The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of major salivary gland ultrasonography (MSGUS) by using new grading system and shear wave elastography (SWE) in evaluating the major salivary glands of patients with Sjögren's Syndrome (SjS). Material and Methods:This prospective designed cross sectional study included 49 SjS patients and 49 healthy controls. Major salivary glands were examined by gray scale ultrasonography and SWE. A new grading system for salivary glands was made by using MSGUS findings. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of MSGUS and shear wave velocity (SWV) values was investigated. Also, MSGUS grading system and SWV values were evaluated together by logistic regression modeling. A cutoff value of SWE for salivary glands was determined. Results:The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of MSGUS for submandibular gland were 69.4%, 73.5%, 72.3%, 70.6% and for parotid gland were 69.4%, 65.3%, 66.7%, 68.1%, respectively. The mean SWV values of parotid and submandibular glands were significantly higher in SjS patients than control group (p<0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for submandibular gland (the cutoff value: 1.95 m/s) and for parotid gland (the cutoff value:2.39 m/sn) were 69.4%,52%,59.1%,63% and 82.7%,83.7%,83.5%,82.8%, respectively.Sensitivity and specificity increased when SWE was added to grading system in parotid gland (sensitivity:82.7%, specifity:83.7%). Conclusion:This study demonstrated that the evaluation of the salivary gland by MSGUS with new grading system and SWE may contribute to the diagnosis of SjS. Also the combination of MSGUS and SWE were found a promising tool in diagnosis of SjS.

Drug-eluting balloon angioplasty proved to be an effective treatment of hemodialysis AVFs stenosis, with a high primary patency rate at 12 months.

Increased level of NLR may be a risk factor in the development of early AVF restenosis after successful PTA. Preferring Drug-Eluting Balloon at an increased level of NLR can be beneficial to prolong patency.

Intoduction: Acute Pulmonary Embolism (APE) increases the pressure of the pulmonary arterial system with resulting Right Ventricle Dysfunction (RVD). Aim:The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between Pulmonary Artery Obstruction Index (PAOI) and signs of right heart dysfunction with computed tomography angiography in APE patients. Materials and Methods:We evaluated 72 consecutive patients (mean age 64.1±16.9 years; 59.7% female) with APE who had initial echocardiography with computed tomography angiography. Among these 72 patients, only 25 (34.7%) patients had follow up computed tomography angiography images and we evaluate right heart dysfunction with PAOI and Right Ventricle (RV) diameter. Results:In 72 patients with APE, PAOI and RVD signs were significantly high. Twenty five of these 72 patients (34.7%) had follow up computed tomography angiography images and among those 25 patients, there was correlation between reduction of PAOI and RV diameter in follow up period.Conclusion: PAOI and RVD signs in initial computed tomography angiography and in follow up computed tomography angiography can be used in the management of Pulmonary Embolism (PE) patients.

Background:Undescended testes, which are defined as the failure of testes to descend to scrotum, are the most common developmental defect in male infants. Indirect evaluation of histologic damage can be performed with the help of palpation during operation. Hard texture of testes tissue is likely related with histological damage. Real-time elastography is an emerging technology of ultrasonic imaging of soft tissue strain and elasticity, it aims at providing information regarding the mechanical properties of tissues, such as their hardness or stiffness. This study aim was to investigate the changes in strain and elasticity of testes tissue by using elastography technique.Materials and methods:A total of 32 patients, who had undescended testes were included in this study. Only two patients had bilateral undescended testes, other patients had unilateral. The age of the patients were recorded according to the time of ultrasonographic (USG) examination. The undescended testes was displayed in the elastographic box with the neighbouring subcutaneous fat tissues. The strain ratios were measured as the ratios of the elasticities of the subcutaneous fat tissue to the elasticities of the undescended testes.Results:A total of 32 patients with 34 testes were included in the study. The mean age of the patients with undescended testes was 32.6 months (range 7–60 months). The mean strain ratios were 0.67 (range 0.12–1.41) for the undescended testes and there were no significant differences in undescended testes strain ratios related to patient age (p = 0.453).Conclusion:This preliminary study showed that there were no significant fibrosis which can be demonstrated with elastosonography before the age of 5 years old. Additional studies with his-topathological results are needed to identify sensitivity and specificity of elastosonography in undescended testis and in planning optimal operation time for these patients.

Background/aim: This study aimed to assess the relationship between skin fibrosis as determined by sonoelastography and the degree of pulmonary involvement as determined by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc). Materials and methods:This prospective study included 40 patients with dcSSc. All patients with HRCT scans underwent conventional ultrasonography and sonoelastography to determine skin thickness and degree of fibrosis. The degree of fibrosis was classified according to color-scale sonoelastography. The degree of pulmonary involvement was classified according to HRCT grading groups. The relationship between skin fibrosis and pulmonary involvement was investigated.Results: There was a statistically significant difference between HRCT grading groups according to the sonoelastographic color scale (P < 0.001). Sonoelastographic color-scale groups showed a statistically significant difference in duration of disease (P = 0.013). No significant difference was found between the sonoelastographic color-scale groups in age, sex, or skin thickness. Conclusion:Sonoelastography is a useful and reliable tool for assessing skin involvement in dcSSc. We found a good correlation between the degree of skin fibrosis as determined by sonoelastography and the degree of pulmonary involvement.

Background:The study aimed to evaluate the ratio of venous contamination in diabetic cases without foot lesion, with foot lesion and with Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN).Materials and Methods:Bolus-chase three-dimensional magnetic resonance (MR) of 396 extremities of patients with diabetes mellitus was analyzed, retrospectively. Extremities were divided into three groups as follows: diabetic patients without foot ulcer or Charcot arthropathy (Group A), patients with diabetic foot ulcers (Group B) and patients with CN accompanying diabetic foot ulcers (Group C). Furthermore, amount of venous contamination classified as no venous contamination, mild venous contamination, and severe venous contamination. The relationship between venous contamination and extremity groups was investigated.Results:Severe venous contamination was seen in Group A, Group B, and Group C, 5.6%, 15.2%, and 34.1%, respectively. Statistically significant difference was seen between groups with regard to venous contamination.Conclusion:Venous contamination following bolus chase MR was higher in patients with CN.

This angiographic study confirms that the atherosclerotic load in patients with diabetic foot and chronic charcot neuro-arthropathy is significantly less than in patients with neuroischemic diabetic foot wounds without chronic charcot neuro-arthropathy.