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Item Incentives in decentralised autonomous organisations(Elsevier, 2024-12) Piyarisi, Mevni Manarangi; Shalpegin, TimofeyItem Topography of Bone Erosions at the Metatarsophalangeal Joints in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Bilateral Mapping by Computed Tomography(Springer Nature, 2021-06) Simoni, Paolo; Moussaddykine, Sakina; Malaise, Olivier; Ben Mustapha, Selma; Aparisi Gómez, Maria Pilar; De Leucio, AlessandroObjectives
To describe the bilateral anatomical location of bone erosions (BE) at the metatarsophalangeal joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis using computed tomography.Materials and methods
Eighteen consecutive patients with established rheumatoid arthritis prospectively underwent computed tomography of both forefeet. Each joint surface of the metatarsal heads (MTH) and the proximal phalangeal bases were divided into four quadrants: superior, plantar, tibial, and fibular. The number of BE was cumulatively counted per patient, side, joint, per joint surface, and quadrant. Descriptive statistics, paired and unpaired samples t-tests, Pearson's correlation coefficients, ANOVA 2, and variance component analysis were performed.Results
There were 288 BE at the MTH and 66 at the proximal phalanges. The number of BE in one forefoot was a poor predictor of the absolute number of BE on the contralateral foot "r=0.54" and was unrelated to symptoms. The superior quadrants were less frequently affected than other quadrants for both the MTH "p<0.0001" and proximal phalanges "p<0.001." The tibial quadrant showed a higher number of BE compared to all other quadrants for MTH "p<0.03," proximal phalanges "p<0.01, and for the metatarsophalangeal joint as a whole "p<0.0001." Plantar and fibular quadrants were equally affected "p<0.05."Conclusion
BE were found more frequently on the tibial side of the MTH in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Item Radiological diagnosis of prevalent osteoporotic vertebral fracture on radiographs: an interim consensus from a group of experts of the ESSR osteoporosis and metabolism subcommittee(Springer Nature, 2024-12) Wáng, Yì Xiáng J; Diacinti, Daniele; Aparisi Gómez, Maria Pilar; Santiago, Fernando Ruiz; Becce, Fabio; Tagliafico, Alberto Stefano; Prakash, Mahesh; Isaac, Amanda; Dalili, Danoob; Griffith, James F; Guglielmi, Giuseppe; Bazzocchi, AlbertoWhen a low-energy trauma induces an acute vertebral fracture (VF) with clinical symptoms, a definitive diagnosis of osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) can be made. Beyond that, a "gold" radiographic standard to distinguish osteoporotic from non-osteoporotic VFs does not exist. Fracture-shaped vertebral deformity (FSVD) is defined as a deformity radiographically indistinguishable from vertebral fracture according to the best of the reading radiologist's knowledge. FSVD is not uncommon among young populations with normal bone strength. FSVD among an older population is called osteoporotic-like vertebral fracture (OLVF) when the FSVD is likely to be associated with compromised bone strength. In more severe grade deformities or when a vertebra is collapsed, OVF diagnosis can be made with a relatively high degree of certainty by experienced readers. In "milder" cases, OVF is often diagnosed based on a high probability rather than an absolute diagnosis. After excluding known mimickers, singular vertebral wedging in older women is statistically most likely an OLVF. For older women, three non-adjacent minimal grade OLVF (< 20% height loss), one minimal grade OLVF and one mild OLVF (20-25% height loss), or one OLVF with ≥ 25% height loss, meet the diagnosis of osteoporosis. For older men, a single OLVF with < 40% height loss may be insufficient to suggest the subject is osteoporotic. Common OLVF differential diagnoses include X-ray projection artifacts and scoliosis, acquired and developmental short vertebrae, osteoarthritic wedging, oncological deformities, deformity due to high-energy trauma VF, lateral hyperosteogeny of a vertebral body, Cupid's bow, and expansive endplate, among others.Item Proliferative Fasciitis of the Hand in a Nine-Year-Old Girl: A Case Report and Review of the Literature(Springer Nature, 2020-01) Preziosi, Marco; De Saint Aubain, Nicolas; Aparisi Gómez, Maria P; Simoni, PaoloProliferative fasciitis (PF) of the hand is a rare