Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
T. J. Marini, S. L. Weiss, A. Gupta, Y. T. Zhao, T. M. Baran, B. Garra, I. Shafiq, D. C. Oppenheimer, M. S. Egoavil, R. L. Ortega, R. A. Quinn, J. Kan, A. M. Dozier, L. Tamayo, C. Carlotto, B. Castaneda
Summary: Thyroid VSI telediagnostic ultrasound system proved to be effective in evaluating the thyroid gland and showed agreement with standard of care thyroid ultrasound for nodules and thyroid size evaluation. The system could be deployed for palpable thyroid abnormalities, nodule follow-up, and epidemiological studies to promote global health and improve diagnostic imaging availability in underserved communities.
JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION
(2021)
Article
Surgery
Brian C. Brajcich, Anthony D. Yang, Rajesh N. Keswani, Lindsey Kreutzer, Patrick L. Molt, Matthew B. Rossi, Karl Y. Bilimoria, Amy L. Halverson
Summary: Background screening colonoscopy effectiveness depends on procedure quality, and this study aimed to describe the characteristics and quality of colonoscopy and predictors of colonoscopy quality at rural and underserved hospitals. The results showed that colonoscopies at these hospitals meet many quality metrics but varied widely, suggesting the need for individualized interventions to improve colonoscopy quality due to the scarcity of physicians in these areas.
SURGICAL ENDOSCOPY AND OTHER INTERVENTIONAL TECHNIQUES
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Paula Weigel, Divya Bhagianadh, Kimberly A. S. Merchant, Amy Wittrock, Hicham Rahmouni, Amanda Bell, Stephanie Laws, Marcia M. Ward
Summary: This paper describes two tele-ED behavioural health models operating in unique contexts to address challenges in access and placement for patients in rural and underserved areas presenting to EDs with behavioural health conditions. The notable difference in disposition rates between cases and controls is indicative of the impact each model is having on care practices and processes.
JOURNAL OF TELEMEDICINE AND TELECARE
(2021)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Gregory K. Russo, Atif Zaheer, Ihab R. Kamel, Kristin K. Porter, Krystal Archer-Arroyo, Mustafa R. Bashir, Brooks D. Cash, Alice Fung, Marion McCrary, Brendan M. McGuire, Richard D. Shih, John Stowers, Kiran H. Thakrar, Abhinav Vij, Shaun A. Wahab, Katherine Zukotynski, Laura R. Carucci
Summary: Acute right upper quadrant pain is a common symptom in emergency departments and outpatient settings. Gallstone-related acute cholecystitis is the main consideration for diagnosis, but other extrabiliary sources should also be considered. This document discusses the diagnostic accuracy of imaging studies for acute right upper quadrant pain, focusing on biliary etiologies. The appropriateness of radiographs, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, CT, and MRI for these indications are discussed.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF RADIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Anup Chalise, Lok Bahadur Kathayat, Prabhat Poudel, Ashish Prasad Rajbhandari, Rabin Koirala
Summary: The article discusses a rare case of gastric perforation in a 65-year-old female presenting with abdominal pain and swelling in the right lower abdomen.
CLINICAL CASE REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Surgery
Qingbo Feng, Jinpeng Du, Wenwei Liao, Jinli Zheng, Yong Zeng, Jiaxin Li
Summary: This article reports a rare case of right upper quadrant pain caused by fish bone perforation. The patient underwent abdominal CT scan and laparoscopic surgery, and had a smooth postoperative recovery.
