Imaging in secondary tumors of the ovary

Abdominal Radiology - Metastatic involvement of the ovaries is not rare. The most common tumor types metastasizing to the ovaries, from non-gynecological organs, are breast, colorectal, gastric,...     

Cross-cultural adaptation,validity and reliability of Turkish version of Oxford Ankle Foot Questionnaire for children with congenital talipes equinovarus

BackgroundThe purpose of the study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Oxford Ankle Foot Questionnaire (OxAFQ) to provide cultural adaptation.MethodsThis study involved translation, back translation, and cross-cultural adaptation. Forty-nine patients with congenital talipes equinovarus were evaluated using the Turkish version of OxAFQ. Turkish version of the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) was used as a gold standard to validate the Turkish version of the OxAFQ. The validation was assessed with Spearman correlation analysis by using CHAQ. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed with Cronbach alpha (internal consistency) and exploratory factor analysis.ResultsHigh validity was found between OxAFQ and CHAQ (r = -0.422?0.292) (p < 0.01). Reliability analysis showed that OxAFQ had a high level of Cronbach alpha (α = 0.88?0.96) and internal consistency (ICC = 0.90?0.96).ConclusionThe Turkish version of OxAFQ is a valid, reliable and useful quality of life questionnaire in patients with congenital talipes equinovarus and it is proper for use by health professionals and researchers.     

Well-Developed Coronary Collateral Circulation Is Associated With Higher Thrombus Burden in the Setting of ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

BackgroundThis study investigated the relationship between coronary collateral circulation (CCC) and intracoronary thrombus burden in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). CCC and thrombus burden are predictive of clinical outcomes in patients with STEMI.MethodsPatients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention were enrolled (n = 172). CCC was graded according to the Cohen–Rentrop classification. Patients were classified as insufficient (grade 0 or 1, n = 134) or well-developed (grade 2 or 3; n = 38) CCC. The Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction scale was used to evaluate intra-coronary thrombus burden. The low-thrombus-burden group comprised those with grades 0 to 2, and the high-thrombus-burden group comprised those with grades 3 or 4.ResultsRight coronary artery infarcts had a 13.830-fold higher chance of having well-developed CCC than did left anterior descending artery infarcts (P < .001). Circumflex artery infarcts had a 7.904-fold higher chance of well-developed CCC than did left anterior descending artery infarcts (P = .016). High thrombus burden was associated with a 4.393-fold higher chance for well-developed CCC than was low thrombus burden (P = .030). Low albumin levels were related to a greater chance of having well-developed CCC (P = .046).ConclusionPatients with well-developed CCC have higher thrombus burden than do those with insufficient CCC. Because well-developed CCC is an indicator of more severe underlying lesions, we speculate that patients with severe lesions are more prone to experience more complicated STEMI with high thrombus burden.     

A New Insight Into Pathophysiological Mechanism of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm With Novel Parameters Salusin-β and Arterial Stiffness

BackgroundAbdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has risk factors similar to those of atherosclerosis. Salusin-β and arterial stiffness are novel parameters that have been shown to predict atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular disorders. However, their predictive value for detecting AAA remains unclear.MethodsForty-eight patients with AAA and 47 age- and sex-matched participants without AAA were enrolled in the study. Arterial stiffness parameters were obtained via an oscillometric Mobil-O-Graph PWA Monitor device (IEM GmbH) with integrated ARCSolver software (Australian Institute of Technology). Plasma salusin-β levels were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay reagent kit (Abbkine, Inc). The measured salusin-β levels and arterial stiffness parameters of the AAA and control groups were compared.ResultsSalusin-β levels were significantly lower in patients with AAA (P = .014). There was a significant negative correlation between salusin-β levels and abdominal aorta diameter. No significant difference was detected between AAA and control groups in terms of arterial stiffness parameters (P > .05). In backward multiple regression analysis, the presence of AAA, platelet count, and augmentation index were found to be independent predictors of salusin-β levels (P = .006 and P = .023, respectively).ConclusionArterial stiffness parameters were not found to be associated with AAA. Contrary to previous results regarding atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular disorders, salusin-β levels were found to be lower in patients with AAA. Although AAA is thought to have similar risk factors as atherosclerosis, the exact pathophysiologic mechanism remains unclear.     

