Does Enhancement or Perfusion on Preprocedure CT Predict Outcomes After Embolization of Hepatocellular Carcinoma?

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Academic Radiology
Author(s): Alessandra Borgheresi, Adrian Gonzalez-Aguirre, Karen T. Brown, George I. Getrajdman, Joseph P. Erinjeri, Anne Covey, Hooman Yarmohammadi, Etay Ziv, Constantinos T. Sofocleous, Franz Edward Boas
Rationale and ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate whether quantitative enhancement or perfusion measurements on preprocedure triphasic computed tomography (CT) can be used to predict response or overall survival after embolization of hepatocellular carcinoma.Materials and MethodsThe institutional review board approved this retrospective review of 63 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with particle embolization between March 2009 and December 2014. Quantitative enhancement and perfusion measurements were performed on the target tumor and the background liver on the triphasic CT performed before treatment. Microvascular invasion (MVI) and degree of differentiation were determined from a core biopsy specimen. Quantitative enhancement and perfusion values were then correlated with pathology (two-tailed t test), response to embolization on modified Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (two-tailed t test), and overall survival after embolization (Cox proportional hazards model).ResultsArterial enhancement did not predict immediate response or overall survival after embolization. The degree of differentiation or presence of MVI also did not predict immediate response or overall survival after embolization. However, high hepatic artery coefficient or low portal vein coefficient, both in the tumor (P = .011 and P = .004) and in the background liver (P = .015 and P = .009), were associated with worse survival. Hepatic artery coefficient, both in the tumor (P = .025) and in the background liver (P = .013), were independent predictors of survival in a multivariate model including the Child-Pugh score and the BCLC stage.ConclusionsTumor and liver perfusion parameters estimated from preprocedure triphasic CT were predictive of survival after embolization. Arterial-phase enhancement and histology (degree of differentiation or MVI) did not predict immediate response or overall survival after particle embolization.



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Relationship between Background Parenchymal Enhancement on High-risk Screening MRI and Future Breast Cancer Risk

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Academic Radiology
Author(s): Lars J. Grimm, Ashirbani Saha, Sujata V. Ghate, Connie Kim, Mary Scott Soo, Sora C. Yoon, Maciej A. Mazurowski
Rationale and ObjectivesTo determine if background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) on screening breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in high-risk women correlates with future cancer.Materials and MethodsAll screening breast MRIs (n = 1039) in high-risk women at our institution from August 1, 2004, to July 30, 2013, were identified. Sixty-one patients who subsequently developed breast cancer were matched 1:2 by age and high-risk indication with patients who did not develop breast cancer (n = 122). Five fellowship-trained breast radiologists independently recorded the BPE. The median reader BPE for each case was calculated and compared between the cancer and control cohorts.ResultsCancer cohort patients were high-risk because of a history of radiation therapy (10%, 6 of 61), high-risk lesion (18%, 11 of 61), or breast cancer (30%, 18 of 61); BRCA mutation (18%, 11 of 61); or family history (25%, 15 of 61). Subsequent malignancies were invasive ductal carcinoma (64%, 39 of 61), ductal carcinoma in situ (30%, 18 of 61) and invasive lobular carcinoma (7%, 4of 61). BPE was significantly higher in the cancer cohort than in the control cohort (P = 0.01). Women with mild, moderate, or marked BPE were 2.5 times more likely to develop breast cancer than women with minimal BPE (odds ratio = 2.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.3–4.8, P = .005). There was fair interreader agreement (κ = 0.39).ConclusionsHigh-risk women with greater than minimal BPE at screening MRI have increased risk of future breast cancer.



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Gallbladder Scalloping, Mammillated Caudate Lobe, and Inferior Vena Cava Scalloping

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Academic Radiology
Author(s): Mohammad Amarneh, Ahmed Akhter, M. Zak Rajput, Douglas R. LaBrecque, Monzer Abu-Yousef
PurposeWe aimed to present three new ultrasound signs—gallbladder scalloping, mammillated caudate lobe, and inferior vena cava scalloping—and determine their accuracy in diagnosing liver cirrhosis.Materials and MethodsA total of 201 consecutive patients with a history of chronic liver disease who had undergone ultrasound imaging and liver biopsy were identified. A senior ultrasound radiologist blindly reviewed the ultrasound examinations. Specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of diagnosing cirrhosis were calculated for all evaluated ultrasound signs and selected combinations of signs, using the liver biopsy results as the reference standard.ResultsOf the 201 patients, 152 (76%) had either pathology-proven cirrhosis or significant fibrosis. Caudate lobe hypertrophy was the most specific (88%) and most positive predictor (90%) for cirrhosis, whereas mammillated caudate lobe was the most sensitive (78%). Inferior vena cava scalloping was the most specific (78%) of the three proposed ultrasound signs. When signs were combined, the presence of either gallbladder scalloping or liver surface nodularity was highly sensitive for cirrhosis (87%), whereas the presence of either gallbladder scalloping or inferior vena cava scalloping with caudate lobe hypertrophy was highly specific (93%).ConclusionsGallbladder scalloping, mammillated caudate lobe, and inferior vena cava scalloping are three novel signs that improve the accuracy of ultrasound in diagnosing cirrhosis.



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Impact of a New Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction (ASIR)-V Algorithm on Image Quality in Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Academic Radiology
Author(s): Gianluca Pontone, Giuseppe Muscogiuri, Daniele Andreini, Andrea I. Guaricci, Marco Guglielmo, Andrea Baggiano, Fabio Fazzari, Saima Mushtaq, Edoardo Conte, Andrea Annoni, Alberto Formenti, Elisabetta Mancini, Massimo Verdecchia, Alessandro Campari, Chiara Martini, Marco Gatti, Laura Fusini, Lorenzo Bonfanti, Elisa Consiglio, Mark G. Rabbat, Antonio L. Bartorelli, Mauro Pepi
Rationale and objectivesA new postprocessing algorithm named adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR)-V has been recently introduced. The aim of this article was to analyze the impact of ASIR-V algorithm on signal, noise, and image quality of coronary computed tomography angiography.Materials and MethodsFifty consecutive patients underwent clinically indicated coronary computed tomography angiography (Revolution CT; GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI). Images were reconstructed using filtered back projection and ASIR-V 0%, and a combination of filtered back projection and ASIR-V 20%–80% and ASIR-V 100%. Image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated for left main coronary artery (LM), left anterior descending artery (LAD), left circumflex artery (LCX), and right coronary artery (RCA) and were compared between the different postprocessing algorithms used. Similarly a four-point Likert image quality score of coronary segments was graded for each dataset and compared. A cutoff value of P < .05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsCompared to ASIR-V 0%, ASIR-V 100% demonstrated a significant reduction of image noise in all coronaries (P < .01). Compared to ASIR-V 0%, SNR was significantly higher with ASIR-V 60% in LM (P < .01), LAD (P < .05), LCX (P < .05), and RCA (P < .01). Compared to ASIR-V 0%, CNR for ASIR-V ≥60% was significantly improved in LM (P < .01), LAD (P < .05), and RCA (P < .01), whereas LCX demonstrated a significant improvement with ASIR-V ≥80%. ASIR-V 60% had significantly better Likert image quality scores compared to ASIR-V 0% in segment-, vessel-, and patient-based analyses (P < .01).ConclusionsReconstruction with ASIR-V 60% provides the optimal balance between image noise, SNR, CNR, and image quality.



