Testing telediagnostic thyroid ultrasound in Peru: a new horizon in expanding access to imaging in rural and underserved areas.

PURPOSE: Thyroid ultrasound is a key tool in the evaluation of the thyroid, but billions of people around the world lack access to ultrasound imaging. In this study, we tested an asynchronous telediagnostic ultrasound system operated by individuals without prior ultrasound training which may be used to effectively evaluate the thyroid and improve access to imaging worldwide. METHODS: The telediagnostic system in this study utilizes volume sweep imaging (VSI), an imaging technique in which the operator scans the target region with simple sweeps of the ultrasound probe based on external body landmarks. Sweeps are recorded and saved as video clips for later interpretation by an expert. Two operators without prior ultrasound experience underwent 8 h of training on the thyroid VSI protocol and the operation of the telemedicine platform. After training, the operators scanned patients at a health center in Lima. Telediagnostic examinations were sent to the United States for remote interpretation. Standard of care thyroid ultrasound was performed by an experienced radiologist at the time of VSI examination to serve as a reference standard. RESULTS: Novice operators scanned 121 subjects with the thyroid VSI protocol. Of these exams, 88% were rated of excellent image quality showing complete or near complete thyroid visualization. There was 98.3% agreement on thyroid nodule presence between VSI teleultrasound and standard of care ultrasound (Cohen's kappa 0.91, P < 0.0001). VSI measured the thyroid size, on average, within 5 mm compared to standard of care. Readers of VSI were also able to effectively characterize thyroid nodules, and there was no significant difference in measurement of thyroid nodule size (P = 0.74) between VSI and standard of care. CONCLUSION: Thyroid VSI telediagnostic ultrasound demonstrated both excellent visualization of the thyroid gland and agreement with standard of care thyroid ultrasound for nodules and thyroid size evaluation. This system could be deployed for evaluation of palpable thyroid abnormalities, nodule follow-up, and epidemiological studies to promote global health and improve the availability of diagnostic imaging in underserved communities.

Randomised controlled study of seroma rates after mastectomy with and without quilting the skin flap to pectoralis muscle.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine whether seroma formation was affected by reduction of the potential dead space with the flap fixation method and obliteration of the axillary region in patients with breast cancer who underwent either mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection or sentinel lymph node biopsy. A total of 105 patients with breast cancer were divided into two groups according to wound closure patterns. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The operating time, postoperative pain and complications, time to drain removal, seroma formation, amount of fluid aspirated and number of aspirations were recorded prospectively. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between groups in the rates of seroma development (P = 0.7), complication rates (P = 0.6), time to drain removal (P = 0.5), length of hospital stay (P = 0.3) or numbers of aspiration (P = 0.7). The operating time for fixation was determined to be longer than that of the classic procedure (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Reducing potential dead space with flap fixation and obliteration of the axillary region may be useful in decreasing the development of seroma in patients who have undergone mastectomy because of breast cancer. However, surgical technique must be careful, and appropriate patient follow-up must be conducted.

Pseudo-anticipation in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is due to a rhomboid-shaped artifact.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Previous studies have reported conflicting results regarding possible anticipation in familial E200K Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (fCJD). Our objective was to use a large database to assess the age of disease onset (AODO) in CJD. METHODS: The study population included 477 CJD patients [266 with fCJD, 145 with sporadic CJD (sCJD) and 66 patients of Libyan origin but negative family history] from the Israeli registry of CJD conducted since 1954. In all patients, AODO in relatives and family trees was documented. Comparison of AODO was done using a paired t test and regression using Pearson correlation for birth and year of onset. RESULTS: The initial analysis in 52/73 families in which more than one generation was affected revealed an AODO of 63.30 ± 9.44 in the first generation compared to 56.96 ± 8.99 in the second generation (P < 0.001). However, inspection of individual AODO values plotted by year of birth showed a clear rhomboid methodological artifact generated by missing data of many young onset CJD patients who died before the database began to function in 1954 and of many late onset CJD patients missing at the present time since they will only develop the disease in the future. The 'generation' effect completely disappears if analysis is performed by year of disease onset or for the periods in which complete data are available. CONCLUSIONS: In this very large dataset, true anticipation in fCJD patients was not detected. It is plausible that previous reports supporting the presence of anticipation are biased by a rhomboid-shaped data availability artifact.

