Effectiveness of Mobile Health Platform-Based Continuity of Care in Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of using mobile health platforms for continuous care in preventing and treating osteoporosis. Methods: 114 patients with osteoporosis admitted to Nantong First People's Hospital from March 2021 to June 2022 were recruited and assigned equally via random number table method to receive either routine care (namely education on osteoporosis disease, dietary guidance, exercise guidance, activity guidance, medication supervision, fall prevention, psychological care, and secondary health education at the time of discharge) (routine group) or mobile health platform-based continuity of care (continuity group), with 57 patients in each group. Outcome measures included treatment compliance, disease knowledge of osteoporosis (diet, exercise, risk factors), quality of life level, and care satisfaction. Results: All eligible patients were followed up for one year after discharge from the hospital. Patients with continuity of care showed higher treatment compliance and disease knowledge of diet, exercise, and risk factors than those with routine care (P = .004). Continuity of care was associated with significantly higher MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) scores (The SF-36 is a self-administered questionnaire containing 36 items that survey overall health status) and nursing satisfaction in patients versus routine care (P = .004). Conclusion: Mobile health platform-based continuity of care effectively enhances post-discharge compliance and knowledge of osteoporosis in patients with osteoporosis, thereby improving post-discharge quality of life and satisfaction with care. Multi-center studies involving diverse healthcare settings and patient populations would provide more robust evidence. Moreover, these findings highlight the potential benefits of incorporating mobile health platforms into the care continuum for osteoporosis patients. Also, by utilizing mobile health platforms, healthcare providers can extend their reach beyond hospital settings and provide continuous care and support to patients, potentially reducing the burden on healthcare systems and improving overall population health outcomes.

An adolescent with primary cutaneous follicle center lymphoma: a case report and literature review.

Primary cutaneous follicle center lymphoma (PCFCL) differs from follicular lymphoma in biological behavior and molecular profile and is treated as a distinct entity, according to the 5th edition of the World Health Organization classification of hematolymphoid tumors. It is an uncommon cutaneous B-cell lymphoma that is considerably rare in children and adolescents. To date, only 13 cases of individuals younger than 20 years of age have been reported in the literature. The lack of relevant clinical epidemiological data in this population has hampered the investigation of its clinical and diagnostic aspects. Here we report the case of a 17-year-old male with PCFCL, who may be the first PCFCL patient under 20 years of age reported in China. He was admitted to the hospital with a solitary nodule on his face. After complete surgical excision, the patient's facial mass was histologically identified as PCFCL. The patient's prognosis was favorable, with no recurrence at 17 months of follow-up after the surgical resection. We present a case of an adolescent PCFCL patient and systematically review the literature with a view to increase the awareness of the disease and inform the diagnosis and treatment of this age group.

Analysis of the clinical features and risk factors of device-related pressure injuries in the operating room.

To describe the clinical features and risk factors of device-related pressure injuries (DRPIs) in the operating room. The clinical features of the DRPIs in patients undergoing elective surgery in a tertiary hospital in 2020 were investigated through prospective data collection. A DRPI-related questionnaire was designed for the patients, and those who did not experience any DRPI were selected according to a ratio of 1:2. Logistic regression analysis was performed in terms of the independent risk factors of operating-room DRPIs. A P-value of <.05 indicated a statistically significant difference. The incidence of operating-room DRPIs was 0.56%, and the proportion of stage I injuries was 73.53%. The injury-related devices included vital monitoring devices (31.62%), auxiliary therapy devices (27.94%), therapy devices (19.12%), and dressings (3.67%). Non-bone protuberances, such as the upper arms and thighs, were common injury sites. The patients' body mass index, mean arterial pressure, and instrument action time were independent risk factors for the operating-room DRPIs. To reduce the incidence of operating-room DRPIs, it is of great clinical significance to focus on the characteristics of the surgical patients and the types of surgery-related devices used and to take personalised preventive measures based on the relevant risk factors.

Immunoregulatory Effects of Subcutaneous Immunotherapy on Lymphocyte Subgroups and Cytokines in Children with Asthma.