Evaluation of a Wastewater-Based Epidemiological Approach to Estimate the Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infections and the Detection of Viral Variants in Disparate Oregon Communities at City and Neighborhood Scales

Background: Positive correlations have been reported between wastewater SARS-CoV-2 concentrations and a community’s burden of infection, disease or both. However, previous studies mostly compared wastewater to clinical case counts or nonrepresentative convenience samples, limiting their quantitative potential.Objectives: This study examined whether wastewater SARS-CoV-2 concentrations could provide better estimations for SARS-CoV-2 community prevalence than reported cases of COVID-19. In addition, this study tested whether wastewater-based epidemiology methods could identify neighborhood-level COVID-19 hotspots and SARS-CoV-2 variants.Methods: Community SARS-CoV-2 prevalence was estimated from eight randomized door-to-door nasal swab sampling events in six Oregon communities of disparate size, location, and demography over a 10-month period. Simultaneously, wastewater SARS-CoV-2 concentrations were quantified at each community’s wastewater treatment plant and from 22 Newport, Oregon, neighborhoods. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was sequenced from all positive wastewater and nasal swab samples. Clinically reported case counts were obtained from the Oregon Health Authority.Results: Estimated community SARS-CoV-2 prevalence ranged from 8 to 1,687/10,000 persons. Community wastewater SARS-CoV-2 concentrations ranged from 2.9 to 5.1log10 gene copies per liter. Wastewater SARS-CoV-2 concentrations were more highly correlated (Pearson’s r=0.96; R2=0.91) with community prevalence than were clinically reported cases of COVID-19 (Pearson’s r=0.85; R2=0.73). Monte Carlo simulations indicated that wastewater SARS-CoV-2 concentrations were significantly better than clinically reported cases at estimating prevalence (p<0.05). In addition, wastewater analyses determined neighborhood-level COVID-19 hot spots and identified SARS-CoV-2 variants (B.1 and B.1.399) at the neighborhood and city scales.Discussion: The greater reliability of wastewater SARS-CoV-2 concentrations over clinically reported case counts was likely due to systematic biases that affect reported case counts, including variations in access to testing and underreporting of asymptomatic cases. With these advantages, combined with scalability and low costs, wastewater-based epidemiology can be a key component in public health surveillance of COVID-19 and other communicable infections. https://doi.org/10.1289/{"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"EHP10289","term_id":"372009674","term_text":"EHP10289"}}EHP10289     

Knowledge level and attitude towards complementary and alternative treatment methods among medical students: a cross-sectional survey study in Turkey

Abstract

Objective

People often use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods in Turkey, but reliability of the application of these methods is controversial. Considering the role of medical students (i.e. physician candidates) in sustainable health, their perspectives on CAM methods are important. This report explores the level of knowledge, experience, and preferences for the use of CAM methods among medical school students.     

Black Grape and Garlic Extracts Protect Against Cyclosporine A Nephrotoxicity

The aim of this study was to determine if the natural antioxidant foods, dried black grape and garlic, protect against cyclosporine nephrotoxicity. Forty-two Sprague–Dawley rats were given Cyclosporine A (CsA) orally for 10 days, with the antioxidant food supplementation begun 3 days before CsA treatment and continued during the study period (totaling 13 days). In each group (control, CsA alone, CsA plus black grape, CsA plus aqueous garlic extract, aqueous garlic extract alone and black grape alone), there were 7 animals. At the end of the study period, the animals were sacrificed; their kidneys were removed and prepared for biochemical and histopathological investigations. Oxidant (xanthine oxidase enzyme and malondialdehyde) and antioxidant (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase enzymes) parameters were measured in the kidney tissues of the groups. Histopathological examinations of the tissues were also performed.

It has been found that CsA creates oxidant load to the kidneys through both xanthine oxidase activation and impaired antioxidant defense system, which accelerates oxidation reactions in the kidney tissue. Supplementation with either dried black grape or aqueous garlic extract led to reduced malondialdehyde level in the kidney tissue possibly, by preventing oxidant reactions. In conclusion, the results suggest that impaired oxidant/antioxidant balance may play part in the CsA-induced nephrotoxicity, and some foods with high antioxidant power may ameliorate this toxicity, in agreement with studies with antioxidant vitamins.     

A Standardized Framework for Fluorescence-Guided Margin Assessment for Head and Neck Cancer Using a Tumor Acidosis Sensitive Optical Imaging Agent

Molecular Imaging and Biology - Intra-operative management of the surgical margin in patients diagnosed with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains challenging as surgeons still have...     

Unusual Malignant Solid Neoplasms of the Kidney: Cross-Sectional Imaging Findings

Malignant kidney neoplasms are the most frequently encountered solid kidney masses. Although renal cell carcinoma is the major renal malignancy, other solid malignant renal masses should be considered in the differential diagnosis of solid renal masses that do not contain a macroscopic fatty component. In this pictorial essay, we present the imaging findings of a primitive neuroectodermal tumor, primary liposarcoma of the kidney, primary neuroendocrine tumor, leiomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, sclerosing fibrosarcoma and renal metastasis of osteosarcoma.