condition, which typically occurs in adulthood. To date, only two dozen cases of PF have been reported in children. This benign condition can mimic malignant soft tissue tumors such as soft tissue sarcoma. We present a case of histopathologically confirmed PF of the fifth right finger in a nine-year-old girl, along with the imaging workup. We also provide a review of the previous literature on PF in children.Item Clinical indications for image-guided interventional procedures in the musculoskeletal system: a Delphi-based consensus paper from the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR)-part VII, nerves of the lower limb(Springer Nature, 2022-03) Sconfienza, Luca Maria; Adriaensen, Miraude; Albano, Domenico; Alcala-Galiano, Andrea; Allen, Georgina; Aparisi Gómez, Maria Pilar; Aringhieri, Giacomo; Bazzocchi, Alberto; Beggs, Ian; Chianca, Vito; Corazza, Angelo; Dalili, Danoob; De Dea, Miriam; Del Cura, Jose Luis; Di Pietto, Francesco; Drakonaki, Elena; Facal de Castro, Fernando; Filippiadis, Dimitrios; Gitto, Salvatore; Grainger, Andrew J; Greenwood, Simon; Gupta, Harun; Ivanoski, Slavcho; Khanna, Monica; Klauser, Andrea; Mansour, Ramy; Martin, Silvia; Mascarenhas, Vasco; Mauri, Giovanni; McCarthy, Catherine; McKean, David; McNally, Eugene; Melaki, Kalliopi; Messina, Carmelo; Miron Mombiela, Rebeca; Moutinho, Ricardo; Olchowy, Cyprian; Orlandi, Davide; Prada González, Raquel; Prakash, Mahesh; Posadzy, Magdalena; Rutkauskas, Saulius; Snoj, Žiga; Tagliafico, Alberto Stefano; Talaska, Alexander; Tomas, Xavier; Vasilevska Nikodinovska, Violeta; Vucetic, Jelena; Wilson, David; Zaottini, Federico; Zappia, Marcello; Isaac, AmandaObjectives
To perform a Delphi-based consensus on published evidence on image-guided interventional procedures for peripheral nerves of the lower limb (excluding Morton's neuroma) and provide clinical indications.Methods
We report the results of a Delphi-based consensus of 53 experts from the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology who reviewed the published literature for evidence on image-guided interventional procedures offered around peripheral nerves in the lower limb (excluding Morton's neuroma) to derive their clinical indications. Experts drafted a list of statements and graded them according to the Oxford Centre for evidence-based medicine levels of evidence. Consensus was considered strong when > 95% of experts agreed with the statement or broad when > 80% but < 95% agreed. The results of the Delphi-based consensus were used to write the paper.Results
Nine statements on image-guided interventional procedures for peripheral nerves of the lower limb have been drafted. All of them received strong consensus. Image-guided pudendal nerve block is safe, effective, and well tolerated with few complications. US-guided perisciatic injection of anesthetic provides good symptom relief in patients with piriformis syndrome; however, the addition of corticosteroids to local anesthetics still has an unclear role. US-guided lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block can be used to provide effective post-operative regional analgesia.Conclusion
Despite the promising results reported by published papers on image-guided interventional procedures for peripheral nerves of the lower limb, there is still a lack of evidence on the efficacy of most procedures.Key points
• Image-guided pudendal nerve block is safe, effective, and well tolerated with few complications. • US-guided perisciatic injection of anesthetic provides good symptom relief in patients with piriformis syndrome; however, the addition of corticosteroids to local anesthetics still has an unclear role. • US-guided lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block can be used to provide effective post-operative regional analgesia. The volume of local anesthetic affects the size of the blocked sensory area.Item Clinical indications for image-guided interventional procedures in the musculoskeletal system: a Delphi-based consensus paper from the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR)-part VI, foot and ankle(Springer Nature, 2022-02) Sconfienza, Luca Maria; Adriaensen, Miraude; Albano, Domenico; Alcala-Galiano, Andrea; Allen, Georgina; Aparisi Gómez, Maria Pilar; Aringhieri, Giacomo; Bazzocchi, Alberto; Beggs, Ian; Chianca, Vito; Corazza, Angelo; Dalili, Danoob; De Dea, Miriam; Del Cura, Jose Luis; Di Pietto, Francesco; Drakonaki, Elena; Facal