Frequency Correlation Research Articles

Factors Associated with Effectiveness of Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Secondary Schools in Luanshya District, Zambia

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of sexuality education policy in secondary schools. Methodology: Its school based cross-sectional study which was conducted among secondary school teachers and secondary school going pupils in an urban area of Luanshya district. A self-administered semi structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Students were to answer one option unless specified otherwise. Open-ended questions were given wherever description of answers was required. The questions were framed in English. Completed questionnaires were compiled and entered into Epi data and analyzed using Stata 12. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequency tables, percentages and correlation tests were also be used. Findings: This study allowed for a better understanding of the teachers’ and pupils’ attitude, knowledge levels, curriculum appropriateness and cultural influence towards provision of sexuality education in secondary schools. Majority of respondent had positive attitude towards the provision of sexuality education and generally majority of respondents had low knowledge levels on sexuality education. Furthermore, most respondent indicated that culture has negative influence towards provision of sexuality education and majority of respondents indicated that the curriculum was appropriate for the delivery of sexuality education. Each school has a different outlook and direction on the subject of sexual education programs; therefore, it is crucial to understand what, where, and why it is being offered. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Teachers need training in sexuality education in order to overcome their anxieties about sexuality education and rid them of any negative cultural beliefs they may have regarding sexuality education. In addition, the government should organize trainings and workshops for teachers intermittently to improve their teaching skills in sensitive areas like adolescent sexual health. Lastly Sexuality education should start in primary schools.

The intensifying relationship between heatwaves in the mid–lower reaches of the Yangtze River valley and the upstream atmospheric wave train after the 2000s

The frequency and duration of heatwaves are rapidly increasing worldwide under the background of global warming. This trend is also observed in the mid–lower reaches of the Yangtze River valley (MLYRV), raising great public concern due to its significant impacts. This study identifies a wave train involving the positive phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), the Ural blocking (UB), and an anticyclone over the MLYRV, which is closely linked to MLYRV heatwaves during 1970–2023. Our findings indicate that the development of the anticyclone over the MLYRV is associated with the energy dispersion of the UB under the regulation of the North Atlantic jet (NAJ). Further analyses reveal that the correlation of heatwave frequency with the NAO index and UB days is significantly stronger during 2001–2023 (P2) compared to 1970–2000 (P1). This strengthening may be attributable to the northeastward extension of the NAJ to northern Eurasia during P2, modulated by the positive phase of the Atlantic multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). Such strong zonal winds over high latitudes of Eurasia are expected to favor low-latitude UB, and its robust downstream energy dispersion enhances the development of heatwaves during P2. In contrast, the weaker zonal winds over high latitudes of Eurasia during P1 favor high-latitude UB under the regulation of the negative phase of the AMO, and the correlation between the UB and heatwaves is less significant due to weak energy dispersion from the high-latitude UB to the MLYRV. Consequently, the UB acts as a crucial bridge within this wave train, facilitating the energy transfer necessary for heatwave formation.

TRAINERS CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND STUDENTS LEARNING OUTCOMES IN TVET INSTITUTIONS

The study sought to establish the influence of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programs on students learning outcomes in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in Ruhango District, Rwanda. The study aimed to determine the influence of CPD programs on course completion rates, acquisition of practical skills and competencies and students participation/engagement among TVET students. Using cross-sectional research design with mixed methods, data were collected from a sample of 427 respondents, including instructors, headteachers, and Sector Education Inspectors (SEIs). Simple random sampling was used for schools and instructors, while headteachers and SEIs were selected through purposive sampling. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequency percentages and correlation analysis, while qualitative data were processed through thematic analysis.The findings revealed that CPD programs significantly enhance student learning outcomes in TVET institutions. A majority of respondents (80%) participated in CPD initiatives, with 65% reporting that CPD had a strong influence on improving course completion rates, and 85% highlighting its positive impact on the acquisition of practical skills and competencies. Additionally, 60% of respondents recognized a substantial influence of CPD on student engagement. Correlation analysis confirmed strong positive relationships between CPD and course completion (r = 0.72), practical skills acquisition (r = 0.85), and student engagement (r = 0.72). The study concluded that CPD programs play a critical role in improving educational outcomes in TVET institutions. Recommendations include tailoring CPD programs to specific technical fields, enhancing hands-on workshops, providing more frequent CPD opportunities, and implementing structured monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. Future research should explore the influence of CPD on specific technical skills and examine its long-term impact on both instructors and students.

