Diagnostics最新文献

{"title":"The Value of Baseline [¹⁸F]FDG-PET in Predicting the Progression-Free Survival in Patients with Thymic Epithelial Tumours: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Alberto Miceli, Maria Librando, Francesco Dondi, Lorenzo Jonghi-Lavarini, Adriana D'Antonio, Antonio Mura, Anna Giulia Nappi, Guido Rovera, Maria Silvia De Feo, Giulia Santo, Francesco Lanfranchi","doi":"10.3390/diagnostics15192458","DOIUrl":"10.3390/diagnostics15192458","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives:</b> [¹⁸F]FDG-PET is often used for staging thymic epithelial tumours (TETs). However, its prognostic role remains uncertain. The aim of this present systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the prognostic value of baseline [¹⁸F]FDG-PET-derived semiquantitative parameters in predicting progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with TETs. <b>Methods:</b> A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched up to 30 May 2025. Studies evaluating the prognostic impact of [¹⁸F]FDG-PET parameters on PFS in TETs were included. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. <b>Results:</b> Six retrospective studies involving 593 patients were included. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), analysed as a continuous variable in four studies, significantly predicted worse PFS (HR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.08-1.29, <i>p</i> < 0.001), with high inter-study heterogeneity (I² = 79.7%). When dichotomized (two studies), higher SUVmax was associated with significantly poorer PFS (HR: 9.00, 95% CI: 2.93-27.71). Similarly, mean SUV (SUVmean) as a continuous predictor was also significantly associated with impaired PFS (HR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.25-1.59), but only two studies assessed this parameter. Conversely, metabolic tumour volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG), both assessed as continuous prognosticators, did not show a significant prognostic value. Notably, in both MTV and TLG analyses, two studies contributed a weight of 0%, reflecting limited precision and highlighting the need for larger data. <b>Conclusions:</b> Baseline [¹⁸F]FDG-PET parameters such as SUVmax and SUVmean showed a potential prognostic value in patients with TETs. However, these results are based on a limited number of retrospective studies with significant heterogeneity. Prospective multicentre investigations are necessary to confirm the potential role of [¹⁸F]FDG-PET for risk stratification in TETs.</p>","PeriodicalId":11225,"journal":{"name":"Diagnostics","volume":"15 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12523372/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145299079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Boerhaave Syndrome-Narrative Review.","authors":"Dragos Predescu, Florin Achim, Bogdan Socea, Alexandru Rotariu, Alex-Claudiu Moraru, Anthony Rasuceanu, Carmen Constantin, Cristian Gelu Rosianu, Adrian Constantin","doi":"10.3390/diagnostics15192463","DOIUrl":"10.3390/diagnostics15192463","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Boerhaave syndrome (BS) and subsequent septic mediastinitis represent a complex cascade of events from esophageal perforation to septic shock. The pathophysiology involves chemical injury, polymicrobial contamination, cytokine storm, endothelial dysfunction, coagulation disorders, and ultimately multiple organ failure. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for proper therapeutic management that can interrupt this lethal sequence. Due to the complexity of this condition, it is almost impossible to develop a feasible treatment protocol for every situation. The article, through a literature review, evaluates the pathophysiological mechanisms, the consequences of spontaneous esophageal rupture, as well as the therapeutic techniques available for these situations. These elements are the basis of the management of spontaneous esophageal rupture, which involves adapting and customizing the treatment for each patient.</p>","PeriodicalId":11225,"journal":{"name":"Diagnostics","volume":"15 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12524210/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145299147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"AI-Based 3D-Segmentation Quantifies Sarcopenia in Multiple Myeloma Patients.","authors":"Thuy-Duong Do, Tobias Nonnenmacher, Marieke Burghardt, Stefanie Zschaebitz, Marina Hajiyianni, Elias Karl Mai, Marc-Steffen Raab, Carsten Müller-Tidow, Hans-Ulrich Kauczor, Hartmut Goldschmidt, Ulrike Dapunt","doi":"10.3390/diagnostics15192466","DOIUrl":"10.3390/diagnostics15192466","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Sarcopenia is characterized by a loss of muscle mass and strength, resulting in functional limitations and