Evaluation of the effectiveness of artificial intelligence for ultrasound guided peripheral nerve and plane blocks in recognizing anatomical structures.

Background: We aimed to assess the accuracy of artificial intelligence (AI) based real-time anatomy identification for ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve and plane block in eight regions in this prospective observational study.

Methods: After obtaining ethics committee approval and written informed consent from 40 healthy volunteers (20 men and 20 women, between 18 and 72 years old), an ultrasound device installed with AI software (Nerveblox, SmartAlfa, Turkey) were used to scan regions of the cervical plexus, brachial plexus, pectoralis (PECS), rectus sheet, femoralis, canalis adductorius, popliteal, and ESP by three anesthesiology trainees. During scanning by a trainee, once software indicates 100 % scan success of associated anatomic landmarks, both raw and labeled ultrasound images were saved, assessed, and validated using a 6-point scale between 0 and 5 by two expert validators.

Comparison of the Efficiency of Radiofrequency and Microwave Ablation Methods in the Treatment of Benign Thyroid Nodules.

Rationale And Objectives: To compare the efficacy of two thermal ablation techniques (radiofrequency vs microwave ablation) in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules.

Materials And Methods: A total of 80 patients with 80 nodules underwent thermal ablation of thyroid nodules with either radiofrequency ablation (RFA) (23 females and 14 males; mean age 41 ± 9years) or microwave ablation (MWA) (28 females and 15 males; mean age 45 ± 11years). Ultrasound assessments were made at the 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th months after the ablation procedure.

A real-time anatomy ıdentification via tool based on artificial ıntelligence for ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block procedures: an accuracy study.

We aimed to assess the accuracy of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based real-time anatomy identification software specifically developed to ease image interpretation intended for ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block (UGPNB). Forty healthy participants (20 women, 20 men) were enrolled to perform interscalene, supraclavicular, infraclavicular, and transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks under ultrasound guidance using AI software by anesthesiology trainees. During block practice by a trainee, once the software indicates 100% scan success of each block associated anatomic landmarks, both raw and labeled ultrasound images were saved, assessed, and validated using a 5-point scale by expert validators.

Shear wave elastography evaluation of brachial plexus in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neuroinflammatory disease characterized by inflammation involving the peripheral nerves. Shear wave elastography (SWE) is potentially a method of choice for detecting peripheral nerve involvement.

Purpose: To compare the degree of thickening and nerve elasticity of brachial plexus (BP) nerve roots and evaluate the usefulness of sonoelastography in patients with clinically diagnosed MS without brachial plexopathy.

Diagnostic performance of 2D shear wave elastography in predicting liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C: a histopathological correlation study.

Purpose: In this study, we investigated the diagnostic efficacy of 2D-Shear Wave Elastography (2D-SWE) in detecting stages of liver fibrosis and determining the disease-specific cut-off values in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C infection, using histopathological analysis as the reference method.

Method: Our study included 103 consecutive adult patients with chronic hepatitis B and C infection (CHB and CHC) who had liver biopsy within three months of elastography examination. A real-time 2D-SWE was performed using the LOGIQ E9 system (GE Medical Systems, Wisconsin, USA).

The utility of shear wave elastography in the evaluation of muscle stiffness in patients with cerebral palsy after botulinum toxin A injection.

Purpose: The first aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the stiffness of the medial gastrocnemius muscle (GM) after a botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injection in children with cerebral palsy (CP) using shear wave elastography (SWE). We also wanted to investigate the usability of SWE for evaluating spasticity in a clinical setting. The second aim of this study was to show how treatment of the gastrocnemius muscle spasticity caused a change in the elasticity of the anterior tibial (TA) muscle.

Evaluation of effects of aging on skeletal muscle elasticity using shear wave elastography.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of aging on skeletal muscle stiffness in relaxed and contracted status using shear wave elastography (SWE).

Materials And Methods: A total of 57 participants were enrolled to this institutional review board approved prospective study. Medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle (GM) of all participants were examined bilaterally by a single radiologist in prone position.

