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Cross-sectional imaging is increasingly used to quantify adipose tissue compartments in subjects with overweight or obesity. The lack of ionizing radiation makes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) highly preferable to computed tomography (CT) although it is generally less standardized and time-consuming. Fat areas of single or stacks of neighboring slices have previously been considered as surrogates to avoid laborious processing of whole abdominal data-but studies are inconsistent in design and results. The present work therefore analyzed a relatively large number of overweight or obese adults and involved a total of eight landmarks and two surrogates (slice and stack). The goals were to identify the most reliable estimators of abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (ASAT) volume for both genders and to relate the findings to the pertinent literature.

Anthropometric and fat-sensitive 1.5 T MRI data of 193 patients (116 female, 77 male) from different IRB-approved studies at a single clinical research institld too little improvement to justify the extra effort. Landmarks like ASIS, FH or the remaining lumbar disc spaces are considered as unreliable.

To evaluate prescan findings of uterine position and intrapelvic motions that predict the non-diagnostic image quality of three-dimensional T2-weighted MRI (3D-T2WI) of the uterus.

This retrospective study included 287 women who underwent pelvic MRI including 3D-T2WI and short prescans consisting of 2D-T2WI and cine imaging. One radiologist classified 3D-T2WI of the uterus as being of diagnostic or non-diagnostic image quality and evaluated the prescans regarding uterine position and intrapelvic motions. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of non-diagnostic 3D-T2WI. The predictive ability of the prescans was verified by two independent MRI technologists.

Non-diagnostic 3D T2WI was found in 42 patients (14.6 %) and was significantly associated with severe motions of urinary flow in the bladder (p < 0.001), small bowel (p = 0.039), and respiration (p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis of uterine position and intrapelvic motions, risk factors for the non-diagnostic image quality were prominent urinary flow when the uterus contacted the bladder (p < 0.001, adjusted odds ratio = 35.1) and severe respiratory and small bowel motions when the uterus was surrounded by the bowel (p < 0.001, adjusted odds ratio = 68.4). No risk factors were found for the uterus contacting the vertebrae. With these predictors, the prescans demonstrated a sensitivity of 82.9 and 68.3 %, and specificity of 88.2 and 93.9 % for the non-diagnostic 3D-T2WI by the two technologists, respectively.

Intrapelvic motions have a different effect on the image quality of 3D-T2WI depending on the uterine position, and short prescans may be useful in predicting time-consuming non-diagnostic 3D-T2WI of the uterus.

Intrapelvic motions have a different effect on the image quality of 3D-T2WI depending on the uterine position, and short prescans may be useful in predicting time-consuming non-diagnostic 3D-T2WI of the uterus.

Time to first cigarette (TTFC) after waking is a highly regarded and readily measured manifestation of a tobacco dependence process. We aim to estimate short TTFC as it occurs very soon after the onset of cigarette smoking (CS) in a community sample of newly incident smokers, all 12-21years of age, and to study risk variation with the age of CS onset.

United States National Surveys on Drug Use and Health, 2004-2017, drew large nationally representative samples of 12-to-21-year-old community residents, and used computerized self-interviews to measure tobacco cigarette smoking, the Fagerstrom TTFC construct, and related variables. A ‘short’ TTFC was defined as smoking the first cigarette after waking up within 30min vs. OSI-774 ‘long’ TTFC or smoking more than 30min. We studied 8188 newly incident smokers, all assessed within six months after the first puff. Estimated age-specific cumulative incidence proportions (CIP) and odds ratios (OR) are estimated and compared, with due attention to complex survey design and weights.

Among underage newly incident smokers (12-17years old), an estimated 5.2% experienced short TTFC within 6months after CS onset (95% CI=4.4%, 6.2%), versus 3.7% for older new smokers (18-21years; 95% CI=2.8%, 4.6%). Underage smokers are 1.5 times more likely to develop short TTFC compared to older initiates (95% CI=1.1, 2.1). No male-female variations are seen, but exploratory analysis disclosed findings that involve Census-defined race-ethnicity subgroups. Non-Hispanic African-American initiates are twice as likely to develop short TTFC, and Hispanic initiates are less likely to develop short TTFC, as compared with non-Hispanic White smokers.

Based on US community samples our study offers new evidence about TTFC formation observed within six months after the first puff when cigarette smoking starts before age 18years.

Based on US community samples our study offers new evidence about TTFC formation observed within six months after the first puff when cigarette smoking starts before age 18 years.Elemental composition was used to characterize and differentiate 14 wines made from the identical clone of Vitis vinifera cv. Pinot noir (clone 667). The vineyards span distances which range from several hundred meters to 1540 km and their elevations vary from near sea level to nearly 500 m. Twenty-seven elements were observed above the limit of quantitation by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in the wines from at least half of the 14 sites. Concentrations of several elements, including Mo, Er, Na, Li, Cs and Pb, varied by 10-fold across the 14 wines. Multiple factor analysis (MFA) of elemental composition with juice chemistry and site characterization show associations consistent with expectations, such as high Ca with high clay content. These results demonstrate that even when grapevine clone and winemaking protocol are controlled, composition differences in wines produced from sites are mediated by diverse soil and microclimate conditions.