Influence of alkoxy chain envelopes on the interfacial photoinduced processes in tetraarylporphyrin-sensitized solar cells.

The introduction of alkoxy chains in the molecular architecture of meso push-pull porphyrins is of paramount importance aiming at high performing dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on these specific sensitizers. Recently, we have demonstrated that the same approach is fruitful even if it is applied to tetraarylporphyrins with an acceptor/anchoring substituent in the ß-pyrrolic position. In particular, among the ortho-ortho, the ortho-para and the ortho-functionalization of the aryl rings with an octyloxy chain, we identified the latter as the most performing in the series, showing a good balance between the dye loading and the reduction of π-π aggregation. Herein, focusing our attention on the mono-ortho-functionalized molecular structure, we have investigated the effect of the alkoxy chain length and nature on the reduction of dye-to-dye aggregation as well as on the enhancement of light harvesting capabilities, finding an almost linear relationship between the device photon conversion efficiency (PCE) and the alkoxy chain length both in the presence and in the absence of a co-disaggregating agent.

MRI versus conventional measures of disease activity and structural damage in evaluating treatment efficacy in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the American College of Rheumatology paediatric (ACRp) response criteria and conventional radiography with MRI findings in a cohort of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. METHODS: Forty consecutive patients (30 girls, 10 boys; median age 10.8 years) with arthritis of the wrist starting treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or biological agents were recruited. At 1-year follow-up the treatment response was assessed by ACRp criteria and radiographic progression using the adapted Sharp/van der Heijde method. Wrist MRIs were evaluated using both the paediatric-MRI and the OMERACT rheumatoid arthritis MRI scores. Sensitivity to change of clinical and imaging variables was assessed by standardised response mean (SRM) and relative efficiency (RE) was used to compare SRMs. RESULTS: ACRp90 responders showed a significantly higher decrease in MRI synovitis score (median change -4) than non-responders (median change 0), ACRp30-50 responders (median change 0) and ACRp70 responders (median change -1) (p=0.0006, Kruskal-Wallis test). Non-responders showed significantly higher radiographic progression than ACRp90 responders (pB=0.016). The MRI synovitis score showed a greater responsiveness to change (SRM 1.69) compared with the majority of ACR core set of variables. MRI erosion scores were less responsive than conventional radiography in detecting destructive changes (RE <1). MRI follow-up revealed no signs of inflammation in four out of 24 wrists with clinically inactive disease. CONCLUSION: Only ACRp90 responders showed a significant decrease in synovitis and the halting of structural damage, suggesting that levels of response higher than ACRp30 are more appropriate for assessing drug efficacy. The excellent responsiveness of MRI and its ability to detect subclinical synovitis make it a promising outcome measure.

Multislice CT in congenital bronchopulmonary malformations in children.

Congenital bronchopulmonary malformations encompass a wide spectrum of pathologies involving the lungs, trachea and bronchi, pulmonary vessels, and oesophagus. These developmental lesions are often isolated, but the association of two or more anomalies is not infrequent. Contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), thanks to multiplanar and 3D reconstructions, allows for detailed studies of these malformations, achieving better accuracy compared with conventional techniques such as chest X-ray, fluoroscopy, ventilation and perfusion scintigraphy and ultrasonography. MDCT is characterised by fast data acquisition and does not require sedation in the majority of cases. The main drawbacks of MDCT are the use of ionising radiation and - in many cases -contrast media. Recently, improved CT scanners and optimised CT protocols have made available to children all the benefits of MDCT, thanks to a significant reduction in radiation dose and an improved risk-benefit ratio. The aim of our paper was to evaluate MDCT in children with bronchopulmonary malformations by reporting our experience (about 2,400 studies in 30 months with a 64-slice MDCT scanner) and comparing it with the available literature.

