Palindromic rheumatism's distinctive pattern on ultrasound images helps distinguish the disease from rheumatoid arthritis and identify which patients would benefit from early disease-modifying therapy and which should undergo routine monitoring instead, according to a study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. The researchers observed extracapsular inflammation without synovitis at the flare site in 42% of the palindromic rheumatism patients but in only one rheumatoid arthritis patient.
Patients with severe tophaceous gout are likely to have monosodium urate crystal deposits visible on ultrasound images of the renal medulla, researchers reported in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. The findings suggest that renal ultrasound can be used instead of CT to diagnose these deposits.
Researchers found that ultrasound was helpful in predicting the maturation of chronic kidney disease patients' arteriovenous fistula, based on an assessment of data from 602 patients who had newly created single-stage upper extremity AVF, according to findings in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. The researchers conducted ultrasound standardized mapping prior to surgery and performed ultrasound AVF evaluation at various periods after the operation.
A study in a radiology journal showed that an artificial intelligence model with radiologist-provided BI-RADS classification had significantly better performance, compared with an AI model without BI-RADS data. "The results have successfully demonstrated that a radiologist-augmented workflow is feasible in AI, allowing better management of patients and disease classification," said researcher Dr. Adarsh Ghosh.
A new publication released by the National Academy of Medicine highlighted the importance of a system's EHR interoperability and health data exchange capabilities when purchasing health IT devices and solutions. The group's health care industry experts recommend purchasing health IT tools from different vendors, implementing procurement strategies or certain standards when selecting or purchasing EHRs and health IT tools, creating interoperability steering groups across the organization and developing procurement specifications.
A study in Hepatology showed an association between consuming 0.5 to 1.5 alcoholic drinks daily and a reduced risk of overall mortality among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, compared with those who did not drink. The findings, based on 4,568 NAFLD patients from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, showed that consuming at 1.5 or more alcoholic drinks daily had a significant harmful effect after adjusting for age, smoking history and sex.
Performing a liver biopsy using three fanning needle motions resulted in better tissue yields than using single needle throw, according to a presentation by Rafael Ching-Companioni, MD, from the Geisinger Medical Center in Pennsylvania, at the ACG Annual Scientific Meeting. The use of three fanning needle motions led to more complete portal tracts in the right lobe, the study showed.
Researchers evaluated 28 pregnancies of women who developed primary hyperparathyroidism, with 12 medically treated and diagnosed before 28 weeks, 10 medically treated and diagnosed after 28 weeks and six surgically treated. Researchers found the "rate of pre-eclampsia and [preterm] delivery was higher in medically managed patients" compared with those who received parathyroid surgery.
The CMS released a proposed rule to require pharmaceutical firms to disclose the list prices of prescription drugs in direct-to-consumer television advertisements. CMS Administrator Seema Verma said the proposal, which would apply to all prescription drugs covered by Medicare and Medicaid except drugs with list prices of less than $35 per month, would give patients the information they need to make informed decisions.
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