Shear Wave Elastography in the Diagnosis of Hand Tumours.

Diagnosis of hand tumours by conventional imaging remains difficult. Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a noninvasive method used to quantitatively assess the mechanical properties of tissues. We provide the first report of "histoelastographic" data concerning a finger tumour. Our data support the notion of ultrasound assessment using multiple parameters including morphology, elasticity, viscosity, and microflow vascularization likely contributing towards a more precise diagnosis in the future

The effects of smoking on the mood, cardiovascular and adrenergic reactivity of heavy and light smokers in a non-stressful environment

Following a period of overnight deprivation, 58 smokers participated in a 90-min laboratory assessment in which they viewed a non-stressful movie and smoked two 0.5-mg nicotine-containing cigarettes. The first cigarette was given to all subjects following 25 min of adaptation and baseline. The next cigarette was provided at their request, which occurred 9–12 min later. “Heavy” and “light” smokers were grouped according to their average morning cotinine values, which fell above or below 250 ng/ml, respectively. The results showed that, relative to their baseline, heavy and light smokers experienced about the same level of post-smoking change in blood nicotine, heart rate and blood pressure. However, heavy smokers showed a significantly greater delta from baseline in post-smoking measures of epinephrine, norepinephrine, tension reduction and increase in vigor enhancement. A strong and consistent correlation was observed between post-smoking increases in epinephrine, tension reduction and increased vigor

Nicotine regulation among heavy and light smokers in a non-stressful environment

The purpose of this study was to assess nicotine regulation among “heavy” and “light” smokers. Previous studies supporting the nicotine regulation model of smoking behavior have suggested that smokers compensate for a reduction in the amount of nicotine available in their cigarette by altering smoking frequency, puff volume, or other aspects of smoking topography. However, little is known about a smoker's decision to smoke a specific cigarette, and the concurrent changes in their blood nicotine. Manipulation of nicotine levels in the blood could play a critical role in smoking maintenance, by regulating the extent and quality of the CNS effects of smoking. In this study, 24 heavy and light smokers (cotinine above or below 260 ng ml ) smoked high- (1.0 mg) or low- (0.5 mg) dose nicotine cigarettes while watching non-stressful movies. Blood nicotine was assessed before and after smoking a preload and free operant cigarette. The results showed that blood nicotine levels after smoking the free operant cigarette were significantly more consistent (lower standard error) for the heavy smokers, following a low dose, as opposed to a high-dose preload. Light smokers showed a non-significant trend towards being more consistent when the high-dose nicotine preload was used. This suggests that heavy smokers may have maximized their dose of nicotine whenever available nicotine was in relatively short supply (low dose condition). However, light smokers may have minimized their exposure when available nicotine was relatively more plentiful (high dose condition)