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At least 1,063 records · Page 59Linked to original sources
PubMed2026

Pan-cancer analysis identifies KANSL2 as a cell-cycle-associated regulator of tumor progression and immunity in liver hepatocellular carcinoma.

KANSL2, a core component of the NSL histone acetyltransferase complex, has been implicated in tumorigenesis. However, its pan-cancer relevance and functional role in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) remain unclear. Multi-omics data from TCGA, GEO, and HPA were integrated to systematically evaluate KANSL2 expression, clinical significance, genomic alterations, and immune associations across cancers. Functional enrichment, immune infiltration analyses, and single-cell transcriptomics were performed. In vitro assays were conducted to validate the biological effects of KANSL2 in LIHC cells. KANSL2 is broadly upregulated across cancers and exhibits strong diagnostic performance. Elevated KANSL2 expression correlates with unfavorable prognosis, particularly in LIHC. Mechanistically, KANSL2 and its co-expressed genes are enriched in cell-cycle progression. KANSL2 expression is also closely associated with immune infiltration and immunoregulatory signaling within the tumor microenvironment, with single-cell data indicating preferential expression in proliferative T-cell subsets. Functional experiments demonstrate that KANSL2 silencing suppresses proliferation, migration, and invasion, and induces G2/M phase arrest in LIHC cells. Notably, its effects on apoptosis are limited, suggesting that KANSL2 primarily drives tumor progression through cell-cycle-dependent mechanisms. This study identifies KANSL2 as a key regulator of tumor progression and immune remodeling in LIHC. By promoting malignancy predominantly via cell-cycle control, KANSL2 represents a promising biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis, and a potential therapeutic target.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1996

Assessment of an indirect ELISA in milk for the diagnosis of ovine Brucellosis.

The possibility of using an ELISA for the diagnosis of ovine brucellosis in milk (M-ELISA) was investigated. The aim of the study was to establish whether the specificity and sensitivity of the M-ELISA would be high enough to detect low levels of Brucella antibodies in ewe milk. The diagnostic performances of the test under study were established by means of reference standards and compared with conventional screening and confirmatory tests under field conditions. The diagnostic specificity of the M-ELISA established on a number of samples from Brucella-free flocks was 100% while relative to RBT and CFT positive reactors the M-ELISA demonstrated sensitivity of 65 and 83% respectively. Its sensitivity relative to culture positive animals was of 92%. The course of Brucella antibodies in milk of positive sheep was evaluated in colostrum and in mature milk for a period of 30 days after delivery and it appeared that concentrations of immunoglobulins in milk tend to sharply decrease soon after parturition while in blood serum these remained constantly high. It was concluded that the M-ELISA for Brucella antibodies in ewe milk can be regarded as a complementary diagnostic tool for individual testing but it would be poorly viable if used as a screening test applied to pooled flock milks.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Comparison of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and optic disk algorithms with optical coherence tomography to detect glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To compare the performance of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and optic disk algorithms as determined by optical coherence tomography to detect glaucoma. DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study. METHODS: setting: Academic tertiary-care center. study population: One eye from 42 control subjects and 65 patients with open-angle glaucoma with visual acuity of > or =20/40, and no other ocular pathologic condition. observation procedures: Two optical coherence tomography algorithms were used: "fast RNFL thickness" and "fast optic disk." main outcome measures: Area under the receiver operating characteristic curves and sensitivities at fixed specificities were used. Discriminating ability of the average RNFL thickness and RNFL thickness in clock-hour sectors and quadrants was compared with the parameters that were derived from the fast optic disk algorithm. Classification and regression trees were used to determine the best combination of parameters for the detection of glaucoma. RESULTS: The average visual field mean deviation (+/-SD) was 0.0 +/- 1.3 and -5.3 +/- 5.0 dB in the control and glaucoma groups, respectively. The RNFL thickness at the 7 o'clock sector, inferior quadrant, and the vertical C/D ratio had the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (0.93 +/- 0.02, 0.92 +/- 0.03, and 0.90 +/- 0.03, respectively). At 90% specificity, the best sensitivities (+/-SE) from each algorithm were 86% +/- 3% for RNFL thickness at the 7 o'clock sector and 79% +/- 4% for horizontal integrated rim width (estimated rim area). The combination of inferior quadrant RNFL thickness and vertical C/D ratio achieved the best classification (misclassification rate, 6.2%). CONCLUSION: The fast optic disk algorithm performs as well as the fast RNFL thickness algorithm for discrimination of glaucoma from normal eyes. A combination of the two algorithms may provide enhanced diagnostic performance.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The present state of paediatric neurology in the Autonomous Community of Madrid: variability in the distribution of resources].

