The Value of CT and MRI for Determining Thymoma in Patients With Myasthenia Gravis.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for differentiating thymoma from nonthymoma abnormalities in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). A cross-sectional study of 53 patients with MG, who had undergone surgical thymectomy, was conducted at 103 Hospital (Hanoi, Vietnam) and Cho Ray Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) during August 2014 and January 2017. The CT and MRI images of patients with MG were qualitatively and quantitatively (radiodensity and chemical shift ratio [CSR]) analyzed to determine and compare their ability to distinguish thymoma from nonthymoma abnormalities. Logistic regression was used to identify the association between imaging parameters (eg, CSR) and the thymoma status. The receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was used to determine the differentiating ability of CSR and radiodensity. As results, of the 53 patients with MG, 33 were with thymoma and 20 were with nonthymoma abnormalities. At qualitative assessment, MRI had significantly higher accuracy than did CT in differentiating thymoma from nonthymoma abnormalities (94.3% vs 83%). At quantitative assessment, both the radiodensity and CSR were significantly higher for thymoma compared with nonthymoma groups (P < .001). The ROC analysis showed that CSR had significantly higher sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) than radiodensity in discriminating between the 2 groups (CSR: Se 100%, Sp 95% vs radiodensity: Se 90.9%, Sp 70%). When combining both qualitative and quantitative parameters, MRI had even higher accuracy than did CT in thymoma diagnosis (P = .031). In conclusion, chemical shift MRI was more accurate than CT for differentiating thymoma from nonthymoma in patients with MG.

Breast Self-Examination: Knowledge and Practice Among Female Textile Workers in Vietnam.

Breast self-examination (BSE) is a simple, feasible, and suitable method for breast cancer screening in low-middle setting countries. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice of BSE among female textile workers in Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1036 female workers, aged 43.9 ± 3.1 years old, who were working in 4 textile enterprises in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, in 2016. Overall, 22.7% of participants showed sufficient knowledge on BSE; 15.2% performed monthly BSE; and 7.7% completely performed all 5 steps of BSE. The prevalence of insufficient BSE knowledge was higher among participants with low level of education (odds ratio [OR]: 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22-2.39, below vs above secondary school), and those whose husbands were farmers or workers (OR: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.27-2.45, compared to other sectors). This prevalence was, however, negatively associated with receiving information on BSE (OR: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.11-0.23, yes vs no). The prevalence of insufficient BSE practice was also higher among females with husbands who were farmers or workers (OR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.15-2.43, compared to other sectors). In contrast, it was much lower among participants who had history of breast-related diseases (OR: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.24-0.88, yes vs no), received BSE information (OR: 0.13; 95% CI: 0.08-0.19, yes vs no), and had sufficient overall BSE knowledge (OR: 0.09; 95% CI: 0.06-0.13, yes vs no), compared to those who did not. There was a low prevalence of sufficient BSE knowledge (22.7%) and practice (15.8%) among female textile workers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Low level of education and not being provided BSE information were associated with insufficient BSE knowledge and practice among Vietnamese female textile workers. Health education programs are essential to encourage and improve women's knowledge and practice of BSE.