Evaluation of micronuclei in oral mucosa of individuals exposed to ionizing radiation: a pilot study from Celaya, México

Introduction: Occupational exposure to ionizing radiation can potentially lead to adverse health effects, including cancer and genetic defects. Genetic damage caused by radiation can be detected if micronuclei are observed. The objective of this pilot study was to detect the presence of micronuclei in cells of the oral mucosa in inidividuals occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation. Methods:  We implemented a pilot case-control study in which we compared oral mucosa micronuclei in 30 medical and nursing personnel in radiology centers in Celaya, Mexico, with 30 volunteers not exposed to ionizing radiation recruited from a public University. The oral mucosa was brushed and the amount of micronuclei was quantified. Chi-square test or t-test for two proportions were used to compared ionizing radiation and genetic damage between exposed and non-exposed groups. Results: The exposed group had an average of 5.37 ± 3.49 micronuclei and the non-exposed had 0.37 ± 0.61 (P<0.01). In the exposed group, 90% of participants exhibited genetic damage compared to 6.67% in the unexposed group (P<0.05). Conclusion: In this pilot study, medical and nursing staff from radiology centers presented with higher genetic damage compared to control group. Further studies are needed to identify the prevalence of genetic damage due to occupational radiation exposure in Mexico

Biomagnetic techniques for evaluating gastric emptying, peristaltic contraction and transit time

Biomagnetic techniques were used to measure motility in various parts of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, particularly a new technique for detecting magnetic markers and tracers. A coil was used to enhance the signal from a magnetic tracer in the GI tract and the signal was detected using a fluxgate magnetometer or a magnetoresistor in an unshielded room. Estimates of esophageal transit time were affected by the position of the subject. The reproducibility of estimates derived using the new biomagnetic technique was greater than 85% and it yielded estimates similar to those obtained using scintigraphy. This technique is suitable for studying the effect of emotional state on GI physiology and for measuring GI transit time. The biomagnetic technique can be used to evaluate digesta transit time in the esophagus, stomach and colon, peristaltic frequency and gastric emptying and is easy to use in the hospital setting

Applications of Artificial Intelligence in the Classification of Magnetic Resonance Images: Advances and Perspectives

This chapter examines the advances and perspectives of the applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classification of magnetic resonance (MR) images. It focuses on the development of AI-based automatic classification models that have achieved competitive results compared to the state-of-the-art. Accurate and efficient classification of MR images is essential for medical diagnosis but can be challenging due to the complexity and variability of the data. AI offers tools and techniques that can effectively address these challenges. The chapter first addresses the fundamentals of artificial intelligence applied to the classification of medical images, including machine learning techniques and convolutional neural networks. Here, recent advances in the use of AI to classify MRI images in various clinical applications, such as brain tumor detection, are explored. Additionally, advantages and challenges associated with implementing AI models in clinical settings are discussed, such as the interpretability of results and integration with existing radiology systems. Prospects for AI in MR image classification are also highlighted, including the combination of multiple imaging modalities and the use of more advanced AI approaches such as reinforcement learning and model generation

Validity and reliability of electroacoustic probe for diagnosis of developmental dysplasia of the hip

Abstract Background Sound transmission is used in the diagnosis of hip dysplasia since the end of the 80’s. Aim of this study is to quantify the validity and reliability of electroacoustic probe for the diagnosis of hip dysplasia in neonates. Methods Diagnostic study included neonates aged 4–28 days, whose parents signed an informed consent. The probe was used three times for comparative sound transmission and with extension/flexion; hip ultrasound was performed with Graf technique as gold standard. Kappa was determined for intraobserver and interobserver reliability; validity was calculated with sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values. Results 100 neonates were included. For the comparative sound transmission, 0.80 and 0.81 Kappa were obtained for the intraobserver and interobserver respectively; with extension/flexion, Kappa 0.98 and 0.95 were obtained for the intraobserver and interobserver respectively. With comparative sound transmission, 44.8%, 97.7%, 76.5% and 91.3% for sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, respectively; with extension/flexion test, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values: 82.8%, 99.4%, 96.0%, and 97.1%, respectively. Conclusion The electroacoustic probe is moderate valid and reliable for the diagnosis of developmental dysplasia of the hip. Trial registration Open Science framework https://osf.io/kpf5s/?view_only=0a9682c6w1c842ad8e1d9a66e8dcf03

Effects of anatomical position on esophageal transit time: A biomagnetic diagnostic technique

AIM: To study the esophageal transit time (ETT) and compare its mean value among three anatomical inclinations of the body; and to analyze the correlation of ETT to body mass index (BMI)