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Diagnostics, Volume 11, Issue 3 (March 2021) – 197 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Diagnosis of people infected with hepatitis C virus relies on results from serological and virological tests, which are optimized for plasma from venipuncture blood. Collection, storage, and transport of frozen plasma is not always possible, especially among vulnerable populations worldwide. In these settings, alternative specimen types, such as blood or plasma dried on filter paper, represent a potential option. This study evaluates the utility of the cobas® Plasma Separation Card for hepatitis C diagnosis and shows that dried plasma is useful as an alternative to plasma from venipuncture blood. View this paper
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17 pages, 26451 KiB  
Article
Contribution of Gray Matter Atrophy and White Matter Damage to Cognitive Impairment in Mildly Disabled Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients
by Ángela Bernabéu-Sanz, Sandra Morales, Valery Naranjo and Ángel P. Sempere
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 578; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030578 - 23 Mar 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2738
Abstract
Cognitive impairment (CI) is frequently present in multiple sclerosis patients. Despite ongoing research, the neurological substrates have not been fully elucidated. In this study we investigated the contribution of gray and white matter in the CI observed in mildly disabled relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis [...] Read more.
Cognitive impairment (CI) is frequently present in multiple sclerosis patients. Despite ongoing research, the neurological substrates have not been fully elucidated. In this study we investigated the contribution of gray and white matter in the CI observed in mildly disabled relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients. For that purpose, 30 patients with RRMS (median EDSS = 2), and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were studied. CI was assessed using the symbol digit modalities test (SDMT) and the memory alteration test. Brain magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), voxel-based morphometry (VBM), brain segmentation, thalamic vertex analysis, and connectivity-based thalamic parcellation analyses were performed. RRMS patients scored significantly lower in both cognitive tests. In the patient group, significant atrophy in the thalami was observed. Multiple regression analyses revealed associations between SDMT scores and GM volume in both hemispheres in the temporal, parietal, frontal, and occipital lobes. The DTI results pointed to white matter damage in all thalamocortical connections, the corpus callosum, and several fasciculi. Multiple regression and correlation analyses suggested that in RRMS patients with mild disease, thalamic atrophy and thalamocortical connection damage may lead to slower cognitive processing. Furthermore, white matter damage at specific fasciculi may be related to episodic memory impairment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiple Sclerosis Diagnostics)
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12 pages, 2221 KiB  
Article
Microstructural and Strength Changes in Trabecular Bone in Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
by Mercè Giner, Cristina Miranda, María Angeles Vázquez-Gámez, Patricia Altea-Manzano, María-José Miranda, Antonio Casado-Díaz, Ramón Pérez-Cano and María-José Montoya-García
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 577; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030577 - 23 Mar 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2541
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide and it is associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis and fragility fractures. Our aim is to analyze the effect of T2DM on bone quality. This is a case-control [...] Read more.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide and it is associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis and fragility fractures. Our aim is to analyze the effect of T2DM on bone quality. This is a case-control study. The studied population consisted of 140 patients: 54 subjects with hip fracture (OP) without T2DM, 36 patients with hip fracture and T2DM (OP-T2DM), 28 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) without T2DM, and 22 patients with OA and T2DM (OA-T2DM). Bone markers, bone mineral density, FRAX score, microstructural, and bone material strength from femoral heads were assessed. The group with hip fracture presented lower BMD values than OA (p < 0.05). The OP, OP-T2DM, and OA-T2DM groups showed a decrease in bone volume fraction (BV/TV), in trabecular number (Tb.N), and in trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), while an increase was presented in the structural model index (SMI) and trabecular bone pattern factor (Tb.Pf), The groups OP, OP-T2DM, and OA-T2DM also presented lower values than those in group OA regarding the biomechanical parameters in the form of Young’s modulus or elastic modulus, toughness, ultimate stress, ultimate load, extrinsic stiffness, and work to failure (p < 0.05). Our results show the negative effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on trabecular bone structure and mechanical properties. Full article
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13 pages, 1011 KiB  
Review
Minimally Invasive Intracerebral Hemorrhage Evacuation Techniques: A Review
by Theodore C. Hannah, Rebecca Kellner and Christopher P. Kellner
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 576; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030576 - 23 Mar 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5151
Abstract
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) continues to have high morbidity and mortality. Improving ICH outcomes likely requires rapid removal of blood from the parenchyma and restraining edema formation while also limiting further neuronal damage due to the surgical intervention. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) approaches promise [...] Read more.
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) continues to have high morbidity and mortality. Improving ICH outcomes likely requires rapid removal of blood from the parenchyma and restraining edema formation while also limiting further neuronal damage due to the surgical intervention. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) approaches promise to provide these benefits and have become alluring options for management of ICH. This review describes six MIS techniques for ICH evacuation including craniopuncture, stereotactic aspiration with thrombolysis, endoport-mediated evacuation, endoscope-assisted evacuation, adjunctive aspiration devices, and the surgiscope. The efficacy of each modality is discussed based on current literature. The largest clinical trials have yet to demonstrate definitive effects of MIS intervention on mortality and functional outcomes for ICH. Thus, there is a significant need for further innovation for ICH treatment. Multiple ongoing trials promise to better clarify the potential of the newer, non-thrombolytic MIS techniques. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis and Management of Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke)
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19 pages, 3461 KiB  
Review
Optical Devices in Tracheal Intubation—State of the Art in 2020
by Jan Matek, Frantisek Kolek, Olga Klementova, Pavel Michalek and Tomas Vymazal
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 575; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030575 - 22 Mar 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4329
Abstract
The review article is focused on developments in optical devices, other than laryngoscopes, in airway management and tracheal intubation. It brings information on advantages and limitations in their use, compares different devices, and summarizes benefits in various clinical settings. Supraglottic airway devices may [...] Read more.
The review article is focused on developments in optical devices, other than laryngoscopes, in airway management and tracheal intubation. It brings information on advantages and limitations in their use, compares different devices, and summarizes benefits in various clinical settings. Supraglottic airway devices may be used as a conduit for fiberscope-guided tracheal intubation mainly as a rescue plan in the scenario of difficult or failed laryngoscopy. Some of these devices offer the possibility of direct endotracheal tube placement. Hybrid devices combine the features of two different intubating tools. Rigid and semi-rigid optical stylets represent another option in airway management. They offer benefits in restricted mouth opening and may be used also for retromolar intubation. Awake flexible fiberoptic intubation has been a gold standard in predicted difficult laryngoscopy for decades. Modern flexible bronchoscopes used in anesthesia and intensive care are disposable devices and contain optical lenses instead of fibers. Endotracheal tubes with an incorporated optics are used mainly in thoracic anesthesia for lung separation. They are available in double-lumen and single-lumen versions. They offer a benefit of direct view to the carina and do not require flexible fiberscope for their correct placement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Medical Imaging and Theranostics)
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13 pages, 1699 KiB  
Article
Use of Machine Learning to Investigate the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) towards Early Autism Screening
by Gennaro Tartarisco, Giovanni Cicceri, Davide Di Pietro, Elisa Leonardi, Stefania Aiello, Flavia Marino, Flavia Chiarotti, Antonella Gagliano, Giuseppe Maurizio Arduino, Fabio Apicella, Filippo Muratori, Dario Bruneo, Carrie Allison, Simon Baron Cohen, David Vagni, Giovanni Pioggia and Liliana Ruta
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 574; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030574 - 22 Mar 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4114
Abstract
In the past two decades, several screening instruments were developed to detect toddlers who may be autistic both in clinical and unselected samples. Among others, the Quantitative CHecklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) is a quantitative and normally distributed measure of autistic traits [...] Read more.
