Ultrasound evaluation of liver fibrosis: preliminary experience with acoustic structure quantification (ASQ) software.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of acoustic structure quantification (ASQ) ultrasound software in estimating the degree of hepatic fibrosis compared to Fibroscan and liver biopsy.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-seven patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C underwent standard ultrasound examination, ASQ, Fibroscan and liver biopsy. ASQ analysis was conducted by placing a single region of interest (ROI) on each image captured, and calculating mode, average and standard deviation.

Influence of cartilage and menisci on the sagittal slope of the tibial plateaus.

We analyzed the magnetic resonance studies of the knee in 80 subjects, 45 men and 35 women with a mean age of 38.9 years, who showed no pathological condition of the joint. Using an imaging visualization software, the sagittal longitudinal axis of the tibia was identified.

Prospective evaluation of multiparametric ultrasound and quantitative elastosonography in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules: preliminary experience.

Purpose: To assess the clinical value of quantitative elastosonography compared with multiparametric ultrasound in differentiating the nature of thyroid nodules.

Methods And Materials: Ninety-seven consecutive patients (32 males, 65 females, mean age, 54 years, range 20-81 years) with thyroid nodules previously detected at color-Doppler ultrasound (CDUS), were prospectively examined with elastosonography with dedicated quantitative software (Elasto-Q, Toshiba) before surgery. Ultrasound examination and elastosonography were evaluated by two investigators in consensus.

Influence of physical activity on cardiorespiratory fitness in children after renal transplantation.

Background: Cardiorespiratory fitness is significantly reduced in children with end-stage renal disease. The role of renal transplantation in improving cardiorespiratory fitness has not been thoroughly investigated.

Methods: In this work, we wanted to assess whether, in children after a successful renal transplant, the amount of weekly physical exercise affects cardiorespiratory fitness and left ventricular mass (LVM).

Prognostic value of extravascular lung water index in critically ill children with acute respiratory failure.

Purpose: In critically ill adults, a reduction in the extravascular lung water index (EVLWi) decreases time on mechanical ventilation and improves survival. The purpose of this study is to assess the prognostic value of EVLWi in critically ill children with acute respiratory failure and investigate its relationships with PaO(2), PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio, A-aDO(2), oxygenation index (OI), mean airway pressure, cardiac index, pulmonary permeability, and percent fluid overload.

Methods: Twenty-seven children admitted to PICU with acute respiratory failure received volumetric hemodynamic and blood gas monitoring following initial stabilization and every 4 h thereafter, until discharge from PICU or death.

Intraindividual comparison of gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MR imaging and 64-section multidetector CT in the Detection of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis.

Purpose: To prospectively compare gadoxetate disodium-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with multiphasic 64-section multidetector computed tomography (CT) in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis.

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approval and informed patient consent were obtained for this prospective study. Fifty-eight patients (39 men, 19 women; mean age, 63 years; age range, 35-84 years) underwent gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MR imaging and multiphasic 64-section multidetector CT.

The reticular point of view in dermatoscopy.

Background: Different dermatoscopic algorithms have been developed to evaluate pigmented lesions of the skin, with pattern analysis being the most commonly used. We sought to develop and evaluate a diagnostic scoring system, the reticular point of view, to distinguish common melanocytic nevus from dysplastic nevus and from melanoma.

Methods: We analyzed 1543 pigmented lesions, most of which contained a pigment network, and assessed the presence of linear extensions, thickened or hyperpigmented lines, areas of abrupt cut off, and areas with large "holes.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis: qualitative comparison of gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MR imaging and multiphasic 64-section CT.

Purpose: To prospectively investigate whether combined interpretation of dynamic and hepatobiliary phase magnetic resonance (MR) images can improve the accuracy of gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MR imaging in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared with either dynamic MR or multiphasic multidetector computed tomographic (CT) images alone.

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approval and informed patient consent were obtained. Fifty-two patients (39 men, 13 women; mean age, 68 years; range, 38-81 years) suspected of having HCC underwent gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MR imaging and multiphasic 64-section multidetector CT.

Blood pressure load, proteinuria and renal function in pre-hypertensive children.

It is as yet unclear whether blood pressure load (BPL) can affect renal function in pre-hypertensive children. We have studied 250 children, with a mean age of 9.12 +/- 3.

Computed tomography with volume rendering for the evaluation of parenchymal hyperinflation after bronchoscopic lung volume reduction.

Objective: To assess computed tomography with volume rendering (CT-VR) as a tool to evaluate parenchymal hyperinflation before and after bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) in patients with advanced stage emphysema.

Materials And Methods: Between March 2006 and October 2007, we have prospectively studied pre- and postoperatively by spiral multislice CT scan and functional tests seven patients (six male, one female; age range 51-77 years, mean 64) with advanced stage heterogeneous emphysema who underwent BLVR using the Emphasys one-way valves (Emphasys, Redwood City, CA, USA). CT parameters considered were: the volume of the 'target' lobe and of the entire treated lung, the diameters (antero-posterior and cranio-caudal) of the treated hemithorax and the emphysematous parenchyma rate with respect to the normal parenchyma rate of the treated lobe.

