The influence of altered lower-limb muscle strength on dynamic plantar pressure distribution in participants who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Introduction: Deficits in lower-limb muscle strength and altered gait mechanics are common after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL). While isokinetic strength testing is widely accepted in return-to-sport assessment, the role of plantar pressure analysis in detecting compensatory gait strategies remains underexplored.

Methods: This study included 10 male patients (30.

Body size and intracranial volume interact with the structure of the central nervous system: A multi-center in vivo neuroimaging study.

Clinical research emphasizes the implementation of rigorous and reproducible study designs that rely on between-group matching or controlling for sources of biological variation such as subject's sex and age. However, corrections for body size (i.e.

Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging parameters of lumbar paraspinal muscles and their relationship to function and ageing in healthy subjects.

Muscle ageing involves structural and functional changes of muscles, mainly their replacement by fatty and fibrous tissue accompanied by the loss of muscle function. Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) methods have potential to provide biomarkers of degenerative changes in muscles with ageing. To assess the relationship between qMRI parameters of lumbar paraspinal muscles (LPMs) and their function and evolution with ageing in healthy subjects, 90 volunteers underwent MRI of lumbar spine and LPM utilising a 6-point Dixon gradient echo sequence.

Towards fair decentralized benchmarking of healthcare AI algorithms with the Federated Tumor Segmentation (FeTS) challenge.

Computational competitions are the standard for benchmarking medical image analysis algorithms, but they typically use small curated test datasets acquired at a few centers, leaving a gap to the reality of diverse multicentric patient data. To this end, the Federated Tumor Segmentation (FeTS) Challenge represents the paradigm for real-world algorithmic performance evaluation. The FeTS challenge is a competition to benchmark (i) federated learning aggregation algorithms and (ii) state-of-the-art segmentation algorithms, across multiple international sites.

A LEAP Forward in Wildlife Conservation: A Standardized Framework to Determine Mortality Causes in Large GPS-Tagged Birds.

Anthropogenic activities threaten many wildlife populations by increasing mortality rates, making it crucial to identify the locations and causes of mortality to inform conservation actions. Technological advancements, such as GPS satellite tracking, enable precise recording of wildlife movements. High-resolution data from such devices can facilitate rapid carcass recovery and provide insights into the mortality causes of tagged individuals.

Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging parameters of lumbar paraspinal muscle impairment in myotonic dystrophy type 2 and their evolution with aging.

Introduction: Muscle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an emerging method in the diagnosis and monitoring of muscular dystrophies. This cross-sectional, comparative study aimed to evaluate quantitative MRI (qMRI) parameters of the lumbar paraspinal muscles (LPM) in myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2), to assess their relationship with functional examination, and to evaluate their evolution with aging.

Methods: The study enrolled 37 DM2 patients and 90 healthy volunteers (HV) who were matched based on physiological parameters to create 35 pairs.

Evidence of genetic determination of annual movement strategies in medium-sized raptors.

Most species of migrating birds use a combination of innate vector-based orientation programs and social information to facilitate accurate navigation during their life. A number of various interspecies hybridisations have been reported in birds. The traits of parents are expressed in hybrids in typical ways which are either intermediate, combined or heterotic.

Prognostic factors for survival in patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma treated with percutaneous transhepatic drainage.

Biliary drainage is then one of the necessary procedures to help patients suffering from icterus to reduce serum bilirubin levels and relieve symptoms. The aim of this study was identifying risk factors for survival in patients with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) treated with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) and to develop a simple scoring system predicting survival from PTBD insertion. This single-centre retrospective study included 175 consecutive patients undergoing PTBD for extrahepatic CCA (perihilar and distal).

MicroRNA Analysis in Meningiomas with Different Degrees of Tissue Stiffness: A Potential Tool for Effective Preoperative Planning.

Background And Objectives: Meningioma, the most common primary intracranial tumor, presents challenges in surgical treatment because of varying tissue stiffness. This study explores the molecular background of meningioma stiffness, a critical factor in surgical planning and prognosis, focusing on the utility of microRNAs (miRNAs) as diagnostic biomarkers of tissue stiffness.

Methods: Patients with meningiomas treated surgically at the University Hospital Brno were included in this study.

What factors affect a patient's subjective perception of MRI examination.

MRI is becoming increasingly available and more common. However, it is a long examination, within a limited space, and making strong demands on the patient for proper co-operation. Using survey data collected by prospective questionnaire, this work examines the influence of patient preparation and type of MRI device on patients' subjective perception of the examination.

The relationship between gadolinium enhancement and [18 F]fluorothymidine uptake in brain lesions with the use of hybrid PET/MRI.

Background: To evaluate and compare the diagnostic power of [F]FLT-PET with ceMRI in patients with brain tumours or other focal lesions.

Methods: 121 patients with suspected brain tumour or those after brain tumour surgery were enroled in this retrospective study (61 females, 60 males, mean age 37.3 years, range 1-80 years).