Cloud-Based Blockchain for Secure Data Sharing and Collaboration

Abstract: This study seeks to delve into the interrelation between user training and data security events in light of cloud-based blockchain technology improvement in terms of data security in collaborative contexts. A total of five firms was taken to collect data from a quantitative study, focusing more on variables that surrounded user training levels as well as data security events. This reflects that there exists a strong statistical negative correlation of frequency of security incidents and user training. Hence it has been established that the increase in the extent of training has considerably reduced vulnerabilities. Moreover, it was observed that there exists a positive relation between user participation and training. This means that to safe-guard data shared procedures, successful training activities can play an essential role. Such findings may be practically useful for firms who wish to take maximum advantage of their data security strategy.

Inverse problem of correlation functions in holography

This paper shows that the bulk metric of a planar/spherically/hyperbolically symmetric asymptotically anti-de Sitter static black brane/hole can be reconstructed from its boundary frequency 2-point correlation functions of two probe scalar operators by solving Gel’fand-Levitan-Marchenko integral equation. Since the frequency correlation function is easily handled in experiments and theories, this paper not only proposes a new method to “measure” the corresponding holographic spacetime for a material that has holographic dual but also provides an approach to experimentally check if a system has holographic dual.

Force Fields for Deep Eutectic Mixtures: Application to Structure, Thermodynamics and 2D-Infrared Spectroscopy.

Parametrizing energy functions for ionic systems can be challenging. Here, the total energy function for an eutectic system consisting of water, SCN-, K+ and acetamide is improved vis-a-vis experimentally measured properties. Given the importance of electrostatic interactions, two different types of models are considered: the first (model M0) uses atom-centered multipole whereas the other two (models M1 and M2) are based on fluctuating minimal distributed charges (fMDCM) that respond to geometrical changes of SCN-. The Lennard-Jones parameters of the anion are adjusted to best reproduce experimentally known hydration free energies and densities, which are matched to within a few percent for the final models irrespective of the electrostatic model. Molecular dynamics simulations of the eutectic mixtures with varying water content (between 0 and 100%) yield radial distribution functions and frequency correlation functions for the CN-stretch vibration. Comparison with experiments indicates that models based on fMDCM are considerably more consistent than those using multipoles. Computed viscosities from models M1 and M2 are within 30% of measured values and their change with increasing water content is consistent with experiments. This is not the case for model M0.

Factors Affecting Impulsive Product and Service Buying Behavior: A Study of College Students in the Kathmandu Valley

Impulsive buying is the tendency of a customer to buy goods and services without planning. The study's objective is to determine the factors affecting the impulsive buying behavior of the students in Kathmandu Valley. The study was based on the cross-sectional research design which followed the quantitative design. The study targeted college-level students studying at Bachelor's and Master's level in Kathmandu Valley. 200 students were selected from different colleges through a simple random sampling technique. A well-structured closed-ended survey questionnaire was developed and disseminated in a well-organized manner to respondents to collect the primary data from the field and analyzed systematically in 2023. The study analyzed the data using statistical tools like frequency distribution, mean, standard deviation, and correlation to derive the findings. The study finds that social influence is considered the first important cause influencing impulsive buying behavior. Similarly, it is followed by emotional triggers, lack of control, and financial resources influencing respectively. The study also shows that there was a strong relationship between social influence and impulse buying behavior. Business organizations should strategically leverage social factors in marketing campaigns to tap into this influential aspect of consumer behavior. Future researchers need to survey another variable with a large sample size by applying different methods.