In the past two decades, several screening instruments were developed to detect toddlers who may be autistic both in clinical and unselected samples. Among others, the Quantitative CHecklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) is a quantitative and normally distributed measure of autistic traits that demonstrates good psychometric properties in different settings and cultures. Recently, machine learning (ML) has been applied to behavioral science to improve the classification performance of autism screening and diagnostic tools, but mainly in children, adolescents, and adults. In this study, we used ML to investigate the accuracy and reliability of the Q-CHAT in discriminating young autistic children from those without. Five different ML algorithms (random forest (RF), naïve Bayes (NB), support vector machine (SVM), logistic regression (LR), and K-nearest neighbors (KNN)) were applied to investigate the complete set of Q-CHAT items. Our results showed that ML achieved an overall accuracy of 90%, and the SVM was the most effective, being able to classify autism with 95% accuracy. Furthermore, using the SVM–recursive feature elimination (RFE) approach, we selected a subset of 14 items ensuring 91% accuracy, while 83% accuracy was obtained from the 3 best discriminating items in common to ours and the previously reported Q-CHAT-10. This evidence confirms the high performance and cross-cultural validity of the Q-CHAT, and supports the application of ML to create shorter and faster versions of the instrument, maintaining high classification accuracy, to be used as a quick, easy, and high-performance tool in primary-care settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Diagnostics)
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15 pages, 2390 KiB  
Review
Myocardial Work: Methodology and Clinical Applications
by Konstantinos Papadopoulos, Özge Özden Tok, Konstantina Mitrousi and Ignatios Ikonomidis
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 573; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030573 - 22 Mar 2021
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 4735
Abstract
A precise and accurate assessment of left ventricular (LV) contractility is of utmost importance in terms of prognosis in most cardiac pathologies. Given the limitations of ejection fraction (EF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) due to their load dependency, a novel imaging tool [...] Read more.
A precise and accurate assessment of left ventricular (LV) contractility is of utmost importance in terms of prognosis in most cardiac pathologies. Given the limitations of ejection fraction (EF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) due to their load dependency, a novel imaging tool called myocardial work (MW) has emerged as a promising method for LV performance evaluation. MW is a novel, less load-dependent method based on computation of myocardial strain–arterial blood pressure curves. This method provides a more detailed assessment of segmental and global LV function incorporating the patient’s LV pressure and is derived by brachial artery pressure utilizing an empiric reference curve adjusted to the duration of the isovolumic and ejection phases as determined by echocardiography. The clinical implications of this unique method have been expanding in the last few years, which attest to the robust additive role of MW in routine practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cardiovascular Imaging 2021)
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16 pages, 757 KiB  
Review
Cystic Fibrosis-Related Diabetes (CFRD): Overview of Associated Genetic Factors
by Fernanda Iafusco, Giovanna Maione, Francesco Maria Rosanio, Enza Mozzillo, Adriana Franzese and Nadia Tinto
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 572; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030572 - 22 Mar 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4159
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal recessive disease in the Caucasian population and is caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene that encodes for a chloride/bicarbonate channel expressed on the membrane of epithelial cells of [...] Read more.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal recessive disease in the Caucasian population and is caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene that encodes for a chloride/bicarbonate channel expressed on the membrane of epithelial cells of the airways and of the intestine, as well as in cells with exocrine and endocrine functions. A common nonpulmonary complication of CF is cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD), a distinct form of diabetes due to insulin insufficiency or malfunction secondary to destruction/derangement of pancreatic betacells, as well as to other factors that affect their function. The prevalence of CFRD increases with age, and 40–50% of CF adults develop the disease. Several proposed hypotheses on how CFRD develops have emerged, including exocrine-driven fibrosis and destruction of the entire pancreas, as well as contrasting theories on the direct or indirect impact of CFTR mutation on islet function. Among contributors to the development of CFRD, in addition to CFTR genotype, there are other genetic factors related and not related to type 2 diabetes. This review presents an overview of the current understanding on genetic factors associated with glucose metabolism abnormalities in CF. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis and Management of Cystic Fibrosis)
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13 pages, 1920 KiB  
Article
Oral Diagnostic Methods for the Detection of Periodontal Disease
by Liza L. Ramenzoni, Marc P. Lehner, Manuela E. Kaufmann, Daniel Wiedemeier, Thomas Attin and Patrick R. Schmidlin
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 571; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030571 - 22 Mar 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5267
Abstract
Periodontitis is a common immune-inflammatory oral disease. Early detection plays an important role in its prevention and progression. Saliva is a reliable medium that mirrors periodontal health and is easily obtainable for identifying periodontal biomarkers in point-of-care diagnostics. The aim of this study [...] Read more.
Periodontitis is a common immune-inflammatory oral disease. Early detection plays an important role in its prevention and progression. Saliva is a reliable medium that mirrors periodontal health and is easily obtainable for identifying periodontal biomarkers in point-of-care diagnostics. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of diagnostic salivary tests to determine periodontal status. Whole saliva (stimulated/unstimulated) from twenty healthy and twenty stage III grade B generalized periodontitis patients was tested for lactoferrin, alkaline phosphatase, calcium, density, osmolarity, pH, phosphate, buffer capacity, salivary flow rate and dynamic viscosity. A semi-quantitative urinary strip test was used to evaluate markers of inflammation in saliva (erythrocytes, leukocytes, urobilinogen, nitrite, glucose, bilirubin, and ketones), clinical periodontal parameters and pathogenic bacteria. Concentrations of lactoferrin, hemoglobin, and leukocytes were found to be significantly higher in the stimulated and unstimulated saliva in periodontitis patients compared to healthy patients, whereas alkaline phosphatase levels were higher in unstimulated saliva of periodontitis patients (p < 0.05). Periodontal biomarker analysis using test strips may be considered rapid and easy tool for distinguishing between periodontitis and healthy patients. The increase in lactoferrin, hemoglobin, and leucocytes—determined by strip tests—may provide a non-invasive method of periodontal diagnosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics)
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9 pages, 600 KiB  
Article
Prognostic Factors Associated with 5-Year Overall Survival in Cervical Cancer Patients Treated with Radical Hysterectomy Followed by Adjuvant Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy at a Tertiary Care Center in Eastern Europe
by Mihai Stanca and Mihai Emil Căpîlna
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 570; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030570 - 22 Mar 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2071
Abstract
Background: This retrospective observational study aims to assess the 5-year overall survival and the prognostic significance of risk factors of patients who underwent radical hysterectomy followed by adjuvant concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) for FIGO stage IB1-IIB cervical cancer in a tertiary care center [...] Read more.
