Diagnostics

11 pages, 535 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Balance between the Left and Right Ventricular Deformation Evaluated by Speckle Tracking Echocardiography Is a Great Predictor of the Major Adverse Cardiac Event in Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension

by Xueming Zhang, Binqian Ruan, Zhiqing Qiao, Menghui Yang, Qi Zhuang, Jian Wang, Wei Wang, Ying Zheng, Hang Zhao, Xuedong Shen and Jieyan Shen

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2266; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092266 - 19 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1883

Abstract

Cardiovascular failure is one of the most relevant causes of death in pulmonary hypertension (PH). With progressive increases of right ventricular (RV) afterload in PH patients, both RV and left ventricular (LV) function impair and RV–LV dyssynchrony develop in parallel. We aimed to [...] Read more.

Cardiovascular failure is one of the most relevant causes of death in pulmonary hypertension (PH). With progressive increases of right ventricular (RV) afterload in PH patients, both RV and left ventricular (LV) function impair and RV–LV dyssynchrony develop in parallel. We aimed to analyze the balance between the left and right ventricular deformation to assess the outcome of patients with pulmonary hypertension by means of speckle tracking echocardiography. In this prospective study, 54 patients with invasively diagnosed pulmonary hypertension, and 26 healthy volunteers were included and underwent a broad panel of noninvasive assessment including 2D-echocardiography, 2D speckle tracking, 6-minute walking test and BNP. Patients were followed up for 338.7 ± 131.1 (range 60 to 572) days. There were significant differences in |LVGLS/RVFLS-1| and |LASc/RASc-1| between PH patients and the control group. During the follow up, 13 patients experienced MACEs, which included 7 patients with cardiac death and 6 patients with re-admitted hospital due to right ventricular dysfunction. In the multivariate Cox model analysis, |LVGLS/RVFLS-1| remained independent prognosis of markers (HR = 4.03). Our study findings show that |LVGLS/RVFLS-1| is of high clinical and prognostic relevance in pulmonary hypertension patients and reveal the importance of the balance between the left and right ventricular deformation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Medical Imaging and Theranostics)

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10 pages, 497 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Post-Hospital Care of Traumatic Brain Injury in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults—A Survey among General Practitioners and Pediatricians in Germany

by Wiebke Käckenmester, Claas Güthoff, Dana Mroß, Gertrud Wietholt, Kristina Zappel and Ingo Schmehl

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2265; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092265 - 19 Sep 2022

Viewed by 1521

Abstract

Background: The long-term effects of mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in children and adolescents are increasingly discussed due to their potential impact on psycho-social development and education. This study aims to evaluate post-hospital care of children and adolescents after mild TBI using a [...] Read more.

Background: The long-term effects of mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in children and adolescents are increasingly discussed due to their potential impact on psycho-social development and education. This study aims to evaluate post-hospital care of children and adolescents after mild TBI using a physician survey. Methods: A self-developed, pre-tested questionnaire on diagnostics and treatment of TBI in outpatient care was sent to a representative sample of general practitioners and pediatricians in Germany. Results: Datasets from 699 general practitioners, 334 pediatricians and 24 neuropediatricians were available and included in the analysis. Nearly half of the general practitioners and most pediatricians say they treat at least one acute pediatric TBI per year. However, a substantive proportion of general practitioners are not familiar with scales assessing TBI severity and have difficulties assessing the symptoms correctly. Pediatricians seem to have better knowledge than general practitioners when it comes to treatment and outpatient care of TBI. Conclusions: To increase knowledge about TBI in outpatient physicians, targeted training courses should be offered, especially for general practitioners. Moreover, handing out written information about long-term effects and reintegration after TBI should be encouraged in outpatient practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis and Management in Trauma Surgery)

12 pages, 1980 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Primary Bone Tumors of the Spine—Proposal for Treatment Based on a Single Centre Experience

by Nicole Lange, Ann-Kathrin Jörger, Yu-Mi Ryang, Friederike Liesche-Starnecker, Jens Gempt and Bernhard Meyer

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2264; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092264 - 19 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1864

Abstract

This study reports a large single-center series of primary bone tumors of the spine (PBTs). We aimed to review the concepts for management, as this kind of tumor represents a very rare entity, and also propose a new treatment algorithm. Retrospective analysis revealed [...] Read more.

This study reports a large single-center series of primary bone tumors of the spine (PBTs). We aimed to review the concepts for management, as this kind of tumor represents a very rare entity, and also propose a new treatment algorithm. Retrospective analysis revealed 92 patients receiving surgery for PBTs from 2007 to 2019 at our center. They were analyzed based on surgical management and the course of the disease. A total of 145 surgical procedures were performed (50 cervical, 46 thoracic, 28 lumbar, and 21 sacral). Complete tumor resection was achieved in 65%, of which 22% showed tumor recurrence during follow-up (mean time to recurrence 334 days). The five-year mortality rate was significantly lower after complete resection (3% versus 25% after subtotal resection). Most of the patients improved in their symptoms through surgery. Regarding the tumor entity, the most common PBTs were vertebral hemangiomas (20%), osteoid osteomas (15%), and chordomas (16%). The Enneking graduation system showed a good correlation with the risk of recurrence and mortality. Complete resection in PBTs increased survival rates and remains the method of choice. Thus, quality of life—especially with a higher extent of resection—should be considered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment and Management of Instability in Spinal Tumors)

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19 pages, 8853 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Brain Connectivity in Resting-State FMRI Using Spectral ICA and Graph Approach: Application to Healthy Controls and Multiple Sclerosis

by Amir Hosein Riazi, Hossein Rabbani and Rahele Kafieh

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2263; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092263 - 19 Sep 2022

Viewed by 2655

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory disease that involves structural and functional damage to the brain. It changes the functional connectivity of the brain between and within networks. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) enables us to measure functional correlation and independence between [...] Read more.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory disease that involves structural and functional damage to the brain. It changes the functional connectivity of the brain between and within networks. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) enables us to measure functional correlation and independence between different brain regions. In recent years, statistical methods, including independent component analysis (ICA) and graph-based analysis, have been widely used in fMRI studies. Furthermore, topological properties of the brain have been appeared as significant features of neuroscience studies. Most studies are focused on graph analysis and ICA methods, rather than considering spectral approaches. Here, we developed a new framework to measure brain connectivity (in static and dynamic formats) and incorporate it to study fMRI data from MS patients and healthy controls (HCs). For this purpose, a spectral ICA method is proposed to extract the nodes of the brain graph. Spectral ICA extracts more reliable components and decreases the processing time in calculation of the static brain connectivity. Compared to Infomax ICA, dynamic range and low-frequency to high-frequency power ratio (fALFF) show better results using the proposed ICA. It is also helpful in selection of the states for dynamic connectivity. Furthermore, the dynamic connectivity-based extracted components from spectral ICA are estimated using a mutual information method and based on correlation of sliding time-windowed on selected IC time courses. First-level and second-level connectivity states are calculated using correlations of connectivity strength between graph nodes (spectral ICA components). Finally, static and dynamic connectivity are analyzed based on correlation nodes percolated by an anatomical automatic labeling (AAL) atlas. Despite static and dynamic connectivity results of AAL correlations not showing any significant changes between MS and HC, our results based on spectral ICA in static and dynamic connectivity showed significantly decreased connectivity in MS patients in the anterior cingulate cortex, whereas it was significantly weaker in the core but stronger at the periphery of the posterior cingulate cortex. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Neuroimaging)

