Differentiation of primary central nervous system lymphomas from high grade astrocytomas by qualitative analysis of the signal intensity curves derived from dynamic susceptibility-contrast magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

Objective: Preoperative differentiation between primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) and high grade astrocytoma (HGA) on conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be difficult and even impossible. However, differentiation is important to guide therapeutic strategy. Several authors have reported the leakage pattern in dynamic susceptibility-contrast (DSC)–MRI in PCNSL. It describes the shape of the signal intensity curve which does not return to the baseline after the first pass of the bolus of contrast agent but crosses above it and sometimes even slopes up. In this retrospective study, our goal was to define the sensitivity and specificity of this sign.

Material and methods: Patients with first ever diagnosed PCNSL and HGA who were treatment naive and received DSC–MRI were included. In all patients, a histological specimen was available. Patients did not receive corticosteroids prior to imaging and were HIV negative. The presence of a leakage pattern was assessed by two neuroradiologists working in consensus and correlated with the histological diagnosis.

Results: Nine patients with PCNSL (2 women, 7 men, age 59±10 years) and 14 patients with HGA (3 women, 11 men, age 58±17 years) were included. Six of the patients with PCNSL exhibited a leakage pattern, while only two patients with HGA did (P?=?0·0227, Fischer’s exact test). Sensitivity was 0·67, and specificity was 0·86.

Discussion: Although the leakage pattern does not prove PCNSL, it is an important diagnostic clue and can be easily assessed.     

急性脑出血微创血肿清除术后颅内感染高危因素及血清学指标诊断价值

目的分析急性脑出血患者血肿清除术后颅内感染的高危因素以及血清神经元特异性烯醇化酶(NSE)、血管紧张素II(Ang-II)、丙二醛(MDA)指标诊断的价值。方法以2017年11月-2019年11月武警海警总队医院收治的行微创血肿清除术的118例急性脑出血患者为研究对象,根据术后是否发生颅内感染分为感染组37例和未感染组81例,收集两组患者的临床资料,采用单因素及多因素Logistic回归分析诱发术后颅内感染的高危因素;利用受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)评估NSE、Ang-II、MDA水平诊断术后颅内感染的效能。结果多因素Logistic回归分析显示:GCS评分<9分、合并糖尿病、引流管留置时间≥3 d、脑脊液漏等是术后颅内感染的独立危险因素(P<0.05);感染组患者血清NSE、Ang-II、MDA水平均高于未感染组,且不同感染程度患者NSE、Ang-II、MDA水平比较有统计学差异(P<0.05);ROC结果显示:血清NSE、Ang-II、MDA水平诊断术后颅内感染的曲线下面积分别为0.893、0.883、0.904,95%CI分别为0.821~0.966、0.815~0.950、0.826~0.982,截断值为6.855 ng/L、41.870 ng/L、3.570μmol/L。结论GCS评分<9分、合并糖尿病、引流管留置时间≥3 d、脑脊液漏患者的感染风险较高,早期检测血清NSE、Ang-II、MDA水平对颅内感染的诊断有较高的借鉴价值。     

Awareness,attitude, and distribution of high blood pressure among health professionals

BackgroundBP control is suboptimal Worldwide. Little is known about attitudes of health professionals toward their BP status.AimTo estimate awareness, attitudes, and distribution of blood pressure among health professionals.Study designProspective cross-sectional survey.MethodsStudy was conducted among health professionals in two tertiary hospitals in Riyadh, KSA during December 2010. Socio-demographics, risk factors for high BP, awareness, and adherence to treatment were recorded.ResultsSix hundred and seventy-two subjects, 66.6% females, mean age 36.2 + 13.9 years. Prevalence of Hypertension (HTN) was 28%. 114 (60.6%) patients had self reported HTN in HTN group while 74 (11%) of total study population, were not aware that they have HTN which was detected on screening. Stress and lack of formal exercise were prevalent risk factors for HTN, present in 44.1% and 36.1%, of patients, respectively, while obesity was present in 19.4%. Many participants were not aware of recently recommended target value of blood pressure. 22.3% patients were irregular for their follow-up. 12.2% patients were not adherent to the treatment. Isolated systolic hypertension was more common in men. A point of serious concern was that relatively young health professionals, who were not known to be hypertensive did not monitor their BP, found to have HTN.ConclusionSuboptimal awareness and lack of adherence to the treatment for BP among health professionals is of serious concern, for increased chances of cardiovascular events. Physical exercise, correction of obesity and compliance with treatment may reduce the risk of HTN-related adverse outcome in this special subset of the population.     