Prediction of post-PCV13 pneumococcal evolution using invasive disease data enhanced by inverse-invasiveness weighting.

After introducing pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs), serotype replacement occurred in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Predicting which pneumococcal strains will become common in carriage after vaccination can enhance vaccine design, public health interventions, and understanding of pneumococcal evolution. Invasive pneumococcal isolates were collected during 1998-2018 by the Active Bacterial Core surveillance (ABCs). Carriage data from Massachusetts (MA) and Southwest United States were used to calculate weights. Using pre-vaccine data, serotype-specific inverse-invasiveness weights were defined as the ratio of the proportion of the serotype in carriage to the proportion in invasive data. Genomic data were processed under bioinformatic pipelines to define genetically similar sequence clusters (i.e., strains), and accessory genes (COGs) present in 5-95% of isolates. Weights were applied to adjust observed strain proportions and COG frequencies. The negative frequency-dependent selection (NFDS) model predicted strain proportions by calculating the post-vaccine strain composition in the weighted invasive disease population that would best match pre-vaccine COG frequencies. Inverse-invasiveness weighting increased the correlation of COG frequencies between invasive and carriage data in linear or logit scale for pre-vaccine, post-PCV7, and post-PCV13; and between different epochs in the invasive data. Weighting the invasive data significantly improved the NFDS model's accuracy in predicting strain proportions in the carriage population in the post-PCV13 epoch, with the adjusted R2 increasing from 0.254 before weighting to 0.545 after weighting. The weighting system adjusted invasive disease data to better represent the pneumococcal carriage population, allowing the NFDS mechanism to predict strain proportions in carriage in the post-PCV13 epoch. Our methods enrich the value of genomic sequences from invasive disease surveillance.IMPORTANCEStreptococcus pneumoniae, a common colonizer in the human nasopharynx, can cause invasive diseases including pneumonia, bacteremia, and meningitis mostly in children under 5 years or older adults. The PCV7 was introduced in 2000 in the United States within the pediatric population to prevent disease and reduce deaths, followed by PCV13 in 2010, PCV15 in 2022, and PCV20 in 2023. After the removal of vaccine serotypes, the prevalence of carriage remained stable as the vacated pediatric ecological niche was filled with certain non-vaccine serotypes. Predicting which pneumococcal clones, and which serotypes, will be most successful in colonization after vaccination can enhance vaccine design and public health interventions, while also improving our understanding of pneumococcal evolution. While carriage data, which are collected from the pneumococcal population that is competing to colonize and transmit, are most directly relevant to evolutionary studies, invasive disease data are often more plentiful. Previously, evolutionary models based on negative frequency-dependent selection (NFDS) on the accessory genome were shown to predict which non-vaccine strains and serotypes were most successful in colonization following the introduction of PCV7. Here, we show that an inverse-invasiveness weighting system applied to invasive disease surveillance data allows the NFDS model to predict strain proportions in the projected carriage population in the post-PCV13/pre-PCV15 and pre-PCV20 epoch. The significance of our research lies in using a sample of invasive disease surveillance data to extend the use of NFDS as an evolutionary mechanism to predict post-PCV13 population dynamics. This has shown that we can correct for biased sampling that arises from differences in virulence and can enrich the value of genomic data from disease surveillance and advance our understanding of how NFDS impacts carriage population dynamics after both PCV7 and PCV13 vaccination.