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18 pages, 6554 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Automatic Screening of Diabetic Retinopathy Using Fundus Images and Machine Learning Algorithms

by K. K. Mujeeb Rahman, Mohamed Nasor and Ahmed Imran

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2262; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092262 - 19 Sep 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3583

Abstract

Diabetic Retinopathy is a vision impairment caused by blood vessel degeneration in the retina. It is becoming more widespread as it is linked to diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness. Early detection of diabetic retinopathy by an ophthalmologist can help avoid vision [...] Read more.

Diabetic Retinopathy is a vision impairment caused by blood vessel degeneration in the retina. It is becoming more widespread as it is linked to diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness. Early detection of diabetic retinopathy by an ophthalmologist can help avoid vision loss and other complications. Diabetic retinopathy is currently diagnosed by visually recognizing irregularities on fundus pictures. This procedure, however, necessitates the use of ophthalmic imaging technologies to acquire fundus images as well as a detailed visual analysis of the stored photos, resulting in a costly and time-consuming diagnosis. The fundamental goal of this project is to create an easy-to-use machine learning model tool that can accurately predict diabetic retinopathy using pre-recorded digital fundus images. To create the suggested classifier model, we gathered annotated fundus images from publicly accessible data repositories and used two machine learning methods, support vector machine (SVM) and deep neural network (DNN). On test data, the proposed SVM model had a mean area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 97.11%, whereas the DNN model had a mean AUC of 99.15%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Diagnostics)

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8 pages, 4905 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Idiopathic Multicentric Castleman Disease with Strikingly Elevated IgG4 Concentration in the Serum and Abundant IgG4-Positive Cells in the Tissue: A Case Report

by Chia-Chun Cheng, Ying-Chu Chen, Yung-Hsiang Hsu and Kuei-Ying Su

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2261; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092261 - 19 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1819

Abstract

Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) can be challenging to distinguish clinically and histopathologically from Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4RD). A 73-year-old man was referred to a rheumatologist for suspected autoimmune-related polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. The patient had a history of multiple lymphadenopathies in the neck for [...] Read more.

Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) can be challenging to distinguish clinically and histopathologically from Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4RD). A 73-year-old man was referred to a rheumatologist for suspected autoimmune-related polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. The patient had a history of multiple lymphadenopathies in the neck for over 20 years. Laboratory data showed elevated serum immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) levels, hypergammaglobulinemia, high C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, marked anemia, and positivity for several autoantibodies. Additionally, imaging studies revealed multiple enlarged lymph nodes and multifocal, ill-defined, small patchy opacities over the lung. Biopsies of the neck lymph node and right lung revealed typical features of multicentric Castleman disease (MCD). Immunohistochemical staining was negative for human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) in both lymph nodes and the right lung, sub-classified as iMCD, whereas the IgG4/IgG ratio was >40%, which raised the suspicion of IgG4RD. However, serological cytokine analysis demonstrated an increased interleukin-6 (IL-6) level, alongside systemic inflammatory and histopathological features, distinguishing MCD from IgG4RD in this patient. The patient was treated with short-term glucocorticoids and regular infusion of an anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody (tocilizumab), with satisfactory clinical and radiographic responses. Notably, differentiating MCD from IgG4RD is crucial for optimal treatment. Clinical and pathological features may assist in distinguishing between these two diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics)

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12 pages, 3547 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Multifocal Neuroblastoma and Central Hypoventilation in An Infant with Germline ALK F1174I Mutation

by Anna Djos, Diana Treis, Susanne Fransson, Lena Gordon Murkes, Sandra Wessman, Jurate Ásmundsson, Agneta Markström, Per Kogner and Tommy Martinsson

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2260; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092260 - 19 Sep 2022

Viewed by 1877

Abstract

A preterm infant with central hypoventilation was diagnosed with multifocal neuroblastoma. Congenital anomalies of the autonomic nervous system in association with neuroblastoma are commonly associated with germline mutations in PHOX2B. Further, the ALK gene is frequently mutated in both familial and sporadic [...] Read more.

A preterm infant with central hypoventilation was diagnosed with multifocal neuroblastoma. Congenital anomalies of the autonomic nervous system in association with neuroblastoma are commonly associated with germline mutations in PHOX2B. Further, the ALK gene is frequently mutated in both familial and sporadic neuroblastoma. Sanger sequencing of ALK and PHOX2B, SNP microarray of three tumor samples and whole genome sequencing of tumor and blood were performed. Genetic testing revealed a germline ALK F1174I mutation that was present in all tumor samples as well as in normal tissue samples from the patient. Neither of the patient’s parents presented the ALK variant. Array profiling of the three tumor samples showed that two of them had only numerical aberrations, whereas one sample displayed segmental alterations, including a gain at chromosome 2p, resulting in two copies of the ALK-mutated allele. Whole genome sequencing confirmed the presence of the ALK variant and did not detect any aberrations in the coding or promotor region of PHOX2B. This study is to our knowledge the first to report a de novoALK F1174I germline mutation. This may not only predispose to congenital multifocal neuroblastoma but may also contribute to the respiratory dysfunction seen in this patient. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Diagnosis of Pediatric Diseases)

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10 pages, 1408 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association between High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin I and Clinical Prognosis of Neurosurgical and Neurocritically Ill Patients

by Jung Hwa Lee, Yun Im Lee, Joonghyun Ahn and Jeong-Am Ryu

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2259; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092259 - 19 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1748

Abstract

To investigate whether high-sensitivity troponin I (hs-TnI) elevation is associated with in-hospital mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in neurosurgical and neurocritically ill patients. Among neurosurgical patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) from January 2013 to December 2019, those whose [...] Read more.