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The Impact of Interruptions on Chest Radiograph Interpretation

Publication date: Available online 28 March 2018
Source:Academic Radiology
Author(s): Rachel M. Wynn, Jessica L. Howe, Linda C. Kelahan, Allan Fong, Ross W. Filice, Raj M. Ratwani
Rationale and ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to experimentally test the effect of interruptions on image interpretation by comparing reading time and response accuracy of interrupted case reads to uninterrupted case reads in resident and attending radiologists.Materials and MethodsInstitutional review board approval was obtained before participant recruitment from an urban academic health-care system during January 2016–March 2016. Eleven resident and 12 attending radiologists examined 30 chest radiographs, rating their confidence regarding the presence or the absence of a pneumothorax. Ten cases were normal (ie, no pneumothorax present), 10 cases had an unsubtle pneumothorax (ie, readily perceivable by a nonexpert), and 10 cases had a subtle pneumothorax. During three reads of each case type, the participants were interrupted with 30 seconds of a secondary task. The total reading time and the accuracy of interrupted and uninterrupted cases were compared. A mixed-factors analysis of variance was run on reading time and accuracy with experience (resident vs attending) as a between-subjects factor and case type (normal, unsubtle, or subtle) and interruption (interruption vs no interruption) as within-subjects factors.ResultsInterrupted tasks had significantly longer reading times than uninterrupted cases (P = .032). During subtle cases, interruptions reduced accuracy (P = .034), but during normal cases, interruptions increased accuracy (P = .038).ConclusionsInterruptions increased reading times and increased the tendency for a radiologist to conclude that a case is normal for both resident and attending radiologists, demonstrating that interruptions reduce efficiency and introduce patient safety concerns during reads of abnormal cases.



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Incidental Thyroid Nodules in the National Lung Screening Trial

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Academic Radiology
Author(s): Manisha Bahl
Rationale and ObjectivesThere is limited research on the prevalence of incidental thyroid nodules (ITNs) in the United States screening population and on the appropriate evaluation of computed tomography (CT)-detected ITNs. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of ITNs in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) and develop a workup strategy for ITNs.Materials and MethodsCT images were obtained for subjects with documented thyroid abnormalities in the CT screening arm of the NLST, subjects diagnosed with thyroid malignancies, and control subjects. Several size thresholds were compared to determine how many nodules would be further evaluated and how many thyroid malignancies would be missed had each threshold been applied at the time of workup.ResultsThyroid nodules were reported in 0.7% (117 of 17,309 subjects). In 663 control subjects without reported thyroid nodules, thyroid nodules were identified in 78 (11.8%). Reported nodules were larger than unreported nodules (21.3 vs 16.9 mm, P = .03). Thyroid malignancies were diagnosed in 0.1% (22 of 17,309). If a 20-mm rather than a 10-mm cutoff were used to determine which nodules should be further evaluated, all malignancies would be detected, but 24 rather than 62 patients would require workup, for a workup reduction rate of 48.7% (38 of 78).ConclusionsLess than 1% of subjects in the NLST had reported ITNs. The true prevalence of ITNs was estimated to be 11.8%, which provides a better approximation of the number of patients who could potentially receive workup. A 20-mm rather than a 10-mm cutoff would reduce the workup rate by almost 50% while still capturing all malignancies.



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Gibbons (Nomascus gabriellae) provide key seed dispersal for the Pacific walnut (Dracontomelon dao), in Asia's lowland tropical forest

Publication date: April 2018
Source:Acta Oecologica, Volume 88
Author(s): Bach Thanh Hai, Jin Chen, Kim R. McConkey, Salindra K. Dayananda
Understanding the mutualisms between frugivores and plants is essential for developing successful forest management and conservation strategies, especially in tropical rainforests where the majority of plants are dispersed by animals. Gibbons are among the most effective seed dispersers in South East Asia's tropical forests, but are also one of the highly threatened arboreal mammals in the region. Here we studied the seed dispersal of the Pacific walnut (Dracontomelon dao), a canopy tree which produces fruit that are common in the diet of the endangered southern yellow-cheeked crested gibbon (Nomascus gabriellae). We found that gibbons were the most effective disperser for this species; they consumed approximately 45% of the fruit crop, which was four times more than that consumed by macaques – the only other legitimate disperser. Gibbons tracked the temporal (but not spatial) abundance of ripe fruits, indicating this fruit was a preferred species for the gibbon. Both gibbons and macaques dispersed the majority (>90%) of the seeds at least 20 m away from parent crowns, with mean dispersal distances by gibbons measuring 179.3 ± 98.0 m (range: 4–425 m). Seeds defecated by gibbons germinated quicker and at greater rates than seeds spat by macaques, or in undispersed fruits. Gibbon-dispersed seeds were also more likely to be removed by unknown seed predators or unknown secondary dispersers. Overall, gibbons play a key role in the regeneration of the Pacific walnut. Our findings have significant implications both for the management of the Pacific walnut tree dominating tropical rainforest as well as the reintroduction program of the Southern yellow-cheeked crested gibbon.



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A phase II, multicenter, single-arm trial of eribulin as first- or second-line chemotherapy for HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer: evaluation of efficacy, safety, and patient-reported outcomes

Abstract

Purpose

Although eribulin is a suitable option for early-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC), data on first- or second-line use of eribulin for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative MBC are still limited. Therefore, we conducted a phase II trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of eribulin for first- or second-line chemotherapy for HER2-negative MBC.

Materials and methods

We performed a phase II, open-label, single-arm, multicenter study in Japan. Eligible patients were women with histologically confirmed HER2-negative MBC without chemotherapy or only one chemotherapy line for MBC. The primary endpoint was the overall response rate (ORR) and the secondary endpoints included the clinical benefit rate (ORR + stable disease for 6 months; CBR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), duration of response (DOR), safety, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Results

A total of 35 patients with HER2-negative MBC were enrolled between March 2013 and February 2017 (data cut-off July 31, 2017). The ORR was 37.1% (95% CI 21.1–53.2%). The CBR was 54.3% (95% CI 37.8–70.8%). The median PFS was 6.2 months (95% CI 2.7–9.4 months) and median OS was 21.4 months (95% CI 11.5–32.9 months). Common grade 3/4 adverse events were neutropenia (42.9%) but febrile neutropenia (2.9%). Although the majority of non-hematological adverse events were mild in severity, one patient died of pneumonitis. In HRQoL analysis, eribulin appeared to maintain HRQoL of many patients.

Conclusions

Eribulin as first- or second-line chemotherapy is effective and has manageable toxicity for patients with HER2-negative MBC.

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Nanocomposite hits the right note for bone repair

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Materials Today
Author(s): Cordelia Sealy




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Nanogenerator promises blue energy dream

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Materials Today
Author(s): Cordelia Sealy




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Stretchable, twistable textile-based biobatteries become a reality

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Materials Today
Author(s): Laurie Donaldson




https://ift.tt/2GAIX52

3D tattoos for chemical sensing

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Materials Today
Author(s): David Bradley




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Computational design and property predictions for two-dimensional nanostructures

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Materials Today
Author(s): Runzhang Xu, Xiaolong Zou, Bilu Liu, Hui-Ming Cheng
Recent success in isolating and growing various two-dimensional (2D) materials with intriguing properties has pushed forward the search for new 2D nanostructures with novel properties. Current experimental trial-and-error methods face the fundamental challenges of low efficiency and a lack of clear guidelines. In contrast, based on state-of-the-art first-principles calculations and well-developed structural prediction algorithms, computational simulations can not only predict an increasing number of new 2D materials with desirable properties but also suggest their possible synthesis routes. Among them, many predictions, such as the growth of monolayer boron sheets (borophene), piezoelectricity in molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), ferroelectricity in tin telluride (SnTe), topological defects in transition metal dichalcogenides, Dirac cones in borophene, and high carrier mobility and mobility anisotropy in black phosphorene, have been verified by experiments, showing the accuracy of computational approaches, as well as their power in facilitating experimental exploration in 2D flatland. To date, the rapid expansion in theoretical work has generated a large number of very important results, but the overall picture of recent progress, current challenges, and future opportunities is rarely discussed. Accordingly, this review aims at providing information about current trends and future perspectives for 2D materials research. To achieve this, the review is organized as follows: (1) discussion of structural predictions in 2D materials using borophene as an example; (2) predictions of the electronic, optical, mechanical, and magnetic properties in various 2D materials; (3) discussion of the influence of defects on the structures and properties of 2D materials; and (4) evaluation of current progress in computational simulations and perspectives for future development.

