Building and Exploitation of Learning Curves to Train Radiographer Students in X-Ray CT Image Postprocessing

IntroductionThis study aims to construct learning curves related to the realization of standardized postprocessing by radiographer students and to discuss their exploitation and interest.Materials and MethodsThis study was carried out in 21 French students in their 3rd year of training. Two postprocessing protocols in CT (#1 traumatic shoulder; #2 petrous bone) were repeated 15 times by each student. Each achievement was timed to obtain overall learning curves. The realization accuracy was also assessed for each student at each repetition.ResultsThe learning rates for the two protocols are 63% and 56%, respectively. The number of repetitions to reach the reference time for each protocol is 11 and 12, respectively. In both protocols, the standard deviations are significantly reduced and stabilized during repetitions. The mean accuracy progresses more quickly in protocol #1.DiscussionThe measured learning rates reflect a rapid learning process for each protocol. The analysis of the standard deviations shows that students have reached a homogeneous level. The average times and accuracies measured during the last repetitions show that the group has reached a high level of performance. Building learning curves helps students measure their progress and motivates them.ConclusionObtaining learning curves allows trainers/supervisors to qualify the learning difficulty of a task while motivating students/radiographers. The use of learning curves is inline with the competency-based training paradigm.     

Oral Everolimus for Treatment of a Giant Left Ventricular Rhabdomyoma in a Neonate—Rapid Tumor Regression Documented by Real Time 3D Echocardiography

The presented case reports on successful treatment with everolimus in a neonate with left ventricular giant rhabdomyoma. The authors used a different dosage regime compared to literature and documented rapid tumor regression by 3D echocardiography.     

帕金森病CT表现及微电极导向脑内核团毁损术后CT影像分析

目的探讨帕金森病(PD)的CT表现及微电极导向脑内核团毁损术后CT影像特点。资料与方法(1)对240例PD患者术前CT影像进行回顾性分析。(2)30例PD患者在术后3~12个月(平均6·5个月)CT扫描,观测脑内核团毁损灶33个(其中3例患者为双侧手术):右苍白球腹后内侧核(Gpi)毁损灶14个、左Gpi核毁损灶6个,右丘脑腹外侧核(Vim)毁损灶2个、左Vim核毁损灶11个,对毁损灶最大层面积、术侧CT值(任意值)、健侧对应点CT值(标准值)测量,并算出毁损灶与健侧CT值的差值。结果(1)PD的CT表现主要为中央型弥漫性脑萎缩,以脑室系统扩大为主,轻度脑萎缩46.67%(112/240),中度脑萎缩40%(96/240),重度脑萎缩3.33%(8/240),正常10%(24/240)。(2)33个毁损靶灶之圆形占27·27%(9/33);类圆形占60·61%(20/33);片状不规则形占12·12%(4/33)。毁损灶的面积Gpi核平均(28·01±2.15)mm2,Vim核平均为(14.03±1.24)mm2,两者对比有显著性差异(P<0.01);毁损灶Gpi核CT值较健侧平均下降(11.80±0.87)HU,Vim核CT值较健侧平均下降(10.80±1.28)HU,两者亦有差异性(P<0·05)。结论PD患者术前CT扫描对掌握手术适应证较重要,重度脑萎缩患者提示不宜做外科手术治疗。术后CT扫描观察毁损灶之形态、面积、密度变化等影像学改变,有利于对手术疗效、并发症等评估提供一定证据。     

重组腺病毒介导LacZ基因在大鼠肺脏的表达

目的探讨重组腺病毒介导的β-半乳糖苷酶(LacZ)基因在大鼠肺脏的转基因表达。方法Wistar大鼠70只,随机分为Ad-Null组和Ad-LacZ组(n=35),分别应用1．67×10~9pfu／ml复制缺陷型重组腺病毒AdCMV和AdCMVLacZ各600μl,经气管导管滴入；各组于滴人病毒后2、5、7、14、21、28和35 d行肺组织X-gal染色。另取大鼠20只,随机分为C组、L组、M组和H组(n=5),分别应用病毒保存液和低滴度(1．67×10~8pfu／ml)、中滴度(1．67×10~9pfu／ml)、高滴度(5×10~9pfu／ml)的AdCMVLacZ各600μl,滴入病毒后7 d行肺组织X-gal染色和HE染色。结果滴入病毒后2 d,Ad-LacZ组肺组织内即有转基因表达,滴人后7 d达高峰,并维持至35 d；转基因表达位于气管、支气管上皮细胞和肺泡细胞。H组、M组转基因阳性细胞率明显高于L组和C组(P＜0．01)。HE染色显示,H组中3只大鼠肺组织有轻度炎性浸润。所有动物均未见远隔器官转基因表达。结论气管内滴人重组腺病毒可呈剂量依赖性介导LacZ基因在大鼠肺内表达,但过高剂量可诱发机体炎性反应。     

Making clinical decisions for dental care: concepts to consider

Clinical decisions are often made with incomplete information, yet patient care decisions are made every day. Patients vary clinically, uncertainty exists in diagnostic and prognostic information, and many preventive and treatment alternatives have not been formally assessed for their effectiveness. Because scientific information will never answer all clinical questions, clinical decisions are partially based on probabilistic information.
This paper describes how to apply clinical decision making to diagnosing and managing dental caries and periodontal diseases. By using explicit information to quantify probabilities and outcomes, clinical decision making analyzes decisions made under uncertain conditions and the uncertain impact of clinical information.
Clinical decision making incorporates concepts for preventing, diagnosing and treating dental caries and periodontal diseases: risk assessment, evidence-based dentistry, and multiple oral health outcomes. This information can serve as a tool for clinicians to augment clinical judgment and expertise.     

Diagnostic accuracy of the Retinal Thickness Analyser: differentiation between normal eyes and eyes with glaucoma or macular pathologies

Background The Retinal Thickness Analyser (RTA) is intended to detect glaucomatous changes as well as macular pathologies at the posterior pole. We determined the diagnostic accuracy for eyes with manifest glaucoma or macular diseases.Methods We examined 71 eyes with long-term, established eye conditions. Included were 28 eyes with glaucoma, 21 with different macular diseases and 22 normal eyes. All examinations were evaluated in a blind-test by RTA experts without any clinical information on the patients. After comparison of the RTA interpretation with the clinical diagnosis, we determined sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values.Results Of 71 examinations, 15 (21%) were not interpretable. If these results are excluded, the following diagnostic accuracy values were calculated for glaucoma and macular disorders respectively: sensitivity 75 and 59%, specificity 55 and 97%, positive predictive value 48 and 90% and negative predictive value 80 and 84%. These values were not significantly different when both eyes of each patient were included in the final analysis (n=133).Conclusion The diagnostic values of the RTA determined in this case control study were not satisfactory. However, no clinical information was used in the assessment. The extent to which additional clinical information increases the diagnostic value remains to be determined.     

马来酸罗格列酮胃漂浮型缓释片的研究

目的：根据流体动力学平衡控释原理（HBS）研制了马来酸罗列酮胃漂浮型缓释片。方法；以体外释放度和漂浮情况为筛选指标，采用单因素考察和正交试验设计相结合， 对胃漂浮缓释片的处方、制备工艺及体外释放条件进行优化筛选；采用γ闪烁照相技术对优化处方的内漂浮情况进行胃内动态观察。结果：马来酸罗格列酮胃漂浮缓释片在释放介质中迅速起漂，持漂时间超过12h,12h达最大累积释放；初步确定在胃内滞留时间达3h以上。结论：优化处方的释放过程符合Higuchi方程，释放机制为异常扩散；胃漂浮片在胃滞时间明显长于普通片。