To investigate whether high-sensitivity troponin I (hs-TnI) elevation is associated with in-hospital mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in neurosurgical and neurocritically ill patients. Among neurosurgical patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) from January 2013 to December 2019, those whose serum hs-TnI levels were obtained within 7 days after ICU admission were included. Propensity score matching was used. Each patient with hs-TnI elevation was matched to a control patient. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality and the secondary outcome was MACEs. The hs-TnI elevation was shown in 848 (14.1%) of 6004 patients. After propensity score matching, 706 pairs of data were generated by 1:1 individual matching without replacement. In multivariable analysis of overall and propensity score-matched population, hs-TnI elevation was associated with in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 2.37, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.68–3.33 and adjusted OR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.28–2.81, respectively). In addition, hs-TnI elevation was associated with MACEs (adjusted OR: 2.73, 95% CI: 1.74–4.29 and adjusted OR: 2.64, 95% CI: 1.60–4.51, respectively). In this study, hs-TnI elevation was associated with in-hospital mortality and MACEs in neurosurgical and neurocritically ill patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics)

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11 pages, 1330 KiB

Open AccessArticle

SARS-CoV-2 Infection during Pregnancy and Histological Alterations in the Placenta

by Irina Pacu, George-Alexandru Roșu, Giorgia Zampieri, Anca Rîcu, Alexandra Matei, Ana-Maria Davițoiu, Teodora Vlădescu and Crîngu Antoniu Ionescu

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2258; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092258 - 19 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2135

Abstract

(1) Background: Despite the high number of cases of COVID-19 during pregnancy, SARS-CoV-2 congenital infection is rare. The role of the placenta as a barrier preventing the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from the mother to the fetus is still being studied. This study aimed [...] Read more.

(1) Background: Despite the high number of cases of COVID-19 during pregnancy, SARS-CoV-2 congenital infection is rare. The role of the placenta as a barrier preventing the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from the mother to the fetus is still being studied. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on placental tissue. (2) Methods: This was a transversal monocentric observational study. In the study, we included pregnant women with COVID-19 who delivered at “Sfântul Pantelimon” Clinical Emergency Hospital between 1 April 2020 and 30 March 2022. Histological analyses, both macroscopic and microscopic, were performed for placentas that came from these cases. (3) Results: To date, a characteristic placental lesion has not been clearly demonstrated, but most findings include features of maternal and fetal vascular malperfusion, which probably reflect the reduction in placental blood flow due to low oxygen level from the hypoxic respiratory disease and underlying hypercoagulable state induced by the COVID-19 infection. (4) Conclusions: The histopathological aspects found in placentas that came from COVID-19-positive pregnant women are common for many other diseases, but when they are found together, they are highly suggestive for viral infectious involvement of the placenta. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious Disease in Pregnancy)

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8 pages, 1396 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Usefulness of Practitioner-Led Pancreatic Cancer Screening

by Kazuya Matsumoto, Yoshinori Kushiyama, Akio Izumi, Koji Ohnishi, Masahiko Miura, Yasufumi Ohuchi, Ikuko Hori, Tomonori Nakamura, Kotaro Hori, Kenji Koshino, Junko Kobayashi, Nagisa Yoshino, Ushio Hoshino, Takekiyo Okumura, Takashi Tanimura, Shinsuke Tanaka, Shino Tanaka, Tadashi Nabika, Tatsuaki Nozu, Yutaka Wakatsuki, Syunsuke Katayama, Shizue Yoshioka, Kenichi Ito, Akiko Uchida, Noriji Yuhara, Hisashi Noma and Hajime Isomoto Show full author list Hide full author list

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2257; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092257 - 19 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1960

Abstract

The 5-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer has improved (10%) but remains worse than that for other cancers. Early pancreatic cancer diagnosis is challenging, and delayed diagnosis can delay treatment, which impairs survival. Practitioners do not promptly refer cases to a general hospital, [...] Read more.

The 5-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer has improved (10%) but remains worse than that for other cancers. Early pancreatic cancer diagnosis is challenging, and delayed diagnosis can delay treatment, which impairs survival. Practitioners do not promptly refer cases to a general hospital, causing delayed discovery. Herein, we aimed to examine the usefulness of the Pancreatic Cancer Project in Matsue, whose objective is to detect pancreatic cancer in patients presenting at any medical institution in Matsue City. Clinical data were extracted from medical records, and abdominal ultrasonography and tumor marker blood level assessments were performed (n = 234; median age, 71 [range, 41–94] years; 51% male). Cases with abnormal abdominal ultrasonography or blood test findings were referred for specialist imaging and followed up. The pancreatic cancer detection rate was 6.0% (n = 14); all cases were referred to a general hospital by practitioners within 1 month. Patients had stage IA (n = 1), IIA (n = 6), IIB (n = 2), III (n = 1), and IV (n = 4) disease. Overall, pancreatic cancer could be detected at an earlier stage (I–II), but referral to a general hospital by visiting practitioners should be prompt. The Pancreatic Cancer Project in Matsue may help improve the detection and prognosis of pancreatic cancer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Next Generation of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy)

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12 pages, 1251 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Clinical Utility of Quantitative Parameters of Salivary Gland Scintigraphy for Diagnosing Burning Mouth Syndrome

by Hyung Kwon Byeon, Geum Cheol Jeong, Beomsoo Kim, Yeongrok Lee, Jae Hong Park and Sang Mi Lee

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2256; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092256 - 18 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2289

Abstract

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic disorder characterized by a burning sensation in the oral cavity, often accompanied by xerostomia, with no relevant clinical or laboratory findings. This study aimed to investigate diagnostic values of quantitative parameters of salivary gland scintigraphy for [...] Read more.

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic disorder characterized by a burning sensation in the oral cavity, often accompanied by xerostomia, with no relevant clinical or laboratory findings. This study aimed to investigate diagnostic values of quantitative parameters of salivary gland scintigraphy for BMS in patients with xerostomia. A total of 164 patients who underwent salivary gland scintigraphy for the workup of xerostomia were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were classified into patient groups with primary BMS, secondary BMS, and non-specific xerostomia. From salivary gland scintigraphy, 22 quantitative parameters were calculated and their diagnostic values were assessed based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values. Among salivary gland scintigraphy parameters, uptake speed in the left submandibular gland showed the highest AUC value (0.647) for detecting BMS and pre-stimulatory oral activity showed the highest AUC value (0.710) for detecting primary BMS. A salivary gland scintigraphy scoring system based on these two parameters further enhanced the diagnostic ability, demonstrating AUC values of 0.731 for BMS and 0.782 for primary BMS. These results suggest a potential diagnostic value of the quantitative parameters of salivary gland scintigraphy for detecting BMS in patients with xerostomia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Concepts and Prospects of Diagnostics in Oral Diseases)

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12 pages, 2179 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prognostic Impact of Myosteatosis on Mortality in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19

by Min-Kyu Kang, Yu-Rim Lee, Jeung-Eun Song, Young-Oh Kweon, Won-Young Tak, Se-Young Jang, Jung-Gil Park and Soo-Young Park

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2255; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092255 - 18 Sep 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2099

Abstract

Body composition, including sarcopenia, adipose tissue, and myosteatosis, is associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, few studies have identified the impact of body composition, including pre-existing risk factors, on COVID-19 mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate [...] Read more.