Subarachnoid Space Measurements in Apparently Healthy Fetuses Using MR Imaging.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The fetal subarachnoid space size serves as an indicator of normal brain development. The subarachnoid space is commonly measured by an ultrasound examination. Introduction of MR imaging for fetal brain evaluation enables standardization of MR imaging-driven subarachnoid space parameters for a more accurate evaluation. This study aimed to determine the normal range of MR imaging-derived subarachnoid space size in fetuses according to gestational age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study based on a retrospective assessment of randomly selected brain MR images of apparently healthy fetuses performed between 2012 and 2020 at a large tertiary medical center was performed. Demographic data were collected from the mothers' medical records. Subarachnoid space size was measured at 10 reference points using the axial and coronal planes. Only MR imaging scans obtained between weeks 28 and 37 of pregnancy were included. Scans with low-quality images, multiple pregnancy, and cases with intracranial pathologic findings were excluded. RESULTS: Overall, 214 apparently healthy fetuses were included (mean maternal age, 31.2 [SD, 5.4] years). Good interobserver and intraobserver agreement was observed (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.75 for all except 1 parameter). For each gestational week, the 3rd, 15th, 50th, 85th, and 97th percentiles of each subarachnoid space measurement were described. CONCLUSIONS: MR imaging-derived subarachnoid space values at a specific gestational age provide reproducible measurements, probably due to the high resolution of MR imaging and adherence to the true radiologic planes. Normal values for brain MR imaging could provide valuable reference information for assessing brain development, thus being an important tool in the decision-making process of both clinicians and parents.

Calculated versus measured pure tone bone conduction 3 kHz thresholds in sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the measured bone conduction threshold at 3 kHz with the calculated threshold in newly diagnosed sudden sensorineural hearing loss. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of pure tone audiograms in confirmed sudden sensorineural hearing loss cases. RESULTS: Of 157 patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss, 144 had idiopathic hearing loss, 8 had vestibular schwannoma and 5 had Ménière's disease. The r value for the correlation between the two methods of 3 kHz assessment for all patients was 0.887 (p < 0.001). The mean difference between the measured and calculated 3 kHz thresholds was 0.76 ± 7.96 dB, 0.4 ± 8.08 dB and 1.5 ± 1.8 dB in the sudden sensorineural hearing loss, idiopathic and Ménière's disease groups, respectively. The mean difference between the measured and calculated 3 kHz thresholds was significantly greater in the vestibular schwannoma group (6.86 ± 4.38 dB) than in the idiopathic group (p = 0.013). CONCLUSION: The 3 kHz frequency may encompass important audiometric information. A discrepancy between the measured and calculated bone conduction 3 kHz thresholds raises suspicion of an underlying vestibular schwannoma as an aetiology for sudden sensorineural hearing loss, and these thresholds should therefore be measured independently and routinely.

Hemolysis after mitral valve repair: a report of five cases and literature review.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Hemolytic anemia is known to be a rare complication after the prosthetic replacement of the mitral valve, especially in the presence of perivalvular leaks, and even more rarely after mitral valve repair. Following repair, certain distinct patterns of the regurgitant flow disturbances associated with high shear stress are responsible for the hemolysis. Early echocardiographic recognition of these flow patterns may be important to diagnose the condition and may lead to re-repair or replacement of the valve. METHODS: During the past eight years, mitral valve repair was performed by the present authors in 159 patients, with a prosthetic ring being placed in 130 cases. In five of the patients receiving rings (3.8%) however, intractable hemolytic anemia quickly developed, due to recurrent or residual mitral regurgitation, and this necessitated reoperation. RESULTS: The valve was replaced in all five patients. One patient died from respiratory and renal failure leading to multiorgan failure. The other four patients were followed up and are currently in good health, with no evidence of hemolysis. CONCLUSION: Hemolysis frequently occurs immediately or soon after mitral valve repair, and may even appear in mild regurgitation. Thus, following repair with a prosthetic ring it is essential to clearly visualize the dynamic flow patterns postoperatively with transesophageal echocardiography, focusing especially on probable fragmentation, collision and rapid acceleration jets. These findings may lead the surgeon to revise the repair, or to replace the valve.

