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To investigate the utilization of 3-Tesla (3 T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detection of pulmonary abnormalities in children with pneumonia. Forty-seven children with pneumonia prospectively underwent 3 T thoracic MRI and posteroanterior (PA) chest radiography (CR). Of these, 15 patients also underwent contrast-enhanced thorax computed tomography (CT) or high-resolution CT (HRCT). The MRI protocol included axial and coronal T2-weighted spectral presaturation with inversion recovery (SPIR) Multivane-XD and axial echo-planar diffusion-weighted imaging (EPI DWI) with respiratory gating. Kappa statistics, Cochran Q, and McNemar tests were used to investigate the results. Agreement between CR and MRI was substantial in detecting consolidation/infiltration (k = 0.64), peribronchial thickening (k = 0.64), and bronchiectasis (k = 1); moderate in detecting cavity (k = 0.54) and pleural effusion (k = 0.44); and fair in detecting empyema (0.32) and bilateral involvement of lungs (k = 0.23). MRI was superior to CR in detecting bilateral involvement (p < 0.001), lymph node (p < 0.001), pleural effusion (p < 0.001), and empyema (p = 0.003). MRI detected all the consolidation/infiltration also detected on CT imaging. A kappa test showed moderate agreement between MRI and CT in detecting pleural effusion and ground-glass opacity (GGO), and substantial or almost perfect agreement for all other pathologies. No statistically significant difference was observed between MRI and CT for detecting pneumonia-associated pathologies by the McNemar test. Thoracic 3 T MRI is an accurate and effective technique for evaluating children with pneumonia. MRI detected more pathologies than CR and had similar results to those of thorax CT. • MRI and CT were superior to CR in detecting bilateral involvement, lymph node, and pleural effusion. • In detection of GGO and small nodules CT had higher sensitivity than MRI. • DWI sequence was helpful in diagnosis of lymph nodes, abscess, and empyema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of ovarian torsion. Methods We retrospectively identified 84 patients with surgically confirmed ovarian torsion. Seventeen patients with unclear ultrasound findings underwent MRI examination with two different magnetic resonance (MR) systems. Results In ovarian torsion, the mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value of the torsed ovary was significantly lower than that of the nonaffected ovary in both MR systems ( n = 17; 0.898 ± 0.539 vs. 1.615 ± 0.469 × 10 − 3 mm 2 /s; P < .001). Conclusions ADC comparisons were useful for detecting ovarian torsion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study, we have investigated the association between osteoporosis and osteocalcin (BGLAP) −298 C>T, estrogen receptor 1 (ER1) 397 T>C, collagen type1 alpha 1 (Col1A1) 2046 G>T and calcitonin receptor (CALCR) 1340 T>C polymorphisms. Genomic DNA was obtained from 266 persons (158 osteoporotic and 108 healthy controls). Genomic DNA was extracted from EDTA-preserved peripheral venous blood of patients and controls by a salting-out method and analyzed by PCR-RFLP. As a result, there was no statistically significant difference in the genotype and allele frequencies of patients and controls for BGLAP −298 C>T, Col1A1 2046 G>T, ER1 397 T>C and CALCR 1340 T>C polymorphisms. However, ER1 CC genotype compared with TT+TC genotypes was found to increase the two fold the risk of osteoporosis [p=0.039, OR=2.156, 95% CI (1.083–4.293)] and CALCR CC genotype compared with TT+TC genotypes was found to have protective effect against osteoporosis [p=0.045, OR=0.471, 95% CI (0.237–0.9372)]. In the combined genotype analysis, ER1/CALCR TCCC combined genotype was estimated to have protective effect against osteoporosis [p=0.0125, OR=0.323, 95% CI (0.1383–0.755)] whereas BGLAP/Col1A1 CCTT and ER1/CALCR CCTT combined genotypes were estimated as risk factors for osteoporosis in Turkish population (p=0.027, p=0.009 respectively). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: ErbB receptor tyrosine kinases family plays an important role in cell cycle regulation. Overexpression of ErbB receptors has been described in several solid tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of ErbB1, ErbB2, ErbB3, and ErbB4 expression in bladder cancer. Urinary bladder tumor samples were obtained from 33 bladder cancers and 7 non-cancerous bladder biopsies. The levels of ErbB1, ErbB2, ErbB3, and ErbB4 genes expression in bladder cancer were determined by real-time PCR. The presence of protein was confirmed by immunostaining. Expression of ErbB1, ErbB2, ErbB3, and ErbB4 genes increased 0.67, 4.72, 2.89, and 2.65-fold, respectively, in bladder tumors as compared with normal tissue. There was a significant difference between immunostaining results of ErbB4 protein in bladder tumors and normal bladder tissue (P <0.01). The present data suggest that ErbB2, ErbB3, and ErbB4 genes may have a role in bladder cancer tumorigenesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the present study, a number of new dispirobino and dispiroansa spermine derivatives of cyclotriphosphazene (8–10, 13) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy. At first, in vitro cytotoxic activity of cyclotriphosphazene compounds (1–14) against HT-29 (human colon adenocarcinoma), Hep2 (Human epidermoid larynx carcinoma), and Vero (African green monkey kidney) cell lines was investigated. Our study showed that most of these compounds stimulate apoptosis and they have cytotoxic effects for HT-29 and Hep2 cells. Additionally, these compounds (1–14) were investigated for their antibacterial activity against gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus), gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria and for their antifungal activity against Candida albicans, and were shown to be inactive. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Forty-two geriatric patients who had an intertrochanteric fracture were treated with a semicircular modification of the Ilizarov frame designed by Cattaneo and Catagni between January 1997 and September 2001. Twenty-five of the patients were female, 17 male. The average age of the patients was 77.5years (range, 63–99). No intraoperative complication occurred. Deep pin-track infection was found in four patients and varus deformity was observed in two patients and shortening of less than 2cm in 10 patients. Fixator removal was achieved in a mean time of 12weeks (range, 10–18). No implant failure, refracture or stiffness of knee and hip joint movements was recorded. We concluded that the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures of the elderly patients with our modification provides significant advantages such as minimal operative and anaesthetic risks, no blood loss, early weight-bearing, short hospitalisation time and rapid union time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]