ABSTRACT
Diagnostic nuclear medicine is being increasingly employed in clinical practice with the advent of new technologies and radiopharmaceuticals. The report of the prevalence of a certain disease is important for assessing the quality of that article. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the quality of published nuclear medicine articles and determine the frequency of reporting the prevalence of studied diseases. We used Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy [STARD] and Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies [QUADAS-2] checklists for evaluating the quality of articles published in five nuclear medicine journals with the highest impact factors in 2012. The articles were retrieved from Scopus database and were selected and assessed independently by two nuclear medicine physicians. Decision concerning equivocal data was made by consensus between the reviewers. The average STARD score was approximately 17 points, and the highest score was 17.19 +/- 2.38 obtained by the European Journal of Nuclear Medicine. QUADAS-2 tool showed that all journals had low bias regarding study population. The Journal of Nuclear Medicine had the highest score in terms of index test, reference standard, and time interval. Lack of clarity regarding the index test, reference standard, and time interval was frequently observed in all journals including Clinical Nuclear Medicine, in which 64% of the studies were unclear regarding the index test. Journal of Nuclear Cardiology had the highest number of articles with appropriate reference standard [83.3%], though it had the lowest frequency of reporting disease prevalence [zero reports]. All five journals had the same STARD score, while index test, reference standard, and time interval were very unclear according to QUADAS-2 tool. Unfortunately, data were too limited to determine which journal had the lowest risk of bias. In fact, it is the author's responsibility to provide details of research methodology so that the reader can assess the quality of research articles. Five nuclear medicine journals with the highest impact factor were comparable in terms of STARD score, although they all showed lack of clarity regarding index test, reference standard, and time interval, according to QUADAS-2. The current data were too limited to determine the journal with the lowest bias. Thus, a comprehensive overview of the research methodology of each article is of paramount importance to enable the reader to assess the quality of articles
Subject(s)
Evaluation Studies as Topic , Nuclear Medicine/standards , ResearchABSTRACT
Intracranial aneurysms are common. It is the most commonly encountered aneurysms in the human body. Rupture of an aneurysm producing intracranial bleeding is considered a medical emergency, and requires further investigation and management. Cerebral angiography is still the examination of choice to confirm the diagnosis of aneurysms. In our study, 29 cases of ruptured cerebral aneurysms show no sex difference And 13 out of 29 cases are in the range of 40-60 years. The most common location of cerebral aneurysms is the anterior communicating artery aneurysms, 11 out of 29 cases. No multiple aneurysm is seen in this study.
ABSTRACT
Utrasonographic features of 32 patients who had gastrointestinal pathology proved by endoscopy and / or exploratory loporotomy with pathological sections were analysed. The pathology was classified into neoplasm group (17 / 32) and non – neoplasm group (15 / 32). Among 17 cases of neoplasm group, echoic masses were found in 9 cases (9 /17), thicken bowel wall in 7 cases (7 /17) which all are adenocarcinoma of stomach and mixed echoic mass in only I case (1/17). In non – neoplasm group, we found gastric outlet obstruction or dissented stomach without mass 5 cases ( 5 /15), mixed echoic mass 4 cases (4 /15), echoic mass 2 cases ( 2 /15), thicken bowel wall 2 cases ( 2 /15), pseudokidney sign 1 case and matted fluid – filled bowel loops 1 case. We found hat most cases of the neoplasm group have echoic mass and thicken bowel wall (16 /17). The variation in sonographic findings in non – neoplasm group depended on pathological process of the diseases as discussed in detail in the text.
ABSTRACT
Dyspepsis is an extremely common presenting symptom with a prevalence in the community of approximately 30% and may be an early symptom of a serious illness. This prospective data analysis aims to determine the etiology of the patient who present with dyspepsia in Srinagarind Hospital. 208 patients were studied with completed a structured history questionnaire and completed investigation with complete blood count, stool examination, liver function test, HbsAg, HbsAb, ultrasonography of the abdomen and endoscopy. The most common cause is non-ulcer dyspepsia (53.27%). There were peptic ulcer disease in 26.44%, hepatobiliary disease in 16.83% and combined peptic ulcer disease and hepatobiliary disease in 3.37%. Malignant cause of dyspepsia which we found in this series is tumor of the liver.
ABSTRACT
A Retrospective study at Srinagarind Hospital during the 5 year period of 1983-1987 , These were 10 cases of perforated gall bladders, an average of two cases per year, Five cases were free perforation with generalized peritonitis and another five were Subacute perforation with pericholecystic collection. These were 6 male and 4 female with an average age of 55.5 years. These were no serious associated diseases found on these patients. All cases had their gall bladders removed. Nine out of ten had common bile duct exploration . Two cases of tumour and 4 cases of common bile duct stone were found as the cause of obstruction. There were no perioperative-death . Only 3 minor operative complications were encountered younger age without associated disease and early cholecystectomy may be the main contribution to the good result.
ABSTRACT
At Srinagarind Hospital , from January 1982 to January 1988, 34 case of intussusception were studied retrospectively . Barium enema reduction were performed in 19 intussusceptions and were successful in 6 cases or 31.58% There were 3 recurrences. Repeat hydrostatic reduction was successful in one and failed in two cases. The later two cases needed a surgical intervention and leading points were noted. Colonic perforation occurred in 6 cases. One case occurred during barium enema reduction on the third trial and leading point was noted at operation. Factor which influenced failure of the hydrostatic reduction included long duration of illness, presented of leading point and underlying colonic pathology in old age. Clinical evidence of intestinal perforation (peritonitis) or free intraperitoneal air on abdominal radiographs was the only absulute contraindication to the administration of barium enema to the patient suspected of intussusception.
ABSTRACT
Asptic intracranial sinovenous occlusion is an uncommon clinical entity. The typical symptoms are severe headache, vomiting, convulsion, progressive drowsiness, papilledema and focal neurological signs. It is commonly found in young women taking oral contraceptive pills. A 29-year-old woman who presented with typical symptoms of cerebral sinovenous occlusion and had history of using oral contraceptive pills was reported. Computed tomography scan and cerebral angiography showed sagittal sinus thrombosis. The symptoms were fully recovered by supportive treatment without anticoagulant therapy.
ABSTRACT
From January 1978 to October 1985, eighty-three patients who were correctly diagnosed as melioidosis, by evidence of positive culture of pseudomonas pseudomallei, in Srinagarind Hospital were investigated, concerning about pulmonary involvements of melioidosis, by appearance on roentgenographic findings. There were 62 cases (74.7%) who had pulmonary involvements which were classified as following : patchy, mottle, streaky infiltration 26 cases (31.3%) multiple nodular infiltration 20 cases (24.4%) pleural effusion/pyopneumothorax 19 cases (22.9%) cavity abscess 19 cases (22.9%) T.B. like 16 cases (19.3%) atelectasis/collapse 12 cases (14.5%) Furthermore, this study also revealed 8 cases of hilar node enlargement, 3 cases of consolidation, 3 cases of pneumonitis/pleuritis, 3 cases of pericardial effusion, 3 cases of mass/masses and a cases of calcification.