Conventional Clinical Examination Research Articles

SST2 and morphofunctional parameters of the left ventricle in patients with ischemic heart disease with chronic heart failure and previous COVID-19

Objective: to assess the concentration of the sST2 biomarker and its relationship with the morphological and functional parameters of the LV myocardium in patients with coronary artery disease and chronic heart failure (CHF) l-lll functional class (FC), who had and did not have COVID-19. Material and methods. We examined 100 patients (66 males), median (Me) age 65 [63; 67] years, with stable coronary artery disease with CHF l-lll FC (New York Heart Association), divided into 2 groups depending on the COVID-19. Along with the conventional clinical examination, the concentration of serum sST2 was determined by enzyme immunoassay Results. It was found that in patients who underwent COVID-19 (group 1), the sST2 level was 38.4 [35.5; 44.8] ng/ml, in the comparison group (group 2) — 29.63 [27.9; 32.7] ng/ml (p<0.001). In group 1, the final diastolic volume and the final systolic volume of LV significantly exceeded those in group 2 (p=0.004 and p=0.02) and amounted to 118.2 [107.5; 166.5] and 44.1 [35.0; 58.1] ml, respectively, for the 1st and 107.5 [92.4; 129.5] and 37.9 [29.5; 47.4] ml for the 2nd group. The number of patients with grade 2 diastolic dysfunction (DD) in group 1 (18-33.9%) significantly exceeded that in the comparison group (7-14.9%). Changes in global longitudinal deformation of LV in COVID-19 group (-15.6 [-20.8; -13.8]%) were more pronounced than in the comparison group (-19.9 [-21.5; -16.3]%)(p=0.018). Conclusion. CHD patients with CHF l-lll FC and previous COVID-19, have significantly higher serum sST2, more pronounced LV DD and greater global longitudinal deformation.

Exploring the Diagnostic Value of High-Frequency Ultrasound Technology for Subcutaneous Lipohypertrophy in Diabetes Patients Receiving Insulin Injections.

This study aims to investigate the clinical application value of high-frequency ultrasound technology in diagnosing subcutaneous lipohypertrophy at insulin injection sites in diabetes patients. All diabetes patients treated in our hospital from January 2022 to January 2023 were selected as the study subjects. The incidence of subcutaneous lipohypertrophy was calculated at the end of the study period. All patients were screened, and those meeting the inclusion criteria were registered, and basic data were collected. Patients were screened for subcutaneous lipohypertrophy using conventional clinical examination (control group) and high-frequency ultrasound technology (study group). The study found that the incidence of subcutaneous lipohypertrophy in diabetes patients receiving insulin injections in our hospital from January 2022 to January 2023 was 80.99%. The average longitudinal diameter of subcutaneous lipohypertrophy in these patients was 11.66 (7.56, 21.44) mm, the transverse diameter was 12.04 (8.96, 18.29) mm, depth was (5.62±2.17) mm, and the area was 188.79 (76.85, 331.78) mm². The clinical detection rate in the study group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The quantity of detected sites was greater in the study group compared to the control group (P<0.05). The incidence of subcutaneous lipohypertrophy in diabetes patients receiving insulin injections is relatively high clinically, and high-frequency ultrasound technology demonstrates significant potential in diagnosis. By providing high-resolution imaging and quantitative data, it effectively improves the clinical detection rate and clarifies symptoms. This technology is likely to become an important auxiliary tool in future diabetes treatment, providing more precise treatment plans for patients.

A novel questionnaire to perform teletriage of dental emergencies in children: A before-and-after study nested within a randomized clinical trial.