Graphical abstract

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Expanding the Consumer Bill of Rights for material ingredients

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Materials Today
Author(s): Joshua M. Pearce




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Breakable electrode design brings safer batteries for electric cars

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Materials Today
Author(s): Laurie Donaldson




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Metallic glass nanotubes promise novel properties

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Materials Today
Author(s): Cordelia Sealy




https://ift.tt/2pKSYSE

Nanodevice acts as improved DNA detector

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Materials Today
Author(s): Laurie Donaldson




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Events Diary

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Materials Today





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Eely simply power source

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Materials Today
Author(s): David Bradley




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Stretch batteries

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Materials Today
Author(s): David Bradley




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Editorial Board

Publication date: May 2018
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 181





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Loss of PTEN in High Grade Advanced Stage Triple Negative Breast Ductal Cancers in African American Women

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Pathology - Research and Practice
Author(s): Farhan Khan, Ashwini Esnakula, Luisel J Ricks-Santi, Rabia Zafar, Yasmine Kanaan, Tammey Naab
IntroductionPTEN is a tumor suppressor gene that inhibits cell proliferation by inhibiting the phosphoinositide 3- kinase (PI3 K) signaling pathway. The significance of PTEN mutations resulting in variable PTEN expression and their impact on prognosis of breast cancer is not well established. The objective of our study was to correlate the immunohistochemical expression of PTEN in the four major subtypes of breast carcinoma (Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2 positive, and Triple Negative) in a population of 202 African-American (AA) females with other clinicopathological factors.Materials and MethodsTissue microarrays (TMAs) were constructed from FFPE tumor blocks from primary ductal breast carcinomas in 202 African-American females. Five micrometer sections were stained with a mouse monoclonal antibody against PTEN. The sections were evaluated for the intensity of cytoplasmic and nuclear reactivity. Bivariate analysis was done via χ2 analysis and survivability data was calculated via the generation of Kaplan-Meier curves (SPSS v19).ResultsLoss of PTEN expression was associated with ER negative (p = 0.021), PR negative (p = 0.024) and triple negative (p = 0.0024) breast ductal cancers. It was marginally associated with distant metastasis (p = 0.074). There was no association between PTEN loss and recurrence-free survival or overall survival.ConclusionIn our study, a statistically significant association between PTEN loss and the triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) was found in AA women. PTEN inhibits PI3 K resulting in decreased activation of downstream effector, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Loss of PTEN results in cell proliferation through activation of mTOR. Targeted therapy with mTOR inhibitors might be useful in the treatment of TNBC.



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Protein Phase Separation: A New Phase in Cell Biology

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Trends in Cell Biology
Author(s): Steven Boeynaems, Simon Alberti, Nicolas L. Fawzi, Tanja Mittag, Magdalini Polymenidou, Frederic Rousseau, Joost Schymkowitz, James Shorter, Benjamin Wolozin, Ludo Van Den Bosch, Peter Tompa, Monika Fuxreiter
Cellular compartments and organelles organize biological matter. Most well-known organelles are separated by a membrane boundary from their surrounding milieu. There are also many so-called membraneless organelles and recent studies suggest that these organelles, which are supramolecular assemblies of proteins and RNA molecules, form via protein phase separation. Recent discoveries have shed light on the molecular properties, formation, regulation, and function of membraneless organelles. A combination of techniques from cell biology, biophysics, physical chemistry, structural biology, and bioinformatics are starting to help establish the molecular principles of an emerging field, thus paving the way for exciting discoveries, including novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of age-related disorders.



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Scholar : These new articles for International Journal of Performance Arts and Digital Media are available online

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for International Journal of Performance Arts and Digital Media and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: Original Articles Language documentation: a reference point for theatre and performance archives? Miguel Escobar Varela & Nala H. Lee Pages: 1-17 | DOI: 10.1080/14794713.2018.1453242 To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. Unsubscribe from new content alerts for this journal (both new issue and latest article notifications) with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Subacute Combined Degeneration from Recreational Nitrous Oxide Inhalation

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Author(s): Michael U. Antonucci




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Neurosyphilis as a Cause of Transverse Myelitis in a Teenage Girl

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Author(s): Karen Kim Jo Yaphockun, Shannon Wai
BackgroundSyphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that was nearly eradicated in 2001 but is now making a resurgence. It has a wide range of clinical manifestations depending on disease stage. Neurosyphilis is an infrequently seen infectious disease with central nervous system involvement that can occur in either early- or late-stage syphilis. The diagnosis of neurosyphilis is challenging, primarily because Treponema pallidum, the infecting organism, cannot be cultured in vitro. This article describes a patient with neurosyphilis and reviews the epidemiology and clinical manifestations, diagnostics, and treatment of neurosyphilis.Case ReportIn compliance with the request of the Privacy Board of our institution, the numerical age of this patient has been omitted. A sexually active teenage girl who was treated for primary syphilis 2 years earlier presented to a tertiary children's hospital with paresthesia and weakness of her right leg, left arm, and neck. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed cervical intramedullary cord edema consistent with transverse myelitis. Serum studies showed positive syphilis enzyme immunoassay, T. pallidum particle agglutination assay, and fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption. A serum rapid plasma reagin test was negative. A lumbar puncture was performed with normal cell count and protein. A cerebrospinal fluid Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test was negative. She was diagnosed with neurosyphilis and treated with intravenous steroids and penicillin G, with near complete resolution of symptoms.Why should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This?The Centers for Disease Control and prevention has noted a steady rise of the incidence of syphilis since 2002. Emergency physicians should be familiar with the spectrum of the clinical manifestations of syphilis, challenges in diagnostics, and appropriate treatment course.



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Abdominal Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome: The Cause of Localized Abdominal Pain in a Young Pregnant Woman

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Author(s): Sody A. Naimer
BackgroundDespite the broad differential diagnosis in any patient referring with symptoms involving the chest or abdomen, a small number of conditions overshadow the rest by their probability. Chest and abdominal wall pain continues to constitute a common and expensive overlooked source of pain of unknown cause. In particular, cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome is commonly encountered but not easily diagnosed unless its specific symptoms are sought and the precise physical examination undertaken.Case ReportA primigravida woman with unbearable abdominal pain was referred repeatedly seeking a solution for her suffering. Numerous laboratory and imaging studies were employed in order to elucidate the cause of her condition. After numerous visits and unnecessary delay, the diagnosis was finally made by a physician fully versed in the field of torso wall pain. The focused physical examination disclosed abdominal cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome as the diagnosis, and anesthetic infiltration led to immediate alleviation of her pain.Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This?Cutaneous nerve entrapment is a common cause of abdominal pain that is reached on the basis of thorough history and physical examination alone. Knowledge dissemination of the various torso wall syndromes is imperative for prompt delivery of suitable care. All emergency physicians should be fully aware of this entity because the diagnosis is based solely on physical examination, and immediate relief can be provided in the framework of the first visit. Wider recognition of this syndrome will promise that such mishaps are not repeated in the future.



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Scholar : These new articles for Journal of Architectural Conservation are available online

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for Journal of Architectural Conservation and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: Book Review Listed buildings and other heritage assets Bob Kindred Pages: 1-2 | DOI: 10.1080/13556207.2018.1446788 To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. Unsubscribe from new content alerts for this journal (both new issue and latest article notifications) with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Simultaneous determination of quercetin and its metabolites in rat plasma by using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Publication date: 1 August 2018
Source:Talanta, Volume 185
Author(s): Veronika Pilařová, Kateřina Plachká, Lucia Chrenková, Iveta Najmanová, Přemysl Mladěnka, František Švec, Ondřej Novák, Lucie Nováková
Fast, selective, and sensitive ultra-high performance liquid chromatography method with tandem mass spectrometry detection for the determination of quercetin and its metabolites with various physico-chemical properties such as molecular weight, lipophilicity, and acid-base properties has been developed. These compounds included small hydrophilic phenolic acids and more lipophilic metabolites with preserved flavonoid structure in small amount of rat plasma. The developed method enables selective separation of phenolic acids and a pair of isomers tamarixetin and isorhamnetin with satisfactory peak shapes and a high sensitivity using mass spectrometry detection. In addition, two sample preparation procedures including protein precipitation and microextraction in packed sorbent (MEPS) were optimized. The sample acidification included in protein precipitation as well as optimizing of MEPS sorbents and elution solvents improved isolation of quercetin and related compounds from rat plasma. Finally, both methods developed for sample preparation were fully validated to demonstrate sufficient accuracy and precision and acceptable matrix effects. Both sample preparation approaches combined with mass spectrometry-based quantification allowed the simultaneous determination of quercetin and its metabolites from a small amount of biological samples of only 50 μL. Due to the fast and non-selective parallel sample preparation, the protein precipitation was eventually applied to plasma samples derived from pharmacokinetic studies.

