The Emerging Role of Sonoelastography in Pregnancy: Applications in Assessing Maternal and Fetal Health.

Sonoelastography, a novel ultrasound-based technique, is emerging as a valuable tool in prenatal diagnostics by quantifying tissue elasticity and stiffness in vivo. This narrative review explores the application of sonoelastography in assessing maternal and fetal health, with a focus on cervical, placental, pelvic floor, and fetal tissue evaluations. In the cervix, sonoelastography aids in predicting preterm birth and assessing labor induction success.

The Predictive Accuracy of Anogenital Distance and Genital Tubercle Angle for First-Trimester Fetal Sex Determination.

Background: Early identification of fetal gender is crucial for managing gender-linked genetic disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive performance of anogenital distance (AGD) and genital tubercle angle (GTA) for fetal sex determination during the first trimester.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted on 312 fetal cases between 11 and 13 + 6 weeks of gestation from two tertiary hospitals.

Reliability of Ultrasound Measurements of the Median Nerve in Asymptomatic Subjects Using a Handheld Device.

This study investigated the reliability of measuring the median nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) at the carpal tunnel inlet using a handheld ultrasound device (HUD) compared to a standard ultrasound system, focusing on intra- and inter-operator reproducibility among novice and expert operators. Employing a prospective cross-sectional design, 37 asymptomatic adults were assessed using both devices, with measurements taken by an expert with over five years of experience and a novice with less than six months. The CSA was determined using manual tracing and ellipse methods, with reproducibility evaluated through intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and agreement assessed via Bland-Altman plots.

Reproducibility and feasibility of a handheld ultrasound device compared to a standard ultrasound machine in muscle thickness measurements.

Objective: To test the feasibility and reproducibility of a handheld ultrasound device (HUD) compared to a standard ultrasound machine for muscle thickness measurements in healthy participants.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was designed where two novice operators tested the thickness of the vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, and vastus intermedius muscles on recruited asymptomatic participants with no history of muscle diseases. The anterior-posterior thickness of each muscle was measured three times per operator to evaluate intra-operator reproducibility and using two machines to evaluate inter-system reproducibility.

Variability, Validity and Operator Reliability of Three Ultrasound Systems for Measuring Tissue Stiffness: A Phantom Study.

Introduction Ultrasound elastography is a method of measuring soft tissue stiffness to detect the presence of pathology. There are several ultrasound elastography devices on the market. The aim of this study was twofold.

The incidence of deltoid tear among patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tear.

Backgroun: Full-thickness rotator cuff tear is common in the older population. The incidence of traumatic deltoid tears post-surgery is well addressed. However, non-traumatic spontaneous injury is not well recognized despite a few case reports and previous studies.

Investigating Confidence Levels of Saudi Clinical Supervisors in Radiology Departments.

Background: Effective teaching and supervision within hospitals play an essential role in training radiography students. However, inadequate preparation of teaching roles has been highlighted over the last three decades as a problem for many radiographers. This can lead to inadequate preparation and a lack of confidence in the supervisory role, which may affect the students' learning experience.

The diagnostic performance of lung ultrasound for detecting COVID-19 in emergency departments: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature investigating the use of lung ultrasound (LUS) on COVID-19 patients, in emergency point of care settings, and to determine its diagnostic value compared with lung computed tomography (LCT) diagnostic performance. Whilst using the real-time polymerase chain reaction test as the 'gold standard'.

Methods: Literature searches were performed on MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and PubMed databases for eligible studies.

Geant4 Simulation of Gamma-Ray Transmission Buildup Factors for Human Tissues.

Quantification of scattered photons in addition to unscattered primary particles, under realistic exposure scenario, is best dealt with a parameter called "Buildup factor". The aim of this work is to simulate the transmission buildup factor (BUF) of gamma-ray in the energy range .15-15 MeV for 20 human tissues and organs using the Geant4 (version 10.

Simulation of Gamma-Ray Transmission Buildup Factors for Stratified Spherical Layers.

Deterministic particle transport codes usually take into account scattered photons with correct attenuation laws and application of buildup factor to incident beam. Transmission buildup factors for adipose, bone, muscle, and skin human tissues, as well as for various combinations of these media for point isotropic photon source with energies of .15, 1.

Job Satisfaction of Radiographers in Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: To examine the various facets of job satisfaction among radiographers in Saudi Arabia and compare the influential contributing factors locally and internationally.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in June and July 2020 with an electronic questionnaire distributed to radiographers in Saudi Arabia. The validated Job Satisfaction Survey was used to measure overall job satisfaction and specific satisfaction regarding pay, promotions, supervision, benefits, contingent rewards, operating conditions, coworkers, nature of work, and communication (total Job Satisfaction Survey score can range from 36 to 216).

Abdominal aorta measurements by a handheld ultrasound device compared with a conventional cart-based ultrasound machine.

Background: Ultraportable or pocket handheld ultrasound devices (HUD) may be useful for large-scale abdominal aortic aneurysm screening. However, the reproducibility of measurements has not been compared with conventional cart-based ultrasound machines.

Objectives: Investigate the intra- and inter-operator reproducibility of a HUD compared with a conventional ultrasound machine for aortic screening.