de Castro, Fernando; Filippiadis, Dimitrios; Gitto, Salvatore; Grainger, Andrew J; Greenwood, Simon; Gupta, Harun; Isaac, Amanda; Ivanoski, Slavcho; Khanna, Monica; Klauser, Andrea; Mansour, Ramy; Martin, Silvia; Mascarenhas, Vasco; Mauri, Giovanni; McCarthy, Catherine; McKean, David; McNally, Eugene; Melaki, Kalliopi; Messina, Carmelo; Mirón Mombiela, Rebeca; Moutinho, Ricardo; Olchowy, Cyprian; Orlandi, Davide; Prada González, Raquel; Prakash, Mahesh; Posadzy, Magdalena; Rutkauskas, Saulius; Snoj, Žiga; Tagliafico, Alberto Stefano; Talaska, Alexander; Tomas, Xavier; Vasilevska Nikodinovska, Violeta; Vucetic, Jelena; Wilson, David; Zaottini, Federico; Zappia, Marcello; Obradov, MarinaObjectives
Clarity regarding accuracy and effectiveness for interventional procedures around the foot and ankle is lacking. Consequently, a board of 53 members of the Ultrasound and Interventional Subcommittees of the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR) reviewed the published literature to evaluate the evidence on image-guided musculoskeletal interventional procedures around this anatomical region.Methods
We report the results of a Delphi-based consensus of 53 experts from the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology who reviewed the published literature for evidence on image-guided interventional procedures offered around foot and ankle in order to derive their clinical indications. Experts drafted a list of statements and graded them according to the Oxford Centre for evidence-based medicine levels of evidence. Consensus was considered strong when > 95% of experts agreed with the statement or broad when > 80% but < 95% agreed. The results of the Delphi-based consensus were used to write the paper that was shared with all panel members for final approval.Results
A list of 16 evidence-based statements on clinical indications for image-guided musculoskeletal interventional procedures in the foot and ankle were drafted after a literature review. The highest level of evidence was reported for four statements, all receiving 100% agreement.Conclusion
According to this consensus, image-guided interventions should not be considered a first-level approach for treating Achilles tendinopathy, while ultrasonography guidance is strongly recommended to improve the efficacy of interventional procedures for plantar fasciitis and Morton's neuroma, particularly using platelet-rich plasma and corticosteroids, respectively.Key points
• The expert panel of the ESSR listed 16 evidence-based statements on clinical indications of image-guided musculoskeletal interventional procedures in the foot and ankle. • Strong consensus was obtained for all statements. • The highest level of evidence was reached by four statements concerning the effectiveness of US-guided injections of corticosteroid for Morton's neuroma and PRP for plantar fasciitis.Item Clinical indications for image-guided interventional procedures in the musculoskeletal system: a Delphi-based consensus paper from the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR)-part V, knee(Springer Nature, 2022-03) Sconfienza, Luca Maria; Adriaensen, Miraude; Albano, Domenico; Alcala-Galiano, Andrea; Allen, Georgina; Aparisi Gómez, Maria Pilar; Aringhieri, Giacomo; Bazzocchi, Alberto; Beggs, Ian; Chianca, Vito; Corazza, Angelo; Dalili, Danoob; De Dea, Miriam; Del Cura, Jose Luis; Di Pietto, Francesco; Drakonaki, Elena; Facal de Castro, Fernando; Filippiadis, Dimitrios; Gitto, Salvatore; Grainger, Andrew J; Greenwood, Simon; Gupta, Harun; Isaac, Amanda; Ivanoski, Slavcho; Khanna, Monica; Klauser, Andrea; Mansour, Ramy; Martin, Silvia; Mascarenhas, Vasco; Mauri, Giovanni; McCarthy, Catherine; McKean, David; McNally, Eugene; Melaki, Kalliopi; Mirón Mombiela, Rebeca; Moutinho, Ricardo; Obradov, Marina; Olchowy, Cyprian; Orlandi, Davide; Prada González, Raquel; Prakash, Mahesh; Posadzy, Magdalena; Rutkauskas, Saulius; Snoj, Žiga; Stefano Tagliafico, Alberto; Talaska, Alexander; Tomas, Xavier; Vasilevska-Nikodinovska, Violeta; Vucetic, Jelena; Wilson, David; Zaottini, Federico; Zappia, Marcello; Messina, CarmeloObjectives