Background: This will be a before-and-after study nested within a randomized clinical trial. Its objective will be to analyze the effectiveness of a teleconsultation and validate a questionnaire for performing teletriage in dental urgency/emergency situations in children aged 3 to 13, whose parents will have signed a free and informed consent form, and who have had full access to the internet. Methods: The Questionnaire for Teletriage of Emergencies and Urgencies in Pediatric Dentistry (QuesT-Odontoped)-will be validated by applying it to 140 randomized child parents/guardians. After validation, another 260 children seeking emergency dental care in the municipality of Carangola, Minas Gerais, Brazil, will receive a remote consultation, be randomized, and then allocated into two groups: G1, teleconsultation, and G2, teleconsultation and face-to-face consultation (immediately after the former) with a blinded evaluator, involving anamnesis and conventional clinical examination. The G2 sample will be used in the before-after study. Both groups will be followed-up for 7 and 14 days using pain and quality-of-life scales, applied at baseline and after each follow-up period. Clinical follow-up will be carried out after 12 and 24 months to assess the outcome of the tooth that had been indicated for treatment in the teletriage. The Mann-Whitney test will be used to assess pain; Student's t test or the Mann-Whitney test will be used to assess quality of life and the number of missing teeth after 24 months; and Poisson's regression analysis will be used to assess the influence of other variables. The significance level will be set at 5%. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study expects to confirm the hypothesis that remote urgency consultation (teletriage), through a validated questionnaire, will be able to define the planning of the clinical situation, reducing the chance of displacements and progression of infection, helping to eliminate patient pain and discomfort.

Comparison of teledentistry and on-site clinical diagnosis using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) in Rawalpindi and Islamabad: a validation study

Dental caries significantly impact global health, particularly in Pakistan, where the prevalence is notably high. This study assessed the diagnostic accuracy of mobile teledentistry in Islamabad and Rawalpindi by employing the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) as a benchmark. This cross-sectional validation study was conducted from July to September 2022 in nine private dental clinics involving 460 participants proficient in basic Android smartphone functions. The diagnostic procedure comprised initial in-person evaluations by dentists, subsequent remote assessments using images captured by smartphones based on verbal instructions, and validations by a third independent dentist. Statistical analyses were performed using sensitivity, specificity, Matthew’s correlation coefficient, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Teledentistry achieved a specificity of 89% and a sensitivity of 70%. The positive and negative predictive values were 74.6% and 86%, respectively. The ROC curve analysis, with an area under the curve greater than 0.7, confirmed the high diagnostic efficacy of the method. The Cohen’s kappa statistic reached 0.814, demonstrating substantial interrater reliability, while the diagnostic odds ratio was 18, indicating strong discriminative power. This study confirmed that teledentistry, enabled by the use of smartphone cameras, serves as a reliable method for detecting dental caries, with efficacy comparable to that of conventional clinical examination methods. It significantly extends dental care accessibility, particularly in geographically remote or economically underserved regions, effectively mitigating the logistical challenges associated with traditional dental visits. The findings support the broader implementation of teledentistry, highlighting its potential to enhance mass screening efforts, improve oral health outcomes, and alleviate pressures on healthcare systems across diverse demographic landscapes.

APPLICATION AND ANALYSIS OF CUSTOMIZED BONE GRAFT OF A PATIENT UNDERGOING MANDIBLE AUGMENTATION AND DENTAL IMPLANTATION

The mandibular bone may be damaged for a variety of reasons. One of the methods used to facilitate and stimulate the bone to improve hard tissue formation is the use of bone grafts. In this study, a novel methodology was introduced to take a step towards making a custom xenograft for a patient with a mandibular bone defect. The application of the finite element method and evaluation of the graft simulation results was proposed, then the customized xenograft was provided using micro-milling. Also, 3D printing technology was used as a preoperative assessment of bone-graft interface conformity. Afterward, the graft was implemented for mandibular augmentation and the patient was prepared for further dental implantation. Finally, cone-based computer tomography images in different time intervals were taken for clinical assessment. Results showed that six months after the graft placement, the vertical distance from the alveolar ridge to the incisive canal and the mandibular canal was increased by 261% and 250%, respectively. Furthermore, the images taken after the insertion of dental implants and frequent observations by the dental surgeon approved the success of the treatment. Additionally, several quantitative parameters were compared to and established with the previous literature. Combining the conventional clinical examination method with an initial computational simulation by the criteria proposed in this study aided in predicting the success of mandibular augmentation and the subsequent dental implantation. More numerical analysis criteria can be added and assessed in future studies to improve the proposed method.

