Role of Plain Abdominal X-Ray in the Differential Diagnosis of Common Acute Abdominal Conditions in Children at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria

Background: The plain abdominal x-ray is one of the commonly requested investigations in the children emergency room, paediatric surgical ward and neonatal wards. The short interval required to carry out this investigative procedure and obtain results makes it the first imaging modality used to unravel the different causes of acute abdominal conditions in children. The safety of abdominal x-ray in children makes it attractive for use in paediatric surgical practice as part of routine work-up for undifferentiated acute abdominal conditions and also to diagnose specific causes of acute abdomen in children. Setting: Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State. Objectives: Evaluation of the role of plain abdominal x-ray in diagnosing common acute abdominal conditions in children. Materials and method: Patients admitted to the children emergency room, paediatric surgical wards, children’s ward and neonatal ward who had plain abdominal x-ray as part of their diagnostic work-up were included in the study. They were studied prospectively between March 2011 and April 2021. Results: Three Hundred and Ninety-nine patients who had plain abdominal x-rays as part of their diagnostic work-up were studied. Males were 240 while females were 159, a male to female ratio of 1.5:1. The patients were aged between 1 day to 16 years. Differential diagnoses made with plain abdominal x-ray were intestinal obstruction in 298, perforated viscus 69 patients, intra-abdominal masses 13 patients and location of intra-abdominal foreign body 14. Intestinal obstruction cases in which plain abdominal x-ray played a role in their diagnosis and management included the following: intussusception 66, neonatal sepsis 60, malrotation 48, intestinal atresia 42, anorectal malformation 32, hirschsprung’s disease in 30 cases, pyloric stenosis 24, obstructed hernia 22, post-operative adhesions 16 and intestinal helminthiasis 12. Perforated viscus accounted for 69 indications. Out of these indications, perforated gut in intussusception 19, perforated typhoid ileitis was responsible in 13 cases, gut perforation in blunt abdominal trauma 8, perforation in strangulated hernia 11 cases, perforated gut in malrotation 7, ceacal perforation in hirschsprugs disease 6 and colonic perforation in necrotizing enterocolitis 5 cases. Conclusion: Plain abdominal x-ray remains a role to play in the differential diagnosis and management of common paediatric acute abdominal conditions.

Application of molybdenum target X-ray photography in imaging analysis of caudal intervertebral disc degeneration in rats

BACKGROUND Conventional plain X-ray images of rats,the most common animals used as degeneration models,exhibit unclear vertebral structure and blurry intervertebral disc spaces due to their small size,slender vertebral bodies.AIM To apply molybdenum target X-ray photography in the evaluation of caudal intervertebral disc(IVD)degeneration in rat models.METHODS Two types of rat caudal IVD degeneration models(needle-punctured model and endplate-destructed model)were established,and their effectiveness was verified using nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.Molybdenum target inspection and routine plain X-ray were then performed on these models.Additionally,four observers were assigned to measure the intervertebral height of degenerated segments on molybdenum target plain X-ray images and routine plain X-ray images,respectively.The degeneration was evaluated and statistical analysis was subsequently conducted.RESULTS Nine rats in the needle-punctured model and 10 rats in the endplate-destructed model were effective.Compared with routine plain X-ray images,molybdenum target plain X-ray images showed higher clarity,stronger contrast,as well as clearer and more accurate structural development.The McNemar test confirmed that the difference was statistically significant(P=0.031).In the two models,the reliability of the intervertebral height measured by the four observers on routine plain X-ray images was poor(ICC<0.4),while the data obtained from the molybdenum target plain X-ray images were more reliable.CONCLUSIONMolybdenum target inspection can obtain clearer images and display fine calcification in the imaging evaluation of caudal IVD degeneration in rats,thus ensuring a more accurate evaluation of degeneration.

肋骨骨折各种影像学诊断价值及对比分析

目的探讨肋骨骨折各种影像学诊断价值并对其进行对比分析。方法63例单发或多发肋骨骨折患者共196处分别进行如下检查:X线平片29例;CR47例;SCT胸部横断11例并薄层重建,薄层横断、倾斜扫描各12例,共35例薄层行2DMPR、3DSSD及MIP重建;MSCT胸部28例并薄层重建2DMPR、3DVR及MIP重建。结果X线平片、CR、SCT诊断率分别为76.67%、87.68%和94.44%,三者差异有显著性(P<0.05),即SCT扫描优于CR图像,CR图像优于X线平片。SCT扫描与薄层重建及横断、倾斜扫描、MSCT扫描与薄层重建诊断率分别为94.44%、100%、100%、100%、95.18%和100%,六者差异无显著性(P>0.05),以薄层显示效果好,诊断率均达100%,为诊断标准。2D重建起辅助诊断作用。SCT及3DSSD、MIP重建、MSCT及3DVR、MIP重建可立体、形象显示骨折,定位效果好,但对轻微骨折显示欠佳,诊断率分别为94.69%、95.58%、97.59%和96.39%,四者差异无显著性(P>0.05)。结论SCT、MSCT及其2D、3D重建对肋骨骨折的诊断具有明显的优势,与X线平片或CR的联合应用,具有良好的定性、定量及定位诊断作用。

Role of different imaging modalities of vascular calcification in predicting outcomes in chronic kidney disease

Vascular calcification(VC) is common among patientswith chronic kidney disease(CKD).The severity of VC is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality.Risk factors for VC include traditional cardiovascular risk factors as well as CKD-related risk factors such as increased calcium and phosphate load.VC is observed in arteries of all sizes from small arterioles to aorta,both in the intima and the media of arterial wall.Several imaging techniques have been utilized in the evaluation of the extent and the severity of VC.Plain radiographs are simple and readily available but with the limitation of decreased sensitivity and subjective and semi-quantitative quantification methods.Mammography,especially useful among women,offers a unique way to study breast arterial calcification,which is largely a medial-type calcification.Ultrasonography is suitable for calcification in superficial arteries.Analyses of wall thickness and lumen size are also possible.Computed tomography(CT) scan,the gold standard,is the most sensitive technique for evaluation of VC.CT scan of coronary artery calcification is not only useful for cardiovascular risk stratification but also offers an accurate and an objective analysis of the severity and progression.

Prediction of the Elastic Properties of a Plain Woven Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composite with Internal Geometric Variability

A statistical analysis of the yarn parameters of a plain woven carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite was conducted using X-ray micro-computed tomography data.An algorithm based on the correlated Gaussian random sequence was proposed to construct statistically equivalent yarns,which were introduced into a numerical multiscale model.A representative volume element was created to evaluate the macroscopic elastic properties of the composite.The predicted elastic constants showed a good agreement with experimental data obtained from tensile,compressive,and shear tests.This showed the importance of considering internal geometric variability for obtaining accurate simulation results.Finally,the performance of an electric vehicle back door made of the composite material was calculated by finite element analysis.The weight of the back door system was reduced by 47.45%,and performance results showed an excellent prospect of using lightweight composites.