Interventional procedures around the knee are widely adopted for treating different musculoskeletal conditions. A panel of experts from the Ultrasound and Interventional Subcommittees of the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR) reviewed the existing literature to assess the evidence on image-guided musculoskeletal interventional procedures around the knee, with the goal of highlighting some controversies associated with these procedures, specifically the role of imaging guidance, as well as the efficacy of the medications routinely injected.Methods
We report the results of a Delphi-based consensus of 53 experts in musculoskeletal radiology, who reviewed the published literature for evidence on image-guided interventional procedures around the knee to derive a list of pertinent clinical indications.Results
A list of 10 statements about clinical indications of image-guided procedures around the knee was created by a Delphi-based consensus. Only two of them had the highest level of evidence; all of them received 100% consensus.Conclusions
Ultrasonography guidance is strongly recommended for intra-articular and patellar tendinopathy procedures to ensure the precision and efficacy of these treatments. Prospective randomized studies remain warranted to better understand the role of imaging guidance and assess some of the medications used for interventional procedures around the knee.Key points
• A list of 10 evidence-based statements on clinical indications of image-guided interventional procedures around the knee was produced by an expert panel of the ESSR. • Strong consensus with 100% agreement was obtained for all statements. • Two statements reached the highest level of evidence, allowing us to strongly recommend the use of ultrasonography to guide intra-articular and patellar tendon procedures to ensure higher accuracy and efficacy of these treatments.Item Clinical indications for image-guided interventional procedures in the musculoskeletal system: a Delphi-based consensus paper from the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR)-part IV, hip(Springer Nature, 2022-01) Sconfienza, Luca Maria; Adriaensen, Miraude; Alcala-Galiano, Andrea; Allen, Georgina; Aparisi Gómez, Maria Pilar; Aringhieri, Giacomo; Bazzocchi, Alberto; Beggs, Ian; Chianca, Vito; Corazza, Angelo; Dalili, Danoob; De Dea, Miriam; Del Cura, Jose Luis; Di Pietto, Francesco; Drakonaki, Elena; de Castro, Fernando Facal; Filippiadis, Dimitrios; Gitto, Salvatore; Grainger, Andrew J; Greenwood, Simon; Gupta, Harun; Isaac, Amanda; Ivanoski, Slavcho; Khanna, Monica; Klauser, Andrea; Mansour, Ramy; Martin, Silvia; Mascarenhas, Vasco; Mauri, Giovanni; McCarthy, Catherine; McKean, David; McNally, Eugene; Melaki, Kalliopi; Messina, Carmelo; Mombiela, Rebeca Mirón; Moutinho, Ricardo; Obradov, Marina; Olchowy, Cyprian; Orlandi, Davide; González, Raquel Prada; Prakash, Mahesh; Posadzy, Magdalena; Rutkauskas, Saulius; Snoj, Žiga; Tagliafico, Alberto Stefano; Talaska, Alexander; Tomas, Xavier; Vasilevska Nikodinovska, Violeta; Vucetic, Jelena; Wilson, David; Zaottini, Federico; Zappia, Marcello; Albano, DomenicoObjectives
Image-guided musculoskeletal interventional procedures around the hip are widely used in daily clinical practice. The need for clarity concerning the actual added value of imaging guidance and types of medications to be offered led the Ultrasound and the Interventional Subcommittees of the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR) to promote, with the support of its Research Committee, a collaborative project to review the published literature on image-guided musculoskeletal interventional procedures in the lower limb in order to derive a list of clinical indications.Methods
In this article, we report the results of a Delphi-based consensus of 53 experts who reviewed the published literature for evidence on image-guided interventional procedures offered in the joint and soft tissues around the hip in order of their clinical indications.Results
Ten statements concerning image-guided treatment procedures around the hip have been collected by the panel of ESSR experts.Conclusions
This work highlighted that there is still low evidence in the existing literature on some of these interventional procedures. Further large prospective randomized trials are essential to better confirm the benefits and objectively clarify the role of imaging to guide musculoskeletal interventional procedures around the hip.Key points
