StOPping Hypertension and imprOving Children's Lives after KidnEy TranSplantation (SOPHOCLES): study protocol for a randomized controlled multicenter trial.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a major morbidity in children after kidney transplantation, limiting life expectancy and impairing graft function. Arterial hypertension is the dominant cardiovascular risk factor and highly abundant in this patient group. Arterial hypertension can cause left ventricular hypertrophy, which is predictive of cardiovascular death.

Deep Learning-based Automated Coronary Plaque Quantification: First Demonstration With Ultra-high Resolution Photon-counting Detector CT at Different Temporal Resolutions.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and reproducibility of a novel deep learning (DL)-based coronary plaque quantification tool with automatic case preparation in patients undergoing ultra-high resolution (UHR) photon-counting detector CT coronary angiography (CCTA), and to assess the influence of temporal resolution on plaque quantification.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, 45 patients undergoing clinically indicated UHR CCTA were included. In each scan, 2 image data sets were reconstructed: one in the dual-source mode with 66 ms temporal resolution and one simulating a single-source mode with 125 ms temporal resolution.

Low-dose ultrahigh-resolution PCCT enhances subsolid nodule characterization.

Purpose: To characterize invasion-associated CT features in pulmonary subsolid nodules using low-dose ultrahigh-resolution (UHR) photon-counting CT (PCCT) images and evaluate UHR's diagnostic superiority over standard high-resolution (HR) images.

Methods: Patients with subsolid lung adenocarcinoma were recruited for chest scan on PCCT to obtain UHR and standard HR images between November 2023 and May 2024. Nodule characteristics were visually assessed and histogram features were extracted from each nodule.

Pharmacokinetics and outcome of high-dose melphalan followed by autologous stem cell transplantation in dialysis-dependent patients with multiple myeloma.

High-dose melphalan followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) remains the standard of care for fit patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, individuals who are dependent on hemodialysis are frequently excluded from ASCT. Recommendations on chemotherapy dosing and hemodialysis scheduling vary in literature and definite conclusions are impeded by the heterogeneity of cohorts.

Patient-tailored versus fixed post-trigger delay for optimized scan timing: a comparison of image quality and diagnostic confidence in run-off CT angiography.

Objectives: This study aimed to validate bolus tracking using a patient-tailored post-trigger delay (PTD) in run-off computed tomography angiography (CTA) and to compare the resulting image quality and diagnostic confidence with those obtained using a fixed PTD.

Materials And Methods: Participants were prospectively assigned to either fixed (10 s) or patient-tailored cohorts. We measured attenuation, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) for each vascular segment.

Self-Coacervation of Oligo(ethylene glycol) and Oligo(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-Based Double Hydrophilic Brush Block Copolymers in Aqueous Solution.

Coacervates are a highly relevant class of structures formed via liquid-liquid phase separation and new coacervate-forming polymers are highly sought after. Here, the formation of simple coacervate droplets from a double hydrophilic block copolymer (DHBC) with the combination of poly(oligo ethylene glycol methacrylate) (POEGMA) and poly(oligo 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline methacrylate) (POEtOx) without the use of external triggers or charges is shown. At a high concentration of 25 wt.

Photon-Counting Computed Tomography-Based Hepatic iron Quantification Using a Tungsten-Based Contrast Agent.

Objectives: This study explores the potential of quantifying hepatic iron in computed tomography (CT) scans in the presence of iodine (I)- or tungsten (W)-based contrast media (CM).

Materials And Methods: Experimental work was performed on a commercial photon-counting CT system able to simultaneously acquire up to 4 spectral data sets in a single scan. We examined 2 anthropomorphic abdominal phantoms with material samples of liquid liver tissue surrogate, fat, iron, and I- or W-based CM to mimic different liver compositions in an enhanced CT scan.

Simultaneous ultra-high resolution multi-energy cardiac imaging in a dual-source photon counting detector CT system.

Objectives: To assess quantitative and qualitative image characteristics in phantoms and patients using a simultaneous ultra-high resolution (UHR) and multi-energy (ME) dual-source cardiac scan mode in a photon counting detector (PCD) CT scanner.

Methods: UHR-ME cardiac scans were performed to determine the spatial resolution and multi-energy performance. UHR reconstructions were completed to measure transverse and axial spatial resolution in terms of modulation transfer function (MTF) and slice sensitivity profile (SSP).

Photon-counting CT-derived Quantification of Hepatic Fat Fraction: A Clinical Validation Study.

Background Steatosis is a critical health problem, creating a growing need for opportunistic screening. Early detection may allow for effective treatment and prevention of further liver complications. Purpose To evaluate photon-counting CT (PCCT) fat quantification on contrast-enhanced scans and validate the results against fat quantification via histopathologic assessment, controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) from transient elastography, and MRI proton density fat fraction (PDFF).

The effect of therapeutic plasma exchange on the inflammatory response in septic shock: a secondary analysis of the EXCHANGE-1 trial.

