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Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of virtual autopsy using whole‐body postmortem ultra‐high field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 7 Tesla (T), using a short T2‐weighted imaging (T2‐WI) protocol, compared with classical autopsy, for detecting structural abnormalities in small second‐trimester fetuses. Methods: Thirty consecutive fetuses at 13–19 weeks' gestation (weight, 17–364 g) were included following spontaneous pregnancy loss or termination of pregnancy. After fixation in 10% formaldehyde solution (48 h to 1 week), all fetuses were scanned using a two‐dimensional turbo high‐resolution T2‐WI protocol with multislice relaxation time, followed by an invasive autopsy. The diagnostic accuracy of virtual autopsy vs classical autopsy was calculated for 990 anatomical structures (30 fetuses × 33 items). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and Cohen's κ coefficient of agreement, with their 95% CIs, as well as the McNemar test, were used to evaluate the accuracy and agreement of the two diagnostic methods. Analysis was stratified by anatomical segment (nervous, pulmonary, cardiovascular, digestive, renal, facial and skeletal) and across three gestational‐age intervals (13–14, 15–16 and 17–19 weeks). Results: Considering classical autopsy as the gold standard, virtual autopsy had a sensitivity of 92.04% (95% CI, 85.42–96.29%) and a specificity of 97.87% (95% CI, 94.64–99.42%), with a positive predictive value of 96.30% (95% CI, 90.78–98.56%) and a negative predictive value of 95.34% (95% CI, 91.61–97.45%), achieving a diagnostic accuracy of 95.68% (95% CI, 92.73–97.68%) for detecting structural abnormalities in second‐trimester fetuses. Cohen's κ for virtual vs classical autopsy was 0.907. The diagnostic ability of virtual autopsy at 7 T for malformed fetuses was superior to that of classical autopsy for analyzing the nervous system in small fetuses with pronounced autolysis, equivalent to that of classical autopsy when analyzing pulmonary, cardiovascular and renal systems and inferior when evaluating the fetal intestines. The sensitivity of virtual autopsy at 7 T for describing structural abnormalities increased with gestational age. Conclusion: Virtual fetal autopsy using 7‐T MRI and a turbo high‐resolution T2‐WI protocol with multislice relaxation time is a feasible postmortem diagnostic tool for the identification of fetal structural anomalies. © 2024 The Author(s). Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In the functional recovery after total hip arthroplasty, a very important role is played by the rehabilitation of deficient muscle strength, with the femoral quadriceps being one of the muscles that atrophies most rapidly. Purpose: This study aims to demonstrate the beneficial effects of early muscle stimulation of the quadriceps femoris muscle in patients with total hip prostheses in order to facilitate a quicker resumption of walking and to improve quality of life. Material and method: We included a total of 40 patients in the study, with 20 in the study group (physical therapy and muscle electrostimulation) and the remaining 20 in the control group (physical therapy only). The selection of the 40 patients with total hip prosthesis was based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, and all provided written consent to participate in the study. The patients were evaluated biomechanically and functionally. Results: The results suggest that the rehabilitation program combined with electrostimulation has a positive effect on the quality of life, hip joint functionality, functional outcomes, and muscle strength in patients who have undergone hip arthroplasty. The intervention applied in the study group (GE1) demonstrated significantly greater efficacy in alleviating symptoms, improving physical functionality, mobility, and muscle strength compared to the control group (GC1). Conclusions: The effect of the rehabilitation program combined with muscle electrostimulation is favorable regarding the scores obtained on quality-of-life questionnaires and in testing the quadriceps femoris muscle. Subjects in the study group showed a favorable progression in their scores, while subjects in the control group did not achieve satisfactory results and even experienced a regression in muscle strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a rare case of acute malocclusion produced by a unilateral partial tear of the lateral pterygoid muscle and an up-to-date literature review of the pathology. A 37-year-old female was examined; her chief complaints were pain on the right side of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) area and mastication impairment associated with major occlusal modifications and anterior open bite. After magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) of the TMJ and subsequent MRI for soft tissue, the final diagnosis was a partial right lateral pterygoid muscle tear. The case shows the value of combined imaging in temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and the importance of soft tissue evaluation in addition to articular examination, as the primary pathology might lie outside the joint. The authors' review of the current literature did not hitherto reveal a similar case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The study aims to synthesize current research on oral xerostomia and identify measures that can be taken to prevent it. Materials and methods: We have researched literature data on oral xerostomia using the PubMed database. We also consulted exclusively publications in English, published in the 1963 –2022 time frame, using search keywords such as oral xerostomia, salivary glands, hyposalivation, and dry mouth. We have selected from the PubMed database only original articles that match the search keywords and that provide solid evidence of the research activity on oral xerostomia, thus making an exhaustive review of the specialized literature focused on the subject of the study. Articles that were selected based on keywords by the database search engine and to which we had access only to the summary, conference summaries, and letters to the editor were excluded. Results: We examined 117 articles. The distribution according to the type of articles showed 85.41% presence of clinical trials. The distribution according to the keywords in the search engine showed a percentage of 65 % for xerostomia. Conclusions: The present article reviews the current literature reviewing the current approach to xerostomia, starting from the articles present in the scientific literature. More studies on large batches of patients are still needed to be able to obtain the most correct systematization of treatments and to establish a treatment protocol for dentists.