Condition: Allergic Conjunctivitis Intervention: Sponsor: Sun Yat-sen University Active, not recruiting (Source: ClinicalTrials.gov)
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Conditions: Malaria; Febrile Illness Interventions: Other: Conditional ACT subsidy, Arm 1 levels; Other: Conditional ACT subsidy, Arm 2 levels; Other: Conditional ACT subsidy, Arm 3 levels; Other: Conditional ACT subsidy, Arm 4 levels Sponsors: Duke University; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID); Moi University; Clinton Health Access Initiative, Nigeria Not yet recruiting (Source: ClinicalTrials.gov)
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Conditions: Overweight and Obesity; Allergy Intervention: Procedure: Vaginal seeding Sponsors: Peking University; National Natural Science Foundation of China; Liuyang Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Recruiting (Source: ClinicalTrials.gov)
from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2W7oTMq
Condition: Allergic Conjunctivitis Intervention: Sponsor: Sun Yat-sen University Active, not recruiting (Source: ClinicalTrials.gov)
MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Conditions: Malaria; Febrile Illness Interventions: Other: Conditional ACT subsidy, Arm 1 levels; Other: Conditional ACT subsidy, Arm 2 levels; Other: Conditional ACT subsidy, Arm 3 levels; Other: Conditional ACT subsidy, Arm 4 levels Sponsors: Duke University; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID); Moi University; Clinton Health Access Initiative, Nigeria Not yet recruiting (Source: ClinicalTrials.gov)
from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2R7kzcl
Conditions: Overweight and Obesity; Allergy Intervention: Procedure: Vaginal seeding Sponsors: Peking University; National Natural Science Foundation of China; Liuyang Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Recruiting (Source: ClinicalTrials.gov)
from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2W7oTMq
This study evaluated the prognostic role of Fluorine 18‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT (18F‐FDG PET/CT) parameters quantitatively measured in patients with recurrent oral cavity cancer.
Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to assess the associations between quantitative 18F‐FDG PET/CT parameters and other clinicopathological factors and progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).
All of the 18F‐FDG PET parameters (SUVmax, SUVmean, SUVpeak, metabolic tumor volume [MTV], and total lesion glycolysis [TLG]) were significantly associated with poor PFS and OS outcomes after salvage treatment (P < .01). In multivariate analyses, Karnofsky performance score, recurrence site, MTV, and TLG were independent variables predictive of both PFS and OS (P < .05). High MTV (>8.8 mL) or TLG (>29.4 g) values at recurrent lesions were associated with >5‐fold increased risk for tumor progression and mortality after salvage surgery.
The PET parameters of MTV and TLG measured at recurrent lesions may predict tumor progression and survival after salvage treatment.
This study examined the role of 18F‐FDG PET/CT at recurrent staging for predicting tumor progression and survival in 71 consecutive patients with recurrent oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas. Of 18F‐FDG parameters, metabolic tumor volume and total lesion glycolysis were independent factors predictive of tumor progression and survival after salvage treatment.
This study evaluated the prognostic role of Fluorine 18‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT (18F‐FDG PET/CT) parameters quantitatively measured in patients with recurrent oral cavity cancer.
Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to assess the associations between quantitative 18F‐FDG PET/CT parameters and other clinicopathological factors and progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).
All of the 18F‐FDG PET parameters (SUVmax, SUVmean, SUVpeak, metabolic tumor volume [MTV], and total lesion glycolysis [TLG]) were significantly associated with poor PFS and OS outcomes after salvage treatment (P < .01). In multivariate analyses, Karnofsky performance score, recurrence site, MTV, and TLG were independent variables predictive of both PFS and OS (P < .05). High MTV (>8.8 mL) or TLG (>29.4 g) values at recurrent lesions were associated with >5‐fold increased risk for tumor progression and mortality after salvage surgery.
The PET parameters of MTV and TLG measured at recurrent lesions may predict tumor progression and survival after salvage treatment.
This study examined the role of 18F‐FDG PET/CT at recurrent staging for predicting tumor progression and survival in 71 consecutive patients with recurrent oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas. Of 18F‐FDG parameters, metabolic tumor volume and total lesion glycolysis were independent factors predictive of tumor progression and survival after salvage treatment.
Quantitative measures of vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (vwMRI) for the evaluation of intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) offers standardization not available with previously used qualitative approaches that may be difficult to replicate.
vwMRI studies performed to evaluate ICAD that had caused a stroke were analyzed. Two blinded reviewers qualitatively rated culprit lesions for the presence of enhancement on T1 delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation (DANTE) SPACE images. At least 3 months later, quantitative analysis was performed of the same images, comparing lesion enhancement to reference structures. Cohen's kappa and intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated to assess agreement. Ratios of enhancement of lesions to references were compared to qualitative ratings.
Studies from 54 patients met inclusion criteria. A mean of 49 (90.7%) lesions were qualitatively rated as enhancing, with good inter-rater agreement (κ = 0.783). Among reference structure candidates, low infundibulum demonstrated the highest inter-rater agreement on pre- and post-contrast imaging. The ratio of percentage increase in plaque signal following contrast to the same measure in low infundibulum demonstrated the highest agreement with qualitative assessment, with highest agreement seen with a ratio of 0.8 set as a threshold (κ = 0.675).
Quantitative metrics can yield objective data to better standardize techniques and acceptance of vwMRI evaluation of ICAD. The low infundibulum had the highest inter-rater agreement on both pre- and post-contrast images and is best suited as a normally enhancing reference structure. Such quantitative techniques should be implemented in future research of vwMRI for the evaluation of ICAD.
Quantitative measures of vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (vwMRI) for the evaluation of intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) offers standardization not available with previously used qualitative approaches that may be difficult to replicate.
vwMRI studies performed to evaluate ICAD that had caused a stroke were analyzed. Two blinded reviewers qualitatively rated culprit lesions for the presence of enhancement on T1 delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation (DANTE) SPACE images. At least 3 months later, quantitative analysis was performed of the same images, comparing lesion enhancement to reference structures. Cohen's kappa and intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated to assess agreement. Ratios of enhancement of lesions to references were compared to qualitative ratings.
Studies from 54 patients met inclusion criteria. A mean of 49 (90.7%) lesions were qualitatively rated as enhancing, with good inter-rater agreement (κ = 0.783). Among reference structure candidates, low infundibulum demonstrated the highest inter-rater agreement on pre- and post-contrast imaging. The ratio of percentage increase in plaque signal following contrast to the same measure in low infundibulum demonstrated the highest agreement with qualitative assessment, with highest agreement seen with a ratio of 0.8 set as a threshold (κ = 0.675).
Quantitative metrics can yield objective data to better standardize techniques and acceptance of vwMRI evaluation of ICAD. The low infundibulum had the highest inter-rater agreement on both pre- and post-contrast images and is best suited as a normally enhancing reference structure. Such quantitative techniques should be implemented in future research of vwMRI for the evaluation of ICAD.