OBJECTIVE: Asthma is a syndrome that incorporates many immune phenotypes. The immunologic effects of subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) exerts on allergic asthma remain still largely unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of SCIT on cytokine production and peripheral blood levels of lymphocyte subtypes in children with mite-induced moderate and severe allergic asthma. METHODS: The study included 60 kids with mite-induced allergic asthma from 5 to 10 years old. All subjects had received antiasthmatic pharmacologic for 3 months at baseline. Half of the children were treated with SCIT combined with pharmacologic treatment named the SCIT group and the other half only with pharmacologic therapy named the no-SCIT group. Total asthma symptom score (TASS) and total medication score (TMS) were recorded. Flow cytometry was used to identify lymphocyte subtypes: type 2 innate lymphocytes (ILC2s), type 1 (Th1) and type 2 (Th2) helper T cells, T helper 17 (Th17) cells, and regulatory T (Treg) cells. ELISA, flow cytometry, and cytometric bead array were used to assess cytokines IL-13, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-17, and TGF-ß, at baseline and 3 and 6 months after study treatment in both groups of patients. RESULTS: Both groups can significantly improve clinical symptoms in children with asthma. SCIT can significantly reduce asthma medication after 6 months of treatment. SCIT induced a significantly higher and progressive reduction in ILC2 percentage and IL-13 levels after 3 and 6 months of treatment compared with baseline and compared with no-SCIT patients. Significant differences were detected in the Th1/Th2 cell ratio and IFN-γ/IL-4 cytokine ratio between groups after 6 months of treatment. Similarly, the Th17/Treg ratio and IL-17/TGF-ß ratio in the SCIT group were much lower than those in the no-SCIT group after 3-6 months of treatment. CONCLUSION: SCIT is a promising option to reduce the percentage of ILC2 and regulate Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg immune balance in the peripheral blood of children with asthma.

[Effects of wheat-straw returning into paddy soil on dissolved organic carbon contents and rice grain yield].

A tank experiment using conventional rice cultivar Nanjing 44 as experimental material was conducted at the Experimental Farm of Yangzhou University to investigate the dynamics of wheat straw decomposition rate and the amount of carbon release in clay and sandy soils, as well as its effects on the content of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and rice yield. The two rates of wheat straw returning were 0 and 6000 kg · hm(-2), and three N application levels were 0, 225, 300 kg · hm(-2). The results showed that, the rate of wheat straw decomposition and the amount of carbon release in clay and sandy soils were highest during the initial 30 days after wheat straw returning, and then slowed down after, which could be promoted by a higher level of nitrogen application. The rate of wheat straw decomposition and the amount of carbon release in clay soil were higher than that in sandy soil. The DOC content in soil increased gradually with wheat straw returning into paddy soil and at the twenty-fifth day, and then decreased gradually to a stable value. The DOC content at the soil depth of 15 cm was significantly increased by wheat straw returning, but not at the soil depth of 30 cm and 45 cm. It was concluded that wheat straw returning increased the DOC content in the soil depth of 0-15 cm mainly. N application decreased the DOC content and there was no difference between the two N application levels. Straw returning decreased the number of tillers in the early growth period, resulted in significantly reduced panicles per unit area, but increased spikelets per panicle, filled-grain percentages, 1000-grain mass, and then enhanced grain yield.

Soft tissue perineurioma with peripheral lymphoid cuff of the tongue: a case report and literature review.

Perineurioma are rare tumors, derived from nerve sheath perineurial cells. Soft tissue perineurioma are extraordinarily rare in the tongue, with only one previous report in a child to our knowledge. Herein, we describe the first case of an adult patient who had a soft tissue perineurioma localized to the tongue, with emphasis on the clinic pathologic and immunohistochemical features of this tumor, and review the previously reported soft tissue cases. Besides, we first describe the histologic feature of peripheral lymphoid cuff in perineurioma.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging combined with T2-weighted images in the detection of small breast cancer: a single-center multi-observer study.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. However, it remains a difficult diagnosis problem to differentiate between benign and malignant breast lesions, especially in small early breast lesions. PURPOSE: To assess the diagnostic value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) combined with T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) for small breast cancer characterization. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-eight patients (65 lesions) with a lesion <2 cm in diameter underwent 3.0 Tesla breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including DWI and histological analysis. Three observers with varying experience levels reviewed MRI. The probability of breast cancer in each lesion on MR images was recorded with a 5-point scale. Areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUCs) were compared by using the Z test; sensitivity and specificity were determined with the Z test after adjusting for data clustering. RESULTS: AUC of T2WI and DWI (Observer 1, 0.95; Observer 2, 0.91; Observer 3, 0.83) was greater than that of T2WI (Observer 1, 0.80; Observer 2, 0.74; Observer 3, 0.70) for all observers (P < 0.0001 in all comparisons). Sensitivity of T2WI and DWI (Observer 1, 90%; Observer 2, 93%; and Observer 3, 86%) was greater than that of T2WI alone (Observer 1, 76%; Observer 2, 83%; Observer 3, 79%) for all observers (P < 0.0001 in all comparisons). Specificity of T2WI and DWI was greater than that of T2WI alone for observer 1 (89% vs. 72%, P < 0.01) and observer 2 (94% vs. 78%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: DWI combined with T2WI can improve the diagnostic performance of MRI in small breast cancer characterization. It should be considered selectively in the preoperative evaluation of patients with small lesions of the breast.

