Meningioma is one of the most common tumors of the central nervous system. However, primary extra cranial meningioma is rare as it consists 1%-2% of meningioma. It is very rare in paranasal sinus and accounts for about 0.1% of the paranasal sinus tumor. The treatment of choice is complete surgical excision of the tumor. Herein, with a review of the literature, we report a rare case of primary extra cranial meningioma in a 38-year-old male.

Small cell carcinoma (SmCC) is a type of neuroendocrine tumor commonly originating in the lung, with only about 2-4% of cases arising at extrapulmonary sites. Extrapulmonary SmCC of the head and neck has a poor prognosis and a high rate of distant metastasis. The paranasal sinus is a rare location for extrapulmonary SmCC and only a few related papers have been published to date. We report a rare case of SmCC originating from the sphenoid sinus in a patient with a recurrent pituitary tumor with a literature review.

Small cell carcinoma (SmCC) is a type of neuroendocrine tumor commonly originating in the lung, with only about 2-4% of cases arising at extrapulmonary sites. Extrapulmonary SmCC of the head and neck has a poor prognosis and a high rate of distant metastasis. The paranasal sinus is a rare location for extrapulmonary SmCC and only a few related papers have been published to date. We report a rare case of SmCC originating from the sphenoid sinus in a patient with a recurrent pituitary tumor with a literature review.

Purpose: This study aimed to construct a database of the effective doses (ED) from F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) torso positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in Korea to provide data that supports the reduction of the CT dose of PET/CT and optimization of PET/CT protocols in Korea. Methods: We investigated data of ED and CT parameters of FDG PET/CT. The data were analyzed by body weight groups. Results: A total of 31 hospitals participated in the survey (99 adults). The mean total EDs (± SD) were 8.77 ± 2.76, 10.93 ± 3.14, and 12.57 ± 3.79 mSv for the 55-, 70-, and 85-kg groups, respectively. The FDG EDs were 4.80 ± 0.98, 6.05 ± 1.15, and 6.89 ± 1.52 mSv, and the CT EDs were 4.00 ± 2.12, 4.88 ± 2.51, and 5.68 ± 2.89 mSv, respectively. Of the enrolled hospitals, 54.5% used ultra-low-dose CT protocols, and their CT ED was significantly lower than low-dose CT group in all groups (2.9 ± 1.0, 3.2 ± 1.1, and 3.3 ± 1.0 mSv vs. 6.6 ± 1.6, 7.2 ± 2.1, and 7.9 ± 2.2 mSv, all p < 0.001, respectively). In the ultra-low-dose CT group, the CT ED with the iterative reconstruction was significantly lower than that of CT without iterative reconstruction in the 55-kg group (2.4 ± 0.9 vs. 3.3 ± 0.9, p = 0.04). Conclusions These results and current recommendations can be helpful for optimizing PET/CT diagnostic reference level (DRL) and reducing unnecessary PET/CT radiation exposure.

OBJECTIVE: To compare quantitative and qualitative image quality parameters in pediatric abdominopelvic dual-energy CT (DECT) using noise-optimized virtual monoenergetic image (VMI) and conventional VMI at different kiloelectron volt (keV) levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six consecutive abdominopelvic DECT scans were retrospectively included. Noise-optimized VMI and conventional VMI were reconstructed at seven energy levels, from 40 keV to 100 keV at 10 keV intervals. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the liver, pancreas, and aorta were objectively measured and compared. Image quality was evaluated subjectively regarding image noise, image blurring of solid organ, bowel image quality and severity of beam-hardening artifacts. Optimal monoenergetic levels in keV for both algorithms were determined based on overall image quality score. RESULTS: The maximal CNR and SNR values for all investigated organs were observed at 40 keV in noise-optimized VMI (CNR and SNR of liver, pancreas, aorta in order [CNR; 20.93, 17.34, 46.75: SNR; 37.39, 33.80, 63.21]), at 60–70 keV and at 70 keV in conventional VMI (CNR; 8.12, 5.67, 15.97: SNR; 19.57, 16.66, 26.65). In qualitative image analysis, noise-optimized VMI and conventional VMI showed the best overall image quality scores at 60 keV and at 70 keV, respectively. Noise-optimized VMI at 60 keV showed superior CNRs, SNRs, and overall image quality scores compared to conventional VMI at 70 keV (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Optimal energy levels for noise-optimized VMI and conventional VMI were 60 keV and at 70 keV, respectively. Noise-optimized VMI shows superior CNRs, SNRs and subjective image quality over conventional VMI, at the optimal energy level.
Aorta ; Artifacts ; Liver ; Noise ; Pancreas ; Retrospective Studies ; Signal-To-Noise Ratio

