Frequency of extracardiac findings on "negative" CT coronary angiography studies.

AIM: To evaluate the prevalence and nature of extracardiac findings identified on computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography (CTCA) in patients with chest pain but without evidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: CTCA studies in patients referred to the hospital between January 2017 to February 2021 with chest pain and a suspected diagnosis of CAD were reviewed retrospectively for the presence of extracardiac findings. Consensus review of CTCA studies was performed by two experienced thoracic radiologists. The presence and severity of extracardiac findings, together with the likelihood that chest pain might be attributed to these, was recorded. Patient records were reviewed to ascertain the recording of extracardiac findings on initial CTCA reports and, where applicable, the nature of the follow-up. RESULTS: Extracardiac findings (n=210) were present in 110/180 patients (61%) with a mean of 1.9 findings per patient. Extracardiac findings were more prevalent in patients aged ≥65 years compared to those <65 years (p<0.001). At least one extracardiac finding with the potential to cause chest pain was present in 40 patients (22%): degenerative disc disease (n=23 [13%]) and hiatus hernia (n=6 [3.3%]) were the most common extracardiac findings. Only 37.6% (79) of all retrospectively identified findings had been initially reported and, of these, 12.7% (10) required further follow-up. CONCLUSION: Extracardiac findings are common in patients with no evidence of CAD on CTCA. The entire dataset should be evaluated for the presence of extracardiac findings that could explain chest pain symptoms on wide field of view reconstructions.

Feasibility of common bibliometrics in evaluating translational science.

INTRODUCTION: A pilot study by 6 Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs) explored how bibliometrics can be used to assess research influence. METHODS: Evaluators from 6 institutions shared data on publications (4202 total) they supported, and conducted a combined analysis with state-of-the-art tools. This paper presents selected results based on the tools from 2 widely used vendors for bibliometrics: Thomson Reuters and Elsevier. RESULTS: Both vendors located a high percentage of publications within their proprietary databases (>90%) and provided similar but not equivalent bibliometrics for estimating productivity (number of publications) and influence (citation rates, percentage of papers in the top 10% of citations, observed citations relative to expected citations). A recently available bibliometric from the National Institutes of Health Office of Portfolio Analysis, examined after the initial analysis, showed tremendous potential for use in the CTSA context. CONCLUSION: Despite challenges in making cross-CTSA comparisons, bibliometrics can enhance our understanding of the value of CTSA-supported clinical and translational research.

Combined Pulmonary Fibrosis and Emphysema in Scleroderma-Related Lung Disease Has a Major Confounding Effect on Lung Physiology and Screening for Pulmonary Hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and the effect of CPFE on the pulmonary function tests used to evaluate the severity of SSc-related ILD and the likelihood of pulmonary hypertension (PH). METHODS: High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans were obtained in 333 patients with SSc-related ILD and were evaluated for the presence of emphysema and the extent of ILD. The effects of emphysema on the associations between pulmonary function variables and the extent of SSc-related ILD as visualized on HRCT and echocardiographic evidence of PH were quantified. RESULTS: Emphysema was present in 41 (12.3%) of the 333 patients with SSc-related ILD, in 26 (19.7%) of 132 smokers, and in 15 (7.5%) of 201 lifelong nonsmokers. When the extent of fibrosis was taken into account, emphysema was associated with significant additional differences from the expected values for diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco) (average reduction of 24.1%; P < 0.0005), and the forced vital capacity (FVC)/DLco ratio (average increase of 34.8%; P < 0.0005) but not FVC. These effects were identical in smokers and nonsmokers. Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of emphysema had a greater effect than echocardiographically determined PH on the FVC/DLco ratio, regardless of whether it was analyzed as a continuous variable or using a threshold value of 1.6 or 2.0. CONCLUSION: Among patients with SSc-related ILD, emphysema is sporadically present in nonsmokers and is associated with a low pack-year history in smokers. The confounding effect of CPFE on measures of gas exchange has major implications for the construction of screening algorithms for PH in patients with SSc-related ILD.

Chronic Aspergillosis of the Lungs: Unravelling the Terminology and Radiology.

