Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography evaluation after autologous fat grafting in scar revision.

AIM: Fat transfer is commonly used to fill loss of volume in depressed scars caused by trauma, deep burns or surgery. The aim of the study is to investigate the degree of fat graft take through evaluation of the microcirculation of grafted autologous adipose tissue using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. PATIENTS AND METHOD: From 2010 to 2012 at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Traumatological Center in Turin, a study population was selected from patients with surgical indications for autologous fat transfer for scar correction. For each surgical procedure patients underwent a clinical and sonographic evaluation before and after intervention (at 1 month and 3 months). RESULTS: Out of a total of 28 interventions, 24 showed a good result; defined as improvement of the scar, and confirmed by the presence of vascularization in the transplanted tissue. In 4 cases, there was a lack of blood supply at the first evaluation but an initial good clinical scar correction. The absence of blood vessels was confirmed at 3 months accompanied by complete resorption of the transferred fat with a failure of good clinical outcome. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography was able to evaluate the microvasculature of adipose tissue after fat transfer. Due to this characteristic, it allows to monitor and predict the take of adipose tissue and provide realistic and early information on the clinical outcome of fat transfer.

Study of neurinomas with ultrasound contrast media: review of a case series to identify characteristic imaging patterns.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there exists a characteristic distribution pattern of vessels within neurinomas that may be used to characterise this type of lesion by employing a contrast-specific ultrasound technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2003 and May 2010, 66 suspected neurinomas were evaluated according to their sonographic features (solid fusiform mass with well-defined margins located in direct continuity with the nerve that was not always discernible and heterogeneous as a result of the presence of small cystic areas or calcifications). The lesions were examined using a sonographic contrast medium consisting of sulphur hexafluoride microbubbles and equipment with dedicated contrast-specific software [contrast tuned imaging (CnTI)]. Of these lesions, five were excluded from the analysis because the definitive diagnosis was not available (in two cases, the follow-up was still in progress, whereas in the remaining three, there was no follow-up). Our study, therefore, is based on 61 surgically excised lesions that were confirmed to be neurinomas by histology, which is regarded as the gold standard. RESULTS: In 41/61 cases (67.2%), we identified an enhancement pattern that we termed reticular owing to the interweaving of blood vessels, of which two subtypes were identified depending on whether the interwoven vessels were densely or sparsely packed: loose-knit reticular in 18/41, and tight-knit reticular in 23/41. In 20/61 (32.8%) cases, we observed a vascular pattern of diffuse heterogeneous enhancement, which was divided into two subtypes based on the presence of one (7/20) or more (13/20) avascular areas. CONCLUSIONS: Results showed that all neurinomas studied could be divided into two groups according to the type of enhancement pattern observed: reticular or diffuse heterogeneous.

Prospective study of the burden of acute gastroenteritis and rotavirus gastroenteritis in children less than 5 years of age, in Padova, Italy.

BACKGROUND: Data on the burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis in Europe are needed to help understand the potential impact of introducing new rotavirus vaccines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: As part of prospective observational study (Rotavirus gastroenteritis Epidemiology and Viral types in Europe Accounting for Losses in Public Health and Society Study, REVEAL) conducted in 2004--2005 in seven European countries, we studied, the characteristics of acute gastroenteritis and rotavirus gastroenteritis in children less than 5 years in primary care, emergency room and hospital settings (Padova, Italy). RESULTS: A total of 757 children with acute gastroenteritis were included and enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) results were available for 725 cases. The overall estimated annual incidence for rotavirus gastroenteritis was 4.7%. Overall, rotavirus gastroenteritis was estimated to account for 43.6% of acute gastroenteritis cases. Among children with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) aged 6-23 months, 61.2% were rotavirus positive. Rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) was responsible for 68.8% of hospitalizations, 61% of emergency consultations, and 33% of primary care consultations. The most prevalent serotype was G9 (84.4%) followed by G1 (11.8%). The relative risk for rotavirus gastroenteritis of being referred to hospital after an initial consultation in primary care was 3.37 (95% CI: 1.77-6.43) and 3.38 (95% CI: 2.28-5.01) for emergency room referral. Children with rotavirus gastroenteritis generally had more severe disease than children with rotavirus-negative gastroenteritis. CONCLUSION: Rotavirus accounts for a significant proportion of acute gastroenteritis cases in children less than 5 years in Italy, many of whom require frequent primary care consultations, or care in emergency room or hospital settings.

Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in sports-related muscle injuries.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US) in the diagnosis of traumatic muscle injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 2003 to June 2004, 81 football players with a history of traumatic muscle injuries to the lower limbs were examined. US was performed shortly after the trauma (from 6 to 72 h afterwards) and MRI within a maximum of 5 days. RESULTS: MRI revealed 26 minor and 55 major traumas. MRI and US showed complete concordance in 71 patients (site, type and extent of injury). US produced ten false negative results, including six minor lesions and four major lesions. US had a sensitivity of 87.65% in the correct identification of muscle injuries; its sensitivity was 92.72% for major lesions and 76.92% for minor lesions, 57% for delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), 80% for lengthenings, 83% for contractures, 84% for strains, 87.5% for mild contusions and 100% for severe contusions. CONCLUSIONS: US is the first-line technique for examination of muscle injuries. MRI is able to reveal lesions that may be missed at US and provide a more accurate assessment of site and extent of injury.

Echocolor Power Doppler with contrast medium to evaluate vascularization in lesions of the soft tissues of the limbs.

PURPOSE: Echocolor Power Doppler with contrast medium forms a non-invasive vascular image; the purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness in differentiating benign and malignant tumors in the soft tissues of the limbs. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Echocolor Power Doppler with contrast medium was used to study 80 patients with swelling in the soft tissues of the limbs: there were 54 benign lesions, 22 sarcomas, and 4 aggressive desmoid fibromatoses. RESULTS: Were identified 4 patterns of wash-in and wash-out curves that could be correlated to the histological diagnosis: type I was present in 85% of benign lesions, type III in 91% of malignant lesions and in 3.7% of the benign ones, type II in aggressive fibromatoses, anomalous type in 4 benign lesions and 2 sarcomas; the curve was absent in 2 benign lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Power Doppler Echocolor with contrast medium can become a useful method to be associated with traditional imaging methods in the differential diagnosis of swelling of the soft tissues of the limbs.

Virtues and problems of the high C-field Cs beam frequency standard.

The high C-field Cs beam frequency standard is presently a working machine that is undergoing first evaluations. The projected 10(-14 ) accuracy goal is as yet unattained, mainly because of inadequate C-field uniformity and stability. An analysis of the projected possible C-field improvements and the consequent uncertainty is here reported.

A dynamic analysis of the LO noise transfer mechanism in a Rb-cell frequency standard.

Frequency noise of the local oscillator at even harmonics of the modulation frequency is known to contribute to the short-term instability of passive frequency standards. The mechanism by which this noise transfer takes place in Rb-cell standards is described here in a comprehensive approach that includes both signal theory methods and a time-dependent quantum mechanical analysis. The resulting calculated transfer coefficients for the various even harmonics are discussed in relationship with measured coefficients in an actual experiment.

A simple analysis of the Dick effect in terms of phase noise spectral densities.

In cold-atom frequency standards based on the Ramsey double interaction method, the phase noise of the interrogating signal appears as a random "end-to-end phase difference", thereby introducing frequency noise in the loop. This phenomenon is analyzed in this paper in the Fourier frequency domain, using phase noise power spectral densities S(phi)(f). In continuously operated standards, the excess noise thus introduced is servoed out in the long term to become eventually smaller than the atomic shot noise, whereas in standards with pulsed operation the phase noise around even harmonics of the pulse rate is down-converted by aliasing to base band. This latter mechanism is referred to in the literature as Dick effect. In this paper, a model of the frequency control servo system is proposed, in which the input signal is the (known) local oscillator (LO) phase noise S(phi)(f) and the output signal is the (unknown) phase noise S(phi)(f) of the standard in closed loop operation. The level of excess white frequency noise added by aliasing on the stabilized LO through the Dick effect can be related analytically to the characteristics of the free LO phase noise. From this, the stability limitation (with slope tau(-1/2)) typical of the Dick effect can then be obtained by the usual conversion formulas based on the power law model.

