Comparative Analysis of Diagnostic Performance of Automatic Breast Ultrasound, Full-Field Digital Mammography and Contrast-Enhanced Mammography in Relation to Breast Composition.

This single center study includes a comparative analysis of the diagnostic performance of full-field digital mammography (FFDM), contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) and automatic breast ultrasound (ABUS) in the group of patients with breast American College of Radiology (ACR) categories C and D as well as A and B with FFDM. The study involved 297 patients who underwent ABUS and FFDM. Breast types C and D were determined in 40% of patients with FFDM and low- energy CEM. CEM was performed on 76 patients. Focal lesions were found in 131 patients, of which 115 were histopathologically verified. The number of lesions detected in patients with multiple lesions were 40 from 48 with ABUS, 13 with FFDM and 21 with CEM. Compliance in determining the number of foci was 82% for FFDM and 91% for both CEM and ABUS. In breast types C and D, 72% of all lesions were found with ABUS, 56% with CEM and 29% with FFDM (p = 0.008, p = 0.000); all invasive cancers were diagnosed with ABUS, 83% with CEM and 59% with FFDM (p = 0.000, p = 0.023); 100% DCIS were diagnosed with ABUS, 93% with CEM and 59% with FFDM. The size of lesions from histopathology in breast ACR categories A and B was 14-26 mm, while in breast categories C and D was 11-37 mm. In breast categories C and D, sensitivity of ABUS, FFDM and CEM was, respectively, 78.05, 85.37, 92.68; specificity: 40, 13.33, 8.33; PPV (positive predictive value): 78.05, 72.92, 77.55; NPV (negative predictive value): 40, 25, 25, accuracy: 67.86, 66.07, 73.58. In breast categories A and B, sensitivity of ABUS, FFDM and CEM was, respectively, 81.25, 93.75, 93.48; specificity: 18.18, 18.18, 16.67; PPV: 81.25, 83.33, 89.58; NPV: 18.18, 40, 25; accuracy: 69.49, 79.66, 84.62. The sensitivity of the combination of FFDM and ABUS was 100 for all types of breast categories; the accuracy was 75 in breast types C and D and 81.36 in breast types A and B. The study confirms the predominance of C and D breast anatomy types and the low diagnostic performance of FFDM within that group and indicates ABUS and CEM as potential additive methods in breast cancer diagnostics.

Enhanced Detection of Suspicious Breast Lesions: A Comparative Study of Full-Field Digital Mammography and Automated Breast Ultrasound in 117 Patients with Core Needle Biopsy.

BACKGROUND This retrospective study from a single center aimed to compare the performance of full-field digital mammography (FFDM) vs automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) in the identification and characterization of suspicious breast lesions in 117 patients who underwent core-needle biopsy (CNB) of the breast. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study involved a group of 301 women. Every patient underwent FFDM followed by ABUS, which were assessed in concordance with BI-RADS (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System) classification. RESULTS No focal lesions were found in 168 patients. In 133 patients, 117 histopathologically verified focal lesions were found. Among them, 78% appeared to be malignant and 22% benign. ABUS detected 246 focal lesions, including 115 classified as BI-RADS 4 or 5 and submitted to verification, while FFDM revealed 122 lesions, including 75 submitted to verification. The analysis revealed that combined application of both methods caused sensitivity to increase to 100, and improved accuracy improvement. Margin assessments in these examinations are consistent (P<0.00), the lesion's margin type with both methods depends on its malignant or benign character (P<0.03), lesion margins distribution on ABUS depends on estrogen receptor presence (P=0.033), and there was significant correlation between malignant character of the lesion and retraction phenomenon sign (P=0.033). ABUS obtained higher compliance between the size of the lesion in histopathology compared to FFDM (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS The results shows that ABUS is comparable to FFDM, and even outperforms it in a few of the analyzed categories, suggesting that the combination of these 2 methods may have an important role in breast cancer detection.

Ciliary phenotyping in renal epithelial cells in a cranioectodermal dysplasia patient with WDR35 variants.

Background: Cranioectodermal dysplasia (CED) is a skeletal autosomal recessive ciliopathy. The characteristic clinical features of CED are facial dysmorphisms, short limbs, narrow thorax, brachydactyly, ectodermal abnormalities, and renal insufficiency. Thus far, variants in six genes are known to be associated with this disorder: WDR35, IFT122, IFT140, IFT144, IFT52, and IFT43. Objective: The goal of this study was to perform cilium phenotyping in human urine-derived renal epithelial cells (hURECs) from a CED patient diagnosed with second-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) and three unrelated and unaffected pediatric controls. Methods: Genetic analysis by WDR35 screening was performed in the affected individual. Cilium frequency and morphology, including cilium length, height, and width, were evaluated by immunofluorescence (IF) experiments in hURECs using two markers visualizing the ciliary axoneme (Acet-Tub and ARL13B) and the base of the cilium (PCNT). The IF results were analyzed using a confocal microscope and IMARIS software. Results: WDR35 analysis revealed the presence of a known nonsense p. (Leu641*) variant and a novel missense variant p. (Ala1027Thr). Moreover, comparative genomic hybridization analysis showed that the patient carries a microdeletion on chromosome 7q31.1. Ciliary phenotyping performed on hURECs showed morphological differences in the patient's cilia as compared to the three controls. The cilia of the CED patient were significantly wider and longer. Conclusion: The obtained results suggest that CED-related second-stage CKD might be associated with cilia abnormalities, as identified in renal epithelial cells from a CED patient harboring variants in WDR35. This study points out the added value of hURECs in functional testing for ciliopathies.