Graphical abstract

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Development of electrochemically controlled packed-in-tube solid phase microextraction method for sensitive analysis of acidic drugs in biological samples

Publication date: 1 August 2018
Source:Talanta, Volume 185
Author(s): Hamid Asiabi, Yadollah Yamini, Maryam Shamsayei
In the present research, for the first time, a novel "packed-in-tube" configuration has been applied to electrochemically controlled in-tube solid phase microextraction, followed by high performance liquid chromatography. In order to prepare a mini packed column, small beads of stainless steel were first placed into the stainless steel column. Then, a nanostructured polypyrrole film was prepared on the internal surface of a stainless steel tube and the surface of stainless steel particles through a facile in-situ electrodeposition method. Filling the column with tiny particles of stainless steel effectively reduces the dead volume of the extraction tube and increases the extraction phase volume. The column was used for separation and preconcentration of diclofenac and mefenamic acid as model analytes from biological samples. Several important factors affecting extraction efficiency, such as extraction and desorption times, flow rates of the sample solution and eluent, and extraction and desorption voltages were investigated and optimized. This method showed good linearity for the drugs in the range of 0.3–200.0 μg L⁻¹, 1.1–200.0 μg L⁻¹, and 1.8–200.0 μg L⁻¹ with coefficients of determination better than 0.9986, 0.9973, and 0.9973 in water, urine, and plasma samples, respectively. Intra- and inter-assay precisions (RSD%, n = 3) were in the range of 2.6–4.8% and 2.9–5.1, respectively, at three concentration levels of 10, 25, and 75 µg L⁻¹. In addition, the limits of detection were in the range of 0.02–0.04 μg L⁻¹. The validated method was successfully applied to the analysis of diclofenac and mefenamic acid in some biological samples. Finally, it is concluded that this method can be a general and reliable alternative to the analysis of ionic compounds in biological matrices.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2pLwb9u

Protein separation using a novel silica-based RPLC/IEC mixed-mode stationary phase modified with N-methylimidazolium ionic liquid

Publication date: 1 August 2018
Source:Talanta, Volume 185
Author(s): Quan Bai, Yanna Liu, Yixin Wang, Kailou Zhao, Fan Yang, Jiawei Liu, Jiwei Shen, Qingyang Zhao
Ionic liquids (ILs) immobilized on silica as a novel high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) stationary phase have attracted considerable attentions. However, it has not been applied to protein separation. In this paper, N-methylimidazolium IL-modified silica-based stationary phase (SilprMim) was prepared and investigated as a novel multi-interaction stationary phase with positive charges for protein separation. The results indicate that all of the basic proteins tested cannot be adsorbed on this novel stationary phase, whereas all of the acidic proteins tested can be retained, and the baseline separation of eight kinds of acidic protein standards can be achieved when being performed under reversed phase/ion-exchange chromatography (RPLC/IEC) mode. Compared with commonly used commercial C4 column, the novel stationary phase can show good selectivity and resolution to acidic proteins. The effects of acetonitrile and salt concentration, pH as well as the ligand structure on protein separation were investigated in detail. In addition, the mix-mode retention mechanism of proteins on the SilprMim column was also discussed using stoichiometric displacement theory for retention in LC (SDT-R). The result shows that the protein retention can be controlled mainly by the electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between the proteins and the stationary phase. As a result, with such characteristics of multi-interaction mechanism and multi-modal separation, not only the selectivity to the acidic proteins can be enhanced, but also a better resolution can be achieved. The result demonstrates that the SilprMim mixed-mode chromatography (MMC) column has a promising application in the separation and analysis of acidic proteins from the complex samples.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2pMipUE

Rapid separation of zirconium using microvolume anion-exchange cartridge for 93Zr determination with isotope dilution ICP-MS

Publication date: 1 August 2018
Source:Talanta, Volume 185
Author(s): Shiho Asai, Yukiko Hanzawa, Miki Konda, Daisuke Suzuki, Masaaki Magara, Takaumi Kimura, Ryo Ishihara, Kyoichi Saito, Shinsuke Yamada, Hideyuki Hirota
Estimating the risks associated with radiation from long-lived fission products (LLFP) in radioactive waste is essential to ensure the long-term safety of potential disposal sites. In this study, the amount of ⁹³Zr, a LLFP, was determined by ICP-MS after separating Zr from a spent nuclear fuel solution using a microvolume anion-exchange cartridge (TEDA cartridge). Zirconium in 9.4 M HCl was stably retained on the TEDA cartridge and readily eluted with 0.75 mL of a mixed solution of 9.4 M HCl and 0.01 M HF. The time taken to complete the Zr separation was 1.2 min. Almost all the other elements initially present in the spent nuclear fuel sample were removed, leading to accurate measurement of all six Zr isotopes (⁹⁰Zr, ⁹¹Zr, ⁹²Zr, ⁹³Zr, ⁹⁴Zr, and ⁹⁶Zr). This demonstrated that the TEDA cartridge allowed highly selective separation of Zr regardless of its small bed volume of 0.08 cm³. The concentrations of these isotopes were determined by an isotope-dilution method using a natural Zr standard that has a different isotopic composition from that of the spent nuclear fuel sample. The amount of ⁹³Zr in an initial spent nuclear fuel pellet was 1081 ± 79 ng per mg of ²³⁸U. The measured concentrations of all Zr isotopes, as well as the isotopic composition, were consistent with values predicted using a burnup calculation code.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2IY5Oph

Gold nanoparticle aggregation: Colorimetric detection of the interactions between avidin and biotin

Publication date: 1 August 2018
Source:Talanta, Volume 185
Author(s): Dongmin Shi, Feifan Sheng, Xiaojun Zhang, Guangfeng Wang
This paper reported a novel colorimetric assay strategy for avidin and biotin interactions based on terminal protection of the biotinylated single-stranded DNA and the surface plasmon resonance adsorption of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). In this assay, it was firstly found that biotin-ssDNA specifically bound to the target protein avidin with strong affinity could be protected from hydrolysis by exonuclease I (Exo I). Furthermore, a colorimetric strategy was designed for the detection of avidin and biotin interactions. In the process, in the presence of avidin, the interaction of avidin and biotin protected the digestion of Exo I towards the biotin-ssDNA. The biotin-ssDNA with negatively charged would attach to the surface of AuNPs with positively charge in high salt solution through electrostatic interactions, which prevented AuNPs to aggregate. With the increased addition of avidin, the absorbance of AuNPs in 520 nm increased gradually and the color showed gradually wine red. By taking advantage of terminal protection, the developed strategy could offer high sensitivity for detecting small molecule-protein interactions. The results revealed that the developed strategy was highly sensitive for detecting avidin in the concentration ranging from 0.01 to 0.2 μg/mL with the detection limit of 4 × 10⁻³ μg/mL.The developed assay also showed highly specific, cost-efficient and convenient. Moreover, this strategy only required labeling the small molecule on a single-stranded DNA, circumventing protein modifications that might be harmful for activity. In view of these advantages, this new colorimetric method could have potential to become a universal, sensitive, and selective platform for detection of small molecule−protein interactions.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2pMV58t

Carbon nanosphere-based fluorescence aptasensor for targeted detection of breast cancer cell MCF-7

Publication date: 1 August 2018
Source:Talanta, Volume 185
Author(s): Dandan Yang, Mei Liu, Jing Xu, Chao Yang, Xiaoxiao Wang, Yongbing Lou, Nongyue He, Zhifei Wang
In this work, carbon nanosphere (CNS)-based fluorescence "turn off/on" aptasensor was developed for targeted detection of breast cancer cell MCF-7 by conjugation with FAM (a dye)-labeled mucin1 (MUC1) aptamer P0 (P0-FAM), which can recognize MUC1 protein overexpressed on the surface of MCF-7. Different from other carbon based fluorescence quenching materials, CNSs prepared by the carbonization of glucose not only have the high fluorescence quenching efficiency (98.8%), but also possess negligible cytotoxicity (in the concentration range of 0–1 mg/mL, which is 10 times higher than that of traditional carbon nanotubes or graphene oxide (0–100 µg/mL)). As for the detection of the mimic of the tumor antigen MUC1, the resulting fluorescence intensity increases nearly linearly in the range of 0–6 μM with the limit of detection (LOD) of 25 nM.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2Gd9xBQ

Liking Goes With Liking: An Intuitive Congruence Between Preference and Prominence.

