Anti-MCV was as sensitive as anti-CCP3 in diagnosing early RA. Anti-MCV testing appears to be useful for monitoring associated subclinical atherosclerosis in early RA.

Background Invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) is lifesaving for critically ill neonates. Limiting the duration of MV support is crucial. Lung ultrasonography is a bedside technique useful to predict weaning success in adults, but few data are available about its use in neonates. Our aim was to assess the value of lung ultrasonography to predict weaning success of the ventilated neonates. Methods This study included 80 neonates on MV suffering from different pulmonary diseases. All patients had lung ultrasound just before extubation and 6 hours after extubation. Lung ultrasound score (LUS) was calculated for all neonate. Blood gases and chest x‐ray were performed just before extubation as well. All neonates were followed up for 48 hours after extubation for extubation failure (EF). Results Eighteen neonates (22.5%) experienced EF. Neonates with EF had significantly lower gestational age, lower weight but significantly prolonged duration of MV, prolonged NICU stay, and higher mortality. LUS before and after extubation was significantly higher in neonates with EF than those with weaning success. Pre‐extubation LUS had a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 88% to predict weaning success in neonates at a cutoff value ≤4. While, post‐extubation LUS had a sensitivity of 89%, and a specificity of 90% to predict weaning success in neonates at a cutoff point ≤6. Conclusion Lung ultrasound is a rapid, noninvasive, repetitive, and reliable tool for predicting the weaning success of ventilated neonates.

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Pelvic MRI is a valuable tool in the assessment of postoperative anorectal malformations that may necessitate additional surgery.

Background: Mechanical ventilation is widely used in neonates presenting with respiratory distress; however, it is not without complications. Early weaning of neonates is vital however the process of extubation is difficult to determine precisely. The use of lung ultrasound in neonates is recently accepted as a reliable tool in the assessment of several lung conditions. The aim of this study was to assess the use of lung ultrasound score as a quantitative method to assist in the decision of weaning mechanically ventilated neonates. Results: The study was conducted on 40 neonates admitted to the NICU with different causes of respiratory distress needing respiratory support by mechanical ventilation. Lung ultrasound was performed using a linear superficial probe at least three times, at admission, before switching mechanical ventilation mode and before weaning. The initial lung ultrasound score for all patients was between 9 and 36 (mean 25 ± 6.97, median 26) with the 11 patients initiated on Sync. Intermittent ventilation (SIMV) showing significantly lower scores than those initiated on assist/control ventilation (ACV). Patients successfully switched from ACV to SIMV showed significantly lower scores than those who failed. Patients successfully weaned from SIMV showed significantly lower scores than those who failed. ROC analysis showed a cut-off score of ≤ 14 had 85% sensitivity and 100% specificity for a successful switch between ACV to SIMV. It also showed that a score ≤ 6 had 87.5% sensitivity and 100% specificity for successful extubation. Conclusion: The use of quantitative lung ultrasound scores in assessment of mechanically ventilated neonates shows a great potential in aiding the process of weaning.

The olfactory bulb is characterised by neural plasticity, and its volume may be affected by the peripheral olfactory function.

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