Diaphragmatic muscle thickness in older people with and without sarcopenia.

Background: Studies in mice have suggested that sarcopenic animals may have atrophic diaphragmatic muscles; however, to date, no clinical studies are available.

Aims: To investigate whether the diaphragmatic thickness is affected in older patients with sarcopenia and if this is associated with impaired respiratory functions.

Methods: Thirty sarcopenic and 30 non-sarcopenic elderly patients aged over 65 were included.

Quantification of liver fat content with ultrasonographic attenuation measurement function: Correlation with unenhanced multidimensional computerized tomography.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of attenuation measurement function (ATT), a newly developed quantitative ultrasonography(US) method based on measurement of the attenuation coefficient, using unenhanced computerized tomography(CT) attenuation values as a reference standard, for the detection and measurement of hepatosteatosis.

Material And Methods: A total of 98 patients were analyzed. The diagnostic ability of ATT was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and the correlation between liver attenuation index (LAI), the liver-to-spleen attenuation ratio (CT), liver attenuation value (CT), and ATT was determined.

High incidence of co-existing factors significantly modifying the phenotype in patients with Fabry disease.

Fabry disease results from deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme alpha-galactosidase A. The families of 11 index cases were screened by enzyme and molecular assays. Further clinical and laboratory investigations were carried out in all cases.

Interobserver variability and stiffness measurements of normal common extensor tendon in healthy volunteers using shear wave elastography.

Objectives: The purposes of our study are to determine the quantitative elasticity values of normal common extensor tendon (CET) and to assess the interobserver variability of stiffness measurements using shear wave elastography (SWE).

Materials And Methods: A total of 60 CETs of 30 (15 female, 15 male, mean age 30.2 years) healthy volunteers without any symptoms of lateral epicondylitis were examined by two radiologists.

Ultrasound elastography in assessment of salivary glands involvement in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Objective: Our study aimed to assess the pathological sonoelastographic changes in the major salivary glands and to demonstrate the diagnostic effectiveness of Sonoelastography as an additional method to US in Sjögren's syndrome.

Methods: Fifty eight patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) were selected according to the American-European Consensus Group Classification criteria. Twenty five healthy volunteers involved in this study.

Assessment of Endothelial Dysfunction With Flow-Mediated Dilatation in Myeloproliferative Disorders.

Background: Thrombosis is the most important cardiovascular complication of classical myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs). Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is known to play a major role in the mechanism of thrombophilia in MPDs.

Methods: Endothelial dysfunction and its associations with other parameters were investigated.

Value of Ultrasound Elastography in the Differential Diagnosis of Cervical Lymph Nodes: A Comparative Study With B-mode and Color Doppler Sonography.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of ultrasound elastography in the evaluation of enlarged cervical lymph nodes in comparison with B-mode and color Doppler sonography.

Methods: A total of 220 lymph nodes in 168 consecutive patients who were referred for sonography of the neck were included in this study. B-mode sonograms were evaluated according to short-axis diameter, long-to-short-axis ratio, hilum, echogenicity, and microcalcification.

A very feasible alternative in patients with feeding difficulties from gastrostomy: Jejunal tube advanced through the gastrostomy.

Background: Our aim is to share our experiences regarding patients who cannot be fed effectively through the gastrostomy tube, but were inserted feeding jejunostomy through the gastrostomy orifice using scopic fluoroscopic techniques utilised by the interventional radiology.

Patients And Methods: Between January 2010 and May 2013 the patients that were inserted jejunostomy tube through the gastrostomy orifice using fluoroscopic techniques were retrospectively analysed. Data including primary indication for gastrostomy, sex, concomitant disease and the requirement for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were all recorded.

Intraocular pressure lowering effect of orbital decompression is related to increased venous outflow in Graves orbitopathy.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of combined orbital bone and fat decompression on intraocular pressure (IOP) and superior ophthalmic vein blood flow velocity (SOV-BFV), and their association with the clinical features of Graves orbitopathy (GO).