INTRODUCTION: Paediatric neurology (PN) lies halfway between neurology and paediatrics, with no official acknowledgment. It is therefore difficult to determine exactly how resources are shared out. AIMS: The aim of this study is to analyse the public resources devoted to PN in the different health care areas within the Autonomous Community of Madrid (ACM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In May 2002 we carried out a survey among child neurologists (CN) from the 9 independent health care districts within the ACM. RESULTS: A total of 28 CN work for the public health service in the ACM, eight of whom are employed on a part time basis. Only 53% are owners. The ratio of CN per 100000 inhabitants (inhab.) is 0.55 (0.45 after correction for part time work). The figure varies from one area to another from 0.07 to 1 CN/100000 inhab. (1/12000 1/220000 children). Part time neurologists work in the outer districts of the ACM. In most areas it is difficult to carry out diagnostic tests and these become even complicated when the child is small and requires some anaesthetic procedure. Neuropsychological assessment is one of the basic evaluations performed in PN and this is not easily performed in most centres. CONCLUSIONS: The CN/100000 inhab. ratio in the ACM is lower than that commonly recommended. The distribution of resources varies greatly and does not match demographic criteria. Temporary and part time jobs are commonplace in the peripheral areas. It is difficult for most centres to perform diagnostic tests.

Data Collection↗
PubMed2005

Gender differences in detecting coronary artery disease with dipyridamole stress myocardial perfusion imaging using 99m-Tc sestamibi gated SPECT.

There are some specifics in the presentation of coronary artery disease (CAD) in women compared with men that may cause diagnostic pitfalls. The accuracy of noninvasive diagnostic testing in women tends to be lower than that in men. Stress myocardial perfusion imaging with 99m-Tc sestamibi gated SPECT is an accurate technique for detecting CAD. Only a few studies have compared dipyridamole stress imaging according to gender. The aim of the study was to compare the diagnostic value of dipyridamole myocardial perfusion imaging with 99m-Tc sestamibi gated SPECT in detecting CAD among patients of both sexes. We studied 62 consecutive patients (38 men, 24 women) using 99m-Tc sestamibi gated SPECT and dipyridamole stress to detect CAD. All the patients also underwent coronary angiography. Overall regional sensitivity was significantly lower in women compared with men (71.4% vs. 92.7%, p=0.039). There were no significant differences for detecting CAD in individual coronary arteries, although regional sensitivity in all three vascular territories was higher in men compared to women. The lowest sensitivity in women was found in the LAD territory (66.6%). Overall regional specificity in men and women was similar and did not reach statistical significance (88.7% vs. 94.7%). Significantly lower specificity in men was found only in the RCA territory (79.1%), compared with that in women (100%). Our results confirmed that there are certain gender differences in the diagnostic performance of dipyridamole stress myocardial perfusion imaging with 99-Tc sestamibi gated SPECT which are assigned to the characteristics of the female population. However, the diagnostic accuracy is also quite high in women, which makes this technique efficient enough in detecting CAD among this population.

Coronary Angiography↗
PubMed1977

[Statement of the bioptic diagnostic in intrathoracic sarcoidosis--team work of 6 lung hospitals of the GDR (author's transl)].

A nearly nation-wide team-work of six chest hospitals was made with 4284 patients to analyse all performed diagnostic procedures up to the present. Its frequency and diagnostic importance in relation to the radiographic stages of the disease were examined. Especially the procedure of bronchologic examination, having been partly underrated with the morphological ascertainment of sarcoidosis, are now purposefully analysed. This showed that also with perbronchic punction-biopsy and bronchoscopic excision morphologically confirming of the diagnosis was possible at a high percentage. On the other side the right diagnosis was made clinically before bioptic procedures in the majority of the patients. The overall conclusion is that, according to the experiences made in our hospitals, the relatively harmless bronchologic procedures are in general sufficient to obtain bioptic verfication of the diagnosis "sarcoidosis". Other bioptic operations like mediastinoscopy or lung biopsy can be restricted to cases with reasonable doube of the diagnosis.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1997

The performance of DSM-III-R major depression criteria in the diagnosis of bipolar mixed states.