Background: This retrospective observational study aims to assess the 5-year overall survival and the prognostic significance of risk factors of patients who underwent radical hysterectomy followed by adjuvant concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) for FIGO stage IB1-IIB cervical cancer in a tertiary care center in Eastern Europe. Methods: From January 2010 to February 2019, 222 patients with stage IB1-IIB cervical cancer were treated with radical hysterectomy followed by adjuvant CCRT in our institution. The baseline information consisting of demographic and clinicopathologic data, treatment choices, recurrences, and outcome information was collected and examined. The survival rates were illustrated using Kaplan–Meier curves and prognosis analyses were accomplished using Cox multivariate analyses. Results: The 222 participants had a mean age of 51.2 years (28–76). The median follow-up time was 65.5 months (3–128). Tumor characteristics revealed FIGO stage (IB1 2.3%, IB2 35.1%, IB3 16.7%, IIA1 9%, IIA2 8.6%, IIB 28.4%) and the most encountered histologic cell type was squamous cell carcinoma (80.06%) followed by adenocarcinoma (11.3%). At the time of examination, 157 patients (70.07%) were alive, of which 135 (61%) were alive free of disease and 22 (9%) were alive with disease. The multivariate Cox regression analysis acknowledged stage IIB, parametrial involvement, and the presence of lymph node metastases as independent prognostic risk factors, significantly worsening the oncologic outcomes influencing the survival with a P-value of 0.076, 0.0001, and 0.008, respectively. The 5-year overall survival was 69.9%. Conclusions: Altogether, the study enhances the significance of prognostic risk factors on the 5-year overall survival of patients who underwent radical hysterectomy followed by adjuvant CCRT for FIGO stages IB1-IIB cervical cancer, allowing comparisons with other regions. Full article
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14 pages, 5658 KiB  
Article
Identification of Brain Damage after Seizures Using an MR-Based Electrical Conductivity Imaging Method
by Sanga Kim, Bup Kyung Choi, Ji Ae Park, Hyung Joong Kim, Tong In Oh, Won Sub Kang, Jong Woo Kim and Hae Jeong Park
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 569; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030569 - 22 Mar 2021
Viewed by 1789
Abstract
Previous imaging studies have shown the morphological malformation and the alterations of ionic mobility, water contents, electrical properties, or metabolites in seizure brains. Magnetic resonance electrical properties tomography (MREPT) is a recently developed technique for the measurement of electrical tissue properties with a [...] Read more.
Previous imaging studies have shown the morphological malformation and the alterations of ionic mobility, water contents, electrical properties, or metabolites in seizure brains. Magnetic resonance electrical properties tomography (MREPT) is a recently developed technique for the measurement of electrical tissue properties with a high frequency that provides cellular information regardless of the cell membrane. In this study, we examined the possibility of MREPT as an applicable technique to detect seizure-induced functional changes in the brain of rats. Ultra-high field (9.4 T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed, 2 h, 2 days, and 1 week after the injection of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA; 75 mg/kg). The conductivity images were reconstructed from B1 phase images using a magnetic resonance conductivity imaging (MRCI) toolbox. The high-frequency conductivity was significantly decreased in the hippocampus among various brain regions of NMDA-treated rats. Nissl staining showed shrunken cell bodies and condensed cytoplasm potently at 2 h after NMDA treatment, and neuronal cell loss at all time points in the hippocampus. These results suggest that the reduced electrical conductivity may be associated with seizure-induced neuronal loss in the hippocampus. Magnetic resonance (MR)-based electrical conductivity imaging may be an applicable technique to non-invasively identify brain damage after a seizure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Medical Imaging and Theranostics)
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3 pages, 522 KiB  
Interesting Images
Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy in a Four-Year-Old Boy
by Cheng-Hsien Tsai and Wei-Sheng Lin
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 568; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030568 - 22 Mar 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2473
Abstract
Acute necrotizing encephalopathy is a devastating clinico-radiological syndrome characterized by fulminant neurological deterioration after an antecedent febrile illness, as well as the imaging hallmark of bilateral thalamic involvement. Herein, we describe a 4-year-old boy with typical clinical and neuroimaging features of acute necrotizing [...] Read more.
Acute necrotizing encephalopathy is a devastating clinico-radiological syndrome characterized by fulminant neurological deterioration after an antecedent febrile illness, as well as the imaging hallmark of bilateral thalamic involvement. Herein, we describe a 4-year-old boy with typical clinical and neuroimaging features of acute necrotizing encephalopathy. The bithalamic swelling led to a block of cerebrospinal fluid circulation at the foramen of Monro, thereby causing the mild dilatation of lateral ventricles. The periventricular areas could, therefore, have been potentially affected by the acute necrotizing encephalopathy per se and/or transependymal edema secondary to obstructive hydrocephalus. The information from diffusion imaging allows for differentiation between these two pathophysiological processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Interesting Images)
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15 pages, 1425 KiB  
Article
Addressing Pediatric HIV Pretreatment Drug Resistance and Virologic Failure in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Diagnostic-Based Strategies in Children ≥3 Years Old
by Mutita Siriruchatanon, Shan Liu, James G. Carlucci, Eva A. Enns and Horacio A. Duarte
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 567; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030567 - 21 Mar 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2386
Abstract
Improvement of antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen switching practices and implementation of pretreatment drug resistance (PDR) testing are two potential approaches to improve health outcomes for children living with HIV. We developed a microsimulation model of disease progression and treatment focused on children with [...] Read more.