UNLABELLED: The propensity for Aspergillus spp. to cause lung disease has long been recognised but the satisfactory classification of these disorders is challenging. The problems caused by invasive disease in severely neutropenic patients, saprophytic infection of pre-existing fibrotic cavities and allergic reactions to Aspergillus are well documented. In contrast, a more chronic form of Aspergillus-related lung disease that has the potential to cause significant morbidity and mortality is under-reported. The symptoms of this form of Aspergillus infection may be non-specific and the radiologist may be the first to suspect a diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. The current review considers the classification conundrums in diseases caused by Aspergillus spp. and discusses the typical clinical and radiological profile of patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. KEY POINTS: • The classification of Aspergillus -related lung disease is mired in confusion. • The chronic form of Aspergillus infection is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. • Progressive consolidation and cavitation with intracavitary material is the radiological hallmark.

Correlation of interdental and interradicular bone loss in patients with chronic periodontitis: a clinical and radiographic study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between interdental and interradicular bone loss and clinical parameters in patients with chronic periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred-twenty intraoral periapical radiographs of first molars were obtained from patients with chronic periodontitis and were digitalized to record height and width of the bone defect in the interdental and interradicular region (furcation) and bone defect angle in the interdental region in vertical defects. Pocket depth (PD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) was recorded at three sites. The data was divided into groups according to the pocket depth at each site. One-way ANOVA was used to compare three different pocket depths with respect to CAL, height and width at a particular site. This was followed by Tukeys HSD post hoc tests to know the significant difference between two groups of pocket depths. Lastly Karl Pearsson's co-efficient method was applied to find out the relationship among CAL, height and width for the particular site. RESULTS: When the pocket depth groups were compared for CAL, height and width of the defect at all three maxillary and mandibular sites, the results were statistically significant. In maxillary molars, a radiographic bone defect height ranging from 3.4-7.1 mm at the mesiobuccal site and 3.6-7.2 mm at the distobuccal site was associated with 1.2-3.5 mm defect height in the interdental region. In mandibular molars, a radiographic bone defect height ranging from 2.9-7.0 mm at the mesiobuccal site and 3.2-6.8 mm at the distobuccal site was associated with 1.2-3.6 mm defect height in the interdental region. The mean bone defect angle was 36.3 ± 16.5 degrees. CONCLUSION: Treatment of interdental bone loss can prevent further bone loss in the interradicular region. Radiographic measurements combined with clinical findings can be useful for periodontal risk assessment.

Evaluation of design parameters of eight dental implant designs: a two-dimensional finite element analysis.

AIM: Implants could be considered predictable tools for replacing missing teeth or teeth that are irrational to treat. Implant macrodesign includes thread, body shape and thread design. Implant threads should be designed to maximize the delivery of optimal favorable stresses. The aim of this finite element model study was to determine stresses and strains in bone by using various dental implant thread designs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A two-dimensional finite element model of an implant-bone system is developed by using Ansys. An oblique load of 100 N 45° to the vertical axis of implant as well as a vertical load was considered in the analyses. The study evaluated eight types of different thread designs to evaluate stresses and strains around the implants placed in D1 bone quality. RESULTS: Forty-five-degree oblique von Mises stresses and strains were the highest for the filleted and rounded square thread with an angulation of 30° (216.70 MPa and 0.0165, respectively) and the lowest for the trapezoidal thread (144.39 MPa and 0.0015, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The findings in this study suggest that the filleted and rounded square thread with an angulation of 30° showed highest stresses and strains at the implant-bone interface. The trapezoidal thread transmitted least amount of stresses and strains to the cortical bone than did other models.

Significance of connective tissue disease features in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia.

In idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP), the significance of connective tissue disease (CTD) features in the absence of a specific CTD diagnosis remains unclear. We studied the clinical and prognostic utility of a diagnosis of undifferentiated CTD (UCTD) in patients with biopsy-proven IIP. IIP patients undergoing surgical lung biopsy (1979-2005) were studied (nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), n = 45; idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, n = 56). UCTD was considered present when serum autoantibodies were present and symptoms or signs suggested CTD. The relationship between UCTD and NSIP histology was evaluated. A clinical algorithm that best predicted NSIP histology was constructed using a priori variables. The prognostic utility of UCTD, and of this algorithm, was evaluated. UCTD was present in 14 (31%) NSIP and seven (13%) IPF patients. UCTD was not associated with a survival benefit. The algorithm predictive of NSIP (OR 10.4, 95% CI 3.21-33.67; p<0.0001) consisted of the absence of typical high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) features for IPF and 1) a compatible demographic profile (females aged <50 yrs) or 2) Raynaud's phenomenon. In patients with an HRCT scan not typical for IPF, this algorithm predicted improved survival (hazard ratio 0.35, 95% CI 0.14-0.85; p = 0.02) independent of IIP severity. UCTD is associated with NSIP histology. However, the diagnostic and prognostic significance of UCTD in IIP patients remains unclear.

