While the purchase of a primary home is mainly motivated by essential consumption needs, buying a... more While the purchase of a primary home is mainly motivated by essential consumption needs, buying a second house has been generally considered a good investment decision. However, second homes may results in many different final uses, ranging from holidays and profitable uses to definitely unprofitable ones. We contribute to the scant literature on second houses by exploring the case of second homes that remain unrented and represent the most notable unprofitable use. The empirical investigation relies on the 2002-2012 Bank of Italy Survey on Household Income and Wealth which, among other things, provides plenty of information on real estates, including the actual use. Our results on the unprofitable use of second homes highlight: a gender gap, whereby this case tends to be more clearly associated with male decision makers; no association with household's economic characteristics; and, strong association with the specific real estate features, with inherited dwellings more likely to end up being unprofitably used. Thus our results, besides casting some doubts on the goodness of second homes as an investment decision, may have important policy implications on the housing and rental market and call for policy or regulatory interventions.
The major complications in sickle cell disease (SCD) are microcirculation lesions and impairment ... more The major complications in sickle cell disease (SCD) are microcirculation lesions and impairment of renal function. The aim of this study was to evaluate renal vascular resistance by means of color and duplex ultrasonography (CDU) and its relationships with hematological and clinical features in patients with SCD. Forty patients with SCD (mean age 22.4 +_ 7.0) and 14 age-and sex-matched healthy subjects (mean age 25.7 _+ 9.5) were included in the study. CDU of the main renal, segmental, and interlobar arteries was performed in both kidney's in all patients and controls. Peak systolic, end diastolic, and mean velocities through the entire cardiac cycle were obtained with further calculation of resistive (RI) and pulsatile (PI) indices. All the patients were investigated in stable state condition and had not been transfused within a month before investigation. Patients had a 6-month follow-up. Patients with SCD had higher RI and PI values than control subjects (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, respectively). Patients with high RI values (RI > 0.70) had more pronounced disturbances of blood parameters (allp < 0.05) than patients with normal RI values (<0.70). The significant positive correlation between RI and ISC number, MCHC level (r = 0.52, p < 0.001 and r = 0.42, p < 0.01), as well as RBC and Hgb level, correlated inversely with RIs (r =-0.39, p < 0.01 and r =-0.42, p < 0.01). During the follow-up, in nine patients (33.3%) with high RIs and one (5.5%) with normal RIs developed painful crises. In conclusion, renal vascular resistance, assessed by CDU is raised in SCD patients as compared with age-matched, apparently healthy persons. These changes are more pronounced in those with more severe manifestations of disease and correlated with hematological and clinical features of sickle cell disease.
Normally, there are three pairs of nasal turbinates in the nasal cavity. Coronal computed tomogra... more Normally, there are three pairs of nasal turbinates in the nasal cavity. Coronal computed tomographies of 253 cases of sinusitis were examined for the presence of additional turbinates and bilateral secondary middle turbinates were detected in two cases. Also, we describe another accessory turbinate, 'bifid inferior turbinate', in one of these cases. Existence of these accessory turbinates may occur during embryologic development of lateral nasal wall.
The aim of this paper was to evaluate the necessity of percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainag... more The aim of this paper was to evaluate the necessity of percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainage and balloon dilation procedures performed before stent insertion. One hundred and twenty-six patients with unresectable malignant biliary obstruction underwent palliative therapy by means of percutaneous transhepatic placement of 183 metallic biliary endoprotheses. Forty-four (35%) patients underwent metallic stent insertion in a one-stage procedure and 82 (65%) had undergone percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainage before stent insertion. Balloon dilation of the stenosis before stent placement (pre-dilation) was performed in 53 (42%) of 126 patients. The rate of the 30-day mortality was 11%, with no procedure-related deaths. The total rate of early complications was 29%, and 84% of these complications were due to percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainage and pre-dilation procedures. Percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainage and pre-dilation had no clinical or statistically significant effect on the patients' survival and stent patency rate. Percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainage and balloon dilation increased the cost of stent placement 18% and 19%, respectively. Palliation of malignant biliary obstruction with percutaneous transhepatic stent insertion should be done directly, in the simplest way, without performing percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainage and balloon dilation before stent placement. It is more useful, safe, and costeffective.