an increased risk of falls, injuries and fractures. The aim of this study was to obtain detailed information on skeletal muscle changes in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) during treatment. <b>Methods:</b> A total of 51 patients diagnosed with MM who had undergone whole-body low-dose computed tomography acquisition prior to induction therapy (T1) and post autologous stem cell transplantation (T2) were examined retrospectively. Total volume (TV), muscle volume (MV) and intramuscular adipose tissue volume (IMAT) of the autochthonous back muscles, the iliopsoas muscle and the gluteal muscles were evaluated on the basis of the resulting masks of the BOA tool with the fully automated combination of TotalSegmentator and a body composition analysis. An in-house trained artificial intelligence network was used to obtain a fully automated three-dimensional segmentation assessment. <b>Results:</b> Patients' median age was 58 years (IQR 52-66), 38 were male and follow-up CT-scans were performed after a mean of 11.8 months (SD ± 3). Changes in MV and IMAT correlated significantly with Body-Mass-Index (BMI) (r = 0.7, <i>p</i> < 0.0001). Patients (<i>n</i> = 28) with a decrease in BMI (mean -2.2 kg/m²) during therapy lost MV (T1: 3419 cm³, IQR 3176-4000 cm³ vs. T2: 3226 cm³, IQR 3014-3662 cm³, <i>p</i> < 0.0001) whereas patients (<i>n</i> = 20) with an increased BMI (mean +1.4 kg/m²) showed an increase in IMAT (T1: 122 cm³, IQR 96.8-202.8 cm³ vs. T2: 145.5 cm³, IQR 115-248 cm³, <i>p</i> = 0.0002). Loss of MV varied between different muscle groups and was most prominent in the iliopsoas muscle (-9.8%) > gluteus maximus (-9.1%) > gluteus medius (-5.8%) > autochthonous back muscles (-4.3%) > gluteus minimus (-1.5%). Increase in IMAT in patients who gained weight was similar between muscle groups. <b>Conclusions:</b> The artificial intelligence-based three-dimensional segmentation process is a reliable and time-saving method to acquire in-depth information on sarcopenia in MM patients. Loss of MV and increase in IMAT were reliably detectable and associated with changes in BMI. Loss of MV was highest in muscles with more type 2 muscle fibers (fast-twitch, high energy) whereas muscles with predominantly type 1 fibers (slow-twitch, postural control) were less affected. This study provides valuable insight into muscle changes of MM patients during treatment, which might aid in tailoring exercise interventions more precisely to patients' needs.</p>","PeriodicalId":11225,"journal":{"name":"Diagnostics","volume":"15 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12523729/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145299013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of Refractive Outcomes Between Small Lenticule Extraction Using a 500 KHz and a 2 MHz Femtosecond Laser.","authors":"Jung Wan Kim, Youngsub Eom, Dong Hyun Kim, Ji Won Jeong, Seh Kwang Park, Jong Suk Song","doi":"10.3390/diagnostics15192450","DOIUrl":"10.3390/diagnostics15192450","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives</b>: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of correcting myopia and myopic astigmatism between small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) surgery performed using VisuMax 500 and that using VisuMax 800. <b>Methods</b>: Patients who underwent myopia correction using either VisuMax 500 (493 eyes of 249 patients) or VisuMax 800 (169 eyes of 85 patients) employing the nomogram of VisuMax 500 were enrolled in this retrospective case-control study. At 2 months after the operation, the percentage of eyes achieving a postoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) of 20/20 and residual refractive error were compared between the two groups. Additionally, the percentage of eyes with refractive astigmatism angle of error within ±15° and the mean absolute angle of error were analyzed. <b>Results</b>: In the VisuMax 500 and 800 groups, 99% and 97% of eyes achieved a postoperative UDVA of 20/20, respectively. Postoperative residual astigmatism was similar between the two groups, but residual myopia was significantly lower in the VisuMax 800 group (-0.09 ± 0.50 cylinder diopters [CD]) compared to the VisuMax 500 group (-0.21 ± 0.49 CD; <i>p</i>-value = 0.005). Additionally, 84% of eyes in the VisuMax 800 group achieved astigmatism correction within ±15° of the intended meridian, significantly outperforming the 71% in the VisuMax 500 group (<i>p</i>-value = 0.002), with a significantly smaller mean absolute angle of error (8.3 ± 12.2° and 14.1 ± 20.1°; <i>p</i>-value < 0.001). <b>Conclusions</b>: Both VisuMax 500 and VisuMax 800 effectively corrected myopia. However, in terms of the accuracy of astigmatism axis correction, VisuMax 800 demonstrated superior precision compared to VisuMax 500. This study may be limited by perceived bias associated with evaluating two platforms from the same manufacturer.