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Copyright of La Radiologia Medica is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of La Radiologia Medica is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To compare image quality and noise of conventional unenhanced (CU) and virtual unenhanced (VU) images in patients who underwent hepatic dual energy computed tomography (DECT) and to assess potential radiation dose reduction.Materials and Methods: Forty consecutive patients were studied. Mean CU and VU image quality and noise were analyzed by two blinded radiologists using a five-point grade scale. The effective radiation dose of a triple-phase protocol (CU, arterial and DE portal phases) were compared with that of a dual-phase protocol (arterial and DE portal phases).Results: No significant difference in mean image quality was observed between VU (3.92 ± 0.85) and CU images (4.20 ± 0.72). A significant difference in mean image noise was observed between VU and CU (P < 0.01). The dose reduction achieved by omitting the unenhanced acquisition was 30.47 ± 7.07% (P < 0.01). In 6 patients, a complete VU liver image was not obtained.Conclusions: VU images can be obtained with similar image quality as CU. This approach favors a reduction in patient's radiation exposure. Nevertheless, a complete abdominal DECT is possible only in patients with a low body mass index, due technical limitations of the present DECT systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Aim: Contrasting results have been published on the effect of dark chocolate on visual function. The aim of this study was to evaluate retinal and choriocapillaris perfusion, using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A), and visual function in healthy subjects following dark chocolate ingestion. (2) Methods: This prospective randomized study was carried out on 18 healthy young subjects at the St. Andrea Hospital, Sapienza, University of Rome. Visual acuity assessment and a complete ophthalmologic examination were carried out at baseline. In session one, each subject was randomized to eat either a 100 g dark chocolate bar or a 100 g white chocolate bar. In session two, the opposite chocolate was given to each participant. OCT-A and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were performed before the chocolate was eaten and repeated 1, 2, and 3 h after that. Retinal vessel density and choriocapillaris flow area were assessed. (3) Results: 18 patients with a mean (SD) age of 26.3 (1.5) years were included. No significant differences between dark or white chocolate were found when evaluating foveal density (%), whole density (%), choriocapillaris flow area, and BCVA. (4) Conclusions: Dark chocolate did not result in significant changes in retinal perfusion and choriocapillaris flow area. However, given the results of other studies showing the positive effects of flavonoids on visual function, further studies are warranted using pure chocolate without other components such as caffeine that can potentially affect results. Furthermore, we cannot rule out the possible benefits of higher doses of flavonoids in dietary supplementation over a more extended period and in a larger patient population.

Objective: Intracameral mydriatics using epinephrine associated with lidocaine have been reported as efficacious in reducing intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) complications during cataract surgery. The aim of this study was to verify the efficacy of intracameral epinephrine without intracameral lidocaine as prophylaxis against IFIS in patients on tamsulosin., Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study on the results of cataract surgery in 18 patients on therapy with tamsulosin. Patients had undergone routine phacoemulsification in one eye. Successively, they underwent phacoemulsifcation in the fellow eye using non preserved intracameral epinephrine 1:4000 diluted with BSS. Intraoperative complications during cataract surgery had been documented and IFIS was graded based on iris billowing, miosis or iris prolapse. Follow-up was 3 months., Results: Thirty-six eyes of 18 patients were included in the evaluation. The incidence of IFIS was significantly higher in the eyes where routine phacoemulsificaton had been performed (100%) with respect to eyes where phacoemulsification was carried out using intracameral epinephrine (33%) (Chi Square test =15.12, p<0.001). In routine phacoemulsification 16 eyes showed iris billowing, 14 eyes had some extent of miosis and 14 eyes had tendency to iris prolapse. In phacoemulsification with the use of intracameral epinephrine 5 eyes showed iris billowing, 4 eyes presented some extent of miosis and 2 eyes had tendency to iris prolapse. There were no serious intraoperative complications., Conclusions: Intracameral epinephrine without the addition of lidocaine was efficacious in the management of IFIS in patients on tamsulosin.

The clinical efficacy of one or two intravitreal injections of a continued deliverance dexamethasone 700 μg implant in ten patients with persistent macular edema following uncomplicated phacoemulsification was evaluated. Complete ophthalmological examination and spectral domain optical coherence tomography were carried out. Follow-up was at day 7 and months 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12. At baseline mean best corrected visual acuity was 62 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study Chart letters, which showed statistically significant improvement at each follow-up, except at month 6, to reach 79 letters at month 12 (P = 0.018). Prior to treatment mean central foveal thickness was 622 μm, which showed statistically significant improvement at each follow-up to reach a mean value of 282 μm (P = 0.012) at month 12. Five patients received a second dexamethasone implant at month 7. Two patients were excluded from the study at months 4 and 8. Intraocular pressure remained stable during the study period with the exception of mild increase in two patients requiring topical therapy. In conclusion there was statistically significant improvement of best corrected visual acuity and mean central foveal thickness with one or two intravitreal dexamethasone implants over 12 months.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in adults in western countries. Coronary angiography remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease, a procedure that carries risks. Nowadays, a significant number of the coronary angiographies performed every year are only diagnostic. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) allows non-invasive evaluation of coronary arteries. It is a continuously developing technique, and actually the top technology is represented by Dual Source CT. This scanner of new conception permits an improvement in image quality, and visualization of distal vessels and small collateral branches. The aim of our work is to illustrate the actual state of the art in non-invasive coronary arteries evaluation represented by Dual Source CT, presenting images of coronary arteries normal anatomy, anatomical variants and myocardial segment.

Purpose: The authors report a case of eyelid subcutaneous filariasis., Methods: Thorough history, eye examination, surgical intervention, and parasitologic analysis., Results: An adult Dirofilaria repens worm was extracted from the right upper eyelid in a man living in Italy presenting to our department with lid swelling., Conclusions: Due to increasing migration of populations to Europe, rare manifestations of ocular filariasis are becoming more common. Surgery was both diagnostic and therapeutic.

Aim: The aim of this work was to assess the role of dual source computed tomography (DSCT) in global cardiac evaluation without heart rate control, assessing the effect of average heart rate on coronary image quality, optimal reconstruction interval, ventricular function, and evaluation of left chamber valves., Methods: Fifteen consecutive patients under-went coronary CT angiography. For coronary evaluation, data sets were reconstructed in 5% steps from 30% to 80% of the RR interval. For the assessment of cardiac function, image were reconstructed with a slice thickness of 2.0 mm and 2.0 mm increment, at 10% steps from 0% to 90% of the RR interval. Two blinded independent readers assessed the image quality of the coronary arteries and left chamber valves., Results: The mean heart rate during the scan was 73+/-11.8 bpm (range 56-97). At the best reconstruction interval excellent diagnostic image quality (score 4) was achieved in 95.5% (43/45) of coronary arteries. Excellent inter-observer agreement was observed for image quality rating (k=0.82). No significant correlation was found between the average heart rate and the mean quality scores (rho=0.29). Comparison of image quality of the coronary arteries in systolic and diastolic reconstructions in each patient showed no statistically significant differences., Conclusion: DSCT is an excellent technique for global cardiac imaging, as it allows to obtain coronary arteries of excellent quality and evaluate ventricular function and valvular area independent of the heart rate.