To review the distribution of intrahepatic portal venous branching Key words: Portal venous varia... more To review the distribution of intrahepatic portal venous branching Key words: Portal venous variations, in order to determine the prevalence of variations. anatomy; helical CT, contrast Material and Methods: We made a retrospective review of 655 contrast-en-enhancement. hanced helical CT (CECT) images of patients referred to our department for upper abdominal CT examination during an 8-month period. Of the 655 pa-Correspondence: Erol Akgul, tients, 70 were eliminated from the study because of improper opacification of Radyoloji AD, Cukurova Universitesi the portal venous system. Variations of portal venous branching in the remain-Tip Fakültesi, Balcali, ing 585 patients were classified. TR-01330 Adana, Turkey. Results: Of 585 patients, 504 (86.2%) had classical bifurcation of the main FAX π 90 322 33 86 612. portal vein (MPV); 72 (12.3%) had a trifurcation of the MPV, 5 (0.9%) had a right anterior segmental branch originating from the left portal vein (LPV), 2 Accepted for publication 21 January (0.3%) had an LPV originating from the right anterior segmental branch and 2 2002. (0.3%) had a right posterior segmental branch arising from the MPV. Conclusion: Variations of portal venous branching are common and helical CT is efficacious in identifying these variations.
Extrapulmonary tuberculosis mostly affects musculoskeletal, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, and ... more Extrapulmonary tuberculosis mostly affects musculoskeletal, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems. In the musculoskeletal system, tuberculosis manifests characteristically as monoarthritis or osteomyelitis that most frequently involves the vertebral column, hip, and knee. Genitourinary involvement usually begins in the upper tracts as tuberculous pyelonephritis and spreads out to the lower tract along the uroepithelial mucosa. Tuberculosis may involve the gastrointestinal tract, hepatobiliary system, and mesenteric or peritoneal structures in the abdominal cavity. Within the central nervous system, tuberculosis may manifest as meningitis or mass lesions, such as tuberculoma or tuberculous brain abscesses. Rare reported sites of tuberculous involvement include the eye, larynx, paranasal sinuses, pericardium, and breast. Since tuberculous involvement in any system or organ may be confused with many other pathology, both clinically and radiologically, radiologists should be aware of the different radiographic appearances of this protean but curable disease and should consider it in the differential diagnosis.
While the purchase of a primary home is mainly motivated by essential consumption needs, buying a... more While the purchase of a primary home is mainly motivated by essential consumption needs, buying a second house has been generally considered a good investment decision. However, second homes may results in many different final uses, ranging from holidays and profitable uses to definitely unprofitable ones. We contribute to the scant literature on second houses by exploring the case of second homes that remain unrented and represent the most notable unprofitable use. The empirical investigation relies on the 2002-2012 Bank of Italy Survey on Household Income and Wealth which, among other things, provides plenty of information on real estates, including the actual use. Our results on the unprofitable use of second homes highlight: a gender gap, whereby this case tends to be more clearly associated with male decision makers; no association with household's economic characteristics; and, strong association with the specific real estate features, with inherited dwellings more likely to end up being unprofitably used. Thus our results, besides casting some doubts on the goodness of second homes as an investment decision, may have important policy implications on the housing and rental market and call for policy or regulatory interventions.
The major complications in sickle cell disease (SCD) are microcirculation lesions and impairment ... more The major complications in sickle cell disease (SCD) are microcirculation lesions and impairment of renal function. The aim of this study was to evaluate renal vascular resistance by means of color and duplex ultrasonography (CDU) and its relationships with hematological and clinical features in patients with SCD. Forty patients with SCD (mean age 22.4 +_ 7.0) and 14 age-and sex-matched healthy subjects (mean age 25.7 _+ 9.5) were included in the study. CDU of the main renal, segmental, and interlobar arteries was performed in both kidney's in all patients and controls. Peak systolic, end diastolic, and mean velocities through the entire cardiac cycle were obtained with further calculation of resistive (RI) and pulsatile (PI) indices. All the patients were investigated in stable state condition and had not been transfused within a month before investigation. Patients had a 6-month follow-up. Patients with SCD had higher RI and PI values than control subjects (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, respectively). Patients with high RI values (RI > 0.70) had more pronounced disturbances of blood parameters (allp < 0.05) than patients with normal RI values (<0.70). The significant positive correlation between RI and ISC number, MCHC level (r = 0.52, p < 0.001 and r = 0.42, p < 0.01), as well as RBC and Hgb level, correlated inversely with RIs (r =-0.39, p < 0.01 and r =-0.42, p < 0.01). During the follow-up, in nine patients (33.3%) with high RIs and one (5.5%) with normal RIs developed painful crises. In conclusion, renal vascular resistance, assessed by CDU is raised in SCD patients as compared with age-matched, apparently healthy persons. These changes are more pronounced in those with more severe manifestations of disease and correlated with hematological and clinical features of sickle cell disease.