Two hundred thirty-seven (237) manic patients diagnosed by DSM-III-R criteria as either purely manic (204) or mixed bipolar (33) were reviewed for analysis of the diagnostic performance of the DSM-III-R criteria required to diagnose the mixed bipolar state. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic efficiency of each of the 9 DSM-III-R criteria for major depression in this cohort. As predicted, four of the major depression criteria had low diagnostic utility, with PPV's less than 0.3. Those items were: weight change; sleep disturbance; psychomotor change; and diminished ability to think or concentrate or indecisiveness. Four symptoms: anhedonia, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation had acceptable utility for the diagnosis of mixed states.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2026

PRDX1 as a novel urinary biomarker for bladder cancer: Development of an integrated fiber optic sensing platform.

In this study, integrated proteomic and transcriptomic analyses identified peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1) as a novel urinary biomarker for bladder cancer (BC). PRDX1 was significantly upregulated in BC tissues and was associated with poorer overall survival. In vitro experiments further demonstrated that PRDX1 promotes malignant phenotypes of BC cells, including proliferation, migration, and invasion. Silencing PRDX1 in BC cells significantly reduced the invasiveness and proliferation ability.To address the clinical need for rapid and non-invasive detection, we developed an innovative optical fiber biosensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology for the quantitative detection of urinary PRDX1. The biosensor exhibited excellent analytical performance, including high sensitivity (limit of detection: 0.06 ng/mL), a wide linear range (0-25 ng/mL), rapid response (∼14 s), as well as good stability and selectivity. In clinical validation involving 97 BC patients and 30 healthy controls, the biosensor demonstrated outstanding diagnostic performance, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.91 and an overall diagnostic accuracy of 86.6%, outperforming conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Collectively, this study not only identifies PRDX1 as a promising biomarker for non-invasive diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of BC, but also establishes an efficient SPR-based optical fiber sensing platform, providing new insights into both clinical detection and the functional role of PRDX1 in BC progression.

Humans↗
PubMed2000

Diagnosing syncope in clinical practice. Implementation of a simplified diagnostic algorithm in a multicentre prospective trial - the OESIL 2 study (Osservatorio Epidemiologico della Sincope nel Lazio)

BACKGROUND: In some patients with syncope health care is inappropriate and ineffective. In a recent observational investigation in community hospitals of the Lazio region of Italy (the OESIL study) 54.4% of patients admitted with syncope from the emergency room were discharged without a conclusive diagnosis. AIM OF THE STUDY: A simplified two-step diagnostic algorithm was developed and prospectively implemented in nine community hospitals of the Lazio region of Italy in order to improve the diagnostic performance of clinicians, thereby reducing the number of undiagnosed patients. STUDY POPULATION: The study population included 195 consecutive patients (85 males and 110 females, mean age 62.5 years, range 13-95 years) presenting with a syncopal spell at the emergency room of one of the nine participating hospitals in a 2-month period. RESULTS: The systematic implementation of the proposed diagnostic algorithm resulted in a striking reduction of undiagnosed cases. The percentage of patients discharged without a conclusive diagnosis decreased from 54.4% to 17.5%. Neurally mediated syncope was diagnosed in 35.2% of cases, cardiac syncope in 20.9% and neurological syncope in 13.8%. CONCLUSIONS: The use of specific, simplified diagnostic guidelines and algorithms results in an improvement of overall clinical performance. However, the development of such decision-making aids should carefully consider the local circumstances of daily clinical practice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2026

