Synthetic MRI is not yet ready for morphologic and functional assessment of patellar cartilage at 1.5 Tesla

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare morphologic assessment and relaxometry of patellar hyaline cartilage between conventional sequences (fast spin-echo [FSE] T2-weighted fat-saturated and T2-mapping) and synthetic T2 short-TI inversion recovery (STIR) and T2 maps at 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).MethodThe MRI examinations of the knee obtained at 1.5 T in 49 consecutive patients were retrospectively studied. There were 21 men and 28 women with a mean age of 45 ± 17.7 (SD) years (range: 18–88 years). Conventional and synthetic acquisitions were performed, including T2-weighted fat-saturated and T2-mapping sequences. Two radiologists independently compared patellar cartilage T2-relaxation time on conventional T2-mapping and synthetic T2-mapping images. A third radiologist evaluated the patellar cartilage morphology on conventional and synthetic T2-weighted images. The presence of artifacts was also assessed. Interobserver agreement for quantitative variables was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).ResultsIn vitro, conventional and synthetic T2 maps yielded similar mean T2 values 58.5 ± 2.3 (SD) ms and 58.8 ± 2.6 (SD) ms, respectively (P = 0.414) and 6% lower than the expected experimental values (P = 0.038). Synthetic images allowed for a 15% reduction in examination time compared to conventional images. On conventional sequences, patellar chondropathy was identified in 35 patients (35/49; 71%) with a mean chondropathy grade of 4.8 ± 4.8 (SD). On synthetic images, 28 patients (28/49; 57%) were diagnosed with patellar chondropathy, with a significant 14% difference (P = 0.009) and lower chondropathy scores (3.7 ± 4.9 [SD]) compared to conventional images. Motion artifacts were more frequently observed on synthetic images (18%) than on conventional ones (6%). The interobserver agreement was excellent for both conventional and synthetic T2 maps (ICC > 0.83). Mean cartilage T2 values were significantly greater on synthetic images (36.2 ± 3.8 [SD] ms; range: 29-46 ms) relative to conventional T2 maps (31.8 ± 4.1 [SD] ms; range: 26-49 ms) (P < 0.0001).ConclusionDespite a decrease in examination duration, synthetic images convey lower diagnostic performance for chondropathy, greater prevalence of motion artifacts, and an overestimation of T2 values compared to conventional MRI sequences.     

Use of the burn intervention score to calculate the charges of the care of burns

Background

To our knowledge this is the first published estimate of the charges of the care of burns in Sweden. The Linköping Burn Interventional Score has been used to calculate the charges for each burned patient since 1993. The treatment of burns is versatile, and depends on the depth and extension of the burn. This requires a flexible system to detect the actual differences in the care provided. We aimed to describe the model of burn care that we used to calculate the charges incurred during the acute phase until discharge, so it could be reproduced and applied in other burn centres, which would facilitate a future objective comparison of the expenses in burn care.

Comparative outcomes of vascular access in patients older than 70 years with end-stage renal disease

Objective

The advantage of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) in older patients requiring dialysis is controversial. We reviewed our vascular access experience in patients ≥70 years of age (older group) compared with younger patients.

血小板/淋巴细胞比值联合Grace评分对非ST段抬高型急性冠状动脉综合征院内心血管事件的预测价值

目的评估血小板/淋巴细胞比值(PLR)与非ST段抬高型急性冠状动脉综合征(NSTE-ACS)风险分层及院内预后的相关性及PLR联合Grace评分能否提高Grace评分对院内主要不良心血管事件(MACE)的预测价值。方法选取在青岛大学附属医院心内科住院被诊断为NSTE-ACS的患者372例。根据入院时PLR水平,分为低PLR组(PLR97.56)、中PLR组(97.56≤PLR≤133.32)、高PLR组(PLR133.32)各124例。比较三组之间基线临床资料、Grace评分及院内MACE的差异。依据有无MACE分为有MACE组36例,无MACE组336例,比较两组间基线临床资料、PLR、Grace评分的差异,评估PLR及Grace评分与院内MACE的相关性。应用受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线及DELONG方法评估PLR联合Grace评分与单用Grace评分对院内MACE预测价值的大小。结果(1)高、中、低PLR三组在Grace评分、院内MACE及急性心衰发生方面,差异均有统计学意义(P0.001),且高PLR组中PLR组低PLR组。(2)与无MACE组比较,有MACE组在年龄、尿酸、血小板计数、PLR、Gensini评分、Grace评分水平明显升高,舒张压、肌酐清除率及左心室射血分数指标水平明显降低,差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。(3)多因素Logistic回归分析显示PLR为NSTE-ACS患者发生院内MACE的独立预测因子(P0.01)。(4)ROC曲线分析PLR联合Grace评分预测院内MACE发生的AUC为0.828,单用Grace评分预测院内MACE的AUC为0.793;应用MEDCALC的DELONG方法对两者AUC比较发现差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论在NSTE-ACS患者中,PLR为发生院内MACE的独立预测因子,PLR联合Grace评分可显著提高Grace评分对院内MACE的预测价值。     

Brain maturation in the first 3 months of life,measured by electroencephalogram: A comparison between preterm and term-born infants

ObjectivePreterm infants are at risk for altered brain maturation resulting in neurodevelopmental impairments. Topographical analysis of high-density electroencephalogram during sleep matches underlying brain maturation. Using such an EEG mapping approach could identify preterm infants at risk early in life.Methods20 preterm (gestational age < 32 weeks) and 20 term-born infants (gestational age > 37 weeks) were recorded by 18-channel daytime sleep-EEG at term age (GA 40 weeks for preterm and 2–3 days after birth for term infants) and 3 months (corrected age for preterm infants).ResultsPreterm infant’s power spectrum at term age is immature, leveling off with term infants at 3 months of age. Topographical distribution of maximal power density however, reveals qualitative differences between the groups until 3 months of age. Preterm infants exhibit more temporal than central activation at term age and more occipital than central activation at 3 months of age. Moreover, being less mature at term age predicts being less mature at 3 months of age.ConclusionTopographical analysis of sleep EEG reveals changes in brain maturation between term and preterm infants early in life.SignificanceIn future, automated analysis tools using topographical power distribution could help identify preterm infants at risk early in life.     

从日本《胃癌治疗指南》变更分析早期胃癌治疗策略演变趋势和发展方向

随着早期胃癌的诊断率不断提高，其治疗手段的多样性和复杂性不断增加，包括胃癌治疗已经进入由内外科医师共同参与的多学科团队诊疗的时代。日本《胃癌治疗指南》是在近20年来日本胃癌流行病学变化趋势的背景下，基于日本国内和其他重要国际性临床试验的循证医学依据，由内科、外科和病理科医师共同组成的委员会负责编写和审核，每3～6年更新，至今已有5版，也是目前国际上最为权威的胃癌诊疗规范化、标准化的指导性文件。就早期胃癌而言，包括内镜治疗的变化、缩小手术的演变、腹腔镜手术的广泛应用和保留功能理念的推广，其治疗策略的演变充分体现了日本学者追求从肿瘤根治到微创功能保留，从长期生存的需求到更好生活质量的提高，贯彻了早期胃癌精准治疗的理念和思路。