A comparison of radiographic degeneration features of older Chinese women and older Italian Caucasian women with a focus on thoracic spine.

Background: Compared with Caucasians, East Asians have a lower incident of back pain, lower prevalence and severity of osteoporotic vertebral fracture and lumbar spine degeneration.

Aim: This study compares radiographic spine degeneration features of older Chinese women (as an example of East Asians) and older Italian women (as an example of Caucasians) with a focus on the thoracic spine.

Methods: From two population-based epidemiological studies conducted in Hong Kong, China and Rome, Italy, 297 pairs (mean age: 73.

Increased vertebral body area, disc and facet joint degeneration throughout the lumbar spine in patients with lumbosacral transitional vertebrae.

Objectives: Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV), developmental spinal canal stenosis, lumbar disc and facet joint degeneration are all common lumbar spine conditions. This study explores the relationship between these entities.

Methods: Five hundred and five patients (254 females, 251 males), mean age 57 ± 13 years, who underwent abdominopelvic CT examinations were studied.

Dependence of intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion MR threshold b-value selection for separating perfusion and diffusion compartments and liver fibrosis diagnostic performance.

Background: Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) tissue parameters depend on the threshold b-value.

Purpose: To explore how threshold b-value impacts PF ( f), D ( D), and D ( D*) values and their performance for liver fibrosis detection.

Material And Methods: Fifteen healthy volunteers and 33 hepatitis B patients were included.

A Combined Use of Intravoxel Incoherent Motion MRI Parameters Can Differentiate Early-Stage Hepatitis-b Fibrotic Livers from Healthy Livers.

This study investigated a combined use of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) parameters, Dslow ( D), PF ( f), and Dfast ( D*), for liver fibrosis evaluation. Sixteen healthy volunteers (F0) and 33 hepatitis-b patients (stage F1 = 15, stage F2-4 = 18) were included. With a 1.

Population reference range for developmental lumbar spinal canal size.

Background: Considerable variability exists in normal developmental lumbar spinal canal size. This impacts the likelihood of neural compromise. Spinal canal development is complete by 17 years.

Ultrasound of musculoskeletal soft-tissue tumors superficial to the investing fascia.

Objective: The objective of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in assessing musculoskeletal soft-tissue tumors superficial to the investing fascia.

Materials And Methods: Seven hundred fourteen superficial soft-tissue tumors evaluated with ultrasound by two musculoskeletal radiologists were retrospectively reviewed. In all ultrasound reports, the reporting radiologists provided one, two, or three diagnoses depending on their perceived level of diagnostic certainty.

Bone marrow fat content in the elderly: a reversal of sex difference seen in younger subjects.

Purpose: To investigate vertebral bone marrow fat content in elderly subjects related to sex, age, and bone mineral density (BMD) and relate these findings to published data in younger subjects.

Materials And Methods: A total of 259 healthy subjects (145 females, 114 males; age range, 62-90 years) underwent proton ((1) H) MR spectroscopy of L3 vertebral body and BMD of the lumbar spine with results stratified according to age. Ninety age- and BMD-matched subjects were selected to determine sex differences in marrow fat content and BMD.

Prediction of bone loss in elderly female subjects by MR perfusion imaging and spectroscopy.

Objective: To determine whether MR perfusion indices or marrow fat content at baseline can predict areal bone mineral density (BMDa) loss.

Methods: Repeat dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the hip was performed in female subjects at 2 years (n = 52) and 4 years (n = 45) following baseline MR perfusion imaging and spectroscopy of the hip.

Results: Percentage reduction in femoral neck BMDa at 4 years post-baseline was greater in subjects with below median acetabulum enhancement slope (E(slope)) (-5.

Reproducibility of MR perfusion and (1)H spectroscopy of bone marrow.

Purpose: To determine the reproducibility of proton ((1)H) magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging in a clinical setting for the assessment of marrow fat fraction and marrow perfusion in longitudinal studies.

Materials And Methods: In all, 36 subjects (17 females, 19 males, mean age 72.9 +/- 2.

Sexual activity, erectile dysfunction and their correlates among 1,566 older Chinese men in Southern China.

Introduction: Few studies on sexuality and its correlates in adults have been conducted in Asia; most studies in Asia have focused instead on erectile dysfunction in men rather than sexuality or sexual activities.

Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with sexual activity and erectile dysfunction in elderly Chinese men aged 65 years and above.

Main Outcome Measures: Sexual activity and sexual functions were assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function-5.