1.Study of the Ability to Visualize Blood Vessels Using Virtual Monochromatic Images
Ryo TSURUGA ; Airi ISHIZUKA ; Takeaki MATSUMURA ; Makoto NAGAI
Journal of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine 2021;70(2):129-133
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of energy of virtual monochromatic images (VMIs) and the strength of iterative reconstruction on computed tomography (CT) number, image noise, and visual evaluation. Low keV VMIs improve the CT number of the contrast agent but also increases image noise, making them difficult to use. However, the adoption of iterative reconstruction has made low keV VMIs possible to use. We scanned a phantom containing dilute contrast agent with single energy (SE) and dual energy (DE) scanned images, comparing CT number, image noise (SD), and the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). The CT number and SD of 40 keV VMIs were 2.8 and 2.4 times higher, respectively, than those of 120-kV CT images. VMIs showed an inferior CNR compared with SE images due to increased image noise. The higher the strength of iterative reconstruction, the higher the visual evaluation score. Visual evaluation scores were highest at 50 keV. Low-keV VMIs are greatly affected by increased image noise. But by taking into the effects of parameters such as tube voltage and strength of iterative reconstruction, low keV VMIs can improve the visualization of blood vessels and reduce the use of contrast agent.
2.Discrepancy between Clinician-rated and Self-reported Depression Severity is Associated with Adverse Childhood Experience, Autistic-like Traits, and Coping Styles in Mood Disorders
Risa YAMADA ; Takeshi FUJII ; Kotaro HATTORI ; Hiroaki HORI ; Ryo MATSUMURA ; Tomoko KURASHIMO ; Naoko ISHIHARA ; Sumiko YOSHIDA ; Tomiki SUMIYOSHI ; Hiroshi KUNUGI
Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience 2023;21(2):296-303
Objective:
This study aimed to determine if the discrepancy between depression severity rated by clinicians and that reported by patients depends on key behavioral/psychological features in patients with mood disorders.
Methods:
Participants included 100 patients with mood disorders. First, we examined correlations and regressions between scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Second, we divided the participants into those who provided 1) greater ratings for the BDI compared with the HAMD (BDI relative-overrating, BO) group, 2) comparable ratings for the BDI and HAMD (BDI relatively concordant, BC) group, or 3) less ratings for the BDI (BDI relative-underrating, BU) group. Adverse childhood experiences, autistic-like traits, and coping styles were evaluated with a six-item short version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-6), the Social Responsiveness Scale for Adults (SRS-A), and the Ways of Coping Checklist (WCCL), respectively.
Results:
A significant correlation was found between HAMD and BDI scores. Total and emotional abuse subscale scores from the CTQ-6, and the self-blame subscale scores from the WCCL were significantly higher for the BO group compared with the BU group. The BO group also elicited significantly higher SRS-A total scores than did the other groups.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that patients with adverse emotional experiences, autistic-like traits, and self-blame coping styles perceive greater distress than that evaluated objectively by clinicians. The results indicate the need for inclusion of subjective assessments to effectively evaluate depressive symptoms in patients deemed to have these psycho-behavioral concerns.