Author: Morvinski, Coby; Amir, On

DOI: 10.1037/xlm0000471

Publication Date: POST AUTHOR CORRECTIONS, 26 March 2018

https://ift.tt/2I8fgFA

Part-List Cuing Can Impair, Improve, or Not Influence Recall Performance: The Critical Roles of Encoding and Access to Study Context at Test.

Author: Lehmer, Eva-Maria; Bauml, Karl-Heinz T.

DOI: 10.1037/xlm0000517

Publication Date: POST AUTHOR CORRECTIONS, 26 March 2018

https://ift.tt/2Gzr9Hf

Establishing Individual Differences in Perceptual Capacity.

Author: Eayrs, Joshua; Lavie, Nilli

DOI: 10.1037/xhp0000530

Publication Date: POST AUTHOR CORRECTIONS, 26 March 2018

https://ift.tt/2J0vstK

Presidential address

K Mohanan

Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging 2018 28(1):3-5



https://ift.tt/2GyxeUk

Comparing the diagnostic efficacy of full field digital mammography with digital breast tomosynthesis using BIRADS score in a tertiary cancer care hospital

Divya Singla, Arvind K Chaturvedi, Abhinav Aggarwal, SA Rao, Dibyamohan Hazarika, Vivek Mahawar

Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging 2018 28(1):115-122

Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the leading cancers in females worldwide, and its incidence has been rising at an exponential pace in the last 10 years even in India. Mammography has been the mainstay for detection of breast cancer over decades and has gradually advanced from screen film to full-field digital mammography. Recently, tomosynthesis has evolved as an advanced imaging investigation for early diagnosis of breast lesions in both diagnostic and screening settings. Aim of Study: To compare and evaluate the impact of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) compared to full-field digital mammography (FFDM) in the interpretation of BIRADS score in both diagnostic and screening settings. Settings and Design: A 1-year prospective longitudinal study was conducted in the Department of Radio-diagnosis in our institute using Hologic Selenia Dimensions for mammography as well as tomosynthesis. Materials and Methods: One hundred women known or suspected (opportunistic screening) for breast cancer were evaluated either with FFDM alone or both FFDM and DBT. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and P value were used to assess the various diagnostic criteria in our study. Results: Addition of DBT to FFDM results in a statistically significant increase in the sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value, and a statistically significant decrease in the false positive rates. Similar results were noted in both diagnostic and screening cases. It was observed that, in most cases, i.e. a total of 47, DBT did not change the BIRADS scoring; however, its addition increased the diagnostic confidence. BIRADS was upgraded and downgraded in 14 and 31 cases, respectively, with the addition of DBT to FFDM. New lesions were seen with addition of DBT to FFDM in 8 cases. Conclusion: Addition of DBT to FFDM results in increase in sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and a statistically significant decrease in false positive rates in both diagnostic and screening cases. As addition of tomosynthesis results in a significant decrease in recall rate, it should be added, at least, in all screening mammography programs.

https://ift.tt/2GfvNXE

Transient global amnesia: Diffusion MRI findings

Tarun P Jain, Ronak Patel, Yash Gawarikar

Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging 2018 28(1):6-9

Introduction: Aim of this study is to identify and describe the MRI findings in patients with Transient Global Amnesia (TGA), specifically on Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) sequence. Methods: MRI findings in 12 patients with clinical diagnosis of TGA were retrospectively analysed. MRI brain was performed with a 3T scanner on 11 patients and 1.5T scanner on 1 patient. DWI were acquired at B value of 1000 s/mm2 in 4 patients, 2000 s/mm2 in 2 patients and both 1000 and 2000 s/mm2 in 6 patients. Results: There were 7 female and 5 male patients. The mean age was 65.67 years (range 61-74 years). The median time interval between the onset of symptom and MRI scan was 47.5 hours, range 25-114 hours. 11 of the 12 patients showed punctate foci of restricted diffusion in hippocampus (mean size 3.7 mm (range 2-6.5 mm). 10 patients showed foci in left hippocampus. Nine patients showed a single focus, 1 patient showed three foci and 1 patient showed four foci. In 6 patients who had DWI MRI at both B values, scans at B value of 1000 s/mm2 revealed abnormality in 4 patients, while higher B value imaging improved sensitivity in one patient and one patient had a negative scan at both B values. Conclusion: We have highlighted the MRI finding of typical punctate foci of bright signal in hippocampus seen on DWI in patients diagnosed with TGA. Detection on a routine stroke MRI protocol can avoid need for dedicated TGA protocols or repeat scan, improving the workflow.

https://ift.tt/2GcYRTI

Doppler indices of superior thyroid artery in clinically euthyroid adults

Upendra Kumar Joish, Y Kavitha, R Harikiran Reddy, Anitha S Prabhu, M Chetan Kumar, MC Siddharth

Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging 2018 28(1):10-13

Context: Ultrasonography of thyroid gland is a frequently performed investigation. Many of the diffuse thyroid pathologies are associated with altered vascularity. In view of potential applications and scant available data, there is a need to find normal values of Doppler indices of superior thyroid artery (STA). Aims: To find the normal range of Doppler indices like mean peak systolic velocity (PSV), resistivity index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI) of STA in clinically euthyroid adult individuals. Settings and Design: Prospective cross-sectional observational study. Materials and Methods: A study was done in the Department of Radiodiagnosis of a tertiary care hospital, involving clinically euthyroid adult volunteers. Ultrasonography of the thyroid gland with Doppler of bilateral STAs was performed and mean values of PSV, RI, and PI were calculated. Results: A total of 208 subjects, with a mean age of 37.7 years, underwent Doppler evaluation of STA; 148 of them were women and 60 were men. The mean PSV obtained was 16.94 ± 5.3 cm/s. Mean PI and RI were 0.93 ± 0.31 and 0.5 ± 0.13, respectively. There was no significant difference in the values obtained among both the genders. Conclusion: Mean values of Doppler indices of STA in euthyroid individuals have been found in this study.

https://ift.tt/2Gz5Zt6

Turf wars in radiology research: “Are the honoraries ready to come out and defend their territory?”

