Petri Sipola

Detection and Quantification of Rotator Cuff Tears with Ultrasonography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging – A Prospective Study in 77 Consecutive Patients with a Surgical Reference

The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance artrography (MRA) for the detection and measurement of rotator cuff tears, using surgical findings as a standard. A total of 77 consecutive patients with suspected rotator cuff tears were prospectively studied with US and MRA. Rotator cuff tears were identified by US with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive values of 92%, 45%, 91% and 50%, respectively, and by MRA with values of 97%, 82%, 97% and 82%, respectively. US was not reliable for differentiating between partial and full thickness tears. US and MRA underestimated the tear sizes by an average of 15 mm and 4 mm, respectively. Our results suggest that US could be used as a screening test to confirm a suspected rotator cuff tear. In patients with negative findings, an MRA should be considered for substantiation.

Pain after uterine fibroid embolisation is associated with the severity of myometrial ischaemia on magnetic resonance imaging

The purpose of the study was to evaluate uterine ischaemia after uterine artery embolisation (UAE) using magnetic resonance imaging and the role of myometrial and fibroid ischaemia in the pathogenesis of post-procedural pain. T1-weighted gradient echo imaging before and after contrast agent was performed on 62 women before and 24 h after UAE. We assessed the severity (mild, moderate, severe) of myometrial ischaemia, and the percentage and volume of ischaemic tissue in myometrium and fibroids. The Verbal Rating Scale was used to assess in-hospital post-procedural pain (1–3 mild, 4–6 moderate, 7–10 severe). Mean maximal pain was 7.7. Myometrial ischaemia was mild, moderate and severe in 29, 23 and 10 patients, respectively. Moderate or severe myometrial ischaemia (p = 0.041), the percentage (p = 0.037) and volume (p = 0.012) of ischaemic tissue in the myometrium, and a large volume of embolic material (p = 0.038) correlated with severe pain. In summary, pain following UAE is common and partly explained by myometrial ischaemia.

Early familial dilated cardiomyopathy: identification with determination of disease state parameter from cine MR image data.

PURPOSE To characterize early changes in cardiac anatomy and function for lamin A/C gene (LMNA) mutation carriers by using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and to develop tools to analyze and visualize the findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS The ethical review board of the institution approved the study, and informed written consent was obtained. The patient group consisted of 12 subjects, seven women (mean age, 36 years; age range, 18-54 years) and five men (mean age, 28 years; age range, 18-39 years) of Finnish origin, who were each heterozygotes with one LMNA mutation that may cause familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). All the subjects were judged to be healthy with transthoracic echocardiography. The control group consisted of 14 healthy subjects, 11 women (mean age, 41 years; range, 23-54 years) and three men (mean age, 45 years; range, 34-57 years), of Finnish origin. Cine steady state free precession MR imaging was performed with a 1.5-T system. The volumes, wall thickness, and wall motion of both left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle were assessed. A method combining multiple MR image parameters was used to generate a global cardiac function index, the disease state parameter (DSP). A visual fingerprint was generated to assess the severity of familial DCM. RESULTS The mean DSP of the patient group (0.69 +/- 0.15 [standard deviation]) was significantly higher than that of the control group (0.32 +/- 0.13) (P = .00002). One subject had an enlarged LV. CONCLUSION Subclinical familial DCM was identified by determination of the DSP with MR imaging, and this method might be used to recognize familial DCM at an early stage.

Uterine artery embolisation versus hysterectomy for leiomyomas: primary and 2-year follow-up results of a randomised prospective clinical trial.

ObjectiveTo compare uterine artery embolisation (UAE) and hysterectomy for the treatment of leiomyomas at 2-year follow-up in a prospective, randomised, single-centre study.MethodsFifty-seven symptomatic patients were randomised to UAE (n = 27) or hysterectomy (n = 30). Complications, recovery, reinterventions and satisfaction with treatment were recorded. Primary endpoint was improvement of symptoms. Analyses were performed by intent-to-treat and per protocol.ResultsTwo hysterectomy patients (7%) developed major complications. Hospital discharge occurred earlier after UAE than after hysterectomy (p < 0.001). Length of sick leave was longer after hysterectomy than after UAE (p < 0.001). Twenty-two (82%) UAE patients and 28 (93%) hysterectomy patients reported overall relief of symptoms (p = 0.173). In 12/18 (67%) UAE patients menorrhagia was completely resolved or reduced. Improvement of pressure symptoms was reported significantly more by UAE patients than by hysterectomy patients (19/20 [95%] versus 18/26 [69%], respectively; p = 0.029). Five (19%) UAE patients underwent additional interventions due to worsening symptoms. Twenty-four (89%) UAE patients and 29 (97%) hysterectomy patients would have chosen treatment again (p = 0.336).ConclusionUAE gave relief of symptoms (apart from menorrhagia) comparable to hysterectomy with less severe complications, but with an increased rate of secondary interventions. UAE may be the preferable treatment especially for patients with pressure symptoms.