• Expert consensus produced a list of 10 evidence-based statements on clinical indications of image-guided interventional procedures around the hip. • The highest level of evidence was only reached for one statement. • Strong consensus was obtained for all statements.Item Are Automated and Visual Greulich and Pyle-Based Methods Applicable to Caucasian European Children With a Moroccan Ethnic Origin When Assessing Bone Age?(Springer Nature, 2021-02) Boitsios, Grammatina; De Leucio, Alessandro; Preziosi, Marco; Seidel, Laurence; Aparisi Gómez, Maria P; Simoni, PaoloIntroduction To test the accuracy of the visual and automated bone age assessment base on the Greulich and Pyle (GP) method in healthy Caucasian European children with a Moroccan ethnic origin. Material and methods Moroccan Caucasian (MC) children were retrospectively and consecutively enrolled along with age- and sex-matched control group (CG) of European Caucasian (EC) children enrolled from the general population. The two groups included 423 children aged from 2 to 15 years with a normal left-hand radiograph performed to rule out a trauma between March 2008 and December 2017. One radiologist, blinded to the BoneXpert® (Visiana, Holte, Denmark) estimates, visually reviewed the radiographs using the GP atlas. The BoneXpert® automatically analysed all 423 radiographs. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), linear regression and Bland-Altman plots were performed to describe the agreement between each method and the chronological age (CA) and the agreement between the two methods. Results Visual bone age assessment was related to the CA in both girls (MC ICC 0.97; EC ICC 0.97) and boys (MC ICC 0.95; EC ICC 0.96). Automated bone age assessment was related to the CA in both girls (MC ICC 0.97; EC ICC 0.96) and boys (MC ICC 0.88; EC ICC 0.96). Bland-Altman plots showed an excellent agreement between the two methods in both sexes and ethnicities before puberty especially in Moroccan boys. Conclusion Visual and automatic bone age assessment based on the GP method, previously validated in the general population of Caucasian European children, can be confidently used in healthy Caucasian European children with a Moroccan ethnic origin.Item Anatomical variation in the ankle and foot: from incidental finding to inductor of pathology. Part I: ankle and hindfoot(Springer Nature, 2019-07) Aparisi Gómez, Maria Pilar; Aparisi, Francisco; Bartoloni, Alessandra; Ferrando Fons, Maria Alejandra; Battista, Giuseppe; Guglielmi, Giuseppe; Bazzocchi, AlbertoAccessory anatomical structures in the ankle and foot usually represent incidental imaging findings; however, they may also eventually represent a source of pathology, such as painful syndromes, degenerative changes, be the subject of overuse and trauma or appear as masses and cause compression syndromes or impingement.This review aims to describe and illustrate the imaging findings related to the presence of accessory ossicles and muscles in the ankle and hindfoot through different techniques, with special attention to those variants that associate factors of clinical relevance or that trigger challenges in the differential diagnosis.Item Epilogue(Queensland University of Technology, 2024) Suaalii-Sauni, Tamasailau; Lauganiu, TuivaluTamasailau Suaalii-Sauni and Tuivalu Lauganiu present an Epilogue for this special issue on Pacific CriminologyItem High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography: research or clinical practice?(Oxford University Press (OUP), 2023-10) Gazzotti, Silvia; Aparisi Gómez, Maria Pilar; Schileo, Enrico; Taddei, Fulvia; Sangiorgi, Luca; Fusaro, Maria; Miceli, Marco; Guglielmi, Giuseppe; Bazzocchi, AlbertoHigh-resolution peripheral quantitative CT (HR-pQCT) is a low-dose three-dimensional imaging technique, originally developed for in vivo assessment of bone microarchitecture at the distal radius and tibia in osteoporosis. HR-pQCT has the ability to discriminate trabecular and cortical bone compartments, providing densitometric and structural parameters. At present, HR-pQCT is mostly used in research settings, despite evidence showing that it may be a valuable tool in osteoporosis and other diseases. This review summarizes the main applications of HR-pQCT and addresses the limitations that currently prevent its integration into routine clinical practice. In particular, the focus is on the use of HR-pQCT in primary and secondary osteoporosis, chronic kidney disease (CKD), endocrine disorders affecting bone, and rare diseases. A section on novel potential applications of HR-pQCT is also present, including assessment