Does Tweeting Improve Citations? One-Year Results From the TSSMN Prospective Randomized Trial

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Exploratory Study of Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Histogram Metrics in Assessing Pancreatic Malignancy

PurposeTo evaluate whole-lesion 3D-histogram apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) metrics for assessment of pancreatic malignancy.MethodsForty-two pancreatic malignancies (36 pancreatic adenocarcinoma [PDAC], 6 pancreatic neuroendocrine [PanNET]) underwent abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffusion-weighted imaging before endoscopic ultrasound biopsy or surgical resection. Two radiologists independently placed 3D volumes of interest to derive whole-lesion histogram ADC metrics. Mann-Whitney tests and receiver operating characteristic analyses were used to assess metrics’ diagnostic performance for lesion histology, T-stage, N-stage, and grade.ResultsWhole-lesion ADC histogram metrics lower in PDACs than PanNETs for both readers (P ≤ .026) were mean ADC (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.787-0.792), mean of the bottom 10th percentile (mean_0-10) (AUC = 0.787-0.880), mean of the 10th-25th percentile (mean_10-25) (AUC = 0.884-0.917) and mean of the 25th-50th percentile (mean_25-50) (AUC = 0.829-0.829). For mean_10-25 (metric with highest AUC for identifying PDAC), for reader 1 a threshold > 0.94 × 10^?3 mm²/s achieved sensitivity 94% and specificity 83%, and for reader 2 a threshold > 0.82 achieved sensitivity 97% and specificity 67%. Metrics lower in nodal status ≥ N₁ than N₀ for both readers (P ≤ .043) were mean_0-10 (AUC = 0.789-0.822) and mean_10-25 (AUC = 0.800-0.822). For mean_10-25 (metric with highest AUC for identifying N₀), for reader 1 a threshold <1.17 achieved sensitivity 87% and specificity 67%, and for reader 2 a threshold <1.04 achieved sensitivity 87% and specificity 83%. No metric was associated with T-stage (P > .195) or grade (P > .215).ConclusionVolumetric ADC histogram metrics may serve as non-invasive biomarkers of pancreatic malignancy. Mean_10-25 outperformed standard mean for lesion histology and nodal status, supporting the role of histogram analysis.     

Novel database for exposure to fragrance ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products

Exposure of fragrance ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products to the population can be determined by way of a detailed and robust survey. The frequency and combinations of products used at specific times during the day will allow the estimation of aggregate exposure for an individual consumer, and to the sample population. In the present study, habits and practices of personal care and cosmetic products have been obtained from market research data for 36,446 subjects across European countries and the United States in order to determine the exposure to fragrance ingredients. Each subject logged their product uses, time of day and body application sites in an online diary for seven consecutive days. The survey data did not contain information on the amount of product used per occasion or body measurements, such as weight and skin surface area. Nevertheless, this was found from the literature where the likely amount of product used per occasion or body measurement could be probabilistically chosen from distributions of data based on subject demographics. The daily aggregate applied consumer product exposure was estimated based on each subject’s frequency of product use, and Monte Carlo simulations of their likely product amount per use and body measurements. Statistical analyses of the habits and practices and consumer product exposure are presented, which show the robustness of the data and the ability to estimate aggregate consumer product exposure. Consequently, the data and modelling methods presented show potential as a means of performing ingredient safety assessments for personal care and cosmetics products.     

Liver Transplantation Following Life-threatening Abdominal Trauma: A Case Series of 5 Patients at a Single Institution

Managing traumatic liver injury (TLI) is always challenging and demands precise clinical judgment. Currently, treatment of TLI in most circumstances is non-operative; however, surgical therapy might be required for severe TLI, particularly those that result in extensive blood loss. In the current institutional study carried out from June 1995 to April 2017, we describe our experience with 5 patients who received an orthotopic liver transplant for severe TLI. One patient passed away postoperatively from cerebral edema; 1 patient died of renal failure 4 years after the liver transplantation, and 3 patients are still alive. Based on our experience, we conclude that in patients with TLI, especially those with uncontrollable bleeding or those who develop liver failure, liver transplantation should be taken into consideration.