Survey of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and non-ortho-polychlorinated biphenyls in US meat and poultry, 2012-13: toxic equivalency levels, patterns, temporal trends and implications.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducts a statistically based survey of the domestic meat supply (beef, pork, chicken and turkey) to determine current levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and non-ortho-polychlorinated biphenyls (no-PCBs) every 5 years. Fat samples for each slaughter class were collected from US federally licensed slaughter facilities. The samples were processed and analysed for 17 PCDD/Fs and three no-PCBs.

Exposure to ionizing radiation and estimate of secondary cancers in the era of high-speed CT scanning: projections from the Medicare population.

Purpose: The aims of this study were to analyze the distribution and amount of ionizing radiation delivered by CT scans in the modern era of high-speed CT and to estimate cancer risk in the elderly, the patient group most frequently imaged using CT scanning.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using Medicare claims spanning 8 years (1998-2005) to assess CT use. The data were analyzed in two 4-year cohorts, 1998 to 2001 (n = 5,267,230) and 2002 to 2005 (n = 5,555,345).

The radiologist's guide to health services and policy research training.

Objective: This article will briefly describe the driving forces of radiology's changing landscape because of health care reform and outline opportunities for radiologists in training to use health services and policy research skills to help show the value of radiologists in patient care, define the future business model of radiology, and shape wide-reaching public policy.

Conclusion: The ability of our specialty to continue to thrive will require the presentation of sound evidence showing our added value to patients' overall health and well-being.

Creating a patient-centered imaging service: determining what patients want.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine patients' preferences for how, from whom, and how soon they receive imaging results.

Materials And Methods: Hard copies of our survey were randomly distributed to patients at an academic medical center outpatient imaging facility for 9 weeks, during August through October 2008, to collect data regarding patient preferences for how they received results ("Method"), from whom ("Person"), and how quickly ("Speed").

Results: A total of 129 (23%) of 557 patients (47.

The positive effect of targeted marketing on an existing uterine fibroid embolization practice.

Purpose: Although uterine fibroid embolization is an effective treatment option for symptomatic women, it is unclear what methods can be used to expand referrals in an already established practice. The authors tested the hypothesis that an advertising strategy focused on a defined target market can expand an existing uterine fibroid embolization practice.

Materials And Methods: A market-driven planning sequence was employed.

Endometriosis of the vastus lateralis muscle.

We report an unusual case of a woman who sought medical attention for a painful mass within her anterolateral left thigh. The patient's symptoms waxed and waned with her menses. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 3 cm mass isointense to muscle and surrounded by a rim of decreased signal intensity on T1-weighted images.