A national, multicenter, secondary data use study evaluating efficacy and retention of first-line biologic treatment with tocilizumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in real-life setting: results from TURKBIO registry.

Tocilizumab (TCZ) is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the IL-6 receptor. TCZ found to be efficacious and has a good tolerated safety profile in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The aim of this study was to describe the disease activity and retention rate in Turkish RA patients who were prescribed TCZ as first-line biologic treatment in a real-world setting. Secondary data obtained from adult RA patients' files was used in a multicenter and retrospective context. Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), Disease Activity Score in 28 joints with ESR (DAS28-ESR), and retention rates of TCZ were evaluated at related time points. 130 patients (87.7% female) with a mean age of 53 years (SD; 15.0) were included in the study. Mean RA duration was 14 years and median duration of follow-up was 18.5 months. Number of patients with ongoing TCZ treatment at 6, 12, and 24 months were 121 (93%), 85 (65%), and 46 (35%), respectively. Remission rates at 6, 12, and 24 months per CDAI (< 2.8) and DAS28-ESR (< 2.6) scores were 61.5, 44.6, 30%, and 54.6, 40.8, 27.7%, respectively. Both CDAI and DAS28-ESR scores significantly improved at 6, 12 and 24 months (p < 0.001 for both). At 24 months, 23 patients (17.6%) discontinued TCZ, of whom majority (17/23) were due to unsatisfactory response. Retention rates of TCZ at 6, 12, and 24 months were 93, 84.3, and 72.2%, respectively. In this real-world study, TCZ as a first-line biologic therapy was found to be efficacious and showing high retention rates. These real-world study results are in line with previous randomized studies.

Traumatic fronto-ethmoidal encephalocele: a rare case.

Encephalocele is defined as herniation of the brain tissue from a bone defect in the cranium. It may be congenital, traumatic, tumoural or develop spontaneously. Traumatic fronto-ethmoidal encephalocele is rare and should be kept in mind for patients who have suffered trauma. Early diagnosis is important in terms of preventing life-threatening complications such as meningitis. Encephalocele and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage can be easily determined with basic radiological imaging methods and clinical findings. The computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings are here presented of a case with traumatic encephalocele.

Diffusion-weighted MRI in the differential diagnosis of uterine endometrial cavity tumors.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of quantitative apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurement in the differential diagnosis of the uterine endometrial cavity tumors (UECT). METHODS: This study included consecutive 36 female patients with UECT. The groups were formed as follows: group 1, patients with endometrial carcinoma; group 2, patients with endometrial polyp; group 3, patients with submucosal leiomyoma; and additionally group A, patients with malignant lesion; group B patients with benign lesion. Tumoral and outer myometrial ADC values were measured and the tumor-myometrium ADC ratios were calculated in all patients. Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests were used to test the normality of the data distributions. The data were not normally distributed, and therefore, nonparametric tests were performed. The cut-off values, sensitivity, and specificity were determined by the receiver operating characteristic analysis. RESULTS: The mean ADC value and ratio of group 1 were lower than that of group 2 and 3, and the mean ADC value and ratio of group 3 were lower than that of group 2. The sensitivity and specificity for group 1, 2, and 3 were as follows: 90, 100, and 66.7 %; and 81.8, 88, and 58.8 %, respectively, in terms of the ADC values; 90, 100 and 67 %; and 77.3, 96, and 64.7 % in terms of the ADC ratios. Statistically significant differences were demonstrated between group A and B in terms of mean tumoral ADC values and ratios. Sensitivity and specificity were found to be 90 and 81.8 %, respectively, in terms of the ADC values. The sensitivity and specificity were found to be 90 and 77.3 %, respectively, in terms of the ADC ratios. CONCLUSIONS: ADC values and ratios represent a promising parameter in the determination of the tumoral lesions in patients with UECT.