Chander Mohan

Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging 2018 28(1):1-2



https://ift.tt/2pPWIT9

Analysis of the time course of changes in imaging findings of small arteries embolized with the N-Butyl cyanoacrylate-lipiodol mixture

Hiroyuki Tokue, Azusa Tokue, Yoshito Tsushima

Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging 2018 28(1):81-84

Background: There are no reports analyzing imaging findings of arteries embolized with N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA)-Lipiodol. To evaluate the time course of changes in the imaging findings of small arteries embolized with NBCA-Lipiodol. Materials and Methods: Selective transcatheter arterial embolization procedures via the inferior phrenic artery (right IPA, n = 25; left IPA, n = 5) were performed in 30 patients (25 males, 5 females; mean age 63 years, range: 45–78) at our institution. The NBCA-Lipiodol mixture was used as an embolic agent. The ratio of NBCA to Lipiodol was 1:4 (Group-A, n = 16) or 1:8 (Group-B, n = 14).We retrospectively reviewed the computed tomography (CT) findings and outcomes of small arteries embolized with the NBCA-Lipiodol mixture. The residual lipiodol was compared between Group-A and Group-B. The Student's t-test and Chi-square test were used for statistical analyses. In addition, the residual lipiodol rate was calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Results: The mean observation period was 264 ± 84 days (range: 104–425). Lipiodol completely disappeared in 20 arteries (66%) during follow-up. Recanalization of arterial flow was not seen in CT images, even when Lipiodol disappeared. Group-B showed a shorter period of progression to disappearance of Lipiodol than Group-A (P < 0.05). On follow up, the rate of residual Lipiodol in Group-A was higher than that in Group-B (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Residual Lipiodol was expected to gradually disappear. Lipiodol disappeared early when the density of NBCA was low in the NBCA-Lipiodol mixture. Further evaluations of various arteries and ratios of NBCA to Lipiodol are needed.

https://ift.tt/2Ges4tr

Clinicoradiological aspects of pontine tegmental cap dysplasia: Case report of a rare hindbrain malformation

Aanchal Bhayana, Sunil K Bajaj, Ritu N Misra, S Senthil Kumaran

Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging 2018 28(1):18-21

Malformations involving the brainstem are very rare and present with a varied spectrum of clinical symptoms due to multiple cranial nerve palsies and pyramidal tract involvement. Of these, pontine tegmental cap dysplasia is a very unusual malformation, characterized by ventral pons hypoplasia and an ectopic dorsal band of tissue, projecting into the fourth ventricle, from dorsal pontine tegmentum. A 4-year-old male child, presenting with left facial nerve palsy, revealed hypoplastic ventral pons and an ectopic structure on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The ectopic structure was isointense to pons, arose from the left side of dorsal pontine tegmentum, at pontomedullary junction and protruded into the fourth ventricle, impinging upon the left seventh and eighth cranial nerves. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) depicted abnormal white matter tracts in ectopic tissue with absent transverse pontine fibres and abnormal middle and superior cerebellar peduncles. The typical MRI appearance, coupled with DTI, helped us reach an accurate diagnosis of pontine tegmental cap dysplasia, in a setting of neurological dysfunction.

https://ift.tt/2GcYQiC

Brown fat necrosis with calcifications in the newborn: Risk factors, radiographic findings, and clinical course

Eleza T Golden, Paula Dickson, Stephen Simoneaux

Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging 2018 28(1):107-110

Objective: To describe the radiographic appearance of subclinical calcified brown fat necrosis and the associated clinical and laboratory findings. Materials and Methods: Picture Archiving and Communications Sytem (PACS) was searched using keywords "soft tissue calcification" and "chest." The clinical record was searched for prior cardiac surgery, bypass, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygentation (ECMO) and prostaglandin use. Age when calcifications were first detected, location, resolution, and associated laboratory abnormalities were recorded. Results: Nine patients were identified. None had skin lesions. All patients had congenital heart disease and had experienced cardiac/respiratory arrest and/or severe hypotension 1–6 weeks before soft tissue calcifications occurred. Calcifications resolved by 9 weeks to 5 months in 3 patients. The remaining were either deceased or lacked follow-up imaging. Renal ultrasound was performed in all but 1 patient. Nephrocalcinosis was only seen in 1 patient. Conclusion: Brown fat necrosis is subclinical, diagnosed on plain film, and likely self-limited. It occurs in term and preterm infants who have undergone significant systemic stress and carries a poor prognosis.

https://ift.tt/2pPWCuL

Frontal subcutaneous lipoma associated with interhemispheric lipoma, lipomeningocele, and corpus callosal dysgenesis in a young adult: CT and MRI findings

Nidhi Aggarwal, Kushal B Gehlot, Sunil D Kumar, N K Kardam Alsaba Khan

Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging 2018 28(1):22-26

Intracranial lipomas are rare incidental lesions. Rokitansky first described a corpus callosal lipoma on the posterior part of the corpus callosum in 1856. Since then many cases have been reported. We report the imaging findings of an interhemispheric lipoma extending into subcutaneous plane associated with spinal lipomeningocele and corpus callosal dysgenesis. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings are characteristic. All cases have been reported in pediatric age group till now. Such a case in this age group has not been reported earlier.

https://ift.tt/2GCyYMJ

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, pneumorrhachis, pneumoretroperitoneum, surgical emphysemaAdult cervical lung herniation: Importance of valsalva manoeuvre in imaging

Bogala Shilpa, Rashmi Sudhir, M V T Krishna Mohan, Veeraiah Koppula

Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging 2018 28(1):132-133



https://ift.tt/2GkpVg0

Comparison of MDCT, MRI and MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging in evaluation of focal renal lesions: The defender, challenger, and winner!

Ankur Goyal, Raju Sharma, Ashu S Bhalla, Shivanand Gamanagatti, Amlesh Seth

Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging 2018 28(1):27-36

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic performance of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the characterization of focal renal lesions. We also compared MDCT and MRI in the staging of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty adult patients underwent MDCT (40-row and 128-row scanners), MRI (at 1.5 T), and DWI (at b-values of 0 and 500 s/mm2) for characterization of 225 renal lesions. There were 65 malignant neoplasms (44 RCCs), 25 benign neoplasms, 25 abscesses, 45 pseudotumors, 15 hemorrhagic cysts, and 50 benign cysts. A composite gold standard including histology, typical imaging criteria, and follow-up imaging was employed. To determine the diagnostic performance of imaging modalities, area-under-curve (AUC) was calculated by receiver-operating-characteristic analysis and compared. Fisher's exact test was used to compare the diagnostic accuracies and confidence levels with MDCT, MRI, and MRI + DWI. Cross-tabulation was used to assess the precision of MDCT and MRI in RCC staging. Results: AUC for MDCT (0.834) and MRI (0.841) in the classification of benign and malignant lesions were within corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) (P = 0.88) whereas MRI + DWI had significantly better performance (AUC 0.968, P = 0.0002 and 0.0004, respectively). Both CT and MRI had low specificity (66.9% and 68.8%, respectively), which increased substantially with DWI (93.8%) owing to correct diagnosis of pseudotumors. MRI was superior to CT in diagnosing necrotic RCC and hemorrhagic cysts. MRI + DWI had the highest accuracy (94.2%) in assigning the definitive diagnosis and 97.6% lesions were diagnosed with very high confidence, significantly better than CT and MRI. Both CT and MRI had the same accuracy (86.1%) in RCC staging and evaluation of intravascular thrombi. Conclusions: Characterization of renal lesions was most accurate with MRI + DWI. The latter is also the most suitable modality in diagnosing pseudotumors and evaluating patients with renal dysfunction. CT and MRI were equivalent in RCC staging.

https://ift.tt/2Gd5XYh

Primary presentation of Jeune's syndrome as gastric motility disorder in an infant: A case report

Amit Katyan, Shabnam Bhandari Grover, Heena Rajani, Deepak Bagga, Neha Antil

Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging 2018 28(1):65-69

We report a case of a 4-week-old female neonate with Jeune's asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy (JATD) and coexistent situs anomaly, primarily presenting as gastric motility disorder. The child presented with abdominal distension and nonbilious vomiting since birth with failure to thrive. However, skeletal survey revealed JATD. Upper gastrointestinal contrast study showed situs inversus with delayed gastric emptying. Pyloric biopsy and intraoperative antro-duodenal manometry confirmed association of gastric motility disorder. Awareness of the unusual possibility of primary presentation of Jeune syndrome as gastric motility disorder will improve the management approach in such infants.

https://ift.tt/2GizBHJ

Different etiologies of an unusual disease: Colouterine fistula – Report of two cases