</p>","PeriodicalId":11225,"journal":{"name":"Diagnostics","volume":"15 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12523262/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145299111","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Maresin-1 and S-Equol as Emerging Metabolic Biomarkers in Gestational Diabetes-Associated Inflammation.","authors":"Seyda Yavuzkir, Derya Kardas Cinar, Ahmet Cinar, Furkan Bildirici, Suleyman Aydin","doi":"10.3390/diagnostics15192439","DOIUrl":"10.3390/diagnostics15192439","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives:</b> The most prevalent metabolic condition during pregnancy is gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), typically diagnosed in the second or third trimester and absent prior to gestation, with a reported prevalence ranging between 1% and 14%. Although the pathogenesis of GDM is thought to involve increased insulin resistance, impaired beta-cell function and mass, and a heightened inflammatory state, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Thus, the purpose of this study was to look into any possible relationships between GDM and particular inflammatory biomarkers (Maresin-1 [MaR-1], high-sensitivity-C-reactive protein [Hs-CRP]) as well as microbiota-derived metabolites (Trimethylamine-N-oxide [TMAO], S-Equol, and Indoxyl Sulfate [IS]). <b>Methods:</b> A total of 44 pregnant women were enrolled in this study, comprising 22 women with GDM and 22 healthy pregnant controls. Venous blood samples were collected, and serum levels of TMAO, IS, Hs-CRP, MaR-1, and S-Equol were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). <b>Results:</b> Serum levels of MaR-1 and S-Equol were significantly reduced in the GDM group compared to healthy controls (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In contrast, no statistically significant differences were observed in the levels of TMAO, IS, or Hs-CRP between the GDM and control groups (<i>p</i> > 0.05). <b>Conclusions:</b> The observed reductions in MaR-1 and S-Equol levels among GDM patients suggest a potential role for these anti-inflammatory mediators in the inflammatory processes associated with GDM. That is, these findings imply that the advantages of using these MaR-1 and S-Equol could be predictive for GDM.</p>","PeriodicalId":11225,"journal":{"name":"Diagnostics","volume":"15 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12523816/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145299098","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hepatic Focal Lesion Suspicious for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Patient with a History of Post-Traumatic Splenectomy: The Challenge of Differential Diagnosis with Intrahepatic Splenosis-Literature Review and Case Report.","authors":"Andrea Lanzafame, Giulio Perrone, Andrea Campisi, Francesco Razionale, Elena Panettieri, Enza Genco, Maria Cristina Giustiniani, Alessandro Coppola, Felice Giuliante, Francesco Ardito","doi":"10.3390/diagnostics15192442","DOIUrl":"10.3390/diagnostics15192442","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Hepatic splenosis (HS) is a rare para-physiological condition resulting from the ectopic implantation of splenic tissue, most commonly following traumatic or surgical splenectomy. Its radiological features can mimic those of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), potentially leading to misdiagnosis and unnecessary invasive procedures, such as biopsies or liver resection. <b>Methods:</b> A literature review was conducted using the PubMed database to identify all reported cases of HS. <b>Case Presentation</b>: We report the case of a 52-year-old male with an incidental finding of a liver lesion in segment V, initially suspected to be HCC, and a history of post-traumatic splenectomy. The patient had no history of underlying liver disease. Due to the lesion's superficial location, a biopsy was not performed because of the risk of tumor rupture with subsequent bleeding or peritoneal seeding. Consequently, the patient underwent upfront laparoscopic anatomic segmentectomy of segment V. Final pathology revealed a diagnosis of intrahepatic splenosis. <b>Conclusions</b>: HS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of liver lesions in patients with a history of splenectomy but no underlying liver disease, particularly when imaging shows features suggestive of HCC, such as arterial phase hyperenhancement and portal venous washout. Awareness of this entity may prevent unnecessary invasive interventions and guide appropriate patient management.