal fluid and had round, oval, or lobulated contours. A positive weak correlation was found between patient age and the size and number of arachnoid granulations (r = 0.181, P < .01 and r = 0.207, P < .001, respectively). It was observed that the size and number of arachnoid granulations increased as the age of the patients increased. Conclusions: The distribution, shape, number, and size of intra-sinus arachnoid granulations can vary considerably. Brain herniation into arachnoid granulation can also be seen. Three-dimensional cranial magnetic resonance imaging sequences can be safely used in the evaluation of arachnoid granulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ahi Evran Medical Journal is the property of Ahi Evran University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this study, we present the ultrasound imaging features of lymph nodes arising in the regional lymph node chain after the first or second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Ipsilateral lymphadenopathy adjacent to the vaccine injection site is an extremely rare but expected adverse reaction following COVID-19 vaccination. Although axillary lymphadenopathy is more common, cases of supraclavicular lymphadenopathy have also been reported after widespread vaccination against COVID-19. Ultrasonography examinations were performed on seven patients with no previous pathological conditions, who presented to our radiology department after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Bilateral axillary, supraclavicular and subclavicular lymph node stations were explored. These patients typically present with enlarged hypoechoic lymph nodes with the loss of fatty hilum, asymmetric or diffuse cortical thickening, and increased hilar and cortical vascularization on the color doppler ultrasonography of the ipsilateral axillary and supraclavicular regions. Radiologists and clinicians should be aware of the ultrasonographic features of these lymph nodes and should inform the patient that these lymph nodes are often a self-limiting process. Thus, unnecessary axillary lymph node biopsies should be avoided, and patients should be treated conservatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate serum lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) level and carotid intima-media thickness in primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) as an indicator of atherosclerosis. Patients and methods: Between July 2019 and July 2020, a total of 33 female pSS patients (mean age: 44.5±11.2 years; range, 23 to 60 years) and 37 female age- and sex-matched healthy individuals (mean age: 40.9±7.2 years; range, 25 to 54 years) were included. Carotid intima-media thickness and serum Lp-PLA2 levels were measured in the patient and control groups. Results: The patients had a higher median serum Lp-PLA2 of 560 (range, 108 to 1,222) ng/mL vs. 328 (range, 0 to 1,280) ng/mL in the controls (p=0.024) and a similar mean intima-media thickness of carotid artery (0.64±0.14 mm vs. 0.62±0.15 mm, respectively; p=0.595). Serum Lp-PLA2 was positively correlated with platelet count (r=0.411, p=0.018) and negatively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r=-0.409, p=0.018). The mean value of carotid intima-media thickness was positively correlated with disease duration (r=0.316, p=0.074) and was negatively correlated with the level of leucocyte (r=-0.458, p=0.007). Conclusion: Our study suggests that the patients of pSS have a potential risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and disease severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The position of the patella relative to the femur is critical in the evaluation of patellofemoral joint diseases. Blumensaat defined a line to evaluate patellofemoral congruence, which is still used clinically. This study aimed to evaluate age- and gender-related changes in the blumensaat line (BL). Methods: Images of 229 patients, who underwent standard lateral knee radiography at 30° flexion, were retrospectively evaluated. The relationship between BL and interior pole of the patella was examined, and the variability of the measurements according to gender and age groups was investigated using statistical methods. Results: Two hundred and twenty-nine patients (128 men; 101 women) were included in the study. The mean age was 41.96±13.41 years (39.63±13 years for men and 44.90±12.2 years for women). BL passed through the lower pole of the patella in only two (0.9%) of the 229 patients. No statistically significant difference was found in the BL measurement of men and women (p>0.05). There was also no statistically significant relationship between age and these distance values (r=-0.112; p>0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that there was no difference between genders and different age groups in terms of BL measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with traumatic intracranial subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) rarely develop spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SSAH) without direct spinal injury. We present the case of a 76-year-old male patient with traumatic intracranial SAH and subdural hematoma, back pain and weakness in the both lower limbs radiating to the legs three days after the trauma. After worsening of pain and numbness, the patient underwent a lumbar magnetic resonance imaging 7 days after the trauma, in which blood was seen in the spinal canal in the lumbosacral region. The bleeding was considered SSAH