WDR35 variants in a cranioectodermal dysplasia patient with early onset end-stage renal disease and retinal dystrophy.

Cranioectodermal dysplasia (CED) is rare heterogeneous condition. It belongs to a group of disorders defined as ciliopathies and is associated with defective cilia function and structure. To date six genes have been associated with CED. Here we describe a 4-year-old male CED patient whose features include dolichocephaly, multi-suture craniosynostosis, epicanthus, frontal bossing, narrow thorax, limb shortening, and brachydactyly. The patient presented early-onset chronic kidney disease and was transplanted at the age of 2 years and 5 months. At the age of 3.5 years a retinal degeneration was diagnosed. Targeted sequencing by NGS revealed the presence of compound heterozygous variants in the WDR35 gene. The variants are a novel missense change in exon 9 p.(Gly303Arg) and a previously described nonsense variant in exon 18 p.(Leu641*). Our findings suggest that patients with WDR35 defects may be at risk to develop early-onset retinal degeneration. Therefore, CED patients with pathogenic variation in this gene should be assessed at least once by the ophthalmologist before the age of 4 years to detect early signs of retinal degeneration.

The Role of ABUS in The Diagnosis of Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer, which is the most common cancer in women, is a major problem both in Poland and worldwide. Mammography remains the primary screening method. However, the sensitivity of mammographic screening is lower in women with dense glandular breasts due to tissue overlap and the effect of the glandular tissue obscuring the tumor and the fact that tumors and glandular tissue show similar X-ray absorption. Consequently, other methods are being sought to increase breast cancer detection rates. Currently, the most common and used methods are ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging and advanced mammographic methods (digital breast tomosynthesis and contrast-enhanced spectral mammography). Despite many advantages and superiority over mammography in dense breasts, they also have many disadvantages. Ultrasound is operator-dependent and the other techniques are expensive or not widely available. The Automated Breast Ultrasound Service (ABUS) technique appears to be a good option in terms of both effectiveness and lower cost.

Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from a meat processing plant.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The ability of L. monocytogenes to create biofilm results in the higher resistance to disinfectants and determines the need to search for effective methods of eradication. The aim of the study was to assess the level of L. monocytogenes contamination in the environment of a meat processing plant. The sensitivity of tested isolates to various antimicrobials used for disinfection purposes was also estimated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The samples were taken from raw materials, semi-finished and final products, as well as food contact surfaces inthe production hall and deli meat packaging department. The number of L. monocytogenes and the effect of eight different biocides on bacteria planktonic forms and biofilm formed on stainless steel and polypropylene was investigated. The effect of blood and albumin on L. monocytogenes resistance to disinfectants was also analysed. RESULTS: The prevalence of L. monocytogenes on food contact surfaces was estimated at 2.93% (10 of 340 swabs taken). The samples of raw and processed products were not contaminated. Various disinfectants reduced the growth of planktonic L. monocytogenes forms at both tested concentrations 0.5% and 0.1% (irrespective of time exposure). The highest efficacy against L. monocytogenes biofilm was reported for agents containing hydrogen peroxide. The reduction of bacteria number ranged from 6.93-7.21 log CFU × cm-2, and was dependent on the surface type and time of agent application. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the effectiveness of various disinfectants against planktonic bacteria and Listeria biofilm was observed. For the majority of disinfectants, the extension of time exposure increased bacteria elimination from the biofilm. The presence of blood resulted in reduction of the antilisterial action of most of the disinfectants applied at low concentrations.

Relationship between Antioxidant Activity and Ligand Basicity in the Dipicolinate Series of Oxovanadium(IV) and Dioxovanadium(V) Complexes.