When 5-year-old Ryan had trouble "reading the room," taking on a pretend-play role as part of the Scooby-Doo mystery team helped him think like a detective and look for clues to figure out what was happening in his environment. Not everything is explicitly stated in life, books or conversations, so children need to learn to infer or "fill in the blanks" to understand our world. Inferencing is a sophisticated cognitive skill that helps us understand life's intricacies. Try these steps to teach students or clients this important skill: Tune in to the environment. "What Does Not Belong?" activities help children take notice of their surroundings and find things out of place, and allows them to work on flexible interpretations of events. For example, when told his next session w...
from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2sKJNDO
When 5-year-old Ryan had trouble "reading the room," taking on a pretend-play role as part of the Scooby-Doo mystery team helped him think like a detective and look for clues to figure out what was happening in his environment. Not everything is explicitly stated in life, books or conversations, so children need to learn to infer or "fill in the blanks" to understand our world. Inferencing is a sophisticated cognitive skill that helps us understand life's intricacies. Try these steps to teach students or clients this important skill: Tune in to the environment. "What Does Not Belong?" activities help children take notice of their surroundings and find things out of place, and allows them to work on flexible interpretations of events. For example, when told his next session w...
from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2sKJNDO
We deal regularly with patients who present with severe atrophy of the jaws, compromised soft tissue, or penetrating defects of the alveolar ridge that are not the result of malignant disease. For these patients we use microvascular bony flaps together with dental implants and implant-supported prostheses. The purpose of this retrospective study was to present our current management and the lessons we have learned over a 16-year period while treating 86 patients for these indications with 87 microvascular bone flaps.
from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2UgixZD
We deal regularly with patients who present with severe atrophy of the jaws, compromised soft tissue, or penetrating defects of the alveolar ridge that are not the result of malignant disease. For these patients we use microvascular bony flaps together with dental implants and implant-supported prostheses. The purpose of this retrospective study was to present our current management and the lessons we have learned over a 16-year period while treating 86 patients for these indications with 87 microvascular bone flaps.
from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2UgixZD
Although e-logbook was a welcome addition to surgical training many years ago its interface and functionality has not changed for many years. Multiple edits may be required if, for example, procedures have been miscoded or wrongly imported from the ISCP logbook. Accurate coding of operations on the e-logbook is important to correctly demonstrate meeting the required indicative numbers. A workout for facilitating the process of multiple procedures editing or adding complications is suggested. It is hoped that sharing this simple to apply computer code will help trainees to more efficiently utilise the e-logbook recording system to ensure accurate reflection of indicative procedural numbers.
from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2U6rAw2
Although e-logbook was a welcome addition to surgical training many years ago its interface and functionality has not changed for many years. Multiple edits may be required if, for example, procedures have been miscoded or wrongly imported from the ISCP logbook. Accurate coding of operations on the e-logbook is important to correctly demonstrate meeting the required indicative numbers. A workout for facilitating the process of multiple procedures editing or adding complications is suggested. It is hoped that sharing this simple to apply computer code will help trainees to more efficiently utilise the e-logbook recording system to ensure accurate reflection of indicative procedural numbers.
from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2U6rAw2
The aim of this study was to compare the alterations in three regions of the airway—nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx—in relation to the area of the midsagittal plane, volume, and minimal axial area after maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) surgery. Thirty patients who had undergone MMA surgery were evaluated at four time points: preoperative (T0), immediately postoperative (T1), 1year postoperative (T2), and ≥5 years postoperative (T3). All measurements were performed using computed tomography, analyzed in Dolphin Imaging 11.0 Premium 3D software.
from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2WaNLD4
The surgery first approach (SFA) is a therapeutic strategy used in orthognathic surgery that is constantly evolving. With this approach, the pre-surgical orthodontic treatment can be eliminated, the maxilla and the mandible are surgically repositioned into the desired position, and the therapy is ended with a short orthodontic phase. Several studies have reported that the SFA is an acceptable approach, but postoperative stability is unclear. In this study, a systematic review on the SFA was performed.
from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2RagfZN
The aim of this study was to compare the alterations in three regions of the airway—nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx—in relation to the area of the midsagittal plane, volume, and minimal axial area after maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) surgery. Thirty patients who had undergone MMA surgery were evaluated at four time points: preoperative (T0), immediately postoperative (T1), 1year postoperative (T2), and ≥5 years postoperative (T3). All measurements were performed using computed tomography, analyzed in Dolphin Imaging 11.0 Premium 3D software.
from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2WaNLD4
The surgery first approach (SFA) is a therapeutic strategy used in orthognathic surgery that is constantly evolving. With this approach, the pre-surgical orthodontic treatment can be eliminated, the maxilla and the mandible are surgically repositioned into the desired position, and the therapy is ended with a short orthodontic phase. Several studies have reported that the SFA is an acceptable approach, but postoperative stability is unclear. In this study, a systematic review on the SFA was performed.
from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2RagfZN
18F-DOPA PET/CT is commonly done in patients with persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy (PHHI) to look for any focal lesion in the pancreas. We present the findings in a 20-day-old neonate with PHHI who underwent 18F-DOPA PET/CT. The scan showed diffuse uptake in the pancreas with no focal lesion, physiologic excretion into the genito-urinary system, and interestingly tracer accumulation was seen in the inferior vena cava and ilio-femoral veins which is a non-physiological site for tracer accumulation. The uptake corresponded to a large venous thrombus which was confirmed by a venous Doppler.
The term theranostics is a combination of a diagnostic tool that helps to define a right therapeutic tool for specific disease and paves the approach towards personalized or precision medicine. In Nuclear Medicine, a diagnostic radionuclide is labeled with the target and once expression is documented, the same target is labeled with a therapeutic radionuclide and treatment is executed. The theranostic concept was applied first time in 1964 in the treatment of thyroid cancer with I-131 (RAI). Over the years, other theranostic radiotracers became available indigenously from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in the country. Currently Lu-177 is produced in India and peptides like DOTATATE and PSMA are available in a kit form indigenously. At the present time, the radionuclide therapies of oncological disorders which are being performed in India are mainly for neuroendocrine tumors (NET) and metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The main constraints pertaining to this concept is the cost of treatment and awareness among the clinicians which are gradually being taken care of by the private health insurance and our participation in disease management group meetings respectively. The theranostic concept has become popular over the years and has the potential for sustained growth.
Radiomics handles imaging biomarker from high-throughput feature extraction through complex pattern recognition that is difficult for human to process. Recent medical paradigms are rapidly changing to personalized medicine, including molecular targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and theranostics, and the importance of biomarkers for these is growing day by day. Even though biopsy continues to gold standard for tumor assessment in personalized medicine, imaging is expected to complement biopsy because it allows whole tumor evaluation, whole body evaluation, and non-invasive and repetitive evaluation. Radiomics is known as a useful method to get imaging biomarkers related to intratumor heterogeneity in molecular targeted therapy as well as one-size-fits-all therapy. It is also expected to be useful in new paradigms such as immunotherapy and somatostatin receptor (SSTR) or prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted theranostics. Radiomics research should move to multimodality (CT, MR, PET, etc.), multicenter, and prospective studies from current single modality, single institution, and retrospective studies. Image-quality harmonization, intertumor heterogeneity, and integrative analysis of information from different scales are thought to be important keywords in future radiomics research. It is clear that radiomics will play an important role in personalized medicine.