Optimal scoring of serial change on chest radiography in sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND: The optimal means of quantifying change on chest radiography in sarcoidosis is uncertain. In current guidelines, the role of serial measurement of carbon-monoxide diffusing capacity (DLco) remains undefined and the prevalence of discordance between serial chest radiographic change and pulmonary function tends is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To identify and explore key uncertainties in the monitoring of sarcoidosis by serial pulmonary function tests and chest radiography. DESIGN: 354 patients with sarcoidosis and concurrent tests (chest radiography and PFTs within three months at baseline, two years and/or four years) were studied. Chest radiographs were assessed by two radiologists for changes in stage and disease extent. Radiographic change and pulmonary function trends were quantified and compared. RESULTS: Change in radiographic extent of lung disease was always more frequent than change in stage (p < 0.0001) and there was poor agreement between change in stage and change in radiographic extent (Kw = 0.21 at two years; Kw = 0.23 at four years). Change in disease extent on chest radiography was linked to PFT trends on analysis of variance (p < 0.0005 for FEV1, FVC, DLco), whereas change in radiographic stage was not. Changes in gas transfer were often isolated or discordant with other serial data. Discordance between pulmonary function data and chest radiographic data was observed in 50% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Change in radiographic extent is more applicable to routine monitoring in sarcoidosis than change in radiographic stage. In future guidelines, the role of serial gas transfer estimation and reconciliation of divergent chest radiographic and functional trends might usefully be addressed.

Bilateral giant juvenile fibroadenomas of breasts:a case report.

Juvenile fibroadenoma constitutes only 4% of the total fibroadenomas. The incidence of giant juvenile fibroadenomas is found to be only 0.5% of all the fibroadenomas. Bilateral giant juvenile fibroadenomas are extremely rare, and only four cases have been reported in the literature. To the best of our knowledge, we are presenting the fifth case of bilateral giant juvenile fibroadenomas in a 12-year-old prepubertal girl. The diagnosis was made on fine-needle aspiration cytology which was confirmed on histopathology. In this paper, we present this rare case to illustrate the diagnosis and management of this tumour and to emphasize that these tumours are almost always benign and should be treated with breast-conserving surgery to provide a healthy physical and social life to the patient.

Chest radiography patterns in 75 adolescents with vertically-acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

AIM: To evaluate lung disease on chest radiography (CR), the relative frequency of CR abnormalities, and their clinical correlates in adolescents with vertically-acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CRs of 75 patients [59 inpatients (33 males; mean age 13.7±2.3 years) and 16 outpatients (eight males; mean age 14.1±2.1 years)] were retrospectively reviewed by three independent observers. The overall extent of disease (to the nearest 5%), its distribution, and the proportional extents (totalling 100%) of different radiographic patterns (including ring/tramline opacities and consolidation) were quantified. CR features and clinical data were compared. RESULTS: CRs were abnormal in 51/75 (68%) with "extensive" disease in 38/51 (74%). Ring/tramline opacities and consolidation predominated (i.e., proportional extent >50%) in 26 and 21 patients, respectively. Consolidation was significantly more common in patients hospitalized primarily for a respiratory illness than patients hospitalized for a non-respiratory illness or in outpatients (p<0.005, χ(2) for trend); by contrast, ring/tramline opacities did not differ in prevalence across the groups. On stepwise logistic regression, predominant consolidation was associated with progressive dyspnoea [odds ratio (OR) 5.60; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.60, 20.1; p<0.01] and was associated with a primary respiratory cause for hospital admission (OR: 22.0; CI: 2.7, 181.1; p<0.005). Ring/tramline opacities were equally prevalent in patients with and without chronic symptoms and in those admitted to hospital with respiratory and non-respiratory illness. CONCLUSION: In HIV-infected adolescents, evaluated in secondary practice, CR abnormalities are prevalent. The presence of ring/tramline opacities, believed to reflect chronic airway disease, is not linked chronic respiratory symptoms.

Increased epithelial permeability in pulmonary fibrosis in relation to disease progression.

