Effects of different levels of CT iterative reconstruction on low-contrast detectability and radiation dose in patients of different sizes: an anthropomorphic phantom study.

The purpose of this study was to verify the maintenance of low-contrast detectability at different CT dose reduction levels, in patients of different sizes, as a consequence of the application of iterative reconstruction at different strengths combined with tube current modulation. Anthropomorphic abdominal phantoms of two sizes (small and large) were imaged at a fixed noise with iterative algorithm ASIR-V percentages in the range between 0 and 70% and corresponding dose reductions in the range of 0-83%. A total of 1400 images with and without liver low-contrast simulated lesions were evaluated by five radiologists, using the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) paradigm and evaluating the area under the ROC curve (AUC). The human observer results were then compared with AUC obtained with a channelized Hotelling observer (CHO). CNR values were also calculated. For the small phantom, the AUC values lie between 0.90 and 0.93 for human evaluations of images acquired without iterative reconstruction, with 30% ASIR-V and with 50% ASIR-V. The AUC decreased significantly to 0.81 (p = 0.0001) at 70% ASIR-V. The CHO results were in coherence with human observer scores. Also, similar results were observed for the large size phantom. CNR values were stable for the different ASIR-V percentages. The iterative algorithm maintained the low-contrast detectability up to a dose reduction of about 70%, following application of a 50% ASIR-V combined with automatic tube current modulation, regardless of the phantom size. At further dose reductions using greater iterative percentages, a significant decrease in detectability was observed

QUALITà DELLA VITA IN GRAVIDANZA E VARIABILI PSICOLOGICHE: UN CONTRIBUTO DI RICERCA

La ricerca si propone di valutare l'andamento della qualità della vita e l'evoluzione dei sintomi depressivi durante la gravidanza, utilizzando appositi strumenti psicometrici somministrati a un campione di 90 donne, durante i tre trimestri di gravidanza. Particolarmente interessante si è rivelata l'analisi longitudinale della tonalità depressiva: il trend sembra decrescere nell'ultimo trimestre, parallelamente all'aumento dello stato di salute mentale. Nel post-partum si evidenzierebbe un incremento della tonalità depressiva e un miglioramento della componenete fisica della slaute, a sfavore della componente mentale. Nel complesso i datiemersi dall'evoluzione dei sintomi depressivi sono in sintonia con quelli presentati in letteratura, sembrerebbero confermare la nostra ipotesi riguardo la necessità di attuare modelli di prevenzione che mirino a tutelare la salute fisica della donna in gravidanza e a garantirle una buona assistenza psicologica

Internet out of control: The role of self-esteem and personality traits in pathological internet use

Objective: Young people seem particularly likely to develop pathological Internet use (PIU) with the use of social networks, chat, and videos. Sensation-seeking, neuroticism, introversion, and low self-esteem are personality features frequently associated with the disease. The aim of this study was to replicate and to extend previous findings by exploring the combined effect of personality traits and self-esteem on PIU. Method: A sample of 652 male students attending vocational technical schools in Palermo (Southern Italy) was assessed using the following measures: the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire to evaluate personality traits; the Multidimensional Self-Concept Scale to assess self-esteem; the Tech Style Behavior to investigate PIU. Results: Pathological Internet Use was associated to age, feelings of low self-esteem and inadequate competence, impulsivity/sensation seeking, aggression-hostility, and sociability. However, in a multiple linear regression model, only sociability, aggression-hostility, competence, and age demonstrated a significant effect in the prediction of PIU. Conclusions: Expanding previous research, the findings suggest that low self-esteem, high aggression-hostility, and high sociability are significant risk factors for PIU. Therefore, primary prevention programmes should include interventions aimed at promoting self-competence, enhancing emotional skills, and developing effective coping strategies