MultiCOVID: a multi modal deep learning approach for COVID-19 diagnosis.

The rapid spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 led to a global overextension of healthcare. Both Chest X-rays (CXR) and blood test have been demonstrated to have predictive value on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis on different prevalence scenarios. With the objective of improving and accelerating the diagnosis of COVID-19, a multi modal prediction algorithm (MultiCOVID) based on CXR and blood test was developed, to discriminate between COVID-19, Heart Failure and Non-COVID Pneumonia and healthy (Control) patients. This retrospective single-center study includes CXR and blood test obtained between January 2017 and May 2020. Multi modal prediction models were generated using opensource DL algorithms. Performance of the MultiCOVID algorithm was compared with interpretations from five experienced thoracic radiologists on 300 random test images using the McNemar-Bowker test. A total of 8578 samples from 6123 patients (mean age 66 ± 18 years of standard deviation, 3523 men) were evaluated across datasets. For the entire test set, the overall accuracy of MultiCOVID was 84%, with a mean AUC of 0.92 (0.89-0.94). For 300 random test images, overall accuracy of MultiCOVID was significantly higher (69.6%) compared with individual radiologists (range, 43.7-58.7%) and the consensus of all five radiologists (59.3%, P < .001). Overall, we have developed a multimodal deep learning algorithm, MultiCOVID, that discriminates among COVID-19, heart failure, non-COVID pneumonia and healthy patients using both CXR and blood test with a significantly better performance than experienced thoracic radiologists.

Microwave versus radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of liver malignancies: a randomized controlled phase 2 trial.

Microwave (MWA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are main ablative techniques for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and colorectal liver metastasis (MT). This randomized phase 2 clinical trial compares the effectiveness of MWA and RFA as well as morphology of corresponding ablation zones. HCC and MT patients with 1.5-4 cm tumors, suitable for ablation, were randomized into MWA or RFA Groups. The primary endpoint was short-to-long diameter ratio of ablation zone (SLR). Primary technical success (TS) and a cumulative local tumor progression (LTP) after a median 2-year follow-up were compared. Between June 2015 and April 2020, 82 patients were randomly assigned (41 patients per group). For the per-protocol analysis, five patients were excluded. MWA created larger ablation zones than RFA (p = 0.036) although without differences in SLR (0.5 for both groups, p = 0.229). The TS was achieved in 98% (46/47) and 90% (45/50) (p = 0.108), and LTP was observed in 21% (10/47) vs. 12% (6/50) (OR 1.9 [95% CI 0.66-5.3], p = 0.238) of tumors in MWA vs. RFA Group, respectively. Major complications were found in 5 cases (11%) vs. 2 cases (4%), without statistical significance. MWA and RFA show similar SLR, effectiveness and safety in liver tumors between 1.5 and 4 cm.

Correlation of Gastric Volume and Weight Loss 5 Years Following Sleeve Gastrectomy.

INTRODUCTION: The volume of the gastric reservoir (VGR) after sleeve gastrectomy influences weight loss in the short-term, but long-term results are scarce. The aim was to analyze the correlation between the VGR and weight loss at 5 years of follow-up. METHODS: It is a prospective observational study of 50 patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy (SG) from February 2009 to December 2013. An upper gastrointestinal series was performed at 1 month and at 1 and 5 years after surgery. A composite formula was used for VGR estimation. Weight loss-related data included the following: body mass index (BMI), percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL), and percentage of excess BMI loss (%EBMIL) at 1 month and at 1 and 5 years. Uni- and multivariate analyses were carried out to determine other factors that might influence long-term weight loss results. RESULTS: The %EWL at 1 year was 74.5(63.8-86) vs. 55.5(47-74.3) at 5 years (p < 0.001). The VGR 1 month after surgery was 114.9 (90.5-168.3) mL. The VGR increased from 216.7 (155.1-278.6) to 367.5 (273-560.3) mL (p < 0.001) at 1 and 5 years. Although a significant inverse correlation was observed between VGR and BMI, %EWL, and %EBMIL at 1 year, it disappeared at 5 years. In the multivariate analysis, the main factor to predict worse weight results at 5 years was a pre-surgical BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2. CONCLUSION: The VGR increased progressively during the study period. Although an inverse relationship between VGR and weight was found at 1 year, this correlation did not remain at 5 years. A preoperative BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2 is the main predictive factor of poor weight outcomes.

Risk Factors Associated with Major Complications after Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Renal Biopsy of Native Kidneys.

INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous renal biopsy (PRB) of native kidneys is an important tool for diagnosis and management of renal disease. In this study, we analyzed the success, safety, and risk complications of PRB in our center. METHODS: A retrospective review of ultrasound-guided PRB done at our institution from January 1998 to December 2017 was performed. Clinical and laboratory data were collected for 661 PRBs. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variable and chi-square test for categorical variables. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression was performed to assess factors associated with increased risk of complications after PRB. RESULTS: The median age was 56 (42-68) years old, the majority were male (64%) and white (82%). Ten glomeruli were present in 63.5% of PRBs. Overall, the rate of complications was 16.6%, where 15.1% of them were minor complications and 1.5% were major complications. Perinephritic hematoma accounted for the minor complication that occurred most frequently, whereas the need of a blood transfusion was the prevalent for major complications. By multivariate analysis, increased activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT; OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.035-1.180) and prebiopsy lower hemoglobin (Hgb; OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.086-2.304) were identified as independent risk factors for major complications. In addition, older patients (OR 1.057, 95% CI 1.001-1.117) were identified as an independent risk factor for blood transfusion requirement. CONCLUSION: The current risk of complications after native PRB is low. Major complications are most common in case of increased aPTT and decreased Hgb baseline level.

A rare case of right lower quadrant pain.

Endometriosis of the appendix is a very rare entity and commonly affects females in childbearing age. Clinical presentation might be confusing varying from asymptomatic to acute abdominal pain and often mimicks acute appendicitis or chronic pelvic pain. Diagnosis is generally made after pathological examination as operative findings are usually non-specific. This condition poses a diagnostic challenge to radiologists and surgeons altogether and we therefore report a case of a middle aged female who presented with both right lower quadrant and right lower back pain. Recent literature is reviewed and radiological findings discussed.

Residual gastric volume estimated with a new radiological volumetric model: relationship with weight loss after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: The volume of the gastric reservoir appears crucial to explain the success of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in the treatment of morbid obesity. The aims of this study were to describe a new, easy model to estimate gastric reservoir volume after LSG; to evaluate the volumetric changes 1 year after surgery; and to analyze their relationship with weight loss. METHODS: This is a prospective observational study of all patients undergoing LSG in the Department of Surgery at our institution. The gastric reservoir was evaluated radiologically considering the image as a complex geometrical shape with two components: a cylinder (gastric body) and a truncated cone (antrum). Radiologic assessment using this new model was performed at 1 and 12 months after surgery. Moreover, body mass index and percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) were evaluated at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months after LSG. RESULTS: Forty-five patients (34 F/11 M) with a mean age of 46.9 years were included. A significant increase in total gastric reservoir volume (124.8 ± 58.7 and 188.6 ± 76.4 mL at 1 and 12 months, respectively; p = 0.001) was observed. No statistically significant differences were observed comparing volume of the two components at the two time points. The %EWL at 18 months was inversely correlated with reservoir volume changes at 12 months after LSG (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: We describe an easy volumetric model to estimate the size of the gastric reservoir after LSG. Moreover, a direct relationship between an increase in gastric reservoir volume and a lower weight loss after surgery was documented.

Metastatic gallbladder adenocarcinoma with signet-ring cells: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Signet-ring cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive variant of mucinous adenocarcinoma. Only a few cases of gallbladder adenocarcinoma with signet-ring cells have been reported and because of this there is a lack of knowledge about the behavior and biology of this pathology. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 63-year-old Arab man with gallbladder signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma. He had an elective cholecystectomy and refused chemotherapy. Two months later, a small hepatic metastatic nodule was found, and nine months later he presented with multiple metastases in the liver, lymphatic nodes, both pleuras, peritoneum and subcutaneous tissue. CONCLUSION: The proliferation of signet-ring cells in a gallbladder adenocarcinoma worsens the prognosis of an already adverse neoplasm. New lines of treatment in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin, or new biological therapy, such as monoclonal antibody c-myc oncogene, should be encouraged to improve the survival and life quality of these oncologic patients.

High prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing enterobacteriaceae in bacteremia after transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy: a need for changing preventive protocol.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the incidence of bacteremia after transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUSGPB) significantly diminishes with the setting up of a new preventive protocol. This protocol was set up after detecting an augmented incidence of bacteremia after TRUSGPB with a high prevalence of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. METHODS: Retrospective descriptive and prospective intervention study performed at a University Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing TRUSGPB under the old preventive protocol (January 2006-February 2007), that is, amoxicillin-clavulanate 500 mg tid the day before, the day of the procedure, and 1 day after the procedure, and after setting up a new protocol (March 2007-April 2008), that is, 2 g cefoxitin 1 hour before the procedure and ciprofloxacin 750 mg p.o. bid the day before, the day of the procedure, and 3 days after the procedure; dipstick urinalysis was performed before the procedure, and patients with positive results were not biopsied. RESULTS: Incidence of bacteremia with old and new protocols: 9 of 204 procedures (4.4%) vs 2 of 207 (0.9%), (P = .03). Four isolates (44.4%) under the old protocol produced extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL). With the new protocol, 2 (0.9%) cases of non-ESBL Escherichia coli bacteremia were observed. Sixty-five (23.8%) cases were not biopsied because of positive result of dipstick urinalysis, lack of antibiotic prophylaxis adherence, or altered coagulation parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic prophylaxis for TRUSGPB should take into account local resistance patterns. Cefoxitin could be used as prophylaxis in centers with high prevalence of ESBL enterobacteriaceae. Before TRUSGPB, excluding patients with positive results of dipstick urinalysis is an advisable practice.