Evaluation of resistive index using color Doppler imaging of orbital arteries in geriatric patients with hypertension.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Resistive index (RI) is an indirect measurement of blood flow resistance that can be used to evaluate vascular damage in ophthalmologic disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between RI values of orbital arteries using the color Doppler imaging (CDI) in geriatric hypertensive patients with or without retinopathy. SETTING AND DESIGN: Designed as a cross-sectional study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 60 geriatric patients with hypertension (Group 1) and 30 healthy subjects (Group 2). Further, the patients with hypertension were grouped into two: Group 1a consisted of patients with retinopathy (n = 30), and group 1b consisted of patients without retinopathy (n = 30). The mean RI values of ophthalmic artery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA), and posterior ciliary artery (PCA) were measured using CDI. RESULTS: Compared to group 2, group 1 had significantly higher mean resistive index of PCA levels (P = 0.017), whereas there were no statistical difference in mean resistive indexes of OA and CRA (both P > 0.05). Besides, there were no statistical difference in mean resistive indexes of OA, CRA, and PCA between the group 1a and group 1b (P > 0.05 for all). Mean resistive indexes of OA, CRA, and PCA were significantly correlated with the duration of hypertension (r = 0.268, P = 0.038; r = 0.315, P = 0.014; r = 0.324, P = 0.012, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that RI might be a useful marker for the ocular hemodynamic of retinal vessels, provides morphologic and vascular information in hypertension and hypertensive retinopathy.

Joubert syndrome: the clinical and radiological findings.

Joubert syndrome is a rare disease characterised by clinical and radiological findings. Among the classic clinical findings of JS are hypotonia, ataxia, mental-motor retardation, respiratory and opthalmological findings. The paediatric cases included in the study comprised nine patients. There was familial consanguinty in seven cases. Clinically, all cases had mental-motor retardation and hypotonia. Episodic hyperpnoea attacks were observed in one case. Facial dysmorphism was the most common additional systemic anomaly and four cases had additional opthalmic findings. Brain MRI examination revealed that all cases had molar tooth sign, bat-wing appearance and vermian cleft. The majority of cases also had vermian hypoplasia. Cerebellar folial disorganisation was observed in approxiamtely half of the cases. Three cases had corpus callosum anomaly and atretic occipital encephalocoele. No pathology was determined in other organs. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiological findings of 9 patients diagnosed with Joubert syndrome.

Diffusion-weighted MRI of the testes in patients with varicocele: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: This preliminary study aimed to evaluate changes in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the testes in patients presenting with varicocele. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 25 consecutively recruited patients with varicocele and 25 healthy control volunteers. The ADC values were measured in all participants. Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests were used to test the normality of the data distributions, and the data were expressed as arithmetic means and SDs. A one-way analysis of variance with a post hoc Bonferroni test was used to analyze normally distributed continuous data. Independent sample Student t tests were used to compare continuous variables between two groups. Furthermore, a Pearson correlation coefficient analysis was used to examine the association of venous diameters with mean ADC values in patients with varicocele. A two-sided p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Sensitivities, specificities, and areas under the curve were calculated for the ADC values. RESULTS: The ADC values associated with the ipsilateral testicular parenchyma of patients with varicocele were found to be lower than those of healthy volunteers. Moreover, the ADC values of the contralateral testicular parenchyma in patients with varicocele were also lower than those of healthy volunteers. The sensitivity and specificity of ADC values were 90% and 96%, respectively, for patients with varicocele and 89.5% and 96% for healthy volunteers. The mean ADC values were significantly negatively correlated with venous diameter. CONCLUSION: The measurement of testicular ADC values may be used as a diagnostic indicator in the detection of testicular fibrosis.