Improvement in visual function and quality of life following a blindness prevention surgery program in a rural area of Eastern China.

The aim of this study was to assess the changes in visual function (VF) and quality of life (QOL) among patients following blindness prevention surgery in a rural area of Eastern China. The prospective study selected cataract patients via mobile eye screening camps. VF and QOL questionnaires originally developed by Fletcher et al were completed prior to and 6 months after surgery. Small-incision cataract surgery (SICS) with posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation was performed on patients by a blindness prevention surgery group. The VF and QOL scores of 178 cataract patients preoperatively were 48.58±31.18 and 65.97±26.77, respectively. The scores decreased in proportion to decreasing vision status. The VF and QOL scale scores were significantly correlated with the vision grade of the patient (rVF=-17.2093, t=-10.87, P<0.001, rQOL=-13.1399, t=-8.87, P<0.001) and age (rVF=-0.6505, t=-3.87, P<0.001, rQOL=- 0.3309, t=-2.10, P=0.037). A total of 131 patients responded to the second survey, VF and QOL scores increased significantly over a six-month postoperative period (VF=83.21±16.40, P<0.001; QOL=86.53±16.33, P<0.001). The VF scale scores were correlated with the grade of vision and residence area, the QOL scale scores were correlated with the grade of vision and gender. The VF and QOL of patients were significantly improved by performing SICS with posterior chamber IOL implantation collectively in a short period in rural areas of Eastern China. It is important to follow-up cataract patients postoperatively as untreated complications of the surgery may affect the stability of VF and QOL postoperatively.

Is liver-specific gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging a reliable tool for detection of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic liver disease?

BACKGROUND: Gadoxetic acid is a recently developed hepatobiliary-specific contrast material used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which enables highly sensitive detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). AIM: We performed a meta-analysis of all available studies of the diagnostic performance of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI (Gd-EOB-MRI) for detection of HCC in patients with chronic liver disease. METHODS: Databases including MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for relevant original articles published from January 2000 to April 2012. Pooled estimation and subgroup analysis data were obtained by statistical analysis. RESULTS: Across 10 studies of 570 patients, Gd-EOB-MRI sensitivity was 0.91 (95 % CI 0.77, 0.97) and specificity was 0.93 (95 % CI 0.85, 0.97). Overall, LR+ was 13.6 (95 % CI 5.6, 33.2), LR- was 0.10 (95 % CI 0.04, 0.27), and DOR was 140.36 (95 % CI 28, 696). Among patients with high pre-test probabilities, MRI enabled confirmation of HCC; among patients with low pre-test probabilities, MRI enabled exclusion of HCC. Worst-case-scenario (pre-test probability, 50 %) post-test probabilities were 93 and 9 % for positive and negative MRI results, respectively. In studies in which both Gd-EOB-MRI and contrast enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) were performed, Gd-EOB-MRI was more sensitive than CE-CT (0.93 vs. 0.78; p < 0.05). Subgroup analysis suggested average lesion size (<2 vs. >2 cm) did not affect the diagnostic accuracy of the test (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A limited number of small studies suggest Gd-EOB-MRI has good diagnostic performance in the detection of HCC among patients with chronic liver disease. It is also confirmed to be a reliable tool for evaluation of small early-stage HCC.

Value of diffusion-weighted MR imaging performed with quantitative apparent diffusion coefficient values for cervical lymphadenopathy.