BoLA-DRB3 exon2 polymorphisms among tuberculous cattle: Nucleotide and functional variability and their association with bovine tuberculosis pathology.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is caused by Mycobacterium bovis and disseminated worldwide. In Argentina, the highest prevalence occurs in dairy areas. BoLA DRB3.2 is related to the adaptive immunity in mycobacterial infections. Genetic polymorphisms of this marker have been associated with resistance or susceptibility to bovine diseases. We evaluated the association between BoLA DRB3.2 polymorphisms and bTB pathology scores in dairy and beef cattle breeds of Argentina. Most bovines exhibited visible lesions compatible with tuberculosis and, furthermore, 150 (85.7%) were also positive by bacteriology. A pathology index showed a variable degree of disease, from 3 to 76 (median pathology score = 9 (IQR: 7-15)). Thirty-five BoLA DRB3.2 alleles were identified with an associated frequency from 16% to 0.3%, distributed 73% (n = 128) in heterozygosis and 27% (n = 47) in homozygosis, with 12 BoLA DRB3.2 alleles (*0101, *1101, *1501, *0201, *2707 *1001, *1002, *1201, *14011, *0501 *0902 and *0701) representing the 74.7% of the population variability. A functional analysis grouped them in 4 out of 5 clusters (A-D), suggesting a functional overlapping. Among the 90 identified genotypes, *1101/*1101, *1101/*1501 and *0101/*0101 were the most frequent (10%, 8.9% and 8.9%, respectively). No association was detected between the pathology scores and a specific DRB3.2 allele (p > .05). Animals infected with M. bovis spoligotype SB0153 showed a significantly higher pathology score than those affected by the spoligotype SB0145 (p = .018). Furthermore, the Aberdeen Angus breed exhibited highest pathological scores (p < .0001), which were associated with disseminated lesion, thus suggesting that the host component could be important to the disease progression.

Congenital chylothorax: Current evidence-based prenatal and post-natal diagnosis and management.

Congenital chylothorax is an uncommon condition but represents the main cause of congenital pleural effusion during the neonatal period. It usually appears before birth, both as an isolated disorder or in association with hydrops fetalis, negatively affecting the subsequent neonatal outcome. Prenatal treatment is usually considered to ensure a satisfactory lung development in case of moderate to severe pleural effusion or in the presence of hydrops, although consensus on treatment timing and modalities has not been reached to date. Both medical and surgical therapeutic strategies are available to treat this condition and novel treatment options have been recently attempted with acceptable results in both prenatal and post-natal setting. The heterogeneous clinical presentation of congenital chylothorax together with its rarity, its numerous etiologies and the absence of a highly effective treatment renders the diagnostic and therapeutic approach difficult to standardize. In addition, adequate visualization of the lymphatic system is complex, especially in small neonates, although new promising techniques have been developed lately and may contribute to improved management of this serious but infrequent condition. This review focuses on the current evidence base for the diagnosis and treatment options for congenital chylothorax, suggesting a rational diagnostic and therapeutic approach both in the prenatal and in the neonatal period.

Surgical validation of functional magnetic resonance urography in the study of ureteropelvic junction obstruction in a pediatric cohort.

INTRODUCTION: Ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is one of the most common urological diseases in children. The etiology can be intrinsic, extrinsic (crossing vessel [CV] or adhesions), or mixed. To date, ultrasonography and scintigraphy are considered gold-standard imaging techniques for the study of UPJO. Functional magnetic resonance urography (fMRU) combines anatomical and functional information and has been recently evaluated for the detection of CVs in UPJO. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the concordance between fMRU and surgery in determining the etiology of UPJO and the presence of obstructing/non-obstructing CVs. STUDY DESIGN: Patients with unilateral hydronephrosis who underwent surgery after an fMRU were included in the sample. Surgical data regarding the etiology of UPJO were compared with radiological results. The etiology was divided into intrinsic, extrinsic due to CV, extrinsic due to adhesions, and mixed or cicatricial (postoperative). The concordance was calculated by means of the Cohen's kappa coefficient. RESULTS: The observed agreement between fMRU and surgical findings regarding the etiology and the presence of CV were 83.2% and 89.4%, respectively (with substantial Cohen's kappa coefficient). The sensitivity and specificity of fMRU were 0.84 and 0.93, respectively; the positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 0.889 and 0.897, respectively. The observed agreement regarding the type of vessel was 88.3% with a Cohen's kappa coefficient of 0.787 (substantial). DISCUSSION: In children with hydronephrosis, it is very important for the surgeon to quantify the extent of dilation, define the etiology of the obstruction, and the presence or absence of CVs. fMRU is a 'one-stop-shop' technique which provides both anatomical and functional information showing a high concordance with surgical findings, avoiding radiation exposure. CONCLUSIONS: fMRU should be considered a valid imaging technique in the study of pediatric UPJO, as it provides the surgeon with important information regarding the etiology of the obstruction for the preoperative planning.

Mycobacterium bovis ESAT-6, CFP-10 and EspC antigens show high conservation among field isolates.

