Use and applicability of magnetic resonance elastography of the lumbar spine in adults: a scoping review.

Background: Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) is a non-invasive imaging technique that quantifies tissue stiffness by analyzing shear wave propagation. While MRE is widely used in hepatic imaging, its application in the lumbar spine remains an emerging field. Understanding the repeatability and reproducibility of MRE measurements in the lumbar spine is crucial for its clinical implementation.

Detecting respiratory impairment in newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis by MRC dyspnoea scale and microfibrillar-associated protein 4.

Objectives: To evaluate the Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnoea scale and serum Microfibrillar-associated protein 4 (MFAP4) levels for the detection of respiratory impairment in newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Patients underwent blood tests, pulmonary function tests (PFT) and dyspnoea assessment using the MRC scale. Respiratory impairment was defined as a diffusion capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) <80% predicted or FEV1/FVC <70%.

Developing Cut-off Values for Low and Very Low Bone Mineral Density at the Thoracic Spine Using Quantitative Computed Tomography.

Osteoporosis is under-diagnosed while detectable by measuring bone mineral density (BMD) using quantitative computer tomography (QCT). Opportunistic screening for low BMD has previously been suggested using lumbar QCT. However, thoracic QCT also possesses this potential to develop upper and lower cut-off values for low thoracic BMD, corresponding to the current cut-offs for lumbar BMD.

Myocardial Blood Flow by Magnetic Resonance in Patients With Suspected Coronary Stenosis: Comparison to PET and Invasive Physiology.

Background: Despite recent guideline recommendations, quantitative perfusion (QP) estimates of myocardial blood flow from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) have only been sparsely validated. Furthermore, the additional diagnostic value of utilizing QP in addition to the traditional visual expert interpretation of stress-perfusion CMR remains unknown. The aim was to investigate the correlation between myocardial blood flow measurements estimated by CMR, positron emission tomography, and invasive coronary thermodilution.

Two-year MRI-defined structural damage and patient-reported outcomes following surgery or exercise for meniscal tears in young adults.

Objective: To investigate potential differences in structural knee joint damage assessed by MRI and patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) at 2-year follow-up between young adults randomised to early surgery or exercise and education with optional delayed surgery for a meniscal tear.

Methods: A secondary analysis of a multicentre randomised controlled trial including 121 patients (18-40 years) with an MRI-verified meniscal tear. For this study, only patients with 2-year follow-up were included.

Implementation of ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release.

Introduction: Ultra-minimally invasive ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release is a surgical procedure for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome that is associated with less surgery-related morbidity and faster recovery than open surgery. The objectives of this study were to describe how the surgical technique may be acquired and to report the results obtained after implementation in a clinical setting.

Methods: The study consisted of two parts: 1) description of the surgical skills needed to perform the procedure, and 2) evaluation of the procedure in the first ten consecutively operated patients after 12-month follow-up using questionnaires and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Diagnostic performance of clinical likelihood models of obstructive coronary artery disease to predict myocardial perfusion defects.

Aims: Clinical likelihood (CL) models are designed based on a reference of coronary stenosis in patients with suspected obstructive coronary artery disease. However, a reference standard for myocardial perfusion defects (MPDs) could be more appropriate. We aimed to investigate the ability of the 2019 European Society of Cardiology pre-test probability (ESC-PTP), the risk-factor-weighted (RF-CL) model, and coronary artery calcium score-weighted (CACS-CL) model to diagnose MPDs.

[Not Available].

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is commonly used in the management of low back pain (LBP). This review provides an overview of the clinical relevance of degenerative MRI findings in the lumbar spine. The association between degenerative MRI findings and LBP is relatively consistent at population level, but very little research exists on the prognostic value of MRI findings and based on the current evidence, MRI cannot be used to guide treatment.

Second-Line Myocardial Perfusion Imaging to Detect Obstructive Stenosis: Head-to-Head Comparison of CMR and PET.

Background: Guidelines recommend verification of myocardial ischemia by selective second-line myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) following a coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) with suspected obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Head-to-head data on the diagnostic performance of different MPI modalities in this setting are sparse.

Objectives: The authors sought to compare, head-to-head, the diagnostic performance of selective MPI by 3.

Colonic volume in patients with functional constipation or irritable bowel syndrome determined by magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Functional constipation (FC) and irritable bowel syndrome constipation type (IBS-C) share many similarities, and it remains unknown whether they are distinct entities or part of the same spectrum of disease. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows quantification of intraluminal fecal volume. We hypothesized that colonic volumes of patients with FC would be larger than those of patients with IBS-C, and that both patient groups would have larger colonic volumes than healthy controls (HC).

One-step anatomic and function testing by cardiac CT versus second-line functional testing in symptomatic patients with coronary artery stenosis: head-to-head comparison of CT-derived fractional flow reserve and myocardial perfusion imaging.

Background: CT-QFR is a novel coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA)-based method for on-site evaluation of patients with suspected obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).

Aims: We aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of CT-QFR with myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) as second-line tests in patients with suspected obstructive CAD after coronary CTA.

Methods: A paired analysis of CT-QFR and MPS or CMR, with an invasive FFR-based classification as reference standard was carried out.

Thoracic Bone Mineral Density Derived from Cardiac CT Is Associated with Greater Fracture Rate.

