Hepatic CT attenuation differs in three species of freshwater turtles and hepatic Hounsfield units increase with folliculogenesis in wild Blanding's turtles ( Emydoidea blandingii )

2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-189
Author(s):  
Emily King ◽  
Eric T. Hostnik ◽  
Randall Junge ◽  
Michael J. Adkesson ◽  
Erin M. Newman ◽  
...  
2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 869-876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bar Cohen ◽  
Nurith Hiller ◽  
Auryan Szalat ◽  
Vladimir Vainstein

Objective: Bone density loss and increased risk for osteoporosis are of concern in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients. Routinely performed positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET-CT) scans could be informative in assessing bone mineral density (BMD). Methods: This retrospective study included 80 adults with newly diagnosed HL treated with standard first-line chemotherapy regimens. PET-CT scans performed at diagnosis (PET-CT1), at the end of chemotherapy (PET-CT2), and at follow-up after remission (PET-CT3) were used to assess BMD changes by measuring lumbar vertebrae CT attenuation. A CT attenuation threshold of 160 Hounsfield units was used to define abnormal BMD. Results: Following chemotherapy, comparison of PET-CT2 with PET-CT1 revealed a mean (standard deviation) 14.2% (10.4%) BMD reduction ( P<.001). On PET-CT3 performed at 14.6 (3.25) months after the last course of chemotherapy, a slight improvement (4.6% [10.4%]) in comparison to PET-CT2 was noted. Twelve patients (15%) converted from normal baseline BMD on PET-CT1 to abnormal BMD after chemotherapy on PET-CT2. Age, baseline BMD, and steroid cumulative dose were associated with BMD decline and risk for abnormal BMD after chemotherapy. No clinical fractures were reported, and only one rib fracture was incidentally captured (1.25%). Conclusion: HL patients treated with common first-line chemotherapies demonstrate a significant decline in bone density on routine PET-CT scans. Opportunistic use of PET-CT scan has the potential to detect HL patients at high risk for developing osteoporosis and to guide clinicians regarding monitoring and intervention. Abbreviations: BMD = bone mineral density; CT = computed tomography; DXA = dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; HL = Hodgkin lymphoma; HU = Hounsfield units; L = lumbarvertebra; PET-CT = positron emission tomography-computed tomography; T = thoracic vertebra


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (02) ◽  
pp. 19-25
Author(s):  
Keshab Sharma ◽  
PS Lamichhane ◽  
BK Sharma

Background: Pleural effusion is the pathologic accumulation of fluid in the pleural space. The fluid analysis yields important diagnostic information, and in certain cases, fluid analysis alone is enough for diagnosis. Analysis of pleural fluid by thoracentesis with imaging guidance helps to determine the cause of pleural effusion. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) in characterizing pleural fluid based on attenuation values and CT appearance. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 100 patients admitted to Gandaki Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal between January 1, 2017 and February 28, 2018. Patients who were diagnosed with pleural effusion and had a chest CT followed by diagnostic thoracentesis within 48 hours were included in the study. Effusions were classified as exudates or transudates using laboratory biochemistry markers on the basis of Light’s criteria. The mean attenuation values of the pleural effusions were measured in Hounsfield units in all patients using a region of interest with the greatest quantity of fluid. Each CT scan was also reviewed for the presence of additional pleural features. Results: According to Light’s criteria, 26 of 100 patients with pleural effusions had transudates, and the remaining patients had exudates. The mean attenuation of the exudates (16.5 ±1.7 HU; 95% CI, range, -33.4 – 44 HU) was significantly higher than the mean attenuation of the transudates (11.6 ±0.57 HU; 95% CI, range, 5 - 16 HU), (P = 0.0001). None of the additional CT features accurately differentiated exudates from transudates (P = 0.70). Fluid loculation was found in 35.13% of exudates and in 19.23% of transudates. Pleural thickening was found in 29.7% of exudates and in 15.3% of transudates. Pleural nodule was found in 10.8% of exudates which all were related to the malignancy. Conclusion: CT attenuation values may be useful in differentiating exudates from transudates. Exudates had significantly higher Hounsfield units in CT scan. Additional signs, such as fluid loculation, pleural thickness, and pleural nodules were more commonly found in patients with exudative effusions and could be considered and may provide further information for the differentiation.


