Measurements obtained with nonenhanced MR angiography appear equally accurate to those of CT angiography in the preoperative planning of abdominal EVAR.

Inclusion of single-shot b-TFE sequence to conventional MRCP significantly improved the specificity and PPV for the detection of CBD stone.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients often exhibit finger/wrist joint symptoms and reduced grip strength. This study aimed to validate grip strength as a measure of frailty in RA patients. Subjects were 424 female RA patients (mean age±standard deviation, 66.8±14.5 years). Frailty was defined as a score of ≥8 points on the Kihon Checklist (KCL). Finger/wrist joint symptoms were defined based on tender or swollen joints. Associations between frailty and grip strength were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and multivariable logistic regression analysis. There were 179 subjects with frailty (42.2%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that frailty was significantly associated with grip strength independently of finger/wrist joint symptoms. In ROC curves, cut-off scores of grip strength for frailty in subjects without and with finger/wrist joint symptoms were 17 kg (sensitivity, 62.1%; specificity, 69.0%) and 14 kg (sensitivity, 63.2%; specificity, 73.0%), respectively. The results of the present study suggest that grip strength in female RA patients is associated with frailty, with a cut-off score of 17 kg (equivalent to Cardiovascular Health Study criteria, <18 kg) when RA patients have no finger/wrist joint symptoms. However, when RA patients have finger/wrist joint symptoms, measures other than grip strength such as lower limb function should be considered.

Objectives Persistence with treatment is key to achieving successful treatment outcomes in patients with osteoporosis. We investigated risk factors for denosumab discontinuation in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO). Methods A total of 333 patients with PMO who had never received osteoporosis treatment were included in this study. Baseline demographics and retention rate of denosumab were evaluated in all patients. Univariate analysis was performed in patients divided into two groups according to whether they had continued or discontinued denosumab. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine risk factors for denosumab discontinuation. Results Mean age was 80.7 years, body mass index (BMI) was 21.5 kg/m2, and T-scores for the lumbar spine and femoral neck were -2.7 and -2.8, respectively. The retention rate of denosumab at 36 months was 50.3%. Patients who continued denosumab were younger and had higher BMI, serum albumin (Alb) levels, and lumbar spine bone mineral density, and fewer vertebral fractures (VFs), compared with those who discontinued denosumab. The Cox proportional hazards model revealed that a low BMI, low serum Alb levels, and a high number of VFs are independent risk factors for denosumab discontinuation. Conclusions A low BMI, low serum Alb levels, and a high number of VFs were associated with denosumab discontinuation in patients with PMO.

BackgroundThe usefulness of T2*-weighted (T2*W) imaging for the detection of adnexal torsion has yet to be determined.PurposeTo assess the usefulness of T2*W imaging for detecting and differentiating adnexal torsion.Material and MethodsEight patients with eight ovaries with torsion and 44 patients with 72 ovaries without torsion were included in this study. All patients underwent 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including T2*W images. The frequency and distribution of hypointensity on T2*W images were compared between ovaries with torsion and ovaries without torsion.ResultsHypointensity on T2*W images was significantly more frequent in ovaries with torsion than in ovaries without torsion (75% vs. 36%; P < 0.05). Among patients with hypointensity on T2*W images, the frequency of diffuse hypointensity was significantly higher in ovaries with torsion than in ovaries without torsion (83% vs. 0%; P < 0.01); whereas the frequency of focal hypointensity was significantly lower in ovaries with torsion than in ovaries without torsion (17% vs. 100%; P < 0.01).ConclusionThe presence and distribution of hypointensity on T2*W images may play a supplementary role in the detection of adnexal torsion.