Artificial intelligence for dental caries detection: An umbrella review.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been proposed as a tool to improve dental caries detection across imaging modalities; however, its clinical value remains uncertain. This umbrella review aimed to synthesize and critically appraise systematic reviews evaluating AI for caries detection and diagnosis. An umbrella review was conducted following PRIOR guidance (PROSPERO CRD420261340728). Searches were performed in MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar up to 15 March 2026. Methodological quality was assessed using AMSTAR 2, and overlap of primary studies was quantified using the corrected covered area (CCA). Seventeen systematic reviews were included, of which five reported diagnostic test accuracy meta-analyses using bivariate or HSROC models. Across these meta-analyses, pooled sensitivity ranged from 0.76 to 0.94 and specificity from 0.85 to 0.91. Most systems were based on deep learning models applied to bitewing radiographs and intraoral photographs. However, substantial heterogeneity was observed in imaging modalities, lesion thresholds, analytical tasks, and evaluation metrics. In addition, a high degree of overlap across reviews and recurrent methodological limitations, including reliance on retrospective datasets, limited external validation, and inconsistent reporting, substantially weaken the reliability of the evidence. Although AI models demonstrate high diagnostic performance under experimental conditions, current evidence does not support their use as stand-alone diagnostic tools. Their clinical applicability remains limited, and implementation should be restricted to decision-support contexts until robust prospective validation demonstrates meaningful impact on clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.

Dental Caries↗
PubMed1987

Diagnosis of infective and inflammatory disorders by flow cytometric analysis of blood neutrophils.

The utility of neutrophil parameters provided by two flow cytometric hematologic analyzers (the H-1 and H6000, Technicon Instruments Corporation, Tarrytown, NY) was investigated for the diagnosis of infective and/or inflammatory disorders. The test population of 156 hospital patients was selected on the basis of a blood culture request. Positivity or negativity for infective and/or inflammatory disease was inferred from chart review. The parameters evaluated included the absolute neutrophil count, the lobularity index, and the left shift flag from the H-1, the percentage of high peroxidase cells from the H6000, the routine laboratory band count, and a reference band count. Significant intercorrelations were observed between these parameters. The diagnostic performance of the routine laboratory band count was significantly inferior to that of all other parameters. At equivalent points on their receiver operating characteristic curves, the diagnostic efficiencies of the remaining tests ranged from 61.5% for the lobularity index to 67% for the left shift flag and the percentage of high peroxidase cells. These differences were not significant statistically.

Flow Cytometry↗
PubMed2004

Soft-tissue tumors: value of static and dynamic gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced MR imaging in prediction of malignancy.

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate static and dynamic gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging relative to nonenhanced MR imaging in differentiation of benign from malignant soft-tissue lesions and to evaluate which MR imaging parameters are most predictive of malignancy, with associated interobserver variability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred forty consecutive patients (78 male patients [median age, 51 years], 62 female patients [median age, 53 years]) with a soft-tissue mass underwent nonenhanced static and dynamic contrast material-enhanced MR imaging. Diagnosis was based on histologic findings in surgical specimens (86 of 140), findings at core-needle biopsy (43 of 140), or results of all imaging procedures with clinical follow-up (11 of 140). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the best combination of MR imaging parameters that might be predictive of malignancy. Subjective overall performance of two observers was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic analysis. RESULTS: For subjective overall diagnosis, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, a measure for diagnostic accuracy, was significantly larger for combined nonenhanced and contrast-enhanced MR imaging than it was for nonenhanced MR imaging alone, with no significant difference between observers. Multivariate analysis of all lesions revealed that combined nonenhanced static and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging parameters were significantly superior to nonenhanced MR imaging parameters alone and to nonenhanced MR imaging parameters combined with static contrast-enhanced MR imaging parameters in prediction of malignancy. The most discriminating parameters were presence of liquefaction, start of dynamic enhancement (time interval between start of arterial and tumor enhancement), and lesion size (diameter). Results for extremity lesions were the same, with one exception: With dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging parameters, diagnostic performance of one observer did not improve. CONCLUSION: Static and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging, when added to nonenhanced MR imaging, improved differentiation between benign and malignant soft-tissue lesions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Diagnosis of tumors by needle aspiration cytology].

Fine needle aspiration cytology is considered an adequate method fulfilling the requirements for an early, minimal invasive, and simple to perform diagnostic technique for malignancies. Its establishment in human medicine is the basis for propagation of this method in veterinary medicine. This paper describes the technique of performing a fine needle aspiration and gives guidelines for the interpretation of cytologic samples. Indications, limitations and contraindications of aspiration cytology are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Diagnostic utility of carcinoembryonic antigen, neuron-specific enolase and squamous cell carcinoma antigen in malignant pleural effusion].

