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AIM: To evaluate the imaging characteristics of biliary complications following liver transplantation on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and its diagnostic accuracy in comparison with direct cholangiography. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this prospective study, 34 patients being evaluated for possible biliary complications after living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) with abnormal MRCP findings were followed up for information regarding direct cholangiography either endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) within 7 days of MRCP. Twenty-nine patients underwent ERCP and five patients underwent PTC. RESULTS: Compared to findings at direct cholangiography, MRCP presented 96.9% sensitivity, 96.9% positive predictive value, and 94.1% accuracy for the detection of biliary complications. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy for detection of anastomotic strictures, biliary leak, and biliary stone or sludge on MRCP was found to be 100%, 84.6%, 91.3%, 100% and 94.1%; 72.7%, 95.7%, 88.9%, 88% and 88.2%; 80%, 100%, 100%, 96.7% and 97.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: MRCP is a reliable non-invasive technique to evaluate the biliary complications following LDLT. MRCP should be the imaging method of choice for diagnosis in this setting and direct cholangiography should be reserved for cases that need therapeutic interventions.

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The present report describes three young women aged 25, 20 and 15 years who presented with Bell's palsy. Two of the patients had a past history of the disease, which responded to steroid treatment. All three patients were positive for antiphospholipid antibody (APLA). In addition, one of the patients tested positive for antinuclear antibodies; however, there was no clinical evidence of systemic lupus erythematosus. All three patients responded well to steroid therapy. We conclude that Bell's palsy may be one of the manifestations of APLA syndrome, and thus, APLA testing should be done in such cases.

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Twenty-nine patients with significant haematuria after a renal invasive procedure (27 of whom had undergone a percutaneous renal procedure and 2 surgical pyelolithotomy) were investigated with angiography. Out of the 21 patients with evidence of arterial injury, 19 were treated by transarterial embolization with gelfoam with or with hydrogel particles; (n = 11), steel coils with gelfoam (n = 4), hydrogel particles (n = 1), surgicel (n = 2), silk with gelfoam (n = 1). The efficacy and technique of the therapeutic embolization procedure is emphasized.

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Segmental spinal dysgenesis is a rare form of spinal dysraphism. We report a case of segmental hypoplasia of the spinal cord extending from T6 to L1 vertebral levels, with a dorsal dermal sinus, diagnosed by spinal sonography and MRI and confirmed at surgery. The probable pathogenesis is suggested.

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We reviewed MRI studies of 60 patients presenting with extradural compressive myeloradiculopathy secondary to vertebral disease to assess the imaging features which may help in differentiating tuberculous from neoplastic disease. Spin-echo T1-, proton density-and T2-weighted images were available for all patients and fast low-angle shot images with a low flip angle for 21 patients. Contrast-enhanced images were available for 28 patients. There were 41 patients with tuberculosis and 19 patients with neoplastic disease (metastases 11, lymphoma 6, plasmacytoma 1, and giant cell tumour 1). Discovertebral disease with or without involvement of the posterior arch was a feature not only of tuberculous spondylitis (30 patients) but also of metastases (6). The remaining 11 patients with tuberculosis had "atypical" involvement (vertebral body with or without posterior arch in 8 and posterior arch alone in 3) described as typical of neoplasms. This "typical" involvement was seen in metastases (5), lymphoma (6) and the 2 primary bone tumours. The presence of an abscess helped in differentiating tuberculosis from neoplasia in 22 of the 41 patients with tuberculosis and was absent in all with neoplasms. The presence of bone fragments in 16 patients (8 with and 8 without an abscess) was found to be specific for tuberculosis. In the absence of an abscess or bone fragments, image-guided biopsy is essential to establish the diagnosis.

