Early last glacial maximum in the southern Central Andes reveals northward shift of the westerlies at similar to 39 ka

The latitudinal position of the southern westerlies has been suggested to be a key parameter for the climate on Earth. According to the general notion, the southern westerlies were shifted equatorward during the global Last Glacial Maximum (LGM: ~24–18 ka), resulting in reduced deep ocean ventilation, accumulation of old dissolved carbon, and low atmospheric CO2 concentrations. In order to test this notion, we applied surface exposure dating on moraines in the southern Central Andes, where glacial mass balances are particularly sensitive to changes in precipitation, i.e. to the latitudinal position of the westerlies. Our results provide robust evidence that the maximum glaciation occurred already at ~39 ka, significantly predating the global LGM. This questions the role of the westerlies for atmospheric CO2, and it highlights our limited understanding of the forcings of atmospheric circulation.

Diffusion-weighted imaging in acute demyelinating myelopathy

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) has become a reference MRI technique for the evaluation of neurological disorders. Few publications have investigated the application of DWI for inflammatory demyelinating lesions. The purpose of the study was to describe diffusion-weighted imaging characteristics of acute, spinal demyelinating lesions.

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging including bi-exponential fitting for the detection of recurrent or residual tumour after (chemo)radiotherapy for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers

To assess whether diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) including bi-exponential fitting helps to detect residual/recurrent tumours after (chemo)radiotherapy of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

Hip abductor defect repair by means of a vastus lateralis muscle shift

Scarring or detachment of the hip abductors, particularly of the gluteus medius, from their insertion may lead to severe abductor weakness, recurrent dislocations, pain, and diminished quality of life. We performed a retrospective study to evaluate whether vastus lateralis shift is associated with satisfactory results and low rate of complications. Eleven adults underwent vastus lateralis shift to bridge a well-documented abductor muscles' insertion defect. Preoperative and postoperative hip functions were assessed applying the Merle d'Aubigne score, British Medical Council scale, and Visual Analog Scale. Significant postoperative improvement was noted in mean Merle d'Aubigne score, gluteus medius muscle force, and quality of life. Vastus lateralis shift represents a viable treatment option for hip abductor deficiency, significantly improving abductor strength and overall quality of life.

Small-bowel MRI in children and young adults with Crohn disease: retrospective head-to-head comparison of contrast-enhanced and diffusion-weighted MRI

Small-bowel MRI based on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted sequences has been challenged by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for detection of inflammatory bowel lesions and complications in patients with Crohn disease.

Determinants of prognostically relevant intracoronary electrocardiogram ST-segment shift during coronary balloon occlusion

The prognostic relevance of quantitative an intracoronary occlusive electrocardiographic (ECG) ST-segment shift and its determinants have not been investigated in humans. In 765 patients with chronic stable coronary artery disease, the following simultaneous quantitative measurements were obtained during a 1-minute coronary balloon occlusion: intracoronary ECG ST-segment shift (recorded by angioplasty guidewire), mean aortic pressure, mean distal coronary pressure, and mean central venous pressure (CVP). Collateral flow index (CFI) was calculated as follows: (mean distal coronary pressure minus CVP)/(mean aortic pressure minus CVP). During an average follow-up duration of 50 ± 34 months, the cumulative mortality rate from all causes was significantly lower in the group with an ST-segment shift <0.1 mV (n = 89) than in the group with an ST-segment shift ≥0.1 mV (n = 676, p = 0.0211). Factors independently related to intracoronary occlusive ECG ST-segment shift <0.1 mV (r(2) = 0.189, p <0.0001) were high CFI (p <0.0001), intracoronary occlusive RR interval (p = 0.0467), right coronary artery as the ischemic region (p <0.0001), and absence of arterial hypertension (p = 0.0132). "High" CFI according to receiver operating characteristics analysis was ≥0.217 (area under receiver operating characteristics curve 0.647, p <0.0001). In conclusion, absence of ECG ST-segment shift during brief coronary occlusion in patients with chronic coronary artery disease conveys a decreased mortality and is directly influenced by a well-developed collateral supply to the right versus left coronary ischemic region and by the absence of systemic hypertension in a patient's history.

