Correlates of Calcaneal Quantitative Ultrasound Parameters in Patients with Diabetes: The Study on the Assessment of Determinants of Muscle and Bone Strength Abnormalities in Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) provides an estimate of bone mineral density (BMD) and also evaluates bone quality, which has been related to increased fracture risk in people with diabetes. This study aimed at assessing the correlates of calcaneal QUS parameters in diabetic subjects encompassing various degrees of micro and macrovascular complications and a wide-range of peripheral nerve function. METHODS: Four hundred consecutive diabetic patients were examined by QUS to obtain values of broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), the speed of sound (SOS), quantitative ultrasound index (QUI), and BMD. RESULTS: Among surrogate measures of complications, sensory and motor nerve amplitude and heart rate response to cough test and standing correlated with QUS parameters at univariate analysis, together with age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, lipid profile, and renal function. Multivariate analysis revealed that BUA, SOS, QUI, and BMD were independently associated with age, male gender, hemoglobin A1c, BMI (or fat, but not fat-free mass), and somatic and autonomic nerve function parameters. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that peripheral nerve dysfunction is associated with worse QUS parameters, possibly contributing to increased fracture risk in diabetes. The positive relation of QUS measures with adiposity needs further investigation. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01600924).

Inappropriateness of diagnostic imaging examinations in the inpatient setting: a case study research.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to audit the clinical appropriateness of the prescriptions of whole body CT (WB-CT), PET-CT and chest X-rays (CXRs) performed at Tor Vergata University Hospital in the inpatient setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: WB-CT, PET-CT and CXRs examinations were retrospectively analysed in the period between January and December 2014. CXR examinations were divided into bedside CXRs and traditional CXRs. The appropriateness of the examinations was defined according the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria. Inappropriate examinations were divided into six inappropriateness categories in accordance with the European Union Medical Imaging Guidelines. RESULTS: Appropriateness was suboptimal for all analysed techniques CXRs (A = 38%, I = 62%); bedside CXRs (A = 45%, I = 53%); WB-CT (A = 45%, I = 55%); PET-CT (A = 48%, I = 52%). With respect to WB-CT the highest rate of inappropriate imaging prescriptions came from the haematology clinical operative unit (OU) (44%) and emergency medicine (33%); with respect to PET-CT, the thoracic surgery OU (53%) and haematology OU (48%) showed the most inappropriate prescriptions. For CXRs, the percentage of inappropriateness was consistently distributed among all surgical OUs. For bedside CXRs, the largest inappropriate prescribers were the emergency medicine OU (48%), the cardiac surgery OU (58%), the intensive care OU (67%) and anaesthesia resuscitation OU (78%). The most represented classes of inappropriateness were 2, 3, 4 and 6. CONCLUSIONS: The elimination of inappropriate prescriptions would result in an annual savings of approximately 390,000 Euro. An implementation plan to increase prescription appropriateness is under development by our group.