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Quantitative evaluation of deep convolutional nerve organs network-based image denoising pertaining to low-dose computed tomography.
Cutaneous stigmata of the midline spine are a common question in pediatrics. They are known to be related to a higher likelihood of underlying dysraphic spinal abnormalities. Clear understanding of different types of cutaneous stigmata and correlating dysraphic findings can aid in appropriate imaging workup and timely management of patient pathology. In this article, the authors review midline spinal cutaneous findings in the pediatric population with occult spinal dysraphism.Complaints related to the neck are common following mild pediatric trauma. Although significant cervical spine injuries are most often seen and evaluated in the emergency room or inpatient setting, the primary care provider is faced with the evaluation of lower acuity complaints. We provide a review to assist with the efficient evaluation of these patients to facilitate decisions regarding return to play, the need for imaging, and need for referral to subspecialty providers.Mild traumatic brain injury accounts for an estimated 4.8 million cases of pediatric traumatic brain injuries worldwide every year. In the United States, 70% of mild traumatic brain injury cases are due to sports and recreational injuries. Early diagnosis, especially in active children, is critical to preventing recurrent injuries. Management is guided by graded protocols for returning to school and activity. Ninety percent of children recover within 1 month of injury. Promising research has shown that early referral to specialty concussion care and multidisciplinary treatment with physical and occupational therapy may shorten recovery time and improve neurologic outcomes.Epilepsy in children continues to present a major medical and economic burden on society. Left untreated, seizures can present the risk of sudden death and severe cognitive impairment. It is understood that primary care providers having concerns about abnormal movements or behaviors in children will make a prompt referral to a trusted pediatric neurologist. The authors present a brief introduction to seizure types, classification, and management with particular focus on what surgery for epilepsy can offer. Improved seizure control and its attendant improvements in quality of life can be achieved with timely referral and intervention.Intracranial vascular abnormalities rarely are encountered in primary care. Many of the pathologies are occult and prognosis varies widely between inconsequential variants of anatomy to acutely life-threatening conditions. Consequently, there often is a great deal of anxiety associated with any potential diagnosis. This article reviews anatomic intracranial vascular lesions, including vascular malformations (arteriovenous malformations/arteriovenous fistulae and cavernous malformations), structural arteriopathies (aneurysms and moyamoya), and common developmental anomalies of the vasculature. The focus includes a general overview of anatomy, pathology, epidemiology, and key aspects of evaluation for the primary care provider and a review of common questions encountered in practice.This article provides general principles of managing children with central nervous system tumors. The distribution, diagnostic work-up, and key principles of treatment are reviewed, and special circumstances that may be encountered by pediatricians in the community are discussed.Hydrocephalus is a pathologic condition that results in the disruption of normal cerebrospinal fluid flow dynamics often characterized by an increase in intracranial pressure resulting in an abnormal dilation of the ventricles. The goal of this article was to provide the necessary background information to understand the pathophysiology related to hydrocephalus, recognize the presenting signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus, identify when to initiate a workup with further studies, and understand the management of pediatric patients with a new and preexisting diagnosis of hydrocephalus.Chiari malformation type 1 (CM1) is often found incidentally. However, patients with symptoms or signs referable to CM1 or an associated syrinx will likely benefit from surgical intervention. Patients who are not symptomatic from CM1 at presentation are unlikely to become symptomatic at follow-up.With increasing use of intracranial imaging, the diagnosis of benign intracranial cysts is becoming more frequent in the pediatric population. These lesions are usually incidentally discovered during the work-up of unrelated symptoms. Most do not require treatment and many do not even require imaging follow-up. When symptomatic, symptoms of these lesions are usually caused by local mass effect. Symptomatic lesions warrant neurosurgical evaluation, and may require surgical intervention in rare, well-selected cases. This article describes three common benign intracranial cysts found in the pediatric population arachnoid cysts, choroid cysts, and pineal cysts.Macrocephaly is commonly encountered in the primary care provider's office. It is defined as an occipitofrontal circumference that is greater than 2 standard deviations above the mean for the child's given age. Macrocephaly is a nonspecific clinical finding that may be benign or require further evaluation. An algorithmic approach is useful for aiding in the clinical decision-making process to determine if further evaluation with neuroimaging is warranted. Abnormal findings may signify a harmful underlying cause, requiring referral to a genetic specialist or neurosurgeon.There are a wide variety of scalp and skull lesions that can affect the pediatric population, many of which are first encountered by primary care physicians. The differential consists of a broad range of more common congenital lesions, sequelae of trauma, and vascular anomalies, to very rare neoplastic processes. It is important to understand signs and symptoms that may indicate whether a lesion may be benign versus life threatening, what imaging studies are appropriate and how to interpret them, and when to seek referrals to specialists.The cranial fontanelles and sutures have several benign variations, including most cases of "early" or "late" closure of the anterior fontanelle, bathrocephaly, overriding sutures, and benign metopic ridging. However, recognizing true craniosynostosis and referring the patient to a craniofacial specialist in a timely fashion are imperative, as minimally invasive options can be offered to most patients younger than 6 months of age. Gaining comfort with the physical examination of an infant with an abnormal head shape is best achieved through experience and pattern recognition and will frequently facilitate an accurate diagnosis without the need for ionizing radiation.When evaluating a child with a potential neurologic or neurodevelopmental disorder, identifying indications for imaging and the correct imaging modality to order can be challenging. This article provides an overview of computed tomography, MRI, ultrasonography, and radiography with an emphasis on indications for use, pitfalls to be avoided, and recent advances. A discussion of the appropriate use of ionizing radiation, intravenous contrast, and sedation is also provided.The neurologic examination of an infant or child can be daunting, as they are unable to verbally communicate or follow directions. It starts with tailoring the pediatric neurologic history and examination to the child's specific age group. A good neurologic history obtained from the patient and parents is key to evaluating a pediatric patient. This article offers pearls on what information to ask the caregivers and patients, and salient aspects of a brief neurologic examination.
N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), classified as a probable human carcinogen, has been found as a contaminant in the antihypertensive drug valsartan. Potentially carcinogenic effects associated with the consumption of NDMAcontaminated valsartan have not yet been analyzed in large-scale cohort studies. We therefore carried out the study reported here to explore the association between NDMA-contaminated valsartan and the risk of cancer.