Prevalence and Influencing Factors of Mixed Dentition Malocclusion in Children Aged 6-12 Years in Jinzhou, China.

To investigate the prevalence, clinical manifestations and related risk factors of malocclusion in schoolchildren of Jinzhou City, China. A total of 2162 children aged 6-12 years were randomly selected from various districts of Jinzhou. Conventional clinical examination was performed by stomatologists, and the results were described based on different clinical manifestations of malocclusion and individual normal occlusion. Further, a questionnaire survey completed by children's parents or guardians provided the demographic data, lifestyle, and oral habits. The distribution of individual normal occlusion and malocclusion was documented in percentage, and Pearson's Χ2 was used for two-factor analysis. The data were statistically analysed using SPSS software (version 25.0) with a significance level of α = 0.05. A total of 1129 boys and 1033 girls were included in this study, i.e. 52.2% and 47.8% of the total number of children, respectively. The prevalence of malocclusion in children aged 6-12 years old in Jinzhou was 67.9%, of which crowded dentition was the most common form, with a prevalence of 71.8%, followed by deep overbite, anterior crossbite, dental spacing, deep overjet, anterior edge-to-edge occlusion, and anterior open bite. In the logistic regression model, the results showed that BMI index had little effect on the occurrence of malocclusion (p > 0.05), while dental caries, bad oral habits, retained primary teeth, and a low labial frenum were all related to the occurrence of malocclusion (p < 0.05). Moreover, the higher frequency and duration of bad oral habits were associated with a higher likelihood of malocclusion. The prevalence of malocclusion in children aged 6-12 years in Jinzhou is high. In addition, bad oral habits (such as lip biting, tongue thrusting, biting/gnawing objects, unilateral chin supporting, and unilateral mastication) and other related risk factors (such as dental caries, mouth breathing, retention of primary teeth, and low labial frenum, etc) were associated with malocclusion.

Variants of Acetabular Deformity in Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip in Young Children

Background. The choice of pelvic reconstruction technique in children with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) has been the subject of discussion for many years and is often determined by personal preferences of a surgeon rather than by X-ray anatomical state of the acetabulum. The variants of its anatomy structure have still not been reflected in the available scientific literature.&#x0D; Aim of the study to identify the most typical variants of acetabular deformation in children with varying severity of DDH, based on the X-ray anatomical analysis of structure of the acetabulum.&#x0D; Methods. The study was based on the results of examination of 200 patients (200 hip joints) aged 2 to 4 years (3.10.45) with Tnnis grade II-IV DDH. All patients underwent conventional clinical and radiological examination. The latter consisted of hip radiography in several views and computed tomography. We took the values of acetabular index, the extent of acetabulum arch and the presence or the absence of bone oriel as criteria for determination of the most typical variants of acetabular deformation.&#x0D; Results. X-ray analysis of anatomical structure of the acetabulum in young children with varying severity of DDH revealed 3 most common variants of acetabular deformity: 1 moderate underdevelopment of the acetabulum arch (AI 35), its shortening and the presence of bone oriel; 2 pronounced underdevelopment of the acetabulum arch (AI 35), its shortening and the presence of bone oriel; 3 pronounced underdevelopment of the acetabulum arch (AI 35), its sufficient length and the absence of bone oriel.&#x0D; Conclusion. Suggested supplements to existing Tnnis DDH classification might become basic for choosing the surgical correction technique of the acetabulum in children with different severity of DDH.

Does indocyanine green fluorescence angiography impact the intraoperative choice of procedure in free vascularized medial femoral condyle grafting for scaphoid nonunions?