Understanding the Dynamics of Cashless Payment System: The Effects of Technology Advancement, Security Concerns, and Competition on Merchant Adoption in Hyderabad, India

This study examined the impact of technology advancement, security concerns, and competition on the adoption of Cashless Payment Systems (CPS) by merchants in Hyderabad City, India using a descriptive research design. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to business heads, and the data was analyzed using frequency tables, means, correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The study findings revealed that technology advancement, security concerns, and competition significantly influence the process of adoption of CPS. The study recommends that entrepreneurs nationwide recognize CPS, as an opportunity to show case their unique and distinctiveness to capture market share. In light of limited cash availability, digital transactions, classified by the RBI as 'prepaid payment instruments,' are becoming increasingly important, driving more merchants to embrace digital money for better transparency, scalability, accountability and sustainability.

Ethical sensitivity and compassion competence in nursing students: Two-center study/comparison of two different cultures

BackgroundAlthough the literature includes studies on nursing students' ethical sensitivity and compassion competence, no study has examined and compared these skills among nursing students from different cultures. AimThis research determined and compared the ethical sensitivity and compassion competency levels of nursing students in two different geographies, one in Turkey (Group I) and one in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (Group II), which hosts students with different cultural characteristics. DesignQuantitative and cross-sectional research. MethodThe research was conducted with 201 nursing students in Group I and Group II, who were studying in the English Nursing program at the Nursing Faculties, received clinical practice training, took ethics in nursing courses, and agreed to participate. “Sociodemographic Form,” “Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire,” and “Compassion Competence Scale” were used to collect data. Frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson correlation analysis were used to evaluate the data. ResultsThe mean “Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire” scores of nursing students in Group I and Group II are 149.52 (SD 21.13) and 155.63 (SD 25.21), respectively. The mean scores of the nursing students in Group I and Group II on the “Compassion Competence Scale” are 3.88 (SD 0.47) and 4.29 (SD 0.50), respectively. It was determined that the “Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire” and “Compassion Competency Scale” mean scores of the nursing students in Group II were higher than those of the nursing students in Group I, and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). ConclusionThe moral sensitivity and compassion competence of nursing students at the two universities were high. When the scores of the groups were compared, it was observed that the moral sensitivity and compassion competence levels of the nursing students in Group II were statistically significantly higher than those of the nursing students in Group I. The predictors of this were evaluated as to why students chose the nursing department, the country, and the department they liked.

Attitude of Higher Institution Students towards the Use of Family Planning Methods and Cohabitation in Ondo State, Nigeria

This study investigated higher institution students' attitudes toward family planning methods and cohabitation in Ondo State, Nigeria. This study used a descriptive survey research design and a sample of 560 higher institution students selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure from the seven higher institutions in Ondo State, Nigeria. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire with two sub-scales titled ‘Students’ attitudes towards contraceptive use inventory’ and ‘Attitudes towards cohabitation questionnaire’ The data collected were analyzed using frequency count, percentage and correlation analysis. The study results showed a high prevalence of cohabitation among higher institution students in Ondo State with 408 (72.86%) of the 560 respondents engaging in cohabitation. Also, significant relationships existed between attitudes towards the use of family planning methods and cohabitation among higher institution students (r= 0.479, P&lt; 0.05). Based on the findings, it was concluded that a highly prevalent level of cohabitation exists among students of higher institutions and a positive relationship existed between the use of family planning methods and cohabitation among the students. Therefore, it was recommended that the government and management team of each of the higher institutions should provide, within the campus, enough affordable accommodation and rules guiding visitation to opposite-sex hostels.

Associations between acoustic indices and the evaluation of the urban soundscape according to ISO 12913

The development of high-quality acoustic environments (AE) is crucial for the transformation of cities into sustainable and health-promoting places. In recent years, the soundscape approach (ISO 12913) has gained attention for quantifying the AE using a standardised questionnaire for soundwalk participants. This way, several qualities of the AE can be analysed. However, soundwalks are costly and limited to a select number of sites. To scale up the assessment of the urban AE, the use of acoustic indices, which could reflect different qualities of a soundscape, represents a promising approach. Therefore, we present an analyses of the association between acoustic indices and affective soundscape qualities. We use soundscape data from the Be-MoVe project in Essen, Germany. In total, 35 soundwalks with 143 participations were conducted and data were collected from 858 questionnaires for 22 listening stations, each with a three-minute audio recording. These recordings are used to calculate ecoacoustic indices and complex network measures based on frequency correlation matrices, as these have shown promising results in previous studies. We present results from descriptive statistics as well as multi-level regression analyses modelling the relationship between self-rated affective qualities of AE and acoustic indices, taking into account spatial variability between different urban locations.

