Influence of radiologic expertise in detecting lung tumors on chest radiographs.

PURPOSE: To analyze the influence of radiologic expertise in detecting lung tumors on chest radiographs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrieved posteroanterior chest radiographs and CT examination obtained from 283 patients with solitary primary malignant lung tumors who underwent surgical resection. There were 176 men and 107 women with a mean age of 67.0±9.1 (SD) years (range: 33-88 years). Thirteen first-year post-graduate (PGY-1) trainees and nine pulmonary specialists (three radiologists, three thoracic surgeons, and three pulmonologists) interpreted the chest radiographs. Detection rates among trainees and specialists were compared using Student t test. RESULTS: The total numbers of detected tumors ranged from 103 (36.4%) to 136 (48.1%) with a mean of 127.9±9.1 (45.2±3.2%) in the trainee group, and 137 (48.4%) to 182 (64.3%) with a mean of 161.6±13.1 (57.1±4.6%) in the specialist group; the intergroup difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). Significant intergroup detectability differences of >10% were noted for tumors in the peripheral zone with (i) ground glass opacity (GGO) ratio ≥10% and <70% and any size, or (ii) GGO ratio <10% and size ≤2cm; and for tumors hidden by the mediastinum, heart, or diaphragm with (i) GGO ratio ≥10% and <30% and size >3cm, or (ii) GGO ratio <10% and size >2cm. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates significant differences in lung tumor detectability on chest radiographs between PGY-1 trainees and pulmonary specialists according to tumor size, extent of GGO, and tumor location.

Reduction en masse of inguinal hernia: MDCT findings of two cases.

Reduction en masse of inguinal hernia is an extremely rare complication arising from manual reduction of a hernia. The hernial content remaining in the hernia sac returns above the inguinal canal but remains in the abdominal wall. Accurate preoperative diagnosis of reduction en masse of inguinal hernia is challenging because the hernia appears to be reduced upon physical examination. We experienced two cases of reduction en masse. In both cases, multidetector row computed tomography revealed a closed loop obstruction near the inguinal fossa. In addition, we observed a continuous tract of the hernia sac to the inguinal canal and prominent peritoneal thickening suggestive of the hernia sac.

Polyamine oxidase from water hyacinth: purification and properties.

Polyamine oxidase was purified to homogeneity from leaves of water hyacinth by the criterion of sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis (SDS disc PAGE). The enzyme showed a high specificity for spermidine and spermine (K(m) values 28 micromolar and 20 micromolar, respectively). The optimal pH of the enzyme for both spermidine and spermine was 6.5. The molecular weight of the enzyme estimated by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration was 87,000, while SDS disc PAGE gave a single band at the molecular weight of 60,000. Octamethylenediamine and quinacrine were strong inhibitors of the enzyme, but p-chloromercuribenzoate was without effect. A prosthetic group in the enzyme was identified as flavin adenine dinucleotide.