Body composition, including sarcopenia, adipose tissue, and myosteatosis, is associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, few studies have identified the impact of body composition, including pre-existing risk factors, on COVID-19 mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of body composition, including pre-existing risk factors, on mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. This two-center retrospective study included 127 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who underwent unenhanced chest computed tomography (CT) between February and April 2020. Using the cross-sectional CT images at the L2 vertebra level, we analyzed the body composition, including skeletal muscle mass, visceral to subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio (VSR), and muscle density using the Hounsfield unit (HU). Of 127 patients with COVID-19, 16 (12.6%) died. Compared with survivors, non-survivors had low muscle density (41.9 vs. 32.2 HU, p < 0.001) and high proportion of myosteatosis (4.5 vs. 62.5%, p < 0.001). Cox regression analyses revealed diabetes (hazard ratio [HR], 3.587), myosteatosis (HR, 3.667), and a high fibrosis-4 index (HR, 1.213) as significant risk factors for mortality in patients with COVID-19. Myosteatosis was associated with mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, independent of pre-existing prognostic factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements on Diagnostic and Management of Liver Disease)

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12 pages, 1586 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diagnosis and Pattern Identification of Intrathoracic Malignant Melanoma Metastasis: A Retrospective Single Center Analysis

by Matteo Fontana, Laura Rossi, Federica Ghinassi, Roberto Piro, Chiara Scelfo, Sofia Taddei, Eleonora Casalini, Patrizia Ruggiero, Chiara Pollorsi, Bianca Beghe’, Caterina Longo and Nicola Facciolongo

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2254; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092254 - 18 Sep 2022

Viewed by 2578

Abstract

The lung is a frequent site of secondary malignancies. Melanoma is a malignant tumor originating from melanocytes, that accounts for the majority of death related to skin cancers. In advanced stages, it can also present with intrathoracic metastasis, particularly in the lungs, but [...] Read more.

The lung is a frequent site of secondary malignancies. Melanoma is a malignant tumor originating from melanocytes, that accounts for the majority of death related to skin cancers. In advanced stages, it can also present with intrathoracic metastasis, particularly in the lungs, but infrequent intrathoracic manifestations are possible. A retrospective analysis of the cases referred to the pulmonary endoscopy unit of the hospital of Reggio Emilia in the last 10 years (since December 2012) was carried out, discovering 17 cases of melanoma metastasis with thoracic localizations, either with or without a diagnosis of primary melanoma. Four repetitive patterns of clinical-radiological presentation have been identified and described through the same number of paradigmatic clinical cases: nodal involvement (35%), lung mass(es) (41%), diffuse pulmonary involvement (12%), and pleural involvement (12%). These different presentations imply the use of different diagnostic techniques, with an overall high diagnostic yield (87.5%). Finally, a brief analysis of survival based on the pattern of presentation has been performed, finding no statistically significant differences between the four groups at metastasis diagnosis (p-value = 0.06, median survival of respectively 54, 8, 9, and 26 months from metastasis diagnosis), while there is a significant difference considering patients with lung involvement versus nodal/pleural involvement (p = 0.01). Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Medical Optical Imaging)

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6 pages, 2524 KiB

Open AccessInteresting Images

Lung Ultrasound Monitoring of Legionella Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in an Extremely Low-Birth-Weight Infant

by Jing Liu and Ru-Xin Qiu

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2253; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092253 - 18 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1860

Abstract

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common complication of different severe lung diseases that need to be treated with mechanical ventilation in newborn infants. However, VAP due to Legionella pneumophila infection is rarely reported in the literature, especially in extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW) infants. Lung [...] Read more.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common complication of different severe lung diseases that need to be treated with mechanical ventilation in newborn infants. However, VAP due to Legionella pneumophila infection is rarely reported in the literature, especially in extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW) infants. Lung ultrasound (LUS) has been used in the diagnosis of neonatal pneumonia, but there is no literature on the ultrasound characteristics of Legionella-VAP in ELBW infants. This paper introduced the typical LUS findings of Legionella-VAP in ELBW infants, which mainly includes severe and large-area lung consolidation and atelectasis in the bilateral lungs; whether there is blood supply in the consolidated area has an important reference value for predicting the prognosis. In addition, the treatment and management experience were also introduced together, thereby helping us to deepen the understanding of the disease and avoid missed diagnoses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Medical Imaging and Theranostics)

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11 pages, 1346 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Novel Rolling Circle Amplification-Based Detection of SARS-CoV-2 with Multi-Region Padlock Hybridization

by Rajesh Kumari, Ji Won Lim, Matthew Ryan Sullivan, Rachel Malampy, Connor Baush, Irina Smolina, Howard Robin, Vadim V. Demidov, Giovanni Stefano Ugolini, Jared R. Auclair and Tania Konry

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2252; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092252 - 18 Sep 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3019

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 has remained a global health burden, primarily due to the continuous evolution of different mutant strains. These mutations present challenges to the detection of the virus, as the target genes of qPCR, the standard diagnostic method, may possess sequence alterations. In this [...] Read more.

SARS-CoV-2 has remained a global health burden, primarily due to the continuous evolution of different mutant strains. These mutations present challenges to the detection of the virus, as the target genes of qPCR, the standard diagnostic method, may possess sequence alterations. In this study, we develop an isothermal one-step detection method using rolling circle amplification (RCA) for SARS-CoV-2. This novel strategy utilizes a multi-padlock (MP-RCA) approach to detect viral-RNA via a simplified procedure with the reliable detection of mutated strains over other procedures. We designed 40 padlock-based probes to target different sequences across the SARS-CoV-2 genome. We established an optimal one-step isothermal reaction protocol utilizing a fluorescent output detected via a plate reader to test a variety of padlock combinations. This method was tested on RNA samples collected from nasal swabs and validated via PCR. S-gene target failure (SGTF)-mutated strains of SARS-CoV-2 were included. We demonstrated that the sensitivity of our assay was linearly proportional to the number of padlock probes used. With the 40-padlock combination the MP-RCA assay was able to correctly detect 45 out 55 positive samples (81.8% efficiency). This included 10 samples with SGTF mutations which we were able to detect as positive with 100% efficiency. We found that the MP-RCA approach improves the sensitivity of the MP-RCA assay, and critically, allows for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants with SGTF. Our method offers the simplicity of the reaction and requires basic equipment compared to standard qPCR. This method provides an alternative approach to overcome the challenges of detecting SARS-CoV-2 and other rapidly mutating viruses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue SARS-CoV-2 Identification by Diagnostic/Medical Laboratory: Methods, Statistics, Interesting Cases)

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12 pages, 3967 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Precision of a Hand-Held 3D Surface Scanner in Dry and Wet Skeletal Surfaces: An Ex Vivo Study

by Jannis Probst, Konstantinos Dritsas, Demetrios Halazonetis, Yijin Ren, Christos Katsaros and Nikolaos Gkantidis

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2251; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092251 - 18 Sep 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2171

Abstract

Three-dimensional surface scans of skeletal structures have various clinical and research applications in medicine, anthropology, and other relevant fields. The aim of this study was to test the precision of a widely used hand-held surface scanner and the associated software’s 3D model generation-error [...] Read more.