Efficacy of CT in diagnosis of transudates and exudates in patients with pleural effusion.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of multidetector computed tomography (CT) imaging in diagnosis of pleural exudates and transudates using attenuation values. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 106 patients who were diagnosed with pleural effusion between January 2010 and June 2012. After the patients underwent chest CT, thoracentesis was performed in the first week. The attenuation values of the pleural effusions were measured in all patients. RESULTS: According to Light's criteria, 30 of 106 patients with pleural effusions had transudates, and the remaining patients had exudates. The Hounsfield unit (HU) value of the exudates (median, 12.5; range, 4-33) was significantly higher than that of the transudates (median, 5; range, 2-15) (P = 0.001). Additionally, when evaluated by disease subgroups, congestive heart failure and empyema were predictable in terms of median HU values of the pleural effusions with high and moderate sensitivity and specificity values (84.6% and 81.2%, respectively; 76.9% and 66.7%, respectively). Compared with other patients, the empyema patients had significantly more loculation and pleural thickening. CONCLUSION: CT attenuation values may be useful in differentiating exudates from transudates. Although there is an overlap in most effusions, exudate can be considered when the CT attenuation values are >15 HU. Because of overlapping HU values, close correlation with clinical findings is essential. Additional signs, such as fluid loculation and pleural thickness, should be considered and may provide further information for the differentiation.

An evaluation of thyrotoxic autoimmune thyroiditis patients with triplex Doppler ultrasonography.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of blood flow parameters obtained from STA and CCA with Triplex Doppler ultrasonography (TDU) on patients with thyrotoxicosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included consecutive 24 patients with thyrotoxicosis and 18 healthy controls. The thyroid gland blood flow parameters were evaluated with TDU. RESULTS: The thyroid volumes and FT3, TRAb, 4-h and 24-h radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) levels of Group 1 were significantly high compared to those of Group 2. The thyroid volumes and FT3, FT4 and TSH levels of both Group 1 and Group 2 showed a statistically significant difference compared to Group 3. STA-PSV values for Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 were 138 cm/s, 54 cm/s and 37 cm/s, respectively. STA-EDV values for these groups were 60 cm/s, 25 cm/s and 15 cm/s, respectively. PSVR values for these groups were 1.01, 0.45, 0.34 cm/s, respectively. EDVR values for these groups were 1.29, 0.70 and 0.49 cm/s, respectively. In Group 1, STA-PSV, STA-EDV, PSVR and EDVR values were significantly high compared to those of Group 2. RAIU levels showed a significant positive correlation with the STA-PSV, STA-EDV and PSVR. CONCLUSION: The thyroid gland blood flow parameters may be used in clinical diagnosis of patients with thyrotoxicosis.

Efficacy of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in follow-up patients treated with open partial cystectomy of liver hydatid cysts.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of DWI in differentiation of patients with residual cavity and type 1 hydatid cyst (HC) in the liver. METHODS: 32 patients were included. 12 of these patients had type 1 HC and the remainders (n = 20) had postoperative residual cavities. In all patients, axial T2-weighted and DWI images were obtained. An apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map of the images was automatically generated and the ADC values were measured on this map for all patients. Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous variables between two groups. RESULTS: The mean diameters of type 1 hydatid cyst and residual cavity groups were 83.42 mm, 49.30 mm, respectively (P = 0.001). There were no significant differences in gender and age between the groups (both P > 0.05). The mean ADC values of type 1 hydatid cyst and residual cavity groups were 2.58 ± 0.13 × 10(-3) s/mm(2), 2.58 ± 0.16 × 10(-3) s/mm(2), respectively (P = 0.953). CONCLUSION: DWI might not be suitable to differentiate the postoperative residual cavity from the type 1 hydatid cyst in the liver due to similarity of ADC values between postoperative residual cavity and type 1 hydatid cyst.

Anterior interhemispheric calcified lipoma together with subcutaneous lipoma and agenesis of corpus callosum: a rare manifestation of midline craniofacial dysraphism.

Frontonasal dysplasia (FND) or craniofacial dysraphism includes a variety of craniofacial defects. FNDs are rarely associated with intracranial lipoma. The majority of intracranial lipomas are incidentally identified on radiological examinations. They are commonly accompanied by other congenital intracranial malformations. Moreover, they are rarely associated with subcutaneous lipoma. We present a rare case of midline craniofacial dysraphism with interhemispheric calcified lipoma together with subcutaneous lipoma and agenesis of the corpus callosum.