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We have developed a new type of 2'-hydroxyl protecting group for the automated machine synthesis of RNA oligomers: a 2-hydroxyisophthalate formaldehyde acetal (HIFA). The unique feature of this protecting group is that, as the bis ester, it is relatively stable to the acidic conditions that are used for repeated removal of dimethoxytrityl groups during chain elongation, but the final deprotection step in alkali, which cleaves the chain from the support and removes the base and phosphate protecting groups, converts it to the bis carboxylate and this can be removed relatively rapidly by treatment with mild acid. Conversion of the bis ester to the bis carboxylic acid increases the rate of acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the acetal by 42-fold at pH 1, and, possibly, by 1320-fold at pH 3. The bis ester is 112 times more stable than the 1-(2-fluorophenyl)-4-methoxypiperidin-4-yl group (Fpmp) towards hydrolysis at pH 1, while the bis acid is only 2.35 times more stable than Fpmp at pH 3. In synthesis of the dimers UpU and UpG, with a coupling time of 5 min, the dimethoxytrityl cation assay indicated coupling yields of > 98%.

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An unusual case of completely thrombosed giant aneurysm of the left posterior cerebral artery, showing much more loss of signal on T2-weighted images compared with T2*-weighted images in the periphery of the thrombus is presented. Possible mechanism of this preferential signal loss on T2-weighted images is discussed.

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PURPOSE: The role of expandable metallic Z stents (non-mesh) in the treatment of recurrent posterior and bulbar urethral strictures was evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seven men with recurrent posterior/bulbar urethral strictures underwent balloon angioplasty followed by insertion of two stents in tandem. Retrograde urethrography, micturating cystourethrography, and urodynamic evaluation of these patients was done initially. RESULTS: Successful dilation and placement of stents was possible in all cases. In one patient slight proximal migration of the stent occurred; terminal dysuria in this patient necessitated stent extraction. In two other patients near total occlusion of the stent by an exuberant fibrous reaction occurred and this open urethroplasty in the other. Immediate postprocedure urethrography and urodynamic evaluation showed significant improvement. Five patients continue to show a satisfactory clinical urodynamic response. The follow-up period in this patient group ranged from 5 months to 1 year. CONCLUSION: Short-term response (5 months to 1 year) in patients with posterior/bulbar urethral strictures treated with Z stents appears promising. However, the efficacy of the procedure on a long-term basis requires further follow-up and evaluation.

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Percutaneous stenting is now the preferred first line of treatment for occlusive lesions of the great veins. A case is presented in which multiple metallic stents were used to reestablish communication between the suprahepatic inferior vena cava and both iliac veins. The clinical result was satisfactory: venous claudication was relieved, and the progress of chronic venous insufficiency arrested. Stent implantation offers a minimally invasive therapeutic option even when extensive revascularisation is indicated.

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An attempt to percutaneously remove a guidewire from the inferior vena cava was hampered by kinks developing in the wire during snaring. A modified technique was adopted that permitted its retrieval, obviating the need for a formal venotomy.

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A prospective study to ascertain the incidence of normally calcified pineal gland, was carried out in 1000 consecutive patients from different parts of Uttar Pradesh (India), undergoing cranial computed tomography for reasons other than a pineal or parapineal pathology. A total of 167 (16.70%) patients were found to have calcified pineals. Of these 128 were males and 39 females. The incidence rose from 1.16 per cent in the first decade to 31.88 per cent above the age of 50 yr. The percentage incidence of normal pineal calcification was lower than that seen in the Western population. No significant difference was found between men and women in any age group. Although calcification appeared as early as the first decade, this percentage was significantly lower than in the higher age groups. Significantly higher incidence rates were seen in the second decade, third decade and sixth decade onwards.

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Cine voiding cystourethrogram was performed in 15 normal subjects using T1-weighted Turbo FLASH sequence. It showed the sequence of emptying of bladder, detrusor muscle contraction, opening of the sphincters, and various parts of urethra. It was found to be a good noninvasive test to study the dynamics of lower urinary tract without disturbing the state of the physiology.

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