Qualitative and quantitative analysis of time-signal intensity curves obtained with dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI allow reliable noninvasive differentiation between active and inactive CD.

BackgroundWe retrospectively reviewed magnetic resonance (MR) images of 96 patients with diagnosis of rectal cancer to evaluate tumour stage (T stage), involvement of mesorectal fascia (MRF), and nodal metastasis (N stage).Our gold standard was histopathology.MethodsAll studies were performed with 1.5-T MR system (Symphony; Siemens Medical System, Erlangen, Germany) by using a phased-array coil. Our population was subdivided into two groups: the first one, formed by patients at T1-T2-T3, N0, M0 stage, whose underwent MR before surgery; the second group included patients at Tx N1 M0 and T3-T4 Nx M0 stage, whose underwent preoperative MR before neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy and again 4-6 wks after the end of the treatment for the re-staging of disease.Our gold standard was histopathology.ResultsMR showed 81% overall agreement with histological findings for T and N stage prediction; for T stage, this rate increased up to 95% for pts of group I (48/96), while for group II (48/96) it decreased to 75%.Preoperative MR prediction of histologically involved MRF resulted very accurate (sensitivity 100%; specificity 100%) also after chemoradiation (sensitivity 100%; specificity 67%).ConclusionsPhased-array MRI was able to clearly estimate the entire mesorectal fat and surrounding pelvic structures resulting the ideal technique for local preoperative rectal cancer staging.

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Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome consists of vaginal aplasia associated with other müllerian duct abnormalities. Its penetrance varies, as does the involvement of other organ systems. Type I MRKU syndrome is characterized by an isolated absence of the proximal two thirds of the vagina, whereas type II is marked by other malformations which include vertebral, cardiac, urologic (upper tract), and otologic anomalies. In both types, the extent of vaginal aplasia varies, ranging from virtually absent to a length much more inferior than the normal one (2-5 cm). MRKU syndrome usually remains undetected until the patient presents with primary amenorrhea despite normal female sexual development. It is important to underline the fact that this syndrome is the second most common cause of primary amenorrhea. Although this condition has psychologically devastating consequences, its anatomical defects can be surgically treated. In fact, following diagnosis, surgery allows patients to have normal sexual function while reproduction may be possible if assisted techniques are performed.

Art glass manufacturing is one of the most interesting examples of exposure to complex mixtures. Among the raw materials used are silica sand, borax, carbonates, nitrates of Ca, Na, K, and a great number of compounds that are mainly oxides of As, Sb, Al, Zn, Cr, Ni, Sn, Se, Cd, Mn, Cu, Co, Fe, Nd, Er, Eu, and La. In six art glass factories that use As or Sb as fining agents, the exposure to these elements was investigated in 32 workers by means of environmental and biological monitoring. Analysis was conducted by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS). The results confirmed that As, which is the main carcinogen in glass production, reaches high air concentrations and is generally above the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) threshold limit value–time‐weighted average (TLV‐TWA) of 10 μg/m3. When partly substituted by antimonial compounds, As air concentrations dropped dramatically, while the air levels of Sb (which is considered less toxic but is classified as a class 2B carcinogen by IARC) were relatively low and below the ACGIH TLV‐TWA of 500 μg/m3. Exposure to As and Sb also differed in the three types of jobs investigated: As was high in oven chargers, Sb was higher in batch mixers, and both elements were low in makers‐formers. Eleven to 18 elements were detected: arsenic, Al, Ba, Sb, Pb, and Zn were the elements most frequently measured (in tens, and in some cases hundreds, of μg/m3), followed by B, Li, Mn, Se, Sn, Sr, Ce, La, and Nd (in μg or in some cases tens of μg/m3). The results of biological monitoring for As, Sb, and other elements were in agreement with environmental monitoring data. We concluded that multiple detection of elements is a useful tool for the evaluation of exposure to complex mixtures such as those used in the art glass industry and that such detection also allows a more accurate evaluation of related epidemiological data. Am J. Ind. Med. 33:65–72, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.