A multicenter evaluation of a deep learning software (LungQuant) for lung parenchyma characterization in COVID-19 pneumonia.

Background: The role of computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis and characterization of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia has been widely recognized. We evaluated the performance of a software for quantitative analysis of chest CT, the LungQuant system, by comparing its results with independent visual evaluations by a group of 14 clinical experts. The aim of this work is to evaluate the ability of the automated tool to extract quantitative information from lung CT, relevant for the design of a diagnosis support model.

Correlation between lung ultrasound and chest CT patterns with estimation of pulmonary burden in COVID-19 patients.

Purpose: The capability of lung ultrasound (LUS) to distinguish the different pulmonary patterns of COVID-19 and quantify the disease burden compared to chest CT is still unclear.

Methods: PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients who underwent both LUS and chest CT at the Emergency Department were retrospectively analysed. In both modalities, twelve peripheral lung zones were identified and given a Severity Score basing on main lesion pattern.

CT colonography evaluation of the relationship between colon anatomy and diverticula.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed at investigating the relationship between diverticula and colonic features such as total colon length (TCL), using CTC. We also evaluated polyps, neoplastic lesions and the correlation among them.

Methods: This retrospective study considered a series of patients who underwent CTC in our Hospital from 2010 to 2018.

Self-rated health status and illiteracy as death predictors in a Brazilian cohort.

Cohort studies assessing predictive values of self-rated health (SRH) and illiteracy on mortality in low-to-middle income countries are missing in the literature. Aiming to determine if these two variables were death predictors, an observational prospective population-based cohort study was conducted in a Brazilian small city. The cohort was established in 2002 with a representative sample of adults living in the city, and re-assessed in 2015.

Is waist-to-height ratio the best predictive indicator of hypertension incidence? A cohort study.

Background: The best anthropometric indicator to verify the association between obesity and hypertension (HTN) has not been established. We conducted this study to evaluate and compare the discriminatory power of waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in relation to body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in predicting HTN after 13 years of follow-up.

Methods: This study was an observational prospective cohort study performed in the city of Firminópolis, in Brazilian's midwest.