Objectives. To study the validity of both rheumatological and orthodontic examinations and ultrasound (US) as screening methods for early diagnosis of TMJ arthritis against the gold standard MRI.Methods. Thirty consecutive juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients were included in this pilot study. Rheumatological and orthodontic examinations as well as US were performed within 1 month of the MRI in a blinded fashion. Joint effusion and/or increased contrast enhancement of synovium or bone were considered signs of active arthritis on MRI.Results. A total of 19/30 (63%) patients and 33/60 (55%) joints had signs of TMJ involvement on MRI. This was associated with condylar deformity in 9/19 (47%) patients and 15/33 (45%) joints. Rheumatological, orthodontic and US examinations correctly diagnosed 11 (58%), 9 (47%) and 6 (33%) patients, respectively, with active TMJ arthritis, but misdiagnosed 8 (42%), 10 (53%) and 12 (67%) patients, respectively, as having no signs of inflammation. The best predictor for active arthritis on MRI was a reduced maximum mouth opening.Conclusion. None of the methods tested was able to reliably predict the presence or absence of MRI-proven inflammation in the TMJ in our cohort of JIA patients. US was the least useful of all methods tested to exclude active TMJ arthritis.

Correlations between GAA and TGV(w) or GFV(w) in children are best in the RDC position, but not sufficient to predict GFV(w) with a given GAA. Interpretation of isolated GAA values may be misleading.

BackgroundTo test clinical findings associated with early temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis in comparison to the current gold standard contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).MethodsSeventy-six consecutive JIA patients were included in this study. Rheumatological and orthodontic examinations were performed blinded to MRI findings. Joint effusion and/or increased contrast enhancement of synovium or bone as well as TMJ deformity were assessed on MRI and compared to clinical findings. The maximal mouth opening capacity (MOC) of the JIA patients was compared to normative values obtained from a cohort of 20719 school children from Zürich, Switzerland.ResultsOn MRI a total of 54/76 (71 %) patients and 92/152 (61 %) joints had signs of TMJ involvement. MRI showed enhancement in 85/152 (56 %) and deformity in 39/152 (26 %) joints. MOC, asymmetry and restriction in condylar translation showed significant correlation to TMJ enhancement and deformity, whereas antegonial notching was correlated with TMJ deformity only. When joints with deformity were excluded, enhancement alone did not show a significant correlation with any clinical factor.ConclusionsClinical findings in affected TMJs are correlated with structural damage only. Therefore clinical assessment of TMJs does not allow to diagnose early arthritis accurately and will still depend on contrast enhanced MRI.

CSA correlated with GCV in healthy children over a wide range of gastric filling, with the RLD position clearly superior to the SUBE position, confirming a previously derived formula. Although direct calculation of GCV is imprecise, this technique has the potential to become a diagnostic risk assessment test.

This comprehensive anatomical database of lower airway dimensions demonstrates that tracheal and bronchial diameters correlate better to age, and that tracheal and bronchial length correlate better to body length. All measured airway parameters correlated poorly to body weight.

There is a need for both better rules to measure the distance between nose (lips) and the body of the stomach and improved methods to confirm correct tube position in neonates.

Our data suggest a positive effect of prenatal MMC closure on lower urinary tract function. The long-term significance of these results remains unclear. Therefore, continued close monitoring of renal and bladder function are mandatory.

Objective: To investigate efficacy and safety of enoxaparin for catheter-related