Biomagnification of mercury in an estuarine food web.

Methylmercury is a toxin of local, regional, and global concern, with estuarine habitats possessing ecological characteristics that support conversion of inorganic mercury into this methylated form. We monitored Hg concentrations in species within the food web of the lower Cape Fear River (CFR) estuary in 2018-2020. Samples were analyzed for Hg concentrations and nitrogen isotopes (a measure of trophic level), and we found a positive relationship within this food web each year (p < 0.

Breast cancer outcomes based on method of detection in community-based breast cancer registry.

Purpose: The impact of opportunistic screening mammography in the United States is difficult to quantify, partially due to lack of inclusion regarding method of detection (MOD) in national registries. This study sought to determine the feasibility of MOD collection in a multicenter community registry and to compare outcomes and characteristics of breast cancer based on MOD.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of breast cancer patients from a multicenter tumor registry in Missouri from January 2004 - December 2018.

A roadmap of resident-led initiatives to promote research within the radiology department.

Rational: While radiology residents must participate in a scholarly project per Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Program Requirements, some residency programs may lack a well-thought out, cohesive approach to research that incorporates the residents' perspective. Our objective was to improve the radiology resident research experience with resident-led initiatives.

Material And Methods: An annual resident research survey was created and distributed to 28 radiology residents in December 2018.

Comparison of interval breast cancers with 2D digital mammography versus 3D digital breast tomosynthesis in a large community-based practice.

Incidence of interval cancers is an important outcome in assessing efficacy of screening. Our primary objective was to compare the incidence of interval cancers detected with two-dimensional digital mammography (DM) versus digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) in a large community health system. Our secondary objectives were to compare the patient and tumor characteristics of interval cancers, cancer detection rate, and recall rate.

Safety of gadoterate meglumine in children younger than 2 years of age.

Background: Few studies on the safety of gadolinium-based contrast agents have been performed in children with even fewer focusing on children younger than 2 years of age.

Objective: To assess the safety of gadoterate meglumine (Dotarem) in patients younger than 2 years of age by evaluating adverse events following contrast administration.

Materials And Methods: Pediatric patients younger than 2 years of age undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with and without contrast were prospectively enrolled and received a weight-based intravenous dose of gadoterate meglumine (0.

Intraprocedural Superior Hypogastric Nerve Block Allows Same-Day Discharge following Uterine Artery Embolization.

In a single-arm, nonrandomized, retrospective case-control study, 39 patients (mean age, 44 y) who underwent elective outpatient uterine artery embolization with the use of superior hypogastric nerve block (SNHB) for pain control over a period of 3 years were identified. Technical success of SNHB was 87%. Of the 34 patients who received SNHB, 97% did not need a patient-controlled analgesia pump.

Determining the effects of insulin Detemir on endogenous secretion of insulin.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a long-term metabolic disorder. A pilot trial was designed to investigate the effects of the long acting insulin Detemir on endogenous insulin secretion, to assess use in early T2D care. Provesn metabolic system models are used to identify patient-specific insulin sensitivity and endogenous insulin secretion from clinical data.

Implementing user-defined atlas-based auto-segmentation for a large multi-centre organisation: the Australian Experience.

Introduction: Contouring has become an increasingly important aspect of radiation therapy due to inverse planning, and yet is extremely time-consuming. To improve contouring efficiency and reduce potential inter-observer variation, the atlas-based auto-segmentation (ABAS) function in Velocity was introduced to ICON cancer centres (ICC) throughout Australia as a solution for automatic contouring.

Methods: This paper described the implementation process of the ABAS function and the construction of user-defined atlas sets and compared the contouring efficiency before and after the introduction of ABAS.

Association between ventricular shunt catheter calcifications and the development of shunt fracture.

Background: Calcifications along ventricular catheters have been associated with shunt fractures although it is unknown whether their development predicts whether and when the shunts will fracture.

Objective: To determine whether extracranial calcifications found on a radiographic shunt series predicts whether a patient will experience a shunt catheter fracture or complication.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review was performed of pediatric patients with a ventricular shunt placed before 18 years of age and radiographic shunt series.

Shear wave elastography correlates with liver fibrosis scores in pediatric patients with liver disease.

Background: While liver biopsy remains the gold standard, given the procedure risks and sampling errors, there is a need for reliable noninvasive biomarkers of hepatic fibrosis.

Objective: Determine the accuracy of two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2-D SWE) in predicting the histological severity of liver fibrosis in pediatric patients with known or suspected liver disease.

Materials And Methods: Subjects 0-18 years old with known or suspected liver disease and liver biopsy within 30 days (n=70) were included.

Changes in factors influencing fellowship choices among radiology residents from 2008 to 2018 and methods that may increase interest in the pediatric radiology subspecialty.

Background: Fewer residents are choosing a career in pediatric radiology, which is contributing to an ongoing shortage of pediatric radiologists.

Objective: To identify potential causes of reduced interest in pediatric radiology as a career given a projected worsening of a nationwide shortage of pediatric radiologists.

Materials And Methods: An online questionnaire using previously published questions was approved and distributed by the Program Directors in Diagnostic Radiology to diagnostic radiology residents on behalf of the Society for Pediatric Radiology (SPR).

Promoting Evidence-Based Decision Making in a Local Health Department, Pueblo City-County, Colorado.

Background: Evidence-based decision making (EBDM) is an effective strategy for addressing population health needs. Assessing and reducing barriers to using EBDM in local health departments may improve practice and provide insight into disseminating EBDM principles among public health practitioners.

Community Context: Administrative leaders at the Pueblo City-County Health Department, Pueblo, Colorado, used a systematic approach for implementing EBDM.

Engineering starch accumulation by manipulation of phosphate metabolism of starch.

A new understanding of leaf starch degradation has emerged in the last 10 years. It has been shown that starch phosphorylation and dephosphorylation are critical components of this process. Glucan, water dikinase (GWD) (and phosphoglucan, water dikinase) adds phosphate to starch, and phosphoglucan phosphatase (SEX4) removes these phosphates.