Cost-effectiveness of advanced hepatic fibrosis screening in individuals with suspected MASLD identified by serologic noninvasive tests.

Our study assessed the cost-effectiveness of screening for hepatic fibrosis in cases suspected of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) using serological noninvasive tests like the fatty liver index (FLI) and hepatic steatosis index (HSI). We applied a decision tree and Markov model from a healthcare system perspective to estimate life-years, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), costs, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for screening versus no screening in the United States. Prevalence of advanced hepatic fibrosis in individuals suspected of having MASLD was significantly higher when defined by FLI (10.

Understanding macroeconomic indicators affected by COVID-19 containment policies in the United States: a scoping review.

Containment policies were essential in controlling the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, but they also introduced significant economic challenges. This scoping review aimed to examine the macroeconomic indicators used to assess COVID-19 closure and containment policies in the United States. We reviewed 42 eligible studies from 4516 records identified across PubMed, Web of Science, and EconLit.

Role of Health Equity in Health Technology Assessment Processes: A Landscape Analysis of 13 Health Systems in Asia.

Objectives: This landscape analysis aimed to summarize the role of health equity in the health technology assessment (HTA) process (topic nomination, topic prioritization, assessment, appraisal, and decision making) in Asia.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted, followed by in-depth interviews with key informants. Content analysis was performed to summarize the role of health equity in HTA in 13 health systems in Asia, including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Fully automated segmentation and classification of renal tumors on CT scans via machine learning.

Background: To develop and test the performance of a fully automated system for classifying renal tumor subtypes via deep machine learning for automated segmentation and classification.

Materials And Methods: The model was developed using computed tomography (CT) images of pathologically proven renal tumors collected from a prospective cohort at a medical center between March 2016 and December 2020. A total of 561 renal tumors were included: 233 clear cell renal cell carcinomas (RCCs), 82 papillary RCCs, 74 chromophobe RCCs, and 172 angiomyolipomas.

Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination rates in countries with different income levels: a panel analysis.

Introduction: Vaccines against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are being developed and supplied at an unprecedented rate. However, disparities in income levels among countries has influenced the supply and vaccination rate. This imbalance poses a potential risk factor, especially if vaccine-resistant variants emerge and the pandemic persists.

Projected Cost Savings With Optimal Medication Adherence in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease Requiring Lipid-Lowering Therapy: A Multinational Economic Evaluation Study.

Background: Poor adherence to chronic cardiovascular treatments can impede targeted clinical outcomes. This study estimates the potential benefits of improving adherence among patients with cardiovascular disease requiring secondary prevention in Mexico, Thailand, and China.

Methods And Results: We performed Markov model simulation for patients with cardiovascular disease in 3 countries from health care and societal perspectives over a lifetime horizon.

Comprehensive ultrasonographic evaluation of normal and fibrotic kidneys in a mouse model with an ultra-high-frequency transducer.

Purpose: This study aimed to establish baseline morphological and functional data for normal mouse kidneys via a clinical 33 MHz ultra-high-frequency (UHF) transducer, compare the data with the findings from fibrotic mice, and assess correlations between ultrasonography (US) parameters and fibrosis-related markers.

Methods: This retrospective study aggregated data from three separate experiments (obstructive nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy, and acute-to-chronic kidney injury models). Morphological parameters (kidney size, parenchymal thickness [PT]) and functional (shear-wave speed [SWS], stiffness, resistive index [RI], and microvascular imaging-derived vascular index [VI]) were assessed and compared between normal and fibrotic mouse kidneys.

CT imaging analysis differentiating papillary renal neoplasm with reverse polarity from papillary renal cell carcinoma: combined with a radiomics model.

Purpose: To assess the computed tomography (CT) findings of papillary renal neoplasm with reverse polarity (PRNRP) and develop a radiomics-based model to distinguish PRNRPs from papillary renal cell carcinomas (PRCCs).

Materials And Methods: We analyzed 31 PRNRPs and 68 PRCCs using preoperative kidney CT. We evaluated CT features that could discriminate PRNRPs from PRCCs.

Financial hardship among patients suffering from neglected tropical diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis of global literature.

Introduction: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) mainly affect underprivileged populations, potentially resulting in catastrophic health spending (CHS) and impoverishment from out-of-pocket (OOP) costs. This systematic review aimed to summarize the financial hardship caused by NTDs.

Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, EconLit, OpenGrey, and EBSCO Open Dissertations, for articles reporting financial hardship caused by NTDs from database inception to January 1, 2023.

Real-world effectiveness of CDK4/6 inhibitors on patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer in South Korea, focusing on underrepresented patients.

Objective: We assessed the real-world effectiveness of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors as first-line treatments in postmenopausal patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer, focusing on younger (<45 years) and older (>78 years) populations not considered in clinical trials.

Methods: We analyzed nationwide claims data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service between November 2016 and February 2021. In this retrospective cohort study, patients using CDK4/6 inhibitors and aromatase inhibitors were selected and grouped by age as follows: 45-78 years (trial-enrolled), <45 years (younger), and >78 years (older).

