Evaluation of spectrum of MRI findings in children with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy and its comparison with transcranial sonography

Background: Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is a serious concern among asphyxiated newborns due to the associated long term sequelae like cognitive impairment and cerebral palsy. Though the incidence of hypoxic injury remains higher in preterm babies due to incomplete brain maturation, it can occur in term babies as well despite institutional deliveries due to an array of unavoidable fetal, maternal and placental causes. Aims: This study was conducted as an attempt to evaluate the risk factors, to study the correlation between the term of pregnancy with TCUS and MRI imaging findings in HIE and characterise patterns of CNS involvement. Materials and methods: It was a cross-sectional study carried on 50 neonates with clinically diagnosed HIE presenting to the Department of Radiodiagnosis, Rajindra Hospital Patiala who were subjected to transcranial sonography and MRI. Results and Conclusion: This study demonstrated term infants have significant involvement of basal ganglia thalamus type (central) pattern of involvement and preterm infants have periventricular leukomalacia type (white matter injury) of a pattern of involvement. The overall sensitivity and specificity of TCUS in detecting imaging findings in children with clinically diagnosed HIE compared to MRI was found to be 70.45% and 50% respectively, yielding the overall diagnostic accuracy of TCUS as 68% compared to MRI. TCUS can depict central and white matter abnormalities better than peripheral lesions. However MRI provides additional diagnostic information in many cases and can detect precisely the extent of brain injury

Role of Multiparametric MRI in Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer

Aims: The main objectives of our study were to evaluate the role of Multiparametric MRI (mp-MRI) in diagnosis of carcinoma prostate and to compare the various MRI sequences used in MRI in evaluating carcinoma prostate with histopathological diagnosis kept as reference standard. Materials and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study of 40 patients was performed by using various sequences used in mp-MRI i.e. T2 weighted imaging (T2WI), Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI), Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) and Dynamic Contrast Enhanced study (DCE). Findings of mp-MRI sequences were compared with histopathological diagnosis. Statistical analysiswasperformed using SPSS computer statistical program for window release 16. Results: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) of DCE in diagnosing carcinoma prostate were 88.89%, 50.00%, 94.12% and 33.33% respectively where assensitivities, specificities, PPVs, NPVs of DWI and MRS were same in our study i.e. 94.44%, 75.00%, 97.14% and 60.00%respectively. Overall sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV of mp-MRI by combining these sequences were found to be 97.22%, 75%, 97.22% and 75% respectively. Diagnostic accuracies of DWI, DCE and MRS were 92.5%, 85% and 92.5% respectively and overall diagnostic accuracy after combining these sequences in mp-MRI was 95%. Conclusions: mp-MRI including all the sequences has very good role in evaluation of carcinoma prostate. Diagnostic accuracy of mp-MRI increases when all sequences used together to assess prostatic lesions, so all the sequences should be used together in prostate cancer evaluation rather than using individual sequences

Spectrum of MRI abnormalities in pediatric seizures

Background: Seizure is a pediatric emergency. Accurate determination of the etiology of seizures is very important to start an effective treatment. The study aims to determine the spectrum of Imaging abnormalities by Magnetic Imaging Resonance (MRI) in children who presented with seizures. Methods: It is a hospital-based prospective observational study which was carried out in Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. This study included 50 pediatric patients in the age group between 0 months to 18 years who were referred to the Department of Radiodiagnosis for brain MRI between October 2017 to September 2019. Results: Neuroimaging abnormality was found in 19 (38%) cases. 31 (62%) patients had no abnormal finding. The most common imaging findings were inflammatory granuloma in 5 (10%) patients. Other findings were- Hypoxic-ischemic injury (HII) in 4 (8%), Mesial temporal sclerosis in 2(4%), cerebral atrophy in 1(2%), Hemorrhage in 1(2%), Tuberous sclerosis in 1(2%), Focal cortical dysplasia in 1(2%), Lissencephaly in 1 (2%), Joubert syndrome in 1(2%), and Arachnoid cyst in 1 (2%) patients. Conclusion: The MRI was able to identify brain lesions in 38% of pediatric patients who presented with seizures. The study revealed inflammatory granuloma as the commonest cause of seizures in children, followed by Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury. Early recognition of potentially treatable diseases helps in timely treatment and arrest of disease progression. It is recommended to use MRI as a primary investigation during the evaluation and management of pediatric seizures