Relationship between global end-diastolic volume and cardiac output in critically ill infants and children.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate possible correlations between the preload index global end-diastolic volume (GEDV) and the indexes of cardiac function, cardiac index, and stroke volume index in critically ill pediatric patients. The aim was to evaluate whether GEDV may help in the decision-making process concerning volume loading.

Design: Prospective clinical study.

Trichomonas vaginalis infection: risk indicators among women attending for routine gynecologic examination.

Objectives: Trichomonas vaginalis is one of the most common agents of sexually transmitted disease, but trichomoniasis is still considered as an infection of minor importance. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk indicators for trichomoniasis in women attending for routine gynecologic examination.

Methods: The study was conducted comparing demographic and behavioral characteristics in two groups of 122 women with T.

Computer-aided detection (CAD) in lung cancer screening at chest MDCT: ROC analysis of CAD versus radiologist performance.

To evaluate the performance of a computer-aided detection (CAD) algorithm in the detection of pulmonary nodules on high-resolution multidetector row computed tomography images in a large, homogeneous screening population, and to evaluate the effect of the system output on the performance of radiologists, using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Three radiologists with variable experience (1 to 7 y), independently read the 200 computed tomography scans and assigned each nodule candidate a confidence score (1-2-3: unlikely, probably, and definitely a nodule). CAD was applied to all scans; successively readers reevaluated all findings of the CAD, assigning, in consensus, a confidence score (1 to 3).

Renal and cardiovascular effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor plus angiotensin II receptor antagonist therapy in children with proteinuria.

Objective: We investigated whether the combination of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist offers better control of proteinuria and cardiovascular parameters without causing adverse side effects.

Methods: We enrolled 10 children (mean age: 12.3 +/- 4.

Direct sequencing of HPV DNA detected in gynaecologic outpatients in Rome, Italy.

In order to assess the frequency of different human papillomavirus (HPV) types in Rome and the association between HPV and behavioural characteristics, we tested cervical scrapes of a population of sexually active women referring to university clinics for routine gynaecologic care. The presence of HPV DNA was revealed by polymerase chain reaction on two genome regions (L1 and E6/E7) followed by sequencing. Thirty different HPV types were identified; HPV 16 was the most prevalent (14.

Intra-articular methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis: a clinical and sonographic study.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of intra-articular methotrexate (MTX) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Twenty-three consecutive patients, 10 with RA and 13 with PsA, with prevalent or unique arthritic involvement of one knee, were treated with intra-articular injections of MTX 10 mg every 7 days for 8 weeks. Before the beginning of the treatment and after 9 and 17 weeks, the patients underwent a clinical evaluation measuring maximal knee flexion angle, visual analog scale (VAS) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).

High plasma levels of human chromogranin A and adrenomedullin in patients with pheochromocytoma.

Aims And Background: The aim of our study was to investigate the plasma chromogranin A (CgA) and adrenomedullin (AM) levels in patients with pheochromocytomas.

Methods And Study Design: We collected blood samples for measurement of plasma CgA and AM in 21 patients with pheochromocytomas, 43 healthy subjects and 26 patients with solid non-functioning adrenocortical adenomas. In 11 patients with pheochromocytomas plasma CgA and AM were measured again four weeks after tumor removal.

MRI and muscle signal intensities in alcoholics compared with control subjects.

Objective: To evaluate by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) the difference in muscle signal intensities between alcoholics and control subjects.

Methods: Thirty-four healthy subjects and 46 alcohol-dependent individuals were assessed. MRI was carried out using a low-field magnet (0.

Body habitus changes, metabolic abnormalities, osteopenia and cardiovascular risk in patients treated for human immunodeficiency virus infection.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of three variables--protease inhibitors, stavudine, and the length of combined therapy--on body habitus changes, metabolic effects and bone mineral density in HIV patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The onset of possible cardiovascular involvement was considered. Forty HIV patients (29 men and 11 women, mean age 39.

[Antibiotic prophylaxis in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: from empiricism to evidence. Review of the problem and proposal of a randomized trial of the Lap Group Roma].

More than 10 years after its appearance in clinical practice, laparoscopic cholecystectomy can now be considered the standard operation for gallstone disease. However, some aspects of this operation are still debated. The need to perform routine antibiotic prophylaxis in order to reduce the incidence of infectious complications is still a matter of controversy.

Tolerability of Raltitrexed ('Tomudex') in elderly patients with colorectal cancer.

Purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the major health problems of the Western world and the proportion of elderly patients with CRC is growing. Raltitrexed ('Tomudex'), a specific thymidylate synthase inhibitor, has shown efficacy and manageable toxicity in elderly CRC patients. In this retrospective study, the tolerability of raltitrexed in patients with CRC was examined in relation to age.