Erdal Ege

Right Subclavian Artery Aneurysm: Yin-Yang Sign on CT

True subclavian artery aneurysm (SAA) is a rare type of peripheral artery aneurysm. Thoracic outlet syndrome and atherosclerosis are the most common etiological factors [1]. Halsted [2] explained the poststenotic dilatation and the aneurysm development to be a result of turbulent flow near the narrowing and low blood pressure distal to the stenosis. The famous concept of “yin-yang” which represents a balance and equilibrium between good and evil is a classical Doppler sign of pseudoaneurysms. Mural thrombus in the SAA may also cause this appearance on contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) examination. In this report a case of true SAA due to a cervical rib and yin-yang appearance on CECT is presented.

Homocysteine, Lipid Profile, Nitric Oxide, Vitamin B12, and Folate Values in Patients with Premature Coronary Artery Disease and Their Children:

The plasma concentrations of homocysteine and lipoprotein A are independent risk factors for atherosclerotic vascular disease. Nitric oxide (NO) and folate values are also important in atherogenesis. The authors aimed to evaluate these parameters in patients having coronary artery bypass surgery (CABS) before 50 years of age and in their children. In 31 patients having CABS, 47 children of these patients, and 28 normal control subjects, homocysteine, NO, vitamin B12, folate, lipoprotein A, triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1, and apolipoprotein B values were determined. Homocysteine values of the patients with premature coronary heart diseases and their children were significantly higher than those of controls (p<0.031 and p<0.006, respectively). Also, NO levels were significantly higher in both groups than in controls (p<0.001 and p<0.031, respectively). B12 values were significantly higher in both groups (p<0.05 and p<0.033, respectively). Lipoprotein A levels were higher in both groups but not significantly so.