The National Trend of Data of the Scale of Attitude Toward Culture of Living with Disaster Risk (SAC-LDR)

In this study, we analyzed data collected from an internet survey targeting Japanese citizens on the Scale of Attitude toward Culture of Living with Disaster Risk (SAC-LDR), which was proposed in our previous study. The scale quantifies respondents’ attitude toword living with nature and its risks, to examine how the SAC-LDR scores are affected by the respondents’ attributes, such as age or lifestyle, and frequency distributions and correlations between variables. We found that: (1) the SAC-LDR scores had a mean value of 41.1 out of 60 and displayed not a completely normal distribution, but a distribution with slightly long left tail; (2) the SAC-LDR scores had a high correlation with the Power to Live with Disasters, which represents individual traits favorable to surviving through disasters; and (3) the SAC-LDR scores displayed regional differences within Japan.

스포츠 브랜드 매장의 체험마케팅이 브랜드사랑에 미치는 영향 - 관여도의 조절효과를 중심으로

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between experiential elements in sports brand stores and brand love, with involvement serving as a moderating effect. This research seeks to enable sports product manufacturers and retailers to better understand consumers and establish a foundation for experiential marketing strategies. The survey was conducted over a 15-day period from January 10, 2024, to January 25, 2024. A total of 720 questionnaires were distributed online, and after excluding insincere responses, 697 questionnaires were used as the final data for analysis. The collected survey data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 28.0, employing frequency analysis, factor analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, and structural equation modeling. The results of the analysis are as follows: First, in the study of sports brand store experiences, targeting consumers who have experienced sports brand experiential marketing in Shanghai, China, it was found that sensory, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and relational elements have a significant positive impact on brand love. Second, involvement was found to have a significant moderating effect on the relationship between experiential elements (sensory, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and relational) and brand love. Therefore, it is important to develop experiential marketing strategies that enhance consumer experiences, leveraging the fact that the experiential elements (sensory, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and relational) at sports brand stores positively impact brand love. In particular, since the relationship between experiential elements and brand love is strengthened when consumer involvement is high, it is necessary to plan customized experiential marketing activities to increase involvement. Such an approach will contribute to strengthening the relationship with consumers and enhancing brand loyalty.

Условия появления интенсивных потоков энергичных электронов на L&lt;1.2, связанные с солнечной активностью и параметрами солнечного ветра

We present the results of a statistical study of transient enhancements of electrons with energies &gt;30 keV at low drift shells in the quasi-trapped region (forbidden zone) at the geomagnetic equator. Using data from low-altitude NOAA/POES and MetOp satellites, we have compiled a catalog of events with forbidden energetic electron (FEE) enhancements for the period from 1998 to 2023. Statistical analysis of FEE events has revealed solar-cyclic, as well as seasonal and diurnal variations in the occurrence of FEE enhancements. We have examined the correlation of the annual frequency of FEE events with solar activity, solar wind parameters, and geomagnetic activity. Strong correlations have been found with the F10.7 index of solar activity (radio emission flux) as well as with the Alfvén Mach number (solar wind parameter). An interpretation of the obtained results is proposed which is based on the mechanism of electrical drift and radial transport of electrons from Earth’s inner radiation belt to the quasi-trapped region (L&lt;1.2). The key factor for the operation of the mechanism is the effective penetration of the electric field to low latitudes when a significant difference in the conductivity of the high-latitude ionosphere occurs in the illuminated and unilluminated sectors of local time under conditions of weakening auroral activity.