</p>","PeriodicalId":11225,"journal":{"name":"Diagnostics","volume":"15 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12523540/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145299081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hepatic and Pulmonary Vasoactive Response Triggered by Potentially Hazardous Chemicals After Passing Through the Gut Mucosa.","authors":"Mircea Dragoteanu, Ștefan Tolea, Ioana Duca, Raluca Mititelu, Kalevi Kairemo","doi":"10.3390/diagnostics15192444","DOIUrl":"10.3390/diagnostics15192444","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives</b>: In a previous study, we observed significantly prolonged hepatic and pulmonary first-pass transit times (TTs) for ^99mTc-pertechnetate absorbed through the colorectal mucosa during per-rectal portal scintigraphy (PRPS). This decrease in radiotracer flow velocity was not seen when ^99mTc-pertechnetate was administered into the spleen during trans-splenic portal scintigraphy or injected intravenously in radionuclide angiocardiography. We hypothesized that ^99mTc-pertechnetate, an artificial compound, is recognized during colorectal absorption as a potentially hazardous chemical (PHC), with its hepatic and pulmonary slowdown aiding elimination. A similar sudden decrease in portal flow occurs during early metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC), as shown by a pathological rise in the hepatic perfusion index. We aimed to study the hepatic and pulmonary vasoactive responses triggered by PHCs after they pass through the gut mucosa and evaluate the potential activation of this mechanism in early CRC metastasis. <b>Methods</b>: We measured transit times to determine whether hepatic and pulmonary vasoconstriction occur in response to radiotracers administered at different sites. We performed PRPS with in vivo ^99mTc-labelled RBC to evaluate the liver transit time (LTT) and right heart to liver circulation time (RHLT). Liver angioscintigraphy (LAS) was used to assess RHLT following the intravenous injection of ^99mTc-pertechnetate and ^99mTc-HDP (hydroxyethylene-diphosphate). Lower rectum transmucosal dynamic scintigraphy (LR-TMDS) was conducted to measure RHLT of ^99mTc-pertechnetate delivered into the lower rectum submucosa. LAS was performed to assess LTT for ^99mTc-HDP intravenously injected and delivered to the gut mucosa via arterial flow. <b>Results:</b> In healthy volunteers, PRPS showed notably increased LTT, ranging from 23.5 to 25.5 s, and RHLT (between 39.5 and 42.5 s) for in vivo ^99mTc-labelled RBC. Significantly lower RHLT values ranging from 9 to 13.5 were observed for ^99mTc-pertechnetate and ^99mTc-HDP administered intravenously during LAS, as well as for ^99mTc-pertechnetate at LR-TMDS (between 12 and 15 s). The LTT assessed at LAS for ^99mTc-HDP ranged from 22 to 27 s. <b>Conclusions</b>: An intense vasoconstriction occurs in the liver and lungs in response to substances recognized by the body as PHCs when they pass through the gut mucosa, aiding their elimination.</p>","PeriodicalId":11225,"journal":{"name":"Diagnostics","volume":"15 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12523539/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145299068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reliability of Prediction Models for the Functional Classification of a Sinusoidal Intraocular Lens Depending on Pupil Diameter.","authors":"Diego Montagud-Martínez, Walter D Furlan, Vicente Ferrando, Manuel Rodríguez-Vallejo, Joaquín Fernández","doi":"10.3390/diagnostics15192446","DOIUrl":"10.3390/diagnostics15192446","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> To assess the agreement among prediction models for the functional classification of intraocular lenses (IOLs) and discuss their limitations in evaluating pupil dependency of a sinusoidal IOL. <b>Methods:</b> An ISO-compliant optical bench setup with modifications to characterize the modulation transfer function area (MTFa) across pupil diameters from 1.5 to 5.5 mm was used to measure the Acriva Trinova Pro C Pupil Adaptive IOL. Six prediction models (Vega et al., 2018, Fernández et al., 2019, Alarcón et al., 2016, Armengol et al., 2020 were applied to estimate visual acuity defocus curves from MTFa and functional classification based on the depth-of-field (DOFi) and the increase in visual acuity (ΔVA) from intermediate to near. <b>Results:</b> Defocus curves for all prediction models consistently demonstrated a Full-DOFi response (>2.3 D at 0.2 logMAR), with differences in ΔVA emerging across pupil diameters. Continuous decreases (ΔVA < 0.05 logMAR) were observed at pupil diameters <2.5 mm, while Smooth transitions (ΔVA from 0.05 to 0.14 logMAR) occurred between 2.5-3.0 mm for all models except for Vega. At pupil diameters >3.5 mm, most models transitioned to a Steep classification (ΔVA ≥ 0.14 logMAR), except Fernández, which remained Smooth, and Armengol 2020a, which shifted to Steep at 4.0 mm. <b>Conclusions:</b> Visual acuity prediction models provide useful means of reporting optical bench data in clinically familiar metrics. However, outcomes should be interpreted with caution as functional classifications can vary depending on the optical bench setup and prediction model used.