Antitumor activity of chitosan from mayfly with comparison to commercially available low, medium and high molecular weight chitosans.

Insects' cuticles have a potential to be evaluated as a chitin source. Especially adults of aquatic insects like mayflies (order Ephemeroptera) swarm in enormous numbers in artificially lit areas while mating in spring and then die by leaving huge amounts of dead insects' bodies. Here in this study, mayfly corpses were harvested and used for production of low MW chitosan. Dried mayfly bodies had 10.21% chitin content; mayfly chitin was converted into chitosan with efficiency rate of 78.43% (deacetylation degree, 84.3%; MW, 3.69 kDa). Cytotoxicity and anti-proliferative activity of mayfly and commercially available shrimp chitosans (low, medium, and high MW) were determined on L929 fibroblast and three different cancer types including HeLa, A549, and WiDr. Apoptosis and necrosis stimulating potential of mayfly and commercial chitosans were also evaluated on A549 and WiDr cells using acridine orange and propidium iodide dual staining to observe morphological changes in nuclei and thus to reveal the predominant cell death mechanism. The effects of chitosans have varied depending on cell types, concentration, and chitosan derivatives. Mayfly and low MW chitosans had a cytotoxic effect at a concentration of 500 µg mL-1 on non-cancer cells. At concentrations below this value (250 µg mL-1), mayfly and commercial chitosans except high MW one exhibited strong inhibitory activity on cancer cells especially A549 and WiDr cells. Mayfly chitosan induced early and late apoptosis in A549 cells, but late apoptosis and necrosis in WiDr cells. This study suggests that dead bodies of mayflies can be used for production of low MW chitosan with anti-proliferative activity.

Renal binding of cadmium in the rat following intragastric exposure.

Renal binding of cadmium was compared in groups of rats administered cadmium intragastrically or subcutaneously in doses resulting in similar renal cadmium concentrations. In rats administered cadmium intragastrically the renal concentrations of copper and metallothionein were lower, suggesting disturbance in copper metabolism. These changes were alleviated gradually in the post-exposure period. In experiments with 64Cu it has been shown that intragastric exposure to cadmium reduced copper absorption to about 21% of that in the control rats, thus explaining the poor copper availability for renal binding of cadmium in the form of Cd,Cu-metallothionein. Changes in zinc uptake were less strongly marked and were limited to slight decrease of zinc content in the kidneys.

[Benign solitary thyroid nodule (BSTN)]. / Nodulul tiroidian solitar benign.

Out of a series of 210 patients (193 women and 17 men) with BSTN, 62% presented an warm nodule, 25.2% a hot nodule and 11.9% a cold nodule. The highest incidence of the nodule was noticed round the age of 40-50 years. The most common site was the middle and lower area of the right thyroid lobe. The thyroid scintigram provided orientative data regarding the nature of BSTN, the treatment indication being the surgical intervention. Histopathologically, polymorphic aspects ranging from anizofollicular adenoma, adenomatous proliferations areas and hyperfunctional aspect to degenerative sclerous alterations and lymphoplasmocitary infiltrations were noticed. The current hypotheses regarding the etiopathogeny of nodule forming process are discussed. Based on some data in the literature, we consider the nodularization of the thyroid gland as a reactional zone functional desynchronization in the conditions of some great variations of the iodate intaxe.

[The "cold" thyroid nodule]. / Nodului tiroidian "rece".

