Background Parenchymal Enhancement on Breast MRI in Breast Cancer Patients : Impact on Biopsy Rate and Cancer Yield

PURPOSE: To evaluate the potential effects of background parenchymal enhancement of MR imaging in diagnosed breast cancer patients on the rate of additional biopsy and resultant cancer yield. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 322 patients who were diagnosed with breast cancer and had undergone breast MR imaging were included in this study. Two radiologists reviewed the MRI for degree of background parenchymal enhancement and additional suspicious lesions described as BI-RADS category 4 or 5 on radiologic reports. Biopsy was done for these lesions, pathology reports were reviewed to calculate the cancer yield. RESULTS: Background parenchymal enhancement of MR imaging in a total of 322 patients were classified as minimal degree 47.5%, mild degree 28.9%, moderate degree 12.4% and marked degree 11.2%. Among these 332 patients, MR imaging of 70 patients showed additional suspicious malignant lesions described as BI-RADS category 4 or 5, and consequently, 66 patients underwent biopsy. Biopsy rates in those with minimal or mild background parenchymal enhancement and those with moderate and marked background parenchymal enhancement were 19.9% and 22.3% (p-value 0.77) respectively. Cancer yields in those with minimal or mild background parenchymal enhancement and those with moderate and marked background parenchymal enhancement were 6.5% and 5.2% (p value 0.88) respectively. Both these results did not show stastically significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The degree of background parenchymal enhancement in MR imaging of breast cancer patients did not significantly impact additional biopsy rates or cancer yields.

Effects of Food Consumption Monitoring Using a Camera-Phone on Body Weight and Serum Lipid Level in Obese Female College Students

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of food consumption monitoring using a camera-phone in a weight control program. Twenty-six female college students (>30% body fat) were randomly assigned to the camera-phone and diary (CD) group or diary (D) only group. During the 8-week weight control program, the CD group controlled their food consumption using a camera-phone, in which they took a food picture and uploaded it to the homepage. However, the D group used only a diary to record their food intake. The mean energy intake of the CD group during the program was 1451.9 kcal while that of the D group was 1524.3 kcal. The total energy intakes of both groups significantly decreased during the program. The CD group lost 5.2 kg of body weight and 3.1% body fat while the D group lost 2.2 kg of body weight and 1.1% body fat. The body weight and fat levels significantly decreased in the CD group compared to the D group. The triglyceride, total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels of the CD group as well as the total-cholesterol level of the D group significantly decreased during the program. The total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels both significantly decreased in the CD group compared to the D group. In this study, it was concluded that digital photography method using a camera-phone might influence weight control through trained consumption monitoring, which helps individuals reduce discrepancies between perceived and actual consumption levels.

Short Term Weight Control Program of Obese Female College Students through Food Consumption Monitoring Using Mobile Phone Equipped with Camera

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of food consumption monitoring based on a digital photography method using a mobile phone on food consumption and weight reduction. Eighteen female college students (>30% body fat) participated in the weight control program using a mobile-phone for 4 wks. The energy intake was reduced significantly after 3 wks compared to baseline (P<0.05, baseline: 1,453.0 kcal, 3rd wk: 1,171.1 kcal, 4th wk: 1,130.8 kcal). The subjects lost 2.8 kg of body weight, 1.4% of % body fat, and 1.1 kg/m2 of body mass index (BMI) after 4 wks. There were also significant differences in blood pressure (P<0.001) and serum cholesterol (total cholesterol: P<0.05, LDL-cholesterol: P<0.01) before and after the self-regulated diet program. In this study, the digital photography method using a mobile-phone influenced weight control through trained consumption monitoring, which helps individuals reduce discrepancies between perceived and actual consumption levels. Therefore, effective monitoring by taking food pictures using a mobile-phone can lead individuals to rely more heavily on easy-to-monitor visual cues.

Effect of Single-injection Femoral Nerve Block Using Real-time Ultrasound on the Postoperative Pain after Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: 0.25% vs 0.5% Levobupivacaine

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the analgesic effect of 0.25% and 0.5% levobupivacaine for real time ultrasound guided single-injection femoral nerve block for the patients who are undergoing bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: Femoral nerve block was done to all patients with 20 ml of 0.9% normal saline on one leg and 20 ml of 0.25% levobupivacaine on the other leg for group I (n = 16) and 0.5% levobupivacaine for group II (n = 15) with 1 : 200,000 epinephrine and using real-time ultrasound and a nerve stimulator. The data concerning the verbal numerical rating scale (VNRS) for each leg, the consumption of the intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA) and the demands for the additional analgesics was collected at 0, 1, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after the operation. RESULTS: The legs on which femoral nerve block was done with levobupivacaine showed a lower VNRS score than the legs with normal saline in either group I or group II. The VNRS scores between the two legs, the consumption of the IV PCA and the demand for additional analgesics showed no significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that single-injection femoral nerve block using real-time ultrasound with either 0.25% levobupivacaine or 0.5% levobupivacaine 20 ml provides a good effect for the postoperative pain control after TKA.