Cranethorup1902
When the cut-off contact length of 6.73mm was combined with Loyer's standard, 4 false-negative cases could be avoided.
Loyer's and Lu's standards and the contact length performed best in evaluating hepatic arterial invasion by hilar cholangiocarcinoma on preoperative CT images, particularly in assessing the proper hepatic artery. click here Arterial tortuosity could serve as an important supplement. The combination of the contact length and Loyer's standard could improve the diagnostic performance.
Loyer's and Lu's standards and the contact length performed best in evaluating hepatic arterial invasion by hilar cholangiocarcinoma on preoperative CT images, particularly in assessing the proper hepatic artery. Arterial tortuosity could serve as an important supplement. The combination of the contact length and Loyer's standard could improve the diagnostic performance.
To compare noise texture and accuracy to differentiate uric acid from non-uric acid urinary stones among four different single-source and dual-source DECT approaches in an ex vivo phantom study.
Thirty-two urinary stones embedded in gelatin were mounted on a Styrofoam disk and placed into a water-filled phantom. The phantom was imaged using four different DECT approaches (A) dual-source DECT (DS-DE); (B) 1st generation split-filter single-source DECT (SF1-TB); (C) 2nd generation split-filter single-source DECT (SF2-TB) and (D) 2nd generation split-filter single-source DECT using serial acquisitions (SF2-TS). Two different radiation doses (3mGy and 6mGy) were used. Noise texture was compared by assessing the average spatial frequency (f
) of the normalized noise power spectrum (nNPS). ROC curves for stone classification were computed and the accuracy for different dual-energy ratio cutoffs was derived.
NNPS demonstrated comparable noise texture among A, C, and D (f
-range 0.18-0.19) but finer noise texture for B (f
= 0.27). Stone classification showed an accuracy of 96.9%, 96.9%, 93.8%, 93.8% for A, B, C, D for low-dose, respectively, and 100%, 96.9%, 96.9%, 100% for routine dose. The vendor-specified cutoff for the dual-energy ratio was optimal except for the low-dose scan in D for which the accuracy was improved from 93.8 to 100% using an optimized cutoff.
Accuracy to differentiate uric acid from non-uric acid stones was high among four single-source and dual-source DECT approaches for low- and routine dose DECT scans. Noise texture differed only slightly for the first-generation split-filter approach.
Accuracy to differentiate uric acid from non-uric acid stones was high among four single-source and dual-source DECT approaches for low- and routine dose DECT scans. Noise texture differed only slightly for the first-generation split-filter approach.
To investigate the prevalence and epidemiological risk factors of olfactory and/or taste disorder (OTD), in particular isolated OTD, in patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection.
We conducted a retrospective and cross-sectional study. Patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection were recruited from the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) Singapore between 24 March 2020 and 16 April 2020. The electronic health records of these patients were accessed, and demographic data and symptoms reported (respiratory, self-reported OTD and other symptoms such as headache, myalgia and lethargy) were collected.
A total of 1065 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were recruited. Overall, the prevalence of OTD was 12.6%. Twelve patients (1.1%) had isolated OTD. The top three symptoms associated with OTD were cough, fever and sore throat. The symptoms of runny nose and blocked nose were experienced by only 29.8 and 19.3% of patients, respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the female gender, presence of blocked nose and absence of fever were significantly associated with OTD (adjusted relative risks 1.77, 3.31, 0.42, respectively). All these factors were statistically significant.
Patients with COVID-19 infection can present with OTD, either in isolation or in combination with other general symptoms. Certain demographic profile, such as being female, and symptomatology such as the presence of blocked nose and absence of fever, were more likely to have OTD when infected by COVID-19. Further studies to elucidate the pathophysiology of OTD in these patients will be beneficial.
Patients with COVID-19 infection can present with OTD, either in isolation or in combination with other general symptoms. Certain demographic profile, such as being female, and symptomatology such as the presence of blocked nose and absence of fever, were more likely to have OTD when infected by COVID-19. Further studies to elucidate the pathophysiology of OTD in these patients will be beneficial.
To explore the factors involved in the demise of tunnelled central vascular access devices (CVADs) in children and describe patterns of failure.
A retrospective study including children under 16years of age undergoing CVAD insertion in a tertiary centre between October 2014 and December 2019. The Kaplan-Meier estimator was used to study CVAD survival and piecewise exponential curves to approximate hazard rates. Related factors were analysed using multivariable regression.
Totally, 684 CVADs were inserted in 499 children. Devices were in situ for 213,821days (median 244.5). Of those, 261 CVADs (38.2%) failed prematurely; 176 (67%) required replacement. Tunnelled external lines (TELs) failed more frequently than totally implantable devices (p < 0.005).TEL displacement occurred in two high-risk phases, falling to baseline after 90days. Low age at device insertion and open placement were strongly associated with an increased failure rate. Previous CVAD failure did not increase subsequent failure rate. Premature failure increased procedural cost by £153,949 per year.
TIDs should be placed in preference to TELs where appropriate. TELs are at highest risk of displacement for 90days and must be well secured for this duration. Meticulous line care offers significant potential cost savings by reducing line replacements.
Level III.
Level III.