BackgroundFree vascularized medial femoral condyle (MFC) bone grafts can lead to increased vascularity of the proximal pole and restore scaphoid architecture in scaphoid nonunions. The intraoperative perfusion assessment of the bone graft is challenging because the conventional clinical examination is difficult. Indocyanine green (ICG) angiography has previously been shown to provide a real-time intraoperative evaluation of soft tissue perfusion in reconstructive surgery. The present study investigated the utility of ICG angiography in patients treated with a free medial femoral condyle graft for scaphoid nonunions.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of patients with scaphoid nonunions, in which ICG angiography was used intraoperatively for perfusion assessment. The medical records, radiographs, intraoperative imaging, and operative reports of all patients were reviewed. Intraoperative ICG dye was administered intravenously, and laser angiography was performed to assess bone perfusion. The scaphoid union was examined using postoperative CT scans.ResultsTwo patients had documented osteonecrosis of the proximal pole at the time of surgery. Four patients received a nonvascularized prior bone graft procedure, and a prior spongiosa graft procedure was performed in one patient. The mean time from injury to the MFC bone graft surgery was 52.7 months, and the mean time from prior failed surgery was 10.4 months. Perfusion of the vascular pedicle of the MFC and the periosteum could be detected in all patients. In two patients, even perfusion of the cancellous bone could be demonstrated by ICG angiography. Following transplantation of the bone graft, patency of the vascular anastomosis and perfusion of the periost were confirmed by ICG angiography in the assessed cases. No additional surgery regarding a salvage procedure for a scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse was necessary for the further course.ConclusionICG-angiography has shown to be a promising tool in the treatment of scaphoid nonunion with medial femoral condyle bone grafts. It enables intraoperative decision making by assessment of the microvascular blood supply of the periosteum and the vascular pedicle of the MFC bone graft. Further studies need to evaluate the impact on union rates in a long-term follow-up.

Difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis in the clinical practice of a rheumatological hospital. First look

Objective: to compare the course of the disease and therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who meet and do not meet the criteria for difficult- to-treat RA (D2T).Patients and methods. The study included RA patients who met the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria and who were hospitalized in the V.A. Nasonova Research Institute of Rheumatology from March to October 2021. All patients underwent a conventional clinical and laboratory examination, radiography of the hands and distal feet, and the radiological stage of RA according to Steinbroker was assessed. To determine the inflammatory activity, the DAS28-ESR and DAS28-CRP indices were calculated.Results and discussion. The study included 303 patients with RA, 25 (8.4%) of them had D2T RA. The duration of RA in the D2T group was significantly longer than in other patients (15.9±11.8 and 11.9±9 years, respectively; p=0.04). X-ray changes in the joints in D2T were more pronounced. Patients with D2T had higher inflammatory activity at the time of hospitalization than patients who had continued prior therapy with biologic/targeted synthetic DMARDs. The dose of glucocorticoids (GC) in patients with D2T RA was higher compared to patients of other groups: on average 8.3±5.1 and 6.4±2.9 mg/day, respectively (p=0.02).Conclusion. The results of this study suggest that in Russia, as well as abroad, the treat-to-target principle has not yet become widespread, and the selection of adequate therapy takes too much time. At the same time, Russian rheumatologists primarily use GC to suppress inflammatory activity. The introduction of modern recommendations for the management of patients with RA into routine clinical practice, could possibly restrain the formation of D2T RA.

Relationship Between the Eruption of Third Molar Teeth and the Growing Status of the Assamese Inhabitants of a North-Eastern State of India.