PURPOSE: To assess diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI-MRI) performed with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values for the detection of cervical lymphadenopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Studies evaluating DWI-MRI for the detection of cervical lymphadenopathy were systematically searched for in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cancerlit, and Cochrane Library and other database from January 1995 to November 2010. By node-based data analyses, Cochrane methodology was used for the results of this meta-analysis. RESULTS: Eight studies enrolling a total of 229 individuals were eligible for inclusion. Significant differences were found between malignant nodes and benign nodes of the mean ADC value (WMD [weighted-mean difference]: 1.19, 95% CI: [1.02, 1.35] × 10(-3) mm(2) /s, [P < 0.05]). In the secondary outcomes, significant differences were found between lymphomatous nodes and benign nodes (WMD: 1.33, 95% CI: [0.89, 1.77] × 10(-3) mm(2) /s), and nodes originating from highly or moderately differentiated cancer (WMD: 0.24, 95% CI: [0.21, 0.28] × 10(-3) mm(2) /s, [P < 0.05]), and nodes originating from poorly differentiated cancers (WMD: 0.10, 95% CI: [0.06, 0.14] × 10(-3) mm(2) /s, [P < 0.05]). CONCLUSION: DWI-MRI performed with ADC values shows significant differences among malignant nodes, lymphomatous nodes, and benign nodes in cervical lymphadenopathy.

Is there a benefit in using magnetic resonance imaging in the prediction of preoperative neoadjuvant therapy response in locally advanced rectal cancer?

OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in predicting responses in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer after preoperative neoadjuvant therapy. METHODS: Articles in English language relating to the accuracy of MRI for this utility were retrieved. Methodological quality was assessed by Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool. Pooled estimation and subgroup analysis data were obtained by statistical analysis. RESULTS: Fourteen studies involved 751 pathologically confirmed patients met the inclusion criteria. Methodological quality was relatively high. To predict histopathological response in locally advanced rectal cancer by MRI, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.78 [95 % confidence intervals (CI), 0.65, 0.87] and 0.81 (95 % CI, 0.72, 0.87), respectively. Positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio were 4.1 (95 %CI, 2.9, 5.8) and 0.27 (95 % CI, 0.17, 0.43), respectively. Subgroup analysis showing that imaging was performed at 3.0 T MRI devices had higher pooled sensitivity (0.92, 95 % CI, 0.84, 1.00) than the subgroup of MRI with ≤1.5 T (0.68, 95 % CI, 0.53, 0.82) (p < 0.05).The sensitivity and specificity of T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) were 0.92 (95 % CI, 0.81, 1.00) and 0.75 (95 % CI, 0.54, 0.95); those of T2WI alone were 0.64 (95 % CI, 0.47, 0.82) and 0.88 (95 % CI, 0.81, 0.94) (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis indicates that MRI is an accurate tool in predicting pathologic response after preoperative therapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. It is suggested to perform MRI by 3.0 T devices, which might be sensitive to identify responder. The addition of DWI to T2WI showed a non-significant improvement in sensitivity, which deserves further investigation.

Is magnetic resonance imaging a reliable diagnostic tool in the evaluation of active Crohn's disease in the small bowel?

GOALS: To evaluate the overall diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in assessing the activity of Crohn's disease (CD) in the small bowel. BACKGROUND: Cross-sectional imaging techniques are playing an increasing role in the evaluation of suspected CD. Advantages of MRI include a lack of ionizing radiation, the ability to provide dynamic information regarding bowel distention and motility, improved soft-tissue contrast, and a relatively safe intravenous contrast agent profile. STUDY: Two reviewers searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and other electronic databases to identify studies in which MRI imaging was evaluated for assessing the activity of CD in the small bowel from January 2001 to September 2011. Bivariate random-effects meta-analytic methods were used to estimate summary, sensitivity, specificity, and receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: MRI had a pooled sensitivity of 0.87 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.77, 0.93] and a pooled specificity of 0.91 (95% CI: 0.81, 0.96). Overall, likelihood ratio (LR)+ was 9.5 (95% CI: 4.4, 20.6) and LR- was 0.14 (95% CI: 0.08, 0.26). In patients with high pretest probabilities, MRI enabled confirmation of active CD; in patients with low pretest probabilities, MRI enabled exclusion of active CD. Worst-case-scenario (pretest probability, 50%) posttest probabilities were 90% and 13% for positive and negative MRI results, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A limited number of small studies suggest that MRI has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of active CD in the small bowel; MRI will likely also prove to be suitable as the primary modality for active CD imaging surveillance.