ESAT-6, CFP-10 and EspC are virulence factors that have been extensively assayed for bovine and human tuberculosis diagnosis due their potent T-cell inducing activities. While polymorphisms of ESAT-6 and CFP-10 were analyzed, with the description of CFP-10 variants in M. tuberculosis, this fact has not been explored in M. bovis field isolates. The coding sequences of esxA (ESAT-6), esxB (CFP-10) and mb3645c (EspC) from 58 M. bovis strains exhibiting genomic variability (spoligotyping) were analyzed. Two genes -esxA and esxB - remained invariant while mb3645c exhibited one synonymous polymorphism (G to A mutation, position 66bp) in one isolate, compared to M. bovis AF2122/97 reference strain. All isolates exhibited a synonymous nucleotide polymorphism simultaneously (G to A mutation, position 255bp), compared to M. tuberculosis H37Rv reference strain. This study confirms the high conservation for ESAT-6, CFP-10 and EspC in local M. bovis field isolates and reinforce the use of these three antigens in the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis. Further studies should be performed to globally confirm these findings.

Pancreatitis caused by duodenal duplication.

The authors present the investigations and surgical treatment of two cases of duodenal cystic duplication. Abdominal pain and gastroesophageal reflux were the most important symptoms and signs associated with an history of recurrent acute pancreatitis. Computed tomography scan, ultrasound examination, and cholangiography confirmed preoperatively the diagnosis, and a transduodenal surgical approach was carried out in both children. A simple marsupialization of the cyst was performed in the former, and a sphincterotomy with papillosphincteroplasty was associated in the latter. The diagnosis was confirmed by microscopy, and both the children are asymptomatic after a 14 and 18 months of follow-up. This report focuses on the importance of the cholangiopancreatography for every child presenting with recurrent, unexplained bouts of acute pancreatitis, and underlines the technical surgical aspects on the basis of the anatomic identification of the malformation.

[Treatment of pilonidal sinus. Our experience]. / Il trattamento del "sinus pilonidalis". Nostra esperienza.

The various types of surgical techniques adopted in a group of 167 patients suffering from pilonidal cysts and fistulas are examined: closed, semi-closed and open method. The results are assessed and the reasons for preferring the closed method are examined.

Novel automated system for magnetic resonance imaging quantification of the inflamed synovial membrane volume in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To introduce a novel automated method for the quantification of the inflamed synovial membrane volume (SV) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to investigate its feasibility and validity in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). METHODS: The tool was tested on 58 patients with JIA and wrist involvement. Thirty-six patients had a 1-year MRI followup. MRI of the clinically more affected wrist was performed using a 1.5T scanner and a Flex small coil. An algorithmic approach, based on supervised voxel classification for automatic estimation of SV in a 3-dimensional MRI, was developed. The SV was estimated as the number of positively classified voxels and then normalized by the patient's body surface (NSV). Validation procedures included the analysis of reliability, construct validity, responsiveness to change, discriminant validity, and the predictive value. RESULTS: The agreement between the automated estimation of NSV and the manual measurements was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.79-0.98). The automatic NSV demonstrated good construct validity by yielding strong correlations with local signs of disease activity and a moderate correlation with global physician assessment of disease activity and with the Rheumatoid Arthritis Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scoring system synovitis score. NSV showed a strong responsiveness to clinical change (standardized response mean values >1) and satisfactory discriminant validity. High baseline NSV (>4.6) had high predictive value (100%) with respect to erosive progression. CONCLUSION: The proposed automated method allowed reliable quantification of NSV, which represents a promising imaging biomarker of disease activity in JIA. The automated system has the potential to improve the longitudinal assessment of JIA and to predict progressive joint destruction.

Individual animals of a cattle herd infected with the same Mycobacterium bovis genotype shows important variations in bacteriological, histopathological and immune response parameters.

