The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of qualitative analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in discrimination of adnexal masses which were undetermined by conventional ultrasound (US). A total of 120 patients underwent transabdominal CEUS. The initial enhancement time and intensity compared with the uterine myometrium, contrast agent distribution patterns and dynamic change...

BACKGROUND Women with low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) at cervical cancer screening are currently referred for further diagnostic work up despite 80% having no precancerous lesion. The primary purpose of this study is to measure the test characteristics of 3q26 chromosome gain (3q26 gain) as a host marker of carcinogenesis in women with LSIL. A negative triage test may allow th...

BACKGROUND AND AIM Liver biopsy (LB) has lost popularity to stage liver fibrosis in the era of highly effective anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy, yet diagnosis of persistent cirrhosis may have important implications following HCV eradication. As performance of serological non-invasive tests (NITs) to predict residual fibrosis in non-viremic HCV patients is unknown, we investigated accuracy ...

PURPOSE A variety of prognostic indices for patients with brain metastases have been published in the literature, to guide clinical decision-making and clinical trial stratification. The purpose of this investigation is to perform a systematic review of all primary and validation reports of such prognostic systems. An assessment of index operating characteristics and misclassification rates was...

We explore the effects of individualand network-level negative word-of-mouth on the firm’s profits using an agent-based model and specifically, an extended small world analysis. We include both permanent strong ties within the social network, and changing, often random, weak ties with other networks. The effect of negative word-of-mouth on the Net Present Value (NPV) of the firm was found to be...

OBJECTIVES To investigate the optimal definition of abnormal first-trimester uterine artery Doppler parameters associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. METHODS A prospective cohort of women with singleton gestations between 11 and 14 weeks consented to uterine artery Doppler measurements. Doppler parameters were measured bilaterally, and mean pulsatility index (PI) and resistive index (RI)...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a Risk of Malignancy Index (RMI) in primary evaluation of patients with adnexal masses. METHODS The RMI is based on menopausal status, ultrasonographic findings, and serum CA 125 level. A cutoff level of 200 was chosen as the threshold for referral for centralized primary surgery. This setup was evaluated by sensitivity, specificity, ...

BACKGROUND To determine the cut-off values of the preoperative risk of malignancy index (RMI) used in differentiating benign or malignant adnexal masses and to determine their significance in differential diagnosis by comparison of different systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS 191 operated women were assessed retrospectively. RMI of 1, 2, 3 and 4; cut-off values for an effective benign or malignan...