We evaluated the diagnostic utility of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC Ag.) in malignant pleural effusion (MPE). CEA, NSE and SCC Ag, blood and pleural levels were quantified by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) in 85 patients with pleural effusions: 35 non malignant pleural effusions, and 50 MPE; 42 with lung carcinoma (LC), and 8 with extrapulmonary carcinoma. The sensitivity and specificity was compared to cytological results of the pleural fluid. The sensitivities of CEA7 NSE and SCC Ag. (in pleural fluid) were 59.5%, 48.7% and 16.7% respectively in patients with LC (specificity higher than 90%). Using a combination with CEA and NSE, the sensitivity reached 80.9% (specificity, 91.4%). The cytology of pleural fluid was positive in 45.2%. The pleural/blood ratios did not improve the diagnostic performance. In patients with extrapulmonary carcinoma, the sensitivity of these tumor markers was lower. The combination of CEA and NSE pleural levels is useful in the diagnostic approach to the patient with pleural effusion. A high level of NSE is suggestive of small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1997

Cardiac catheterisation performed by a clinical nurse specialist.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the feasibility and safety of an appropriately trained clinical nurse specialist performing diagnostic cardiac catheterisation. DESIGN: Non-randomised retrospective comparison between the first 100 and second 100 consecutive investigations by a clinical nurse specialist and 200 consecutive patients investigated by two cardiology registrars over a similar period. SETTING: Regional cardiac centre performing 3200 catheterisation procedures per annum. PATIENTS: 200 patients undergoing routine (non-emergency) cardiac catheterisation for investigation of ischaemic heart disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Procedural complications, image quality, fluoroscopy times. RESULTS: Satisfactory diagnostic images in all nurse specialist cases with no deaths and two complications (coronary artery dissection and femoral pseudoaneurysm). Procedure duration and fluoroscopy times slightly shorter for clinical nurse specialist by 3 and 1.6 minutes, respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Non-medical practitioners can be trained to perform straightforward cardiac angiography in low risk patients with consultant supervision, as for cardiology registrars. With important restrictions such posts may have a limited role in supporting future consultant based services.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Value of contrast-enhanced sonography for the characterization of focal hepatic lesions in patients with diffuse liver disease: receiver operating characteristic analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to assess the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced agent detection sonographic imaging to characterize focal hepatic lesions in patients with diffuse liver disease in comparison with baseline sonographic images and to determine whether agent detection imaging can reduce the necessity of further diagnostic workup for lesion characterization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Contrast-enhanced sonography using 4 g of Levovist at a concentration of 300 mg/mL was performed on 75 focal hepatic lesions in 75 patients with diffuse liver disease. Interval reviews for both baseline without and with contrast-enhanced sonography were performed independently by two radiologists. They were requested to determine the malignity of focal hepatic lesions using a 5-point confidence level and to record the specific diagnoses and the necessity for further imaging for lesion characterization. Radiologists' performances for lesion differentiation using baseline and contrast-enhanced sonography were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Interobserver agreement was also analyzed. RESULTS: When contrast-enhanced sonography was used, ROC analysis revealed a significant improvement for both reviewers (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [A(z)] = 0.753 and 0.830 and 0.971 and 0.974 at baseline sonography and contrast-enhanced sonography, respectively; p < 0.002) for differentiating malignant and benign focal liver lesions. Contrast-enhanced sonography also improved specificity from 12% to 91% for reviewer 1 and from 26% to 85% for reviewer 2 compared with baseline sonography. Furthermore, excellent interobserver agreement was achieved for contrast-enhanced sonography (weighted kappa = 0.919), whereas only good agreement was achieved for baseline sonography (weighted kappa = 0.656). A better result for specific diagnosis was obtained by contrast-enhanced sonography (79% and 75%) than by baseline sonography (37% and 48%, p < 0.05). Contrast-enhanced sonography (72% and 63%) outperformed baseline sonography (35% and 28%, p < 0.05) as a confirmatory imaging technique. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced agent detection sonography can be used to characterize focal hepatic lesions in patients with diffuse liver disease reliably and with a higher diagnostic confidence than baseline sonography. Furthermore, contrast-enhanced sonography reduced the need for further diagnostic workups for focal hepatic lesion characterization.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