Can diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) alone be used as a reliable sequence for the preoperative detection and characterisation of hepatic metastases? A meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To perform a meta-analysis of all available studies of the diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) in patients with hepatic metastases. METHODS: Databases including MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for relevant original articles published from January 2000 to February 2012. We determined sensitivities and specificities across studies, calculated positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR-), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and constructed summary receiver operating characteristic curves using hierarchical regression models. RESULTS: Across 11 studies (537 patients), DW-MRI sensitivity was 0.87 (95%confidence interval (CI), 0.80, 0.91) and specificity was 0.90 (95%CI, 0.86, 0.93). Overall, LR+ was 8.52 (95%CI, 6.17, 11.77), LR- was 0.15 (95%CI, 0.10, 0.22) and DOR was 57.36 (95%CI, 38.29, 85.93). In studies in which both DW-MRI and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) were performed, the comparison of DW-MRI performance with that of CE-MRI suggested no major differences against these two methods (p>0.05). DW-MRI combined CE-MRI had higher sensitivity and specificity than DW-MRI alone (97% versus 86% and 91% versus 90%, respectively) (p<0.05). The subgroup in which DW-MRI examinations were performed with a 3.0 Tesla (T) device had higher pooled specificity (0.91, 95%CI, 0.88-0.95) than the subgroup of DW-MRI with 1.5 T device (0.81, 95%CI, 0.67, 0.94) (p<0.05). Average lesion size (≤ 1.5 cm versus >1.5cm) did not influence the diagnostic accuracy of the test (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate DW-MRI has good diagnostic performance in the overall evaluation of hepatic metastases and equivalent to CE-MRI. Combination of CE-MRI and DW-MRI can improve the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Our study further confirms that DW-MRI can accurately detect hepatic metastases regardless of the lesion size. It is suggested to perform DW-MRI by 3.0 T devices, which might have high specificity to identify liver metastases.

Can diffusion-weighted imaging be used as a reliable sequence in the detection of malignant pulmonary nodules and masses?

Recent developments in diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) make it possible to image malignant tumors to provide tissue contrast based on difference with the diffusion of water molecules among tissues, which can be measured by the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value. We aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of DWI for benign/malignant discrimination of pulmonary nodules/masses with a meta-analysis. The MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cancerlit and Cochrane Library database, from January 2001 to August 2011, were searched for studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of DWI for benign/malignant discrimination of pulmonary nodules. We determined sensitivities and specificities across studies, calculated positive and negative likelihood ratios (LRP and LRN), and constructed summary receiver operating characteristic SROC) curves. Across 10 studies (545 patients), there was no evidence of publication bias (P=.22, bias=-19.19). DWI had a pooled sensitivity of 0.84 (95% CI, 0.76-0.90) and a pooled specificity of 0.84 (95% CI, 0.64-0.94). Overall, LRP was 5.3 (95% CI, 2.1-13.0) and LRN was 0.19 (95% CI, 0.12-0.30). In patients with high pretest probabilities, DWI enabled confirmation of malignant pulmonary lesion; in patients with low pretest probabilities, DWI enabled exclusion of malignant pulmonary lesion. Worst-case-scenario (pretest probability, 50%) posttest probabilities were 84% and 16% for positive and negative DWI results, respectively. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging can be used to differentiate malignant from benign pulmonary lesions. High-quality prospective studies regarding DWI in the evaluation of pulmonary nodules are still needed to be conducted.

Predictive value of T2-weighted imaging and contrast-enhanced MR imaging in assessing myometrial invasion in endometrial cancer: a pooled analysis of prospective studies.

BACKGROUND: To obtain diagnostic performance values of T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) in the prediction of myometrial invasion in patients with endometrial cancer. METHODS: Databases including MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for relevant original articles published from January 1995 to March 2012. Pooled estimation data were obtained by statistical analysis. RESULTS: Eleven articles (548 patients) were included. For assessing any myometrial involvement, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for CE-MRI were 0.81 (95% CI, 0.72, 0.88), 0.72 (95% CI, 0.64, 0.79), 0.65 (95% CI, 0.56, 0.73) and 0.85 (95% CI, 0.78, 0.91); for T2WI, they were 0.87 (95% CI, 0.78, 0.94), 0.58 (95% CI, 0.47, 0.69), 0.64 (95% CI, 0.54, 0.73), 0.84 (95% CI, 0.73, 0.92) respectively. The pooled specificity of CE-MRI (0.72) was significantly higher than T2WI (0.58) (P < 0.05). For assessing deep myometrial involvement, there was no statistically significant difference between CE-MRI and T2WI, (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CE-MRI has a good diagnostic performance in the prediction of any myometrial invasion and is superior to T2WI. But its PPV is somewhat suboptimal. For assessing deep myometrial involvement, its NPV appears relative high and negative findings strongly suggest an absence of deep myometrial involvement, which can guide therapeutic decision-making.