Improvement of antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen switching practices and implementation of pretreatment drug resistance (PDR) testing are two potential approaches to improve health outcomes for children living with HIV. We developed a microsimulation model of disease progression and treatment focused on children with perinatally acquired HIV in sub-Saharan Africa who initiate ART at 3 years of age. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of diagnostic-based strategies (improved switching and PDR testing), over a 10-year time horizon, in settings without and with pediatric dolutegravir (DTG) availability as first-line ART. The improved switching strategy increases the probability of switching to second-line ART when virologic failure is diagnosed through viral load testing. The PDR testing strategy involves a one-time PDR test prior to ART initiation to guide choice of initial regimen. When DTG is not available, PDR testing is dominated by the improved switching strategy, which has an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of USD 579/life-year gained (LY), relative to the status quo. If DTG is available, improved switching has a similar ICER (USD 591/LY) relative to the DTGstatus quo. Even when substantial financial investment is needed to achieve improved regimen switching practices, the improved switching strategy still has the potential to be cost-effective in a wide range of sub-Saharan African countries. Our analysis highlights the importance of strengthening existing laboratory monitoring systems to improve the health of children living with HIV. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue HIV Diagnosis, Treatment, and Care)
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14 pages, 1037 KiB  
Article
Abilities of Pre-Treatment Inflammation Ratios as Classification or Prediction Models for Patients with Colorectal Cancer
by Andra Ciocan, Răzvan A. Ciocan, Nadim Al Hajjar, Claudia D. Gherman and Sorana D. Bolboacă
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 566; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030566 - 21 Mar 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2283
Abstract
Background: Systemic inflammatory status is known as an important factor of colorectal cancer prognosis. Our study aimed to evaluate the performances of inflammation biomarker ratios as classification models of seven outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted [...] Read more.
Background: Systemic inflammatory status is known as an important factor of colorectal cancer prognosis. Our study aimed to evaluate the performances of inflammation biomarker ratios as classification models of seven outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on subjects with colorectal cancer over five years at a single center in Transylvania, Romania. Seven derived ratios were calculated based on laboratory data: neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR), derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (dNLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte (LMR) and albumin-to-globulin (AGR) ratios, Systemic Immune Inflammation Index (SII) and Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI). The utility of these ratios as predictors for seven outcomes was further evaluated in multivariable regression models. Results: Our study shows that the evaluated ratios exhibit specific performances for individual outcomes, proving a fair ability as screening tools (NLR and dNLR for survival, T stage and M stage; NLR and SII for T stage; and PLR for M stage). A dNLR over 3.1 (OR = 2.48, 95% CI (1.421 to 4.331)) shows predictive value for survival. A value of NLR over 3.10 (OR = 1.389, 95% CI (1.061 to 1.817)) is positively associated with an advanced T stage, while LMR is negatively related to the T stage (OR = 0.919, 95% CI (0.867 to 0.975)). NLR over 4.25 (OR = 2.647, 95% CI (2.128 to 3.360)) is positively associated with, while PNI is negatively related (OR = 0.970, 95% CI (0.947 to 0.993)) to, the M stage. Conclusion: Each of the evaluated ratios possesses prognostic value for certain outcomes considered, but the reported models need external validation to recommend their clinical practice utilization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis and Management of Rectal Cancer)
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15 pages, 1885 KiB  
Article
The Prognostic and Predictive Role of Somatic BRCA Mutations in Ovarian Cancer: Results from a Multicenter Cohort Study
by Angela Toss, Claudia Piombino, Elena Tenedini, Alessandra Bologna, Elisa Gasparini, Vittoria Tarantino, Maria Elisabetta Filieri, Luca Cottafavi, Filippo Giovanardi, Stefano Madrigali, Monica Civallero, Luigi Marcheselli, Isabella Marchi, Federica Domati, Marta Venturelli, Elena Barbieri, Giovanni Grandi, Enrico Tagliafico and Laura Cortesi
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 565; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030565 - 21 Mar 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2554
Abstract
Previous research involving epithelial ovarian cancer patients showed that, compared to germline BRCA (gBRCA) mutations, somatic BRCA (sBRCA) mutations present a similar positive impact with regard to overall survival (OS) and platinum and PARP (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase) inhibitor sensitivity. Nevertheless, molecular testing in [...] Read more.
Previous research involving epithelial ovarian cancer patients showed that, compared to germline BRCA (gBRCA) mutations, somatic BRCA (sBRCA) mutations present a similar positive impact with regard to overall survival (OS) and platinum and PARP (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase) inhibitor sensitivity. Nevertheless, molecular testing in these studies did not include copy number variation (CNV) analyses of BRCA genes. The aim of this study was to explore the prognostic and predictive role of sBRCA mutations as compared to gBRCA mutations in patients who were also tested for CNVs. Among the 158 patients included in the study, 17.09% of patients carried a pathogenic or likely pathogenic gBRCA variant and 15.19% of patients presented pathogenetic or likely pathogenic sBRCA variants and/or CNVs. Overall, 81.6% of the patients included in this study were diagnosed with a serous histotype, and 77.2% were in advanced stages. Among women diagnosed in advanced stages, gBRCA patients showed better progression-free survival and OS as compared to sBRCA and wild-type patients, whereas sBRCA patients did not show any advantage in outcome as compared to wild-type patients. In this study, the introduction of CNV analyses increased the detection rate of sBRCA mutations, and the resulting classification among gBRCA, sBRCA and wild-type patients was able to properly stratify the prognosis of OC patients. Particularly, sBRCA mutation patients failed to show any outcome advantage as compared to wild-type patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics)
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9 pages, 1193 KiB  
Article
Fat Composition Measured by Proton Spectroscopy: A Breast Cancer Tumor Marker?
by Almir Bitencourt, Varadan Sevilimedu, Elizabeth A. Morris, Katja Pinker and Sunitha B. Thakur
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 564; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030564 - 21 Mar 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2336
Abstract
Altered metabolism including lipids is an emerging hallmark of breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate if breast cancers exhibit different magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)-based lipid composition than normal fibroglandular tissue (FGT). MRS spectra, using the stimulated echo acquisition mode [...] Read more.
Altered metabolism including lipids is an emerging hallmark of breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate if breast cancers exhibit different magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)-based lipid composition than normal fibroglandular tissue (FGT). MRS spectra, using the stimulated echo acquisition mode sequence, were collected with a 3T scanner from patients with suspicious lesions and contralateral normal tissue. Fat peaks at 1.3 + 1.6 ppm (L13 + L16), 2.1 + 2.3 ppm (L21 + L23), 2.8 ppm (L28), 4.1 + 4.3 ppm (L41 + L43), and 5.2 + 5.3 ppm (L52 + L53) were quantified using LCModel software. The saturation index (SI), number of double bods (NBD), mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids (MUFA and PUFA), and mean chain length (MCL) were also computed. Results showed that mean concentrations of all lipid metabolites and PUFA were significantly lower in tumors compared with that of normal FGT (p ≤ 0.002 and 0.04, respectively). The measure best separating normal and tumor tissues after adjusting with multivariable analysis was L21 + L23, which yielded an area under the curve of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.75–0.98). Similar results were obtained between HER2 positive versus HER2 negative tumors. Hence, MRS-based lipid measurements may serve as independent variables in a multivariate approach to increase the specificity of breast cancer characterization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Breast MRI)
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11 pages, 1824 KiB  
Article
Diffusion Is Directional: Innovative Diffusion Tensor Imaging to Improve Prostate Cancer Detection
by Chen Shenhar, Hadassa Degani, Yaara Ber, Jack Baniel, Shlomit Tamir, Ofer Benjaminov, Philip Rosen, Edna Furman-Haran and David Margel
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 563; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030563 - 20 Mar 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2255
Abstract
In the prostate, water diffusion is faster when moving parallel to duct and gland walls than when moving perpendicular to them, but these data are not currently utilized in multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) for prostate cancer (PCa) detection. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) [...] Read more.
