Imaging Aspects of Enchondromas in Pediatric Patients.

Enchondromas are benign tumors located primarily in long bones, some of which can be accidentally discovered during imaging exams conducted for other pathologies. These benign cartilaginous tumors are hard to differentiate from low grade chondrosarcomas, which require periodic follow ups. The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence of enchondromas in pediatric patients, to determine medical imaging criteria (Computed Tomography-CT and Magnetic Resonance Imaging-MRI) in order to differentiate enchondromas from other atypical cartilaginous tumors, and to identify a potential correlation between imaging aspects and clinical signs. The aim of this study was to review imaging findings of enchondromas in children.

Aging and Vascular Compliance in Hypertensive Patients Mirrored in Routine Investigations.

The global prevalence of arterial hypertension is increasing. Due to its consequences, hypertension is a leading cause of morbidity /mortality. In this regard, awareness of the importance of diagnosis as well as proper treatment of hypertension is mandatory. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to analyze vascular compliance and different pressure characteristics depending on age, along with highlighting some clinical-paraclinical correlations in people diagnosed with hypertension. We used usual laboratory analyzes and the blood pressure values obtained using ABPM/24 hr, in addition to highlighting the impact of age on those parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample comprises of 99 adults diagnosed with hypertension. We divided them into 2 groups, according to age: cases sample: 52 patients (age> 60 years old) and control sample: 47 patients (age< 60 years old). RESULTS: In the control group, RDW was correlated with the general and diurnal systolic and diastolic hypertonicity indexes and the platelet count was positively correlated only with the morning surge. The dipping profile correlates negatively with RDW. In the elderly, all three systolic blood pressure parameters are influenced by ESR and also correlate negatively with HDL, with an inverse proportional relationship. Statistically significant correlations were found between blood glucose and diurnal systolic and diastolic hypertonicity indexes. Mean Pulse Pressure correlates in the elderly with HDL (negative correlations) and in the young with RDW (positive correlations). CONCLUSIONS: Vascular compliance can be estimated with the help of HDL in the elderly and RDW in young people, considering the influence of the two parameters on pulse pressure.

Inflammation and Arterial Hypertension-Pathophysiological Links and Clinical Aspects.

Arterial hypertension represents one of the most common pathologies in the adult population. Hypertensive patients have structurally altered arteries, with a higher rigidity that leads to a significant decrease in vascular compliance. At the base of the pathophysiological process stands the inflammation, as a reaction of the organism to injury. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to highlight clinical-paraclinical correlations in people diagnosed with arterial hypertension and inflammatory status. Thus, we would like to evaluate possible correlations between the usual inflammatory markers and blood pressure values. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample comprises 64 adults who were subsequently divided based on the diagnosis of arterial hypertension, by using Automatic Blood Pressure Monitoring, as following: Study group=26 patients (with arterial hypertension) and Control group: 38 patients (without arterial hypertension). RESULTS: The study has revealed negative correlations between the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the general diastolic average (r=-0.248 and p=0.047), the diurnal diastolic average (r=-0.258 and p=0.038) and the diurnal mean arterial pressure (r=-0.249 and p=0.046) and a negative correlation between the red cell distribution width (RDW) and the dipping index (r=-0.402 and p=0.013), each of them accomplishing the level of statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: NLR can be used as a predictor of diastolic blood pressure values and as a factor of prognosis for the evolution of arterial hypertension. RDW is higher in non-dipping patients.