"Rule out appendicitis": a Canadian emergency radiology perspective on medicolegal risks, imaging pitfalls, and strategies to improve care.

We provide a unique Canadian perspective on the medicolegal risks associated with imaging acute appendicitis, incorporating data requested from the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) on closed medicolegal cases over the past decade. We include a review of current clinical and imaging guidelines in the diagnosis and management of this common emergency room presentation. A case-based approach is implemented in this article to explore ways to mitigate potential errors in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

[Summary of the Hungarian Mobile Health Screening Program data for 2021]. / A "Helybe visszük a szurovizsgálatokat" program 2021. évi adatainak összegzése.

INTRODUCTION: In Hungary, significant regional and social inequalities in health status exist. In addition, this is exacerbated by health care inequalities between West and East Hungary. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to summarize the results of the 2021 Hungarian Mobile Health Screening Program, in order to determine the rates of detected cases and to assess the health status differences between different regions. METHOD: A cross-sectional retrospective study was executed to analyze the screening results (n = 5185) of the Hungarian Mobile Health Screening Program. RESULTS: 9% of screening attendees had higher than normal blood glucose level, 25% had abnormal cholesterol levels and 20% had elevated blood pressure. Of those screened, 35% had a not-negative result at the neurological examination, 44% at the dermatological examination, 42% at the cardiological examination, 20% at the spirometry function test, and 4% at the ankle-brachial index measurement. Newly detected gynaecological problems affected 1 in 5 women (21%) and 3 women were diagnosed with malignant tumors. Of those attending oral screening (n = 1836), 90% were directed to different levels of the health care system. CONCLUSION: The results of the Hungarian Mobile Health Screening Program have also demonstrated the health inequalities in our country. The data confirmed the need for the continuation of the Program under the current structure. The aim for the future screening period is to increase the attendance of several examinations and preventive/health promotion advices. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(27): 1070-1076.

Dietary management and growth outcomes in children with propionic acidemia: A natural history study.

BACKGROUND: Propionic acidemia (PROP) is an autosomal recessive inherited deficiency of propionyl-CoA carboxylase (PCC) which is involved in the catalytic breakdown of the amino acids valine, isoleucine, methionine, and threonine. PROP nutritional management is based on dietary protein restriction and use of special medical formulas which are free of the offending amino acids, but are enriched in leucine. The resulting imbalance among branched-chain amino acids negatively impacts plasma concentrations of valine and isoleucine, which might impact growth in children with PROP. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: Our primary objective was to describe dietary protein and calorie intake and their impact on long-term growth outcomes of four PROP patients. This was accomplished through a longitudinal retrospective chart review following the cohort from birth to 18 years. RESULTS: All children (n = 4) had poor growth outcomes with persistently reduced height-for-age Z scores, and elevated weight and body mass index (BMI) Z scores. Energy intakes for all subjects were within 80% to 120% of the dietary reference intakes for age. All children had low intakes of intact protein compared with current guidelines and were supplemented with medical formula and single l-amino acids (valine and/or isoleucine), which led to the excess consumption of total protein. CONCLUSION: Despite adequate total protein and energy intakes, all children had persistently low height Z scores. Restricted intact protein consumption together with the abundant use of medical formula could have affected overall growth. To optimize dietary management in patients with PROP, further research is needed to determine the optimal intake of medical formula relative to intact protein.

Treatment response assessment following transarterial radioembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Transarterial radioembolization with yttrium-90 microspheres is an established therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Post-procedural imaging is important for the assessment of both treatment response and procedural complications. A variety of challenging treatment-specific imaging phenomena complicate imaging assessment, such as changes in tumoral size, tumoral and peritumoral enhancement, and extrahepatic complications. A review of the procedural steps, emerging variations, and timelines for post-treatment tumoral and extra-tumoral imaging changes are presented, which may aid the reporting radiologist in the interpretation of post-procedural imaging. Furthermore, a description of post-procedural complications and their significance is provided.

Correlation Between Salivary, Platelet and Central Serotonin Levels in Children.

