ABSTRACT
Background and Aims: A retrospective non-interventional, multi-centre patient chart review study was conducted to investigate the association of faecal calprotectin (FC) 1 year (±2 months) after biological therapy initiation with composite event-free survival (CEFS) consisting of surgical procedures, corticosteroid initiation, treatment failure or dose increase in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). In addition, the correlations of FC and other tests of disease activity were assessed.Materials and methods: Data on Finnish CD patients initiating a biological therapy between 2010 and 2016, were collected. The association of FC and CEFS was analysed with Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard modelling. The correlations were tested with Pearson's test.Results: Biological therapy was initiated in 186 patients, of which 87 (46.8%) had FC results available at 1 year and 80 had follow-up exceeding 14 months. The characteristics of patients with and without FC results were similar. Patients with elevated FC (>250 µg/g) had a significantly increased risk of experiencing composite event (HR 3.4, 95% CI: 1.3-8.9; p = .013) when compared to patients with normal FC (FC ≤ 100). No such risk was observed in patients with intermediately increased FC level (100 µg/g < FC ≤ 250 µg/g) (HR 2.2 (95% CI: 0.8-6.2; p = .120). FC value had significant positive correlation with CRP, HBI and leukocyte values when measured at similar timepoints.Conclusions: Elevated level of FC approximately 1 year after the initiation of biological therapy was associated with an increased risk of either surgical procedures, corticosteroid initiation, treatment failure or dose increase (i.e. composite outcome) in patients with CD.
Subject(s)
Crohn Disease/drug therapy , Feces/chemistry , Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex/metabolism , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Biomarkers/metabolism , Crohn Disease/metabolism , Crohn Disease/surgery , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Drug Administration Schedule , Drug Monitoring , Female , Finland , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Kaplan-Meier Estimate , Male , Middle Aged , Proportional Hazards Models , Retrospective Studies , Severity of Illness Index , Treatment Outcome , Young AdultABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To compare radiologists' subjective size estimation to computerised volume quantification of tumour-like phantoms in spiral CT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eight tubular phantoms with the inside irregularly covered with silicone (8.7-31.6 ml) were imaged. The phantoms were pairwise compared to analyse the differences in silicone volumes. The observers, 2 radiologists and 2 residents, used both subjective image analysis (2 sessions) and computerised volume quantification (1 session). Accuracy and observer agreement of both methods were calculated. RESULTS: Subjective size estimation was correct in 51% (mean weighted kappa, Kqw=0.73). Using four observers' mean value (Kqw=0.81) or median value (Kqw=0.77) slightly improved the results. Average intra-observer agreement was better than average interobserver agreement. In computerised volume quantification 70% of all classifications were correct (mean Kqw=0.85). The results were moderate even when every second or fourth slice were measured. CONCLUSION: Subjective size estimation of irregular tumours should be repeatedly performed by the same observer, or by using the mean or median estimate of several observers. Computer-based methods are even more reliable and their use is especially recommended for film readers with limited radiological experience. Only every fourth slice may be measured without a major loss of measurement accuracy.
Subject(s)
Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Phantoms, Imaging , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods , Humans , Observer Variation , Reproducibility of Results , SiliconesABSTRACT
Kidneys of 35 renal stone patients treated with percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) were examined at 12-36 months (mean 23 months) after the procedure by plain radiography (PR), conventional linear tomography (LT), computed tomography (CT), and ultrasonography (US) to find out the long-term stone-free rate as well as the accuracy of these imaging methods to detect residual or recurrent renal stones. The present series included 36 kidneys with a 56% postoperative stone-free status examined by plain radiography and a 58% one examined by linear tomography at 12-36 months. CT showed 47% and US 72% of the kidneys to be stone-free, respectively. The sensitivity of CT was superior to plain radiography (P < 0.05), linear tomography (P < 0.05) or US (P < 0.001) in the detection of residual or recurrent stones after percutaneous nephrolithotomy analyzed statistically by McNemar's test. In the same group of 35 patients, which consisted of the above 36 postoperative kidneys together with 19 contralateral kidneys, a total of 55 kidneys were evaluated by the above methods, revealing 56 stones in 31 kidneys. Of these stones 95% were detected by CT, 70% by plain radiography, 68% by linear tomography, and 32% by renal US. Of the 55 kidneys, 14 contained 20 stone fragments smaller than 3 mm, and 26 kidneys carried 43 concrements smaller than 6 mm. The sensitivities of the four imaging methods in the detection of these small fragments were as follows: plain radiography 60% and 60%, linear tomography 55% and 58%, CT 95% and 93%, and US 15% and 26%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Subject(s)