Conditions for the occurrence of intense fluxes of energetic electrons at L&lt;1.2 associated with solar activity and solar wind parameters

We present the results of a statistical study of transient enhancements of electrons with energies &gt;30 keV at low drift shells in the quasi-trapped region (forbidden zone) at the geomagnetic equator. Using data from low-altitude NOAA/POES and MetOp satellites, we have compiled a catalog of events with forbidden energetic electron (FEE) enhancements for the period from 1998 to 2023. Statistical analysis of FEE events has revealed solar-cyclic, as well as seasonal and diurnal variations in the occurrence of FEE enhancements. We have examined the correlation of the annual frequency of FEE events with solar activity, solar wind parameters, and geomagnetic activity. Strong correlations have been found with the F10.7 index of solar activity (radio emission flux) as well as with the Alfvén Mach number (solar wind parameter). An interpretation of the obtained results is proposed which is based on the mechanism of electrical drift and radial transport of electrons from Earth’s inner radiation belt to the quasi-trapped region (L&lt;1.2). The key factor for the operation of the mechanism is the effective penetration of the electric field to low latitudes when a significant difference in the conductivity of the high-latitude ionosphere occurs in the illuminated and unilluminated sectors of local time under conditions of weakening auroral activity.

Sociodemographic correlates of dietary habits among university students of health sciences in Kosovo

We aimed to assess the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of selected dietary habits among students of health sciences in Kosovo. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kosovo in 2024, including 470 students of health sciences (≈86% females; mean age: 20.7±2.7 years; response rate: 70%). Information on selected dietary habits and sociodemographic factors of the students was gathered. Independent positive correlates of a lower fruit intake (&lt;1 time/day) included male gender (OR=2.3, 95% CI =1.3-4.2) and a lower economic level (OR=1.5, 95% CI =1.0-2.3). Furthermore, positive independent correlates of a higher frequency of consumption of fried foods (≥1 time/day) included male gender (OR=2.2, 95% CI =1.2-4.1), urban residence (OR=1.6, 95% CI =1.0-2.6) and a lower economic level (OR=1.7, 95% CI =1.0-2.7). Conversely, excessive salt intake was positively and strongly correlated to a lower economic level (OR=3.5, 95% CI =2.1-6.0), but inversely related to students’ age (OR=0.4, 95% CI =0.2-0.9). Male gender and particularly a lower economic level were strong correlates of poor dietary habits among university students in Kosovo. Targeted interventions are needed to address dietary habits among youths, with a focus on providing support and resources to economically disadvantaged individuals.

Impact of self-perceived oral health and socio-economic factors on oral health-related behavior in Estonian adults.

To identify which socioeconomic factors are affecting oral health-related behavior and to provide suggestions for improving the population's oral health. Materials and methods: The survey includes population groups from age 35 and older from all 15 Estonian counties and major cities (n = 2,376). The study is based on data from a nationwide Estonian Adult Oral Health Survey questionnaire. In addition to analyzing eight aspects of oral health-related behavior and self-perceived oral health variables, the survey also includes participants' socio-economic and demographic characteristics. The study utilizes frequency tables (including cumulative distributions), means, correlations, and regression analysis as its methods. The mean number of beneficial behaviors reported by the participant was 4.2 (SD 1.6). The value of the oral health-related behavior index (OHBI, the number of reported behaviors from the eight) is initially determined by the optimal timing between meals, abstinence from smoking, and the choice of drinking water or refraining from any intake between meals. Participants with higher OHBI tended to rate their self-perceived oral health better. Adherence to beneficial dental health-related behavior in Estonian adults is primarily influenced by gender, educational level, type of settlement, and household income level. In order to significantly improve oral health and related behaviors, it is imperative to integrate dental services into universal health coverage and deliver ongoing oral health education for adults.

