Soluble RAGE and atherosclerosis in youth with type 1 diabetes: a 5-year follow-up study.

Background: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) play a role in the development of late complications and atherosclerosis in diabetes by engaging the receptor for advanced glycation end products, RAGE. Receptor binding leads to activation of the vascular endothelium and increased inflammation in the vessel wall. The soluble variants of the receptor, endogenous secretory RAGE (esRAGE) and the cleaved cell-surface part of RAGE, which together comprise soluble RAGE (sRAGE), are suggested to have a protective effect acting as decoys for RAGE.

Measurements of carotid intima media thickness in non-invasive high-frequency ultrasound images: the effect of dynamic range setting.

Background: Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) measured with ultrasound (US) is widely used as biomarker for arteriosclerosis and as surrogate endpoint in interventional studies to assess efficacy of drug therapies. Strict US protocols are necessary to ensure reproducibility. The range of US signal intensities used for image formation, the dynamic range (DR), is rarely reported in studies and little is known about its effect on CIMT measurements in humans.

The advanced glycation end product methylglyoxal-derived hydroimidazolone-1 and early signs of atherosclerosis in childhood diabetes.

Background: Advanced protein glycation is an important mechanism for the development of late diabetic complications including atherosclerosis. Methylglyoxal-derived hydroimidazolone-1 is the most abundant advanced glycation end product in human plasma.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between methylglyoxal-derived hydroimidazolone-1 and early signs of atherosclerosis in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and healthy controls.

Standardized cine-loop documentation in renal ultrasound facilitates skill-mix between radiographer and radiologist.

Background: The radiographers' role in ultrasound (US) has been debated due to the operator-dependent aspect of diagnostic US. With standardized cine-loop ultrasound (SCUS) a reliable diagnosis can be achieved by reading SCUS independently from performing the procedure.

Purpose: To study the correlation between sonographic findings when SCUS is performed and read by a radiologist and when SCUS is performed by a radiographer and read by a radiologist, and to assess the radiologists' confidence when reading SCUS examinations performed by a radiographer.

Standardized cine-loop documentation in abdominal ultrasound facilitates offline image interpretation.

Background: One of the main disadvantages of conventional ultrasound is its operator dependency, which might impede the reproducibility of the sonographic findings. A new approach with cine-loops and standardized scan protocols can overcome this drawback.

Purpose: To compare abdominal ultrasound findings of immediate bedside reading by performing radiologist with offline reading by a non-performing radiologist, using standardized cine-loop sequences.