Cardiac sympathetic activity is associated with inflammation and neurohumoral activation in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Background:  Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) is characterized by sympathetic nervous overactivity, inflammation and neurohumoral activation; however, their interrelationships are poorly understood.

Significance of Plasma Levels of N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide on Left Ventricular Remodeling in Non-Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Attributable to the Asp175Asn Mutation in the α-Tropomyosin Gene

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) is an inherited heart disease characterized by left ventricular (LV) remodeling. The present study was conducted to investigate the association of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) levels with LV remodeling on magnetic resonance imaging and procollagen formation in 17 healthy controls and 24 patients with nonobstructive HC attributable to an identical Asp175Asn (aspartic acid to asparagine at codon 175) mutation in the alpha-tropomyosin gene. None of the patients had history of decompensated heart failure, and all patients had normal LV ejection fraction. Patients with HC had higher NT-pro-BNP levels compared with controls (median 60 pmol/L, range <40 to 359, vs <40 pmol/L; p <0.001), but 9 patients with HC had normal NT-pro-BNP levels (<40 pmol/L). In patients with HC, levels of NT-pro-BNP were correlated significantly with LV end-systolic volume index (r = 0.50, p <0.05), LV mass index (r = 0.47, p <0.05), proportion of hypokinetic segments (r = 0.50, p <0.05), and levels of serum aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (r = 0.52, p <0.01). When patients with HC were divided into 3 groups on the basis of their NT-pro-BNP levels, there were statistically significant linear associations of LV end-systolic volume (test for linearity p = 0.034), LV mass index (p = 0.009), proportion of hypokinetic segments (p = 0.016), and levels of serum aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (p = 0.020) with NT-pro-BNP levels over the 3 groups, suggesting a tight relation between LV remodeling and levels of NT-pro-BNP. In conclusion, in patients with nonobstructive HC attributable to an Asp175Asn mutation in the alpha-tropomyosin gene, elevated NT-pro-BNP levels are associated with incipient LV remodeling, suggesting that NT-pro-BNP could be used to diagnose insidious unfavorable LV remodeling in HC.

Left Atrial Appendage Volume Increased in More Than Half of Patients with Cryptogenic Stroke

Background Ischemic strokes without a well-defined etiology are labeled as cryptogenic, and account for 30–40% of strokes in stroke registries. The left atrial appendage (LAA) is the most typical origin for intracardiac thrombus formation when associated with atrial fibrillation. Here, we examined whether increased LAA volume detected with cardiac computed tomography (cCT) constitutes a risk factor in cryptogenic stroke patients. Methods This study included 82 stroke/TIA patients (57 males; mean age, 58 years) with a diagnosis of cryptogenic stroke after extensive radiological and cardiological investigations. Cases were classified using the TOAST criteria modified by European Association of Echocardiography recommendations for defining cardiac sources of embolism. Forty age- and gender-matched control subjects without cardiovascular diseases were selected for pair-wise comparisons (21 males; mean age, 54 years). LAA volume adjusted for body surface area was measured three dimensionally by tracing the LAA borders on electrocardiogram-gated CT slices. Results In control subjects, mean LAA volume was 3.4±1.1 mL/m2. Mean+2SD, which was considered the upper limit for normal LAA volume was 5.6 mL/m2. In paired Student t-test between the patient group and matched controls, LAA volume was 67% larger in cryptogenic stroke/TIA patients (5.7±2.0 mL/m2 vs. 3.4±1.1 mL/m2; P<0.001). Forty-five (55%) patients with cryptogenic stroke/TIA had enlarged LAA. Conclusion LAA is significantly enlarged in more than half of patients with cryptogenic stroke/TIA. LAA thrombosis may contribute to the pathogenesis of stroke in patients considered to have cryptogenic stroke after conventional evaluation.

Effect of middle cerebral artery territory ischemic stroke on QT interval.