BACKGROUND: Serotonin (5-HT) is a neurotransmitter synthesized in both the central nervous system (CNS) and in enterochromaffin cells of the gut. 5-HT biosynthesis is separate between the periphery and the CNS. Any observed correlations between centrally and peripherally measured 5-HT remain to be elucidated. Previous efforts have looked for a noninvasive marker of central serotonin, including serotonin in whole blood, plasma, platelets, saliva, and urine; however, results are conflicting. AIM: Finding a noninvasive marker for central serotonin turnover that can be used for diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring in patients with primary neurotransmitter deficiencies. METHODS: Inclusion criterion was all children presenting with neurological symptoms whose clinical investigations included lumbar puncture (LP) for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection and neurotransmitter metabolite analysis, were recruited. For central serotonin turnover, the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) was used. Bivariate correlation between the serotonin levels in CSF (5HIAA), platelets, and saliva was calculated. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients (aged 6 months to 15 years) with various neurologic presentations had LP for CSF collection and neurotransmitter metabolite analysis as part of their clinical care. An additional salivary and blood sample was obtained at the same time. Eighteen patients had suitable samples for quantitative measure of serotonin. There was no correlation between platelet serotonin and CSF 5HIAA levels (Pearson's coefficient of correlation - PCC: 0.010) or between salivary serotonin and CSF 5HIAA (PCC: 0.258). There was a strong negative correlation between salivary and platelet serotonin (PCC: -0.679). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that salivary serotonin measurement is not a suitable noninvasive marker for measuring central serotonin turnover.

Classification of Error in Abdominal Imaging: Pearls and Pitfalls for Radiologists.

Peer review for radiologists plays an important role in identifying contributing factors that can lead to diagnostic errors and patient harm. It is essential that all radiologists be aware of the multifactorial causes of diagnostic error in radiology and the methods available to reduce it. This pictorial review provides readers with an overview of common errors that occur in abdominal radiology and strategies to reduce them. This review aims to make readers more aware of pitfalls in abdominal imaging so that these errors can be avoided in the future. This essay also provides a systematic approach to classifying abdominal imaging errors that will be of value to all radiologists participating in peer review.

Secondary Abnormal CSF Neurotransmitter Metabolite Profiles in a Pediatric Tertiary Care Centre.

BACKGROUND: Secondary neurotransmitter deficiencies have been reported in several reviews. Our primary aim was to assess the relationship among epilepsy, antiseizure medications, and specific neurotransmitter abnormalities. We also evaluated movement disorders and brain abnormalities via magnetic resonance imaging scans in patients with secondary neurotransmitter defects. METHODS: This is a retrospective case series of 376 patients who underwent neurotransmitter analysis at BC Children's Hospital between 2009 and 2013, for a variety of neurological presentations. The biochemical genetics laboratory database was interrogated for results of cerebrospinal fluid neurotransmitter analyses. Clinical data for patients with abnormal results were collected from the hospital charts. Statistical analysis included one-way analysis of variance, chi-square, and a two-way contingency table. RESULTS: Abnormal neurotransmitter values were identified in 67 (17.8%) patients, two (0.53%) of which were attributable to a congenital neurotransmitter disorder and 11 (16.9%) secondary to other genetic diagnoses. Of 64 patients with secondary abnormal neurotransmitter values, 38 (59%) presented with epilepsy and 20 (31%) with movement disorders. A combination of epilepsy and movement disorder was less frequent. DISCUSSION: Acknowledging the limitations of this retrospective chart review, we conclude that, in our cohort, in addition to patients with movement disorders, a considerable number of patients with epilepsy and epileptic encephalopathy also showed secondary neurotransmitter mono-amine abnormalities. There is no clear relation, however, between clinical phenotype and type of neurotransmitter affected. In addition, no association was identified between the type of antiseizure medications and affected neurotransmitter type. We outline the need for prospective studies to further enrich our understanding of the relation between epilepsy and neurotransmitters with a focus on improving treatments and patient outcomes.

[Quality and performance indicators of the pilot program for cervical cancer screening by health visitors]. / A védõnõi méhnyakszûrési pilotprogram minõségi indikátorai és teljesítménymutatói.

