Griffinstephens1755

99 using b = 800 s/mm

and 0.98 using b = 2000 s/mm

. By contrast, specificity and accuracy were 0.09 and 0.71 when using a b-value of 800 s/mm

, and 0.96 and 0.98 when using a b-value of 2000 s/mm

, respectively. The difference in specificity and accuracy was statistically significant (p < 0.001).

Using a b-value of 2000 s/mm

significantly improved the specificity of lesion detection with WB-DWI as compared to the commonly used b-value of 800 s/mm

. The high b-value significantly reduced signal intensities of post-therapeutic or benign lesions and provided a significantly more accurate representation of active tumor load.

Using a b-value of 2000 s/mm2 significantly improved the specificity of lesion detection with WB-DWI as compared to the commonly used b-value of 800 s/mm2. The high b-value significantly reduced signal intensities of post-therapeutic or benign lesions and provided a significantly more accurate representation of active tumor load.

Use of nicotine vaping products (NVPs) to replace smoking is often influenced by perceived harmfulness of these products relative to smoking. This study aimed to identify factors that conjointly influenced NVP relative harm perception among smokers and ex-smokers.

Data (n = 11,838) from adult smokers and ex-smokers (quit < 2 years) who participated in the 2016 ITC 4 Country Smoking and Vaping Surveys in Australia, Canada, England and the US were analyzed. Decision tree models were used to classify respondents into those who perceived vaping as less harmful than smoking ("correct" perception) versus otherwise ("incorrect" perception) based on their socio-demographic, smoking and vaping related variables.

Decision tree analysis identified nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) harmfulness perceptions relative to smoking, perceived vaping portrayal in the media and other sources as positive, negative or balanced, recency of seeking online vaping information, and age as the key variables that interacted conjoint factors can serve as useful markers for identifying subgroups more vulnerable to misperception about NVP relative harmfulness to benefit from corrective intervention.

Research has established a strong and positive correlation between substance use and intimate partner violence due to a complex interplay of individual, situational, and contextual factors. This study seeks to further explore this relationship in the context of the recent opioid crisis in which millions of Americans have been diagnosed with an opioid use disorder. Specifically, we analyze how opioid prescriptions relate to intimate partner violence within and between counties over time throughout the rise of the opioid crisis.

This study employs an integrated dataset that merges crime data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, demographic data from the American Community Survey, and prescription opioid pill counts from the Drug Enforcement Administration to study the relationship between opioid pills prescribed per person and levels of intimate partner violence arrests from 2006-2012. Fixed-effects and mixed-effects techniques are both used.

Increases in opioid pill distribution volume within-counties over time are related to increases in intimate partner violence arrest volume (p ≤ .001). Additionally, counties which have higher amounts of opioid pills in circulation tend to experience higher levels of arrests for intimate partner violence than counties with fewer pills (p ≤ .001).

Policymakers who are dealing with the effects of the opioid crisis should consider the relationship between opioids and intimate partner violence when attempting to address either of these issues. Based on the results of this study, addressing opioid dependence and mitigating the extent of the crisis may also reduce intimate partner violence.

Policymakers who are dealing with the effects of the opioid crisis should consider the relationship between opioids and intimate partner violence when attempting to address either of these issues. Based on the results of this study, addressing opioid dependence and mitigating the extent of the crisis may also reduce intimate partner violence.The shear zone of the El-Missikat area is considered one of the most important occurrences of uranium (U) mineralization in the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. This shear zone is characterized by a tabular elongated zone of crushing and brecciation resulting from many parallel fractures or intense jointing, and presence of silicification and other alteration products together with the occasional presence of U mineralization. The concentrations of the natural radionuclides were measured by Sodium Iodide Detector NaI (Tl) in 87 granitic rocks and silica veins collected from the Central Eastern Desert. Measurement of radioactive elements suggests U present in granite of the El-Missikat pluton as well as in red, black and jasperoid silica veins. Radioactive mineralization was determined by scanning electron, binocular, and polarizing microscopies. The mineralizations are represented by syn-genetic U-leaching origin accompanying granitic rocks and post-magmatic association in red and black silica veins. The U-host mineralizations are mainly represented by radioactive minerals such as uranophane, kasolite, and U-bearing zircon.

To investigate the characteristics of dysosmia and dysgeusia among patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Taiwan.

Prospective data collection between January 22, 2020 to May 7, 2020 of nucleic acid confirmed COVID-19 hospitalized patients in northern Taiwan by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control were analyzed.