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of many serious diseases, including cancer, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, stroke and myocardial infarction. In the body's natural biochemical processes, harmful free radicals are formed, which can be removed with the help of appropriate enzymes, a balanced diet or the supply of synthetic antioxidant substances such as flavonoids, vitamins or anthocyanins to the body. Due to the growing demand for antioxidant substances, new complex compounds of transition metal ions with potential antioxidant activity are constantly being sought. In this study, four oxovanadium(IV) and dioxovanadium(V) dipicolinate (dipic) complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), 2,2'-bipyridyl (bipy) and the protonated form of 2-phenylpyridine (2-phephyH): (1) [VO(dipic)(H2O)2]·2 H2O, (2) [VO(dipic)(phen)]·3 H2O, (3) [VO(dipic)(bipy)]·H2O and (4) [VOO(dipic)](2-phepyH)·H2O were synthesized including one new complex, so far unknown and not described in the literature, i.e., [VOO(dipic)](2-phepyH)·H2O. The oxovanadium(IV) dipicolinate complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline and 2,2'-bipyridyl have been characterized by several physicochemical methods: NMR, MALDI-TOF-MS, IR, but new complex [VOO(dipic)](2-phepyH)·H2O has been examined by XRD to confirm its structure. The antioxidant activities of four complexes have been examined by the nitrotetrazolium blue (NBT) method towards superoxide anion. All complexes exhibit high reactivity with superoxide anion and [VOO(dipic)](2-phepyH)·H2O has higher antioxidant activity than L-ascorbic acid. Our studies confirmed that high basicity of the auxiliary ligand increases the reactivity of the complex with the superoxide radical.

Analysis of background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) on contrast enhanced spectral mammography compared with magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVES: With the growing number of new breast cancer cases in women, new methods of imaging arise. Contrast enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are comparable methods regarding sensitivity. The aim of this study is to check if analysis of background parenchymal enhancement on CESM can improve its usefulness. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 64 patients with breast lesions found previously on ultrasound or mammography underwent MRI and CESM within less than one month. On MRI the contrast enhancement kinetics and visual BPE were evaluated. On CESM the enhancement of lesions was noted as well as a quantitative level of BPH. The gathered data was analysed in terms of patterns and relations. RESULTS: A total of 66 lesions were identified both on MRI and CESM, including 11 (17%) benign and 55 (83%) malignant lesions. Among malignant lesions 13 (20%) were assessed as intraductal and 42 (64%) as infiltrating carcinomas. The study showed correlation between the level of enhancement on CESM and the type of kinetic curve on MRI and lesion enhance-ment on CESM as well as confirmed the fact that the BPE is a destimulant in both methods of imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of BPE level on CESM can help reading radiologists to define a lesion as malignant with higher probability than based only on the qualitative lesion enhancement level.

Correlation Between Enhancement Intensity in Contrast Enhancement Spectral Mammography and Types of Kinetic Curves in Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

BACKGROUND Due to the decreased sensitivity of mammography in glandular breasts, new diagnostic modalities, like contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) have been developed. The aim of this study was to compare qualitative enhancement levels on CESM with type of kinetic enhancement curves on MRI examination. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients qualified for the CESM examination presented some diagnostic doubts - suspected multifocality, multicentricity, or having dense glandular breast tissue. The enhancement level on CESM was described as weak, medium, or strong. Enhancement on achieved MR images was assessed on the basis of enhancement kinetic curves. The level of enhancement on CESM was associated with enhancement curves type on MRI. All lesions detected on CESM and MRI were histopathologically verified. RESULTS The study involved 107 lesions diagnosed in 94 patients: 71 lesions (66%) appeared to be infiltrating on histopathological examination, 9 lesions (8%) were non-infiltrating cancers, and 27 lesions (25%) were benign. Data analysis revealed that lesions with wash-out curve on MRI most often presented strong enhancement on CESM, while in lesions with progressive enhancement curve, strong enhancement on CESM was the rarest. The relationship between enhancement level on CESM and curve type on contrast-enhanced MRI depends on the nature of the lesion. The type of MRI curve was found to be associated with enhancement level on CESM. CONCLUSIONS We compared subjective assessments of contrast enhancement on CESM with enhancement kinetic curves on MRI. The results showed that the level of enhancement on CESM and type of kinetic curves on MRI depends on the lesion type.

Ophthalmological symptoms in children with intracranial cysts.

The purpose of this study was to perform an ophthalmological assessment in children with intracranial cysts and to assess the correlation between the occurrence of cysts and visual disorders. The documentation of 46 children with intracranial cysts, monitored by the Children's Outpatient Ophthalmology Clinic, Poznan, Poland was analysed. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), the alignment of the eyes, visual evoked potentials (VEP), comprehensive eye examination were performed in all patients. Additional ophthalmological tests were conducted to eliminate other causes of decreased visual acuity.Included in the final analysis were 26 children (52 eyes). The average age at the last visit was 10.3 years. Sixteen children (61.5%) had arachnoid cysts located in the posterior cranial fossa, 3 children (11.5%) in the middle cranial fossa, while 7 children (27%) had a pineal cyst. Decreased BCVA was found in 13 children, abnormal VEP in 13, strabismus in 14 patients (53.9%), nystagmus in 5 patients (19.2%), and double vision in 2 patients (7.7%). Numerous visual disorders in children with intracranial cysts suggest the necessity to carry out enhanced ophthalmological diagnostics in these patients. In the examined patient group, visual disorders occurred mostly in the case of arachnoid cysts of the posterior fossa.