The aim of our analysis was the assessment of the qualitative and performance indicators of a pilot program for health visitors' cervical cancer screening. The analysis involved the data from the Communication module of the Office of the National Chief Medical Officer. In the examined period (October, 2013 - September, 2015) the participation indicators of women aged 25-65, the prevalence rates of human papillomavirus and the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia were determined. In the screening period, the call-in rate was 32.45% nationally, with the compliance of 8.26%. The occurrence of a positive result was 1.85% nationally, with the highest rate in Hajdú-Bihar county (7.24%). HPV infection was detected in 113 cases (0.45%) nationally, HPV prevalence was 37.44/100,000 persons. The willingness for participation among women was low concerning the indicators. Their raising should be an emphasized task for public health in favor of reducing mortality from morbidities.

[Assessment of the pilot program for cervical cancer screening by health visitors]. / A védonoi méhnyakszurési pilot program értékelése.

INTRODUCTION: Within the tender (6.1.3.A-13/1-2013-0001) supported by the European Union, we wished to involve health visitors into the organized cervical cancer screening program. AIM: The aim of our survey was to assess the satisfaction of health visitors, instructors, and that of the teaching aids. Furthermore, we wished to assess whether the teaching materials met the expectations. METHOD: Satisfaction of the health visitors was assessed by a survey, in four groups of questions. These involved the assessment of the instructors, the teaching aids, evaluation of the further training day, and the compliance with the knowledge of training. Period for completion of the questionnaires lasted from October to December in 2014. We used descriptive statistics for data evaluation. RESULTS: Data of 2148 health visitors was evaluated. They rated the performance of gynecologist-obstetricians 4.65, that of health visitors 4.61, that of public health professionals 4.56, and that of IT specialists 4.52. 98% of the teaching aids were useful for them and the acquired knowledge was appropriate with their expectations. CONCLUSION: The health visitors were satisfied with the theoretical instruction within the pilot program. The professionally well prepared health visitors may contribute to the success of the cervical cancer screening program. Orv. Hetil, 2017, 158(12), 461-467.

A hot topic: temperature sensitive sodium channelopathies.

Perturbations to body temperature affect almost all cellular processes and, within certain limits, results in minimal effects on overall physiology. Genetic mutations to ion channels, or channelopathies, can shift the fine homeostatic balance resulting in a decreased threshold to temperature induced disturbances. This review summarizes the functional consequences of currently identified voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channelopathies that lead to disorders with a temperature sensitive phenotype. A comprehensive knowledge of the relationships between genotype and environment is not only important for understanding the etiology of disease, but also for developing safe and effective treatment paradigms.

A thermoprotective role of the sodium channel ß1 subunit is lost with the ß1 (C121W) mutation.

PURPOSE: A mutation in the ß(1) subunit of the voltage-gated sodium (Na(V)) channel, ß(1) (C121W), causes genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+), a pediatric syndrome in which febrile seizures are the predominant phenotype. Previous studies of molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal hyperexcitability caused by this mutation were conducted at room temperature. The prevalence of seizures during febrile states in patients with GEFS+, however, suggests that the phenotypic consequence of ß(1) (C121W) may be exacerbated by elevated temperature. We investigated the putative mechanism underlying seizure generation by the ß(1) (C121W) mutation with elevated temperature. METHODS: Whole-cell voltage clamp experiments were performed at 22 and 34°C using Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells expressing the α subunit of neuronal Na(V) channel isoform, Na(V) 1.2. Voltage-dependent properties were recorded from CHO cells expressing either Na(V) 1.2 alone, Na(V) 1.2 plus wild-type (WT) ß(1) subunit, or Na(V) 1.2 plus ß(1) (C121W). KEY FINDINGS: Our results suggest WT ß(1) is protective against increased channel excitability induced by elevated temperature; protection is lost in the absence of WT ß(1) or with expression of ß(1) (C121W). At 34°C, Na(V) 1.2 + ß(1) (C121W) channel excitability increased compared to NaV1.2 + WT ß(1) by the following mechanisms: decreased use-dependent inactivation, increased persistent current and window current, and delayed onset of, and accelerated recovery from, fast inactivation. SIGNIFICANCE: Temperature-dependent changes found in our study are consistent with increased neuronal excitability of GEFS+ patients harboring C121W. These results suggest a novel seizure-causing mechanism for ß(1) (C121W): increased channel excitability at elevated temperature.