Standard and Advanced Imaging of Hip Osteoarthritis. What the Radiologist Should Know.

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip is caused by degeneration of articular cartilage and the underlying bone and can be divided into two types: primary (associated with advancing age) and secondary (subsequent to fractures, avascular necrosis, infection, developmental dysplasia, and femoroacetabular impingement). Radiography remains the first-line imaging modality for diagnosing and monitoring OA, due to its accessibility, low cost, and ease of interpretation. Kellgren-Lawrence and Tönnis classification systems are radiographic OA grading systems used primarily in research, and they reflect the degree of joint space narrowing, sclerosis, cysts, deformity of the femoral head and acetabulum, and osteophytes. Unenhanced computed tomography (CT) provides detailed visualization of the hip joint segments that may be difficult to appreciate on radiographs, such as the inferoposterior and posterolateral hip joint. CT arthrography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and magnetic resonance arthrography with two-dimensional reconstructions can delineate labral abnormalities, cartilage lesions, and other intra-articular hip pathology. T2 and T2* mapping, delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of cartilage, T1rho, ultra-short echo time, and zero echo time are investigative MR techniques with promising evaluation of hip OA.

Levosimendan use in patients with preoperative low ejection fraction undergoing cardiac surgery: A systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with preoperative low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are known to be associated with high morbidities and mortality in cardiac surgery. The primary aim of this review was to examine the clinical outcomes of levosimendan versus placebo in patients with preoperative low LVEF ≤ 50% undergoing cardiac surgery. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed and CENTRAL were searched systematically from their inception until June 2018. REVIEW METHODS: All the randomised clinical trials (RCTs) were included. RESULTS: Twelve trials were eligible (n = 1867) for inclusion in the data synthesis. In comparison to the placebo cohort, the levosimendan cohort showed a significant reduction in mortality (TSA = inconclusive; ρ = 0.002; I2 = 0%; FEM: OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.39, 0.80), especially in the subgroups of preoperative severe low LVEF ≤ 30% (ρ = 0.003; OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.16, 0.69), preoperative administering of levosimendan (ρ = 0.001; OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.29, 0.74) and patients who had bolus followed by infusion of levosimendan (ρ = 0.005; OR 0.50; 95% CI 0.30, 0.81). However, the effect on mortality was not significant in the subgroup analysis of high quality trials (ρ = 0.14; OR 0.73; 95% CI 0.47, 1.12). The levosimendan cohort showed a significantly lower incidence of low-cardiac-output-syndrome (ρ < 0.001; OR 0.58; 95% CI 0.46, 0.74) and lesser need for mechanical support of cardiac assist devices (ρ = 0.02; OR 0.39; 95% CI 0.18, 0.86). CONCLUSIONS: Given the low level of evidence and inconclusive TSA, the results of this meta-analysis neither support nor oppose the use of levosimendan in cardiac patients with preoperative low LVEF ≤ 50%. Therefore, multi-centre, adequately powered, randomised controlled trials are warranted. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: CRD42017067572.