ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the splenic stiffness (SS) values in healthy individuals as measured by 3 Tesla magnetic resonance elastography (3T MRE) and to investigate the possible effects of parameters such as age, sex, spleen volume, diameter, and parenchyma thickness on SS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in August 2023. A total of 54 healthy volunteers were included in this study. Participants' age and sex information were recorded, in addition to spleen craniocaudal and anteroposterior diameter, cortical thickness, spleen volume, and SS, which were measured using 3T magnetic resonance imaging and MRE. The relationships between SS and the other variables were investigated. RESULTS: Twenty-nine male and 25 female subjects with a mean age of 54.78 ± 15.40 years were included in the study. Mean craniocaudal diameter was 10.46 ± 1.16 cm, anteroposterior diameter was 9.88 ± 1.29 cm, parenchyma thickness was 4.08 ± 0.67 cm, SS was 3,721.94 ± 709.69 Pascal (Pa), and median spleen volume was 292.54 (239.40 - 311.00) cm3. A significant and strong positive correlation was observed between age and SS (r = 0.779, p < 0.001). The SS values were not associated with sex, craniocaudal diameter, anteroposterior diameter, parenchymal thickness, or volume. CONCLUSIONS: Age should be considered when using SS in the diagnosis and staging of relevant diseases such as portal hypertension and esophageal varices. Our results should be confirmed by future studies using 3T MRE in larger populations.
Subject(s)
Elasticity Imaging Techniques , Esophageal and Gastric Varices , Hypertension, Portal , Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Elasticity Imaging Techniques/methods , Spleen/diagnostic imaging , Spleen/pathology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Esophageal and Gastric Varices/complications , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Liver Cirrhosis/complications , Liver/pathologyABSTRACT
During the 2017/18 influenza season, the authors' virology laboratory implemented the cobas® Influenza A/B & RSV (Roche Molecular Diagnostics, Pleasanton, CA, USA) for influenza outbreak management in two scenarios: initial outbreak investigation or at outbreak conclusion to avoid prolonged measures. Twenty-seven investigations were conducted, including declaration of 11 influenza A/B outbreaks. Thirty percent of investigations would have missed the standard batched daily laboratory-developed respiratory polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and delayed outbreak confirmation until the following day. The average reduction in turnaround time for influenza A/B testing was 10.2 h. A rapid molecular PCR in specific outbreak scenarios improved timely management of influenza outbreaks.
Subject(s)
Disease Management , Disease Outbreaks , Influenza, Human/diagnosis , Influenza, Human/epidemiology , Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/methods , Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/diagnosis , Humans , Respiratory Syncytial Virus, HumanABSTRACT
Brain capillary telangiectasia is an incidental vascular malformation found usually in pons and sometimes in extra- pontine sites. Typical MRI features are enhancement on post contrast T1 weighted images and signal loss on gradient echo images. We evaluated 10 patients with various MR techniques. Susceptibility weighted imaging was superior to GRE T2 in showing decreased signal due to susceptibility effects. Diffusion weighted imaging and diffusion tensor imaging proved not useful in the diagnosis.
Subject(s)
Brain/blood supply , Brain/pathology , Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations/diagnosis , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Contrast Media , Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Diffusion Tensor Imaging/methods , Female , Humans , Image Enhancement/methods , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Young AdultABSTRACT
Two hepatitis C antibody assays were used to test diluted positive sera. Dilutions of 1 in 5, 1 in 10, and 1 in 20 all resulted in loss of reactivity, with the greatest losses occurring in samples with low and moderate reactivities. These results disqualify pooling as a strategy for seroprevalence studies and screening programs.
