Artificial intelligence in radiology : trainees want more

Acknowledgements The authors thank the survey respondents for their invaluable contribution. The authors also thank the members of RADIANT, Junior Radiologists' Forum (JRF), and the RCR for their aid in the dissemination of the survey. In addition, the authors are very grateful to Dr Stephen Harden, Professor Margaret Hall-Craggs, as well as the RCR Academic, Audit and Quality Improvement committees for their support and guidance.Peer reviewedPostprin

A Study to Validate a Self-Reported Version of the ONS Drug Dependence Questionnaire

Aim: A prospective study to establish the reliability of a self-completion version of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) questionnaire for assessing drug dependence of substance misuse clients. Method: A total of 47 treatment seeking opioid-dependent clients completed the self-complete version of the ONS questionnaire (ONS-sc) followed by the interviewer-administered ONS questionnaire (ONS-ia) at a single clinic appointment. Scores for four Class A drugs (heroin, methadone, speed and crack/cocaine) from both formats were compared. Results: The observed agreement was 87% or more and Cohen's kappa was 0.7 (p < 0.001) or more for all four Class A drugs. Sensitivity for each Class A drugs was 56% or higher and specificity was 87% or higher. Sensitivity for severe heroin dependency was 98% (CI 89–100%). There was a 100% correlation between the ONS-sc and positive urine analysis for heroin use. However, methadone and crack/cocaine drug use appeared under reported. Conclusion: ONS-sc is a feasible, practical and time-saving alternative to a detailed interview on drug dependence. Further research with a larger sample size and non-opiate-dependent clients are needed, as this could prove a useful tool for monitoring clients in everyday practice, or for survey purposes where interviews are impractical

Influence of a montmorency cherry juice blend on indices of exercise-induced stress and upper respiratory tract symptoms following marathon running—a pilot investigation

Background: Prolonged exercise, such as marathon running, has been associated with an increase in respiratory mucosal inflammation. The aim of this pilot study was to examine the effects of Montmorency cherry juice on markers of stress, immunity and inflammation following a Marathon. Methods: Twenty recreational Marathon runners consumed either cherry juice (CJ) or placebo (PL) before and after a Marathon race. Markers of mucosal immunity secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), salivary cortisol, inflammation (CRP) and self-reported incidence and severity of upper respiratory tract symptoms (URTS) were measured before and following the race. Results: All variables except secretory IgA and IgG concentrations in saliva showed a significant time effect (P < 0.01). Serum CRP showed a significant interaction and treatment effect (P < 0.01). The CRP increase at 24 and 48 h post-Marathon was lower (P < 0.01) in the CJ group compared to PL group. Mucosal immunity and salivary cortisol showed no interaction effect or treatment effect. The incidence and severity of URTS was significantly greater than baseline at 24 h and 48 h following the race in the PL group and was also greater than the CJ group (P < 0.05). No URTS were reported in the CJ group whereas 50 % of runners in the PL group reported URTS at 24 h and 48 h post-Marathon. Conclusions: This is the first study that provides encouraging evidence of the potential role of Montmorency cherries in reducing the development of URTS post-Marathon possibly caused by exercise-induced hyperventilation trauma, and/or other infectious and non-infectious factors

Evaluation of a rapid oral fluid point-of-care test for MDMA

Cozart Bioscience Limited has developed novel lateral flow technology that allows the detection of drugs of abuse in biological fluids and suspect powders. This paper describes the application of this technology for the detection of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in oral fluid. Samples (N = 370) were obtained from the analytical laboratory at Cozart Bioscience Limited following their routine analysis for drugs of abuse. Oral fluid samples were screened for the presence of MDMA and methamphetamine using the Cozart® RapiScan System (CRS) and then confirmed for the presence of amphetamines (amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDA, MDMA, MDEA, and MBDB) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In addition to the detection of MDMA and methamphetamine, the CRS cross-reacts with high levels of amphetamine to give a positive result. One hundred and twenty-one samples screened positive using the CRS. Six of these samples were confirmed negative for MDMA and methamphetamine, but contained very high levels of amphetamine. Employing a screening cutoff of 45 ng/mL for the CRS and a confirmation cutoff of 30 ng/mL for GC-MS, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 96.6, 96.8, and 96.8%, respectively. When applying the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recommended confirmation cutoff for amphetamines of 50 ng/mL, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy increased marginally to 98.3, 96.9, and 97.3%, respectively.</p