ObjectivesEven though permanent teeth eruption time may vary, the tooth eruption stage represents a critical developmental milestone, which may help in the monitoring of the child's growing status towards adolescence. This paper aims to evaluate the relationship between the third molar eruption (TME) and investigate any possible association with the body mass index (BMI), which is used to monitor the growth of children and adolescents.MethodsWe included 1060 student participants aged 14 to 26 years from selected educational institutions in Assam for this study. We performed a conventional clinical dental examination to determine the stages of TME. Moreover, to calculate the individual height and weight, we have carried out a thorough physical examination to assess the BMI and rule out any visible congenital developmental anomalies.ResultThe overall mean age of the status of no eruption (NE), incomplete eruption (IE), and complete eruption (CE) categories of the third molar in the current research were 17.39±2.273, 18.67±2.282 and 20.33±2.566 years, respectively, and the difference in mean age was statistically significant (p-value <0.05). Among the 1060 participants assessed, 163 (15.38%) were underweight, 625 (58.97%) belonged to the average category, 207 (19.52%) were at risk of being overweight, and 65 (6.13%) were obese. The CE in both average and overweight categories was 109 (17.4%) and 37 (17.9%). Similarly, the NE status of the third molar in the underweight and obese category was 120 (73.6%) and 39 (60.0%), respectively. These differences in the frequency of TME in different BMI categories were found statistically significant (p-value <0.05).ConclusionThe result shows a substantial relationship between the mean age of eruption of third molar teeth and BMI among children and adolescents in 14 years to 26 years in the Assamese population. Further, the mean age can be used in forensic age determination.

18F]-sodium fluoride PET/MR for painful lumbar facet joint degeneration – a randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND CONTEXT[18F]-sodium fluoride (NaF) PET/MR is a modern diagnostic modality for imaging increased bone turnover. Its merits in detecting painful facet joint osteoarthritis in patients with lumbar back pain are unknown. PURPOSETo perform a prospective randomized controlled study investigating [18F]-NaF PET/MR for detecting painful facet joints in comparison to the standard of care (SOC), including clinical examination and conventional MRI. STUDY DESIGN/SETTINGRandomized controlled clinical study. PATIENT SAMPLEThirty-nine patients. OUTCOME MEASURESVisual analog pain scale (VAS) before and at several time points after facet joint infiltration. METHODSPatients with low back pain and suspected facet joint osteoarthritis underwent lumbar [18F]-NaF PET/MR, besides conventional MRI and clinical examination. After randomization, they either received local anesthetics/ corticosteroid infiltration of facet joints as defined by clinical examination and conventional MRI (SOC), or according to the hot spots on PET/MR. VAS was documented at 15 minutes, 1 day, 1 week and 1 month after infiltration. Thirty-nine patients underwent PET/MR before the study was stopped due to new Good Manufacturing Practice requirement and new regulations by radiation protection authorities limiting staff radiation exposure during the production of this radiotracer. RESULTSSignificant pain reduction compared to baseline was shown at every timepoint in both groups, except at 1 month after infiltration in the SOC group. Pain levels did not differ between SOC (n=17) and PET/MR patients (n=12) before infiltration and at 15 minutes, 1 day, 1 week and 1 month after infiltration. No significant correlation was detected between the sum of the PET/MR activity and the initial pain scores or relative reduction of pain after 15 minutes.The constructed study groups of patients with infiltration of all facet joints being PET/MR-positive (n=18) had significantly less pain after 1 months than patients with infiltration in PET/MR-negative facet joints (n=11) (VAS: 4 [0, 9] vs. 7 [2, 10], p=.046). CONCLUSIONSThere is no correlation of pain to NaF activity nor a relevant superiority of [18F]-NaF PET/MR for identification of painful facet joints compared to the standard of care.

Is 18F-FDG PET/CT Beneficial for Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients With Low Proportion of ER Expression?