18F-DOPA PET/CT is commonly done in patients with persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy (PHHI) to look for any focal lesion in the pancreas. We present the findings in a 20-day-old neonate with PHHI who underwent 18F-DOPA PET/CT. The scan showed diffuse uptake in the pancreas with no focal lesion, physiologic excretion into the genito-urinary system, and interestingly tracer accumulation was seen in the inferior vena cava and ilio-femoral veins which is a non-physiological site for tracer accumulation. The uptake corresponded to a large venous thrombus which was confirmed by a venous Doppler.
The term theranostics is a combination of a diagnostic tool that helps to define a right therapeutic tool for specific disease and paves the approach towards personalized or precision medicine. In Nuclear Medicine, a diagnostic radionuclide is labeled with the target and once expression is documented, the same target is labeled with a therapeutic radionuclide and treatment is executed. The theranostic concept was applied first time in 1964 in the treatment of thyroid cancer with I-131 (RAI). Over the years, other theranostic radiotracers became available indigenously from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in the country. Currently Lu-177 is produced in India and peptides like DOTATATE and PSMA are available in a kit form indigenously. At the present time, the radionuclide therapies of oncological disorders which are being performed in India are mainly for neuroendocrine tumors (NET) and metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The main constraints pertaining to this concept is the cost of treatment and awareness among the clinicians which are gradually being taken care of by the private health insurance and our participation in disease management group meetings respectively. The theranostic concept has become popular over the years and has the potential for sustained growth.
Radiomics handles imaging biomarker from high-throughput feature extraction through complex pattern recognition that is difficult for human to process. Recent medical paradigms are rapidly changing to personalized medicine, including molecular targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and theranostics, and the importance of biomarkers for these is growing day by day. Even though biopsy continues to gold standard for tumor assessment in personalized medicine, imaging is expected to complement biopsy because it allows whole tumor evaluation, whole body evaluation, and non-invasive and repetitive evaluation. Radiomics is known as a useful method to get imaging biomarkers related to intratumor heterogeneity in molecular targeted therapy as well as one-size-fits-all therapy. It is also expected to be useful in new paradigms such as immunotherapy and somatostatin receptor (SSTR) or prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted theranostics. Radiomics research should move to multimodality (CT, MR, PET, etc.), multicenter, and prospective studies from current single modality, single institution, and retrospective studies. Image-quality harmonization, intertumor heterogeneity, and integrative analysis of information from different scales are thought to be important keywords in future radiomics research. It is clear that radiomics will play an important role in personalized medicine.
Active listening involves dynamically switching attention between competing talkers and is essential to following conversations in everyday environments. Previous investigations in human listeners have examined the neural mechanisms that support switching auditory attention within the acoustic featural cues of pitch and auditory space. Here, we explored the cortical circuitry underlying endogenous switching of auditory attention between pitch and spatial cues necessary to discern target from masker words. Because these tasks are of unequal difficulty, we expected an asymmetry in behavioral switch costs for hard-to-easy versus easy-to-hard switches, mirroring prior evidence from vision-based cognitive task-switching paradigms. We investigated the neural correlates of this behavioral switch asymmetry and associated cognitive control operations in the present auditory paradigm. Behaviorally, we observed no switch-cost asymmetry, i.e., no performance difference for switching from the more difficult attend-pitch to the easier attend-space condition (P→S) versus switching from easy-to-hard (S→P). However, left lateral prefrontal cortex activity, correlated with improved performance, was observed during a silent gap period when listeners switched attention from P→S, relative to switching within pitch cues. No such differential activity was seen for the analogous easy-to-hard switch. We hypothesize that this neural switch asymmetry reflects proactive cognitive control mechanisms that successfully reconfigured neurally-specified task parameters and resolved competition from other such "task sets," thereby obviating the expected behavioral switch-cost asymmetry. The neural switch activity observed was generally consistent with that seen in cognitive paradigms, suggesting that established cognitive models of attention switching may be productively applied to better understand similar processes in audition.
Active listening involves dynamically switching attention between competing talkers and is essential to following conversations in everyday environments. Previous investigations in human listeners have examined the neural mechanisms that support switching auditory attention within the acoustic featural cues of pitch and auditory space. Here, we explored the cortical circuitry underlying endogenous switching of auditory attention between pitch and spatial cues necessary to discern target from masker words. Because these tasks are of unequal difficulty, we expected an asymmetry in behavioral switch costs for hard-to-easy versus easy-to-hard switches, mirroring prior evidence from vision-based cognitive task-switching paradigms. We investigated the neural correlates of this behavioral switch asymmetry and associated cognitive control operations in the present auditory paradigm. Behaviorally, we observed no switch-cost asymmetry, i.e., no performance difference for switching from the more difficult attend-pitch to the easier attend-space condition (P→S) versus switching from easy-to-hard (S→P). However, left lateral prefrontal cortex activity, correlated with improved performance, was observed during a silent gap period when listeners switched attention from P→S, relative to switching within pitch cues. No such differential activity was seen for the analogous easy-to-hard switch. We hypothesize that this neural switch asymmetry reflects proactive cognitive control mechanisms that successfully reconfigured neurally-specified task parameters and resolved competition from other such "task sets," thereby obviating the expected behavioral switch-cost asymmetry. The neural switch activity observed was generally consistent with that seen in cognitive paradigms, suggesting that established cognitive models of attention switching may be productively applied to better understand similar processes in audition.
Medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) is a serious condition developed in up to 15% of patients who take antiresorptive medications. Its underlying pathogenesis remains unclear. The association between systemic comorbidities and MRONJ was investigated.
A case‐control study was conducted in Brisbane, Australia. Hospital records were used to identify 68 cases of MRONJ between January 2003‐ March 2017. Each case was individually matched to 3 controls (204 in total) according to sex, age, primary disease, and type and duration of antiresorptive therapy. Data on patient demographic, social, and clinical characteristics were collected. Systemic comorbidities and medications were quantified as a Comorbidity Polypharmacy Score (CPS). Associations were investigated using conditional logistic regression.
The CPS calculated for patients who developed MRONJ (mean±SD = 20.2±5.1) was significantly higher than for controls (12.9±4.6). Multivariable analysis determined a significant relationship between CPS and the presence of MRONJ (OR=1.5; 95%CI=1.3, 1.8, p<0.001).