Predictive value and reference ranges of anogenital distance for determining fetal gender in the first trimester: A retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To assess the usefulness of sonographically measured anogenital distance (AGD) in predicting fetal gender in Saudi fetuses during the first trimester and to provide normal reference centiles for AGD.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between November 2020 and May 2021. The ultrasound scans of 313 singleton pregnancies between 11-13 plus 6 gestational weeks and their gender-at-birth were collected.

Investigation of F and Zr Isotopes Self-Absorption and Dose Rate Parameters for PET Imaging.

This work concerns study of self-absorption factor (SAF) and dose rate constants of zirconium-89 (Zr) for the purpose of radiation protection in positron emission tomography (PET) and to compare them with those of F-deoxyglucose (F-FDG). We analyzed the emitted energy spectra by F and Zr through anthropomorphic phantom and calculated the absorbed energy using Monte Carlo method. The dose rate constants for both radionuclides were estimated with 2 different fluence-to-effective dose conversion coefficients.

Enhanced Optical and Antibacterial Activity of Hydrothermally Synthesized Cobalt-Doped Zinc Oxide Cylindrical Microcrystals.

Cobalt (Co) doped zinc oxide (ZnO) microcrystals (MCs) are prepared by using the hydrothermal method from the precursor's mixture of zinc chloride (ZnCl), cobalt-II chloride hexahydrate (CoCl·6HO), and potassium hydroxide (KOH). The smooth round cylindrical morphologies of the synthesized microcrystals of Co-doped ZnO show an increase in absorption with the cobalt doping. The antibacterial activity of the as-obtained Co-doped ZnO-MCs was tested against the bacterial strains of gram-negative (, ) and gram-positive bacteria (, ) via the agar well diffusion method.

Semi-quantitative scoring of imaging modalities in detecting soft tissue foreign bodies: an in vitro study.

Background: Accurate identification of foreign bodies (FB) using medical imaging is essential for diagnosis and determining the suitable retrieval technique.

Purpose: To compare the sensitivity of different imaging modalities for detecting various FB materials in soft tissue and assess the reproducibility of a scoring system for grading the conspicuity of FBs.

Material And Methods: Five FB materials (plastic, wood, glass, aluminum, and copper) were embedded in a tissue-mimicking phantom.

Point of care lung ultrasound in COVID-19: hype or hope?

The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has critically struck the world economy and healthcare systems. The highly contagious virus spreads rapidly and can result in potentially life-threatening acute respiratory distress. The current established test for diagnosing COVID-19 is using the RT-PCR laboratory test.

Novel Muscle Imaging in Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases-A Focus on Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography and Quantitative MRI.

In recent years, imaging has played an increasing role in the clinical management of patients with rheumatic diseases with respect to aiding diagnosis, guiding therapy and monitoring disease progression. These roles have been underpinned by research which has enhanced our understanding of disease pathogenesis and pathophysiology of rheumatology conditions, in addition to their key role in outcome measurement in clinical trials. However, compared to joints, imaging research of muscles is less established, despite the fact that muscle symptoms are very common and debilitating in many rheumatic diseases.

Reproducibility of shear wave elastography among operators, machines, and probes in an elasticity phantom.

Purpose: This study was aimed to investigate the reproducibility of shear wave elastography (SWE) among operators, machines, and probes in a phantom, and to evaluate the effect of depth of the embedded inclusions and the accuracy of the measurements.

Methods: In vitro stiffness measurements were made of six inclusions (10, 40, and 60 kPa) embedded at two depths (1.5 cm and 5 cm) in an elastography phantom.

Inter- and intra-reader reproducibility of shear wave elastography measurements for musculoskeletal soft tissue masses.

Objective: To determine inter- and intra-reader reproducibility of shear wave elastography measurements for musculoskeletal soft tissue masses.

Materials And Methods: In all, 64 patients with musculoskeletal soft tissue masses were scanned by two readers prior to biopsy; each taking five measurements of shear wave velocity (m/s) and stiffness (kPa). A single lesion per patient was scanned in transverse and cranio-caudal planes.

Reduction in stiffness of proximal leg muscles during the first 6 months of glucocorticoid therapy for giant cell arteritis: A pilot study using shear wave elastography.

Aim: To investigate muscle stiffness changes in patients treated for giant cell arteritis (GCA) with high-dose oral glucocorticoids.

Methods: Using ultrasound elastography, shear wave velocity (SWV) was measured in the quadriceps, hamstrings and biceps brachii muscles of 14 patients with GCA (4 male, mean age ± SD, 68.2 ± 4.

Muscle stiffness in rheumatoid arthritis is not altered or associated with muscle weakness: A shear wave elastography study.

To investigate muscle stiffness and strength in rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to healthy controls. A sample of 80 RA patients from three discrete groups: 1 - newly diagnosed treatment-naïve RA ( = 29), 2 - active RA for at least 1 year ( = 18) and 3 - in remission RA for at least 1 year ( = 33), was compared to 40 healthy controls. Shear wave velocity (SWV) was measured using shear wave elastography as a surrogate for tissue stiffness in multiple muscles.

Muscle shear wave elastography in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: a case-control study with MRI correlation.

Objective: To investigate muscle stiffness in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) using shear wave elastography (SWE) and to correlate the results with muscle strength and MRI features of myositis.

Materials And Methods: Muscle shear wave velocity (SWV) was measured in 23 active IIM patients (13 females, mean age 50.4 ± 16.