Purpose:To investigate the contribution of perfusionweighted MR imaging (PWI) by using the relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) ratio in the differential diagnosis of various intracranial space-occupying lesions. Materials and Methods:This study involved 105 patients with lesions (high-grade glioma (N ϭ 26), low-grade glioma (Nϭ 11), meningioma (N ϭ 23), metastasis (N ϭ 25), hemangioblastoma (N ϭ 6), pyogenic abscess (N ϭ 4), schwannoma (N ϭ 5), and lymphoma (N ϭ 5)). The patients were examined with a T2*-weighted (T2*W) gradient-echo singleshot EPI sequence. The rCBV ratios of the lesions were obtained by dividing the values obtained from the normal white matter. Statistical analysis was performed with the Mann-Whitney U-test. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:The rCBV ratio was 5.76 Ϯ 3.35 in high-grade gliomas, 1.69 Ϯ 0.51 in low-grade gliomas, 8.02 Ϯ 3.89 in meningiomas, 5.27 Ϯ 3.22 in metastases, 11.36 Ϯ 4.41 in hemangioblastomas, 0.76 Ϯ 0.12 in abscesses, 1.10 Ϯ 0.32 in lymphomas, and 3.23 Ϯ 0.81 in schwannomas. The rCBV ratios were used to discriminate between 1) high-and low-grade gliomas (P Ͻ 0.001), 2) hemangioblastomas and metastases (PϽ 0.05), 3) abscesses from high-grade gliomas and metastases (P Ͻ 0.001), 4) schwannomas and meningiomas (P Ͻ 0.001), 5) lymphomas from high-grade gliomas and metastases (P Ͻ 0.001), and 6) typical meningiomas and atypical meningiomas (P Ͻ 0.01).Conclusion: rCBV ratios can help discriminate intracranial space-occupying lesions by demonstrating lesion vascularity. It is possible to discriminate between 1) high-and low-grade gliomas, 2) hemangioblastomas and other intracranial posterior fossa masses, 3) abscesses from highgrade gliomas and metastases, 4) schwannomas and meningiomas, 5) lymphomas and high-grade gliomas and metastases, and 6) typical and atypical meningiomas.

The objective of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of serum tau protein in determining the severity of traumatic brain injury in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and high-risk patients. Adult patients who presented to our emergency department (ED) with mTBI over 1 year were prospectively enrolled. Patients underwent cranial computed tomography (CT) and were subdivided into high- and low-risk groups, according to the probability of resultant intracranial injury. Serum tau levels of 60 patients and 20 healthy volunteers, who served as a control group, were measured. The mean age of the 60 patients (45 males, 15 females) was 32.5 years (range, 15-66 y). Mean Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was 14+/-0.6. CT scans demonstrated intracranial injury in 11 patients (18.3%) and depressed fracture in 4 patients (6.7%). Serum tau levels of patients (188+/-210 pg/mL), compared with those of controls (86+/-48 pg/mL), were relatively higher; however, differences were not statistically significant (P=.445). Also, serum tau levels of high-risk patients (307+/-246 pg/mL) were significantly higher than those of low-risk patients (77+/-61 pg/mL) (P=.001). A total of 48 patients (80%) were accessible for follow-up after 6 months. Postconcussive syndrome was observed in 8 patients, 5 of whom had serum tau protein levels that were higher than those of the other 3 patients. However, no statistically significant difference was observed (P>.05). Investigators of the present study noted that serum tau levels in patients with mTBI were increased. Therefore, it is believed that this biomarker may prove helpful in identifying high-risk patients with mTBI. However, additional studies are needed to establish the diagnostic value of serum tau in detecting traumatic brain injury in patients with mTBI.

Background/Aim: Mortality resulting from cardiovascular disease in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is high. In this study we sought to investigate the clinical value of the malnutrition-inflammation-atherosclerosis (MIA) syndrome for long-term prediction of cardiovascular mortality in patients treated with ESRD. Methods: A total of 42 ESRD patients on hemodialysis were enrolled. Inflammatory markers and nutritional parameters were determined. Carotid atherosclerosis was investigated by ultrasonographically evaluated carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Mortality was evaluated at a 5-year follow-up. Results: No correlation was evident between nutritional markers and inflammatory indexes. cIMT was inversely correlated with predialysis serum albumin. In the overall population of 42 patients, 11 (26.2%) died of cardiovascular causes during follow-up. Kaplan-Meier survival curves indicate that cIMT (≧0.9 mm), C-reactive protein (CRP) (>1 mg/dl), and serum albumin (<3.5 g/dl) predict cardiovascular death in patients with ESRD. Conclusions: We have demonstrated that cIMT, CRP and serum albumin predict long-term mortality in ERSD patients. Our study suggests that further investigation of the MIA syndrome will provide insights into the susceptibility to CVD in this patient group.

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Multiple miliary osteoma cutis of the face represents primary extra-skeletal bone formation that arises within the skin of the face. Multiple miliary osteoma cutis of the face is a rare complication of chronic inflammatory acne vulgaris and has invasive and non-invasive treatment alternatives different from acne vulgaris. Invasive techniques should be simple, easy, and inexpensive, with minimal risk of scarring and pigmentation. We used a needle microincision-extirpation technique in a patient with multiple miliary osteoma cutis unresponsive to non-invasive treatment modalities. Skin overlying the papules was incised with a needle and then the calcificated papules were extirpated by using a small curettage device. Lesions were left to secondary healing. Results were quite good and cosmetically acceptable.