Cattle are the host and main reservoir of the etiologic agent of bovine tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis; although other mammalian species, including humans, are susceptible. The tuberculin test and/or slaughterhouse surveillance is the diagnostic method used by control programs all around the world to control and eradicate the disease. In order to compare different tuberculosis diagnostic tests and to reach disease confirmation, a study was performed in a group of 14 steers of Friesian breed, reacting positively to tuberculin test. Three ante-mortem assays were performed according to the type of sample: the gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) test (which quantifies the release of this cytokine by sensitized lymphocytes in whole blood in response to purified protein derivative (PPD) and recombinant ESAT-6 and CFP10 proteins); PCR and bacteriologic culture from nasal swab and intradermal tuberculin test. These assays were taken at different times to assess the evolution of clinical parameters. Post-mortem examination showed macroscopic and microscopic tuberculosis lesions with acid-fast bacillus and positive cultures. By spoligotyping, we observed that all the isolates showed the same pattern. The positive results based on comparison to lesions observed ranged from 58% to 75% for the IFN-gamma assays, to 72% for cultures, and ranged from 50% to 90% for PCR in nasal swabs. In conclusion, in a herd infected by the same strain, ante-mortem direct and immune-diagnostic parameters change, suggesting that several tests are needed for a faster control of infection at herd level.

Traumatic lesions of adrenal glands in paediatrics: about three cases.

Pediatric adrenal injuries, in blunt thoracoabdominal trauma, are rare and usually associated with traumatic liver and kidney lesions. This paper aims to present imaging findings and possible adrenal involvement in blunt abdominal traumas in childhood. We report three cases of thoracoabdominal trauma with adrenal involvement. Two patients were polytraumatised in car accidents. The third case was unusual because of the mild trauma. The adrenals lesions were right-sided in all cases. Post-traumatic adrenal contusion/haematoma may arise not only because of a direct trauma but also as a consequence of a sudden increase in the pressure in the inferior vena cava system-adrenal veins. This is why adrenal haemorrhage is not directly proportional to the trauma: compression of the inferior vena cava leads to increased pressure in the adrenal venous circulation, which supports the parenchymal lesion. The right adrenal gland is more frequently injured than the left gland: it can be easily compressed between the liver, spine and kidney, and its venous drainage flows directly into the inferior vena cava.

[Echotomography diagnosis of congenital hip dysplasia. Experience with 1120 cases]. / Diagnosi ecotomografica di displasia congenita dell'anca. Esperienza su 1120 casi.

The congenital hip dysplasia is based on an abnormal acetabular rim, with pathologic capsula and ligaments. These pathologic structures can lead to the subtotal or total dislocation of the hips. In newborns the joint cartilaginous structures, can be visualized by sonography and it is possible to diagnose the different grade of dysplasia. Our series, in part previously selected, consist in 1120 joints. The results in newborns up to 3 months of age are: normal joints 79.5%, immature 10.7%, pathologic 9.8%. After 3 months of age: normal joints 93%, dysplastic 5.2%, subdislocated 0.6%, dislocated 1.2%. In all the cases we used the morphologic Graf technique and in newborns also the dynamic examination according to Novick to precise the minimal degree of the instability of the hips. Sonography permits an early diagnosis of hip dysplasia without false positive or negative results.

[Role of echo-Doppler in the screening of renal artery stenosis in children with kidney transplants]. / Ruolo dell'eco-Doppler nello screening della stenosi dell'arteria renale nei reni trapiantati nell'età pediatrica.

Renal artery stenosis (RAS) in renal transplanted pediatric patients is a long-term complication. The clinical suspicion must be considered when patients exhibit signs of impaired renal function or refractory hypertension, not associated with other complications of renal transplantation -i.e., acute or chronic rejection, glomerulonephritis, cyclosporine toxicity. The intermediate step between clinical suspicion and angiography is represented by Doppler US. The authors report their experience with Doppler US in the screening of RAS in a pediatric series of transplanted patients. The incidence of RAS in our series (54 transplanted kidneys, 46 of them included in the study) was 4.3%. A severe stenosis was demonstrated by both Doppler US and angiography in 2 patients, with 100% Doppler sensitivity. In both stenoses, Doppler US showed high systolic peaks (blood flow velocity > or = 2.5 m/s) and post-stenotic turbulence. Thanks to its high sensitivity, Doppler US is considered to be very useful in the screening of vascular complications in renal transplanted children.

[Diagnostic imaging of chronic inflammatory diseases of the intestine in children]. / Diagnostica per immagini nelle malattie infiammatorie croniche dell'intestino nell'età pediatrica.