Rohit Aggarwal, Venkatraman Indiran, Prabakaran Maduraimuthu

Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging 2018 28(1):37-40

Colouterine fistula is an extremely rare condition, as the uterus is a thick, muscular organ. Here, we present two different etiologies for this rare condition—diverticulitis and malignancy. A 77-year-old female with colouterine fistula due to diverticulitis presented with complaints of lower abdominal pain localized particularly in the left iliac fossa and fever. Another case was of 73-year-old female with colouterine fistula due to malignancy who presented with abdominal pain, blood in stools, and whitish discharge from vagina. Both cases were evaluated with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT). The presence of air and fluid within the uterus on ultrasound or CT scan, prompts the possibility of colouterine fistula with CECT providing accurate preoperative assessment.

https://ift.tt/2GCyOF7

Emphysematous osteomyelitis: Report of two cases and review of literature

Sachin Khanduri, Meenu Singh, Aakshit Goyal, Simran Singh

Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging 2018 28(1):78-80

Emphysematous osteomyelitis is a rare condition characterized by the presence of intraosseous gas. A prompt diagnosis is required for this disease to expedite management as it is a potentially fatal condition. Many comorbidities, such as malignancy, diabetes mellitus, alcohol abuse, Crohn's disease, and other etiologies causing immunosuppression, predispose to this condition. The causative organisms are generally anaerobes or members of Enterobacteriaceae family; however, the infection can be mono or polymicrobial. We report two cases affected with emphysematous osteomyelitis due to varied underlying comorbidities. The purpose of this study is to (a) emphasize the importance of computed tomography in diagnosing emphysematous osteomyelitis and (b) to highlight an unusual location of this rare pathology.

https://ift.tt/2GkEsYI

Hernia uteri inguinalis in ovotesticular disorder of sexual differentiation: A rare complication and role of imaging

Janardhana Ponnatapura

Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging 2018 28(1):41-44

Neonate with ambiguous genitalia can cause great apprehension for the family as well as for healthcare providers. We report a rare complication of delayed diagnosis of hernia uteri inguinalis in ovotesticular disorder of sexual differentiation (DSD) in 20-year-old male patient who presented with pain and swelling in left inguinal region since 1 month. He had a past surgical history of repair of hypospadias 10 years back. On imaging, the left inguinal hernia sac contained nonfunctioning uterus and one ovary in the left scrotal sac and one testis in the right scrotal sac. Further investigation confirmed genotypically female (46XX) with negative sex determining region-Y gene on fluorescence in situ hybridization. The patient was given psychiatric counseling and wished to remain as male. The left inguinal hernia was repaired with excision of nonfunctioning uterus, ovary, and fallopian tube. Hernia uteri inguinalis is rare complication seen in DSD with only three cases being reported worldwide thus far, including our case.

https://ift.tt/2GckiEk

Ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve interventions for common pain disorders

BP Krishna Prasad, Binu Joy, Vijayakumar A Raghavendra, Ajith Toms, Danny George, Brijesh Ray

Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging 2018 28(1):85-92

There are a number of common pain disorders that can be managed effectively by injections around or ablation of peripheral nerves. Ultrasound is a universally available imaging tool, is safe, cost-effective, and is excellent in imaging many peripheral nerves and guiding needles to the site of the nerves. This article aims to present an overview of indications and techniques of such procedures that can be effectively performed by a radiologist.

https://ift.tt/2pLhjrC

Utility of ureteric jet: A simple yet useful tool for the evaluation of complex urogenital anomaly

Pranav K Santhalia, Disha Mittal, Arun K Gupta, Manisha Jana

Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging 2018 28(1):45-48

In infants and young children with suspicion of genitourinary tract anomalies, ultrasonography (USG) is usually the first imaging modality. Advantages of USG are well described. In the evaluation of complex congenital urogenital anomalies, ultrasound examination needs to be tailored according to the clinical suspicion and to yield maximum information. Primary megaureter is a congenital anomaly, which is associated with dilatation of ureter above an adynamic segment at the vesicoureteric junction (VUJ). Two different types are described in the literature: refluxing and obstructive. Absence of ureteric jet on USG in conjunction with vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) on voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) prompts to the diagnosis of refluxing type of obstructed megaureter. Here we describe a case of duplex moiety with refluxing type of obstructed megaureter, where gray-scale USG and real-time color Doppler evaluation of the ureteric jet established the diagnosis. The aperistaltic segment of lower ureter near the VUJ with an absence of ureteric jet for the same moiety suggested the possibility of an obstructed megaureter. VUR was demonstrated on VCUG; thus, pointing toward a diagnosis of obstructed refluxing megaureter.

https://ift.tt/2Gz5U8M

Incidence of Radiographically Occult Nodal Metastases in HPV+ Oropharyngeal Carcinoma: Implications for Reducing Elective Nodal Coverage

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Practical Radiation Oncology
Author(s): Gokoulakrichenane Loganadane, Jacqueline R. Kelly, Nicholas C. Lee, Benjamin Kann, Amit Mahajan, James E. Hansen, Yazid Belkacémi, Wendell Yarbrough, Zain Husain
PurposeInitial de-escalation studies for HPV-driven oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (HPV+ OPSCC) altered radiotherapy dose or the systemic agent used. Newer trials examine the disease control achieved with a reduced elective nodal field. We examined patterns of nodal involvement in patients with HPV+ OPSCC with a focus on implications for radiation field design for treatment de-escalation.Methods and materialsRecords of patients with HPV+ OPSCC with preoperative imaging (CT or FDG-PET/CT) who underwent neck dissection without neoadjuvant therapy from 2010 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. The number and location of clinically positive lymph nodes on preoperative imaging were compared with those documented on pathology. These data were then used to establish the probability of missing nodal disease in three modified radiation field designs.ResultsOne hundred patients were included. The median time between imaging and surgery was 22 days. The most common clinical N stage was cN2a (35%), while the most common pathologic N stage was pN2b (45%). The median number of radiographically and pathologically involved nodes was 1 (range 0-6) and 2 (range 0-11), respectively. 43% of patients had more pathologically involved nodes than predicted on imaging, while 21% had pathologic involvement at an additional nodal level not predicted on imaging. Of the 21 patients with additional pathologically involved nodal levels, 14 had involvement of a directly adjacent station, four were patients with a cN0 hemineck with pathologically positive level II disease, and three had pathologic involvement of a level two echelons removed from that predicted on imaging.ConclusionOur study suggests that radiation fields encompassing only clinically involved nodes or levels has an unacceptably high likelihood of missing subclinical disease. Alternatively, treating the first uninvolved echelon nodes in addition would cover pathologic sites of disease in 97% of patients. This approach merits further study in prospective trials.



https://ift.tt/2pKkznI

Characterization of CDOM absorption of reservoirs with its linkage of regions and ages across China

Abstract

The absorption of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) is an important part of light absorptions in aquatic systems. The increasing eutrophication of reservoirs and regional characteristics would affect the CDOM properties sensitively which would be important for the application of remote sensing monitoring. The highest (4.07 ± 2.31 m⁻¹) and lowest (0.79 ± 0.67 m⁻¹) CDOM concentrations of reservoirs were observed in the northeastern lake region (NER) and Tibetan Plateau lake region (TPR), respectively. The differences between S_275–295 among the five lake regions were significant (p < 0.05) in which the steepest S_275–295 (0.0173 ± 0.0026 nm⁻¹) was observed in TPR and the shallowest (0.0326 ± 0.0152 nm⁻¹) in Yungui Plateau lake region (YGR). The strong relationships between a_CDOM(355) and DOC appeared in the NER (R² = 0.43), eastern lake region (EAR) (R² = 0.69), Mengxin lake region (MXR) (R² = 0.61), and YGR (R² = 0.79) which would be a good proxy for DOC in regional reservoirs. Most of all, the correlation between reservoir's establishing time and CDOM absorption under oligotrophic states was relatively strong in the EAR and MXR regions. It indicated that the establishing time of reservoirs affected the CDOM absorption to some extent under the oligotrophic states without much human disturbance. Our results indicate CDOM absorption varies with regions, and the relationships between CDOM and DOC are variable for different regions. Therefore, DOC estimation in reservoirs through CDOM absorption needs to be considered according to lake regions and trophic states.