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The increased resistance of Helicobacter pylori to antibiotics has increased the need to develop new treatments for this bacterium. The aim of our study was to identify new drugs with anti-H. pylori activity. METHODS: We screened a small molecule library—the library of pharmacologically active compounds (LOPAC), which includes 1,280 pharmacologically active compounds—to identify inhibitors of H. pylori growth. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of antibiotics against multidrug-resistant H. pylori strains were determined using the agar dilution method. RESULTS: We identified diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) as a novel anti-H. pylori agent. The MIC values for DPI were <0.03 μg/mL against all tested H. pylori strains. DPI also exhibited strong antibacterial activity against common gram-negative and gram-positive pathogenic bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: DPI may be a candidate anti-H. pylori drug for future development.
Agar ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Methods

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Identifying the critical isthmus of slow conduction is crucial for successful treatment of scar-related ventricular tachycardia. Current 3D mapping is not designed for tracking the critical isthmus and may lead to a risk of extensive ablation. We edited the algorithm to track the delayed potential in order to visualize the isthmus and compared the edited map with a conventional map. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We marked every point that showed delayed potential with blue color. After substrate mapping, we edited to reset the annotation from true ventricular potential to delayed potential and then changed the window of interest from the conventional zone (early, 50-60%; late, 40-50% from peak of QRS) to the edited zone (early, 80-90%; late, 10-20%) for every blue point. Finally, we compared the propagation maps before and after editing. RESULTS: We analyzed five scar-related ventricular tachycardia cases. In the propagation maps, the resetting map showed the critical isthmus and entrance and exit sites of tachycardia that showed figure 8 reentry. However, conventional maps only showed the earliest ventricular activation sites and searched for focal tachycardia. All of the tachycardia cases were terminated by ablating the area around the isthmus. CONCLUSION: Identifying the channel and direction of the critical isthmus by a new editing method to track delayed potential is essential in scar-related tachycardia.
Tachycardia ; Tachycardia, Ventricular*

PURPOSE: Magnetocardiography (MCG) has been proposed as a noninvasive, diagnostic tool for risk-stratifying patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study evaluated whether MCG predicts long-term prognosis in AMI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 124 AMI patients (95 males, mean age 60±11 years), including 39 with ST-elevation myocardial infarction, a 64-channel MCG was performed within 2 days after AMI. During a mean follow-up period of 6.1 years, major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were evaluated. RESULTS: MACE occurred in 31 (25%) patients, including 20 revascularizations, 8 deaths, and 3 re-infarctions. Non-dipole patterns were observed at the end of the T wave in every patients. However, they were observed at T-peak in 77% (24/31) and 54% (50/93) of patients with and without MACE, respectively (p=0.03). Maximum current, field map angles, and distance dynamics were not different between groups. In the multivariate analysis, patients with non-dipole patterns at T-peak had increased age- and gender-adjusted hazard ratios for MACE (hazard ratio 2.89, 95% confidence interval 1.20–6.97, p=0.02) and lower cumulative MACE-free survival than those with dipole patterns (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Non-dipole patterns at T-peak were more frequently observed in patients with MACE and were related to poor long-term prognosis. Thus, repolarization heterogeneity measured by MCG may be a useful predictor for AMI prognosis.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetocardiography* ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Population Characteristics* ; Prognosis*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical results of patients with scaphoid nonunions treated with arthroscopically assisted bone grafting and percutaneous K-wires fixation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 20 patients with a scaphoid nonunions which was treated with arthroscopically assisted bone grafting and percutaneous K-wires fixation from November 2008 to July 2012. Time from injury to treatment was 74 months (range, 3-480 months) in average. Functional outcome was evaluated using the modified Mayo wrist score and visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, which were measured before operation and at the last follow up. RESULTS: All nonunions were healed successfully. The average radiologic union time was 9.7 weeks (range, 7-14 weeks). The average VAS score improved from 6.3 (range, 4-8) preoperatively to 1.6 (range, 0-3) at the last follow up. The average modified Mayo wrist score increased from 62.5 preoperatively to 85.7 at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Arthroscopically assisted bone grafting and percutaneous K-wires fixation is an effective treatment method for a scaphoid nonunion. It may provide more biological environment than open surgery as a minimally invasive procedure.
Arthroscopy ; Bone Transplantation* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Wrist

No Abstract Available.
Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic* ; Fatigue* ; Prevalence*