Three-dimensional surface scans of skeletal structures have various clinical and research applications in medicine, anthropology, and other relevant fields. The aim of this study was to test the precision of a widely used hand-held surface scanner and the associated software’s 3D model generation-error in both dry and wet skeletal surfaces. Ten human dry skulls and ten mandibles (dry and wet conditions) were scanned twice with an industrial scanner (Artec Space Spider) by one operator. Following a best-fit superimposition of corresponding surface model pairs, the mean absolute distance (MAD) between them was calculated on ten anatomical regions on the skulls and six on the mandibles. The software’s 3D model generation process was repeated for the same scan of four dry skulls and four mandibles (wet and dry conditions), and the results were compared in a similar manner. The median scanner precision was 31 μm for the skulls and 25 μm for the mandibles in dry conditions, whereas in wet conditions it was slightly lower at 40 μm for the mandibles. The 3D model generation-error was negligible (range: 5–10 μm). The Artec Space Spider scanner exhibits very high precision in the scanning of dry and wet skeletal surfaces. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnosis of Craniofacial Changes: Conventional Approaches and Novel Methodologies)

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26 pages, 3731 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Chronic Endometritis in Infertile Women: Impact of Untreated Disease, Plasma Cell Count and Antibiotic Therapy on IVF Outcome—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Amerigo Vitagliano, Antonio Simone Laganà, Dominique De Ziegler, Rossana Cicinelli, Carla Mariaflavia Santarsiero, Giovanni Buzzaccarini, Vito Chiantera, Ettore Cicinelli and Marco Marinaccio

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2250; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092250 - 18 Sep 2022

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 5879

Abstract

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the impact of chronic endometritis (CE) and its therapy on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome. Additionally, we aim to investigate whether various degrees of CE severity may exert a different effect on IVF outcome. Ongoing-pregnancy [...] Read more.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the impact of chronic endometritis (CE) and its therapy on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome. Additionally, we aim to investigate whether various degrees of CE severity may exert a different effect on IVF outcome. Ongoing-pregnancy rate/live-birth-rate (OPR/LBR), clinical-pregnancy rate (CPR), and miscarriage rate (MR) were calculated. A total number of 4145 patients (from ten studies) were included. Women with CE had lower OPR/LBR (OR 1.97, p = 0.02) and CPR (OR 2.28, p = 0.002) compared to those without CE. CE cure increased OPR/LBR (OR 5.33, p < 0.0001) and CPR (OR 3.64, p = 0.0001). IVF outcome was comparable between women with cured CE and those without CE (OPR/LBR, CPR and MR: p = ns). Women with severe CE had lower OPR/LBR (OR 0.43, p = 0.003) and CPR (OR 0.40, p = 0.0007) compared to those mild CE. Mild CE showed no influence on the IVF outcome as compared to women without CE (OPR/LBR, CPR and MR: p = ns). Based on this data analysis, CE significantly reduces OPR/LBR and CPR in women undergoing IVF. Importantly, CE resolution after antibiotic therapy may improves IVF outcome, leading to similar OPR/LBR and CPR as compared to unaffected patients. The negative effects of CE on IVF outcome may be restricted to severe disease, whereas mild CE may have no influence on IVF success. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hysteroscopy)

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11 pages, 915 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cellular Concentration of Survivin and Caspase 3 in Habitual Tobacco Chewers with and without Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in South Indian Rural Population—A Case Control Study

by Susanna Theophilus Yesupatham, C. D. Dayanand and S. M. Azeem Mohiyuddin

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2249; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092249 - 18 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1887

Abstract

Background: There is paucity of data on tissue levels of Survivin and Caspase 3 in south Indian tobacco chewers with oral Squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Oral cancer is a rapidly growing, highly prevalent head and neck malignancy; it involves a mucosal epithelium of [...] Read more.

Background: There is paucity of data on tissue levels of Survivin and Caspase 3 in south Indian tobacco chewers with oral Squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Oral cancer is a rapidly growing, highly prevalent head and neck malignancy; it involves a mucosal epithelium of a buccal cavity exposed to tobacco and other carcinogens. The basis of the survival of a tumor cell or transformed normal cell into a neoplastic cell is by the suppression of apoptosis regulation. Recently, researchers have focused on Survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis family of proteins (IAP), involved in apoptosis regulation in cancer cells targeting the executioner Caspase 3. The current study aims to quantify the cellular levels of Survivin and Caspase 3 in tobacco chewers with OSCC and in habitual tobacco chewers without OSCC, in comparison to controls. Methods: A single centric case control study included 186 study subjects, categorized into: Group I (n = 63), habitual tobacco chewers with OSCC; Group 2 (n = 63), habitual tobacco chewers without OSCC; and Group 3 (n = 63), the controls. Resected tumor tissue from Group 1 and buccal cell samples from Groups 2 and 3 were collected into phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and assayed for Survivin and Caspase 3 levels by the ELISA sandwich method. Results: The mean ± SD of the Survivin protein in Group 1 was (1670.9 ± 796.21 pg/mL); in Group 2, it was (1096.02 ± 346.17 pg/mL); and in Group 3, it was (397.5 ± 96.1 pg/mL) with a significance of p < 0.001. Similarly, the level of Caspase 3 in Group 1 was (7.48 ± 2.67 ng/mL); in Group 2, it was (8.85 ± 2.41 ng/mL); and in Group 3, it was (2.27 ± 2.24 ng/mL) with a significance of p < 0.001. Conclusion: The progressive transformation of buccal cells to neoplastic cells is evident; in the case of OSCC, this indicates that the over-expression of Survivin compared to Caspase 3 confirms the suppression and dysregulation of apoptosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis and Treatment of Oral Cancer)

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14 pages, 1342 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Association of Organ Preservation Fluid Pathogens with Early Infection-Related Events after Kidney Transplantation

by Jianming Li, Xiaojun Su, Jianyi Li, Wenrui Wu, Chenglin Wu, Penghao Guo, Kang Liao, Qian Fu, Jun Li, Longshan Liu and Changxi Wang

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2248; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092248 - 18 Sep 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2153

Abstract

(1) Background: The need to elucidate the microbial patterns in preservation fluid and explore their relationship with early infection-related events post kidney transplant and investigate antimicrobial resistance and the effects of preemptive antibiotic therapy. (2) Methods: This retrospective study analyzed the clinical data [...] Read more.

