No abstract

Penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer is an ulcerating atherosclerotic lesion that penetrates the elastic lamina and is associated with hematoma formation within the media of the aortic wall. This pathologic condition is distinct from classic aortic dissection and aortic rupture; however, care should be taken in making the diagnosis, particularly if the disease is discovered incidentally. At computed tomography (CT), penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer manifests as focal involvement with adjacent subintimal hematoma and is often associated with aortic wall thickening or enhancement. Magnetic resonance imaging is superior to conventional CT in differentiating acute intramural hematoma from atherosclerotic plaque and chronic intraluminal thrombus and allows unenhanced multiplanar imaging. Spiral CT involves shorter examination times and allows high-quality two- and three-dimensional image reconstruction. CT angiography can demonstrate complex spatial relationships, mural abnormalities, and extraluminal pathologic conditions. Transesophageal echocardiography has been reported to be highly sensitive and specific in the differentiation of aortic disease, and intravascular ultrasonography may also be useful in this setting. Although rupture or other life-threatening complications are rare, patients with penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer must be followed up, particularly during the 1st month after onset. Surgical treatment may become necessary in cases involving evidence of intramural hematoma expansion, signs of impending rupture, inability to control pain, or blood pressure changes.

Diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis is difficult because the clinical features are similar to those of other diseases. In early-phase Takayasu arteritis, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging show thickening of the aortic wall. Late-phase Takayasu arteritis has been classified into four types: classic pulseless disease (type I), a mixed type (type II), the atypical coarctation type (type III), and the dilated type (type IV). In late-phase Takayasu arteritis, angiography usually demonstrates luminal changes such as stenosis, occlusion, or aneurysmal dilatation of the aorta and pulmonary artery and their branches. However, absence of such luminal changes does not exclude the possibility of early-phase Takayasu arteritis. Improvement in the clinical findings and subsidence of the active inflammatory process can be expected with early steroid treatment. Familiarity with the varied chest radiographic, angiographic, CT, and MR imaging features of Takayasu arteritis will permit earlier diagnosis and treatment.

Recent studies suggest that IGF-I is a crucial regulatory factor in follicular growth during early post-partum period. The aim of the present study was to determine in detail the changing profiles of metabolic and reproductive hormones in relation to ovulation of the dominant follicle (DF) of the first follicular wave post-partum in high-producing dairy cows. Plasma concentrations of related hormones in 22 multiparous Holstein cows were measured from 4 weeks pre-partum to 3 weeks post-partum, and the development of DF was observed with colour Doppler ultrasound. Thirteen cows showed ovulation by 15.2 days post-partum. Anovulatory cows showed higher GH and lower IGF-I levels than those in ovulatory cows during the peri-partum period. Each DF developed similarly, and a clear blood flow in the follicle wall was observed despite ovulation or anovulation. In addition, detailed endocrine profiles were analyzed in 9 out of the 22 cows. Five cows showed an increase in plasma oestradiol-17b (E2) with follicular growth followed by E2 peak, LH surge and ovulation. In these cows, plasma IGF-I concentrations remained high until 10 days post-partum followed by a gradual decrease. Subsequently, the insulin level increased together with the E2 peak towards ovulation. These profiles were not observed in anovulatory cows. In conclusion, our data strongly support the concept that IGF-I and insulin represent 'metabolic signals' of the resumption of ovarian function post-partum in high-producing dairy cows. Moreover, we provide the first visual evidence that both ovulatory and anovulatory DFs of the first follicular wave post-partum are similarly supplied with active blood flow.

This study was conducted to estimate the effects of kisspeptin-10 on blood concentrations of LH and GH in prepubertal dairy heifers. Heifers received a single injection of 1 mg kisspeptin-10 (nZ5) or saline (nZ5) intravenously, and serial blood samples were collected at 15-min intervals to analyze the response curves of both LH and GH after injection. Peakshaped responses were observed for concentrations of LH and GH, and the peaks were observed at 27G3 and 75G9 min, respectively, after injection, only in heifers injected with kisspeptin-10.