Changes of RCT quality over time as well as factors influencing the quality were analyzed.
From the initial search results (MEDLINE n = 3,860, EMBASE n = 3,113 articles), 159 RCTs published by neurosurgeons were extracted for final evaluation. Of the RCTs, 62% have been published since 1995; 52% came from the USA, UK, and Germany. The Selleckchem MCC 950 median RCT sample size was 78 patients and the median follow-up 35.7 weeks. Fifty-two percent of all RCTs were of good, 37% of moderate, and 11% of bad quality, with an improvement over time. RCTs with financial funding and RCTs with a sample size of > 78 patients were of significantly
better quality. There were no major differences in the rating of the studies between the two investigators.
Only a fraction of neurosurgically relevant literature consists of RCTs, but the quality is satisfying and has significantly improved over the last GSK923295 inhibitor years. An adequate sample size and sufficient financial support seem to be of substantial importance with regard to the quality of the study. Our data also show that by using a standardized checklist, the quality of trials can be reliably assessed by observers of different experience and educational levels.”
“Purpose: To determine whether dual-energy multidetector CT enables detection of renal
lesion enhancement by using calculated nonenhanced images with spectral-based extraction in a non-body weight-restricted patient population.
Materials and Methods: Between January 2008 and December 2009, 139 patients were enrolled in this prospective HIPAA-compliant, institutional review board-approved study. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. After single-energy nonenhanced 120-kVp CT images were acquired, P5091 mw contrast material-enhanced dual-energy multidetector
CT images were acquired at 80 and 140 kVp. Calculated nonenhanced images were generated by using spectral-based iodine extraction. Lesion attenuation was measured on the acquired nonenhanced, calculated nonenhanced, and 140-kVp contrast-enhanced nephrographic images. Enhancement, defined as a 15-HU or greater increase in attenuation on the nephrographic images, was assessed by using the baseline attenuation on the acquired and calculated nonenhanced images. Acquired nonenhanced versus calculated nonenhanced image attenuation, as well as enhancement values, were compared by using paired Student t tests and Bland-Altman plots.
Results: Hypoattenuating (n = 66) and hyperattenuating (n = 28) cysts, angiomyolipomas (n = 18), and solid enhancing lesions (n = 27) were detected. Mean attenuation values for hypoattenuating cysts on the acquired and calculated nonenhanced CT images were 6.5 HU +/- 5.8 (standard deviation) and 8.1 HU +/- 3.1 (P = .13), respectively, with corresponding enhancement values of 1.1 HU +/- 5.2 and -0.5 HU +/- 6.2 (P = .12), respectively. Mean values for hyperattenuating cysts were 29.4 HU +/- 5.6 on acquired images and 31.7 HU +/- 5.1 on calculated images (P = .