(1) Background: The need to elucidate the microbial patterns in preservation fluid and explore their relationship with early infection-related events post kidney transplant and investigate antimicrobial resistance and the effects of preemptive antibiotic therapy. (2) Methods: This retrospective study analyzed the clinical data of 514 kidney transplant donors and 808 recipients from April 2015 to October 2020. Clinical data of donor and recipient characteristics, preservation fluid microbes, early infections (≤30 days), probable donor-derived infections (P-DDIs), antimicrobial resistance and preemptive antibiotic therapy was collected. (3) Results: The incidence of bloodstream (10.3% versus 5.2%, p = 0.006) and graft-site infections (9.7% versus 4.6%, p = 0.004) was significantly higher in recipients with culture-positive preservation fluid. In addition, recipients with ESKAPE pathogens or Candida species had a notably higher rate of bloodstream infections (14.1% versus 6.9%, p = 0.033) and graft-site infections (16.7% versus 3.5%, p < 0.01) than those with other positive pathogens. Preemptive antibiotic therapy decreased the bloodstream infection rate (11.8% versus 35.7%, p = 0.047) when preservation fluid was positive for ESKAPE pathogens. (4) Conclusions: Culture-positive preservation fluid has potential implications for kidney transplant recipients. ESKAPE pathogens or Candida species in preservation fluid as well as their antimicrobial resistance properties and non-preemptive antibiotic therapy could pose a risk of early infection-related events. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis and Management of Acute Kidney Injury)

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17 pages, 5386 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Widefield and Ultra Widefield Optical Coherence Tomography in the Diagnosis and Management of Vitreoretinal Diseases

by Matteo Ripa, Lorenzo Motta, Teresa Florit, Jean-Yves Sahyoun, Veronika Matello and Barbara Parolini

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2247; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092247 - 17 Sep 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3544

Abstract

Background: This study reports on the advantages of wide-field (WF)- and ultra-widefield (UWF)- optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in managing different vitreoretinal diseases in a real-life setting using the new WF—Swept Source (SS)—OCT Xephilio S1 (Canon, Tokyo, Japan). [...] Read more.

Background: This study reports on the advantages of wide-field (WF)- and ultra-widefield (UWF)- optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in managing different vitreoretinal diseases in a real-life setting using the new WF—Swept Source (SS)—OCT Xephilio S1 (Canon, Tokyo, Japan). Methods: We conducted an observational retrospective case series study involving 1472 eyes that underwent retinal scans with Canon Xephilio^® OCT-S1 between 1 March 2021 and 1 December 2021 at Eyecare Clinic (Brescia, Italy). All patients underwent routine ophthalmologic examinations along with WF and UWF color fundus retinography with Clarus 500™ (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., Dublin, CA, USA) and Xephilio^® OCT-S1. WF SS-OCT, UWF-OCT, WF-OCTA, and UWF-OCTA were taken by using Xephilio^® OCT-S1. Results: We analyzed 122 peripheral retinal lesions, 144 retinal detachment, 329 high myopic eyes, 37 pediatric cases, 60 vascular retinopathies, 15 choroidal lesions, and 90 eyes as follow-up post vitreoretinal surgery. The OCT-S1 was the only reliable and diagnostic exam for peripheral lesions, pediatric and high myopic cases, and significantly influenced the management in 10% of cases and the postoperative follow-up. Conclusions: WF and UWF OCT and OCTA imaging may help in the management of several vitreoretinal diseases, becoming an indispensable tool for the high-quality management of patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Diagnostics of the Cornea, Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

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13 pages, 1397 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Developing a Simple Score for Diagnosis of Acute Cholecystitis at the Emergency Department

by Saowaluck Faikhongngoen, Boriboon Chenthanakij, Borwon Wittayachamnankul, Phichayut Phinyo and Wachira Wongtanasarasin

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2246; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092246 - 17 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3964

Abstract

We aim to develop a diagnostic score for acute cholecystitis that integrates symptoms, physical examinations, and laboratory data to help clinicians for timely detection and early treatment of this disease. We retrospectively collected data from our database from 2010 to 2020. Patients with [...] Read more.

We aim to develop a diagnostic score for acute cholecystitis that integrates symptoms, physical examinations, and laboratory data to help clinicians for timely detection and early treatment of this disease. We retrospectively collected data from our database from 2010 to 2020. Patients with acute abdominal pain who underwent an ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) scan at the emergency department (ED) were included. Cases were identified by pathological, CT, or ultrasound reports. Non-cases were those who did not fulfill any of these criteria. Multivariable regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of acute cholecystitis. The model included 244 patients suspected of acute cholecystitis. Eighty-six patients (35.2%) were acute cholecystitis confirmed cases. Five final predictors remained within the reduced logistic model: age < 60, nausea and/or vomiting, right upper quadrant pain, positive Murphy’s sign, and AST ≥ two times upper limit of normal. A practical score diagnostic performance was AuROC 0.74 (95% CI, 0.67–0.81). Patients were categorized with a high probability of acute cholecystitis at score points of 9–12 with a positive likelihood ratio of 3.79 (95% CI, 1.68–8.94). ED Chole Score from these five predictors may aid in diagnosing acute cholecystitis at ED. Patients with an ED Chole Score >8 should be further investigated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Diagnosis and Management of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Bilio-Pancreatic Disorders)

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15 pages, 3337 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Potential Use of Exhaled Breath Condensate for Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Matteo Riccò, Alessandro Zaniboni, Elia Satta, Silvia Ranzieri and Federico Marchesi

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2245; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092245 - 17 Sep 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2379

Abstract

Background. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays performed on respiratory samples collected through nasal swabs still represent the gold standard for COVID-19 diagnosis. Alternative methods to this invasive and time-consuming options are still being inquired, including the collection of airways lining fluids through [...] Read more.

Background. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays performed on respiratory samples collected through nasal swabs still represent the gold standard for COVID-19 diagnosis. Alternative methods to this invasive and time-consuming options are still being inquired, including the collection of airways lining fluids through exhaled breath condensate (EBC). Materials and Methods. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis in order to explore the reliability of EBC as a way to collect respiratory specimens for RT-qPCR for diagnosis of COVID-19. Results. A total of 4 studies (205 specimens), were ultimately collected, with a pooled sensitivity of 69.5% (95%CI 26.8–93.4), and a pooled specificity of 98.3% (95%CI 87.8–99.8), associated with high heterogeneity and scarce diagnostic agreement with the gold standard represented by nasal swabs (Cohen’s kappa = 0.585). Discussion. Even though non-invasive options for diagnosis of COVID-19 are still necessary, EBC-based RT-qPCR showed scarce diagnostic performances, ultimately impairing its implementation in real-world settings. However, as few studies have been carried out to date, and the studies included in the present review are characterized by low numbers and low sample power, further research are requested to fully characterize the actual reliability of EBC-based RT-qPCR in the diagnosis of COVID-19. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis of Viral Respiratory Infections)

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11 pages, 1384 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Convolutional Neural Network Performance for Sella Turcica Segmentation and Classification Using CBCT Images

by Şuayip Burak Duman, Ali Z. Syed, Duygu Celik Ozen, İbrahim Şevki Bayrakdar, Hassan S. Salehi, Ahmed Abdelkarim, Özer Celik, Gözde Eser, Oğuzhan Altun and Kaan Orhan

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2244; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092244 - 16 Sep 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3229

Abstract

The present study aims to validate the diagnostic performance and evaluate the reliability of an artificial intelligence system based on the convolutional neural network method for the morphological classification of sella turcica in CBCT (cone-beam computed tomography) images. In this retrospective study, sella [...] Read more.

