Systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic value of computed tomography angiography for severe internal carotid artery stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Due to the increasing incidence of ischaemic cerebrovascular diseases, the accurate assessment of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis is crucial for the development of treatment plans. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of computed tomography angiography (CTA) for severe ICAstenosis, thereby providing support for clinical decision-making and promoting diagnostic updates. METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals (VIP), and Chinese Biomedical Literature (CBM) electronic databases were searched from inception to March 21, 2024, to identify publicly available research literature on the use of CTA to diagnose severe ICA stenosis. Literature screening, data extraction, and quality assessment were conducted based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria as well as the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS) standards. Data analysis was performed using Stata 17.0 and Meta-Disc 1.4 software. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and diagnostic odds ratio of the included studies were calculated using Stata 17.0 software, and forest plots and summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves were generated. The area under the curve (AUC) was calculated, and funnel plots were constructed to assess publication bias. RESULTS: A total of 16 studies with 2368 vascular segments were included. The meta-analysis revealed that the combined sensitivity and specificity of CTA for severe ICA stenosis were 0.93 (95% CI: 0.88 ~ 0.96) and 0.99 (95% CI: 0.96 ~ 1.00), respectively. The combined positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio were 92.0 (95% CI: 24.2 ~ 349.6) and 0.07 (95% CI: 0.04 ~ 0.13), respectively. The diagnostic odds ratio was 1302 (95% CI: 257 ~ 6606), and the AUC of the SROC curve was 0.98. The Deeks funnel plot suggested no publication bias among the included studies. CONCLUSION: CTA demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing severe ICA stenosis. Therefore, this study provided important evidence for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of severe ICA stenosis. However, there was considerable heterogeneity among the included studies, thus indicating the need for additional high-quality prospective studies to confirm the clinical applicability of CTA.

Comparative performance of FAS equation and Asian modified CKD-EPI in the determination of GFR in Chinese patients with CKD with the 99mTc-DTPA plasma clearance as the reference method.

BACKGROUND: Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a useful index in many clinical conditions. However, very few studies have assessed the performance of full age spectrum (FAS) equation and the Asian modified Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation in the approximation of GFR in Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of the above two creatinine-based equations. METHODS: A well designed single-center cross-sectional study was performed and the GFR was determined by 3 methods separately in the same day: technetium-99m-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (99mTc-DTPA) dual plasma sample clearance method (mGFR); FAS equation method; Asian modified CKD-EPI equation method. The gold standard method was the mGFR. Equations performance criteria considered correlation coefficient, bias, precision, accuracy and the ability to detect the mGFR less than 60ml/min/1.73m2. RESULTS: A total of 160 patients were enrolled. The diagnostic performance of FAS showed no significant difference in the correlation coefficient (0.89 vs 0.89), precision (15.9 vs 16.1ml/min/1.73m2), accuracy (75.0% vs 76.3%) and the ability to detect the mGFR less than 60ml/min/1.73m2 (0.94 vs 0.94) compared with the Asian modified CKD-EPI equation in all participants. The FAS showed a negative bias, while the new CKD-EPI equation showed a positive bias (-1.20 vs 1.30ml/min/1.73m2, P<0.001). However, they were all near to zero. In the mGFR<60ml/min/1.73m2 subgroup and mGFR>60ml/min/1.73m2 subgroup were consistent with that in the whole cohort. The precision and accuracy decreased when GFR>60ml/min/1.73m2 in both equations. CONCLUSIONS: The FAS equation and the Asian modified CKD-EPI equation had similar performance in determining the glomerular filtration rate in the Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease. Both the FAS equation and Asian modified CKD-EPI can be a satisfactory method and may be the most suitable creatinine-based equation.

Comparative performance of FAS equation and Asian modified CKD-EPI in the determination of GFR in Chinese patients with CKD with the 99mTc-DTPA plasma clearance as the reference method.

BACKGROUND: Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a useful index in many clinical conditions. However, very few studies have assessed the performance of full age spectrum (FAS) equation and the Asian modified Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation in the approximation of GFR in Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of the above two creatinine-based equations. METHODS: A well designed single-center cross-sectional study was performed and the GFR was determined by 3 methods separately in the same day: technetium-99m-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (99mTc-DTPA) dual plasma sample clearance method (mGFR); FAS equation method; Asian modified CKD-EPI equation method. The gold standard method was the mGFR. Equations performance criteria considered correlation coefficient, bias, precision, accuracy and the ability to detect the mGFR less than 60ml/min/1.73m2. RESULTS: A total of 160 patients were enrolled. The diagnostic performance of FAS showed no significant difference in the correlation coefficient (0.89 vs 0.89), precision (15.9 vs 16.1ml/min/1.73m2), accuracy (75.0% vs 76.3%) and the ability to detect the mGFR less than 60ml/min/1.73m2 (0.94 vs 0.94) compared with the Asian modified CKD-EPI equation in all participants. The FAS showed a negative bias, while the new CKD-EPI equation showed a positive bias (-1.20 vs 1.30ml/min/1.73m2, P<0.001). However, they were all near to zero. In the mGFR<60ml/min/1.73m2 subgroup and mGFR>60ml/min/1.73m2 subgroup were consistent with that in the whole cohort. The precision and accuracy decreased when GFR>60ml/min/1.73m2 in both equations. CONCLUSIONS: The FAS equation and the Asian modified CKD-EPI equation had similar performance in determining the glomerular filtration rate in the Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease. Both the FAS equation and Asian modified CKD-EPI can be a satisfactory method and may be the most suitable creatinine-based equation.