Assessment of lumbar paraspinal muscle morphology using mDixon Quant magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): a cross-sectional study in healthy subjects.

Background: Lumbar paraspinal muscles (LPM) are a part of the deep spinal stabilisation system and play an important role in stabilising the lumbar spine and trunk. Inadequate function of these muscles is thought to be an essential aetiological factor in low back pain, and several neuromuscular diseases are characterised by dysfunction of LPM. The main aims of our study were to develop a methodology for LPM assessment using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods, including a manual segmentation process, to confirm the measurement reliability, to evaluate the LPM morphological parameters [fat fraction (FF), total muscle volume (TMV) and functional muscle volume (FMV)] in a healthy population, to study the influence of physiological factors on muscle morphology, and to build equations to predict LPM morphological parameters in a healthy population.

Roles of spectral dual-layer CT, D-dimer concentration, and COVID-19 pneumonia in diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

Purpose: To demonstrate advantages of spectral dual-layer computed tomography (CT) in diagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE). To compare D-dimer values in patients with PE and concomitant COVID-19 pneumonia to those in patients without PE and COVID-19 pneumonia. To compare D-dimer values in cases of minor versus extensive PE.

Evidence-based commentary on the diagnosis, management, and further research of degenerative cervical spinal cord compression in the absence of clinical symptoms of myelopathy.

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) represents the final consequence of a series of degenerative changes in the cervical spine, resulting in cervical spinal canal stenosis and mechanical stress on the cervical spinal cord. This process leads to subsequent pathophysiological processes in the spinal cord tissues. The primary mechanism of injury is degenerative compression of the cervical spinal cord, detectable by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), serving as a hallmark for diagnosing DCM.

Significance of F-18 FDG PET/MRI in the search for the etiology of inflammation of unclear origin and fever of unknown origin.

Purpose: To evaluate the contribution of F-18 FDG-PET/MRI in the search for the etiology of the inflammation of unknown origin (IUO) and fever of unknown origin (FUO).

Material And Methods: The study included 104 patients who underwent F-18 FDG-PET/MRI for IUO or FUO. The sensitivity, specificity, predictive values of the PET/MRI findings in relation to the final diagnosis of IUO/FUO were evaluated.

Possibilities of Using Multi-b-value Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Classification of Brain Lesions.

In contrast to conventional diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), multi-b-value diffusion MRI methods are able to separate the signal from free water, pseudo-diffusion, and non-Gaussian components of water molecule diffusion. These approaches can then be utilised in so-called intravoxel incoherent motion imaging and diffusion kurtosis imaging. Various parameters provided by these methods can describe additional characteristics of the tissue microstructure and potentially help in the diagnosis and classification of various pathological processes.

Volumetric Analysis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Transarterial Chemoembolization and its Impact on Overall Survival.

Background/aim: To evaluate the prognostic value of Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST), modified RECIST and volumetric analysis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated by transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Patients And Methods: This single-center prospective cohort study included a total of 61 patients with HCC treated by transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). The response of TACE was evaluated on preprocedural and postprocedural CT by two radiologists using RECIST/mRECIST and volumetric response to treatment.

Enhancing monitoring and transboundary collaboration for conserving migratory species under global change: The priority case of the red kite.

Calls for urgent action to conserve biodiversity under global change are increasing, and conservation of migratory species in this context poses special challenges. In the last two decades the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) has provided a framework for several subsidiary instruments including action plans for migratory bird species, but the effectiveness and transferability of these plans remain unclear. Such laws and policies have been credited with positive outcomes for the conservation of migratory species, but the lack of international coordination and on-ground implementation pose major challenges.

Comparison of multicenter MRI protocols for visualizing the spinal cord gray matter.

Purpose: Spinal cord gray-matter imaging is valuable for a number of applications, but remains challenging. The purpose of this work was to compare various MRI protocols at 1.5 T, 3 T, and 7 T for visualizing the gray matter.

Semi-automated detection of cervical spinal cord compression with the Spinal Cord Toolbox.

Background: Degenerative cervical spinal cord compression is becoming increasingly prevalent, yet the MRI criteria that define compression are vague, and vary between studies. This contribution addresses the detection of compression by means of the Spinal Cord Toolbox (SCT) and assesses the variability of the morphometric parameters extracted with it.

Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Evaluating Magnetic Resonance Diffusion Properties Together with Brain Volumetry May Predict Progression to Multiple Sclerosis.

Rationale And Objectives: Although the gold standard in predicting future progression from clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) to clinically definite multiple sclerosis (CDMS) consists in the McDonald criteria, efforts are being made to employ various advanced MRI techniques for predicting clinical progression. This study's main aim was to evaluate the predictive power of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the brain and brain volumetry to distinguish between patients having CIS with future progression to CDMS from those without progression during the following 2 years and to compare those parameters with conventional MRI evaluation.

Materials And Methods: All participants underwent an MRI scan of the brain.