Adaptability and Stability of Safflower Genotypes for Oil Production.

The study aimed to analyze the agronomic performance of 11 safflower genotypes using adaptability and stability methods, while identifying safflower genotypes with stable behavior and a high grain yield in different environments of the Brazilian Cerrado. Ten lines and a cultivar of safflower were evaluated in four environments in the Brazilian conditions. Our results revealed the genotypes P30, P35, P9, P11, and P31 to be superior for grain yield and P43, P7, P11, and P31 to be superior for oil content. The lowest Wricke index, an indication of genotype stability, was observed for P9 (0.41%), which is considered the most stable genotype, followed by P35 (1.29%) and P31 (1.98%). For the predictability of the behavior of genotypes in the environments, P7 (80.85%), P35 (86.10%), P31 (85.90%), and P9 (97.42%) were considered predictable genotypes. The genotypes P11 (1045.6 kg ha-1 and 19.7%) and P21 (952.7 kg ha-1 and 20.6%) are recommended for cultivation in this region, considering both their grain yield and oil content. Safflower is viable to use out of season in the Brazilian Cerrado. The crop can generate profits for farmers and be used for oil production in periods of uncertain corn production.

A rare association of tension pneumocephalus and a large frontoethmoidal osteoma: imaging features and surgical treatment.

Osteomas are the most common benign paranasal sinus tumors and are often found in the frontal and ethmoidal sinus. Intracranial complications such as pneumocephalus have occasionally been reported in association with osteomas. We describe a 33-year-old man with a large frontoethmoidal osteoma complicated by tension pneumocephalus and neurological disturbances, and we discuss the clinical and imaging resolutions after surgical management. We emphasize the imaging features and neuroendoscopic approach to avoid life-threatening conditions.

Dural metastases from prostate carcinoma: a systematic review of the literature apropos of six patients.

Intracranial metastases are a rare manifestation of prostate carcinoma and the dura mater is the most affected site. We report a series of six patients with dural prostate metastases (DPM) and perform a systematic review of the current literature in order to depict imaging trademarks of this condition. This review points to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pattern of meningeal involvement characterized by a diffuse smooth thickening, nodular appearance or dural-based masses. We also demonstrate an osteoblastic pattern of lesions, particularly in sphenoid wing, by computed tomography (CT) scans. We suggest that these imaging findings may support an elevated index of suspicion of DPM in elderly men, including those patients without urologic symptoms.

Lipomyelocele with osseous dysraphic hamartoma in a child: a case report.

Lipomyelocele is a well-known vertebral malformation that affects intraspinal and extraspinal tissues and compartments. However, other tissues can be associated with the lipomatous component, such as well-developed bones in unusual sites. This association is consistent with dysraphic hamartoma, one of the rarest malformations of the vertebral canal closure. We describe an 8-year-old girl without neurological deficit with a voluminous lipomyelocele associated with a well-developed flat bone articulated to the left iliac wing. We reviewed the role of magnetic resonance and computed tomography with tridimensional reconstruction in this rare form of spinal dysraphism and described the imaging features.

Comparative analysis of MR sequences to detect structural brain lesions in tuberous sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Tuberous sclerosis (TS) is a neurocutaneous genetically inherited disease with variable penetrance characterized by dysplasias and hamartomas affecting multiple organs. MR is the imaging method of choice to demonstrate structural brain lesions in TS. OBJECTIVE: To compare MR sequences and determine which is most useful for the demonstration of each type of brain lesion in TS patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed MR scans of 18 TS patients for the presence of cortical tubers, white matter lesions (radial bands), subependymal nodules, and subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SGCA) on the following sequences: (1) T1-weighted spin-echo (T1 SE) images before and after gadolinium (Gd) injection; (2) nonenhanced T1 SE sequence with an additional magnetization transfer contrast medium pulse on resonance (T1 SE/MTC); and (3) fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequence. RESULTS: Cortical tubers were found in significantly (P<0.05) larger numbers and more conspicuously in FLAIR and T1 SE/MTC sequences. The T1 SE/MTC sequence was far superior to other methods in detecting white matter lesions (P<0.01). There was no significant difference between the T1 SE/MTC and T1 SE (before and after Gd injection) sequences in the detection of subependymal nodules; FLAIR sequence showed less sensitivity than the others in identifying the nodules. T1 SE sequences after Gd injection demonstrated better the limits of the SGCA. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated the importance of appropriate MRI sequences for diagnosis of the most frequent brain lesions in TS. Our study reinforces the fact that each sequence has a particular application according to the type of TS lesion. Gd injection might be useful in detecting SGCA; however, the parameters of size and location are also important for a presumptive diagnosis of these tumors.