The present study aims to validate the diagnostic performance and evaluate the reliability of an artificial intelligence system based on the convolutional neural network method for the morphological classification of sella turcica in CBCT (cone-beam computed tomography) images. In this retrospective study, sella segmentation and classification models (CranioCatch, Eskisehir, Türkiye) were applied to sagittal slices of CBCT images, using PyTorch supported by U-Net and TensorFlow 1, and we implemented the GoogleNet Inception V3 algorithm. The AI models achieved successful results for sella turcica segmentation of CBCT images based on the deep learning models. The sensitivity, precision, and F-measure values were 1.0, 1.0, and 1.0, respectively, for segmentation of sella turcica in sagittal slices of CBCT images. The sensitivity, precision, accuracy, and F1-score were 1.0, 0.95, 0.98, and 0.84, respectively, for sella-turcica-flattened classification; 0.95, 0.83, 0.92, and 0.88, respectively, for sella-turcica-oval classification; 0.75, 0.94, 0.90, and 0.83, respectively, for sella-turcica-round classification. It is predicted that detecting anatomical landmarks with orthodontic importance, such as the sella point, with artificial intelligence algorithms will save time for orthodontists and facilitate diagnosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Diagnostics)

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17 pages, 4932 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Low-Milliampere CT Fluoroscopy-Guided Percutaneous Drainage Placement after Pancreatic Surgery: Technical and Clinical Outcome in 133 Consecutive Patients during a 14-Year Period

by Christoph G. Trumm, Danilo Hackner, Katharina Badmann, Alexander Crispin, Robert Forbrig, Yigit Ozpeynirci, David Kuppinger, Vera Pedersen, Thomas Liebig and Robert Stahl

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2243; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092243 - 16 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1457

Abstract

(1) Purpose: To retrospectively assess the technical and clinical outcome of patients with symptomatic postoperative fluid collections after pancreatic surgery, treated with CT-guided drainage (CTD). (2) Methods: 133 eligible patients between 2004 and 2017 were included. We defined technical success as the sufficient [...] Read more.

(1) Purpose: To retrospectively assess the technical and clinical outcome of patients with symptomatic postoperative fluid collections after pancreatic surgery, treated with CT-guided drainage (CTD). (2) Methods: 133 eligible patients between 2004 and 2017 were included. We defined technical success as the sufficient drainage of the fluid collection(s) and the absence of peri-interventional complications (minor or major according to SIR criteria). Per definition, clinical success was characterized by normalization of specific blood parameters within 30 days after the intervention or a decrease by at least 50% without requiring additional surgical revision. C-reactive protein (CRP), Leukocytes, Interleukin-6, and Dose length product (DLP) for parts of the intervention were determined. (3) Results: 97.0% of 167 interventions were technically successful. Clinical success was achieved in 87.5% of CRP, in 78.4% of Leukocytes, and in 87.5% of Interleukin-6 assessments. The median of successful decrease was 6 days for CRP, 5 days for Leukocytes, and 2 days for Interleukin-6. No surgical revision was necessary in 93.2%. DLP was significantly lower in the second half of the observation period (total DLP: median 621.5 mGy*cm between 2011–2017 vs. median 944.5 mGy*cm between 2004–2010). (4) Conclusions: Technical success rate of CTD was very high and the clinical success rate was fair to good. Given an elderly and multimorbid patient cohort, CTD can have a temporizing effect in the postoperative period after pancreatic surgery. Reducing the radiation dose over time might reflect developments in CT technology and increased experience of interventional radiologists. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Novelties in Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Imaging)

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16 pages, 2200 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Domain-Specific Cognitive Prosthesis for Face Memory and Recognition

by Jowy Tani, Yao-Hua Yang, Chao-Min Chen, Co Yih Siow, Tsui-San Chang, Kai Yang, Jack Yao, Chaur-Jong Hu and Jia-Ying Sung

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2242; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092242 - 16 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2339

Abstract

The present study proposes a cognitive prosthesis device for face memory impairment as a proof-of-concept for the domain-specific cognitive prosthesis. Healthy subjects (n = 6) and a patient with poor face memory were enrolled. An acquaintance face recognition test with and without [...] Read more.

The present study proposes a cognitive prosthesis device for face memory impairment as a proof-of-concept for the domain-specific cognitive prosthesis. Healthy subjects (n = 6) and a patient with poor face memory were enrolled. An acquaintance face recognition test with and without the use of cognitive prosthesis for face memory impairment, face recognition tests, quality of life, neuropsychological assessments, and machine learning performance of the cognitive prosthesis were followed-up throughout four weeks of real-world device use by the patient. The healthy subjects had an accuracy of 92.38 ± 4.41% and reaction time of 1.27 ± 0.12 s in the initial attempt of the acquaintance face recognition test, which changed to 80.48 ± 6.23% (p = 0.06) and 2.11 ± 0.20 s (p < 0.01) with prosthesis use. The patient had an accuracy of 74.29% and a reaction time of 6.65 s, which improved to 94.29% and 3.28 s with prosthesis use. After four weeks, the patient’s unassisted accuracy and reaction time improved to 100% and 1.23 s. Functional MRI study revealed activation of the left superior temporal lobe during face recognition task without prosthesis use and activation of the right precentral motor area with prosthesis use. The prosthesis could improve the patient’s performance by bypassing the brain area inefficient for facial recognition and employing the area more efficiently for the cognitive task. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Artificial Intelligence and Imaging in Brain Diseases)

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14 pages, 1656 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Targeted Sequencing of Germline Breast Cancer Susceptibility Genes for Discovering Pathogenic/Likely Pathogenic Variants in the Jakarta Population

by Sonar Soni Panigoro, Rafika Indah Paramita, Kristina Maria Siswiandari and Fadilah Fadilah

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2241; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092241 - 16 Sep 2022

Viewed by 2204

Abstract

Germline predisposition plays an important role in breast cancer. Different ethnic populations need respective studies on cancer risks pertinent to germline variants. We aimed to discover the pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants (P/LP-Vs) of germline breast cancer susceptibility genes and to evaluate their [...] Read more.

