Performance and reliability assessment of a lower dose, task-based scoliosis radiography protocol in pediatric patients.

Background: Follow-up scoliosis radiographs are performed to assess the degree of spinal curvature and skeletal maturity, which can be done at lower radiation exposures than those in standard-dose radiography.

Objective: Describe and evaluate a protocol that reduced the radiation in follow-up frontal-view scoliosis radiographs.

Materials And Methods: We implemented a postero-anterior lower dose modified-technique for scoliosis radiography with task-based definition of adequate image quality and use of technique charts based on target exposure index and patient's height and weight.

Antithrombin activity and central venous catheter-associated thrombosis in critically ill children at high risk of bleeding.

Background: Normalization of antithrombin activity may prevent catheter-associated thrombosis in critically ill children at high risk of bleeding.

Objectives: To characterize the temporal pattern of antithrombin activity, assess its association with catheter-associated thrombosis and clinically relevant bleeding, and evaluate its relationship with thrombin generation in these children.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, critically ill children <18 years old at high risk of bleeding with central venous catheter were eligible.

Utility of Gadolinium-Based Contrast in Initial Evaluation of Seizures in Children Presenting Emergently.

Background And Purpose: The frequency and utility of gadolinium in evaluation of acute pediatric seizure presentation is not well known. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of gadolinium-based contrast agents in MR imaging performed for the evaluation of acute pediatric seizure presentation.

Materials And Methods: We identified consecutive pediatric patients with new-onset seizures from October 1, 2016, to September 30, 2021, who presented to the emergency department and/or were admitted to the inpatient unit and had an MR imaging of the brain for the evaluation of seizures.

A 1-Tesla MRI system for dedicated brain imaging in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of a point-of-care 1-Tesla MRI for identification of intracranial pathologies within neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Methods: Clinical findings and point-of-care 1-Tesla MRI imaging findings of NICU patients (1/2021 to 6/2022) were evaluated and compared with other imaging modalities when available.

Results: A total of 60 infants had point-of-care 1-Tesla MRI; one scan was incompletely terminated due to motion.

Crops with potential for diclosulam remediation and concomitant bioenergy production.

The objective of this work was to evaluate crops for their ability to phytoremediate diclosulam residues in the soil and produce lignocellulosic ethanol. Physiological characteristics, biomass production, soil cover rate, fermentable sugar production and lignocellulosic ethanol production potential of the crops were evaluated in soil with diclosulam residues. The experimental design was a randomized block with four replications.

Using information and communication technologies (ICTs) to solve the repressed demand for primary dental care in the Brazilian Unified Health System due to the COVID-19 pandemic: a randomized controlled study protocol nested with a before-and-after study including economic analysis.

Background: With the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of children had their dental care interrupted or postponed, generating a pent-up demand for primary care. To minimize the impact of this outage, information and communication technologies (ICT) could be an alternative. The aim of this study is to elucidate the impact of implementing the ICTs in primary dental care for children on resolving the pent-up demand for primary dental care to children in the national health system service (SUS) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ultrasound for Midgut Malrotation and Midgut Volvulus: Expert Panel Narrative Review.

Midgut volvulus in association with malrotation is a pediatric surgical emergency. Prompt and accurate diagnosis is necessary to avoid bowel ischemia and necrosis, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality. Historically, the fluoroscopic upper gastrointestinal series has been the preferred imaging modality for the evaluation of both midgut malrotation and volvulus, although the use of ultrasound (US) is increasing.

Artificial Intelligence Algorithm Improves Radiologist Performance in Skeletal Age Assessment: A Prospective Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background Previous studies suggest that use of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms as diagnostic aids may improve the quality of skeletal age assessment, though these studies lack evidence from clinical practice. Purpose To compare the accuracy and interpretation time of skeletal age assessment on hand radiograph examinations with and without the use of an AI algorithm as a diagnostic aid. Materials and Methods In this prospective randomized controlled trial, the accuracy of skeletal age assessment on hand radiograph examinations was performed with ( = 792) and without ( = 739) the AI algorithm as a diagnostic aid.

