Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases.

This study investigates the pathophysiology of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (PF-ILD) and identifies biomarkers that predict PF-ILD in patients with ILD by analyzing immune cells in both the blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). This prospective cohort study involved 43 newly diagnosed ILD patients with various connective tissue diseases, from whom BALF and blood samples were collected for analysis. Using Seq-Well, a portable platform for single-cell RNA sequencing, we assessed gene expression in immune cells from both BALF and blood.

A machine learning-based decision support tool for standardizing intracavitary versus interstitial brachytherapy technique selection in high-dose-rate cervical cancer.

Purpose: To develop and evaluate a machine-learning (ML) decision-support tool that standardizes selection of intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) versus hybrid intracavitary/interstitial brachytherapy (IC/ISBT) in high-dose-rate (HDR) cervical cancer.

Methods And Materials: We retrospectively analyzed 159 HDR brachytherapy plans from 50 consecutive patients treated between April 2022 and June 2024. Brachytherapy techniques (ICBT or IC/ISBT) were determined by an experienced radiation oncologist using CT/MRI-based 3-D image-guided brachytherapy.

Distribution patterns of brown adipose tissue on FDG-PET/CT has age characteristics.

Purpose: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) contributes to thermoregulation and energy expenditure. Although BAT is abundant in early childhood and declines with age, its distribution across age groups remains unclear. This study examined age-related BAT distribution using fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT).

Comparative Analysis of Fusion and Decompression Surgery in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Multicenter Observational Study of Transcranial Motor Evoked Potentials (Tc-MEP).

Study Design: A multicenter observational study.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the diagnostic performance and clinical value of transcranial motor-evoked potentials (Tc-MEPs) in predicting postoperative paralysis in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), specifically on stratifying true-positive alerts in fusion versus decompression surgeries.

Summary Of Background Data: Tc-MEP monitoring is widely used to detect intraoperative motor deficits, but its accuracy and predictive value in different surgical approaches remain unclear.

Ultrasmall chemogenetic tags with group-transfer ligands.

Chemogenetic tags are valuable tools for studying functions of a given protein-of-interest (POI) lacking small-molecule ligands, but most tags are too large for several POIs. Here, we report two ultrasmall chemogenetic tags (mgTag and cTag) of 36 and 50 amino acids (aa) that, to the best of our knowledge, are the smallest reported. These tags exhibit -type reactivity with their ligands to append any moiety of interest to the tag.

Longitudinal MRI changes after focal therapy for prostate cancer: cryotherapy vs. microwave tissue coagulation.

Purpose: This study compared the longitudinal changes in multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) findings following lesion-targeted focal cryotherapy with those after microwave tissue coagulation (MTC) therapy for localized prostate cancer with the aim of determining their modality-specific imaging characteristics and evolution over time.

Materials And Methods: The study included 16 patients (17 procedures) who underwent cryotherapy and 33 patients (34 procedures) who received MTC therapy between March 2017 and February 2024. Serial mpMRI scans were retrospectively reviewed for treatment-induced signal changes on T1-weighted imaging, T2-weighted imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Focal adhesion-related non-ciliary functions of CEP290.

Nearly all differentiated mammalian cells possess primary cilia on their surface. Ciliary dysfunction causes ciliopathy in humans. Centrosomal protein 290 (CEP290), a ciliary protein implicated in ciliopathies, localizes to the ciliary base and the centrosome in ciliated cells.

High-spatial-resolution Hepatobiliary Phase Imaging Using An Optimized Integrated Combination of Parallel Imaging and Compressed Sensing Technique.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of high-spatial-resolution hepatobiliary phase (HBP) imaging using optimized integrated combination with the compressed sensing and parallel imaging technique (Compressed SENSE).

Methods: Sixty consecutive participants underwent liver MRI and breath-hold HBP imaging using enhanced T1 high-resolution isotropic volume excitation (eTHRIVE; SENSE factor, 1.7; slice thickness/gap, 4/-2 mm; and acquisition time, 20s), eTHRIVE with Compressed SENSE (CS-eTHRIVE; C SENSE factor, 3.

Does Advanced Age Negatively Impact Treatment Outcomes of Cervical Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament? A Prospective Multicenter Study.

Study Design: A multicenter prospective cohort study.

Objective: To comprehensively evaluate the surgical impact, including patient-reported outcomes (PROs), in elderly patients with cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).

Summary Of Background Data: With the rise of aging populations worldwide, understanding the impact of age on treatment outcomes for cervical OPLL has become increasingly important.

Taking a Detour: Step-by-Step Alternative Approaches to Transseptal Access.

Transseptal puncture via a femoral vein and inferior vena cava (IVC) is a commonly performed procedure in multiple electrophysiology studies that require access to the left atrium or left ventricle. However, the standard approach is impossible in certain anatomies with IVC obstruction, such as congenital IVC interruption with azygos continuation and acquired obstruction. Here, we describe a step-by-step approach to alternative methods for transseptal access, including the transhepatic approach and superior approach from either the internal jugular vein or axillary vein.

Ten years of experience in percutaneous cryoablation for small renal masses in patients aged ≥ 80 years.

Introduction: Small renal masses (SRMs) have been frequently found as incidentaloma in recent decades. Although partial nephrectomy is generally recommended, perioperative adverse events are a concern. As an alternative to partial nephrectomy, percutaneous cryoablation is minimally invasive for older patients and patients with comorbidities.

Overview of task shifting guidelines in Japan: from radiologists to radiological technologists.