Effect of beclomethasone dipropionate on bone mineral content assessed by X-ray densitometry in asthmatic children: a longitudinal evaluation.

There is little information on bone turnover in asthmatic children taking long-term treatment with inhaled steroids (ICS). The aim of this longitudinal study was to determine the effects of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) on bone mineral density (BMD), in asthmatic children treated over a period of six months. BMD and growth were studied in two age- and sex-matched groups of asthmatic children. These comprised: 14 asthmatic children (Group 1) who had taken BDP in a dosage of 300-400 micrograms daily through a 145 ml spacer device for at least 6 months (mean age 9.1 yrs); and a control group of 16 age- and sex-matched asthmatic patients (Group 2) not treated with ICS (mean age 9.5 yrs). Mean duration of asthma was 5.7 yrs in Group 1 and 5.5 yrs in Group 2. Vertebral BMD (L2-L4) was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at the beginning (baseline) of the study and 6 months later. There were no significant differences in the baseline bone mass (mean +/- SEM) between the two groups (0.63 +/- 0.03 and 0.64 +/- 0.02 g.cm-2 in Group 1 and 2, respectively). During the observation period, bone density increased, by 4% (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2-6) in the control group and by 2.3% (95% CI 0.4-4.2) in the group under BDP treatment, showing no significant influence of the treatment. No difference was found in height velocity evaluated before starting BDP and after 6 months of therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Conventional radiology in the choice of surgical treatment of gonarthrosis]. / Indagine radiologica tradizionale nella scelta del trattamento chirurgico della gonartrosi.

Gonarthrosis is a pathologic condition the incident of which is high in people over 50. Its etiologic factors are varus-valgus deformities, traumatic lesions, meniscal tears, osteochondritis, and metabolic diseases. The authors report their experience with the setting of a radiographic protocol for the study of 100 patients over 50. The protocol allowed both detection and quantification of: varus and valgus deformities studied in weight-bearing (teleradiography in weight-bearing) and extensor mechanism malalignment (tangential views); chondral wear of femoral and tibial joints (varus and valgus radiographs); varus and valgus knees instability (varus and valgus radiographs). The results are extremely satisfactory: this protocol allowed correct gonarthrosis grading and the evaluation of such associated lesions as lateral instability. The surgeon is thus provided with the essential elements for the choice of the correct treatment.

Relationship between the perception of breathlessness and inspiratory resistive loading: report on a clinical trial.

We investigated the relationship between the sensation of breathlessness and progressively higher resistive inspiratory loadings in nine normal subjects (31 +/- 17 yr; forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) = 105 +/- 9% of predicted) and in eighteen chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients (63 +/- 7 yr; FEV1 = 43 +/- 17% of predicted). The sensation of breathlessness correlated with mouth pressure both in normals (r = 0.94) and in COPD patients (r = 0.95), with a steeper slope in patients. On this basis we studied the effect of inspiratory muscle training on the sensation of breathlessness in sixteen COPD patients (63 +/- 8 yr; FEV1 = 52 +/- 19% of predicted). After a baseline assessment of lung function, MIP (maximal inspiratory pressure), inspiratory muscle endurance and the sensation of breathlessness (Borg scale) at different inspiratory loads, the patients were divided into two groups: the first was trained by means of resistive breathing, the second used a placebo device. At the end of the training, MIP increased more in the trained group (56 +/- 10 to 69 +/- 15 cmH2O; p less than 0.001) than in the placebo group (50 +/- 17 to 56 +/- 22 cmH2O; p = NS). The Borg score fell significantly at all the considered inspiratory loads in trained patients, but not in the placebo group. We conclude that the training with inspiratory resistances decreased the sensation of breathlessness via an increase in inspiratory muscle strength and endurance.

Malignant Brenner tumor of the ovary: case report with a review of the literature.

A case of malignant Brenner tumor of the ovary is reported. From a survey of the literature some anatomo-clinical considerations are drawn and the histopathologic criteria for diagnosis are discussed.