ObjectiveIt is unclear whether the receptor status of breast malignancy or the proportion of receptors expression is useful in the interpretation of 18F-FDG PET/CT. This study’s purpose was to analyze whether 18F-FDG PET/CT was valuable for helping newly diagnosed breast cancer patients find suspected or unsuspected metastasis lesions based on the proportion of receptors expression.Materials and MethodsEighty newly diagnosed breast cancer patients were divided into six groups, containing N0 (no extraaxillary lymph node metastasis), N1 (extraaxillary lymph node metastasis), M0 (no distant metastasis), and M1 (distant metastasis) groups, C0 (no unsuspected metastasis), and C1 (unsuspected metastasis and treatment plan changed) detected by PET/CT. The main data, including the proportion of receptors ER (estrogen receptor), PR (progesterone receptor), and Her-2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) status, were extracted. Simple correlation and logistic regression were preformed to analyze the association between them.ResultsPatients in N1 group had lower proportion of ER (%) and PR (%) than that in N0 group (ER: 2 [0–80] vs. 80 [15–95]; PR: 1 [0–10] vs. 20 [0–45], p<0.001). Moreover, the proportions of ER and PR were negatively correlated with N1 (ER: [r= −0.339, p= 0.002], PR: [r= −0.247, p= 0.011]) by simple correlation. Also, patients in C1 group had lower proportion of ER (%) and PR (%) than those in C0 group (ER: 10 [0–85] vs. 80 [15–90], p=0.026; PR: 1 [0–10] vs. 20 [0–70], p=0.041), while the distribution of ER and PR between M1 and M0 group had no significant difference. After the adjustment of traditional factors, the negative correlation between the proportion of ER (OR=0.986, 95% CI of OR [0.972–0.999], p=0.016) and C1 was found by logistic regression, cutoff value was 25% (ER) calculated by ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) curve (AUC [Area Under Curve]= 0.647, p=0.024).ConclusionThe proportion of ER in newly diagnosed breast cancer was negatively correlated with unsuspected metastasis detected by 18F-FDG PET/CT. 18F-FDG PET/CT might be recommended for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with single lesions when the ER expression proportion is less than 25% to find unsuspected metastasis lesions and to modify treatment plan contrasted with conventional imaging and clinical examination.

Preoperative Breast MRI for Newly Diagnosed Ductal Carcinoma in Situ: Imaging Features and Performance in a Multicenter Setting (ECOG-ACRIN E4112 Trial).

Background There are limited data from clinical trials describing preoperative MRI features and performance in the evaluation of mammographically detected ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Purpose To report qualitative MRI features of DCIS, MRI performance in the identification of additional disease, and associations of imaging features with pathologic, genomic, and surgical outcomes from the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ECOG-ACRIN) E4112 trial. Materials and Methods Secondary analyses of a multicenter prospective clinical trial from the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group included women with DCIS diagnosed with conventional imaging techniques (mammography and US), confirmed via core-needle biopsy (CNB), and enrolled between March 2015 and April 2016 who were candidates for wide local excision (WLE) based on conventional imaging and clinical examination results. DCIS MRI features and pathologic features from CNB and excision were recorded. Each woman without invasive upgrade of the index DCIS at WLE received a 12-gene DCIS score. MRI performance metrics were calculated. Associations of imaging features with invasive upgrade, dichotomized DCIS score (<39 vs ≥39), and single WLE success were estimated in uni- and multivariable analyses. Results Among 339 women (median age, 60 years; interquartile range, 51-66 years), most DCIS cases showed nonmass enhancement (NME) (195 of 339 [58%]) on MRI scans with larger median size than on mammograms (19 mm vs 12 mm; P < .001). Positive predictive value of MRI-prompted CNBs was 32% (21 of 66) (95% CI: 22, 44), yielding an additional cancer detection rate of 6.2% (21 of 339) (95% CI: 4.1, 9.3). MRI false-positive rate was 14.2% (45 of 318) (95% CI: 10.7, 18.4). No imaging features were associated with invasive upgrade or DCIS score (P = .05 to P = .95). Smaller size and focal NME distribution at MRI were linked to single WLE success (P < .001). Conclusion Preoperative MRI depicted ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) diagnosed with conventional imaging most commonly as nonmass enhancement, with larger median span than mammography, and additional cancer detection rate of 6.2%. MRI features of this subset of DCIS did not enable prediction of pathologic or genomic outcomes. Clinical trial registration no. NCT02352883 © RSNA, 2021 Online supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Kuhl in this issue. An earlier incorrect version of this article appeared online. This article was corrected on August 4, 2021.

Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries.

Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries.

Морфологическая оценка слизистых мочевого пузыря и влагалища при хроническом цистите у женщин

The study involved 107 women aged 20 to 52 years with chronic recurrent cystitis (57 of them with leukoplakia) developing under conditions of a pathogenic and/or opportunistic infection. All patients underwent a conventional clinical and instrumental examination. Biopsy samples for culture-based and microscopic examination were taken from the area of the Pawlik’s trigone of the vagina and the Lieutaud’s trigone of the urinary bladder, in case of leukoplakia — from the field of visually healthy tissue. The carried out cytomorphological analysis and assessment of pathological processes in the adjacent tissues suggest that the infection from the vagina penetrates through the intersynaptic clefts, interstitial cell nests, the blood and lymphatic microcirculatory system into the bladder, causing cystitis inherent changes — from initial morphological forms to rough ones, up to leukoplakia. A complex of clinical, functional and pathomorphological changes that fit into the framework of the chronic cystovaginitis concept was identified.

Identification of SDHD c.170-1G>T variant in pedigree affected with carotid body tumor

To carry out genetic testing for a pedigree affected with carotid body tumor (CBT). Members of the pedigree were enrolled and underwent physical examination, ultrasonography and CT scan. Genomic DNA of the proband was extracted from peripheral blood sample and subjected to exome sequencing. Candidate variants were predicted using bioinformatic tools and verified among members from his pedigree. A c.170-1G>T splicing variant of the SDHD gene was detected in 15 individuals from the pedigree. Physical examination and imaging confirmed that 9 of them had CBT and hypertension, while the remaining 6 died of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The c.170-1G>T variant of the SDHD gene probably underlies the CBT in this pedigree. Genetic testing should be considered for CBT patients with CBT in addition to conventional clinical examination.

Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Using Smartphone-Based Fundus Imaging in India

Early detection and treatment can prevent irreversible blindness from diabetic retinopathy (DR), which is the leading cause of visual impairment among working-aged adults worldwide. Some 80% of affected persons live in low- and middle-income countries, yet lack of resources has largely prevented DR screening implementation in these world regions. Smartphone-based fundus imaging (SBFI) allows for low-cost mobile fundus examination using an adapter on a smartphone; however, key aspects such as image quality, diagnostic accuracy, and comparability of different approaches have not been systematically assessed to date. Evaluation of diagnostic technology. A total of 381 eyes of 193 patients with diabetes were recruited at outreach eye clinics in South India. We compared 4 technically different approaches of SBFI (3 approaches based on direct and 1 approach based on indirect ophthalmoscopy) in terms of image quality and diagnostic accuracy for DR screening. Image quality (sharpness/focus, reflex artifacts, contrast, and illumination), field-of-view, examination time, and diagnostic accuracy for DR screening were analyzed against conventional fundus photography and clinical examination. Smartphone-based fundus imaging based on indirect ophthalmoscopy yielded the best image quality (P < 0.01), the largest field-of-view, and the longest examination time (111 vs. 68-86 seconds, P < 0.0001). Agreement with the reference standard (Cohen's kappa 0.868) and sensitivity/specificity to detect DR were highest for the indirect SBFI approach (0.79/0.99 for any DR and 1.0/1.0 for severe DR, 0.79/1.0 for diabetic maculopathy). Smartphone-based fundus imaging can meet DR screening requirements in an outreach setting; however, not all devices are suitable in terms of image quality and diagnostic accuracy. Smartphone-based fundus imaging might aid in alleviating the burden of DR screening in low- and middle-income countries, and these results will allow for a better selection of SBFI devices in field trials for DR screening.