Germline predisposition plays an important role in breast cancer. Different ethnic populations need respective studies on cancer risks pertinent to germline variants. We aimed to discover the pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants (P/LP-Vs) of germline breast cancer susceptibility genes and to evaluate their correlation with the clinical characteristics in Jakarta populations. The pure DNA was extracted from the blood buffy coat, using reagents from the QIAamp DNA Mini Kit^® (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). The DNA libraries were prepared using the TargetRich™ Hereditary Cancer Panel (Kailos Genetics^®, Huntsville, AL, USA). The barcoded DNA libraries were sequenced using the Illumina NextSeq 500 platform. In-house bioinformatics pipelines were used to analyze the gene variants. We identified 35 pathogenic and likely pathogenic (P/LP-Vs) variants (28 frameshift, 5 nonsense, and 2 splice-site variants). The P/LP-Vs group was statistically significantly different in luminal B status (p < 0.05) compared with the non-P/LP-Vs group. The P/LP-Vs found both in BRCA1/2 genes and non-BRCA genes may increase the risk of breast cancer and alter drug responses. The screening of multigene variants is suggested, rather than BRCA testing only. Prior knowledge of the germline variants status is important for optimal breast cancer diagnosis and optimal therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breast Cancer Theranostics)

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8 pages, 278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Assessment of the Sensitivity of Ten Commercial Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits for the Detection of Plasmodium

by Mathieu Gendrot, Marylin Madamet, Isabelle Fonta, Nicolas Benoit, Rémy Amalvict, Joel Mosnier, French National Reference Centre for Imported Malaria Study Group and Bruno Pradines

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2240; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092240 - 16 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2100

Abstract

Malaria is one of the most common tropical diseases encountered by members of the French military who are deployed in operations under constrained conditions in malaria-endemic areas. Blood smear microscopy—the gold standard for malaria diagnosis—is often not available in such settings, where the [...] Read more.

Malaria is one of the most common tropical diseases encountered by members of the French military who are deployed in operations under constrained conditions in malaria-endemic areas. Blood smear microscopy—the gold standard for malaria diagnosis—is often not available in such settings, where the detection of malaria relies on rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). Ten RDTs (from Biosynex, Carestart, Humasis, SD Bioline, and CTK Biotech), based on the detection of the Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) or lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH, PfLDH, or PvLDH), were assessed against 159 samples collected from imported malaria cases, including 79 P. falciparum, 37 P. vivax, 22 P. ovale, and 21 P. malariae parasites. Samples had been previously characterised using microscopy and real-time PCR. The overall sensitivities for the Plasmodium test ranged from 69.8% (111/159) to 95% (151/159). There was no significant difference for the specific detection of P. falciparum (96.2% to 98.7%, p = 0.845). No significant difference was found between sensitivities to P. vivax by pan LDH or pvLDH (81.1% (30/37) to 94.6% (35/37) (p = 0.845)). Some of the RDTs missed most of P. ovale and P. malariae, with sensitivities for all RDTs ranging respectively from 4.5% (1/22) to 81.8% (18/22) and 14.3% (3/21) to 95.2% (20/21). Carestart Malaria Pf/Pan (pLDH) Ag G0121, a pLDH-based RDT (PfLDH and pLDH), showed the highest sensitivities to P. falciparum (98.7%, 78/79), P. vivax (94.6%, 35/37), P. ovale (81.8%, 18/22), and P. malariae (95.2%, 20/21) and meets the requirements for military deployments in malaria-endemic areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis and Management of Malaria)

11 pages, 2356 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Encrusted Uretero-Pyelitis Caused by Corynebacterium urealyticum: Case Report and Literature Review

by Andrei Valentin Rusmir, Ionut Andrei Paunescu, Sandra Martis, Silviu Latcu, Dorin Novacescu, Claudia Ramona Bardan, Flaviu Bob, Monica Licker, Mircea Botoca, Alin Cumpanas and Razvan Bardan

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2239; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092239 - 16 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2108

Abstract

We report the case of a 70-year-old female patient with solitary functioning left kidney and encrusted uretero-pyelitis caused by Corynebacterium urealyticum, which was treated by antibiotic therapy and oral acidification with L-methionine. We review the literature for similarly reported cases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urinary Stones and Infections)

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10 pages, 2838 KiB

Open AccessReview

An Overview of the Evolution of Capsule Endoscopy Research—Text-Mining Analysis and Publication Trends

by Rebekka Steinmann, Pablo Cortegoso Valdivia, Tanja Nowak and Anastasios Koulaouzidis

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2238; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092238 - 16 Sep 2022

Viewed by 2450

Abstract

There has been a steady increase (annual percentage growth rate of 19.2%, average of 18.3 citations per document) in capsule endoscopy (CE) publications from a global, interdisciplinary research community on a growing range of CE applications over the last 20+ years. We here [...] Read more.

There has been a steady increase (annual percentage growth rate of 19.2%, average of 18.3 citations per document) in capsule endoscopy (CE) publications from a global, interdisciplinary research community on a growing range of CE applications over the last 20+ years. We here present the status of CE as a field of research, tracing its evolution over time and providing insight into its potential for diagnostics, prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) tract diseases. To portray the development of the CE research landscape in the 2000–2021 time span, we analyzed 5764 scientific publications. Analyses were performed using the R language and environment for statistical computing and graphics and VOSviewer, a software developed for scientific literature analysis by scientometricians. The aim of this paper is to provide a wide comprehensive analysis of the trends in CE publications. We thus performed subgroup analysis on the selected papers, including indications, annual percentage growth rate, average citations per document, most publications from research areas/interdisciplinary field of the articles, geography, collaboration networks through institutions, specific clinical keywords and device type. The firm increase in CE publications over the last two decades highlights the overall strength of the technology in GI applications. Furthermore, the introduction to the field of artificial intelligence (AI) tools has been promoting a range of technological advances that keep on affecting the diagnostic potential of CE. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current and Future Use of Capsule Endoscopy)

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9 pages, 2215 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Experimental Study of a 3D Bone Position Estimation System Based on Fluoroscopic Images

by Yuichi Yoshii, Yuta Iwahashi, Satoshi Sashida, Pragyan Shrestha, Hidehiko Shishido, Itaru Kitahara and Tomoo Ishii

Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2237; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092237 - 16 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1749

Abstract

To compare a 3D preoperative planning image and fluoroscopic image, a 3D bone position estimation system that displays 3D images in response to changes in the position of fluoroscopic images was developed. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the accuracy [...] Read more.

To compare a 3D preoperative planning image and fluoroscopic image, a 3D bone position estimation system that displays 3D images in response to changes in the position of fluoroscopic images was developed. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the accuracy of the estimated position of 3D bone images with reference to fluoroscopic images. Bone positions were estimated from reference points on a fluoroscopic image compared with those on a 3D image. The four reference markers positional relationships on the fluoroscopic image were compared with those on the 3D image to evaluate whether a 3D image may be drawn by tracking positional changes in the radius model. Intra-class correlations coefficients for reference marker distances between the fluoroscopic image and 3D image were 0.98–0.99. Average differences between measured values on the fluoroscopic image and 3D bone image for each marker corresponding to the direction of the bone model were 1.1 ± 0.7 mm, 2.4 ± 1.8 mm, 1.4 ± 0.8 mm, and 2.0 ± 1.6 mm in the anterior-posterior view, ulnar side lateral view, posterior-anterior view, and radial side lateral view, respectively. Marker positions were more accurate in the anterior-posterior and posterior-anterior views than in the radial and ulnar side lateral views. This system helps in real-time comparison of dynamic changes in preoperative 3D and intraoperative fluoroscopy images. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Bone and Joint Imaging)

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