Usefulness of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) in prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MEDLINE, Embase, CANCERLIT, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies published from January 2001 to August 2011 evaluating the diagnostic performance of DWI in detecting prostate carcinoma. Sensitivities and specificities were determined across studies, and summary receiver-operating characteristic curves were constructed using hierarchical regression models. RESULTS: Sixteen studies (18 subsets) with a total of 852 patients were included. Six studies (seven subsets) examining men with pathologically confirmed prostate cancer (260 patients) had pooled sensitivity and specificity of 0.88 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76-0.95) and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.76-0.90), respectively. Compared to patients at high risk for clinically relevant cancer, sensitivity was higher in low-risk patients (0.94 [95% CI, 0.89-0.97] vs 0.62 [95% CI, 0.54-0.70], P < .05), but specificity was lower (0.86 [95% CI, 0.72-0.94] vs 0.89 [95% CI, 0.83-0.93], P < .05). Ten studies (11 subsets) examining patients with suspected prostate cancer (592 patients) had pooled sensitivity and specificity of 0.76 (95% CI, 0.68-0.84) and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.79-0.91). Sensitivity was lower in high-risk patients (0.74 [95% CI, 0.57-0.87] vs 0.78 [95% CI, 0.70-0.84], P > .05), but specificity was higher (0.92 [95% CI, 0.89-0.94] vs 0.78 [95% CI, 0.70-0.84], P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: A limited number of small studies suggest that DWI could be a rule-in test for high-risk patients. Further prospective studies including larger populations are necessary to confirm the actual value of DWI in this field.

Preoperative mediastinal and hilar nodal staging with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer: which is better?

BACKGROUND: To compare the diagnostic capability of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) and (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) in the N stage assessment in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis of all available studies of the diagnostic performance of DWI and (18)F-FDG PET/CT in the N stage assessment of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. We determined the sensitivity and specificity across studies, calculated the positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR-, respectively), and constructed the summary receiver operating characteristic curves using hierarchical regression models. The methodologic quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool. RESULTS: A total of 19 studies met the inclusion criteria and included a total of 2845 pathologically confirmed patients. No publication bias was found. The methodologic quality was relatively high. The pooled sensitivity estimate of DWI (0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63-0.80) was not significantly difference between PET/CT (0.75, 95% CI 0.68-0.81; P = 0.09). The pooled specificity estimate for DWI (0.95, 95% CI 0.85-0.98) was significantly greater than (18)F-FDG PET/CT (0.89, 95% CI 0.85-0.91; P = 0.02). For DWI, the overall LR+ was 13.80 (95% CI 4.54-41.95) and the LR- was 0.29 (95% CI 0.21-0.40). For (18)F-FDG PET/CT, LR+ was 6.67 (95% CI 5.20-8.56) and LR- was 0.28 (95% CI 0.22-0.37). CONCLUSIONS: Our study has confirmed that DWI has a high specificity for N staging of non-small-cell lung cancer compared with (18)F-FDG PET/CT and has the potential to be a reliable alternative noninvasive imaging method for the preoperative staging of mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

Can diffusion-weighted MR imaging and contrast-enhanced MR imaging precisely evaluate and predict pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer?