Epithelial injury contributes to pathogenesis in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) but its role in the interstitial lung disease (ILD) of systemic sclerosis (SSc) is uncertain. We quantified the prognostic significance of inhaled technetium-99m ((99m)Tc)-labelled diethylene triamine pentacetate (DTPA) pulmonary clearance, a marker of the extent of epithelial injury, in both diseases. Baseline (99m)Tc-DTPA pulmonary clearance was evaluated retrospectively in patients with SSc-ILD (n = 168) and IPF (n = 97) against mortality and disease progression. In SSc-ILD, the rapidity of total clearance (hazard ratio (HR) 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.03; p = 0.001) and the presence of abnormally rapid clearance (HR 2.10; 95% CI 1.25-3.53; p = 0.005) predicted a shorter time to forced vital capcity (FVC) decline, independent of disease severity. These associations were robust in both mild and severe disease. By contrast, in IPF, delayed clearance of the slow component, an expected consequence of honeycomb change, was an independent predictor of a shorter time to FVC decline (HR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.02; p<0.01). Epithelial injury should be incorporated in pathogenetic models in SSc-ILD. By contrast, outcome is not linked to the overall extent of epithelial injury in IPF, apart from abnormalities ascribable to honeycombing, suggesting that core pathogenetic events may be more spatially focal in that disease.

An audit of fresh frozen plasma usage and effect of fresh frozen plasma on the pre-transfusion international normalized ratio.

OBJECTIVE: To audit the usage of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and to study the effect of FFP on the pre-transfusion international normalized ratio (INR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of 100 consecutive patients who received FFP in our institute were retrospectively studied. FFP usage was classified as appropriate or inappropriate based on the guidelines by the National Health and Medical Research Council and The Australasian Society for Blood Transfusion. Pre-and post-transfusion INR were recorded and the effect of FFP on the pre-transfusion INR was studied in patients who appropriately received FFP. Relationship between the pre-transfusion INR and improvement in the INR per unit of FFP was studied using Pearson's correlation. RESULTS: Total 325 units were issued for the 100 patients (37 males and 63 females, mean age 33 years, range 1-65 years). Obstetrics and gynecology and medicine departments requested most units of FFP. Total 197 units (60.6%) in 67 patients were appropriately transfused and 128 units (39.4%) in 33 patients were inappropriately used. Mean improvement in the pre-transfusion INR per unit of FFP was 0.79 (median 0.53, range 0-3.5, SD 0.94). A significant improvement in the pre-transfusion INR per unit of FFP was seen in 64.9% patients. A linear relationship was noted between the pre-transfusion INR and improvement in INR per unit of FFP (r=0.89, degree of freedom 55). CONCLUSION: Proportion of inappropriate FFP usage remains high. A significant improvement in INR is more likely with a high pre-transfusion INR. The improvement in INR per unit of FFP is also more with higher pre-transfusion INR.

Evaluation of genotoxic responses of Chaetoceros tenuissimus and Skeletonema costatum to water accommodated fraction of petroleum hydrocarbons as biomarker of exposure.

Genotoxic responses towards chronic exposure of Chaetoceros tenuissimus and Skeletonema costatum to water accommodated fraction of petroleum hydrocarbons (WAF-P) were evaluated as biomarkers of petroleum hydrocarbons pollution. The DNA damage caused by water accommodated fraction of petroleum hydrocarbons was assessed in terms of the DNA integrity measured by alkaline unwinding assay. The comparative study of the growth pattern of C. tenuissimus with respect to DNA integrity and the DNA strand breaks in different concentrations of WAF-P showed sufficient tolerance. However, its toxicity increased proportionately with exposure to elevated levels of WAF-P. Although DNA damage in S. costatum was similar to C. tenuissimus, its tolerance level to WAF-P was at least 5 times lower than that of C. tenuissimus indicating its high sensitivity to petroleum hydrocarbons. Active growth was exhibited by C. tenuissimus between 10 and 20% WAF-P (ranging from 0.59 to 1.18mg/L petroleum hydrocarbons) which can be related to the polluted regions only, suggesting the tolerant nature of this organism. Considering the degree of sensitivity to petroleum products and good growth under laboratory conditions, these two diatoms could be recommended as model species for evaluating ecogenotoxic effects of wide range of petroleum hydrocarbon pollutants using alkaline unwinding assays.

Observer accuracy in the detection of pulmonary nodules on CT: effect of cine frame rate.

AIM: To assess the effect of cine frame rate on the accuracy of the detection of pulmonary nodules at computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT images of 15 consecutive patients with (n = 13) or without (n = 2) pulmonary metastases were identified. Initial assessment by two thoracic radiologists provided the "actual" or reference reading. Subsequently, 10 radiologists [board certified radiologists (n = 4) or radiology residents (n = 6)] used different fixed cine frame rates for nodule detection. Within-subjects analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate the data. RESULTS: Eighty-nine nodules were identified by the thoracic radiologists (median 8, range 0-29 per patient; median diameter 9 mm, range 4-40 mm). There was a non-statistically significant trend to reduced accuracy at higher frame rates (p=0.113) with no statistically significant difference between experienced observers and residents (p = 0.79). CONCLUSION: The accuracy of pulmonary nodule detection at higher cine frame rates is reduced, unrelated to observer experience.