The use of DWI to assess spleen and liver quantitative ADC changes in the detection of liver fibrosis stages in chronic viral hepatitis.

This study aimed to evaluate the changes in spleen and liver diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) in chronic viral hepatitis patients. The study comprised 47 patients and 30 healthy volunteers. DWIs were obtained. Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) measurements were made by transferring the images to the workstation. The measurements of value b 1000 were made from a total of five points of the liver and three points of the spleen. Liver biopsy was performed on the 47 patients. The fibrosis stages of the patients were defined according to the METAVIR scoring system. Student's t-test was used in the comparison of mean ages, liver and spleen ADC values between the patient and the control group. Kruskal-Wallis followed by Mann-Whitney U Test with Bonferroni adjustment was performed in the comparison of mean ADC values of the patients at different stages and the control group. A statistically significant difference was determined between the patient and control group in respect of liver and spleen mean ADC values (P<0.05). F3 group showed a significant difference compared to control and F1 and F4 group showed a significant difference compared to control, F1, F2 and F3 group in terms of the mean liver ADC value (P<0.01). F3 and F4 group showed a significant difference compared to control and F1 group in terms of the mean spleen ADC value (P<0.01). As a result we believe that the measurement of liver and spleen ADC values may be an indicator in the determination of the level of fibrosis.

Cervicomediastinal giant cystic hygroma: a case report.

Cystic hygroma is a rare congenital malformation of the lymphatic system. It is most frequently detected in the head and neck region. Ultrasonography is performed as the first step for radiological diagnosis of these lesions. Magnetic resonance imaging provides important information for diagnosis and to guide treatment. In this paper, a case is reported of cervicomediastinal large cystic hygroma in a male infant.

Diffusion-weighted imaging of patients with neonatal bilirubin encephalopathy.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study is to evaluate neonatal bilirubin encephalopathy in the acute period by the DWI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty newborn babies with hyperbilirubinemia at the gestational age of 38-40 weeks, diagnosed with acute neonatal bilirubin encephalopathy as a result of clinical findings were included in the study, and a further 24 newborn babies, whose ages, weights and gestational ages were equalized, were regarded as a control group. DWI was performed on both patient and control groups. RESULTS: When DWI apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) of both neonatal bilirubin encephalopathy patients and the control group were compared, ACD values of neonatal bilirubin encephalopathy patients were found to be statistically significantly highly compared to that of the control group (p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between bilirubin values and DWI findings (r = 0.41, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The ADC measurement could be a promising parameter in detecting neonatal bilirubin encephalopathy.

The role of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in the classification of hepatic hydatid cysts.

The aim of the study was to classify different types of hepatic hydatid cysts (HHCs) by measuring the mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI). This prospective study comprised 44 patients. The 44 HHCs were classified using Gharbi ultrasonographic classification (GUC) and then T2WIs and DWIs were obtained. The ADC values were measured of the hydatid cyst (HC) subtypes. The distribution of the ADC values in the cyst groups was compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test for multi groups and the Mann-Whitney U test for paired groups. To evaluate the efficacy of ADC values in cyst diagnosis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed. According to the GUC, there were 15 type 1, 11 type 2, 7 type 3, 5 type 4 and 6 type 5 HHCs. According to the ADC values in the paired comparisons, while types 1, 2 and 5 HCs were statistically differentiated from all other groups except the type 3 group, the type 4 group was differentiated from all other groups and the type 3 group was only differentiated from the type 4 group. When two groups were formed from the HHC subtypes with types 1, 2, and 3 in one group and types 4 and 5 in the other, a statistically significant difference was determined in the mean ADC values of these new groups. In conclusion the measurement of ADC values can be considered a promising parameter as an alternative to ultrasonography in the determination of subtypes of HHCs.

Childhood moyamoya disease accompanying Leigh syndrome.