In the prostate, water diffusion is faster when moving parallel to duct and gland walls than when moving perpendicular to them, but these data are not currently utilized in multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) for prostate cancer (PCa) detection. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can quantify the directional diffusion of water in tissue and is applied in brain and breast imaging. Our aim was to determine whether DTI may improve PCa detection. We scanned patients undergoing mpMRI for suspected PCa with a DTI sequence. We calculated diffusion metrics from DTI and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) for suspected lesions and normal-appearing prostate tissue, using specialized software for DTI analysis, and compared predictive values for PCa in targeted biopsies, performed when clinically indicated. DTI scans were performed on 78 patients, 42 underwent biopsy and 16 were diagnosed with PCa. The median age was 62 (IQR 54.4–68.4), and PSA 4.8 (IQR 1.3–10.7) ng/mL. DTI metrics distinguished PCa lesions from normal tissue. The prime diffusion coefficient (λ1) was lower in both peripheral-zone (p < 0.0001) and central-gland (p < 0.0001) cancers, compared to normal tissue. DTI had higher negative and positive predictive values than mpMRI to predict PCa (positive predictive value (PPV) 77.8% (58.6–97.0%), negative predictive value (NPV) 91.7% (80.6–100%) vs. PPV 46.7% (28.8–64.5%), NPV 83.3% (62.3–100%)). We conclude from this pilot study that DTI combined with T2-weighted imaging may have the potential to improve PCa detection without requiring contrast injection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Imaging and Artificial Intelligence in Prostate Cancer)
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13 pages, 2924 KiB  
Review
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Epidemiology and Risk Factors
by Jun Ushio, Atsushi Kanno, Eriko Ikeda, Kozue Ando, Hiroki Nagai, Tetsurou Miwata, Yuki Kawasaki, Yamato Tada, Kensuke Yokoyama, Norikatsu Numao, Kiichi Tamada, Alan Kawarai Lefor and Hironori Yamamoto
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 562; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030562 - 20 Mar 2021
Cited by 58 | Viewed by 5685
Abstract
The number of new cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is increasing with a cumulative total of 495,773 cases worldwide, making it the fourteenth most common malignancy. However, it accounts for 466,003 deaths per year and is the seventh leading cause of cancer deaths. [...] Read more.
The number of new cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is increasing with a cumulative total of 495,773 cases worldwide, making it the fourteenth most common malignancy. However, it accounts for 466,003 deaths per year and is the seventh leading cause of cancer deaths. Regional differences in the number of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma appear to reflect differences in medical care, as well as racial differences. Compared to the prevalence of other organ cancers in Japan, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma ranks seventh based on the number of patients, eighth based on morbidity, and fourth based on the number of deaths, with a continuing increase in the mortality rate. Risk factors for developing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma include family history, genetic disorders, diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. An issue that hinders improvement in the prognosis of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the development of a strategy to identify patients with these risk factors to facilitate detection of the disease at a stage when intervention will improve survival. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer)
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13 pages, 766 KiB  
Article
Comparing Metabolomics Profiles in Various Types of Liquid Biopsies among Screening Participants with and without Advanced Colorectal Neoplasms
by Vanessa Erben, Gernot Poschet, Petra Schrotz-King and Hermann Brenner
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 561; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030561 - 20 Mar 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2652
Abstract
Analysis of metabolomics has been suggested as a promising approach for early detection of colorectal cancer and advanced adenomas. We investigated and compared the metabolomics profile in blood, stool, and urine samples of screening colonoscopy participants and aimed to evaluate differences in metabolite [...] Read more.
Analysis of metabolomics has been suggested as a promising approach for early detection of colorectal cancer and advanced adenomas. We investigated and compared the metabolomics profile in blood, stool, and urine samples of screening colonoscopy participants and aimed to evaluate differences in metabolite concentrations between people with advanced colorectal neoplasms and those without neoplasms. Various types of bio-samples (plasma, feces, and urine) from 400 participants of screening colonoscopy were investigated using the MxP® Quant 500 kit (Biocrates, Innsbruck, Austria). We detected a broad range of metabolites in blood, stool, and urine samples (504, 331, and 131, respectively). Significant correlations were found between concentrations in blood and stool, blood and urine, and stool and urine for 93, 154, and 102 metabolites, of which 68 (73%), 126 (82%), and 39 (38%) were positive correlations. We found significant differences between participants with and without advanced colorectal neoplasms for concentrations of 123, 49, and 28 metabolites in blood, stool and urine samples, respectively. We detected mostly positive correlations between metabolite concentrations in blood samples and urine or stool samples, and mostly negative correlations between urine and stool samples. Differences between subjects with and without advanced colorectal neoplasms were found for metabolite concentrations in each of the three bio-fluids. Full article
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15 pages, 2071 KiB  
Article
Sexual Dimorphisms and Asymmetries of the Thalamo-Cortical Pathways and Subcortical Grey Matter of Term Born Healthy Neonates: An Investigation with Diffusion Tensor MRI
by Fadoua Saadani-Makki, Ardalan Aarabi, Mahshid Fouladivanda, Karman Kazemi and Malek Makki
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 560; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030560 - 20 Mar 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1918
Abstract
Diffusion-tensor-MRI was performed on 28 term born neonates. For each hemisphere, we quantified separately the axial and the radial diffusion (AD, RD), the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and the fractional anisotropy (FA) of the thalamo-cortical pathway (THC) and four structures: thalamus (TH), putamen [...] Read more.
