Plain radiography has a role to play in current clinical practice in Western Switzerland.

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the current role of conventional radiography examinations in Western Switzerland and the main clinical indications required to justify the use of this imaging examination.

Methods: Ethical approval was obtained from Vaud Ethics committee (Ref 2020-00311). An online questionnaire was specifically designed and implemented on the data collection tool LimeSurvey composed of two parts: a) to characterise the participants' profile and their institutions and b) 169 projections for the different anatomical area (upper and lower limbs, pelvis, skull, spine, thorax, abdomen) were presented to collect data about the frequency and main clinical indications.

Feasibility and Performance of Free-Hand Single-Photon Computed Tomography/Ultrasonography for Preoperative Parathyroid Adenoma Localization: A Pilot Study.

The aim of this prospective pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of a new hybrid imaging modality, free-hand single-photon computed tomography/ultrasonography (fhSPECT/US), for preoperative localization of parathyroid adenomas and to compare its performance with conventional ultrasonography and SPECT/CT. Twelve patients diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism underwent sequentially US and parathyroid scintigraphy, including SPECT/CT, followed by fhSPECT/US, allowing for real-time fusion between US and freehand-generated gamma-camera images. The fhSPECT/US detection rates were correlated with histopathology, when available, or with the imaging modality showing the most lesions.

Physical functioning factors predicting a return home after stroke rehabilitation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to identify the physical functioning factors associated with home discharge after inpatient stroke rehabilitation.

Data Sources: A search of PubMed, Embase, CINHAL, The Cochrane Library (Trials), Web of Science, and PEDro were conducted up until May 2023.

Methods: Two independent reviewers selected studies for population (patients with stroke), predictive factors (physical functioning), outcome (discharge destination), setting (inpatient rehabilitation), and study designs (observational and experimental studies).

Optimisation of exposure parameters using a phantom for thoracic spine radiographs in antero-posterior and lateral views.

Introduction: To investigate the exposure parameters for thoracic spine/(TS) radiography that allows the image acquisition at the lowest dose possible, while maintaining an adequate image quality/(IQ) to identify all relevant anatomical criteria.

Methods: An experimental phantom study was conducted, and 48 different radiographs of TS (24 AP/24 lateral) were acquired. The Automatic Exposure Control/(AEC) with the central sensor was used to select the beam intensity, while Source-to-Detector-Distance/(SDD) (AP:115/125 cm; Lateral:115/150 cm), tube potential (AP:70/81/90 kVp; Lateral: 81/90/102 kVp), use of grid/no grid and focal spot (fine/broad) were manipulated.

Exploring radiographers' perceptions and knowledge about patient lead shielding: a cross-sectional study in Greece and Cyprus.

The present study aimed to explore radiographers' knowledge, clinical practice and perceptions regarding the use of patient lead shielding in Greece and Cyprus. Qualitative data were analyzed using conceptual content analysis and through the classification of findings into themes and categories. A total of 216 valid responses were received.

Risk of congenital malformation after first trimester mRNA COVID-19 vaccine exposure in pregnancy: the COVI-PREG prospective cohort.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the risk of congenital malformation among pregnant women exposed to the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines during the first trimester of pregnancy, which is a developmental period where the foetus is at risk of teratogenicity.

Methods: Pregnant women were prospectively enrolled from March 2021 to March 2022, at the time of COVID-19 vaccination. Pregnant women exposed to at least one dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine from conception to 11 weeks of gestations and 6 days were compared with pregnant women exposed to the vaccine from 12 weeks to the end of pregnancy.

Determinants of Vaccination and Willingness to Vaccinate against COVID-19 among Pregnant and Postpartum Women during the Third Wave of the Pandemic: A European Multinational Cross-Sectional Survey.

With COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy at around 50% in the obstetric population, it is critical to identify which women should be addressed and how. Our study aimed to assess COVID-19 vaccination willingness among pregnant and postpartum women in Europe and to investigate associated determinants. This study was a cross-sectional, web-based survey conducted in Belgium, Norway, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and United Kingdom (UK) in June-August 2021.

Artificial intelligence to support person-centred care in breast imaging - A scoping review.

Aim: To overview Artificial Intelligence (AI) developments and applications in breast imaging (BI) focused on providing person-centred care in diagnosis and treatment for breast pathologies.

Methods: The scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. The search was conducted on MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of science, IEEE explore and arxiv during July 2022 and included only studies published after 2016, in French and English.

Emerging Viral Infections in Pregnancy: What's New in 2022?

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Incidence, causes, and risk factors of stillbirth in an Amazonian context: Saint Laurent du Maroni maternity ward 2016-2021.

Objective: We aimed to describe the epidemiology of intrauterine fetal deaths in multiethnic western French Guiana and to assess its main causes and risk factors.