The ICS-'BPH' Study: uroflowmetry, lower urinary tract symptoms and bladder outlet obstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between uroflow variables and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS): to define performance statistics (sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values) for maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) with respect to bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) at various threshold values; and to investigate the diagnostic value of low-volume voids. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study comprised 1271 men aged between 45 and 88 years recruited from 12 centres in Europe, Australia, Canada, Taiwan and Japan over a 2-year period. Symptom questionnaires, voiding diaries, uroflowmetry and pressure-flow data were recorded. The relationship between uroflow variables and symptoms, Qmax and BOO, and the diagnostic performance of low volume voids were analysed. RESULTS: The relationship between symptoms and uroflow variables was poor. The mean difference between home-recorded and clinic-recorded voided volumes was -48 mL. Qmax was significantly lower in those with BOO (9.7 mL/s for void 1) than in those with no obstruction (12.6mL/s; P<0.001) and Qmax was negatively correlated with obstruction grade (Spearman's correlation coefficient -0.3, P<0.001), even when controlling for the negative correlation between age and Qmax (Spearman's partial correlation coefficient -0.29, P<0.001). A threshold value of Qmax of 10 mL/s had a specificity of 70%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 70% and a sensitivity of 47% for BOO. The specificity using a threshold Qmax of 15 mL/s was 38%, the PPV 67% and the sensitivity 82%. Those voiding <150 mL (n=225) had a 72% chance of BOO (overall prevalence of BOO 60%). In those voiding >150 mL the likelihood of BOO was 56%. The addition of a specific threshold of 10 mL/s to these higher volume voiders improved the PPV for BOO to 69%. CONCLUSION: While uroflowmetry cannot replace pressure-flow studies in the diagnosis of BOO. it can provide a valuable improvement over symptoms alone in the diagnosis of the cause of lower urinary tract dysfunction in men presenting with LUTS. This study provides performance statistics for Qmax with respect to BOO: such statistics may be used to define more accurately the presence or absence of BOO in men presenting with LUTS, so avoiding the need for formal pressure-flow studies in everyday clinical practice, while improving the likelihood of a successful outcome from prostatectomy. This study also shows that low-volume uroflowmetry can provide useful diagnostic information and that, as such, the data from such voids should not be discarded.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Peripheral arteries in diabetic patients: standard bolus-chase and time-resolved MR angiography.

PURPOSE: To prospectively determine the diagnostic performance of a combination of standard bolus-chase magnetic resonance (MR) angiography and MR angiography with time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics (TRICKS) for depicting severity of peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremity, including the pedal arteries, in diabetic patients with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as the reference standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An ethical committee approved this study; written informed consent was obtained from patients. Standard three-station and TRICKS MR angiography of the calf and foot were performed in 31 consecutive diabetic patients (23 men, eight women; mean age, 67 years; range, 43-81 years). Two readers separately assessed images of arterial segments as diagnostic or nondiagnostic and graded stenosis. Results were compared with those at DSA when the corresponding arterial segments were considered diagnostic at DSA. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to determine if a significant difference between imaging techniques existed, and kappa statistics were used to determine interobserver agreement. RESULTS: The difference between standard MR angiography and DSA regarding the number of diagnostic segments in the thigh was not significant (P = .50). A significantly higher number of calf and foot segments was considered diagnostic at TRICKS MR angiography than at standard MR angiography (P < .025). Sixteen of 26 segments in the foot that were considered nondiagnostic at DSA were considered diagnostic at TRICKS MR angiography. Average sensitivity of standard MR angiography for depicting hemodynamically significant arterial stenosis was 84% (reader 1) and 83% (reader 2) in the thigh and 78% (reader 1) and 80% (reader 2) in the calf. For both readers, average specificity was 97% in the thigh and 90% in the calf. Sensitivity and specificity of TRICKS MR angiography in the calf and foot were improved compared with those at standard MR angiography. CONCLUSION: TRICKS MR angiography of the distal calf and pedal vessels is superior to standard MR angiography regarding the number of diagnostic segments and assessment of the degree of luminal narrowing.

Adult↗