of rheumatic diseases, knee osteoarthritis, distal radius/scaphoid fractures, vascular calcifications, effect of medications, and skeletal muscle. The reviewed literature seems to suggest that a more widespread implementation of HR-pQCT in clinical practice would offer notable opportunities. For instance, HR-pQCT can improve the prediction of incident fractures beyond areal bone mineral density provided by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. In addition, HR-pQCT may be used for the monitoring of anti-osteoporotic therapy or for the assessment of mineral and bone disorder associated with CKD. Nevertheless, several obstacles currently prevent a broader use of HR-pQCT and would need to be targeted, such as the small number of installed machines worldwide, the uncertain cost-effectiveness, the need for improved reproducibility, and the limited availability of reference normative data sets.Item Prevention and Treatment of Sarcopenic Obesity in Women(MDPI, 2019-06) Petroni, Maria L; Caletti, Maria T; Dalle Grave, Riccardo; Bazzocchi, Alberto; Aparisi Gómez, Maria P; Marchesini, GiulioSarcopenic obesity (SO) is referred to as the combination of obesity with low skeletal muscle mass and function. However, its definition and diagnosis is debated. SO represents a sizable risk factor for the development of disability, possibly with a worse prognosis in women. The present narrative review summarizes the current evidence on pharmacological, nutrition and exercise strategies on the prevention and/or treatment of SO in middle-aged and older-aged women. A literature search was carried out in Medline and Google Scholar between 29th January and 14th March 2019. Only controlled intervention studies on mid-age and older women whose focus was on the prevention and/or treatment of sarcopenia associated with obesity were included. Resistance training (RT) appears effective in the prevention of all components of SO in women, resulting in significant improvements in muscular mass, strength, and functional capacity plus loss of fat mass, especially when coupled with hypocaloric diets containing at least 0.8 g/kg body weight protein. Correction of vitamin D deficit has a favorable effect on muscle mass. Treatment of SO already established is yet unsatisfactory, although intense and prolonged RT, diets with higher (1.2 g/kg body weight) protein content, and soy isoflavones all look promising. However, further confirmatory research and trials combining different approaches are required.Item Editorial: Importance of body composition analysis in clinical nutrition(Frontiers, 2022-01) Bazzocchi, Alberto; Gazzotti, Silvia; Santarpia, Lidia; Madeddu, Clelia; Petroni, Maria Letizia; Aparisi Gómez, Maria PilarItem Vaping causes an acute BMI-dependent change in pulmonary blood flow(Wiley, 2024-10) Burrowes, KS; Seal, M; Noorababaee, L; Pontré, B; Dubowitz, D; Sá, RC; Prisk, GKVaping use has skyrocketed especially among young adults, however there is no consensus on how vaping impacts the lungs. We aimed to determine whether there were changes in lung function acutely after a standard vaping session or if there were differences in lung function metrics between a healthy never-vaping cohort (N = 6; 27.3 ± 3.0 years) and a young asymptomatic vaping cohort (N = 14; 26.4 ± 8.0 years) indicating chronic changes. Pulmonary function measurements and impulse oscillometry were obtained on all participants. Oxygen-enhanced and Arterial Spin Labelling MRI were used to measure specific ventilation and perfusion, respectively, before and after vaping, and in the control cohort at baseline. MRI metrics did not show any significant differences in specific ventilation or perfusion after vaping. Heart rate increased post-vaping (68.1 ± 10.5 to 71.3 ± 8.7, p = 0.020); however, this and other metrics did not show a nicotine dose-dependent effect. There was a significant negative correlation between BMI and change in mean perfusion post-vaping (p = 0.003); those with normal/low BMI showing an increase in perfusion and vice versa for high BMI. This may be due to subjects lying supine during vaping inhalation. Pulmonary function metrics indicative of airways resistance showed significant differences between the vaping and control cohorts indicating early airway changes.Item Green finance and job creation: Analyzing employment effects in China's manufacturing industry within green finance