Study Design: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted based on data from January 2016 to December 2021. All information on stillbirth with a gestational age ≥20 weeks in the Western French Guiana Hospital Center was extracted.

Automatic Body Segment and Side Recognition of an Inertial Measurement Unit Sensor during Gait.

Inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors are widely used for motion analysis in sports and rehabilitation. The attachment of IMU sensors to predefined body segments and sides (left/right) is complex, time-consuming, and error-prone. Methods for solving the IMU-2-segment (I2S) pairing work properly only for a limited range of gait speeds or require a similar sensor configuration.

Challenges, Concerns, and Experiences of Community-Dwelling Older Women with Chronic Low Back Pain-A Qualitative Study in Hong Kong, China.

Background And Objectives: Although chronic low back pain (CLBP) is known to negatively affect multiple aspects of the lives of older people, prior qualitative studies mainly focused on the lived experiences of older people with CLBP in Western countries. Given cultural and contextual differences and poor understanding of CLBP in older women with CLBP, it is important to better understand the concerns and lived experiences of Chinese older women with CLBP. The current study aimed to investigate the experiences, challenges, concerns, and coping strategies of older women with CLBP in Hong Kong.

Lost in translation? A qualitative study of representations and management of chronic depression in general practice.

Background: GPs are on the front line for the identification and management of chronic depression but not much is known of their representations and management of chronic depression.

Objectives: To analyze GPs' representations of chronic depression and to explore how they manage it.

Methods: Three focus groups were conducted with 22 French-speaking general practitioners in Switzerland.

Quality of maternal and newborn care around the time of childbirth for migrant versus nonmigrant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results of the IMAgiNE EURO study in 11 countries of the WHO European region.

Objective: To describe the perception of quality of maternal and newborn care (QMNC) around the time of childbirth among migrant and nonmigrant women in Europe.

Methods: Women who gave birth at a health facility in 11 countries of the WHO European Region from March 2020 to July 2021 were invited to answer an online questionnaire including demographics and childbirth experience. Data were analyzed and compared for 1781 migrant and 20 653 nonmigrant women.

Rates of instrumental vaginal birth and cesarean and quality of maternal and newborn health care in private versus public facilities: Results of the IMAgiNE EURO study in 16 countries.

Objective: To explore the quality of maternal and newborn care (QMNC) during the COVID-19 pandemic by facility type among 16 European countries, comparing rates of instrumental vaginal birth and cesarean.

Methods: Women who gave birth in the WHO European Region from March 1, 2020, to February 7, 2022, answered a validated online questionnaire. Rates of instrumental birth, instrumental vaginal birth, and cesarean, and a QMNC index were calculated for births in public versus private facilities.

Individual and country-level variables associated with the medicalization of birth: Multilevel analyses of IMAgiNE EURO data from 15 countries in the WHO European region.

Objective: To investigate potential associations between individual and country-level factors and medicalization of birth in 15 European countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Online anonymous survey of women who gave birth in 2020-2021. Multivariable multilevel logistic regression models estimating associations between indicators of medicalization (cesarean, instrumental vaginal birth [IVB], episiotomy, fundal pressure) and proxy variables related to care culture and contextual factors at the individual and country level.

Quality of maternal and newborn care in Switzerland during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study based on WHO quality standards.

Objective: To explore quality of maternal and newborn care (QMNC) in healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland.

Methods: Women giving birth in Switzerland answered a validated online questionnaire including 40 WHO standards-based quality measures. QMNC score was calculated according to linguistic region and mode of birth.

Strategies, challenges and enabling factors when imaging autistic individuals in Swiss medical imaging departments.

Introduction: Autistic individuals may require medical imaging but they can face barriers that are related to lack of adjustments in their care. This study aims to explore and understand strategies currently used by Swiss radiographers to image autistic patients and to propose recommendations for clinical practice.

Methods: The Swiss Ethics of the canton of Vaud committee approved the study.

Knee adduction moment decomposition: Toward better clinical decision-making.

Knee adduction moment (KAM) is correlated with the progression of medial knee osteoarthritis (OA). Although a generic gait modification can reduce the KAM in some patients, it may have a reverse effect on other patients. We proposed the "decomposed ground reaction vector" (dGRV) model to 1) distinguish between the components of the KAM and their contribution to the first and second peaks and KAM impulse and 2) examine how medial knee OA, gait speed, and a brace influence these components.

Physiological effects of Therapeutic Body Wraps in healthy volunteers: An observational study.

Introduction: The clinical management of severe anxiety is challenging. Along with specific medication, several nonpharmacological treatments exist, among which the Therapeutic Body Wraps (TBW). While TBW is clinically known to be efficient, the absence of objective physiological measurements raised some debates about its harmlessness.