Diffusion-tensor-MRI was performed on 28 term born neonates. For each hemisphere, we quantified separately the axial and the radial diffusion (AD, RD), the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and the fractional anisotropy (FA) of the thalamo-cortical pathway (THC) and four structures: thalamus (TH), putamen (PT), caudate nucleus (CN) and globus-pallidus (GP). There was no significant difference between boys and girls in either the left or in the right hemispheric THC, TH, GP, CN and PT. In the combined group (boys + girls) significant left greater than right symmetry was observed in the THC (AD, RD and ADC), and TH (AD, ADC). Within the same group, we reported left greater than right asymmetry in the PT (FA), CN (RD and ADC). Different findings were recorded when we split the group of neonates by gender. Girls exhibited right > left AD, RD and ADC in the THC and left > right FA in the PT. In the group of boys, we observed right > left RD and ADC. We also reported left > right FA in the PT and left > right RD in the CN. These results provide insights into normal asymmetric development of sensory-motor networks within boys and girls. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Brain Imaging/Neuroimaging)
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9 pages, 7343 KiB  
Article
Clinical and FDG-PET/CT Suspicion of Malignant Disease: Is Biopsy Confirmation Still Necessary?
by Talitha Bent, Derya Yakar and Thomas C. Kwee
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 559; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030559 - 20 Mar 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3523
Abstract
Background: Biopsy of 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG)-avid lesions suspected for malignancy remains an invasive procedure associated with a variety of risks. It is still unclear if the positive predictive value (PPV) of positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) is sufficiently high to avoid tissue [...] Read more.
Background: Biopsy of 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG)-avid lesions suspected for malignancy remains an invasive procedure associated with a variety of risks. It is still unclear if the positive predictive value (PPV) of positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) is sufficiently high to avoid tissue sampling. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the PPV of 18F-FDG-PET/CT for malignancy in patients with a clinical suspicion of active malignant disease. Methods: This single-center retrospective study included 83 patients who had undergone FDG-PET/CT within 60 days before CT- or ultrasonography-guided tissue sampling and whose request form for CT- or US-guided tissue sampling requested mutation analyses. The latter implies a high clinical suspicion of active malignant disease. The nature of each biopsied lesion was determined based on the results of the pathological analysis and/or clinical and imaging follow-up of at least 12 months. Results: In total, eighty-eight FDG-avid lesions were biopsied. The PPV of FDG-PET/CT for malignancy was 98.9% (95% CI: 93.8–99.8%). For patients with an oncological history, the PPV was 98.7% (95% CI: 92.9–99.8%), and for patients with no oncological history, the PPV was 100% (95% CI: 74.1–100.0%). There was no significant difference between the PPV of the group with and without an oncological history (p = 0.71). In two cases, an unsuspected malignancy was diagnosed. Conclusion: Although the PPV of FDG-PET/CT for malignancy in patients with a clinical suspicion of active malignant disease is high, biopsy remains recommended to avoid inappropriate patient management due the non-negligible chance of dealing with FDG-avid benign disease or unexpected malignancies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Medical Imaging and Theranostics)
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16 pages, 24159 KiB  
Article
Characteristic Features of Infrared Thermographic Imaging in Primary Raynaud’s Phenomenon
by Lotte Lindberg, Bent Kristensen, Jane F. Thomsen, Ebbe Eldrup and Lars T. Jensen
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030558 - 20 Mar 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1953
Abstract
Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) is characterized by the episodic whitening of the fingers upon exposure to cold. Verification of the condition is crucial in vibration-exposed patients. The current verification method is outdated, but thermographic imaging seems promising as a diagnostic replacement. By investigating patients [...] Read more.
Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) is characterized by the episodic whitening of the fingers upon exposure to cold. Verification of the condition is crucial in vibration-exposed patients. The current verification method is outdated, but thermographic imaging seems promising as a diagnostic replacement. By investigating patients diagnosed with RP, the study aimed at developing a simple thermographic procedure that could be applied to future patients where verification of the diagnosis is needed. Twenty-two patients with primary RP and 58 healthy controls were examined using thermographic imaging after local cooling of the hands for 1 min in water of 10°C. A logistic regression model was fitted with the temperature curve characteristics to convey a predicted probability of having RP. The characteristics time to end temperature and baseline temperature were the most appropriate predictors of RP among those examined (p = 0.004 and p = 0.04, respectively). The area under the curve was 0.91. The cut-off level 0.46 yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 82% and 86%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 69% and 93%, respectively. This newly developed thermographic method was able to distinguish between patients with RP and healthy controls and was easy to operate. Thus, the method showed great promise as a method for verification of RP in future patients. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03094910. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Medical Imaging and Theranostics)
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12 pages, 3305 KiB  
Article
Long-Term Follow-Up of Thyroid Incidentalomas Visualized with 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography—Impact of Thyroid Scintigraphy in the Diagnostic Work-Up
by Kirsten Korsholm, Michala Reichkendler, Louise Alslev, Åse Krogh Rasmussen and Peter Oturai
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 557; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030557 - 19 Mar 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1567
Abstract
Our objective was to evaluate the frequency of malignancy in incidental thyroidal uptake on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in a cohort of Danish patients, and furthermore to evaluate the impact of thyroid scinti-graphy in the diagnostic work-up. All whole-body PET/CT [...] Read more.
Our objective was to evaluate the frequency of malignancy in incidental thyroidal uptake on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in a cohort of Danish patients, and furthermore to evaluate the impact of thyroid scinti-graphy in the diagnostic work-up. All whole-body PET/CT reports from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed and further analyzed if visually increased thyroidal FDG uptake was reported. Patient electronic files were searched for further thyroid evaluation. Of 13,195 18F-FDG-PET/CT scans in 9114 patients, 312 PET/CT reports mentioned incidental thyroid FDG-uptake, and 279 patients were included in the study (3.1%). The thyroid was further investigated in 137 patients (49%), and 75 patients underwent thyroid scintigraphy. A total of 57 patients had a thyroid biopsy and 21 proceeded to surgery. Surgical specimens displayed malignancy in 10 cases, and one thyroid malignancy was found by autopsy. Hence, 11 patients were diagnosed with thyroid malignancies among 279 patients with incidental thyroid 18F-FDG uptake (3.9%). In 34 patients, a biopsy was avoided due to the results of the thyroid scintigraphy. We conclude that patients with thyroid incidentalomas can benefit from further diagnostic work-up including a thyroid scintigraphy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Papers)
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30 pages, 1351 KiB  
Review
A Review of Biophysiological and Biochemical Indicators of Stress for Connected and Preventive Healthcare
by Talha Iqbal, Adnan Elahi, Pau Redon, Patricia Vazquez, William Wijns and Atif Shahzad
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 556; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030556 - 19 Mar 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5171
Abstract
Stress is a known contributor to several life-threatening medical conditions and a risk factor for triggering acute cardiovascular events, as well as a root cause of several social problems. The burden of stress is increasing globally and, with that, is the interest in [...] Read more.