FRONTIERS IN SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Megha Swami, Anthony Scott
Summary: The study found that the introduction of the General Practice Rural Incentive Program in Australia led to an increase in the number of GPs in newly eligible areas, but did not reduce waiting times for existing patients. Only weak evidence was found for a decrease in waiting times for new patients. The results suggest that financial incentives may have limited effectiveness in improving access to primary care and should not be relied upon as the sole solution for addressing medical workforce shortages in underserved areas.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jessica Caline Lemos Macedo, Vivian Carla Honorato dos Santos de Carvalho, Taciana Borges Andrade Cortes, Daniela Arruda Soares, Sostenes Mistro, Clavdia Nicolaevna Kochergin, Davi Rumel, Marcio Galvao Oliveira
Summary: The study showed that sustainable long-term interventions, such as health worker training and health education, contributed to improvements in blood pressure and HbA1c levels in patients with hypertension and diabetes from rural communities in Northeast Brazil. Some patients were able to achieve their desired treatment goals with the interventions.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Dermatology
Catherina X. Pan, Vinod E. Nambudiri
Summary: This study assesses the distribution of international medical graduate (IMG) dermatologists in the United States compared to US medical graduates, with a focus on provider density in rural and medically underserved areas. The findings show that IMG dermatologists are more likely to work in medically underserved areas but less likely to work in rural settings.
ARCHIVES OF DERMATOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Alexander Cotrina-Sanchez, Ligia Garcia, Christian Calle, Fatih Sari, Subhajit Bandopadhyay, Nilton B. Rojas-Briceno, Gerson Meza-Mori, Cristobal Torres Guzman, Erick Auquinivin-Silva, Erick Arellanos, Manuel Oliva
Summary: This study assessed the suitability of land for apiculture development in rural and indigenous communities in the Amazonas Department of Peru using the Multiple Criteria Evaluation technique. The results showed that biophysical and socioeconomic criteria influenced the suitability of land, and identified highly suitable areas for apiculture. The research provides valuable insights for land use planning and promotes apicultural activities as a driver for rural development and biodiversity conservation.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Miklos Acs, Hubert Leebmann, Sebastian Hausler, Philipp Harter, Pompiliu Piso
Summary: The extraperitoneal approach for removal of peritoneal metastases in the right upper abdomen in patients with ovarian cancer is feasible and enables high rate of complete cytoreduction, with lower risk of short-term complications postoperatively compared to the traditional approach.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Mingyue Li, Ziyue Wang, Baisong Zhang, Tiantian Wei, Dan Hu, Xiaoyun Liu
Summary: This study evaluates the job performance of medical graduates from China's general practitioner training program and the influence of program design on job performance. The findings suggest that graduates from the program perform as well as non-program graduates in terms of job performance. The study highlights the competency of program graduates in providing high-quality care for remote and rural areas.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yun-Jiang Yu, Zhen-Chi Li, Jing-Lin Tian, Chao-Jie Hao, Hong-Xuan Kuang, Chen-Yin Dong, Yang Zhou, Qi-Zhen Wu, Yan-Chen Gong, Ming-Deng Xiang, Xi-Chao Chen, Xiao Yang, Guang-Hui Dong
Summary: Exposure to metal-(loid)-s is identified as a key factor in the prevalence of abdominal obesity in rural areas of China. Urinary chromium consistently emerges as the top contributor to abdominal obesity, and the overall effect of mixed metal-(loid)-s is positive. The elevation of apolipoprotein B and systolic blood pressure significantly mediate the association between urinary chromium and the odds of having abdominal obesity.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Surgery
Danilo Di Giorgio, Giovanni Pacini, Voltjan Sula, Vincenzo Tondolo
Summary: Gallbladder agenesis is a rare congenital condition that may be associated with other biliary and extrahepatic congenital condition. It is often asymptomatic but can manifest as biliary colic. Ultrasound is not sufficient for diagnosis, and advanced imaging modalities should be considered. Surgery can be risky in these patients due to the potential for injury.
Article
Surgery
Sara Coppola, Maria Masutti, Giorgio Castello, Davide Ferrara, Mauro Longoni
Summary: Acute cholecystitis can mask gallbladder cancer, necessitating vigilance for suspected neoplastic lesions and prompt further investigation and treatment.
Article
Dermatology
Yves Lucas, Rania Niri, Sylvie Treuillet, Hassan Douzi, Benjamin Castaneda
Summary: The introduction and evaluation of emerging devices and modalities, along with promising image processing tools, have significantly advanced wound assessment and monitoring. By combining multiple image modalities with machine learning, optical wound assessment is becoming smarter, providing relevant indications for clinicians to improve healing rates and speeds.