CARD15/NOD2 polymorphisms are associated with severe pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis and Crohn's disease are heterogeneous systemic diseases characterised by granulomatous inflammation. Caspase recruitment domain (CARD)15 is a major susceptibility gene for Crohn's disease, and specifically for ileal and fibrostenotic subtypes. The C-C chemokine receptor (CCR)5 gene has been associated with both parenchymal pulmonary sarcoidosis and perianal Crohn's disease. This study explored associations between CARD15 polymorphisms, CCR5 haplotype and distinct pulmonary sarcoidosis subtypes. 185 Caucasian sarcoidosis patients were genotyped for CARD15 and CCR5 polymorphisms. The genetic data were compared with 347 healthy controls and were examined for associations with serial pulmonary function tests and chest radiographs. CARD15 genotypes did not differ between the unselected sarcoidosis cohort and controls. However, patients carrying the functional 2104T (702W) polymorphism were more likely to have radiographic stage IV disease at 4-yr follow-up. All patients possessing both CARD15 2104T and CCR5 HHC haplotype had stage IV disease at presentation. Carriage of 2104T was associated with worse forced expiratory volume in 1 s, whereas carriage of the CARD15 1761G (587R) polymorphism was associated with better lung function. For the first time, an association between two CARD15 polymorphisms and specific sarcoidosis phenotypes has been demonstrated, as well as an additive effect of possessing CARD15 2104T and CCR5 HHC haplotype.

Pure choriocarcinoma of ovary diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology.

Pure ovarian choriocarcinoma is extremely rare and can develop as a germ cell tumor or as a metastasis from uterine or tubal gestational choriocarcinoma or rarely from an ovarian pregnancy. The cytomorphologic findings have been reported previously in different sites. However, this is the first case of pure ovarian choriocarcinoma diagnosed on cytology to the best of our knowledge. The distinction between a gestational and nongestational choriocarcinoma is difficult. A 19-year-old female patient presented with an irregular per-vaginal bleeding and a mass in lower abdomen. Fine needle aspiration cytology smears of the mass were hypocellular and showed large, multinucleated giant cells and malignant mononucleated cells. Background was hemorrhagic. Serum beta hCG level was 3,80,000 mIU/ml. A diagnosis of choriocarcinoma was offered which was later confirmed by histopathology. The diagnosis of choriocarcinoma on fine needle aspiration cytology is based on the presence of large, multinucleated giant cells and malignant mononucleated cells. A high index of suspicion should be maintained and estimation of serum beta hCG plays a key role in supporting the diagnosis.

Extra genital heterologous malignant mixed mullerian tumor of primary peritoneal origin.

The case of an extragenital heterologous malignant mixed müllerian tumor (MMMT) of primary peritoneal origin occurring in a 76-year-old female is presented. A large tumor was seen between the uterus and rectosigmoid occupying the entire pelvis. The uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries were uninvolved. The tumor was composed of carcinomatous areas showing endometrioid and serous papillary differentiation and sarcomatous areas showing cartilaginous differentiation. The extragenital primary MMMTs of the female peritoneum are thought to originate from the secondary müllerian system. This case is presented for its rarity. To the best our knowledge, this is the first case of extragenital MMMT of primary peritoneal origin in Indian literature.

Diagnosis of metastatic carcinoid in mesenteric lymph node by fine needle aspiration cytology.

Although carcinoid tumor is a relatively common neoplasm in surgical pathology, fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) as a method of primary diagnosis has only been reported a few times. We report the case of a 55-year-old male patient who presented with colicky pain in the abdomen and a vague mass in the right lumbar region. Ultrasonographic study showed an enlarged mesenteric lymph node. Ultrasonography-guided FNAC revealed cellular smears with neuroendocrine cellular arrangement and morphology. The cytomorphologic characteristics of carcinoid tumors are distinctive enough for diagnosis. A diagnosis of metastatic carcinoid was given. 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid in 24-hour urine turned out to be high. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry studies also confirmed the diagnosis. Thus, FNAC can be a useful and safe tool in the diagnosis of carcinoid tumors.