2009 ◽  
Vol 123 (1) ◽  
pp. 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina M. Davy ◽  
Kum C. Shim ◽  
Suzanne M. Coombes

We collected leeches from freshwater turtles at two sites in southwestern Ontario. Five leech species (Placobdella parasitica, P. ornata, Helobdella modesta, Erpobdella punctata and Alboglossiphonia heteroclita) were collected from five turtle species (Chrysemys picta, Chelydra serpentina, Clemmys guttata, Emydoidea blandingii and Sternotherus odoratus). We report a new leech record (P. ornata) for C. guttata. The unexpectedly high frequency of H. modesta on freshwater turtles is discussed.


PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e5423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Dupuis-Desormeaux ◽  
Christina Davy ◽  
Amy Lathrop ◽  
Emma Followes ◽  
Andrew Ramesbottom ◽  
...  

Conservation authorities invest heavily in the restoration and/or creation of wetlands to counteract the destruction of habitat caused by urbanization. Monitoring the colonization of these new wetlands is critical to an adaptive management process. We conducted a turtle mark-recapture survey in a 250 ha artificially created wetland complex in a large North American city (Toronto, Ontario). We found that two of Ontario’s eight native turtle species (Snapping turtle (SN), Chelydra serpentina, and Midland Painted (MP) turtle, Chrysemys picta marginata) were abundant and both were confirmed nesting. The Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) was present but not well established. Species richness and turtle density were not equally distributed throughout the wetland complex. We noted SN almost exclusively populated one water body, while other areas of the wetland had a varying representation of both species. The sex ratios of both SN and MP turtles were 1:1. We tracked the movement of Snapping and Blanding’s turtles and found that most turtles explored at least two water bodies in the park, that females explored more water bodies than males, and that 95% of turtles showed fidelity to individual overwintering wetlands. We performed DNA analysis of two Blanding’s turtles found in the created wetlands and could not assign these turtles to any known profiled populations. The genetic data suggest that the turtles probably belong to a remnant local population. We discuss the implications of our results for connectivity of artificial wetlands and the importance of the whole wetland complex to this turtle assemblage.


2019 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyson Karson ◽  
Siow Yan Jennifer Angoh ◽  
Christina M. Davy

During summer 2017, we found 19 dead or fatally wounded adult female turtles belonging to three at-risk species at a nesting site on the north shore of Lake Erie, Ontario. Individuals were found flipped onto their carapace, had similar holes in their body cavities, and were eviscerated. Their eggs had also been consumed. Although turtle nest depredation by Raccoons (Procyon lotor) is common, it is unusual for them to target large numbers of gravid turtles within a season. Depredated species included Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina), Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica), and Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii). Our observation represents a spike in additive mortality for these populations, which could have long-term demographic consequences.


2004 ◽  
Vol 171 (4S) ◽  
pp. 498-499
Author(s):  
Gyan Pareek ◽  
J. James Bruno ◽  
Georgia Panagopoulos ◽  
Noel A. Armenakas ◽  
John A. Fracchia

1998 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 769
Author(s):  
Kang Hyuk Lee ◽  
Jong Beum Lee ◽  
Young Hee Choi ◽  
Yang Soo Kim ◽  
Kun Sang Kim
Keyword(s):  

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Siti Aisyah Munirah Bohang ◽  
Zainul Ibrahim Zainuddin ◽  
Norhanna Suhoimi

Interaction of CT’s x-ray beams with patient resulted in attenuation process and there are various factors affecting CT attenuation values. The aim of this review is to examine the existed literatures regarding the concept of attenuation in CT and its relationship with body dimension, gender and age in Malay population. Guided by primary question, literature searches were conducted using the established online database; SCOPUS and PubMed. The time frame for literatures was from 2000 to 2019 and only literatures in English language were selected. The size of body dimension has affected the CT attenuation value but it also depending on the type of tissue presence within the region of interest (ROI) such as muscle and fat tissues. Due to larger body framework and higher amount of skeletal muscle mass theoretically males would have higher CT attenuation value than female. CT attenuation value reduces with aging process. Asians including Malay population have smaller body dimension than Caucasians and the mean attenuation value of abdominal region in Asians could differ from 20 HU. Thus, there is a need for future research to investigate the interrelatedness of attenuation in CT (HU) and body dimension within Malay population and close this gap of knowledge. 


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