Arterial spin labeling (ASL-MRI) versus fluorodeoxyglucose-PET (FDG-PET) in diagnosing dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Dementia is generally caused by neurodegenerative diseases affecting the brain, which leads to a progressive neurocognitive decline characterized by inability to perform major higher functioning tasks. Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan is one of the main imaging tests performed for diagnostic purposes. However, with FDG-PET being quite expensive and not widely available, an attempt to find an alternative is set.

Metabolic evaluation guidelines in patients with nephrolithiasis: Are they being followed? Results of a national, multi-institutional, quality-assessment study.

Introduction: The significant cost burden of kidney stones underscores the importance of best clinical practice in kidney stone management. We evaluated adherence to kidney stone metabolic evaluation guidelines in a Canadian population and the interest of patients with regard to prevention.

Methods: A questionnaire based on Canadian Urological Association (CUA) best practice guidelines was designed.

Laparoscopic pyeloplasty: Initial experience with 3D vision laparoscopy and articulating shears.

Introduction: Laparoscopic reconstructive surgery is associated with a steep learning curve related to the use of two-dimensional (2D) vision and rigid instruments. With the advent of robotic surgery, three-dimensional (3D) vision, and articulated instruments, this learning curve has been facilitated. We present a hybrid alternative to robotic surgery, using laparoscopy with 3D vision and articulated shears.

Primary Gleason pattern upgrading in contemporary patients with D'Amico low-risk prostate cancer: implications for future biomarkers and imaging modalities.

Objective: To retrospectively assess the rate of high-grade primary Gleason upgrading (HGPGU) to primary Gleason pattern 4 or 5 in a contemporary cohort of patients with D'Amico low-risk prostate cancer including those who fulfilled Prostate Cancer Research International Active Surveillance (PRIAS) criteria, and to develop a tool for HGPGU prediction. HGPGU is a contraindication in most active surveillance (AS) and focal therapy protocols.

Patients And Methods: In all, 10 616 patients with localised prostate cancer were treated at a high-volume European tertiary care centre from 2010 to 2015 with radical prostatectomy.

Assessment of the Rate of Adherence to International Guidelines for Androgen Deprivation Therapy with External-beam Radiation Therapy: A Population-based Study.

Background: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the European Association of Urology guidelines recommend using radiation therapy (RT) with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to treat high-risk and locally advanced prostate cancer patients.

Objective: To evaluate the degree of adherence to these guidelines.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Between 2003 and 2009, in the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database, 14 180 patients were diagnosed with high-risk (T1-T2 with World Health Organization histologic grade 3) or locally advanced (T3-T4 with any histologic grade) prostatic adenocarcinoma.

Enhanced recovery pathway for radical prostatectomy: Implementation and evaluation in a universal healthcare system.

Introduction: Enhanced recovery pathways are standardized, multidisciplinary, consensus-based tools that provide guidelines for evidence-based decision-making. This study evaluates the impact of the implementation of a clinical care pathway on patient outcomes following radical prostatectomy in a universal healthcare system.

Methods: Medical charts of 200 patients with prostate cancer who underwent open and minimally invasive radical prostatectomy at a single academic hospital from 2009 to 2012 were reviewed.

Considering intellectual, in addition to financial, conflicts of interest proved important in a clinical practice guideline: a descriptive study.

Objectives: The American College of Chest Physicians Antithrombotic Guidelines ninth iteration placed restrictions on panelists with recommendations on which they disclosed a primary conflict of interest (COI). We aimed to describe panelists' financial and intellectual COI and evaluate to what extent, beyond assessing financial COI, assessing intellectual COI affected COI management.

Study Design And Setting: We classified financial and intellectual COI into primary (causes voting restriction) and secondary (no restrictions).

Off-axis detection and characterization of laser beams in the maritime atmosphere.

Remote detection and characterization of laser beams propagating in maritime atmospheres is discussed. A model for off-axis scattered laser light based on Mie scattering from maritime aerosols is presented and compared with angle and time-resolved measurements from a pulsed laser source. We demonstrate that the direction of the source can be determined from the angle-resolved intensity and that the beam direction can be determined from arrival times of the scattered signals if the position of the laser source is known.