Background Osteoporosis is a prevalent, under-diagnosed, and treatable disease associated with increased fracture risk. Bone mineral density (BMD) derived from cardiac CT may be used to determine fracture rate. Purpose To assess the association between fracture rate and thoracic BMD derived from cardiac CT.

Comparison of quantitative flow ratio and fractional flow reserve with myocardial perfusion scintigraphy and cardiovascular magnetic resonance as reference standard. A Dan-NICAD substudy.

Quantitative flow ratio (QFR) and fractional flow reserve (FFR) have not yet been compared head to head with perfusion imaging as reference for myocardial ischemia. We aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of QFR and FFR with myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) or cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) as reference. This study is a predefined post hoc analysis of the Dan-NICAD study (NCT02264717).

Sex Differences in the Association Between Bone Mineral Density and Coronary Artery Disease in Patients Referred for Cardiac Computed Tomography.

Atherosclerosis and osteoporosis are both common and preventable diseases. Evidence supports a link between coronary artery disease (CAD) and low bone mineral density (BMD). This study aimed to assess the association between thoracic spine BMD and CAD in men and women with symptoms suggestive of CAD.

Prediction of Coronary Revascularization in Stable Angina: Comparison of FFR With CMR Stress Perfusion Imaging.

Objectives: This study was designed to compare head-to-head fractional flow reserve (FFR) derived from coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) (FFR) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) stress perfusion imaging for prediction of standard-of-care-guided coronary revascularization in patients with stable chest pain and obstructive coronary artery disease by coronary CTA.

Background: FFR is a novel modality for noninvasive functional testing. The clinical utility of FFR compared to CMR stress perfusion imaging in symptomatic patients with coronary artery disease is unknown.

Danish study of Non-Invasive testing in Coronary Artery Disease 2 (Dan-NICAD 2): Study design for a controlled study of diagnostic accuracy.

Background: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) is the preferred primary diagnostic modality when examining patients with low to intermediate pre-test probability of coronary artery disease (CAD). Only 20-30% of these have potentially obstructive CAD. Because of the relatively poor positive predictive value of coronary CTA, unnecessary invasive coronary angiographies (ICAs) are conducted with the costs and risks associated with the procedure.

Danish study of Non-Invasive testing in Coronary Artery Disease (Dan-NICAD): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is an established method for ruling out coronary artery disease (CAD). Most patients referred for CCTA do not have CAD and only approximately 20-30 % of patients are subsequently referred to further testing by invasive coronary angiography (ICA) or non-invasive perfusion evaluation due to suspected obstructive CAD. In cases with severe calcifications, a discrepancy between CCTA and ICA often occurs, leading to the well-described, low-diagnostic specificity of CCTA.

Coronary computed tomography angiography and calcium scoring in routine clinical practice for identification of patients who require revascularization.

Background: The predictive value of CCTA to predict coronary artery disease is high in particular in the absence of coronary calcification. However, the consideration of both CCTA and the calcium score, in addition to the risk factors to determine the indication for coronary revascularization, has not been yet studied.

Materials And Methods: This study included 2302 patients (mean age: 60±9.

Single-centre cohort study of gender influence in coronary CT angiography in patients with a low to intermediate pretest probability of coronary heart disease.

Background: In 'real-world' patient populations undergoing coronary CT angiography (CCTA), it is unclear whether a correlation exists between gender, coronary artery calcium (CAC) score and subsequent referral for invasive coronary angiography and coronary revascularisation. We therefore investigated the relationship between gender, CAC and use of subsequent invasive coronary angiography and coronary revascularisation in a cohort of patients with chest discomfort and low to intermediate pretest probability of coronary artery disease who underwent a CCTA at our diagnostic centre.

Methods: This is a cohort study that included patients examined between 2010 and 2013.

[Suddenly occurring pain in the shin due to solitary metastasis to bone from a non-recognised primary tumour].

A woman who had formerly had adequately treated breast cancer presented with symptoms of pain in the right shin. An X-ray of the punctum maximum for the pain showed a bone lesion. Biopsy revealed that it came from an adenocarcinoma of the lung, contrary to the first diagnosis of breast cancer meta-stasis.

CT coronary angiography in low- to intermediate-risk patients: less radiation, less invasive angiography, and less revascularisation.

Objectives: We investigated whether any change in the use of invasive coronary angiography and coronary revascularisation after CT coronary angiography in patients with a low to intermediate pre-test probability of coronary artery disease could be explained from alterations in patient characteristics.

Design: A cohort study based on data samples from the Western Denmark Heart Registry. Follow-up ended on 11 March 2014.

Sudden cardiac death in a young woman: tumor of the atrioventricular (AV) node or citalopram intoxication?

Atrioventricular (AV) node tumor is a very rare lesion of the cardiac conduction system. Clinically, it is associated with complete AV block and sudden cardiac death, often in apparently healthy young people. We report a case of a 24-year-old woman who developed ventricular fibrillation during sexual intercourse and died before admittance to the hospital.

[Shaken baby syndrome--shaking violence against infants].

We describe two cases of shaken baby syndrome. Both children were about three months of age. It is important to recognise the characteristic features of this form of child abuse in order to prevent further damage and to ensure removal of the children from the abusive environment.