innovation and reform pilot zones(Elsevier BV, 2024-11) Fu, Bowen; Zhang, Yixiang; Maani, Sholeh; Wen, LeAs environmental issues related to global climate change intensify, green finance (GF) policies have emerged as vital tools for promoting sustainable development. This study examines the impact of GF policies on employment in China's manufacturing sector. Using unbalanced panel data of Chinese listed manufacturing enterprises from 2012 to 2021, and employing the difference-in-differences model, this study analyzes the impact of establishing China's GF innovation and reform pilot zones on manufacturing employment. The results show that the implementation of GF policies significantly increases employment in the manufacturing sector, with a more pronounced effect in non-state-owned enterprises, non-heavy-polluting industries, and high-tech manufacturing enterprises. Additionally, the study finds that GF policies alleviate financing constraints, enhancing employment levels in manufacturing enterprises. This research contributes to the existing literature by elucidating the employment effects of GF and providing insights for policymakers to use in fostering GF for economic growth.Item Novelties in slipped capital femoral epiphysis imaging: A narrative review(Elsevier, 2024-04) De Angelis, R; Aparisi Gomez, MP; Negro, G; Ikhlef, S; Fichera, G; Bazzocchi, A; Simoni, PRationale and objectives
Imaging plays a key role in Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis diagnosis and severity assessment. In the last two decades, signs and measurements emerged in literature showed potential to help in SCFE diagnosis and tailoring treatment. The purpose of this review is to collect and discuss new imaging signs, measurements, and techniques according to investigations published after 2000 to improve SCFE diagnosis.Material and methods
The PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct databases were used to search for relevant articles related to imaging in SCFE diagnosis from January 2000 to March 2023. Article selection and review was performed by two board-certified radiologists). Article quality assessment were conducted by authors using QUADAS-2 and SANRA evaluation tools.Results
The research resulted in a total of 2577 articles. After duplicates removal and abstract analysis, 28 articles were finally selected for full-text analysis. Seventeen articles were focused on Radiographs, 6 on CT, 1 on both Radiographs and CT, 4 on MRI. No study focused on ultrasound was selected.Conclusions
Use of modified Klein's line and S-sign may improve radiographs accuracy in daily routine. Lucency sign may help in early diagnosis on radiographs. Preoperative CT may be useful in planning a tailored treatment predicting SCFE severity and instability. MRI is the most accurate modality to diagnose SCFE at early stage. Nevertheless, it cannot be used to predict the risk of contralateral SCFE. Risk prediction can be assessed with radiographs, using a new rapid mOBS. Further investigation and validation of these sign is needed.Item Calcific Tendinopathy Atypically Located Outside the Rotator Cuff: A Systematic Review(Bentham Science Publishers, 2024) Delbello, Federica; Spinnato, Paolo; Aparisi Gomez, Maria PilarBACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Calcific tendinopathy is a common cause of painful shoulder easily identified with ultrasound or conventional radiography. Although the rotator cuff is by far the most common location of the disease and diagnostic or treatment strategies are well known in clinical practice, a lack of awareness characterizes the assessment of the other sites affected by this condition; consequently, the risk of underestimating the prevalence of atypical non-rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy is high. This may lead to expensive or invasive diagnostic exams and/or inappropriate treatment, whereas the condition is usually self-limited. The present study aims at analysing the frequency of calcific tendinitis in uncommon sites, in order to fill a gap in knowledge and awareness regarding non-rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy, thus avoiding improper clinical choices and helping to identify this condition. METHODS: This systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. We performed a search on Pubmed and Scopus databases concerning atypically sited