ADVANCES IN WOUND CARE
(2021)
Article
Acoustics
Thomas J. Marini, Daniel C. Oppenheimer, Timothy M. Baran, Deborah J. Rubens, Marika Toscano, Kathryn Drennan, Brian Garra, Frank R. Miele, Gail Garra, Sylvia Jacobo Noone, Lorena Tamayo, Claudia Carlotto, Leslie Trujillo, Erin Waks, Katie Garra, Miguel S. Egoavil, Joel Berrospi, Benjamin Castaneda
Summary: The comprehensive ultrasound telediagnostic system, utilizing ultrasound volume sweep imaging (VSI) acquisitions and telemedicine software, shows promise in addressing healthcare disparities in the developing world by allowing remote interpretation without prior traditional ultrasound training.
JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
T. J. Marini, S. L. Weiss, A. Gupta, Y. T. Zhao, T. M. Baran, B. Garra, I. Shafiq, D. C. Oppenheimer, M. S. Egoavil, R. L. Ortega, R. A. Quinn, J. Kan, A. M. Dozier, L. Tamayo, C. Carlotto, B. Castaneda
Summary: Thyroid VSI telediagnostic ultrasound system proved to be effective in evaluating the thyroid gland and showed agreement with standard of care thyroid ultrasound for nodules and thyroid size evaluation. The system could be deployed for palpable thyroid abnormalities, nodule follow-up, and epidemiological studies to promote global health and improve diagnostic imaging availability in underserved communities.
JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Junior Arroyo, Thomas J. Marini, Ana C. Saavedra, Marika Toscano, Timothy M. Baran, Kathryn Drennan, Ann Dozier, Yu Tina Zhao, Miguel Egoavil, Lorena Tamayo, Berta Ramos, Benjamin Castaneda
Summary: Ultrasound imaging plays a crucial role in high-quality Obstetric care. However, in rural and under-resourced areas, there is a lack of access to ultrasound services for pregnant women. To address this issue, researchers have developed an automated diagnostic framework that allows for assessment of fetal biometric measurements, fetal presentation, and placental position without the need for an experienced sonographer or interpreting provider. By using a standardized imaging protocol and a deep learning algorithm, this system can provide vital information about a pregnancy in underserved areas.
Article
Acoustics
Stefano E. Romero, Roozbeh Naemi, Gilmer Flores, David Allan, Juvenal Ormachea, Evelyn Gutierrez, Fanny L. Casado, Benjamin Castaneda
Summary: This study investigated the reliability of reverberant shear wave elastography (RSWE) on plantar soft tissue. The results showed significant differences in SWS measurements at different anatomical locations. RSWE had better elastographic signal-to-noise ratios compared to SSI, indicating its potential in evaluating changes in biomechanical characteristics of the foot.
ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maryanne Melanie Gonzales Carazas, Cesar Miguel Gavidia, Roberto Davila Fernandez, Juan Alberto Vargas Zuniga, Alberto Crespo Paiva, William Bocanegra, Joan Calderon, Evelyn Sanchez, Rosa Perales, Brandon Zena, Juan Fernando Calcina Isique, Jaime Reategui, Benjamin Castaneda, Fanny L. Casado
Summary: This study evaluates the physiological responses of healthy swine under mechanical ventilation and demonstrates the biological safety and control ability of the mechanical ventilator. It effectively controls blood biochemistry parameters and tissue perfusion levels, with no significant damage observed in vital organs.
Article
Acoustics
Thomas J. Marini, Benjamin Castaneda, Radha Iyer, Timothy M. Baran, Omar Nemer, Ann M. Dozier, Kevin J. Parker, Yu Zhao, William Serratelli, Gregory Matos, Shania Ali, Bishoy Ghobryal, Adam Visca, Avice O'Connell
Summary: This study tested a volume sweep imaging ultrasound protocol for evaluation of palpable breast lumps, which can be performed by medical students without prior ultrasound experience. The results showed high sensitivity and specificity of this method, as well as high agreement with standard of care ultrasound examination.
JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Thomas J. Marini, Katherine Kaproth-Joslin, Robert Ambrosini, Timothy M. Baran, Ann M. Dozier, Yu T. Zhao, Malavika Satheesh, Christian Mahony Reategui-Rivera, Walter Sifuentes, Gloria Rios-Mayhua, Benjamin Castaneda
Summary: This study conducted a pilot study in rural Peru during the COVID-19 pandemic, using a low-cost lung teleultrasound system for pulmonary imaging. The results showed that this method is cost-effective, accurate, and capable of identifying sequela of COVID-19 infection.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Aldo Tecse, Stefano E. Romero, Roozbeh Naemi, Benjamin Castaneda
Summary: This study aimed to develop a validated method for characterizing the viscoelastic properties of soft tissues based on ultrasound elastography data. The viscoelastic parameters were estimated and compared to mechanical test results. The results showed that the fractional-derivative models, especially the FD-KV and FD-Maxwell models, were more effective in simulating the viscoelastic behavior of plantar soft tissue. This study has important implications for assessing the function of soft tissue and can be used as markers for diagnosis or prognosis.
PHYSICS IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Joaquina Rubio, Christiam Rojas, Midori Sanchez, Daniela Gomez-Alzate, Mauricio Cordova, Veronica Montoya, Benjamin Castaneda, Javier Chang, Sandra Perez-Buitrago
Summary: We present an autonomous oxygen concentrator developed in Peru to address the global oxygen shortage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our system utilizes pressure swing adsorption technology to deliver oxygen to patients at a flow rate of up to 15 l/min +/- 1.5 l/min and a concentration of 93% +/- 3%, providing robustness, safety, and functionality. The validation process confirms the repeatability and accuracy of the device. The open access design files are available to facilitate oxygen concentrator production in low and middle income countries where access to oxygen remains a major problem.
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Mariah Erlick, Thomas Marini, Kathryn Drennan, Ann Dozier, Benjamin Castaneda, Timothy Baran, Marika Toscano
Summary: Obstetric volume sweep imaging (OB VSI) is a simple technique that can be taught to non-experts in ultrasound, leading to increased access to ultrasound in low-resource settings. This study presents and evaluates a training program for OB VSI, demonstrating that after 3 hours of training, trainees without previous ultrasound experience were able to independently perform OB VSI examinations and produce high-quality images.
ULTRASOUND QUARTERLY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Roozbeh Naemi, Stefano E. Romero Gutierrez, David Allan, Gilmer Flores, Juvenal Ormaechea, Evelyn Gutierrez, Jessica Casado-Pena, Sharon Anyosa-Zavaleta, Mauricio Juarez, Fanny Casado, Benjamin Castaneda Aphan
Summary: This study investigated the association between the mechanical properties of plantar soft tissue and diabetes status. The results showed a positive correlation between fasting blood sugar level and the stiffness of plantar soft tissue, with higher shear wave speeds observed in diabetes patients compared to those with prediabetes.
JOURNAL OF DIABETES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Ana C. Saavedra, Junior Arroyo, Gilmer Flores, Fernando Zvietcovich, Benjamin Castaneda, Roberto J. Lavarello
Summary: By combining high-frequency ultrasound with crawling wave elastography, this study characterized the viscoelastic properties of skin in the thigh and forearm of humans. The forearm exhibited significantly higher shear elasticity and shear viscosity compared to the thigh, suggesting the potential of this method for future clinical screening of skin disorders.
Meeting Abstract
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Marika Toscano, Junior Arroyo, Ana C. Saavedra, Thomas J. Marini, Timothy M. Baran, Kathryn Drennan, Ann M. Dozier, Lorena Tamayo, Tina Zhao, Benjamin Castaneda
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
(2022)