Clinical evidence regarding the value of MRI for therapy responses assessment in breast cancer is increasing. The objective of this study is to compare the diagnostic capability of diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DW-MRI) and contrast-enhanced MR imaging (CE-MRI) to evaluate and predict pathological response in breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). We performed a meta-analysis of all available studies of the diagnostic performance of DW-MRI or CE-MRI to evaluate and predict pathological response to NAC in patients with breast cancer. We determined sensitivities and specificities across studies, calculated positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR-), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and constructed summary receiver operating characteristic curves using hierarchical regression models. Methodological quality was assessed by QUADAS tool. Thirty-four studies met the inclusion criteria and involved 1,932 pathologically confirmed patients in total. Methodological quality was relatively high. DW-MRI sensitivity was 0.93 (95 % CI 0.82-0.97) and specificity was 0.82 (95 % CI 0.70-0.90). Overall LR+ was 5.09 (95 % CI 3.09-8.38), LR- was 0.09 (95 % CI 0.04-0.22), and DOR was 55.59 (95 % CI 21.80-141.80). CE-MRI sensitivity was 0.68 (95 % CI 0.57-0.77) and specificity was 0.91 (95 % CI 0.87-0.94). Overall LR+ was 7.48 (95 % CI 5.29-10.57), LR- was 0.36 (95 % CI 0.27-0.48), and DOR was 20.98 (95 % CI 13.24-33.24). Our study confirms that DW-MRI is a high sensitive and CE-MRI is a high specific modality in predicting pathological response to NAC in breast cancer patients. The combined use of DW-MRI and CE-MRI has the potential to improve the diagnostic performance in monitoring NAC. Further large prospective studies are warranted to assess the actual value of this combination in breast cancer preoperative treatment screening.

Value of diffusion-weighted imaging for the discrimination of pancreatic lesions: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the discrimination of pancreatic lesions through meta-analysis. METHODS: The MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cancerlit, and Cochrane Library databases, from January 2001 to August 2011, were searched for studies evaluating the diagnostic performance of DWI in the discrimination of pancreatic lesions. We determined sensitivities and specificities across studies, calculated positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR-), and constructed summary receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies with 586 patients, who fulfilled all of the inclusion criteria, were considered for the analysis. No publication bias was found. The pooled sensitivity of DWI was 0.86 [95% (confidence interval (CI), 0.78, 0.91] and the pooled specificity was 0.91 (95% CI, 0.81, 0.96). Overall, LR+ was 9.8 (95% CI, 4.1, 23.3) and LR- was 0.15 (95% CI, 0.09, 0.26). The area under the curve of the summary receiver operating characteristic was 0.94 (95% CI, 0.91-0.96). In subgroup analysis, prospectively designed studies had the highest pooled sensitivity (0.87, 95% CI 0.75, 0.94) and specificity (0.96, 95% CI 0.91, 0.99) (P<0.05). Study sensitivity was not correlated with the prevalence of pancreatic lesions (R=0.1076, P=0.3247). CONCLUSION: A limited number of small studies suggest that DWI is a potentially technically feasible measure to differentiate malignant from benign pancreatic lesions. However, it is still controversial and is limited in that it can only distinguish certain lesions. High-quality prospective studies on DWI for the discrimination of pancreatic lesions still need to be conducted.

The accuracy of ultrasonography in the preoperative diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasonography has been proposed to enhance preoperative assessment of cervical lymph node status in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Management is most controversial for patients with a clinically negative (cN0) neck. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic properties of ultrasonography in the detection of cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with PTC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of Ultrasonography in the diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with PTC were systematically searched for in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cancerlit and Cochrane Library and other database from January 1995 to November 2010. Two reviewers independently abstracted data including research design, sample size, imaging technique and technical characteristics, method of image interpretation. By patient-based and region- or node-based data analyses, we determined pooled sensitivities and specificities across studies, and constructed summary receiver operating characteristic curves, and area under summary receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated. RESULTS: The pooled patient-based sensitivity for ultrasonography was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.46-0.88), specificity was 0.98 (95% CI, 0.84-1.00), and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.94 (95% CI, 0.92-0.0.96). The pooled region- or node-based sensitivity for ultrasonography was 0.63 (95% CI, 0.47-0.76), specificity was 0.93 (95% CI, 0.73-0.99), and the AUC was 0.81 (95% CI, 0.77-0.84). For lesion-based analysis, the subgroup of lateral compartment lymph node involvement was found to have the highest sensitivity (0.72, 95% CI 0.68-0.75) and specificity (0.97, 95% CI 0.93-0.99) among the studies (p<0.05). Study sensitivity was not correlated with the prevalence of cervical lymph node metastasis (patient-based: R(2)=0.0196, p=0.7915; region- or node-based: R(2)=0.3835, p=0.1381). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that preoperative ultrasonography is a good technique for the preoperative lymph node staging of PTC and is helpful for detecting metastatic cervical lymph nodes at the lateral group. High-quality prospective studies regarding ultrasonography in the evaluation of cervical lymph node status in patients with PTC are still needed to be conducted.