</p>","PeriodicalId":11225,"journal":{"name":"Diagnostics","volume":"15 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12523859/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145299226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Laboratory Validation of a Fully Automated Point-of-Care Device for High-Order Multiplexing Real-Time PCR Detection of Respiratory Pathogens.","authors":"Libby C W Li, Deborah M S Tai, Anita Yee, Nancy B Y Tsui, Parker Y L Tsang, Sunny L H Chu, Chui Ting Leung, Bernice K W Leung, Winston Wong, Firaol Tamiru Kebede, Pete Y M Leung, Teresa Chung, Cyril C Y Yip, Jonathan H K Chen, Rosana W S Poon, Kelvin K W To, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Manson Fok, Johnson Y N Lau, Lok Ting Lau","doi":"10.3390/diagnostics15192445","DOIUrl":"10.3390/diagnostics15192445","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives</b>: We have previously reported the engineering of a point-of-care (POC) system that fully automates the procedures for nucleic acid extraction and multiplexed real-time RT-PCR, with a major advantage of high-level multiplexing. In this study, we applied and validated the system in a respiratory tract infection setting. <b>Methods</b>: An automatic nested real-time RT-PCR assay was developed (POCm). It was a 40-plex assay that simultaneously detected 39 epidemiologically important respiratory pathogens in 1.5 h in the POC system. The analytical and clinical performance was evaluated. <b>Results</b>: The analytical sensitivities of the POCm assay were comparable to those of its single-plex counterparts performed manually on a bench-top. The minimum detectable concentrations ranged from 53 copies/mL to 5.3 × 10³ copies/mL for all pathogen targets except hCoV-NL63 (5.3 × 10⁴ copies/mL). The quantitative performance was demonstrated by the linear correlations between Ct values and input concentrations for all pathogen targets, with 24 of them demonstrating coefficients of correlation (r) greater than 0.9. The POCm assay was subsequently evaluated in 283 clinical samples. A high level of agreement (98.2-100%) was achieved for pathogen detection results between POCm and standard diagnostic methods. The POCm result was also fully concordant with the result of another commercial POC multiplex platform. For positive clinical samples, pairwise Ct values measured by POCm closely correlated with those of the bench-top reference method (r = 0.70). The feasibility of mutation genotyping of the viral subtype was further demonstrated. <b>Conclusions</b>: This study demonstrated the practicality of POCm for routine testing in clinical laboratories. Further clinical trials are being conducted to evaluate the clinical performance of the system.</p>","PeriodicalId":11225,"journal":{"name":"Diagnostics","volume":"15 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12523385/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145298953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"\"Not All That Glitters Is Gold\": Paraspinal Cavernous Hemangioma Mimicking Paraganglioma on Somatostatin Receptor PET/CT.","authors":"Cesare Michele Iacovitti, Ivan Cabrilo, Chiara Martinello, Marco Cuzzocrea, Gaetano Paone, Giorgio Treglia","doi":"10.3390/diagnostics15192456","DOIUrl":"10.3390/diagnostics15192456","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We report the case of a 77-year-old male with a paraspinal mass at the Th11 level. Given its morphology and location, CT and MRI findings raised the suspicion of paraganglioma. A somatostatin receptor positron emission tomography/contrast-enhanced-CT (SSTR-PET/CE-CT) scan with Gallium-68 DOTATATE, performed for staging of suspected paraganglioma, demonstrated intense tracer uptake in the lesion, reinforcing the suspicion of a neuroendocrine tumor with increased SSTR expression. However, histopathology demonstrated a cavernous hemangioma with partial sclerosis, and immunohistochemistry showed strong endothelial SSTR expression. This case highlights the possibility of false-positive findings on SSTR PET/CT, as a cavernous hemangioma may closely mimic paraspinal paraganglioma in both imaging appearance and tracer uptake pattern. Notably, the intense tracer accumulation in this case was not solely related to the lesion's hypervascularity but predominantly to the marked endothelial overexpression of SSTR demonstrated on immunohistochemistry.</p>","PeriodicalId":11225,"journal":{"name":"Diagnostics","volume":"15 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12523532/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145298915","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}