Role of Multidetector Computed Tomography in Assessment of Maxillofacial Fractures

Abstract Background: Maxillofacial fractures are common and must be radiologically evaluated to detect fractures, to deter-mine their morphology and topography, and to assess adjacent soft-tissue damage. Aim of Study: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the role of MDCT in diagnosis of: Maxillofacial fractures. Patients and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was carried in Radiodiagnosis Department, Zagazig University Hospitals and private center on twenty eight patients complaining from facial trauma with suspected facial fractures referred from Emergency Department, they were 22 males and 6 females, a ages ranged from 17 to 51 years with mean age of 29 years old. Conventional plain radiography and MDCT were performed to all patients. Results: MDCT examination showed that the most com-mon simple maxillofacial fracture was orbital wall fracture (7 patients), the most common complex fractures zygomatico-maxillary complex fracture (5 patients), the most common orbital bony wall fracture was orbital floor fracture (8 patients). Conclusion: MDCT is the optimal imaging modality for evaluation of maxillofacial fractures, as it can be often visualize complex injuries with a precision unattainable by conventional radiography or clinical examination. Fracture fragments displacement and rotation are easily determined by MDCT and 3D MDCT is the best modality for demonstrating the spatial relationships of fracture fragments in maxillofacial fractures.

Diversity and dysmorphology.

Dysmorphic features result from errors in morphogenesis frequently associated with genetic syndromes. Recognizing patterns of dysmorphic features is a critical step in the diagnosis and management of human congenital anomalies and genetic syndromes. This review presents recent developments in genetic syndromes and their related dysmorphology in diverse populations. Clinical findings in patients with genetic syndromes differ in their heterogeneity across different population groups. Some genetic syndromes have variable features in different ethnicities, in part due to specific background exam characteristics such as flat facial profiles or nasal differences; however, other genetic syndromes are similar across different ethnicities. Facial analysis technology is accurate in diagnosing genetic syndromes in populations around the world and is a powerful adjunct to conventional clinical examination. This accuracy also reinforces the concept that genetic syndromes can and should be diagnosed in any ethnicity. The increasing amount of data from studies on genetic syndromes in diverse populations is significantly improving our knowledge and approach to dysmorphic patients from various ethnic backgrounds. Optimal management of genetic syndromes requires early diagnosis, including in developing countries.

Clinical Examination among Medical Students: Assessment and Comparison of the Strengths and Weaknesses of Objective Structured Clinical Examination and Conventional Examination.

Background:Traditional clinical examination is perceived to be biased and to overcome this, objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) was introduced.Aims:The aim was to assess the students’ exposure and perception of OSCE as well as its strengths and weaknesses in comparison to conventional clinical examination.Subjects and Methods:A cross-sectional study of students who had surgical OSCE was conducted from July 2018 to October 2018 in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Using a structured questionnaire, exposure and perception of OSCE as well its strength and weaknesses in comparison to the conventional clinical examination were assessed with dichotomous questions and a 5-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed with SPSS Version 20.Results:One hundred and thirty-four students responded, mean aged 24.1 ± 4.3 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.5:1. Although 64.7% of them strongly agreed that OSCE is the standard mode of examination, only 36.1% strongly agreed that it was easier to pass. More than half of the students perceived that the content of the OSCE was appropriate, wide-scoped, unbiased, and brought out specific areas of weakness. Some students (38.1%), however, felt that there was a need for improvement in the OSCE process, especially in time allocation, but most of them (89.5%) prefer it and agree that it was superior to conventional clinical examination.Conclusions:The perception of the process and structure of OSCE among the medical students was good. Compared to conventional clinical examination, students found OSCE was easier and fairer, had a better examination of structure and level of coordination, and induced lesser anxiety and fatigue. However, the entire process of OSCE can be improved.