Patients with multiple systemic comorbidities and high levels of polypharmacy were more likely to develop MRONJ. The CPS is a simple and effective tool to quantify the risk of MRONJ attributed to a patient's systemic condition, and should be considered in conjunction with the patient's oral health to assess the overall risk of MRONJ.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease leading to destruction of periodontal tissues. As a local inflammation, periodontopathic bacterium, pro‐inflammatory mediators and local immune response play pivotal role in the progress of periodontal disease. Besides, cigarette smoke has long been associated with periodontal disease and tooth loss. Autophagy is an intracellular degradation process highly conserved from yeast to humans. As a lysosomal degradation pathway of self‐digestion, it is critical for maintaining cells homeostasis and development. The role of autophagy has been investigated in oral diseases, such as oral cancer, periapical lesions, and oral candidiasis. Recently, increasing studies investigated the role of autophagy in periodontal disease. In this review, we try to illustrate the effect of autophagy on periodontal disease pathogenesis from 5 aspects: autophagy affects the intracellular infection and survival of bacteria; autophagy has an interaction with periodontal inflammation; autophagy is pivotal in periodontal cells biology and periodontal tissues destruction and reconstruction; autophagy can be induced by cigarette smoke; last but not least, autophagy may affect periodontal disease via endoplasmic reticulum stress.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) is a serious condition developed in up to 15% of patients who take antiresorptive medications. Its underlying pathogenesis remains unclear. The association between systemic comorbidities and MRONJ was investigated.
A case‐control study was conducted in Brisbane, Australia. Hospital records were used to identify 68 cases of MRONJ between January 2003‐ March 2017. Each case was individually matched to 3 controls (204 in total) according to sex, age, primary disease, and type and duration of antiresorptive therapy. Data on patient demographic, social, and clinical characteristics were collected. Systemic comorbidities and medications were quantified as a Comorbidity Polypharmacy Score (CPS). Associations were investigated using conditional logistic regression.
The CPS calculated for patients who developed MRONJ (mean±SD = 20.2±5.1) was significantly higher than for controls (12.9±4.6). Multivariable analysis determined a significant relationship between CPS and the presence of MRONJ (OR=1.5; 95%CI=1.3, 1.8, p<0.001).
Patients with multiple systemic comorbidities and high levels of polypharmacy were more likely to develop MRONJ. The CPS is a simple and effective tool to quantify the risk of MRONJ attributed to a patient's systemic condition, and should be considered in conjunction with the patient's oral health to assess the overall risk of MRONJ.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease leading to destruction of periodontal tissues. As a local inflammation, periodontopathic bacterium, pro‐inflammatory mediators and local immune response play pivotal role in the progress of periodontal disease. Besides, cigarette smoke has long been associated with periodontal disease and tooth loss. Autophagy is an intracellular degradation process highly conserved from yeast to humans. As a lysosomal degradation pathway of self‐digestion, it is critical for maintaining cells homeostasis and development. The role of autophagy has been investigated in oral diseases, such as oral cancer, periapical lesions, and oral candidiasis. Recently, increasing studies investigated the role of autophagy in periodontal disease. In this review, we try to illustrate the effect of autophagy on periodontal disease pathogenesis from 5 aspects: autophagy affects the intracellular infection and survival of bacteria; autophagy has an interaction with periodontal inflammation; autophagy is pivotal in periodontal cells biology and periodontal tissues destruction and reconstruction; autophagy can be induced by cigarette smoke; last but not least, autophagy may affect periodontal disease via endoplasmic reticulum stress.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The pharynx is critical for correct swallowing, facilitating the transport of both air and food transport in a highly coordinated manner, and aberrant co-ordination causes swallowing disorders (dysphagia). In this work, an in vitro model of swallowing was designed to investigate the role of rheology in swallowing and for use as a pre-clinical tool for simulation of different routes to dysphagia. The model is based on the geometry of the human pharynx. Manometry is used for pressure measurements and ultrasonic analysis is performed to analyze the flow profiles and determine shear rate in the bolus, the latter being vital information largely missing in literature. In the fully automated model, bolus injection, epiglottis/nasopharynx movement, and ultrasound transducer positioning can be controlled. Simulation of closing of the airways and nasal cavity is modulated by the software, as is a clamping valve that simulates the upper esophageal sphincter. The actions can be timed and valves opened to different degrees, resembling pathologic swallowing conditions. To validate measurements of the velocity profile and manometry, continuous and bolus flow was performed. The respective velocity profiles demonstrated the accuracy and validity of the flow characterization necessary for determining bolus flow. A maximum bolus shear rate of 80 s−1 was noted for syrup-consistency fluids. Similarly, the manometry data acquired compared very well with clinical studies.
The pharynx is critical for correct swallowing, facilitating the transport of both air and food transport in a highly coordinated manner, and aberrant co-ordination causes swallowing disorders (dysphagia). In this work, an in vitro model of swallowing was designed to investigate the role of rheology in swallowing and for use as a pre-clinical tool for simulation of different routes to dysphagia. The model is based on the geometry of the human pharynx. Manometry is used for pressure measurements and ultrasonic analysis is performed to analyze the flow profiles and determine shear rate in the bolus, the latter being vital information largely missing in literature. In the fully automated model, bolus injection, epiglottis/nasopharynx movement, and ultrasound transducer positioning can be controlled. Simulation of closing of the airways and nasal cavity is modulated by the software, as is a clamping valve that simulates the upper esophageal sphincter. The actions can be timed and valves opened to different degrees, resembling pathologic swallowing conditions. To validate measurements of the velocity profile and manometry, continuous and bolus flow was performed. The respective velocity profiles demonstrated the accuracy and validity of the flow characterization necessary for determining bolus flow. A maximum bolus shear rate of 80 s−1 was noted for syrup-consistency fluids. Similarly, the manometry data acquired compared very well with clinical studies.
Conditions: Bone Conduction Deafness; Unilateral Deafness; Middle Ear Deafness; Mixed Hearing Loss Intervention: Device: Minimally Invasive Ponto Surgery Sponsor: Oticon Medical Recruiting (Source: ClinicalTrials.gov)
from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2R4qOxH
Conditions: Bone Conduction Deafness; Unilateral Deafness; Middle Ear Deafness; Mixed Hearing Loss Intervention: Device: Minimally Invasive Ponto Surgery Sponsor: Oticon Medical Recruiting (Source: ClinicalTrials.gov)
from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2W9XOZ4
Conditions: Cochlear Implants; Hearing Preservation Intervention: Procedure: Electrocochlography Sponsors: Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; University of Cambridge Recruiting (Source: ClinicalTrials.gov)
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Conditions: Cochlear Implants; Hearing Preservation Intervention: Procedure: Electrocochlography Sponsors: Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; University of Cambridge Recruiting (Source: ClinicalTrials.gov)
from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2WcVRuQ
Conditions: Bone Conduction Deafness; Unilateral Deafness; Middle Ear Deafness; Mixed Hearing Loss Intervention: Device: Minimally Invasive Ponto Surgery Sponsor: Oticon Medical Recruiting (Source: ClinicalTrials.gov)
from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2R4qOxH
Conditions: Bone Conduction Deafness; Unilateral Deafness; Middle Ear Deafness; Mixed Hearing Loss Intervention: Device: Minimally Invasive Ponto Surgery Sponsor: Oticon Medical Recruiting (Source: ClinicalTrials.gov)
from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2W9XOZ4
Conditions: Cochlear Implants; Hearing Preservation Intervention: Procedure: Electrocochlography Sponsors: Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; University of Cambridge Recruiting (Source: ClinicalTrials.gov)
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Conditions: Cochlear Implants; Hearing Preservation Intervention: Procedure: Electrocochlography Sponsors: Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; University of Cambridge Recruiting (Source: ClinicalTrials.gov)
from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2WcVRuQ
Peach is a common elicitor of food allergic reactions. Peach‐induced immediate reactions may occur as benign pollen‐food syndromes, usually due to birch pollen related PR‐10 cross‐reactivity in temperate climates, and as potentially severe primary food allergies, predominantly related to nsLTP Pru p 3 in Mediterranean regions. The newly described peach allergen Pru p 7 has has gained recent attention as a potential peach allergy severity marker. Sensitisation to Pru p 7 and its allergenic homologues of the gibberellin‐related protein family occurs in areas with high Cupressaceae tree pollen exposure.