Methods: During the 2002-2008 period, 72 eyes of 36 GO cases demonstrating moderate to severe orbitopathy were evaluated according to their clinical features as: cases with or without dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON), and underwent orbital decompression. A control group comprised 40 eyes of 20 healthy subjects.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein levels and carotid intima-media thickness as markers of early atherosclerosis in prepubertal obese children.

Objectives: Children with obesity have a high cardiovascular risk and an impaired oxidant-antioxidant status, which may lead to endothelial dysfunction and increased carotid intima media thickness (IMT) even in childhood. The aim of this study was to investigate the circulating oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations and the IMT of carotid arteries in prepubertal obese children, and also to search for its possible association with carotid atherosclerosis.

Methods: Twenty-seven prepubertal obese children (age, 7.

The levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine, homocysteine and carotid intima-media thickness in hypercholesterolemic children.

The aim of this study was to examine the intima-media thickness (IMT) of carotid arteries and endothelial function parameters such as plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and homocysteine levels in hypercholesterolemic children and to investigate the relations of these parameters with hypercholesterolemia. Fifty-seven hypercholesterolemic and 37 healthy children were included in the study. Hypercholesterolemia was defined as 155 mg/dl and above for low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol.

Unenhanced urinary CT: value of parenchymal attenuation measurements in differentiating acute vs. chronic renal obstruction.

Objective: We aimed to search if the renal parenchymal attenuation measurements on unenhanced CT scans could be useful in differentiating acutely obstructed kidneys from chronic cases or unobstructed kidneys.

Material And Methods: Unenhanced CT scans of 101 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Thirty-two patients with unilateral acute renal obstruction, 34 patients with unilateral chronic renal obstruction due to various reasons and 35 control subjects were included in the study.

[Reflex sympathetic dystrophy secondary to piriformis syndrome: a case report].

Piriformis syndrome is a rare cause of hip and foot pain which may be due to sciatic nerve irritation because of anatomic abnormalities of sciatic nerve and piriformis muscle or herniated disc, facet syndrome, trochanteric bursit, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, endometriosis and other conditions where sciatic nerve is irritated. There has been no reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) case presented due to piriformis syndrome before. A sixty-two-year-old female patient had right foot and hip pain (VNS: 8), redness and swelling in the foot since 15 days.

Factors related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese children.

Background/aims: The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has been increasing parallel to obesity in the pediatric age group. This study aimed to analyze the factors that are related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese children.

Methods: 101 obese children and 68 non-obese controls were included in the study.

Correlation between vessel diameters of superficial and deep inferior epigastric systems: Doppler ultrasound assessment.

Background: The deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEAP) flap is a technically demanding procedure and the dissection is directly influenced by the size of the perforator vessels. There is a common belief that the size of the superficial inferior epigastric vein (SIEV) is inversely proportional to the perforators from the deep inferior epigastric system. To investigate the validity of this hypothesis, we evaluated and compared the diameters of the SIEV and deep inferior epigastric perforator vessels (DIEP-A and DIEP-V).

Vascular endothelial growth factor and carotid intima-media thickness in patients with Behçet's disease.

There is morphologic evidence of subclinical atherosclerosis in Behçet's disease (BD) patients obtained by high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography (US). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenetic factor and a marker for endothelial dysfunction. VEGF could contribute to the pathological events in BD.

Evaluation of renal function in Turkish children receiving BFM-95 therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

This study examined renal function in 42 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated according to BFM-95 protocol. Fifteen (group 1) were investigated longitudinally at 3 time points: before (T1), 4 weeks after (T2), and 2-6 months after (T3) consolidation therapy with high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX). The frequency of abnormalities in glomerular and tubular tests were nil at T1 and ranged from 13 to 40% at T2 and 7 to 33% at T3 in group 1.

Uric acid level and its association with carotid intima-media thickness in patients with hypertension.

Objective: Carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) measured noninvasively by ultrasonography is now widely used as a surrogate marker for atherosclerotic disease and directly associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Hyperuricemia (HU) is a well recognized risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The independence of this association from other confounding factors has remained controversial.