Physiological calcification of the septum pellucidum.
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Of intracranial physiological calcification, common calcification of pineal region, choroid plexus of lateral ventricles and of basal ganglia was examined based on the frequency of occurrence of age and sex and type of CT scanners. Consecutive cases of 2877 (1450 males and 1427 females) underwent plain CT scanning were studied. Pathological calcification was excluded from this study. Three types of CT scanners (SCN-200, Somatom 2 and TCT-10 A) were used. As a whole, calcification was shown in 67.7% in pineal region, 57.6% in choroid plexus of lateral ventricles and 7.5% in basal ganglia. First, we reported in detail the calcification of pineal region, in which calcification occurred most frequently. Calcification in pineal region had a close relation with age by increasing with aging. The youngest patient was 8 years old. There was a striking increase in number of patients aged from 10 to 39 years. There was a gradual increase in those aged over 40 years. Of patients aged from 70 to 79 years, calcification was found in 81.5%. The incidence was noted no changes in patients aged over 80 years. As for patients aged over 20 years, calcification was observed in 75.1% (82.6% males and 68.0% females). In patients aged from 20 to 79 years, the calcification was significantly higher in male than female. Although there was a different incidence of calcification examined by three types of CT scanners, it was not significant. There was no significant difference between thickness of 8 mm section and 10 mm.
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of physiologic pineal calcification, estimate observer variability, and examine the association with choroid plexus calcification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of hard copy head computed tomography films of 242 patients age younger than 16 years by two independent observers. RESULTS: Physiologic pineal calcification was present in 20% of the whole group, in 39% of those 8-14 years age, in 8% of those younger than 10 years age, and in 1% of those younger than age 6 years. Observer agreement was very good (kappa = 0.72). Choroid plexus calcification was present in 16% and was four times as common in those with pineal calcification (38% versus 10%, P = .005), with very good observer agreement (kappa = 0.74). CONCLUSION: Physiologic pineal calcification is more common in children than previously reported, mostly because of improving computed tomography technology. There is an association with choroid plexus calcification.
Apart from clinical parallels, similarities in the pathogenesis of arterial and articular cartilage calcification have come to light in recent years. These include the roles of aging, of chronic low-grade inflammation and of genetic and acquired dysregulation of inorganic pyrophosphate (PP(i)) metabolism. This review focuses on recent developments in understanding the pathogenesis of artery calcification pertinent to interpretation of the mechanistic basis for articular cartilage calcification in aging and osteoarthritis.
In this paper, we describe calcification in the choroid plexus of lateral ventricles with a discussion of the frequency of occurrence in categories of age, sex, and laterality, and its correlation with pineal calcification. The study was conducted on 2877 consecutive cases (1450 males and 1427 females) that had plain CT scanning. Three types of CT scanners (SCN-200, Somatom 2 and TCT-10 A) were used. This series included only calcification of the choroid plexus in the trigone of the lateral ventricles (glomus). Calcification was found in none of the cases aged under 9 years, 5.9% aged from 10 to 14 years and 17.4% aged from 15 to 19 years. The calcification rate strikingly increased with increasing age of the cases. It was 51.5% of cases between 30 and 39 years of age. After that, the increasing rate of calcification gradually decreased, however calcification was found in 74.4% of cases aged over 80 years. The calcification rate was 64.7% in our total series of cases aged over 20 years, 66.5% aged over 30 years and 70.7% aged over 50 years. The calcification rate of male cases was greater than that of females in the age group of over 15 years. However, there was a significant difference only in the cases ranging from 60 to 79 years of age. The initial incidence of male cases was found at the age of 12 years and that of females at the age of 16 years. There was no difference in calcification on right and left sides.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Among 1500 MR studies of the brain, performed during 1 year, there were six cases of physiologic calcifications (four in the falx cerebri, two in the deep gray matter) that revealed high signal intensity on T1- and variable signal on T2-weighted images. This phenomenon should be recognized and not confused with entities of clinical significance especially hemorrhage.
