1,720,962 research outputs found
Ground-glass opacity: Interpretation of high resolution CT findings
No full textGround-glass opacity (GGO) is a common finding on high resolution CT, characterized by areas of hazy increased attenuation of the lung with preservation of bronchial and vascular margins; it is not to be confused with consolidation, in which bronchovascular structures are obscured. It correlates with several pathogenic processes, such as like partial filling of air spaces, inflammatory or fibrotic interstitial thickening, increased capillary blood volume. Infiltrative GGO can representing either interstitial or alveolar processes. GGO is a nonspecific finding; however, the correlation with any of the associated CT findings (nodular lesions, consolidation, septal thickening, fibrosis, vessels or airway calibre alterations, air trapping), and clinical data is helpful in narrowing the range of diagnostic possibilities, or even in suggesting a specific diagnosis. GGO can indicate a potentially treatable disease, help guide the type and location of biopsy and evaluate the effectiveness of therapy. This review discusses the types of lung disease associated with GGO, and the differential diagnosis between GGO caused by infiltrative processes and the mosaic patterns of lung attenuation caused by primary vascular diseases or airway abnormalities. This distinction can be made by evaluating the vessel calibre and air trapping on expiratory scans
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Imaging of the scrotum: role of MRI
No full textPurpose
The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of imaging for correct clinical and therapeutic management of patients with scrotal disease.
Materials and methods
Between 2000 and 2007, 801 patients with suspected scrotal disease underwent colour Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) at our centre. In 46 patients, the CDUS study was followed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Results
CDUS revealed an inflammatory process in 277 patients (34.58%), testicular trauma in 112 (13.9%), funicular torsion or torsion of the vestigial remnant in 44 (5.4%), findings suggestive of testicular neoplasm in 35 (4.3%) and no abnormality in 41.5%. MRI, used to further investigate the CDUS findings in 46 cases, showed three cases of intraparenchymal haematoma, one of intrascrotal cavernous body rupture, one of testicular abscess with intrascrotal fistula, two of testicular infarction and 15 of neoplasm. MRI allowed the exclusion of focal abnormalities in ten patients with testicular microlithiasis, in three with chronic orchitis and in four with atrophic involution. MRI confirmed the finding of inguinal hernia in three cases.
Conclusions
On the basis of our experience, CDUS is irreplaceable as an initial approach to patients affected by scrotal disease, whereas MRI is an ideal second-line investigation. MRI offers useful, and in some cases decisive, information, as it is capable of revealing unexpected findings and elucidating complex aspects. MRI helps improve patient management, with an overall reduction in costs
Role of color-Doppler sonography in the follow-up of renal artery stenting
No full textPurpose
The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of color-Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) in detecting haemodynamically significant in-stent restenosis in patients who underwent endoluminal renal artery revascularisation by stent deployment.
Materials and method
Between January 2000 and December 2006, 42 patients (nine women and 33 men, age range 45–87 years) treated by endovascular renal artery stenting were studied with CDUS. Renal artery haemodynamics were evaluated to identify haemodynamically significant restenosis. Patients with CDUS signs of restenosis underwent angiography for a possible further revascularisation procedure.
Result
Of 42 patients examined by CDUS, 13 (31%) showed signs of haemodynamically significant in-stent renal artery restenosis. Of these 13, three did not undergo endoluminal renal artery revascularisation because renal ischaemia deterioration and irreversible renal circulation impairment. In the remaining ten patients (23.8%), who had no signs of severe nephropathy, angiography confirmed the CDUS findings of in-stent restenosis in all cases. Restenoses were successfully treated by a repeat endovascular revascularisation procedure
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