Stress is a known contributor to several life-threatening medical conditions and a risk factor for triggering acute cardiovascular events, as well as a root cause of several social problems. The burden of stress is increasing globally and, with that, is the interest in developing effective stress-monitoring solutions for preventive and connected health, particularly with the help of wearable sensing technologies. The recent development of miniaturized and flexible biosensors has enabled the development of connected wearable solutions to monitor stress and intervene in time to prevent the progression of stress-induced medical conditions. This paper presents a review of the literature on different physiological and chemical indicators of stress, which are commonly used for quantitative assessment of stress, and the associated sensing technologies. Full article
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12 pages, 240 KiB  
Article
Association of Preterm Birth with Depression and Particulate Matter: Machine Learning Analysis Using National Health Insurance Data
by Kwang-Sig Lee, Hae-In Kim, Ho Yeon Kim, Geum Joon Cho, Soon Cheol Hong, Min Jeong Oh, Hai Joong Kim and Ki Hoon Ahn
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 555; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030555 - 19 Mar 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2198
Abstract
This study uses machine learning and population data to analyze major determinants of preterm birth including depression and particulate matter. Retrospective cohort data came from Korea National Health Insurance Service claims data for 405,586 women who were aged 25–40 years and gave births [...] Read more.
This study uses machine learning and population data to analyze major determinants of preterm birth including depression and particulate matter. Retrospective cohort data came from Korea National Health Insurance Service claims data for 405,586 women who were aged 25–40 years and gave births for the first time after a singleton pregnancy during 2015–2017. The dependent variable was preterm birth during 2015–2017 and 90 independent variables were included (demographic/socioeconomic information, particulate matter, disease information, medication history, obstetric information). Random forest variable importance was used to identify major determinants of preterm birth including depression and particulate matter. Based on random forest variable importance, the top 40 determinants of preterm birth during 2015–2017 included socioeconomic status, age, proton pump inhibitor, benzodiazepine, tricyclic antidepressant, sleeping pills, progesterone, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for the years 2002–2014, particulate matter for the months January–December 2014, region, myoma uteri, diabetes for the years 2013–2014 and depression for the years 2011–2014. In conclusion, preterm birth has strong associations with depression and particulate matter. What is really needed for effective prenatal care is strong intervention for particulate matters together with active counseling and medication for common depressive symptoms (neglected by pregnant women). Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Diagnostics)
10 pages, 874 KiB  
Article
Distinct Mechanical Properties of the Respiratory System Evaluated by Forced Oscillation Technique in Acute Exacerbation of COPD and Acute Decompensated Heart Failure
by Silvia Terraneo, Rocco Francesco Rinaldo, Giuseppe Francesco Sferrazza Papa, Fulvia Ribolla, Carlo Gulotta, Laura Maugeri, Emiliano Gatti, Stefano Centanni and Fabiano Di Marco
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 554; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030554 - 19 Mar 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1750
Abstract
Discriminating between cardiac and pulmonary dyspnea is essential for patients’ management. We investigated the feasibility and ability of forced oscillation techniques (FOT) in distinguishing between acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD), and acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in a clinical emergency setting. We enrolled [...] Read more.
Discriminating between cardiac and pulmonary dyspnea is essential for patients’ management. We investigated the feasibility and ability of forced oscillation techniques (FOT) in distinguishing between acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD), and acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in a clinical emergency setting. We enrolled 49 patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) for dyspnea and acute respiratory failure for AECOPD, or ADHF, and 11 healthy subjects. All patients were able to perform bedside FOT measurement. Patients with AECOPD showed a significantly higher inspiratory resistance at 5 Hz, Xrs5 (179% of predicted, interquartile range, IQR 94–224 vs. 100 IQR 67–149; p = 0.019), and a higher inspiratory reactance at 5 Hz (151%, IQR 74–231 vs. 57 IQR 49–99; p = 0.005) than patients with ADHF. Moreover, AECOPD showed higher heterogeneity of ventilation (respiratory system resistance difference at 5 and 19 Hz, Rrs5-19: 1.49 cmH2O/(L/s), IQR 1.03–2.16 vs. 0.44 IQR 0.22–0.76; p = 0.030), and a higher percentage of flow limited breaths compared to ADHF (10%, IQR 0–100 vs. 0 IQR 0–12; p = 0.030). FOT, which resulted in a suitable tool to be used in the ED setting, has the ability to identify distinct mechanical properties of the respiratory system in AECOPD and ADHF. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Advances in Diagnostic Work-Up of Respiratory Diseases)
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16 pages, 2193 KiB  
Article
Radioiodine in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: Do We Need Diagnostic Pre-Ablation Iodine-123 Scintigraphy to Optimize Treatment?
by Elizabeth J. de Koster, Taban Sulaiman, Jaap F. Hamming, Abbey Schepers, Marieke Snel, Floris H. P. van Velden, Lioe-Fee de Geus-Oei and Dennis Vriens
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 553; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030553 - 19 Mar 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2499
Abstract
Changing insights regarding radioiodine (I-131) administration in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) stir up discussions on the utility of pre-ablation diagnostic scintigraphy (DxWBS). Our retrospective study qualitatively and semi-quantitatively assessed posttherapy I-131 whole-body scintigraphy (TxWBS) data for thyroid remnant size and metastasis. Findings were [...] Read more.
Changing insights regarding radioiodine (I-131) administration in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) stir up discussions on the utility of pre-ablation diagnostic scintigraphy (DxWBS). Our retrospective study qualitatively and semi-quantitatively assessed posttherapy I-131 whole-body scintigraphy (TxWBS) data for thyroid remnant size and metastasis. Findings were associated with initial treatment success after nine months, as well as clinical, histopathological, and surgical parameters. Possible management changes were addressed. A thyroid remnant was reported in 89 of 97 (92%) patients, suspicion of lymph node metastasis in 26 (27%) and distant metastasis in 6 (6%). Surgery with oncological intent and surgery by two dedicated thyroid surgeons were independently associated with a smaller remnant. Surgery at a community hospital, aggressive tumor histopathology, histopathological lymph node metastasis (pN1) and suspicion of new lymph node metastasis on TxWBS were independently associated with an unsuccessful treatment. Thyroid remnant size was unrelated to treatment success. All 13 pN1 patients with suspected in situ lymph node metastases on TxWBS had an unsuccessful treatment, opposite 19/31 (61%) pN1 patients without (p = 0.009). Pre-ablative knowledge of these TxWBS findings had likely influenced management in 48 (50%) patients. Additional pre-ablative diagnostics could optimize patient-tailored I-131 administration. DxWBS should be considered, especially in patients with pN1 stage or suspected in situ lymph node metastasis. Dependent on local surgical expertise, DxWBS is not recommended to evaluate thyroid remnant size. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Medical Imaging and Theranostics)
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15 pages, 541 KiB  
Review
Diagnostic Role of 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT in Prostate Cancer Staging: A Systematic Review
by Salam Awenat, Arnoldo Piccardo, Patricia Carvoeiras, Giovanni Signore, Luca Giovanella, John O. Prior and Giorgio Treglia
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 552; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030552 - 19 Mar 2021
Cited by 37 | Viewed by 5638
Abstract
Background: The use of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted agents for staging prostate cancer (PCa) patients using positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is increasing worldwide. We performed a systematic review on the role of 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT in PCa staging to provide evidence-based data [...] Read more.