Normally, there are three pairs of nasal turbinates in the nasal cavity. Coronal computed tomogra... more Normally, there are three pairs of nasal turbinates in the nasal cavity. Coronal computed tomographies of 253 cases of sinusitis were examined for the presence of additional turbinates and bilateral secondary middle turbinates were detected in two cases. Also, we describe another accessory turbinate, 'bifid inferior turbinate', in one of these cases. Existence of these accessory turbinates may occur during embryologic development of lateral nasal wall.
The aim of this paper was to evaluate the necessity of percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainag... more The aim of this paper was to evaluate the necessity of percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainage and balloon dilation procedures performed before stent insertion. One hundred and twenty-six patients with unresectable malignant biliary obstruction underwent palliative therapy by means of percutaneous transhepatic placement of 183 metallic biliary endoprotheses. Forty-four (35%) patients underwent metallic stent insertion in a one-stage procedure and 82 (65%) had undergone percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainage before stent insertion. Balloon dilation of the stenosis before stent placement (pre-dilation) was performed in 53 (42%) of 126 patients. The rate of the 30-day mortality was 11%, with no procedure-related deaths. The total rate of early complications was 29%, and 84% of these complications were due to percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainage and pre-dilation procedures. Percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainage and pre-dilation had no clinical or statistically significant effect on the patients' survival and stent patency rate. Percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainage and balloon dilation increased the cost of stent placement 18% and 19%, respectively. Palliation of malignant biliary obstruction with percutaneous transhepatic stent insertion should be done directly, in the simplest way, without performing percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainage and balloon dilation before stent placement. It is more useful, safe, and costeffective.
To review the distribution of intrahepatic portal venous branching Key words: Portal venous varia... more To review the distribution of intrahepatic portal venous branching Key words: Portal venous variations, in order to determine the prevalence of variations. anatomy; helical CT, contrast Material and Methods: We made a retrospective review of 655 contrast-en-enhancement. hanced helical CT (CECT) images of patients referred to our department for upper abdominal CT examination during an 8-month period. Of the 655 pa-Correspondence: Erol Akgul, tients, 70 were eliminated from the study because of improper opacification of Radyoloji AD, Cukurova Universitesi the portal venous system. Variations of portal venous branching in the remain-Tip Fakültesi, Balcali, ing 585 patients were classified. TR-01330 Adana, Turkey. Results: Of 585 patients, 504 (86.2%) had classical bifurcation of the main FAX π 90 322 33 86 612. portal vein (MPV); 72 (12.3%) had a trifurcation of the MPV, 5 (0.9%) had a right anterior segmental branch originating from the left portal vein (LPV), 2 Accepted for publication 21 January (0.3%) had an LPV originating from the right anterior segmental branch and 2 2002. (0.3%) had a right posterior segmental branch arising from the MPV. Conclusion: Variations of portal venous branching are common and helical CT is efficacious in identifying these variations.
Extrapulmonary tuberculosis mostly affects musculoskeletal, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, and ... more Extrapulmonary tuberculosis mostly affects musculoskeletal, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems. In the musculoskeletal system, tuberculosis manifests characteristically as monoarthritis or osteomyelitis that most frequently involves the vertebral column, hip, and knee. Genitourinary involvement usually begins in the upper tracts as tuberculous pyelonephritis and spreads out to the lower tract along the uroepithelial mucosa. Tuberculosis may involve the gastrointestinal tract, hepatobiliary system, and mesenteric or peritoneal structures in the abdominal cavity. Within the central nervous system, tuberculosis may manifest as meningitis or mass lesions, such as tuberculoma or tuberculous brain abscesses. Rare reported sites of tuberculous involvement include the eye, larynx, paranasal sinuses, pericardium, and breast. Since tuberculous involvement in any system or organ may be confused with many other pathology, both clinically and radiologically, radiologists should be aware of the different radiographic appearances of this protean but curable disease and should consider it in the differential diagnosis.
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