ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Currently, the morphologic characteristics of the torn discoid lateral meniscus remain unclear, andmorphological indexes used to evaluate the discoid lateral meniscus tears still need to be explored. OBJECTIVE: To discuss the specificity and sensitivity of discoid lateral meniscal tears in children using morphological indexes. METHODS: Seventy-three patients (seventy-six knees) with torn discoid lateral meniscus underwentarthroscopy and MRI data of knee examinations were retrospectively reviewed. All MR images were double-blinded, independently, retrospectively analyzed by attending radiologist (doctor A) and sports physician (doctor B). The following morphological signs of discoid lateral meniscus, such as a internal displaced free edge sign, a hypertrophic free edge sign and a hypertrophied-horn sign, were selected to evaluate the discoid lateral meniscus tears. The likelihood of the discoid lateral meniscus tears was analyzed on basis of arthroscopic findings constituted the gold standard. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRI diagnosis of the discoid lateral meniscus tears by two physicians were calculated, and the consistency of diagnosis results by two physicians was evaluated using the Kappa statistics.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in the diagnosis of discoid lateral meniscustears by internal displaced free edge sign for doctor A were 19%, 94% and 53%, respectively, and for doctor B were 21%, 97% and 55%. (2) The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in the diagnosis of discoid lateral meniscus tears by hypertrophic free edge sign for doctor A were 52%, 100% and 74%, respectively, and for doctor B were 57%, 97% and 75%. (3) The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in the diagnosis of discoid lateral meniscus tears by hypertrophied-horn sign for doctor A were 26%, 97% and 58%, respectively, and for doctor B were 24%, 100% and 58%. (4) The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in the diagnosis of discoid lateral meniscus tears by binding morphological index for doctor A were 86%, 91% and 87%, respectively, and for doctor B were 88%, 94% and 91%. (5) The Kappa statistics for discoid lateral meniscus tears respectively demonstrated a good inter-observer agreement (K > 0.75, P < 0.001). (6) These findings suggest that single morphological index used to evaluate the discoid lateral meniscus tears shows a good specificity, but which also shows a low sensitivity, while a binding morphological index can significantly improve the diagnostic sensitivity. Morphological characteristics may be reliable indexes to evaluate the discoid lateral meniscal tears in children.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Currently, the morphologic changes of the discoid lateral meniscus (DLM) remain unclear, and morphological indexes used to evaluate the injuries of DLM stil need to be explored. OBJECTIVE:To compare the MR imaging difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic DLM in adults, and to select reliablemorphologicalparametersfor assessing DLM. METHODS:A total of 36 patients (36 knees) with a symptomatic DLM (study group)and 34 patients (34 knees) with an asymptomatic DLM (control group) were included in this study. GE Healthcare Centricity RIS/PACKS System was used to measure the primary morphological parameters of two patients with DLM on coronal MR imaging. Intergroup comparison was performed with the Wilcoxon test. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:On the coronal MR imaging, the width of the body portion and height of the free edge of the DLM was significantly increased in the study group compared with the control group (P 0.05). The width ratio of the body of the DLM to the lateral femoral condyle and the height ratio of height of the free edge to the middle of the DLM were significantly increased in thestudy group compared with the control group (P< 0.001), while the height ratio of the peripheral portion to the middle for the DLM was significantly decreased compared with the control group (P< 0.001). These findings suggest that compared with asymptomatic discoid lateral meniscus, the width of the body portion and the height of the free edge for the DLM are increased;however,the height of the peripheral portion which connects with the capsule of the DLM is decreased. The width ratio of the body portion of the DLM to the lateral femoral condyle and the height ratio of the free edge to the middle for the DLM may be reliable morphological parameters for the assessment of the DLM in adults.
ABSTRACT
Drug toxicology,as a discipline which studies drug toxicity mechanisms and evaluates comprehensive drug safety is of crucial importance for guiding sensible clinical drug use,reducing adverse drug reactions and reducing failures of new drug development caused by toxicity. This article summarizes the basic situation of Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)funded projects in drug toxicology between 2001 and 2015,involving the amount of approved grants,funding rate,funding category and supported faculty,and the change of NSFC guidelines. Research topics,ideas and contents of NSFC funded projects are generalized and characteristics,problems and future trends are also analyzed to provide reference for research on drug toxicology.