We sought to investigate the distribution, clinical characteristics and molecular associations of Pru p 7 sensitisation among subjects with suspected peach allergy in different regions of France.
Subjects with suspected peach allergy (n=316) were included. Diagnostic workup was performed according to current guidelines, including open food challenge when required. IgE antibody measurements and competition experiments were performed using the ImmunoCAP assay platform.
Sensitisation to Pru p 7 was present in 171 (54%) of all subjects in the study and in 123 of 198 (62%) diagnosed as peach allergic, more than half of whom were sensitised to no other peach allergen. Frequency and magnitude of Pru p 7 sensitisation were associated with the presence of peach allergy, the clinical severity of peach‐induced allergic reactions, and the level of cypress pollen exposure. Cypress pollen extract completely outcompeted IgE binding to Pru p 7. Pru p 7 was extremely potent in basophil activation tests.
A subtype of Cupressaceae pollinosis, characterised by Pru p 7 sensitisation, can be an underlying cause of severe peach allergy.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Peach is a common elicitor of food allergic reactions. Peach‐induced immediate reactions may occur as benign pollen‐food syndromes, usually due to birch pollen related PR‐10 cross‐reactivity in temperate climates, and as potentially severe primary food allergies, predominantly related to nsLTP Pru p 3 in Mediterranean regions. The newly described peach allergen Pru p 7 has has gained recent attention as a potential peach allergy severity marker. Sensitisation to Pru p 7 and its allergenic homologues of the gibberellin‐related protein family occurs in areas with high Cupressaceae tree pollen exposure.
We sought to investigate the distribution, clinical characteristics and molecular associations of Pru p 7 sensitisation among subjects with suspected peach allergy in different regions of France.
Subjects with suspected peach allergy (n=316) were included. Diagnostic workup was performed according to current guidelines, including open food challenge when required. IgE antibody measurements and competition experiments were performed using the ImmunoCAP assay platform.
Sensitisation to Pru p 7 was present in 171 (54%) of all subjects in the study and in 123 of 198 (62%) diagnosed as peach allergic, more than half of whom were sensitised to no other peach allergen. Frequency and magnitude of Pru p 7 sensitisation were associated with the presence of peach allergy, the clinical severity of peach‐induced allergic reactions, and the level of cypress pollen exposure. Cypress pollen extract completely outcompeted IgE binding to Pru p 7. Pru p 7 was extremely potent in basophil activation tests.
A subtype of Cupressaceae pollinosis, characterised by Pru p 7 sensitisation, can be an underlying cause of severe peach allergy.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The purpose of this study was to determine the radiation exposure of primary interventionalist's different body parts during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) procedures and aortoiliac percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) procedures and to evaluate the efficacy of a radioprotective drape.
Occupational doses for 36 consecutive aortoiliac PTA procedures and 17 consecutive EVAR procedures were estimated using thermoluminescence dosimetry (TLD) chips (TLD-200, Hashaw, Solon, OH). Effective dose (ED) was calculated using the Niklason algorithm. For the evaluation of a 0.25 mm Pb equivalent drape (Ecolab, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA), experiments were performed using two physical anthropomorphic phantoms (Rando-Alderson Research Labs, CA, USA).
Median ED for a typical EVAR and PTA procedure was 4.7 ± 1.4 μSv and 4.4 ± 3.6 μSv, respectively. The highest radiation doses were measured for the operator's hands in both procedures. Moreover, considerable doses were measured to the operator's head, eye lenses and thyroid. Due to the use of the drape, radiation exposure of primary operator's abdominal area, genitals, thyroid and eye lenses was reduced by an average of 59%, 60%, 65% and 59%, respectively. However, dose area product (DAP) and peak skin dose (PSD) were increased by 20% when part of the drape was placed into the X-ray field.
During EVAR and PTA procedures, primary operator's organs are exposed to considerable radiation doses. Occupational radiation exposure can be reduced significantly with the proper use of a radioprotective drape.
Publication date: Available online 23 January 2019
Source: Addictive Behaviors
Author(s): Sameer Jauhar, Joseph Hayes
Publication date: Available online 22 January 2019
Source: Addictive Behaviors
Author(s): Vivian M. Gonzalez, Adrian J. Bravo, Maria C. Crouch, Protective Strategies Study Team
Belief in an American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) specific biological vulnerability (BV) to alcohol problems (aka the "firewater myth") has been found to be associated with worse alcohol outcomes among AI/AN college students who drink, despite also being associated with greater attempts to reduce drinking. In the current study, we examined the associations of belief in a BV and belief that AI/AN people have more alcohol problems with the use of alcohol protective behavioral strategies (PBS) among AI/AN college students. PBS examined, as measured by the Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale-20, included manner of drinking, limiting/stopping drinking, and serious harm reduction strategies. Participants were college students who identified being AI/AN (n = 137) and had drank in the past month, and were selected from a larger multi-site study on PBS. Mediation models revealed that greater belief in a BV and belief that AI/AN people have more alcohol problems were both negatively associated with manner of drinking, which in turn was associated with greater past month alcohol use and alcohol consequences. These beliefs were not significantly associated with other PBS. Consistent with prior research with other student populations, both manner of drinking and limiting/stopping drinking were associated with less alcohol use and all three domains of PBS were directly associated with fewer alcohol consequences. The results suggest that these beliefs regarding AI/AN people and alcohol negatively affect the use of strategies aimed at avoiding drinking behavior that can lead to rapid drinking and a higher blood alcohol content, contributing to alcohol consequences.