MR enterography radiologic ulcers in newly diagnosed ileal Crohn disease in children: frequency, inter-radiologist agreement, and clinical correlation

BackgroundRadiologic ulcers are increasingly recognized as an imaging finding of bowel wall active inflammation in Crohn disease (CD).ObjectiveTo determine the frequency of ulcers at MR enterography (MRE) in children with newly diagnosed ileal CD, assess agreement between radiologists, and evaluate if their presence correlates with other imaging and clinical features of intestinal active inflammation.Materials and methodsThis retrospective study included 108 consecutive pediatric patients (ages 6–18 years) with newly diagnosed ileal CD that underwent clinical MRE prior to treatment initiation between January 2021 and December 2022. MRE examinations were independently reviewed by three pediatric radiologists who indicated the presence vs. absence of ulcers, ulcer severity (categorical depth), and ulcer extent (categorical number of ulcers). Maximum bowel wall thickness and length of disease were measured and averaged across readers. Patient demographics and clinical inflammatory markers were documented from electronic health records. Inter-radiologist agreement was assessed using Fleiss’ kappa (k) statistics. Student’s t-test was used to compare continuous variables.ResultsMean patient age was 13.9 years (67 [62%] boys). Radiologic ulcers were recorded in 64/108 (59.3%) cases by reader 1, 70/108 (64.8%) cases by reader 2, and 49/108 (45.4%) cases by reader 3 (k = 0.36). Based on majority consensus, radiologic ulcers were present in 60/108 (55.6%) participants. Inter-radiologist agreement for ulcer severity was k = 0.23, while ulcer extent was k = 0.66. There were significant differences in C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, fecal calprotectin, albumin, maximum bowel wall thickness, and length of disease between patients without and with radiologic ulcers (P < 0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of MRE for detecting endoscopic ulcers were 66.7% (95% CI, 52.1–79.2%) and 69.2% (95% CI, 48.2–85.7%), respectively.ConclusionRadiologic ulcers are visible in children with newly diagnosed ileal CD, although inter-radiologist agreement is only fair. The presence of ulcers is associated with clinical laboratory inflammatory markers as well as other MRE findings of disease activity and is an additional imaging finding that can be used to evaluate intestinal inflammation.

A single-center retrospective review of metastatic prostate cancer on PSMA position emission tomography/computed tomography: Beyond lymph nodes and bones.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has become a crucial imaging modality for the staging of patients with prostate cancer. The purpose of this study is to retrospectively determine the frequency, anatomical distribution, and clinical-pathologic correlates of extra-nodal and extra-osseous metastatic prostate cancer detected on PSMA PET/CT. All available 650 PSMA PET/CT performed in patients with biopsy-proved prostate cancer in our institution between September 2021 and December 2023 were reviewed for the presence of extra-nodal and extra-osseous metastatic disease (M1C disease). Thirty-four patients with M1C disease were identified. The most frequent sites of visceral/soft tissue metastases were the lungs (58.8%), liver (23.5%) and adrenal glands (20.6%). 75% of patients with lung metastases detected on PSMA PET/CT had concurrent intrathoracic lymph node involvement. A higher frequency of patients with M1C disease (55.9%) had a high Gleason score. The median prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level at the time of the PSMA scan was 20.16 ng/mL. There was a statistically significant association between PSA level and osseous disease (p = 0.004), as well as PSA level and nodal disease (p = 0.008). While a large number of patients had concurrent osseous and nodal disease (82.4% and 79.4%, respectively), no visceral/soft tissue sites demonstrated a significant association with the presence of osseous or nodal involvement. Given the increasing utilization of PSMA PET/CT, increased knowledge of the location and pattern of distribution of visceral/soft tissue metastatic sites is crucial not only for staging but also to better understand patterns of therapeutic response. We identified the lungs, liver and adrenal glands as the most common visceral/soft tissue metastatic sites from prostate cancer. We found that higher PSA levels at the time of PSMA PET/CT imaging were positively associated with concurrent osseous and nodal involvement.