18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging Findings of Leprosy.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae infection in susceptible individuals. Without proper clinical diagnosis and treatment, leprosy can have a poor prognosis; however, diagnosing leprosy is challenging. We present a case of leprosy with extensive skin infiltration and involvement of the turbinate mucosa and multiple lymph nodes with increased FDG uptake on PET/CT, mimicking malignancy.

Comparative performance of FAS equation and Asian modified CKD-EPI in the determination of GFR in Chinese patients with CKD with the 99mTc-DTPA plasma clearance as the reference method / Rendimiento comparativo de la ecuación FAS y la ecuación CKD-EPI modificada para Asia para el cálculo de TFG en pacientes chinos con ERC, con aclaramiento de plasma con 99mTc-DTPA como método de referencia

BACKGROUND: Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a useful index in many clinical conditions. However, very few studies have assessed the performance of full age spectrum (FAS) equation and the Asian modified Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation in the approximation of GFR in Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of the above two creatinine-based equations. METHODS: A well designed single-center cross-sectional study was performed and the GFR was determined by 3 methods separately in the same day: technetium-99m-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (99mTc-DTPA) dual plasma sample clearance method (mGFR); FAS equation method; Asian modified CKD-EPI equation method. The gold standard method was the mGFR. Equations performance criteria considered correlation coefficient, bias, precision, accuracy and the ability to detect the mGFR less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. RESULTS: A total of 160 patients were enrolled. The diagnostic performance of FAS showed no significant difference in the correlation coefficient (0.89 vs 0.89), precision (15.9 vs 16.1 ml/min/1.73 m2), accuracy (75.0% vs 76.3%) and the ability to detect the mGFR less than 60ml/min/1.73m2 (0.94 vs 0.94) compared with the Asian modified CKD-EPI equation in all participants. The FAS showed a negative bias, while the new CKD-EPI equation showed a positive bias (-1.20 vs 1.30 ml/min/1.73 m2, P < 0.001). However, they were all near to zero. In the mGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 subgroup and mGFR > 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 subgroup were consistent with that in the whole cohort. The precision and accuracy decreased when GFR > 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 in both equations. CONCLUSIONS: The FAS equation and the Asian modified CKD-EPI equation had similar performance in determining the glomerular filtration rate in the Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease. Both the FAS equation and Asian modified CKD-EPI can be a satisfactory method and may be the most suitable creatinine-based equation

ANTECEDENTES: La tasa de filtración glomerular (TFG) es un índice útil en muchas condiciones clínicas. Sin embargo, muy pocos estudios han evaluado el rendimiento de la ecuación FAS (full age spectrum) y la ecuación CKD-EPI (Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration) modificada para Asia en la aproximación de TFG en pacientes chinos con enfermedad renal crónica. OBJETIVO: El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar el rendimiento diagnóstico de las dos ecuaciones anteriores basadas en creatinina. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio transversal unicéntrico y bien diseñado, calculándose separadamente la TFG mediante tres métodos en el mismo día: método mGFR (aclaramiento de muestra de plasma dual con 99mTc-DTPA [tecnecio-99m marcado con triamina dietileno de ácido pentaacético]), el método de ecuación FAS y el de ecuación CKD-EPI modificada para Asia. El método de referencia fue mGFR. Los criterios de rendimiento de las ecuaciones consideraron coeficiente de correlación, sesgo, precisión, exactitud y capacidad de detectar un valor de mGFR inferior a 60 mL/min/1,73 m2. RESULTADOS: Se incluyó un total de 160 pacientes. El rendimiento diagnóstico de FAS no reflejó diferencia significativa en cuanto a coeficiente de correlación (0,89 vs. 0,89), precisión (15,9 vs. 16,1 mL/min/1,73 m2), exactitud (75 vs. 76,3%) y capacidad de detectar un valor de mGFR inferior a 60 mL/min/1,73 m2 (0,94 vs. 0,94) en comparación con la ecuación CKD-EPI modificada para Asia, en todos los participantes. La ecuación FAS reflejó un sesgo negativo, mientras que la nueva ecuación CKD-EPI reflejó un sesgo positivo (-1,20 V vs.1,30 mL/min/1,73 m2, p < 0,001). Sin embargo, todos los valores se aproximaron a cero. En el subgrupo mGFR < 60 mL/min/1,73 m2 y el subgrupo mGFR > 60 mL/min/1,73 m2 los valores fueron consistentes con respecto a la cohorte total. La precisión y exactitud se redujeron cuando TFG > 60 mL/min/1,73 m2 en ambas ecuaciones. CONCLUSIONES: La ecuación FAS y la ecuación CKD-EPI modificada para Asia reflejaron un desempeño similar a la hora de determinar la tasa de filtración glomerular en los pacientes chinos con enfermedad renal crónica. Ambos pueden ser métodos satisfactorios y las ecuaciones más idóneas basadas en creatinina