BACKGROUND Prolonged QT interval associates with increased risk for sudden cardiac death after acute ischemic stroke. However, pathophysiology of prolonged QT interval after stroke is poorly elucidated. In this study, we investigated whether QT interval dynamics is different in patients with right and left middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory stroke. METHOD Electrocardiogram (ECG) intervals were compared between baseline (retrieved retrospectively from medical records) and admission (acquired at the acute hospital admission) in 33 patients (65 ± 9.5 years) with right or left MCA territory ischemic stroke. Head computed tomography (CT), cardiac ultrasound, and cardiac CT scans were undertaken. RESULTS Stroke was located in the right MCA territory in 21 (64%) and in the left MCA territory in 12 (36%) patients. Patients with right and left MCA stroke were similar with respect to time interval between baseline and admission ECG recordings, positive history of heart disease, and left ventricular dimensions. Increase in heart rate-corrected QT interval (QTc) from baseline to admission was demonstrated to occur more often in patients with right (16 of 21; 76%) than in patients with left (3 of 12; 25%; P < .01) MCA stroke. ΔQTc between baseline and admission was significantly longer in patients with right (23 ± 23 milliseconds) than in patients with left (-11 ± 19 milliseconds; P < .0001) MCA stroke. Percent ΔQTc between baseline and admission was longer in patients with right (5.5% ± 5.5%) than in patients with left (-2.6% ± 4.7%; P < .001) MCA stroke. CONCLUSIONS Right MCA ischemic stroke results in prolongation of QT interval. Findings indicate cerebral asymmetry in brain-heart interaction during acute ischemic stroke.

Visually assessed severity of lumbar spinal canal stenosis is paradoxically associated with leg pain and objective walking ability

BackgroundLumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is the common term used to describe patients with symptoms related to the anatomical reduction of the lumbar spinal canal size. However, some subjects may have a markedly narrowed canal without any symptoms. This raises the question of what is the actual role of central canal stenosis in symptomatic patients. The purpose of this study was to compare radiological evaluations of LSS, both visually and quantitatively, with the clinical findings of patients with LSS.MethodsEighty patients [mean age 63 (11) years, 44% male], with symptoms severe enough to indicate LSS surgery, were included in this prospective single-center study. Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging was performed and one experienced neuroradiologist classified patients into three groups: 0 = normal or mild stenosis, 1 = moderate stenosis, and 2 = severe stenosis. In addition, the same observer measured the minimal dural sac area level by level from the inferior aspect of L1 to the inferior aspect of S1. The association between radiological and clinical findings were tested with Oswestry Disability Index, overall visual analog pain scale, specific low back pain, specific leg pain, Beck Depression Inventory, and walking distance on treadmill exercise test.ResultsIn the visual classification of the central spinal canal, leg pain was significantly higher and walking distance achieved was shorter among patients with moderate central stenosis than in patients with severe central stenosis (7.33 (2.29) vs 5.80 (2.72); P = 0.008 and 421 (431) m vs 646 (436) m; P = 0.021, respectively). Patients with severe stenosis at only one level also achieved shorter walking distance than patients with severe stenosis of at least two levels. No correlation between visually or quantitatively assessed stenosis and other clinical findings was found.ConclusionsThere is no straightforward association between the stenosis of dural sac and patient symptoms or functional capacity. These findings indicated that dural sac stenosis is not the single key element in the pathophysiology of LSS.

Electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy has low diagnostic accuracy in middle‐aged subjects

Objective. To evaluate the usefulness of electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (ECG LVH) as a marker of LVH in middle‐aged subjects. Methods. LVH was determined by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 188 apparently healthy middle‐aged [97 men (45±7 years) and 91 women (47±6 years)]. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, test sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for identifying LVH at different ECG criteria were calculated. Results. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 142±13 mmHg and 90±8 mmHg in men and 139±10 mmHg and 90±8 mmHg in women, respectively. LVMI was 78±17 g/m2 in men and 67±12 g/m2 in women, and 14% of men and 22% of women had LVH in cardiac MRI. Only Sokolow–Lyon and Sokolow–Lyon product had the area under the ROC curve over 0.70. Sokolow–Lyon product had the highest sensitivity (47%). All ECG criteria had high negative predictive values, but the positive predictive values were below 46%. Conclusions. Commonly used ECG criteria of LVH have low discrimination ability in middle‐aged subjects. ECG LVH alone should not be used as a marker of target organ damage in middle‐aged, never treated and apparently healthy hypertensives.