Kidney Calculi/diagnostic imaging , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Kidney Calculi/epidemiology , Kidney Calculi/surgery , Recurrence , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and Specificity , Time Factors , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , UltrasonographySubject(s)
Diverticulum/complications , Kidney Diseases/complications , Pain/etiology , Prostatic Hyperplasia/complications , Shoulder , Acute Disease , Diverticulum/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Kidney Calices/diagnostic imaging , Kidney Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Male , Middle Aged , Radiography , Rupture, SpontaneousSubject(s)
Solitary Pulmonary Nodule/diagnosis , Aspergillosis/diagnosis , Bronchogenic Cyst/diagnosis , Bronchoscopy , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Lung Abscess/diagnosis , Lung Diseases/diagnosis , Lung Diseases, Fungal/diagnosis , Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis , Thoracotomy , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
Radiation doses of radiologists, assistants and patients during 21 percutaneous nephrostomies (PN) (including 11 unilateral and 5 bilateral procedures) were measured using an area-exposure meter and thermoluminescent dosimeters. The mean fluoroscopy time per PN was 12 min and the mean product of air kerma and the cross-sectional area of the fluoroscopic beam was 8.0 (range 0.41-24) Gycm2. Doses to the radiologists and assistants were generally modest, and the yearly dose limits of ICRP will not be exceeded in practice. The doses to the radiologist's fingers were found to be the most restrictive in this study. Regarding the mean dose to the radiologist's fingers (190 muGy), the yearly dose limit of 500 mSv would be exceeded after about 2600 PNs provided that his fingers are not otherwise exposed. With the maximal finger dose of 1100 muGy, this would occur after about 450 yearly PNs.
Subject(s)
Nephrostomy, Percutaneous , Occupational Exposure , Radiation Dosage , Adult , Aged , Female , Fluoroscopy , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Radiometry/instrumentation , Radiometry/methodsABSTRACT
Sonographic guidance with 41 punctures and 38 catheterizations was employed in 68 patients. The approach was either intercostal or subxiphoid. Most punctures were performed with a 1.4-mm-thick plastic-sheathed cannula after local anesthesia. Complications were observed in 7 patients. In one patient a catheter introduced with a movable core-type guidewire pierced the right ventricle wall with uneventful recovery after surgery. Intercostal drainage caused pleural pain in 2 patients, and in 2, leakage to the pleural space. Two patients with heart transplants had severe bradycardia and drop of blood pressure, one after needle drainage and the other during guidewire manipulation. Direct monitoring generally ensures a correct position of the instruments and hazards to adjacent organs can be avoided. In small effusions a simple needle aspiration with a plastic-sheathed cannula is safer than catheter drainage.
Subject(s)
Pericardial Effusion/therapy , Punctures/methods , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Catheterization/methods , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pericardial Effusion/diagnostic imaging , Pericardium/diagnostic imaging , Suction , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
In a prospective double blind study, acetylcysteine, a local and systemic respiratory tract mucolytic agent, or a placebo, were given to 100 patients prior to a double contrast barium meal to decrease the gastric mucus viscosity and to make the mucus layer thinner, in order to permit barium to outline the furrows surrounding the areae gastricae instead of the overlying thick mucus. However, acetylcysteine failed to improve either visualization of the areae gastricae or the general quality of the double contrast barium meal.
Subject(s)
Acetylcysteine , Barium Sulfate , Gastric Mucosa/diagnostic imaging , Adult , Double-Blind Method , Humans , Prospective Studies , Radiography , Randomized Controlled Trials as TopicABSTRACT
A series of 181 patients (158 with obstructive uropathy) treated by percutaneous nephrostomy (PN) in 1978-1987 is evaluated. In 8.3% of the patients PN did not succeed. The success rate of PN was lower when done outside normal working hours and before ultrasound guidance was used. Major complications occurred in 5.5% and minor ones in 10.5%. There was no direct mortality. The complications and the possible avoidance of them are discussed. In 68% of patients nephrostomy improved their clinical condition. The benefit of PN was closely related to the existing renal recovery potential following the relief of obstruction; a problem that has not yet been fully solved.
Subject(s)
Nephrostomy, Percutaneous , Urination Disorders/surgery , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasms/complications , Nephrostomy, Percutaneous/adverse effects , Postoperative Complications , Radiography , Urination Disorders/diagnostic imaging , Urination Disorders/etiologyABSTRACT
To determine the effect of clinical information on the radiological diagnostic performance in middle-face injury, the medical records and radiographs of 618 patients with middle-face injury were reviewed. The information value of clinical data given in each x-ray requisition was evaluated. The radiological diagnoses were compared with the final clinical diagnoses both retrospectively and prospectively (with and without clinical data). Knowledge of clinical data with statistical significance changed the reader's decision threshold towards improved sensitivity but poorer specificity. Clinical data did not improve the radiologists' performance. Clinical data may be helpful in diagnostic tasks rather by increasing the sensitivity than the specificity.