This cohort study was based on longitudinal routine data obtained from a large German statutory health insurance provider serving approximately 25 million insurees. The cohort comprised patients who had filled a prescription for valsartan in the period 2012-2017. The endpoint was an incident diagnosis of cancer. Hazard ratios (HR) for cancer in general and for certain specific types of cancer were calculated by means of Cox regression models with time-dependent variables and adjustment for potential confounders.

A total of 780 871 persons who had filled a prescription for valsartan between 2012 and 2017 were included in the study. There was no association between exposure to NDMA-contaminated valsartan and the overall risk of cancer. A statistically significant association was found, however, between exposure to NDMA-contaminated valsartan and hepatic cancer (adjusted HR 1.16; 95% confidence interval [1.03; 1.31]).

These findings suggest that the consumption of NDMA-contaminated valsartan is associated with a slightly increased risk of hepatic cancer; no association was found with the risk of cancer overall. Close observation of the potential long-term effects of NDMA-contaminated valsartan seems advisable.
These findings suggest that the consumption of NDMA-contaminated valsartan is associated with a slightly increased risk of hepatic cancer; no association was found with the risk of cancer overall. Close observation of the potential long-term effects of NDMA-contaminated valsartan seems advisable.Contemporary sociopolitical circumstance impedes the delivery of primary health care in keeping with its underlying philosophy and tenets. Skills to negotiate the maintenance of best practice and quality care in an evolving practice environment are fundamental to nursing. read more Nurse education needs to incorporate the ideals of best practice ideology to ensure that all are prepared to negotiate the realities of nursing practice. In this discussion paper the experience of moral distress by community health nurses is used to illustrate why skills in political advocacy and action are equally essential as clinical skills in nurse education and professional practice.
Understanding the socio-economic inequalities in dietary intake is crucial when addressing the socio-economic gradient in obesity rates and non-communicable diseases. We aimed to systematically assess the association between socio-economic position (SEP) and dietary intake in Chile.

We searched for peer-reviewed and grey literature from inception until 31 December 2019 in PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Sciences and LILACS databases. Observational studies published in English and Spanish, reporting the comparison of at least one dietary factor between at least two groups of different SEP in the general Chilean population, were selected. Two researchers independently conducted data searches, screening and extraction and assessed study quality using an adaptation of the Newcastle Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale.

Twenty-one articles (from eighteen studies) were included. Study quality was considered low, medium and high for 24, 52 and 24 % of articles, respectively. Moderate-to-large associations indicated lower intake of fruit and vegetables, dairy products and fish/seafood and higher pulses consumption among adults of lower SEP.
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