Cervical Selective Nerve Root Block: Three-dimensional Puncture Planning With Dyna-CT Is Superior to Conventional CT-guidance in an Model.

Background/aim: Cervical selective nerve root block (CSNRB) is a widely used percutaneous procedure to diagnose and treat cervical radicular pain. The feasibility of a three-dimensional puncture planning and two-dimensional laser-guidance system has previously been shown in an model. The purpose of this study was to further compare this technique to the conventional computed tomography (CT-)-guided approach.

Sodium signal intensity of CSF using 1H-guided 23Na-MRI as a potential noninvasive biomarker in Alzheimer's disease.

Background And Purpose: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by cognitive decline and mnestic deficits. The pathophysiology of AD is not fully understood, which renders the development of accurate tools for early diagnosis and effective therapies exceedingly difficult. In this study, we investigated the use of Na-MRI to measure the relative sodium signal intensities (rSSIs) in CSF in patients with AD and healthy controls.

Diabetes-associated nephropathy and obesity influence COVID-19 outcome in type 2 diabetes patients.

Coronavirus disease 2019 has rapidly spread around the globe and various comorbidities, such as diabetes have been recognized as risk factors for an unfavorable outcome. We analyzed a cohort of COVID-19 patients (n = 75) treated at a German community hospital. With a focus on diabetes mellitus, we evaluated the impact of distinct comorbidities on the COVID-19 disease course.

Evaluation of Sodium (Na) MR-imaging as a Biomarker and Predictor for Neurodegenerative Changes in Patients With Alzheimer's Disease.

Background/aim: Sodium (Na) MR imaging is a noninvasive MRI technique that has been shown to be sensitive to visualize biochemical information about tissue viability, their cell integrity, and cell function in various studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in regional brain Na signal intensity between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and healthy controls to preliminarily evaluate the capability of Na imaging as a biomarker for AD.

Patients And Methods: A total of 14 patients diagnosed with AD were included: 12 in the state of dementia and 2 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 12 healthy controls (HC); they were all scanned on a 3T clinical scanner with a double tuned H/Na birdcage head coil.

Diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia despite missing detection of viral nucleic acid and initially inconspicuous radiologic findings.

The diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is mainly based on a positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result. PCR samples are obtained from upper or lower respiratory tract specimens. However, the sensitivity of PCR is known to have some limitations.

Signal changes of the alar ligament in a healthy population: a dispositional or degenerative consequence?

OBJECT The alar ligaments (ALs) are vital for stabilizing the craniocervical junction. In terms of morphology, their appearance varies and is visible on MRI. Dark signal of the AL on proton-density (PD)-weighted images is generally considered the norm, but the etiology of frequently observed signal hyperintensities is poorly understood.

Missing relationship of moyamoya and persistent primitive artery in Europeans. Another distinctive feature or artifact?

Purpose: Previous studies found higher incidence of persistent primitive arteries in Asian moyamoya (MM) patients than in the general population, which was thought to be a characteristic trait of the MM entity in general. We analyzed incidence of persistent primitive arteries and demographics of patients with European MM treated in one single center. First, we compared our large dataset to existing literature and second, we raised the question whether European MM demonstrates similar high prevalence of persistent primitive arteries as it was previously presented within Asian MM.

FLAIR vascular hyperintensities and dynamic 4D angiograms for the estimation of collateral blood flow in posterior circulation occlusion.

Introduction: The objectives of this paper are to assess collateral blood flow in posterior circulation occlusion by MRI-based approaches (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) vascular hyperintensities (FVHs), collateralization on dynamic 4D angiograms) and investigate its relation to ischemic lesion size and growth.

Methods: In 28 patients with posterior cerebral artery (PCA) and 10 patients with basilar artery (BA) occlusion, MRI findings were analyzed, with emphasis on distal FVH and collateralization on dynamic 4D angiograms.

Results: In PCA occlusion, distal FVH was observed in 18/29 (62.

Diffusion- and perfusion-weighted imaging in acute lacunar infarction: is there a mismatch?

Purpose: Characterization of lacunar infarction (LI) by use of multimodal MRI including diffusion- and perfusion-weighted imaging (DWI, PWI) is difficult because of the small lesion size. Only a few studies evaluated PWI in LI and the results are inconsistent.

Methods: In 16 LI patients who underwent initial MRI within 6 hours after symptom onset and follow-up MRI within 1 week demographics, clinical presentation, and MRI findings were analyzed with special emphasis on DWI and PWI findings.

Comparison of Fenestra LC, ExiTron nano 6000, and ExiTron nano 12000 for micro-CT imaging of liver and spleen in mice.

Rationale And Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare different contrast agents for longitudinal liver and spleen imaging in a mouse model of liver metastasis.

Materials And Methods: Mice developing liver metastases underwent longitudinal micro-computed tomography imaging after injection of Fenestra LC, ExiTron nano 6000, or ExiTron nano 12000. Elimination times and contrast enhancement of liver and spleen were compared.

A Low Cost Metal-Free Vascular Access Mini-Port for Artifact Free Imaging and Repeated Injections in Mice.

Purpose: Small injection ports for mice are increasingly used for drug testing or when administering contrast agents. Commercially available mini-ports are expensive single-use items that cause imaging-artifacts. We developed and tested an artifact-free, low-cost, vascular access mini-port (VAMP) for mice.

Three-dimensional in vivo imaging of the murine liver: a micro-computed tomography-based anatomical study.

Various murine models are currently used to study acute and chronic pathological processes of the liver, and the efficacy of novel therapeutic regimens. The increasing availability of high-resolution small animal imaging modalities presents researchers with the opportunity to precisely identify and describe pathological processes of the liver. To meet the demands, the objective of this study was to provide a three-dimensional illustration of the macroscopic anatomical location of the murine liver lobes and hepatic vessels using small animal imaging modalities.

Evaluation of a continuous-rotation, high-speed scanning protocol for micro-computed tomography.

Objective: Micro-computed tomography is used frequently in preclinical in vivo research. Limiting factors are radiation dose and long scan times. The purpose of the study was to compare a standard step-and-shoot to a continuous-rotation, high-speed scanning protocol.