A nationwide analysis of the treatment patterns, survival, and medical costs in Korean patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Background: Approximately one-third of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) are refractory to treatment or experience relapse after initial therapy. Unfortunately, treatment options for older patients and those who experience relapse or become refractory to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are limited. This nationwide population-based study aimed to identify treatment patterns, survival times, and treatment costs in patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL (R/R DLBCL).

[Renal Biopsy].

The extent of renal biopsy indication is being widened because of the increasing incidence of incidental renal masses; the increasing treatment options for renal cell carcinoma, including ablation therapy and novel targeted treatment; and the increasing incidence of kidney transplantation. However, percutaneous renal biopsy is technically difficult, particularly for beginners, because the skin-to-organ distance is relatively longer than those associated with other organs. In the present review, we will discuss the indications, technical considerations, efficacy, and complications of renal biopsy.

Prediction of acute rejection in renal allografts using shear-wave dispersion slope.

Objectives: To evaluate the role of shear-wave dispersion slope for predicting renal allograft dysfunction.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 128 kidney transplant recipients (median age, 55 years [interquartile range, 43-62 years]; male, 68) who underwent biopsy for allograft evaluation from November 2022 to February 2023. Cortex and renal sinus fat stiffness and shear-wave dispersion slope were obtained at shear-wave elastography (SWE).

Contrast-Enhanced MRI in Women with Endometrial Cancer: Dynamic Versus Single-Phase Acquisitions.

Background: The 2019 European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) guidelines for endometrial cancer recommend performing either dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE MRI) or single-phase CE MRI. However, no study has directly compared these options. Therefore, this study compared dynamic versus single-phase CE MRI for the evaluation of myometrial invasion in women with endometrial cancer.

MR imaging findings of ovarian lymphoma: differentiation from other solid ovarian tumors.

Purpose: To evaluate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings for distinguishing ovarian lymphomas from other solid ovarian tumors.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter study included 14 women (median age, 46.5 years; range, 26-81 years) with surgically proven ovarian lymphoma and 28 women with solid ovarian tumors other than lymphoma.

Diagnostic performance of MRI for prediction of recurrent prostate cancer after high-intensity focused ultrasound: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: This article aims to evaluate the pooled diagnostic performance control MRI for prediction of recurrent prostate cancer (PCa) after high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).

Materials And Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases up to December 31, 2021, were searched. We included studies providing 2×2 contingency table for diagnostic performance of MRI in predicting recurrent PCa after HIFU, using control biopsy as reference standard.

Equity-Informative Economic Evaluations of Vaccines: A Systematic Literature Review.

The Immunization Agenda 2030 prioritizes the populations without access to vaccines. Health equity has been increasingly incorporated into economic evaluations of vaccines to foster equitable access. Robust and standardized methods are needed to evaluate the health equity impact of vaccination programs to ensure monitoring and effective addressing of inequities.

Accuracy of actual stage prediction using Vesical Imaging Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) before radical cystectomy for urothelial carcinoma in SUPER-UC-Cx.

Background: Previous studies using the Vesical Imaging Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) to predict muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) had some limitations. Most studies were performed with transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TUR-BT) specimens with few samples. This study was conducted to address these shortcomings and confirm the accuracy of VI-RADS for bladder cancer.

Fully automatic volume measurement of the adrenal gland on CT using deep learning to classify adrenal hyperplasia.

Objectives: To develop a fully automated deep learning model for adrenal segmentation and to evaluate its performance in classifying adrenal hyperplasia.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated automated adrenal segmentation in 308 abdominal CT scans from 48 patients with adrenal hyperplasia and 260 patients with normal glands from 2010 to 2021 (mean age, 42 years; 156 women). The dataset was split into training, validation, and test sets at a ratio of 6:2:2.

CT-based preoperative risk assessment of prolonged urine leak in patients undergoing partial nephrectomy.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate risk factors of prolonged urine leak following partial nephrectomy (PN) to identify objective imaging characteristics on preoperative CT.

Methods: A total of 865 patients who underwent PN and had preoperative CT and postoperative imaging were included. We set a twofold size-matched control group without urine leak, with all tumors located ≤ 4 mm to the collecting system to identify imaging parameters that increase the risk of urine leak other than tumor size and location.

Visual Outcomes and Optical Quality of Accommodative, Multifocal, Extended Depth-of-Focus, and Monofocal Intraocular Lenses in Presbyopia-Correcting Cataract Surgery: A Systematic Review and Bayesian Network Meta-analysis.

Importance: A bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) can help compare the various types of multifocal and monofocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) used in clinical practice.

Objective: To compare outcomes of presbyopia-correcting IOLs frequently recommended in clinical practice through a bayesian NMA based on a systematic review.

Data Sources: Medline (PubMed) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were searched on May 15, 2021, from inception.

Prediction of treatment response following ethanol sclerotherapy of renal cysts by computed tomography.

Objectives: To investigate predictive factors of treatment response following ethanol sclerotherapy of large renal cysts via computed tomography (CT).

Methods: Retrospective study reviewed 71 patients (61.0 ± 13.