Impact of new technologies on dose reduction in CT

The introduction of slip ring technology enables helical CT scanning in the late 1980's and has rejuvenated CT's role in diagnostic imaging. Helical CT scanning has made possible whole body scanning in a single breath hold and computed tomography angiography (CTA) which has replaced invasive catheter based angiography in many cases because of its easy of operation and lesser risk to patients. However, a series of recent articles and accidents have heightened the concern of radiation risk from CT scanning. Undoubtedly, the radiation dose from CT studies, in particular, CCTA studies, are among the highest dose studies in diagnostic imaging. Nevertheless, CT has remained the workhorse of diagnostic imaging in emergent and non-emergent situations because of their ubiquitous presence in medical facilities from large academic to small regional hospitals and their round the clock accessibility due to their ease of use for both staff and patients as compared to MR scanners. The legitimate concern of radiation dose has sparked discussions on the risk vs benefit of CT scanning. It is recognized that newer CT applications, like CCTA and perfusion, will be severely curtailed unless radiation dose is reduced. This paper discusses the various hardware and software techniques developed to reduce radiation dose to patients in CT scanning. The current average effective dose of a CT study is ∼10 mSv, with the implementation of dose reduction techniques discussed herein; it is realistic to expect that the average effective dose may be decreased by 2-3 fold.     

高通量透析对维持性血液透析患者全身状况的影响

目的 评价高通量透析对维持性血液透析患者的伞身状况及各种并发症的影响.方法 对中途转入我院血液透析中心32例患者使用高通量膜透析器,观察患者一般身体状况及各种并发症的改善,观察时间为半年.结果 32例患者自我感觉明显改善(100%),各种并发症均得到纠正或改善.结论 全身状况明显改善,高磷血症等并发症均得到有效控制.     

The impact of obesity and hypercaloric diet consumption on anxiety and emotional behavior across the lifespan

Obesity is an increasing problem in young people. Childhood obesity and overweight have increased rapidly on a global scale, and have tripled in the past 30 years, to affect approximately one in five children. Diets high in refined fats and sugar are a major contributor to the development of obesity, and the effects of such obesity-inducing hypercaloric diets on brain function may contribute to the high prevalence of anxiety disorders in people with obesity. Anxiety disorders typically emerge in childhood and adolescence, and symptoms often continue into adulthood. Based on this symptomology, we consider anxiety-related behavioral consequences of hypercaloric diets across development. We review research on the effects of hypercaloric dietary manipulations across the lifespan on emotion regulation and the neurobiological mechanisms that underpin these processes. Cumulatively, the findings reveal that gestation and the juvenile/adolescent developmental periods may be early-life windows of vulnerability for developing anxiety in later life due to the augmented effects of these diets on neuroendocrine stress systems and the maturation of neural circuitry supporting emotion regulation.     

包皮龟头炎患者超高倍镜下病原体分析研究

目的:研究包皮龟头炎患者生殖器分泌物超高倍镜下病原体分布规律。方法:包皮龟头炎患者200例,对其生殖器分泌物进行超高倍镜下检测,研究病原体分布规律,并观察该组患者年龄、病程分布情况。结果:经超高倍镜检测,200例包皮龟头炎患者中,G+球菌感染占42%,真菌感染占30%,支原体感染占18%,未见致病菌占2%,混合感染占8%。年龄分布中,25岁以下占18%,25~45岁占69%,45岁以上占13%。病程分布中,1周以下占52%,1~8周占39%,8周以上占9%。结论:包皮龟头炎患者生殖器分泌物超高倍镜下检测,G+球菌感染所占比例最大,真菌感染次之。发病年龄,中青年居多。病程1周以下者居多。     

毛细支气管炎继发哮喘的高危因素分析及对策

目的探讨毛细支气管炎患儿继发哮喘的高危因素。方法对102例住院治疗的毛细支气管炎患儿进行继发哮喘的高危因素调查，对所获数据进行Logistic回归分析。结果102例中继发哮喘47例，占46．08％。多变量Logistic回归分析显示，居住环境、被动吸烟、患儿特异性体质、家族过敏和（或）哮喘病史与继发哮喘显著相关。结论毛细支气管炎患儿的生活环境、被动吸烟、特异性体质及家族过敏和（或）哮喘病史等是继发哮喘的重要因素，在这些方面要加强护理干预。     

Influence of stimulation rate and loudness growth on modulation detection and intensity discrimination in cochlear implant users

In cochlear implants (CIs), increasing the stimulation rate typically increases the electric dynamic range (DR), mostly by reducing audibility thresholds. While CI users’ intensity resolution has been shown to be fairly constant across stimulation rates, high rates have been shown to weaken modulation sensitivity, especially at low listening levels. In this study, modulation detection thresholds (MDTs) were measured in five CI users for a range of stimulation rates (250–2000 pulses per second) and modulation frequencies (5–100 Hz) at 8 stimulation levels that spanned the DR (loudness-balanced across stimulation rates). Intensity difference limens (IDLs) were measured for the same stimulation rates and levels used for modulation detection. For all modulation frequencies, modulation sensitivity was generally poorer at low levels and at higher stimulation rates. CI users were sensitive to modulation frequency only at relatively high levels. Similarly, IDLs were poorer at low levels and at high stimulation rates. When compared directly in terms of relative amplitude, IDLs were generally better than MDTs at low levels. Differences in loudness growth between dynamic and steady stimuli might explain level-dependent differences between MDTs and IDLs. The slower loudness growth associated with high stimulation rates might explain the poorer MDTs and IDLs with high rates. In general, high stimulation rates provided no advantage in intensity resolution and a disadvantage in modulation sensitivity.