https://ift.tt/2uqxjol

Element uptake and physiological responses of Lactuca sativa upon co-exposures to tourmaline and dissolved humic acids

Abstract

Element migration and physiological response in Lactuca sativa upon co-exposure to tourmaline (T) and dissolved humic acids (DHAs) were investigated. Different fractions of DHA₁ and DHA₄ and three different doses of T were introduced into Hoagland's solution. The results indicated that T enhanced the contents of elements such as N and C, Si and Al in the roots and shoots. The correlation between TF values of Si and Al (R² = 0.7387) was higher than that of Si and Mn (R² = 0.4961) without the presence of DHAs. However, both DHA₁ and DHA₄ increased the correlation between Si and Mn, but decreased the one between Si and Al. CAT activities in T treatments were positively correlated to the contents of N and Al in the shoots, whose R² was 0.9994 and 0.9897, respectively. In the co-exposure of DHAs and tourmaline, DHA₄ exhibited more impacts on element uptake, CAT activities, as well as ABA contents in comparison with the presence of DHA₁, regardless of the T exposure doses. These results suggested that DHAs have effects on mineral element behaviors and physiological response in Lactuca sativa upon exposure to tourmaline for the first time, which had great use in guiding soil remediation.

https://ift.tt/2GBvp9y

Hyaluronic acid coated albumin nanoparticles for targeted peptide delivery in the treatment of retinal ischaemia

Publication date: June 2018
Source:Biomaterials, Volume 168
Author(s): Di Huang, Ying-Shan Chen, Colin R. Green, Ilva D. Rupenthal
Recent studies have shown that Connexin43 mimetic peptide (Cx43 MP) can prevent secondary damage following retinal ischaemic and inflammatory disorders by blocking uncontrolled Cx43 hemichannel opening. However, limitations in peptide stability and the presence of various intraocular barriers limit efficient retinal delivery in the clinical setting. The present study aimed to achieve targeted and sustained peptide delivery to the retina by encapsulating Cx43 MP into hyaluronic acid (HA) coated albumin nanoparticles (NPs). Intraocular biodistribution, particle retention, retinal targeting, and therapeutic efficacy of intravitreally injected NPs encapsulating Cx43 MP were evaluated in a rat model of retinal ischaemia-reperfusion injury. NPs rapidly diffused through the vitreous and specifically targeted CD44-expressing retinal cells. NPs remained at the target site for extended periods enabling sustained peptide release and thus prolonged therapeutic action. Compared to free Cx43 MP, Cx43 MP loaded NPs enabled enhanced therapeutic efficacy preventing thinning of retinal layers and disruption of retinal blood vessels. Immunohistochemical results confirm that Cx43 MP loaded NPs efficiently reduced Cx43 expression, thereby suppressing ongoing inflammation and preventing the loss of retinal ganglion cells. Overall, HA coated NPs could have great potential as a peptide delivery platform in the treatment of chronic retinal degenerative and inflammatory disorders.

Graphical abstract

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Sleep Duration and Risk-Taking in Adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Risk-taking is associated with increased morbidity and mortality among adolescents, with insufficient sleep a potential factor contributing to heightened risk-taking propensity in this age group. A systematic review of the evidence examining the relationship between sleep duration and risk-taking in adolescents was conducted using PsycINFO, PubMed, Medline, Scopus, and CINAHL databases. These searches identified 26 studies including 579,380 participants, 24 of which were appropriate for meta-analysis.

https://ift.tt/2I8SzBf

Scholar : These new articles for Annals of GIS are available online

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for Annals of GIS and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: Original Articles Geo-sensor(s) for potential prediction of earthquakes: can earthquake be predicted by abnormal animal phenomena? Kai Cao & Qunying Huang Pages: 1-14 | DOI: 10.1080/19475683.2018.1450785 Browse papers on image & data fusion, GIS, LiDAR & more in the International Journal of Image and Data Fusion's exclusive Editor's Choice collection. To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. Unsubscribe from new content alerts for this journal (both new issue and latest article notifications) with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Phenotypic presentation of adolescents with overt primary hypothyroidism

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Issue: Ahead of print


https://ift.tt/2ur9g90

Metabolic and genetic markers’ associations with elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase in adolescents

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Issue: Ahead of print


https://ift.tt/2IWze7z

Cross-Species Neuromodulation from High-Intensity Transcranial Electrical Stimulation

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Trends in Cognitive Sciences
Author(s): Alik S. Widge
Transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) is a proposed tool for noninvasively modulating human brain circuits, but its ability to affect cortical physiology remains unclear. A recent study merged TES with live animal and human cadaveric recordings to verify intracranial electrical effects, then used these findings to develop a novel neuromodulation protocol.



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The forgotten aspects of the quality of life of significant others of patients with a peripheral facial palsy

A peripheral facial palsy (PFP) has a significant impact on the health related quality of life (HRQoL), psychosocial distress, communication and social interaction. Even after several treatment modalities the HRQoL increases, but comes nowhere near the pre-disease levels. 1 It is hypothesized and studied that there might be differences between cosmetic appreciation of patients with a left and right PFP, and that this might lead to altered social interactions between patients and their significant others (including partners, family members and close friends) (SO's).

https://ift.tt/2I5mavh

Dual Transforming Growth Factor-β and Programmed Death-1 Blockade: A Strategy for Immune-Excluded Tumors?

Publication date: Available online 26 March 2018
Source:Trends in Immunology
Author(s): Claire Vanpouille-Box, Silvia C. Formenti
Tumors that elude infiltration by CD8⁺ T lymphocytes are particularly resistant to multiple forms of treatment, including immune checkpoint blockade. Stromal transforming growth factor (TGF)-β appears to play a key role in this process, potentially constituting a target for novel combinatorial regimens tackling immune-excluded neoplasms.



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Treatment of municipal sludge by Fenton oxidation combined vacuum preloading

Abstract

Municipal sludge, composed of numerous types of organic matter with a gel structure, has high water content, low permeability coefficient, and poor mechanical properties. Fenton oxidation-assisted vacuum preloading method for municipal sludge treatment was proposed. First, the municipal sludge was oxidized and treated with Fenton's reagent; then, drainage consolidation was performed on the sludge with the vacuum preloading method. The optimal dosage of Fenton's reagent for municipal sludge was determined. Comparative experiments of the one-dimensional consolidation of municipal sludge treated with Fenton's reagent and the drainage consolidation by Fenton oxidation-assisted vacuum preloading were conducted. The results reveal that the specific resistance of municipal sludge decreases upon Fenton oxidation by approximately 98.6% at the optimal dosage of 22%, sludge water content decreases from 82.14 to 66.67%, volume reduces by ~ 40%, and unconfined compressive strength increases to 55 kPa.

https://ift.tt/Bjxx4Y

Hypoxia, Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2018
Source:Free Radical Biology and Medicine
Author(s): Trudy McGarry, Monika Biniecka, Douglas Veale, Ursula Fearon
Inflammatory Arthritis is characterized by synovial proliferation, neovascularization and leukocyte extravasation leading to joint destruction and functional disability. Efficiency of oxygen supply to the synovium is poor due to the highly dysregulated synovial microvasculature. This along with the increased energy demands of activated infiltrating immune cells and inflamed resident cells leads to an hypoxic microenvironment and mitochondrial dysfunction. This favors an increase of reactive oxygen species, leading to oxidative damage which further promotes inflammation. In this adverse microenvironment synovial cells adapt to generate energy and switch their cell metabolism from a resting regulatory state to a highly metabolically active state which allows them to produce essential building blocks to support their proliferation. This metabolic shift results in the accumulation of metabolic intermediates which act as signaling molecules that further dictate the inflammatory response. Understanding the complex interplay between hypoxia-induced signaling pathways, oxidative stress and mitochondrial function will provide better insight into the underlying mechanisms of disease pathogenesis.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2upHtWn