Background: The use of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted agents for staging prostate cancer (PCa) patients using positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is increasing worldwide. We performed a systematic review on the role of 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT in PCa staging to provide evidence-based data in this setting. Methods: A comprehensive computer literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases for studies using 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT in PCa staging was performed until 31 December 2020. Eligible articles were selected and relevant information was extracted from the original articles by two authors independently. Results: Eight articles (369 patients) evaluating the role of 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT in PCa staging were selected. These studies were quite heterogeneous, but, overall, they demonstrated a good diagnostic accuracy of 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT in detecting PCa lesions at staging. Overall, higher primary PCa aggressiveness was associated with higher 18F-PSMA-1007 uptake. When compared with other radiological and scintigraphic imaging methods, 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT had superior sensitivity in detecting metastatic disease and the highest inter-reader agreement. 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT showed similar results in terms of diagnostic accuracy for PCa staging compared with PET/CT with other PSMA-targeted tracers. Dual imaging with multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging and 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT may improve staging of primary PCa. Notably, 18F-PSMA-1007-PET/CT may detect metastatic disease in a significant number of patients with negative standard imaging. Conclusions: 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT demonstrated a good accuracy in PCa staging, with similar results compared with other PSMA-targeted radiopharmaceuticals. This method could substitute bone scintigraphy and conventional abdominal imaging for PCa staging. Prospective multicentric studies are needed to confirm these findings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue PSMA in Prostate Cancer)
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23 pages, 709 KiB  
Review
Machine Learning Quantitation of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease: A Systematic Review of Clinical Applications
by Chris Boyd, Greg Brown, Timothy Kleinig, Joseph Dawson, Mark D. McDonnell, Mark Jenkinson and Eva Bezak
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 551; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030551 - 19 Mar 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5043
Abstract
Research into machine learning (ML) for clinical vascular analysis, such as those useful for stroke and coronary artery disease, varies greatly between imaging modalities and vascular regions. Limited accessibility to large diverse patient imaging datasets, as well as a lack of transparency in [...] Read more.
Research into machine learning (ML) for clinical vascular analysis, such as those useful for stroke and coronary artery disease, varies greatly between imaging modalities and vascular regions. Limited accessibility to large diverse patient imaging datasets, as well as a lack of transparency in specific methods, are obstacles to further development. This paper reviews the current status of quantitative vascular ML, identifying advantages and disadvantages common to all imaging modalities. Literature from the past 8 years was systematically collected from MEDLINE® and Scopus database searches in January 2021. Papers satisfying all search criteria, including a minimum of 50 patients, were further analysed and extracted of relevant data, for a total of 47 publications. Current ML image segmentation, disease risk prediction, and pathology quantitation methods have shown sensitivities and specificities over 70%, compared to expert manual analysis or invasive quantitation. Despite this, inconsistencies in methodology and the reporting of results have prevented inter-model comparison, impeding the identification of approaches with the greatest potential. The clinical potential of this technology has been well demonstrated in Computed Tomography of coronary artery disease, but remains practically limited in other modalities and body regions, particularly due to a lack of routine invasive reference measurements and patient datasets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis and Management of Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke)
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11 pages, 1796 KiB  
Article
Development of a Solid and Flexible Matching Medium for Microwave Medical Diagnostic Systems
by Amin Moradpour, Olympia Karadima, Ivan Alic, Mykolas Ragulskis, Ferry Kienberger and Panagiotis Kosmas
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 550; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030550 - 19 Mar 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2219
Abstract
This paper reports the development of a new composite material as a matching medium for medical microwave diagnostic systems, where maximizing the microwave energy that penetrates the interrogated tissue is critical for improving the quality of the diagnostic images. The proposed material has [...] Read more.
This paper reports the development of a new composite material as a matching medium for medical microwave diagnostic systems, where maximizing the microwave energy that penetrates the interrogated tissue is critical for improving the quality of the diagnostic images. The proposed material has several advantages over what is commonly used in microwave diagnostic systems: it is semi-flexible and rigid, and it can maximize microwave energy coupling by matching the tissue’s dielectric constant without introducing high loss. The developed matching medium is a mirocomposite of barium titanate filler in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in different weight-based mixing ratios. Dielectric properties of the material are measured using a Keysight open-ended coaxial slim probe from 0.5 to 10 GHz. To avoid systematic errors, a full dielectric properties calibration is performed before measurements of sample materials. Furthermore, the repeatability of the measurements and the homogeneity of the sample of interest are considered. Finally, to evaluate the proposed matching medium, its impact on a printed monopole antenna is studied. We demonstrate that the permittivity of the investigated mixtures can be increased in a controlled manner to reach values that have been previously shown to be optimal for medical microwave imaging (MWI) such as stroke and breast cancer diagnostic applications. As a result, the material is a good candidate for supporting antenna arrays designed for portable MWI scanners in applications such as stroke detection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electromagnetic Imaging for a Novel Generation of Medical Devices)
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12 pages, 11938 KiB  
Review
Role of Fusion Imaging in Image-Guided Thermal Ablations
by Serena Carriero, Gianmarco Della Pepa, Lorenzo Monfardini, Renato Vitale, Duccio Rossi, Andrea Masperi and Giovanni Mauri
Diagnostics 2021, 11(3), 549; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030549 - 19 Mar 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3221
Abstract
Thermal ablation (TA) procedures are effective treatments for several kinds of cancers. In the recent years, several medical imaging advancements have improved the use of image-guided TA. Imaging technique plays a pivotal role in improving the ablation success, maximizing pre-procedure planning efficacy, intraprocedural [...] Read more.
Thermal ablation (TA) procedures are effective treatments for several kinds of cancers. In the recent years, several medical imaging advancements have improved the use of image-guided TA. Imaging technique plays a pivotal role in improving the ablation success, maximizing pre-procedure planning efficacy, intraprocedural targeting, post-procedure monitoring and assessing the achieved result. Fusion imaging (FI) techniques allow for information integration of different imaging modalities, improving all the ablation procedure steps. FI concedes exploitation of all imaging modalities’ strengths concurrently, eliminating or minimizing every single modality’s weaknesses. Our work aims to give an overview of FI, explain and analyze FI technical aspects and its clinical applications in ablation therapy and interventional oncology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Percutaneous Imaging-Guided Techniques in Interventional Oncology)
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