To characterize CT-ndings of COVID-19 pneumonia and their value in diagnosis and outcome prediction. METHODS Chest CTs of 182 patients with a con rmed diagnosis of COVID-19 infection by RT-PCR were evaluated for the presence of CT-abnormalities and their frequency. Regarding the patient outcome each patient was categorized in 5 progressive stages and the duration of hospitalization was determined. Regression analysis was performed to nd which CT ndings are predictive for patient outcome and to assess prognostic factors for the hospitalization duration. RESULTS Multivariate statistical analysis con rmed a higher age (OR= 1.023, p= 0.025), a higher total visual severity score (OR= 1.038, p= 0.002) and the presence of crazy paving (OR= 2.160, p= 0.034) as predictive parameters for patient outcome. A higher total visual severity score (+ 0.134 days; p= 0.012) and the presence of pleural effusion (+ 13.985 days, p= 0.005) were predictive parameters for a longer hospitalization duration. CONCLUSIONS An increasing percentage of lung opacity as well as the presence of crazy paving and a higher age are associated with a worse patient outcome. The presence of a higher total visual severity score and pleural effusion are signi cant predictors for a longer hospitalization duration.

INTRODUCTIONIn 2013 the Department of Health specified eligibility for bariatric surgery funded by the National Health Service. This included a mandatory specification that patients first complete a Tier 3 medical weight management programme. The clinical effectiveness of this recommendation has not been evaluated previously. Our bariatric centre has provided a Tier 3 programme six months prior to bariatric surgery since 2009. The aim of our retrospective study was to compare weight loss in two cohorts: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass only (RYGB only cohort) versus Tier 3 weight management followed by RYGB (Tier 3 cohort). METHODS A total of 110 patients were selected for the study: 66 in the RYGB only cohort and 44 in the Tier 3 cohort. Patients in both cohorts were matched for age, sex, preoperative body mass index and pre-existing co-morbidities. The principal variable was therefore whether they undertook the weight management programme prior to RYGB. Patients from both cohorts were followed up at 6 and 12 months to assess weight loss. RESULTS The mean weight loss at 6 months for the Tier 3 cohort was 31% (range: 18-69%, standard deviation [SD]: 0.10 percentage points) compared with 23% (range: 4-93%, SD: 0.12 percentage points) for the RYGB only cohort (p=0.0002). The mean weight loss at 12 months for the Tier 3 cohort was 34% (range: 17-51%, SD: 0.09 percentage points) compared with 27% (range: 14-48%, SD: 0.87 percentage points) in the RYGB only cohort (p=0.0037). CONCLUSIONS Our study revealed that in our matched cohorts, patients receiving Tier 3 specialist medical weight management input prior to RYGB lost significantly more weight at 6 and 12 months than RYGB only patients. This confirms the clinical efficacy of such a weight management programme prior to gastric bypass surgery and supports its inclusion in eligibility criteria for bariatric surgery.

Purpose: To assess the interobserver and intraobserver agreement of fellowship trained chest radiologists, nonchest fellowship-trained radiologists, and fifth-year radiology residents for COVID-19-related imaging findings based on the consensus statement released by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Methods: A survey of 70 chest CTs of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 positive and COVID-19 negative patients was distributed to three groups of participating radiologists: five fellowship-trained chest radiologists, five nonchest fellowshiptrained radiologists, and five fifth-year radiology residents. The survey asked participants to broadly classify the findings of each chest CT into one of the four RSNA COVID-19 imaging categories, then select which imaging features led to their categorization. A 1-week washout period followed by a second survey comprised of randomly selected exams from the initial survey was given to the participating radiologists. Results: There was moderate overall interobserver agreement in each group (k coefficient range 0.45-0.52 § 0.02). There was substantial overall intraobserver agreement across the chest and nonchest groups (k coefficient range 0.61-0.67 § 0.06) and moderate overall intraobserver agreement within the resident group (k coefficient 0.58 § 0.06). For the image features that led to categorization, there were varied levels of agreement in the interobserver and intraobserver components that ranged from fair to perfect kappa values. When assessing agreement with PCR-confirmed COVID status as the key, we observed moderate overall agreement within each group. Conclusion: Our results support the reliability of the RSNA consensus classification system for COVID-19-related image findings.

A tetrafunctional epoxy resin was prepared and characterized by epoxy equivalent weight, percentage nitrogen, IR spectroscopy and number average molecular weight (Mn) determined by GPC. The resin was evaluated as a thermal stabilizer for polyvinylchloride (PVC). The stabilizing efficiency was tested by yellowness index, HCl liberation, UV absorption, induction time, and changes in mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation at break and Shore-A hardness). Epoxy resins with several epoxy groups are effective as in stabilizing PVC against dehydrochlorination during processing and use, compared with tribasic lead sulphate. The replacement of lead based stabilizers by epoxy stabilizers will remove the toxic effect of lead in water flowing through PVC pipes.

No abstract