Safety of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background/Aims: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a technically challenging procedure rarely associated with severe postprocedure complications. Hormonal changes during pregnancy promote cholelithiasis, but there are limited clinical data available on the outcomes of ERCP in pregnant women. ERCP techniques without irradiation were recently introduced as potential alternative. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the safety of ERCP in pregnancy and to compare outcomes of radiation versus nonradiation ERCP. Materials and Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Medline/Ovid, Web of Science, and Google Scholar through April 18th, 2018 using PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines identified 27 studies reporting the outcomes of ERCP in pregnancy. Random effects pooled event rate and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. Heterogeneity was measured by I2, and meta-regression analysis was conducted. Adverse outcomes were divided into fetal, maternal pregnancy-related, and maternal nonpregnancy-related. Results: In all, 27 studies reporting on 1,307 pregnant patients who underwent ERCP were identified. Median age was 27.1 years. All results were statistically significant (P...) (See full abstract in article)

The impact of computed high b-value images on the diagnostic accuracy of DWI for prostate cancer: A receiver operating characteristics analysis.

To evaluate the performance of computed high b value diffusion-weighted images (DWI) in prostate cancer detection. 97 consecutive patients who had undergone multiparametric MRI of the prostate followed by biopsy were reviewed. Five radiologists independently scored 138 lesions on native high b-value images (b = 1200 s/mm2), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps, and computed high b-value images (contrast equivalent to b = 2000 s/mm2) to compare their diagnostic accuracy. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and McNemar's test were performed to assess the relative performance of computed high b value DWI, native high b-value DWI and ADC maps. No significant difference existed in the area under the curve (AUC) for ROCs comparing B1200 (b = 1200 s/mm2) to computed B2000 (c-B2000) in 5 readers. In 4 of 5 readers c-B2000 had significantly increased sensitivity and/or decreased specificity compared to B1200 (McNemar's p < 0.05), at selected thresholds of interpretation. ADC maps were less accurate than B1200 or c-B2000 for 2 of 5 readers (P < 0.05). This study detected no consistent improvement in overall diagnostic accuracy using c-B2000, compared with B1200 images. Readers detected more cancer with c-B2000 images (increased sensitivity) but also more false positive findings (decreased specificity)

The intersection graph of annihilator submodules of a module

Let $R$ be a commutative ring and $M$ be a Noetherian $R$-module. The intersection graph of annihilator submodules of $M$, denoted by $GA(M)$ is an undirected simple graph whose vertices are the classes of elements of $Z_R(M)\setminus \text{Ann}_R(M)$, for $a,b \in R$ two distinct classes $[a]$ and $[b]$ are adjacent if and only if $\text{Ann}_M(a)\cap \text{Ann}_M(b)\neq 0$. In this paper, we study diameter and girth of $GA(M)$ and characterize all modules that the intersection graph of annihilator submodules are connected. We prove that $GA(M)$ is complete if and only if $Z_R(M)$ is an ideal of $R$. Also, we show that if $M$ is a finitely generated $R$-module with $r(\text{Ann}_R(M))\neq \text{Ann}_R(M)$ and $|m-\text{Ass}_R(M)|=1$ and $GA(M)$ is a star graph, then $r(\text{Ann}_R(M))$ is not a prime ideal of $R$ and $|V(GA(M))|=|\text{Min}\,\text{Ass}_R(M)|+1$

Metric dimension of Andrásfai graphs

A set $W\subseteq V(G)$ is called a resolving set, if for each pair of distinct vertices $u,v\in V(G)$ there exists $t\in W$ such that $d(u,t)\neq d(v,t)$, where $d(x,y)$ is the distance between vertices $x$ and $y$. The cardinality of a minimum resolving set for $G$ is called the metric dimension of $G$ and is denoted by $\dim_M(G)$. This parameter has many applications in different areas. The problem of finding metric dimension is NP-complete for general graphs but it is determined for trees and some other important families of graphs. In this paper, we determine the exact value of the metric dimension of Andrásfai graphs, their complements and $And(k)\square P_n$. Also, we provide upper and lower bounds for $dim_M(And(k)\square C_n)$

Effectiveness of Lesson Study on Teachers Professional Skills in Hamadan Province Exceptional Education

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the lesson study on professional skills in Hamadan province Exceptional Education Teachers’. Research method was ex-post facto. The population was all of exceptional teachers’ in Hamadan Province in 2013-2014 academic year. Through stratified random sampling method, 320 teachers were selected as sample. Data gathering tools included questionnaires of providing learning opportunities, interest in increasing knowledge and job skills, class organization and management, and observation forms included applying learning theories, use of teaching aids and education supplies, use of correct methods of assessment, encourage students to work in groups and test of familiar with theories of learning. Results showed that lesson study groups and other have significant differences in variables of providing learning opportunities (t=2.23;

Fidelity threshold of the surface code beyond single-qubit error models

The surface code is a promising alternative for implementing fault-tolerant, large-scale quantum information processing. Its high threshold for single-qubit errors under stochastic noise is one of its most attractive features. We develop an exact formulation for the fidelity of the surface code that allows us to probe much further on this promise of strong protection. This formulation goes beyond the stochastic single-qubit error model approximation and can take into account both correlated errors and inhomogeneities in the coupling between physical qubits and the environment. For the case of a bit-flipping environment, we map the complete evolution after one quantum error correction cycle onto the problem of computing correlation functions of a two-dimensional Ising model with boundary fields. Exact results for the fidelity threshold of the surface code are then obtained for several relevant types of noise. Analytical predictions for a representative case are confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations

MRI safety and devices: An update and expert consensus

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154533/1/jmri26909_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154533/2/jmri26909.pd