extra-rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy published since 1950. RESULTS: The research found a total of 267 articles and 793 non-rotator cuff cases of calcific tendinopathy registered. The spine (213 – 26.86%), foot and ankle (191 – 23.95%), and hip (175 – 22.06%) appeared to be the most common sites of calcific tendinopathy after the rotator cuff, whereas the longus colli C1-C2 (204 – 25.72%), Achilles (173 – 21.81%), and rectus femori (61 – 7.69%) were the most commonly affected tendons. CONCLUSION: A better awareness of this condition in several different sites of the body than the rotator cuff could avoid unnecessary choices both in assessment and treatment.Item The moderating effect of cardiometabolic factors on the association between hepatic and intrapancreatic fat(Wiley, 2024-11) Skudder-Hill, Loren; Sequeira-Bisson, Ivana R; Ko, Juyeon; Poppitt, Sally D; Petrov, Maxim SObjective
Previous studies have investigated the association between hepatic fat and intrapancreatic fat deposition (IPFD); however, results have been inconclusive. The presence of cardiometabolic factors in certain subpopulations could explain this discrepancy. The aim of the present study was to use moderation analyses to determine the conditions under which hepatic fat is associated with IPFD.Methods
All participants underwent 3T abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy. Hepatic fat and IPFD were manually quantified by independent raters. Moderation analyses were performed with adjustment for sex and ethnicity.Results
There were 367 participants included. Adjusted analyses of the overall cohort revealed that age, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides were significant moderators (p < 0.05) of the association between hepatic fat and IPFD. Ranges of significance included age < 61 years, HbA1c < 45 mmol/mol, LDL-C < 157 mg/dL, HDL-C > 36 mg/dL, and triglycerides < 203 mg/dL.Conclusions
The association between hepatic fat and IPFD is generally present in young and middle-aged adults with good cardiometabolic health, whereas the link between the two fat depots becomes uncoupled in older adults or individuals with cardiometabolic risk factors.Item New evidence on the impacts of cross-market hospital mergers on commercial prices and measures of quality(Wiley, 2024-04-23) Arnold, Daniel R; King, Jaime S; Fulton, Brent D; Montague, Alexandra D; Gudiksen, Katherine L; Greaney, Thomas L; Scheffler, Richard MOBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of "cross-market" hospital mergers on prices and quality and the extent to which serial acquisitions contribute to any measured effects. DATA SOURCES: 2009-2017 commercial claims from the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) and quality measures from Hospital Compare. STUDY DESIGN: Event study models in which the treated group consisted of hospitals that acquired hospitals further than 50 miles, and the control group was hospitals that were not part of any merger activity (as a target or acquirer) during the study period. DATA EXTRACTION METHODS: We extracted data for 214 treated hospitals and 955 control hospitals. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Six years after acquisition, cross-market hospital mergers had increased acquirer prices by 12.9% (CI: 0.6%-26.6%) relative to control hospitals, but had no discernible impact on mortality and readmission rates for heart failure, heart attacks and pneumonia. For serial acquirers, the price effect increased to 16.3% (CI: 4.8%-29.1%). For all acquisitions, the price effect was 21.8% (CI: 4.6%-41.7%) when the target's market share was greater than the acquirer's market share versus 9.7% (CI: -0.5% to 20.9%) when the opposite was true. The magnitude of the price effect was similar for out-of-state and in-state cross-market mergers. CONCLUSIONS: Additional evidence on the price and quality effects of cross-market mergers is needed at a time when over half of recent hospital mergers have been cross-market. To date, no hospital mergers have been challenged by the Federal Trade Commission on cross-market grounds. Our study is the third to find a positive price effect associated with cross-market mergers and the first to show no quality effect and how serial acquisitions contribute to the price effect. More research is needed to identify the mechanism behind the price effects we observe and analyze price effect heterogeneity.