Age-Dependent Heterogeneity in the Efficacy of Prophylaxis With Enoxaparin Against Catheter-Associated Thrombosis in Critically Ill Children: A Post Hoc Analysis of a Bayesian Phase 2b Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives: We explored the age-dependent heterogeneity in the efficacy of prophylaxis with enoxaparin against central venous catheter-associated deep venous thrombosis in critically ill children.

Design: Post hoc analysis of a Bayesian phase 2b randomized clinical trial.

Setting: Seven PICUs.

Efficacy of Early Prophylaxis Against Catheter-Associated Thrombosis in Critically Ill Children: A Bayesian Phase 2b Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives: We obtained preliminary evidence on the efficacy of early prophylaxis on the risk of central venous catheter-associated deep venous thrombosis and its effect on thrombin generation in critically ill children.

Design: Bayesian phase 2b randomized clinical trial.

Setting: Seven PICUs.

Remedial capacity of diclosulam by cover plants in different edaphoclimatic conditions.

Pre-emergent herbicides have been developed for their long residual effect; however, they can make sensitive successor cultures unfeasible. Waste remediation techniques are needed for sustainable agricultural systems; for this, the edaphoclimatic asymmetries in the country must be considered. This study aimed to evaluate the remedial capacity of the herbicide diclosulam by covering crops under different edaphoclimatic conditions.

Pearls and Pitfalls in Pediatric Thyroid Imaging.

This article discusses the role of imaging of the thyroid gland in children, highlighting pearls and pitfalls. In the pediatric age group, thyroid imaging is mainly performed for the evaluation of congenital hypothyroidism, diffuse thyroid enlargement, and thyroid nodules. Permanent congenital hypothyroidism is most often caused by thyroid dysgenesis.

Preconditioning with L-Ala-Gln reduces the expression of inflammatory markers (TNF-α, NF-κB, IL-6 and HO-1) in an injury animal model of cerebrovascular ischemia in Meriones unguiculatus (gerbils).

Purpose To evaluate the neuroprotective effect of L-alanyl-glutamine in a gerbil model of brain ischemia-reperfusion injury based on immunohistochemical quantification of pro-inflammatory and cell activation biomarkers (TNF-α, NF-κB, IL-6 and HO-1). Methods Male gerbils weighing 100-180 g were pretreated with either 0.75 g/kg L-Ala-Gln (n=18) or 2.

Association of dyslipidemia, hypertension and overweight/obesity with work shift and duration of employment among police officers in a small town in Northeastern Brazil.

Background: Metabolic syndrome and chronic diseases have impact on the job performance of police officers.

Objective: To investigate the association of overweight/obesity and cardiovascular risk factors with work shift and duration of employment among police officers.

Methods: Cross-sectional study with 102 police officers in Cajazeiras, Paraíba, Brazil, in which we analyzed sociodemographic data, occupational characteristics, body mass index (BMI), lipid profile, personal history of disease and lifestyle.

Terminal Ileitis Presenting With a Spontaneously Reduced Ileocolic Intussusception Diagnosed by Point-of-Care Ultrasonography.

Point-of-care ultrasound can be used in the initial workup of ileocolic (IC) intussusception. In general, these lesions require immediate attention and reduction to prevent ischemic bowel injury. We discuss the case of a 27-month-old boy whose IC intussusception was found to spontaneously reduce before a radiology performed ultrasound and the planned air enema reduction procedure.

Effect of Reader and Patient Parameters on the Performance of Last-Image-Hold for Fluoroscopic Grading of Vesicoureteric Reflux.

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of different reader and patient parameters on the degree of agreement and the rate of misclassification of vesicoureteric reflux grading on last-image-hold frames in relation to spot-exposed frames from voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) as well as to determine the nature of reflux misclassification on last-image-hold frames. Blinded readers conducted a retrospective evaluation of last-image-hold and spot-exposed frames of the renal fossae from 191 sequential VCUG examinations performed during a five-year period. Kappa tests were used to determine the agreement between reflux gradings and to assess the impact of reader and patient parameters.

QTL detection for growth and latex production in a full-sib rubber tree population cultivated under suboptimal climate conditions.

Background: Rubber tree is cultivated in mainly Southeast Asia and is by far the most significant source of natural rubber production worldwide. However, the genetic architecture underlying the primary agronomic traits of this crop has not been widely characterized. This study aimed to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with growth and latex production using a biparental population established in suboptimal growth conditions in Brazil.