Significance of vesicoureteral reflux in renal transplantation

Of 25 male patients with functioning renal allografts followed from three to one hundred two months, in 8 vesicoureteral reflux developed on micturating cystogram. Data were analyzed with regard to donor's age, pretransplant nephrectomy, postoperative urinary fistula, diabetes mellitus, incomplete bladder emptying, urinary tract infection, and degree of reflux. No correlation was found between these factors studied when compared with renal function and urinary tract infection.     

Digital and conventional chest imaging: a modified ROC study of observer performance using simulated nodules

A modified receiver operating characteristic (ROC) study was performed in which five readers were asked to locate multiple nodules on images of an anthropomorphic phantom obtained with a prototype digital radiographic chest unit and with a conventional chest unit. Results indicate that when nodules were projected over the lungs, a significantly greater number (significant at the 5% level) were identified on conventional radiographs, whereas for nodules projected over the mediastinum, the digital images were notably superior (difference significant at the 2% level). An error analysis of the multiple nodule problem and pseudo-ROC curves are presented. The modified ROC study does not suffer from the positional ambiguity inherent in most ROC studies and is efficient in acquiring data.     

Assessment of behavioral and affective symptoms in Alzheimer's disease

Noncognitive behavioral symptoms occurring during the prior week were studied in 34 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and 21 spousal control subjects via caregiver and patient interviews using the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia. Delusional or paranoid features were reported in 13 subjects (38%) and hallucinations in six (18%); patients with these psychoticlike symptoms had lower scores on the Folstein's Mini-Mental State Examination. Other behavioral symptoms reported in AD patients included anxiety (50%) and activity disturbances (44%). Six AD subjects (18%) and two controls (10%) showed mild to moderate symptoms of depression; AD subjects were more likely than controls to show behavioral signs and symptoms of depression, but the two groups did not differ in terms of mood-related, cyclical, or physical signs and symptoms.