Moyamoya disease is a cerebrovasculopathy of unknown etiology during the course of which the main and terminal veins of the internal carotid artery undergo progressive vein occlusion. Leigh syndrome is a mitochondrial encephalomyopathy that occurs due to "cytochrome c oxidase deficiency" characterized by psychomotor retardation, difficulty in eating, seizures, hypotonia, respiratory disorders and high lactate levels. Many diseases and syndromes have been defined that are associated with Moyamoya disease. To the best of our knowledge, the association of moyamoya disease with Leigh syndrome has not been defined as yet. In this study, the clinical and imaging results of a 3-year-old male child displaying the association of Moyamoya disease and Leigh syndrome are presented.

A rare case of petrous apex osteoma.

Osteomas are the most common tumours of the cranial vault and facial skeleton. Temporal bone osteoma is a rare entity. An osteoma arising from the petrous apex is extremely rare. We present a case of osteoma arising from the petrous apex followed by a discussion of the etiology, presentation, and radiologic findings.

Evaluation of carotid intima-media thickness, a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, in children with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory and cardiovascular diseases are the most common causes of death in children with cerebral palsy. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate sonographic carotid intima-media thickness, an early marker of atherosclerosis, in children with cerebral palsy and in healthy controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred children with cerebral palsy (65 boys), mean age 6.2 (SD, 2.1) years, and 35 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls were included. Common carotid artery intima-media thickness was measured sonographically. Differences between patients and controls were evaluated with an independent samples t-test. RESULTS: Age, sex distribution and levels of serum lipids were comparable between patients and controls. Average, right and left carotid artery intima-media were thicker in patients compared with controls (mean ± SD, 0.61 ± 0.13 mm vs 0.40 ± 0.03 mm; 0.61 ± 0.14 mm vs 0.40 ± 0.03 mm; 0.61 ± 0.13 mm vs 0.40 ± 0.03 mm, respectively; all P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Carotid intima-media is sonographically thicker in children with cerebral palsy compared with healthy controls, which may express an increased risk of atherosclerotic diseases.

Brucellar testicular abscess: a rare cause of testicular mass.

Brucellosis is an endemic disease in Turkey, and testicular abscess is a rare and frequently misdiagnosed complication of brucellosis. In the literature there are only seven reported cases, and all were treated with both medical and surgical therapy. We report a case of brucellar testicular abscess treated with medical therapy only. Although the patient recovered clinically at the end of 6 weeks, the regression of the testicular lesion could not be observed until after 5 months.

Carotid intima-media thickness and paraoxonase activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

PURPOSE: The risk of atherosclerosis is increased in several rheumatological disorders, but any such risk remains unproven for ankylosing spondylitis. Since carotid intima-media thickness is an indicator of early atherosclerosis, and the paraoxonase (PON1) enzyme has antioxidant activity to prevent LDL oxidation, we aimed to identify: 1) the relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and serum paraoxonase (PON1) activity in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients; and 2) the possible differences in CIMT in AS patients versus age-matched, healthy controls. METHODS: Forty-five AS patients (36.8±9.8 years, 36 males, 9 females) and 30 controls (35.9±10.2 years, 23 males, 7 females) were recruited consecutively. Serum PON1 activity and CIMT were measured. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiologic Index (BASRI) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) were used to identify relationships between these clinical indices and levels of CIMT and PON1. RESULTS: Mean CIMT was significantly increased in AS patients relative to controls (0.49±0.06 mm vs. 0.59±0.07 mm; p < 0.0001). Conversely, serum PON1 activity was decreased (199.1±60.3 U/L vs. 96.7±29 U/L; p < 0.0001). PON1 activity was negatively correlated with CIMT (r = -0.557, p = 0.0001). Disease duration was positively correlated with CIMT (r = 0.542, p = 0.0001) and negatively correlated with PON1 (r = -0.649, p = 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, disease duration and serum PON1 activity were found to be independent predictors of CIMT (R2 = 0.687, p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, significantly increased CIMT and decreased PON1 activity suggest a relationship between atherosclerosis and AS: a relationship that is strongly correlated with disease duration.