Of 217 patients enrolled, 78 (35.9%) reported dysosmia (n=73, 33.6%) and/or dysgeusia (n=62, 28.6%). The median duration of COVID-19 associated symptom-onset to development of dysosmia and/or dysgeusia was <1 days (interquartile range [IQR], <1-6 days) and 53 of 78 (67.9%) patients developed dysosmia and/or dysgeusia as one of the initial symptoms of COVID-19. Of 59 closely monitored patients, 41 (69.5%) patients recovered within 3 weeks after symptoms onset and the median time to recovery was 12 days (IQR, 7-20 days). Only 6 of the 59 (10.2%) patients reported persistent dysosmia and/or dysgeusia before discharge from hospitals. Multivariate analysis showed that younger individuals (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 0.93 per one-year increase; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.89-0.97; P=0.001), women (AHR, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.05-7.25; P=0.04) and travel to North America (AHR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.05-5.26; P=0.04) were the significant factors associated with dysosmia and/or dysgeusia.

Dysosmia and/or dysgeusia are common symptoms and clues for the diagnosis of COVID-19, particularly in the early stage of the disease. Physicians should be alerted to these symptoms to make timely diagnosis and management for COVID-19 to limit spread.

Dysosmia and/or dysgeusia are common symptoms and clues for the diagnosis of COVID-19, particularly in the early stage of the disease. Physicians should be alerted to these symptoms to make timely diagnosis and management for COVID-19 to limit spread.

Supplementation of parenteral nutrition (PN) admixtures with other parenteral drugs may be desired especially in the case of polypharmacy and limited vascular access. Metronidazole (MTZ) is administered in surgical and critically ill patients often requiring concomitant nutritional therapy in the form of parenteral nutrition. The aim of the study was to evaluate the possibility of the concomitant administration of MTZ with PN admixtures from one container.

MTZ (1500 mg) was combined with six different PN admixtures and stored for 7 days before the simulation of administration. The mean droplet size (MDS) of the lipid emulsion, zeta potential, color, and pH of the tested samples were determined every 24 h. The content of MTZ was determined by the high-performance liquid chromatography method within the same time frames.

PN admixtures supplemented with MTZ were characterized by a pH range from 6.19 to 6.38 and zeta potential range from -21.6 mV to -8.8 mV. For all samples the pharmacopeial criteria for intravenously administered emulsions were met The visual inspection showed no sign of emulsion destabilization or precipitation, and the MDS was <500 nm. The MTZ content remained >90% of the initial value throughout the whole study period.

Results showed the physicochemical compatibility and stability of PN admixtures supplemented with MTZ at the dose of 1500 mg. Such formulations can be stored at a temperature of 5°C for up to 7 d before administration to the patient.

Results showed the physicochemical compatibility and stability of PN admixtures supplemented with MTZ at the dose of 1500 mg. Such formulations can be stored at a temperature of 5°C for up to 7 d before administration to the patient.

The aims of this study was to determine the optimal cutoff values of non-paretic calf circumference (CC) that are indicative of low skeletal muscle mass and examine the association between a low CC and rehabilitation outcomes.

This was a retrospective cohort study that included 628 patients in convalescent rehabilitation wards in Japan. Patients in post-stroke rehabilitation who were ≥20 y of age were included. We examined the agreement between CC on the non-paretic side and a low skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. We also confirmed the correlation between sarcopenia defined by CC and handgrip strength, and sarcopenia according to Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 criteria. Functional Independent Measure (FIM) at discharge and discharge to home outcomes were compared between patients with a high CC and those with a low CC.

Of the 628 patients included in the study, 408 (170 women; mean age, 72 y) were analyzed. The optimal cutoff values of CC were 33 cm for men (sensitivity and specificity, 0.798 and 0.840, respectively) and 32 cm for women (0.847 and 0.818, respectively). The sensitivity and specificity of CC-based sarcopenia against the AWGS criteria were 0.752 and 1.000 for men and 0.800 and 1.000 for women, respectively. Patients with a low CC had a significantly lower FIM and proportion of home discharge than those with a high CC.

The optimal cutoff values of non-paretic CC for a low SMI were 33 cm for male and 32 cm for female Asian stroke rehabilitation patients. Sarcopenia can be defined using CC instead of SMI.

The optimal cutoff values of non-paretic CC for a low SMI were 33 cm for male and 32 cm for female Asian stroke rehabilitation patients. Sarcopenia can be defined using CC instead of SMI.

Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) is performed to treat residual disease following chemotherapy for stage II and III testicular cancer. Significant morbidity can be associated with open RPLND. As such, laparoscopic techniques have been demonstrated to be safe and effective in select cases. Outcomes following post-chemotherapy laparoscopic RPLND for mixed malignant germ cell testicular tumors (MMGCT) are limited in the literature.

We performed a retrospective chart review for patients who underwent laparoscopic RPLND at our institution for MMGCT from May 2006 to October 2016. Patient clinical data and perioperative and oncologic outcomes were recorded.

Twenty-three patients underwent post-chemotherapy laparoscopic RPLND. Thirty-five percent (8/23) underwent bilateral template dissection, whereas 65% (15/23) underwent a modified unilateral template dissection. Robotic assistance was utilized in 22% (5/23) of cases. Bilateral template was inferior to unilateral template RPLND in operative time, estimated blood loss, open conversion rate, length of hospital stay, and complication rate.