Publication date: Available online 22 January 2019
Source: Addictive Behaviors
Author(s): Mickeah J. Hugley, Caitlin Wolford-Clevenger, Michelle L. Sisson, Angela T. Nguyen, Karen L. Cropsey
Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Many smoking cessation guidelines advise smokers to quit precipitately; however, most quit attempts involve a more gradual cessation. Characteristics of individuals who tend to reduce prior to quitting and the effectiveness of pre-quit reduction are not well understood. This study examined individual differences and smoking cessation outcomes between individuals who self-initiated gradual reduction in cigarettes per day (CPD) and those who did not reduce prior to quit date.
This study is a secondary analysis from a randomized clinical trial of smoking cessation with pharmacotherapy among individuals under community corrections supervision. We compared participants who self-initiated smoking reduction by at least 25% between baseline and the first treatment session (n = 128) to participants who either increased or did not reduce smoking between baseline and the first treatment session (n = 354).
African American race, no previous cigar smoking, no previous use of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation, less withdrawal symptoms at baseline, and older age at first smoking were associated with being a self-initiated gradual reduction in univariate analyses. Individuals who self-initiated gradual reduction also had a had a greater likelihood of achieving at least one quit during the one-year study period as compared to those who did not reduce prior to the intervention.
Individuals who self-initiate gradual reduction differ from those who increase or do not change their smoking prior to a quit date. Gradual reduction also increased success in quitting.
The purpose of this study was to determine the radiation exposure of primary interventionalist's different body parts during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) procedures and aortoiliac percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) procedures and to evaluate the efficacy of a radioprotective drape.
Occupational doses for 36 consecutive aortoiliac PTA procedures and 17 consecutive EVAR procedures were estimated using thermoluminescence dosimetry (TLD) chips (TLD-200, Hashaw, Solon, OH). Effective dose (ED) was calculated using the Niklason algorithm. For the evaluation of a 0.25 mm Pb equivalent drape (Ecolab, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA), experiments were performed using two physical anthropomorphic phantoms (Rando-Alderson Research Labs, CA, USA).
Median ED for a typical EVAR and PTA procedure was 4.7 ± 1.4 μSv and 4.4 ± 3.6 μSv, respectively. The highest radiation doses were measured for the operator's hands in both procedures. Moreover, considerable doses were measured to the operator's head, eye lenses and thyroid. Due to the use of the drape, radiation exposure of primary operator's abdominal area, genitals, thyroid and eye lenses was reduced by an average of 59%, 60%, 65% and 59%, respectively. However, dose area product (DAP) and peak skin dose (PSD) were increased by 20% when part of the drape was placed into the X-ray field.
During EVAR and PTA procedures, primary operator's organs are exposed to considerable radiation doses. Occupational radiation exposure can be reduced significantly with the proper use of a radioprotective drape.
Publication date: Available online 23 January 2019
Source: Addictive Behaviors
Author(s): Sameer Jauhar, Joseph Hayes
Publication date: Available online 22 January 2019
Source: Addictive Behaviors
Author(s): Vivian M. Gonzalez, Adrian J. Bravo, Maria C. Crouch, Protective Strategies Study Team
Belief in an American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) specific biological vulnerability (BV) to alcohol problems (aka the "firewater myth") has been found to be associated with worse alcohol outcomes among AI/AN college students who drink, despite also being associated with greater attempts to reduce drinking. In the current study, we examined the associations of belief in a BV and belief that AI/AN people have more alcohol problems with the use of alcohol protective behavioral strategies (PBS) among AI/AN college students. PBS examined, as measured by the Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale-20, included manner of drinking, limiting/stopping drinking, and serious harm reduction strategies. Participants were college students who identified being AI/AN (n = 137) and had drank in the past month, and were selected from a larger multi-site study on PBS. Mediation models revealed that greater belief in a BV and belief that AI/AN people have more alcohol problems were both negatively associated with manner of drinking, which in turn was associated with greater past month alcohol use and alcohol consequences. These beliefs were not significantly associated with other PBS. Consistent with prior research with other student populations, both manner of drinking and limiting/stopping drinking were associated with less alcohol use and all three domains of PBS were directly associated with fewer alcohol consequences. The results suggest that these beliefs regarding AI/AN people and alcohol negatively affect the use of strategies aimed at avoiding drinking behavior that can lead to rapid drinking and a higher blood alcohol content, contributing to alcohol consequences.
Publication date: Available online 22 January 2019
Source: Addictive Behaviors
Author(s): Mickeah J. Hugley, Caitlin Wolford-Clevenger, Michelle L. Sisson, Angela T. Nguyen, Karen L. Cropsey
Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Many smoking cessation guidelines advise smokers to quit precipitately; however, most quit attempts involve a more gradual cessation. Characteristics of individuals who tend to reduce prior to quitting and the effectiveness of pre-quit reduction are not well understood. This study examined individual differences and smoking cessation outcomes between individuals who self-initiated gradual reduction in cigarettes per day (CPD) and those who did not reduce prior to quit date.
This study is a secondary analysis from a randomized clinical trial of smoking cessation with pharmacotherapy among individuals under community corrections supervision. We compared participants who self-initiated smoking reduction by at least 25% between baseline and the first treatment session (n = 128) to participants who either increased or did not reduce smoking between baseline and the first treatment session (n = 354).
African American race, no previous cigar smoking, no previous use of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation, less withdrawal symptoms at baseline, and older age at first smoking were associated with being a self-initiated gradual reduction in univariate analyses. Individuals who self-initiated gradual reduction also had a had a greater likelihood of achieving at least one quit during the one-year study period as compared to those who did not reduce prior to the intervention.
Individuals who self-initiate gradual reduction differ from those who increase or do not change their smoking prior to a quit date. Gradual reduction also increased success in quitting.
Secondary trache‐oesophageal puncture and fistula formation is often undertaken after laryngectomy to restore voice.
The procedure was historically carried out under general anaesthesia (GA).
This has been largely supplanted by local anaesthetic (LA) techniques as GA puts patients at a greater risk and the procedure is a more technically difficult undertaking.
LA techniques have, however, never been validated against GA techniques in terms of length of stay, cost and complication rates.
We compare a GA and an LA technique and found a shorter length of stay, reduced cost and similar complication profile.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Although recurrent facial palsy was first reported in 1871, the etiology, definitions, classifications, pathogenesis, treatment options, and prognosis have not been clearly determined. There have been no systematic reviews and meta‐analyses of recurrent Bell's palsy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical manifestations of recurrent Bell's palsy through a systematic review and meta‐analysis.
The SCOPUS, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EBSCO databases were searched through May 1, 2018, using the search terms 'recurrent Bell's palsy' and 'recurrent facial palsy', for studies involving patients with recurrent Bell's palsy. Reference lists of eligible studies were also reviewed.
A search of titles and abstracts in these four databases identified 222 studies; of these, 27 studies, involving 1,041 patients from 13 countries, were analyzed. The mean percentage of patients who experienced recurrence of Bell's palsy ranged from 0.8% to 19.4%. Five studies that included 191 patients were included in the meta‐analysis.