As one of the key pillars of work style reform for physicians, task shifting and sharing from radiologists to radiological technologists has been considered. In May 2021, the Radiological Technologists Act was amended, allowing for the expansion of several duties. Alongside these legal and regulatory changes, a notice from Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare was issued, highlighting tasks to be particularly promoted under the current system prior to the amendment of the Radiological Technologists Act.

Reduction of biopsy rate in BI-RADS4 breast lesions: potential of an abbreviated advanced DWI protocol.

Objectives: This study compared the diagnostic performance of diffusion biomarkers estimated from an abbreviated diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) protocol and assessed their potential to reduce unnecessary biopsies of benign BI-RADS 4 lesions identified on dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from 2019 to 2023. All patients underwent abbreviated DWI at 3 T with four b-values (0 s/mm, 200 s/mm, 800 s/mm, and 1500 s/mm).

Intersegmental Fixation with an Interspinous Spacer (IFIS) for Lumbar Spinal Instability: Surgical Technique and Clinical Outcomes.

Surgical technique and the clinical outcomes of intersegmental fixation with an interspinous spacer (IFIS) for lumbar spinal instability are reported in this study. Four patients underwent surgery using this procedure. There were no surgical complications, and the clinical outcomes were satisfactory.

Does Somatosensory-Evoked Potential Simultaneously Decrease with Transcranial Motor-Evoked Potential Alarm? A Multicenter Study by the Monitoring Committee of the Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Research.

Introduction: Multimodal intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM)-such as monitoring muscle-evoked potentials after transcranial electrical stimulation (Tc-MEP) with somatosensory-evoked potential (SEP) after electrical stimulation of the peripheral nerve-is recommended in spine surgeries to prevent iatrogenic neurological complications. However, the effect of using Tc-MEP with SEP to protect against neurological complications, particularly motor function, remains unknown. In clinical settings, changes due to Tc-MEP meeting the alarm points must be a potential neurological injury.

Characteristics of Poor Recordability of Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring during Metastatic Spinal Tumor Surgery: A Multicenter Study.

Introduction: The objective of this study is to investigate the poor recordability characteristics of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) for metastatic spinal tumors, focusing on tumor status or preoperative muscle weakness.

Methods: A total of 132 patients (age 65.3±11.

The Skewness of a Histogram of White Matter Hyperintensity is Associated with Symptomatic Stroke in Patients with CADASIL.

Objective White matter hyperintensity (WMH) is the most prominent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) feature of cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), clinically characterized by recurrent ischemic stroke. This study aimed to explore the association between WMH and symptomatic stroke in patients with CADASIL by quantifying the volume and features extracted from histogram-segmented WMH. Methods Twenty-eight patients with CADASIL were retrospectively recruited.

Impact of Signal Intensity Change in MRI on the Clinical Outcomes of Cervical Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

Study Design: A multicenter prospective cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical significance of intramedullary signal intensity (SI) changes on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) and assess their impact on surgical outcomes.

Summary Of Background Data: In OPLL, SI changes on MRI are frequently observed, but their prognostic significance remains unclear.

2-Nitroimidazole-Functionalized Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Detect Hypoxic Regions of Glioblastomas on MRI and Improve Radiotherapy Efficacy.

The presence of hypoxic regions in tumors is associated with malignancy and is an important target for the high-precision diagnosis and treatment of tumors. Radioresistant hypoxic regions can be precisely identified and treated without the use of high doses of radiation if hypoxic region-specific contrast agents have a therapeutic effect. In this study, we synthesized a therapeutic-diagnostic complex agent (SPION-PG-NI) by combining polyglycerol-functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION-PG, core diameter of 8.

Malignant gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumor of the ileum: A case report and review of imaging characteristics.

Malignant gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumors (MGNETs) are extremely rare malignant mesenchymal tumors derived from ectodermal neural cells of the gastrointestinal tract that most commonly arise in the small intestine. Preoperative diagnosis is challenging owing to the lack of well-established imaging characteristics. Here, we report the case of a 50-year-old female patient with MGNET of the ileum.

MRI-Guided Multi-Catheter High-Dose-Rate Interstitial Brachytherapy for Uterine Cervical Cancer.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of unique magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided interstitial brachytherapy (ISBT) for locally advanced cervical cancer that is unsuitable for intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) or intracavitary/interstitial brachytherapy (ICISBT). : We analyzed the clinical outcomes, including toxicity, of 68 previously untreated patients with cervical cancer treated between 2014 and 2024. : The median high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) was 53.

Temporal Evolution of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging findings following lesion-targeted focal microwave tissue coagulation for localized prostate cancer.

Purpose: To investigate temporal changes in multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) findings following lesion-targeted focal therapy with microwave tissue coagulation (MTC) for localized prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods: This retrospective study included 33 patients (34 procedures) with localized PCa who underwent lesion-targeted focal therapy with MTC between June 2019 and March 2024. Post-treatment mpMRI, including T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), T1-weighted imaging (T1WI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI), was evaluated by three radiologists to analyze signal changes and enhancement patterns in the treated area.

Dosimetric study of synchrotron rapid beam off control and skip spot function for high beam intensity proton therapy.

Background: All Hitachi proton pencil beam scanning facilities currently use discrete spot scanning (DSS). Mayo Clinic Florida (MCF) is installing a Hitachi particle therapy system with advanced technologies, including fast scan speeds, high beam intensity, rapid beam off control (RBOC), a skip spot function, and proton pencil beam scanning using dose driven continuous scanning (DDCS). A potential concern of RBOC is the generation of a shoulder at the end of the normal spot delivery due to a flap spot (FS) with a flap dose (FD), which has been investigated for carbon synchrotron but not for proton delivery.