Beatrice Sacconi

Comparison of magnetic resonance spectroscopy, proton density fat fraction and histological analysis in the quantification of liver steatosis in children and adolescents

AIM To establish a threshold value for liver fat content between healthy children and those with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with liver biopsy serving as a reference standard. METHODS The study was approved by the local ethics committee, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants and their legal guardians before the study began. Twenty-seven children with NAFLD underwent liver biopsy to assess the presence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The assessment of liver fat fraction was performed using MRI, with a high field magnet and 2D gradient-echo and multiple-echo T1-weighted sequence with low flip angle and single-voxel point-resolved ¹H MR-Spectroscopy (¹H-MRS), corrected for T1 and T2* decays. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the best cut-off value. Lin coefficient test was used to evaluate the correlation between histology, MRS and MRI-PDFF. A Mann-Whitney U-test and multivariate analysis were performed to analyze the continuous variables. RESULTS According to MRS, the threshold value between healthy children and those with NAFLD is 6%; using MRI-PDFF, a cut-off value of 3.5% is suggested. The Lin analysis revealed a good fit between the histology and MRS as well as MRI-PDFF. CONCLUSION MRS is an accurate and precise method for detecting NAFLD in children.

Is there an association between leukoaraiosis volume and diabetes

OBJECTIVES The relation between white matter loss (WML) and diabetes is still debated. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between typical WML- and diabetes-related magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in a cohort of patients scheduled for carotid endarterectomy (CEA). MATERIALS AND METHODS Ninety-three consecutive patients (mean age 71±9years; male 71) were included in a single-centre retrospective study. All the patients underwent MRI as baseline evaluation prior to CEA. A neuroradiologist blinded to the presence of risk factors calculated WML volume and number of lesions on FLAIR images using a semi-automated segmentation technique. Receiver operating characteristics analysis was performed to search for any association between WML volume and the number of WML lesions. The Mann-Whitney tests were used to determine significant WML differences between diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the potential association of other variables. RESULTS The prevalence of diabetes was 20.4% (n=19). WML volume and number of WML lesions were significantly associated with diabetes (P=0.001). A statistically significant difference in WML volume was found between diabetic and non-diabetic patients (P<0.0001). Only diabetes, among all the investigated variables (WML volume, CAD status, age, smoking status, gender, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes) was significantly associated with WML (P=0.0001). CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate a strong statistical correlation between diabetes and WML. Future scientific challenges could include the identification of potential therapeutic targets and the creation of dedicated screening protocols for WML in diabetic patients other than the simple measurement of leukoaraiosis total burden.

Development of a prediction model and risk score for procedure-related complications in patients undergoing percutaneous computed tomography-guided lung biopsy

OBJECTIVES To propose a risk score predicting the potential occurrence of procedure-related complications in patients undergoing computed tomography (CT)-guided lung biopsy. METHODS Institution review board approval was obtained. A total of 342 CT-guided lung biopsies were retrospectively evaluated taking into account procedure-related complications and associated risk factors, including patient gender and age, previous radiation therapy (RT) and/or chemotherapy (CHT), lesion size, depth and location, incomplete pulmonary fissures, associated diffuse lung diseases, previous pneumothorax (PNX), lung volumes, punctured fissures, thoracic access, needle size and operator experience. Complications were assessed on chest X-ray and/or CT scans. Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify risk factors, to evaluate their correlation with procedure-related complications and to calculate models of risk (MoRs). RESULTS PNX requiring chest tube placement occurred in 39 patients (11.4%), high-grade pulmonary parenchymal haemorrhage occurred in 62 patients (18.1%) and haemothorax occurred in 12 patients (3.5%). Risk factors increasing the incidence of complications were lesion size (P = 0.01), lesion depth (P = 0.01) and incomplete pulmonary fissures (P = 0.01); previous chemo-radiation therapy was correlated to a lower incidence of complications (P = 0.01). MoR for PNX was as follows: risk base line = 60%; age = +0.15%/year; punctured fissures = +20%; incomplete fissures = +9%; previous CHT/RT = -10%. MoR for parenchymal haemorrhage was as follows: risk base line = 20%, lesion depth = +0.8%/mm; age = +0.25%/year; incomplete fissures = +15%. MoR for haemothorax was as follows: risk base line = 1%; previous PNX = +20%; incomplete fissures = 7%; both previous PNX and incomplete fissures = +67%. CONCLUSION This study provides MoRs to predict the risk of complications in patients undergoing CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsies.

Femoral Artery Ultrasound Examination: A New Role in Predicting Cardiovascular Risk

We compared intima–media thickness (IMT) and the prevalence of plaques in the common carotid artery (CCA) and common femoral artery (CFA) in apparently healthy participants. This multicenter study included 322 participants (59.9% female; age 20-78 years, mean 52.1 ± 15.3 years) who underwent Echo-color Doppler examination of the CCA and CFA bilaterally. Prevalence and composition of plaque were recorded. A significant (P < .01) difference between mean CCA-IMT and mean CFA-IMT was detected (0.70 vs 0.73 mm). Plaque prevalence was significantly higher in the CFA compared to the CCA (40.7% vs 30.4%). Atherosclerotic plaques were found in both CFA and CCA in 46% of the cases, solely in CFA in 38%, and in CCA alone in 17%. The observed difference in plaque prevalence was even greater when only fibrolipid isolated plaques were considered (CFA 39.4% vs CCA 22.1%). In a healthy general population, atherosclerotic plaques were present in the CFA but not in the CCA in over one-third of the cases. Further studies must confirm whether ultrasonography of the CFA might be introduced in the screening protocols for cardiovascular risk assessment.