Among patients previously affected by Bell's palsy, the mean incidence of recurrent Bell's palsy was 6.5%. Sidedness of recurrent disease, relative to the side of the original disease, had no effect on patient prognosis. Of all patients with Bell's palsy, 66.0% recovered completely, with the recovery rate lower in patients with recurrent than with primary Bell's palsy.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
To translate and validate French versions of two health‐related quality of life questionnaires for patients with peripheral facial palsy: Facial Disability Index (FDI) and Facial Clinimetric Evaluation (FaCE) scale.
Prospective cohort study.
University tertiary referral center.
A pilot test was performed on 10 subjects (5 patients with facial palsy of more than 1‐month duration and 5 normal subjects), then 67 adult patients with facial palsy were enrolled in the validation study.
Translation of the original questionnaires has followed international guidelines using a forward‐backward translation method. A pilot test and a validation study based on the translated questionnaires were performed. Internal consistency, test–retest reliability, validity and responsiveness were assessed. Validity was assessed by comparing to SF‐36 and Sunnybrook/House‐Brackmann grading systems. Subjects answered scales twice within a one‐week interval.
67 patients were enrolled, among which 63 completed scales one week later (retest). For physical and social functions of FDI and FaCE scores, Cronbach's α representing internal consistency were 0.88, 0.70 and 0.89, and test–retest reliability by intra‐class correlation coefficients were 0.81, 0.86 and 0.89 respectively. The correlation of facial movement score of FaCE scale was good with Sunnybrook/House‐Brackmann grading systems (0.73 and ‐0.75, p<0.01). The correlation of social function of FaCE scale was excellent with social function of SF‐36 (0.8, p<0.01).
French versions of FDI and FaCE scale are psychometrically valid. Both questionnaires can be used for clinical studies to assess the quality of life of patients with peripheral facial palsy.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Secondary trache‐oesophageal puncture and fistula formation is often undertaken after laryngectomy to restore voice.
The procedure was historically carried out under general anaesthesia (GA).
This has been largely supplanted by local anaesthetic (LA) techniques as GA puts patients at a greater risk and the procedure is a more technically difficult undertaking.
LA techniques have, however, never been validated against GA techniques in terms of length of stay, cost and complication rates.
We compare a GA and an LA technique and found a shorter length of stay, reduced cost and similar complication profile.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Although recurrent facial palsy was first reported in 1871, the etiology, definitions, classifications, pathogenesis, treatment options, and prognosis have not been clearly determined. There have been no systematic reviews and meta‐analyses of recurrent Bell's palsy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical manifestations of recurrent Bell's palsy through a systematic review and meta‐analysis.
The SCOPUS, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EBSCO databases were searched through May 1, 2018, using the search terms 'recurrent Bell's palsy' and 'recurrent facial palsy', for studies involving patients with recurrent Bell's palsy. Reference lists of eligible studies were also reviewed.
A search of titles and abstracts in these four databases identified 222 studies; of these, 27 studies, involving 1,041 patients from 13 countries, were analyzed. The mean percentage of patients who experienced recurrence of Bell's palsy ranged from 0.8% to 19.4%. Five studies that included 191 patients were included in the meta‐analysis.
Among patients previously affected by Bell's palsy, the mean incidence of recurrent Bell's palsy was 6.5%. Sidedness of recurrent disease, relative to the side of the original disease, had no effect on patient prognosis. Of all patients with Bell's palsy, 66.0% recovered completely, with the recovery rate lower in patients with recurrent than with primary Bell's palsy.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
To translate and validate French versions of two health‐related quality of life questionnaires for patients with peripheral facial palsy: Facial Disability Index (FDI) and Facial Clinimetric Evaluation (FaCE) scale.
Prospective cohort study.
University tertiary referral center.
A pilot test was performed on 10 subjects (5 patients with facial palsy of more than 1‐month duration and 5 normal subjects), then 67 adult patients with facial palsy were enrolled in the validation study.
Translation of the original questionnaires has followed international guidelines using a forward‐backward translation method. A pilot test and a validation study based on the translated questionnaires were performed. Internal consistency, test–retest reliability, validity and responsiveness were assessed. Validity was assessed by comparing to SF‐36 and Sunnybrook/House‐Brackmann grading systems. Subjects answered scales twice within a one‐week interval.
67 patients were enrolled, among which 63 completed scales one week later (retest). For physical and social functions of FDI and FaCE scores, Cronbach's α representing internal consistency were 0.88, 0.70 and 0.89, and test–retest reliability by intra‐class correlation coefficients were 0.81, 0.86 and 0.89 respectively. The correlation of facial movement score of FaCE scale was good with Sunnybrook/House‐Brackmann grading systems (0.73 and ‐0.75, p<0.01). The correlation of social function of FaCE scale was excellent with social function of SF‐36 (0.8, p<0.01).
French versions of FDI and FaCE scale are psychometrically valid. Both questionnaires can be used for clinical studies to assess the quality of life of patients with peripheral facial palsy.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Publication date: Available online 22 January 2019
Source: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Author(s): Kurt G. Schilling, Fang-Cheng Yeh, Vishwesh Nath, Colin Hansen, Owen Williams, Susan Resnick, Adam W. Anderson, Bennett A. Landman
The diffusion MRI "b-vector" table describing the diffusion sensitization direction can be flipped and permuted in dimension due to different orientation conventions used in scanners and incorrect or improperly utilized file formats. This can lead to incorrect fiber orientation estimates and subsequent tractography failure. Here, we present an automated quality control procedure to detect when the b-table is flipped and/or permuted incorrectly.
We define a "fiber coherence index" to describe how well fibers are connected to each other, and use it to automatically detect the correct configuration of b-vectors. We examined the performance on 3981 research subject scans (Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging), 1065 normal subject scans of high image quality (Human Connectome Project), and 202 patient scans (Vanderbilt University Medical Center), as well as 9 in-vivo and 9 ex-vivo animal data.
The coherence index resulted in a 99.9% (3979/3981) and 100% (1065/1065) success rate in normal subject scans, 98% (198/202) in patient scans, and 100% (18/18) in both in-vivo and ex-vivo animal data in detecting the correct gradient table in datasets without severe image artifacts. The four failing cases (4/202) in patient scans, and two failures in healthy subject scans (2/3981), all showed prominent motion or signal dropout artifacts.
The fiber coherence measure can be used as an automatic quality assurance check in any diffusion analysis pipeline. Additionally, the success of this fiber coherence measure suggests potential broader applications, including evaluating data quality, or even providing diagnostic value as a biomarker of white matter integrity.
Publication date: Available online 22 January 2019
Source: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Author(s): Kurt G. Schilling, Fang-Cheng Yeh, Vishwesh Nath, Colin Hansen, Owen Williams, Susan Resnick, Adam W. Anderson, Bennett A. Landman
The diffusion MRI "b-vector" table describing the diffusion sensitization direction can be flipped and permuted in dimension due to different orientation conventions used in scanners and incorrect or improperly utilized file formats. This can lead to incorrect fiber orientation estimates and subsequent tractography failure. Here, we present an automated quality control procedure to detect when the b-table is flipped and/or permuted incorrectly.