Placental calcification commonly increases with gestational age. The mechanism of apatite mineralization probably involves one of three known mechanisms of tissue calcification: physiological (like bone), dystrophic (ischaemia-related) or metastatic (mineralization in a supersaturated environment). This study was designed to determine the mechanism of calcification by examining (1) the mineral content of placental calcifications in comparison to other physiological and pathological apatites, and (2) the expression of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), which are important in physiological calcification, across gestational age. By energy-dispersive x-ray analysis (EDXA), the Ca/P weight ratio for apatitic mineral from mature calcifications was 2.00+/-0.05 (s.e.), which is similar to that for stones formed in a metastatic, supersaturated environment and lower than that observed in physiological calcification. Biologically active BMP, which was determined by bioassay, was demonstrated in mature and postmature placentae. The BMPs PLAB, PDF and related protein INSL-4 were identified by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), but their mRNA expression was independent of gestational age (7-41 weeks of gestation). We conclude that (1) the identified BMPs were not related directly to placental calcification, which argues against physiological calcification, and (2) the chemical composition of the apatitic mineral was suggestive of rapid formation in a supersaturated environment, which is consistent with a metastatic mechanism of calcification.
An attempt has been made to show which anatomical structures of the skull and brain can be demonstrated by analysing 668 computerised tomograms of normal brains. Many parts of the bony skull, the cisterns and ventricles and physiological calcification of the pineal body, choroid plexus and falx can be clearly identified. Frequently it is possible to distinguish between grey and white matter in the basal ganglia. After intravenous contrast injection it is sometimes possible to identify arteries and other pathways and vascular structures by their increased contrast. Because of the constant topographic relations in the brain, it is possible to identify these structures with certainty on the computerised tomogram.
Physiological calcification begins from crystallization of hydroxyapatite in extracellular matrix of both bones and teeth. Because calcification is exactly the extracellular event, organic components of extracellular matrix play important roles in control of calcification. The authors discuss the molecular regulation of calcification by organic components of extracellular matrix, focusing on the mineral/organic interaction.
It has been the impression of clinicians that pineal calcification is infrequent in Shiraz, Iran. In order to evaluate this clinical impression 2000 consecutive skul X-rays taken at Saadi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran, were reviewed for the presence of physiologic intracranial calcifications. The incidence of these clasifications in male and female in consecutive age groups of 10 years from 0 to over 70 years of age were assessed and compared with previous reports from other countries. The average incidence of pineal calcification for those over 20 years of age was 18.29% in this study compared with 55% in the U.S.A. The incidence of calcification in the choroid plexus and the falx cerebri was also considerably less than previously reported. The literature is reviewed and the possible causes for the geographical differences in the reported frequency of physiologic intracranial calcifications is discussed. It is possible that racial and dietary factors may be significant in the variation in the incidence of pineal and other cranial calcifications noted in different countries. Within a population group, age and sex are additional factors.
Calcification in necrosis has long been known. Of the tissue components, the cells are most vulnerable. Nevertheless, little attention has been paid to the role of cell death in calcification. This review attempts to update the mechanism of calcification with an emphasis on the role of apoptosis in calcification. A brief review on the basic sciences relevant to calcification is followed by a discussion of abnormal Ca2+ and Pi homeostasis in cell injury and apoptosis. Concomitant increases in Ca2+ and Pi in blebs (and matrix vesicles) formed by apoptotic and/or necrotic cells are apparently the primary mechanism of calcification. In addition, membranous cellular degradation products (CDP) resulting from cell disintegration in toto frequently serve as the nidus of calcification. Published data on physiological calcification are compared with findings in various dystrophic calcinoses. This led to the conclusion that apoptosis most likely underlies the mechanism of both physiological and pathological calcifications. It is concluded that calcification is an important function of apoptosis. The mechanism of calcification by CDP and morphology of the resultant calcific deposits are complex.
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