Comparison of inversion recovery and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted fat-suppressed sequences for the staging of cervical lymphoma

In a retrospective analysis with two readers blinded to the clinical information, coronal short tau inversion recovery (STIR) images were compared to contrast-enhanced fat-saturated T1-weighted imaging (T1 CEfs) in 51 cases of cervical lymphoma. Interrater reliability was good to excellent. Although sensitivity and subjective quality of the STIR sequence were higher than those of the T1 CEfs sequence (sensitivity 85%/72%, respectively), specificity (82%/95%) as well as positive likelihood ratio (4.65/15.93) was much lower. Therefore, contrast-enhanced sequences should be included in the primary staging of lymphoma.

Genitourinary applications of diffusion-weighted MR imaging in the pelvis

Diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has a large number of potential clinical applications in the female and male pelvis and can easily be added to any routine MR protocol. In the female pelvis, DW imaging allows improvement of staging in endometrial and cervical cancer, especially in locally advanced disease and in patients in whom contrast medium administration should be avoided. It can also be helpful in characterizing complex adnexal masses and in depicting recurrent tumor after treatment of various gynecologic malignancies. DW imaging shows promising results in monitoring treatment response in patients undergoing radiation therapy of cervical cancer. An increase in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of responders precedes changes in size and may therefore allow early assessment of treatment success. In the male pelvis, the detection of prostate cancer in the peripheral zone is relatively easier than in the central gland based on the underlying ADC values, whereas overlapping values reported in the central gland still need further research. DW imaging might also be applied in the noninvasive evaluation of bladder cancer to differentiate between superficial and muscle-invasive tumors. Initial promising results have been reported in differentiating benign from malignant pelvic lymph nodes based on the ADC values; however, larger-scale studies will be needed to allow the detection of lymph node metastases in an individual patient. Prerequisites for successfully performing DW imaging of the female and male pelvis are standardization of the DW imaging technique, including the choice of b values, administration of an antiperistaltic drug, and comparison of DW findings with those of morphologic MR imaging.

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging in the head and neck

Extracranial applications of diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are gaining increasing importance, including in head and neck radiology. The main indications for performing DW imaging in this relatively small but challenging region of the body are tissue characterization, nodal staging, therapy monitoring, and early detection of treatment failure by differentiating recurrence from posttherapeutic changes. Lower apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) have been reported in the head and neck region of adults and children for most malignant lesions, as compared with ADCs of benign lesions. For nodal staging, DW imaging has shown promise in helping detect lymph node metastases, even in small (subcentimeter) nodes with lower ADCs, as compared with normal or reactive nodes. Follow-up of early response to treatment is reflected in an ADC increase in the primary tumor and nodal metastases; whereas nonresponding lesions tend to reveal only a slight increase or even a decrease in ADC during follow-up. Optimization and standardization of DW imaging technical parameters, comparison of DW images with morphologic images, and increasing experience, however, are prerequisites for successful application of this challenging technique in the evaluation of various head and neck pathologic conditions.

The Process and Factors of Language Shift and Maintenance: Sociolinguistic Research into the Romanian Minority Community in Hungary

This study of the process of language shift and maintenance in the bilingual community of Romanians living in Hungary was based on 40 tape-recorded Romanian sociolinguistic interviews. These were transcribed into computerised form and provide an excellent source of sociolinguistic, contact linguistic and discourse analysis data, making it possible to show the effect of internal and external factors on the bilingual speech mode. The main topics considered were the choice of Romanian and Hungarian in community interactions, factors of language choice, code-switching: introlanguage and interlanguage, reasons for code-switching, the relationship between age and the frequency of code switching in the interview situation, and the unequal competition of minority and majority languages at school.

The Process and Factors of Language Shift and Maintenance: Sociolinguistic Research into the Romanian Minority Community in Hungary"

This study of the process of language shift and maintenance in the bilingual community of Romanians living in Hungary was based on 40 tape-recorded Romanian sociolinguistic interviews. These were transcribed into computerised form and provide an excellent source of sociolinguistic, contact linguistic and discourse analysis data, making it possible to show the effect of internal and external factors on the bilingual speech mode. The main topics considered were the choice of Romanian and Hungarian in community interactions, factors of language choice, code-switching: introlanguage and interlanguage, reasons for code-switching, the relationship between age and the frequency of code switching in the interview situation, and the unequal competition of minority and majority languages at school.