We define a "fiber coherence index" to describe how well fibers are connected to each other, and use it to automatically detect the correct configuration of b-vectors. We examined the performance on 3981 research subject scans (Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging), 1065 normal subject scans of high image quality (Human Connectome Project), and 202 patient scans (Vanderbilt University Medical Center), as well as 9 in-vivo and 9 ex-vivo animal data.
The coherence index resulted in a 99.9% (3979/3981) and 100% (1065/1065) success rate in normal subject scans, 98% (198/202) in patient scans, and 100% (18/18) in both in-vivo and ex-vivo animal data in detecting the correct gradient table in datasets without severe image artifacts. The four failing cases (4/202) in patient scans, and two failures in healthy subject scans (2/3981), all showed prominent motion or signal dropout artifacts.
The fiber coherence measure can be used as an automatic quality assurance check in any diffusion analysis pipeline. Additionally, the success of this fiber coherence measure suggests potential broader applications, including evaluating data quality, or even providing diagnostic value as a biomarker of white matter integrity.
Publication date: Available online 22 January 2019
Source: European Journal of Radiology
Author(s): Mesut Ozturk, Ahmet Veysel Polat, Cetin Celenk, Muzaffer Elmali, Seher Kir, Cafer Polat
The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of four-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (4D MRI) at 3 T for the localization of parathyroid adenomas.
Preoperative 4D MRI scans, encompassing dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) sequences and non-contrast enhanced (non-CE) sequences, including a T2-weighted multipoint Dixon (T2-mDixon) sequence, with in-phase, out-phase, and water-only images, were evaluated retrospectively in 41 patients with surgically proven parathyroid lesions. Two readers who were blinded to the surgical findings independently reviewed the images in two sessions (non-CE sequences alone and non-CE + DCE sequences). The MRI localization of the suspected adenoma in each session and the consensus interpretation of the MRI images, were compared with the surgical results and interobserver agreement was assessed.
By interpreting the non-CE sequences alone, reader 1 correctly localized 34 parathyroid lesions (sensitivity 81.0%, positive predictive value (PPV) 87.2%), and reader 2 correctly localized 34 parathyroid lesions (sensitivity 81.0%, PPV 91.9%). With the addition of DCE sequences, reader 1 correctly identified 35 parathyroid lesions (sensitivity 83.3%, PPV 87.5%), while reader 2 correctly identified 36 parathyroid lesions (sensitivity 85.7%, PPV 92.3%). Overall, MRI detected 38 parathyroid lesions (sensitivity 90.5%, PPV 95.0%). Interobserver agreement was slightly superior in non-CE + DCE sequences compared to non-CE sequences alone (ĸ = 0.738 vs. ĸ = 0.796).
4D MRI with DCE sequencing is a reliable method for the localization of parathyroid adenomas.
Publication date: Available online 22 January 2019
Source: European Journal of Radiology
Author(s): Wei Zhao, Ya'nan Xu, Zhiming Yang, Yingli Sun, Cheng Li, Liang Jin, Pan Gao, Wenjie He, Peijun Wang, Hongli Shi, Yanqing Hua, Ming Li
The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a radiomics-based nomogram for differentiation of pre-invasive lesions from invasive lesions that appearing as ground-glass opacity nodules (GGNs) ≤10 mm (sub-centimeter) in diameter at CT. A total of 542 consecutive patients with 626 pathologically confirmed pulmonary subcentimeter GGNs were retrospectively studied from October 2011 to September 2017. All the GGNs were divided into a training set (n = 334) and a validation set (n = 292). Researchers extracted 475 radiomics features from the plain CT images; a radiomics signature was constructed with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) based on multivariable regression in the training set. Based on the multivariable logistic regression model, a radiomics nomogram was developed in the training set. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated with respect to its calibration, discrimination, and clinical-utility and this was assessed in the validation set. The constructed radiomics signature, which consisted of 15 radiomics features, was significantly associated with the invasiveness of subcentimeter GGNs (P < 0.0001 for both training set and validation set). To build the nomogram model, radiomics signature and mean CT value were used. The nomogram model demonstrated good discrimination and calibration in both training set (C-index, 0.716 [95% CI, 0.632 to 0.801]) and validation set (C-index, 0.707 [95% CI, 0.625 to 0.788]). Decision curve analysis (DCA) indicated that radiomics-based nomogram was clinically useful. A radiomics-based nomogram that incorporates both radiomics signature and mean CT value is constructed in the study, which can be conveniently used to facilitate the preoperative individualized prediction of the invasiveness in patients with subcentimeter GGNs.
Publication date: Available online 22 January 2019
Source: European Journal of Radiology
Author(s): Wenle He, Xiang Xiao, Xiaodan Li, Yihao Guo, Liuji Guo, Xiaomin Liu, Yikai Xu, Jun Zhou, Yuankui Wu
To assess the role of histogram analysis of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps based on whole-tumor in differentiating intracranial solitary fibrous tumor/hemangiopericytoma (SFT/HPC) from angiomatous meningioma (AM).
Pathologically confirmed intracranial SFT/HPC (n = 15) and AM (n = 20) were retrospectively collected and their clinical and conventional MRI features were analyzed. Diffusion-weighted (DW) images (b = 0 and 1000s/mm2) were processed with the mono-exponential model. Regions of interest covering the whole tumor were drawn on all slices of the ADC maps to obtain histogram parameters, including mean ADC (ADCmean), median ADC (ADCmedian), maximum ADC (ADCmax), minimum ADC (ADCmin), skewness and kurtosis, as well as the 5th, 10th, 25th, 75th, 90th and 95th percentile ADC (ADC5, ADC10, ADC25, ADC75, ADC90 and ADC95). Differences of histogram parameters between SFT/HPC and AM were compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was used to determine the diagnostic performance.
The ADCmin (P=0.001) and ADC5 (P = 0.045) were significantly lower in SFT/HPCs than in AMs, while no significant difference was found in sex, age, conventional MRI features or any other histogram parameters between the two entities (P=0.051-1.000). ADCmin showed the best diagnostic performance (area under curves [AUC], 0.86; sensitivity, 81.3%; specificity, 83.3%) in differentiating SFT/HPC from AM with optimal cutoff value being 569.00 × 10-6 mm2/s, followed by ADC5 (AUC, 0.72; sensitivity, 68.8%; specificity, 75 %) with optimal cutoff value being 781.97 × 10-6 mm2/s.
SFT/HPC and AM share similar conventional MR appearances. Whole-tumor histogram analysis of ADC maps may be a useful tool for differential diagnosis, with ADCmin and ADC5 being potential parameters.
Conditions: Overweight and Obesity; Allergy Intervention: Procedure: Vaginal seeding Sponsors: Peking University; National Natural Science Foundation of China; Liuyang Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Recruiting (Source: ClinicalTrials.gov)
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