Evaluation of image quality, radiation dose and diagnostic performance of dual-energy CT datasets in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM To evaluate image quality and diagnostic accuracy of different dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) datasets for identification of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), assess the reliability of virtual unenhanced (VU) images in replacing standard unenhanced (SU) images, and quantify effective dose (ED) at different tube voltages. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty cirrhotic patients underwent liver contrast-enhanced DECT. Two blinded observers retrospectively evaluated conventional unenhanced and VU images, 140 kVp/80 kVp/mixed tube potential arterial datasets and conventional portal-venous/late phases in consensus. Final diagnosis was based on pathological proof or imaging criteria. Image quality, ED, sensitivity, and specificity of arterial datasets were calculated. RESULTS Thirty-eight HCC and 18 benign lesions were detected at 80 kVp, 33 HCC and 22 benign lesions were detected at 140 kVp, and 36 HCC and 20 benign lesions were detected at mixed tube potentials. Final diagnosis confirmed 37 HCC and 20 benign lesions. There was no significant difference in diagnostic confidence between 80 kVp, 140 kVp, and mixed tube potential arterial datasets (p>0.05). Image quality was adequate for all datasets, with increased quality at higher tube potential (80 versus 140 kVp, p=0.001; mixed versus 140 kVp, p=0.001; 80 kVp versus mixed, p=0.0024). Significant ED reduction was observed between 140 and 80 kVp datasets (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The 140 kVp dataset provided higher image quality. The 80 kVp images were more sensitive in detecting HCC. VU images are adequate in replacing SU images. The ED of the 80 kVp dataset was significantly lower.

The indeterminable resilience of the fascial system

The most recent information on fascial tissue indicates that there are not fascial layers, but polyhedral microvacuoles of connective tissue, which connect the body systems and, by hosting specialized cells, permit several functions, such as motor, nervous, vascular and visceral. These microvacuoles (a repetition of polyhedral units of connective fibrils) under internal or external tension change shape and can manage the movement variations, regulating different body functions and ensuring the maintenance of efficiency of the body systems. Their plasticity is based on perfect functional chaos: it is not possible to determine the motion vectors of the different fibrils, which differ in behavior and orientation; this strategy confers to the fascial continuum the maximum level of adaptability in response to the changing internal and external conditions of the cell. The present commentary deals with this concept, providing clinical examples of different disease patterns, providing contrary examples in which this adaptability does not occur, and lastly suggesting considerations for the approach to manipulative therapy of the fascial tissue. The fascial continuum is like a flock of birds flying together without a predetermined logic and maintaining their individuality at the same time.

Depression, anxiety and chronic pain in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: The influence of breath

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health problems, causing significant mortality and morbidity in the world. It is a complex and progressive disease, characterized by chronic inflammation and dysfunction of the respiratory airways. The article reviews the available information on the potential role of the diaphragm in this disease. The purpose is to identify a potential correlation between symptoms such as depression, anxiety and chronic pain, frequently observed in COPD, with the activity of the diaphragm. The morphology and metabolism of the diaphragm are usually modified in the presence of COPD: a correlation between this symptoms and a pathological adaptation of breathing can be hypothesized. The management of these conditions should always be multidisciplinary, in order to have a global vision of the patient.

Vertebral Artery Diameter and Flow: Nature or Nurture

In contrast with the carotid arteries, the vertebral arteries (VAs) show considerable variation in length, caliber, and vessel course. This study investigated whether the variation in diameter and flow characteristics of the VAs might be inherited.

Genetic influence on femoral plaque and its relationship with carotid plaque: an international twin study

To disentangle genetic and environmental influences on the development of femoral plaques using a population of adult twins. To evaluate the potential role of shared genetic and environmental factors in the co-occurrence of femoral and carotid plaques. The sample included 566 twins belonging to 164 monozygotic (MZ) and 119 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs, who underwent peripheral arterial assessment by B-mode ultrasound in different centers. The variance in femoral plaques onset was due to genetic factors and the remaining 50% was explained by common (15%) and unique (35%) environmental factors. Findings on sidedness and number of femoral plaques indicated that also these traits were mainly under genetic control. No effect of common environment was found on plaques composition, and variability of this trait was explained by genetics (64%) and unique environment (36%). Covariation between the liabilities to carotid and femoral plaques was mainly attributed to shared genes (77%), with the remaining 23% explained by individual-specific environmental factors shared by the two districts. Inter-individual differences in plaque onset as well as in their number, sidedness and composition are mainly genetic in origin. The results on the cooccurrence of carotid and femoral plaque underline the genetic role in atherogenesis.

Mediastinal Non-neoplastic Conditions

Mediastinum can be interested by a variety of neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions, mostly affecting the anterior mediastinum. Mediastinal disease can be suspected at conventional radiography and further investigated at CT and MRI. This chapter is focused on non-neoplastic conditions; congenital diseases are discussed in the first part, such as oesophageal duplication cysts, bronchogenic, thymic and pericardial cysts and other less common entities. In the second part of the chapter we focus on acquired conditions, such as infectious/inflammatory, vascular and iatrogenic diseases.