because of the liquid level. The patient underwent conservative treatment because the patient was found to be at high cardiac risk and the neurological deficit was mild. In patients with traumatic intracranial hemorrhage and delayed pain or neurological deficits, SSAH should be suspected in the first period of trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertrophic olivary degeneration (HOD) is a rare form of transsynaptic degeneration and is the only type which occurs with hypertrophy rather than atrophy. It develops due to pathologies affecting conduction in the dentato-rubro-olivary pathway. Despite being the classic HOD-related findings, palatal tremor, Holmes tremor, nystagmus, and cerebellar ataxia are not usually present in patients. Most cases are asymptomatic, and HOD is incidentally detected on magnetic resonance imaging scans. This paper reports the case and imaging results of a 60-year-old male patient that presented with findings of acute infarction at the posterior aspect of the mesencephalon and pons and superior cerebellar peduncle following head trauma and developed right contralateral HOD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ligamentum flavum cyst, a cystic lesion adjacent to the lumbar spine, is a rare cause of neurological symptoms and signs. It is usually seen in older ages. It is more common in the lower lumbar region than in the cervical region. Here, we aimed to discuss ligamentum flavum cysts in two cases. In a 54-year-old male, a lumbar magnetic resonance imaging showed a ligamentum flavum cyst located at the right posterolateral of the spinal canal at the L3-L4 level, and spinal canal stenosis at this level. After the surgical removal of the cyst, the patient's symptoms entirely resolved. A 43-year-old female patient had a ligamentum flavum cyst on the left posterolateral of the spinal at L4-L5 level with thecal sac compression. Conservative treatment was planned, and the symptoms regressed during follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Sciences is the property of Turkiye Klinikleri and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ortadogu Medical Journal / Ortadogu Tip Dergisi is the property of Bastas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: During COVID-19 vaccine development studies, vaccines' efficacy and safety profiles should be carefully investigated. Only a few studies have shown that the COVID-19 vaccine can cause axillary lymphadenopathy on the injection arm. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of axillary lymphadenopathy and imaging findings using B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography (US) examinations in volunteers who had recently been vaccinated against COVID-19., Methods: The ipsilateral and contralateral axillae of 101 volunteers who received the COVID-19 vaccine were evaluated using B-mode and Doppler US examinations. The volunteers were asked when and to which arm the vaccine had been applied, and the type and dose of the vaccine were recorded. It was also questioned whether the individual experienced any side effects after vaccination, such as pain, tenderness, fever, and redness at the injection site. In addition, the demographic data of the participants, such as age and gender, were recorded., Results: The B-mode US examinations revealed that the long- and short-axis diameters, size, cortical thickness, and asymmetric cortical thickening of the left axillary lymph nodes were significantly higher compared to the right side in individuals having received the CoronaVac vaccine (p<0.05). When the individuals were evaluated separately according to gender, the frequency of cortical thickness and asymmetric cortical thickening in the left axillary lymph nodes was higher than on the right side in both males and females (p=0.011)., Conclusion: It should be kept in mind that ipsilateral reactive lymphadenopathy may develop after the COVID-19 vaccine. This knowledge can prevent unnecessary axillary lymph node biopsies., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate serum lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) level and carotid intima-media thickness in primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) as an indicator of atherosclerosis., Patients and Methods: Between July 2019 and July 2020, a total of 33 female pSS patients (mean age: 44.5±11.2 years; range, 23 to 60 years) and 37 female age- and sex-matched healthy individuals (mean age: 40.9±7.2 years; range, 25 to 54 years) were included. Carotid intima-media thickness and serum Lp-PLA2 levels were measured in the patient and control groups., Results: The patients had a higher median serum Lp-PLA2 of 560 (range, 108 to 1,222) ng/mL vs. 328 (range, 0 to 1,280) ng/mL in the controls (p=0.024) and a similar mean intima-media thickness of carotid artery (0.64±0.14 mm vs. 0.62±0.15 mm, respectively; p=0.595). Serum Lp-PLA2 was positively correlated with platelet count (r=0.411, p=0.018) and negatively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r=-0.409, p=0.018). The mean value of carotid intima-media thickness was positively correlated with disease duration (r=0.316, p=0.074) and was negatively correlated with the level of leucocyte (r=-0.458, p=0.007)., Conclusion: Our study suggests that the patients of pSS have a potential risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and disease severity., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article., (Copyright © 2022, Turkish League Against Rheumatism.)