Sex estimation with the total area of the proximal femur: A densitometric approach.

The estimation of sex is a central step to establish the biological profile of an anonymous skeletal individual. Imaging techniques, including bone densitometry, have been used to evaluate sex in remains incompletely skeletonized. In this paper, we present a technique for sex estimation using the total area (TA) of the proximal femur, a two-dimensional areal measurement determined through densitometry.

Prediction of sentinel node status and clinical outcome in a melanoma centre.

Background. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a standard procedure for patients with localized cutaneous melanoma. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Melanoma Panel has reinforced the status of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) as an important prognostic factor for melanoma survival.

Rest myocardial perfusion imaging: a valuable tool in ED.

Background: Acute chest pain is a frequent cause of emergency department (ED) visits. Rest myocardial perfusion imaging (RMPI) during or immediately after an episode of chest pain can provide diagnostic and prognostic information concerning acute coronary syndromes.

Aim: Our purpose was to evaluate the RMPI score in risk stratification of chest pain suspected to be of cardiac ischemic origin and negative troponin assessment.

A glimpse from the past: osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures in a Portuguese identified skeletal sample.

Unlabelled: The diachronic variation of etiological factors, like longevity or diet, affected the prevalence of osteoporosis and the so-called osteoporotic fractures in the past. As such, it is important to understand the epidemiology of this disease in historical populations; with behaviors and customs that were unalike the modern westernized lifestyle.

Objectives: The main objective of this study is to characterize the epidemiological patterns of osteoporosis and related fractures in an identified Portuguese skeletal sample from the mid 19th - early 20th centuries.

Prognosis of normal stress-only gated-SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging: a single center study.

It has been advocated that using the stress followed by rest protocol, if the stress images were normal there is no need of rest images, reducing radiation exposure and costs. Our purpose was to assess the prognosis of a group of patients with normal stress-only gated-SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging. This was retrospective study that includes 790 patients with normal myocardial stress only perfusion gated SPECT images.

Left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony in patients with impaired left ventricular function undergoing gated SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging.

Introduction: Gated SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) has been used to quantify mechanical dyssynchrony. Mechanical dyssynchrony appears to be related to response to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Objective: To evaluate the presence and predictors of mechanical dyssynchrony in patients with impaired left ventricular function (LVEF) ≤50%.

Age at death estimation using bone densitometry: testing the Fernández Castillo and López Ruiz method in two documented skeletal samples from Portugal.

This study aims to evaluate the accuracy, precision and bias of a method for age at death estimation based in bone mineral density values assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry at Ward's area (proximal femur). Estimated age at death was contrasted with documented age at death in two Portuguese reference samples (Coimbra Identified Skeletal Collection - CISC, and Identified Skeletal Collection of the 21st Century - Santarém XXI). Mean absolute error (accuracy) varies between 10.

Persistent primary hyperparathyroidism: an uncommon location for an ectopic gland--case report and review.

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a common endocrine disorder that mainly affects middle-aged women. Patients are usually asymptomatic. The disease might be ascribable to hyperplasia, carcinoma, and single or multiple adenomas.