Relationship of Anthropometric Indicators of General and Abdominal Obesity with Hypertension and Their Predictive Performance among Albanians: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study

Anthropometric indicators of general and abdominal obesity can predict cardiovascular disease outcomes. Their performance in predicting hypertension (HTN) varies across populations. We aimed to analyze the relationship of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and conicity index (CI) with HTN, to examine their predictive performance and to determine their optimal cut-offs in a nationally representative sample of Albanians aged 15–59 years (n = 20,635). Logistic regression models were fitted and sex-specific receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed. The indicators were positively associated with HTN. Sex modified the relationships, as associations appeared significantly stronger among females than males in the highest categories of the indicators. The area under ROC curves (AUCs) for BMI were 0.729 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.720–0.738) among females and 0.648 (95% CI: 0.633–0.663) among males, and AUCs for WHtR were 0.725 (95% CI: 0.716–0.734) among females and 0.637 (95% CI: 0.622–0.652) among males. However, the AUCs for BMI and WHtR did not differ significantly among females (p = 0.279) and males (p = 0.227). BMI outperformed WC and CI in both sexes. The optimal BMI cut-offs were 27.0 kg/m² among females and 25.6 kg/m² among males, and that for WHtR were 0.53 among females and 0.54 among males. BMI and WHtR demonstrated similar discriminatory power, and the identified cut-offs may inform initiatives for structured HTN screening in Albania.     

Radionuclide scanning in the detection of drug-induced lung disorders

Drug-induced pulmonary toxicity commonly results in interstitial lung disease characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in pulmonary parenchyma. Gallium-67 citrate lung scintigraphy is currently the most sensitive test for the detection of inflammatory lesions in the lungs. Although chest radiographs often detect interstitial lung disease, they may be normal during the early alveolitis stage, when gallium scans are positive. Therefore, gallium scans can be utilized for the early diagnosis of drug-induced pulmonary reactions, leading to withdrawal of the drug and preventing the irreversible and potentially serious complication of pulmonary insufficiency. Gallium scintigraphy can also be used to follow these patients because it reflects the inflammatory changes in the lungs. This article presents a survey of the literature on gallium-67 scintigraphy in drug-related pulmonary inflammation. Gallium scans have been reported as abnormal in pulmonary toxicity caused by amiodarone, busulfan, bleomycin, procarbazine, nitrofurantoin, pentazocine, cephalosporin, cyclophosphamide, and cocaine, even in the absence of radiographic findings. The role of gallium scintigraphy in the early detection of pulmonary toxicity is emphasized.     

Stratification of patients with metastatic prostate cancer based on extent of disease on initial bone scan

Most patients with metastatic prostate cancer will have metastasis to bone. Such patients are best monitored by serial radionuclide bone scans. One hundred sixty six men with bone metastasis from prostate cancer who received androgen deprivation therapy had their pretreatment bone scans reviewed using a semiquantitative grading system based upon the extent of disease (EOD) observed on the scan. The EOD on the scan correlated with survival. The 2-year survival rates for EOD I to IV were 94%, 74%, 68%, and 40%, respectively. The survival of patients in categories EOD I and IV significantly differed from the other categories. Men with metastatic prostate cancer entered into trials designed to evaluate the impact of treatment on survival should be stratified based upon the EOD on the bone scan. This analysis also indicates that patients in the EOD IV category have a particularly poor prognosis and may be candidates for alternative treatments.     

Renal infarction after aerobics

Renal infarction is most frequently due to emboli from the heart or aorta. Other causes include atheromatous disease, renal artery aneurysm, vasculitis, hypotension, hypercoagulable states, aortic dissection, and major trauma. Most renal infarctions are segmental. The extent of disease is dependent upon the size and number of renal vessels involved, coexistent renal disease, and collateral circulation. Flank pain, fever, leukocytosis, hematuria, renal failure, or hypertension may suggest the diagnosis, but these findings are nonspecific and diagnosis will depend not only on history and physical examination, but also on the appropriate imaging tests. The type of treatment is dictated by the etiology of the infarction.     

Scintigraphic appearance of bifrontal epidural hematoma: case report.

A bifrontal and parasagittal epidural hematoma was detected on the brain scan. The scintigraphic appearance of this rare lesion is described.     

Real-time imaging as an emerging process analytical technology tool for monitoring of fluid bed coating process

Abstract

A direct imaging system (Eyecon^TM) was used as a Process Analytical Technology (PAT) tool to monitor fluid bed coating process. Eyecon^TM generated real-time onscreen images, particle size and shape information of two identically manufactured laboratory-scale batches. Eyecon^TM has accuracy of measuring the particle size increase of ±1?μm on particles in the size range of 50–3000?μm.

Eyecon^TM captured data every 2?s during the entire process. The moving average of D90 particle size values recorded by Eyecon^TM were calculated for every 30?min to calculate the radial coating thickness of coated particles. After the completion of coating process, the radial coating thickness was found to be 11.3 and 9.11?μm, with a standard deviation of?±0.68 and 1.8?μm for Batch 1 and Batch 2, respectively. The coating thickness was also correlated with percent weight build-up by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and dissolution. GPC indicated weight build-up of 10.6% and 9.27% for Batch 1 and Batch 2, respectively.

In conclusion, weight build-up of 10% can also be correlated with 10?±?2?μm increase in the coating thickness of pellets, indicating the potential applicability of real-time imaging as an endpoint determination tool for fluid bed coating process.     

Frequency of hepatitis C viral RNA in anti-hepatitis C virus non- reactive blood donors with raised alanine aminotransferase

The objective of this study was to find out the frequency of HCV RNA in anti-HCV non-reactive blood donors with raised alanine amino transferase (ALT). The study was conducted at Baqai Institute of Haematology, Baqai Medical University, Karachi, in collaboration with Combined Military Hospital, Malir Cantt, Karachi. The demographic data of blood donors was recorded, and anti-HCV, HBsAg and HIV were screened. Four hundred consecutive donors with raised ALT above the reference range were included in study. HCV RNA RT-PCR was performed on 5 sample minipools using Bio-Rad Real time PCR equipment. HCV RNA was detected in 1/400 (0.25%) blood donors. Finding of raised ALT in blood donors warrants further investigations. In case, if raised ALT is unexplained presence of HCV RNA may be suspected.