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Fast-growing Paulownia wooden fractionation by microwave-assisted hydrothermal remedy: Any kinetic evaluation.
OBJECTIVES Previous studies have shown that split-bolus protocols in virtual non-contrast (VNC) reconstructions of dual-energy computed tomography (DE-CT) significantly decrease radiation dose in patients with urinary stone disease. To evaluate the impact on kidney stone detection rate of stone composition, size, tube voltage, and iodine concentration for VNC reconstructions of DE-CT. METHODS In this prospective study, 16 kidney stones of different sizes (1.2-4.5 mm) and compositions (struvite, cystine, whewellite, brushite) were placed within a kidney phantom. Seventy-two scans with nine different iodine contrast agents/saline solutions with increasing attenuation (0-1400 HU) and different kilovoltage settings (70 kV/150 kV; 80 kV/150 kV; 90 kV/150 kV; 100 kV/150 kV) were performed. Two experienced radiologists independently rated the images for the presence and absence of stones. Multivariate classification tree analysis and descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the diagnostic performance. RESULTS Clual-energy CT is highly associated with the size, and results in a significantly lower detection rate in stones below 2 mm.OBJECTIVES To evaluate the usefulness of bilateral mammography in male patients with unilateral breast symptoms, including investigation of the diagnostic performance of unilateral and bilateral reviews and the average glandular dose (AGD) per exposure. METHODS Two hundred seventy-one consecutive male patients (mean age, 57 years) with unilateral breast symptoms underwent bilateral mammography. Image interpretation was performed in two ways, first with a unilateral review of the symptomatic breast and then with a bilateral review. A modified BI-RADS scale (from 1 to 5) was used. The diagnostic performance of unilateral and bilateral reviews was compared, and contralateral breast abnormalities and the AGD per exposure were recorded. We also analyzed ultrasound (US) results and compared them with mammography. read more RESULTS Of 271 male patients, 29 were pathologically diagnosed with breast cancer. There was no bilateral breast cancer. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy reast symptoms showed comparable diagnostic performance with bilateral mammography. • Both unilateral and bilateral mammography showed excellent diagnostic performance in the assessment of male patients with unilateral breast symptoms.OBJECTIVES To comprehensively assess the diagnostic performance of Vesical Imaging-Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) score for detecting the muscle invasion of bladder cancer. METHODS PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were searched up to November 20, 2019. QUADAS-2 tool assessed the quality of included studies. The diagnostic estimates including sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and the area under the curve (AUC) of hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) were calculated. Further subgroup analysis, meta-regression and sensitivity analysis were conducted. RESULTS Six studies with 1064 patients were finally included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and AUC value were 0.90 (95% CI 0.86-0.94), 0.86 (95% CI 0.71-0.94), and 0.93 (95% CI 0.91-0.95) for VI-RADS 3 as the cutoff value. The corresponding estimates were 0.77 (95% CI 0.65-0.86), 0.97 (95% CI 0.88-0.99), and 0.92 (95% CI 0.89-0.94) for VI-RADS 4 as the cutoff value. Meta-regression analysis revealed that study design (p value 0.01) and surgical pattern of reference standard (p value 0.02) were source of the heterogeneity of pooled sensitivity. No publication bias was observed. CONCLUSIONS The VI-RADS score can provide a good predictive ability for detecting the muscle invasiveness of primary bladder cancer with VI-RADS 3 or VI-RADS 4 as the cutoff value. KEY POINTS • VI-RADS score has high sensitivity and specificity for predicting muscle invasion. • The diagnostic efficiencies of VI-RADS 3 and VI-RADS 4 as the cutoff value are similar. • VI-RADS score could be used for detecting muscle invasion of bladder cancer in clinical practice.BACKGROUND The informed consent is a defining moment that should allow patients to understand their condition, what procedure they are undergoing, and what consequences may follow. This process should foster trust and promote confidence, without increasing patients' anxiety. New immersive 3D imaging technologies may serve as a tool to facilitate this endeavor. METHODS In a prospective, single-center, randomized controlled clinical trial (SPLICE Study Surgical Planning and Informed Consent Study; ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03503487), 40 patients undergoing surgery for intracranial tumors were enrolled. After undergoing a traditional surgical informed consent acquisition, 33 patients were randomized 111 to 3 groups in 2 experimental groups, patients underwent a 3D, immersive informed consent with two different surgical planners (group 1 and group 2); in the control group, patients underwent an informed consent supported by traditional 2D radiological images. RESULTS Patients in the experimental groups appreciated this communication experience, while their objective comprehension was higher ((score mean (SD)) group 1 82.65 (6.83); group 2 77.76 (10.19)), as compared with the control group (57.70 (12.49); P  less then  0.001). Subjective comprehension and anxiety levels did not differ between experimental groups and control group. CONCLUSIONS 3D virtual reality can help surgeons and patients in building a better relationship before surgery; immersive 3D-supported informed consent improves patients' comprehension of their condition without increasing anxiety. This new paradigm may foster trust between surgeons and patients, possibly restraining medical-legal acts. TRAIL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03503487.BACKGROUND Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is the object of numerous publications in various surgical fields. Still, its value in spine surgery is not as recognized as it is in other surgical domains. Our aim was to report neurosurgeons' opinions about ERAS in spine surgery. METHODS From December 2019 to January 2020, members of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies were asked to complete an online questionnaire regarding ERAS in spine surgery. RESULTS N = 234 participants responded to the survey (60% spine neurosurgeons; 22.6% working in private practice). Thirty-two percent reported to have more than 20 years of experience, followed by surgeons having between 5 and 10 (27.4%), 10-15 (17.9%), 15-20 (12%), and 0-5 years (10.7%). Gender distribution (12% vs 27% female gender, p = 0.04), private practice activity (28% vs 14%, p = 0.01), familiarity with the ERAS concept (57.4% vs 27%, p  less then  0.0001), and its implementation in the daily clinical practice (47.5% vs 18.3%, p  less then  0.
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