Chronic inflammatory bowel disease (CIBD) in children is represented mainly by ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Infectious forms, Behçet's disease and eosinophilic gastroenteritis are not included in this study. UC and CD are difficult to diagnose and to treat, and require a multispecialistic approach including pediatric gastroenterologists, surgeons, radiologists, endoscopists and pathologists. Progress in diagnostic techniques--i.e., nuclear medicine procedures, conventional, duplex and color-Doppler US, and endoscopy--has increased our knowledge of these diseases and it has made their diagnosis easier, opening new therapeutic perspectives. In our paper, after mentioning the major clinical and radiologic features of CIBD, we report on the patients hospitalized in the Gaslini Institute from 1984 to 1994. Thirty-six patients (age range: 3,9 to 14 years) were examined with several imaging techniques--i.e., plain radiography, US, contrast studies and CT--according to the clinical presentation and behavior of the disease. X-ray studies played the leading role in imaging mucosal disease spread (double contrast studies) and monitoring "surgical" complications (plain radiography). These techniques, which were always combined with US and, in some cases, CT, are also a major tool to study extraluminal CIBD spread--i.e., fistulas, pseudotumors, lymph nodes, abscesses and mesenteric changes. Color-Doppler US may play a critical role in the differential diagnosis of these and other small and large bowel pathologic conditions. The most typical CD patterns in bowel disease are listed in the paper, to give a contribution to the differential diagnosis of the chronic abdominal pain syndrome which is a very common condition in children.

[Intraparenchymal renal Doppler: the indirect signs of renal artery stenosis in native and transplanted kidneys in childhood]. / Doppler intraparenchimale renale: segni indiretti di stenosi dell'arteria renale dei reni nativi e trapiantati nell'età pediatrica.

Ultrasonography is currently the method of choice to examine the pediatric patient because it is widely available, noninvasive and inexpensive. Particularly, Doppler US is the method of choice to study renal artery stenoses, which are among the most frequent causes of arterial hypertension in children, in both renal allografts and native kidneys. This study was aimed at investigating the value of the indirect signs of stenosis observed during the assessment of intrarenal vessels--i.e., changes in the waveform, resistive index and acceleration index. We examined 63 renal allograft recipients and a 12-year-old boy with a native kidney and arterial hypertension. In all cases the Doppler curves of the intrarenal vessels were studied both qualitatively and quantitatively. In this paper we report on 5 cases (4 allografts and 1 native kidney) with major waveform changes in the downstream renal circulation. Our findings confirmed the resistive index and the acceleration index measured with Doppler US in the intrarenal vessels to be major diagnostic tools in renal artery stenoses in the pediatric patient when the renal arteries are difficult to assess. However, the technique exhibits some limitations and allows an unquestionable diagnosis only in severe stenoses.

Schizencephaly: prenatal diagnosis by computed sonography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed at 29 weeks of pregnancy after ultrasonographic detection of an abnormal cleft in the fetal brain. Fetal neuromuscular blockade was induced by pancuronium bromide injected into the umbilical vein under continuous ultrasound (US) guidance. MR images supported the echotomographic diagnosis of schizencephaly improving the visualization of symmetrical broad clefts connecting the lateral ventricles with the subarachnoid space. Schizencephaly was finally confirmed by neonatal US, computed tomography, and MR.

[Ultrasonics in the study of periencephalic post-traumatic effusions in the newborn and suckling infants]. / L'ecotomografia nello studio delle raccolte periencefaliche post-traumatiche nel neonato-lattante.

The authors report their experience in 8 cases of cranial post-traumatic superficial collections, studied by US. Traumatic cranial injuries with superficial collections are not rare in newborns; their early and complete diagnosis is necessary for a correct therapeutic approach. Sonography could be used as a first choice procedure but presents some limitations in the study of the posterior fossa. Therefore CT remains the technique of choice.

In utero ultrasonographic features of campomelic dysplasia.

A prenatal diagnosis of campomelic dysplasia in a primigravida is described. First level fetal ultrasonography demonstrated bowing and shortening of lower limbs. Second level examination allowed the correct diagnosis by demonstrating several skeletal anomalies pathognomonic of campomelic dysplasia.

Holoprosencephaly: prenatal diagnosis by sonography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed on two women at the 33rd and 34th pregnancy week, respectively, after ultrasonographic detection of a brain malformation. Fetal neuromuscular blockade was induced by pancuronium bromide injected into the umbilical vein under continuous ultrasound (US) guidance. MR images supported the echotomographic diagnosis of holoprosencephaly, improving the image quality and offering additional information in such cases of difficult differential fetal diagnosis. Holoprosencephaly was finally confirmed by neonatal US and autopsy (case 1), US, CT and MR (case 2).