Recyclable magnetic nickel ferrite–carboxymethyl cellulose–sodium alginate bio-composite for efficient removal of nickel ion from water

In waste water treatment, magnetic bio-composites are frequently investigated as an adsorbent recently due to their great capacity for adsorption and affordability. In this current work, an attempt has been made to develop spinel nickel ferrite–carboxymethyl cellulose (NiFCMC) composite and modified its surface by alginate polymer to form NiFCMC–Alg composite. Several techniques were utilized to characterize these adsorbents including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectra, thermogravimetric analysis, vibration sample magnetometry and pH of point zero charge. These adsorbents were explored to check their potentiality to remove Ni (II) ions in aqueous medium on various parameters such as contact time, initial metal ion concentration, pH, adsorbent dose and temperature. The optimum time for establishment of equilibrium was 180 minutes at pH 8 with adsorbent dose of 0.1 g. Results of kinetic studies revealed that the best fit for the metal ion adsorption data was the Lagergren pseudo-second-order mode indicating the chemisorption nature. Likewise, the Langmuir isotherm model also showed good agreement with adsorption equilibrium data with maximum adsorption capacities 47.84 ± 2.39 and 60.24 ± 3.01 mg/g for NiFCMC and NiFCMC–Alg respectively. The calculated adsorption thermodynamic parameters confirmed the spontaneous nature of adsorption process. The regeneration efficiency of both adsorbents was studied for five cycles and showed significant results. This study has shown that NiFCMC and NiFCMC–Alg can be a good substitute for removing Ni (II) ions in aqueous medium.</p

Adaptation of the Wound Healing Questionnaire universal-reporter outcome measure for use in global surgery trials (TALON-1 study): mixed-methods study and Rasch analysis

BackgroundThe Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) is a universal-reporter outcome measure developed in the UK for remote detection of surgical-site infection after abdominal surgery. This study aimed to explore cross-cultural equivalence, acceptability, and content validity of the WHQ for use across low- and middle-income countries, and to make recommendations for its adaptation.MethodsThis was a mixed-methods study within a trial (SWAT) embedded in an international randomized trial, conducted according to best practice guidelines, and co-produced with community and patient partners (TALON-1). Structured interviews and focus groups were used to gather data regarding cross-cultural, cross-contextual equivalence of the individual items and scale, and conduct a translatability assessment. Translation was completed into five languages in accordance with Mapi recommendations. Next, data from a prospective cohort (SWAT) were interpreted using Rasch analysis to explore scaling and measurement properties of the WHQ. Finally, qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated using a modified, exploratory, instrumental design model.ResultsIn the qualitative phase, 10 structured interviews and six focus groups took place with a total of 47 investigators across six countries. Themes related to comprehension, response mapping, retrieval, and judgement were identified with rich cross-cultural insights. In the quantitative phase, an exploratory Rasch model was fitted to data from 537 patients (369 excluding extremes). Owing to the number of extreme (floor) values, the overall level of power was low. The single WHQ scale satisfied tests of unidimensionality, indicating validity of the ordinal total WHQ score. There was significant overall model misfit of five items (5, 9, 14, 15, 16) and local dependency in 11 item pairs. The person separation index was estimated as 0.48 suggesting weak discrimination between classes, whereas Cronbach's α was high at 0.86. Triangulation of qualitative data with the Rasch analysis supported recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ items 1 (redness), 3 (clear fluid), 7 (deep wound opening), 10 (pain), 11 (fever), 15 (antibiotics), 16 (debridement), 18 (drainage), and 19 (reoperation). Changes to three item response categories (1, not at all; 2, a little; 3, a lot) were adopted for symptom items 1 to 10, and two categories (0, no; 1, yes) for item 11 (fever).ConclusionThis study made recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ for use in global surgical research and practice, using co-produced mixed-methods data from three continents. Translations are now available for implementation into remote wound assessment pathways