The main problem posed by an (apparent) solitary thyroid nodule is cancer identification, present in about 10% of the nodules excised surgically. This percent might increase to 25-30% in the cold scintigraphic nodules. Therefore, a combination of all the methods for nodule assessment is necessary: anamnesis, physical examination, functional tests, therapeutic test with tyrosine and thyroid imaging, but mainly the intensive active exploration including puncture-biopsy with a fine needle and exeresis with extemporaneous and paraffin morphological checking. Starting from a two decades' experience of a group of endocrinologists, surgeons, anatomo-pathologists and specialists in nuclear medicine, in 2,289 thyropathies operated--of whom 1691 (poly)nodular goitres and 1,190 non-capturing nodules--the authors suggest an investigation algorithm for achieving a differentiated surgery in terms of the pre- and intraoperative morphological findings. This attitude permitted both the improvement of the surgeries of thyroid cancers and the exeresis of benign nodules under low-risk surgical conditions or avoidance of a "non-necessary" surgery.

[Differentiated thyroid cancer]. / Cancerul tiroidian diferentiat.

In the interval 1979-1988, out of 1070 operated goiters 77 malignant thyroid tumors were recorded, 60 of them being differentiated: papillary--32 (53.4%), vesicular--12 (20%), mixed forms--16 (26.7%). The differentiated thyroid carcinomas had peculiar clinical biological and prognostic features and were framed: stage I--60%, stage II--23.4% and state III-IV--16.6%. Only 15 cases presented lymph node metastases. In 16 cases the thyroid tumor was associated with another thyropathy: Hashimoto's thyroiditis--5 cases, Basedow's disease--1 case. The surgical intervention was performed in two times: first total lobectomy or total lobo-isthmectomy [correction of lobioistectomy] with contralateral subtotal exeresis, then total thyroidectomy. It is insisted upon a careful surveillance of postoperative evolution (clinical, biological, scintigraphy) in order to detect the recurrence and apply a proper treatment.

[Bacterial liver abscess cured by nonsurgical treatment. Comments on 8 cases]. / Abcesul hepatic bacterian vindecat sub tratament nechirurgical. Consideratii asupra opt cazuri.

Eight cases (3 children aged 7-15 years and 5 adults aged 16-46 years) of hepatic abscess in whom a cure was obtained by medical therapy are presented. The abscess occurred during septicemia (2 cases), cutaneous staphylococcosis (2 cases) and pyocholecystitis (1 case). In 3 patients the abscess remained cryptogenic. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by scintigraphy, ultrasonography and in one case by radiography with contrast substance in the abscess. The microorganisms, isolated in 3 patients from the abscess and in one patient from hemoculture, were S. aureus (3 cases) and gram negative bacilli (1 case). The systemic antibiotic therapy consisted in the administration of gentamicin and oxacillin or rifampicin in 4 cases and gentamicin and chloramphenicol or ampicillin and metronidazole in other 4 cases for an average interval of 39 days. The associated local therapy (3 cases) consisted in one or more punctures, followed by the injection of gentamicin.

[Peculiarities of the surgical treatment of thyrotoxicosis in the aged]. / Particularitati ale tratamentului chirurgical al hipertiroidiilor la vîrstnici.

With an increasing frequency, recorded by most of the statistics, the thyrotoxicosis of the aged present themselves, most often, under uncharacteristic clinical aspects, often delusive. Out of a series of 37 thyrotoxic patients (representing 9.2% of all cases of thyrotoxicosis admitted to the Ist Surgical Clinic between 1970 and 1980) in 27 cases we performed a the surgical treatmeat with good immediate and late results. As a preliminary, execepting the endocrine balancing the improvement of the respiratory exchanges, the compensation of the possible heart disturbances and the ensurance of a good hydration and restoring of the nutritional state were followed.

[Cervicomediastinal and thoracic goiters]. / Gusile cervicomediastinale si toracice.

Between 1950 and 1979 approximately 2400 patients with thyropathies have been operated in the I-st Surgical Clinic of Jassy. Of these 100 had cervico-mediastinal goiters, of which 79 were of the plunging cervico-mediastinal type, 18 were of the mediastino-cervical type and 3 were mediastinal goiters. The surgical treatment was applied in 98 patients, cervicotomy being sufficient to relieve the symptoms in 92 of the cases. The mixed approach (cervicosternotomy, or cervico-thoracic approach) were necessary in 5 cases, and the thoracic approach was selected in one case with an independent posterior mediastinal goiter. The immediate postoperative evolution, as well as the late evolution was good in most of the cases. Postoperative mortality was of 2 percent.