Subject(s)
Facial Bones/diagnostic imaging , Facial Injuries/diagnosis , Evaluation Studies as Topic , False Negative Reactions , False Positive Reactions , Humans , Maxillary Fractures/diagnosis , Prospective Studies , Radiography , Retrospective Studies , Zygomatic Fractures/diagnosisABSTRACT
The radiographic pattern of the areae gastricae is produced by barium lying in the intersecting grooves of the gastric mucosal surface. However, if the mucus layer on the gastric mucosa is thick, it interferes with the barium coating of the areae gastricae. As S-carboxy-methyl-L-cysteine has been shown to be an effective respiratory tract mucolytic when administered by mouth and, may also render the gastric mucus layer thinner, it was tested as a pretreatment agent in a routine double contrast upper-gastrointestinal study to improve the visualization of the areae gastricae. In a double-blind study 53 of 103 patients took S-carboxy-methyl-L-cysteine in a dosage of 750 mg three times daily for three days before the examination. Results of the present study show that mucolysis induced by the administered doses of S-carboxy-methyl-L-cysteine did not significantly affect micromucosal visualization during double-contrast barium meal.
Subject(s)
Carbocysteine , Cysteine/analogs & derivatives , Gastric Mucosa/diagnostic imaging , Adult , Barium Sulfate , Clinical Trials as Topic , Contrast Media , Double-Blind Method , Humans , RadiographyABSTRACT
The bile acid taurocholate increases the biliary excretion of organic anions, such as sulfobromophthalein (BSP), bilirubin and iopanoic acid. In the present study has been investigated the effect of taurocholate on 1. Canine biliary excretion and concentration of the i.v. contrast medium ioglycamide and 2. Canine bile flow. The experimental model consisted of cholecystectomized, anaesthetized dogs with a fistula, through which the common bile duct could be catheterized and drained. One hour after cannulation, i.v. infusion of ioglycamide at a rate of 4 mumol/min./kg. was started. Two hours after the infusion start a control group received i.v. infusion of saline, while in another a 1.5% sodium taurocholate infusion was started with stepwise increases with 30 min. intervals from 0.4 to 0.8, 1.6 and 3.2 mumol/min./kg. Compared with control, all rates of taurocholate infusion increased bile flow and decreased biliary ioglycamide concentration. Although the bile flow with increasing taurocholate infusion rates was enhanced, the biliary ioglycamide excretion did not increase. The results indicate that ioglycamide and taurocholate are excreted into bile by separate excretion mechanisms. As taurocholate increases the biliary excretion of some other organic anions, it supports the hypothesis that organic anions are excreted into bile by more than two excretion mechanisms, taurocholate affecting only some of them.
Subject(s)
Bile/metabolism , Iodobenzoates/metabolism , Ioglycamic Acid/metabolism , Taurocholic Acid/pharmacology , Animals , Cholecystectomy , Dogs , Ioglycamic Acid/administration & dosage , Taurocholic Acid/administration & dosageABSTRACT
The effect of ethacrynic acid (EA), an agent which increases bile acid independent bile flow, on the biliary excretion and concentration intravenously administered biliary contrast agent ioglycamide was studied on cholecystectomized anesthetized dogs equipped with Thomas cannula through which the common bile duct could be cannulated. One hour after cannulation i.v. infusion of ioglycamide at a rate of 4 mu mol./min./kg. was started. Two hours later 1 mg./kg. of ethacrynic acid was injected intravenously. This procedure was repeated three times on four dogs, five dogs receiving comparable volume of saline at comparable time serving as controls. Bile was collected at 15 min. intervals and simultaneous i.v. blood samples were taken. EA injection caused decrease in biliary ioglycamide concentration and biliary excretion of ioglycamide and a slight but statistically not significant decrease in bile flow. Since EA is an organic anion and the increase in bile flow induced by it has been shown to be related to the biliary excretion of its metabolites, it may be suggested that EA as an organic anion inhibited biliary excretion and hepatic uptake of ioglycamide but having lower choleretic effect its excretion could not increase the bile flow.
Subject(s)
Bile/metabolism , Ethacrynic Acid/pharmacology , Iodobenzoates/blood , Ioglycamic Acid/blood , Animals , Cholangiography , Contrast Media , Dogs , Secretory Rate/drug effectsABSTRACT
A 77-year-old man with spontaneous rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm into the left renal vein, in the presence of an anomalous retroaortic left renal vein is described. The patient was operated and recovered without complications. In the previous literature seven similar cases were found.