Background: Sepsis and septic shock, defined by a profound immune dysregulation, are among the leading causes of death in the intensive care unit (ICU). Despite advances in understanding the underlying pathophysiology, evidence for specific immunomodulatory treatment does not exist to date. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) represents an adjunctive treatment approach to rebalance immune homeostasis.

In Vivo Bone Mineral Density Assessment With Spectral Localizer Radiographs From Photon-Counting Detector CT: Prospective Comparison With DXA.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine in a prospective patient study the accuracy of areal bone mineral density (aBMD) measurements with spectral localizer radiographs obtained with a clinical photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) scanner in comparison with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

Methods: In this institutional review board-approved, prospective study, 41 patients (15 females, 26 males; mean age 61.3 years, age range 35-78 years) underwent PCD-CT of the abdomen with a spectral localizer radiograph (tube voltage 140 kVp, tube current 30 mA) and DXA within a median of 45 days.

Elevated septal native T1 time in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging suggesting myocardial fibrosis in young kidney transplant recipients.

Background: Patients after kidney transplantation (KTx) in childhood show a high prevalence of cardiac complications, but the underlying mechanism is still poorly understood. In adults, myocardial fibrosis detected in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is already an established risk factor. Data for children after KTx are not available.

Artifact Reduction in Interventional Devices Using Virtual Monoenergetic Images and Iterative Metal Artifact Reduction on Photon-Counting Detector CT.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of an iterative metal artifact reduction (iMAR) algorithm combined with virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) for artifact reduction in photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCDCT) during interventions.

Materials And Methods: Using an abdominal phantom, we conducted evaluations on the efficacy of iMAR and VMIs for mitigating image artifacts during interventions on a PCDCT. Four different puncture devices were employed under 2 scan modes (QuantumSn at 100 kV, Quantumplus at 140 kV) to simulate various clinical scenarios.

Empagliflozin in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (EMPA-PKD): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a hereditary condition that causes the formation of cysts primarily in the kidneys. The continuous growth of multiple cysts leads to the destruction of functional parenchyma, which may progress to end-stage kidney disease. Tolvaptan is the only drug specifically approved for slowing down the progression of ADPKD.

Radiomics-driven spectral profiling of six kidney stone types with monoenergetic CT reconstructions in photon-counting CT.

Objectives: Urolithiasis, a common and painful urological condition, is influenced by factors such as lifestyle, genetics, and medication. Differentiating between different types of kidney stones is crucial for personalized therapy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) in combination with radiomics and machine learning to develop a method for automated and detailed characterization of kidney stones.

Automated Kidney Stone Composition Analysis with Photon-Counting Detector CT, a Performance Study-A Phantom Study.

Background: For treatment of urolithiasis, the stone composition is of particular interest, as uric acid (UA) stones can be treated by chemolitholysis. In this ex vivo study, we employed an advanced composition analysis approach for urolithiasis utilizing spectral data obtained from a photon-counting detector CT (PCDCT) to differentiate UA and non-UA stones. Our primary objective was to assess the accuracy of this analysis method.

Effect of therapeutic plasma exchange on tissue factor and tissue factor pathway inhibitor in septic shock.

Background: Coagulopathy is part of the pathological host response to infection in sepsis. Higher plasma concentrations of both tissue factor (TF) and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) are associated with occurrence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), multi-organ dysfunction and increased mortality in patients with sepsis. Currently no treatment approaches specifically targeting this axis are available.

Coronary stent imaging in photon counting computed tomography: improved imaging of in-stent stenoses in a phantom with optimized reconstruction kernels.

Objectives: Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is becoming increasingly important in the workup of coronary artery disease. Imaging of stents and in-stent stenoses remains a challenge. This work investigates the assessability of in-stent stenoses in photon counting CT (PCCT) using ultra-high-resolution (UHR) imaging and optimized reconstruction kernels.

Ultrahigh-Resolution Photon-Counting Detector CTA of the Head and Neck: Image Quality Assessment and Vascular Kernel Optimization.

Head and neck CTA requires fine-detail evaluation, including characterization of potentially very small vessels and intrastent lumina. Blooming artifacts also hinder evaluation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate image quality of ultrahigh-resolution (UHR) photon-counting detector (PCD) CTA of the head and neck and to explore variation of image quality across body vascular (Bv) reconstruction kernels.

Comparison of automated kidney stone size measurement and volumetry in photon counting CT compared to 3rd generation dual energy CT and physically measurements - an ex vivo study.

Purpose: This ex vivo study aimed to compare a newly developed dual-source photon-counting CT (PCCT) with a 3rd generation dual-source dual-energy CT (DECT) for the detection and measurement (stone lengths and volumetrics) of urinary stones.

Methods: 143 urinary stones with a known geometry were physically measured and defined as reference values. Next, urinary stones were placed in an anthropomorphic abdomen-model and were scanned with DECT and PCCT.

PEGose Block Poly(lactic acid) Nanoparticles for Cargo Delivery.

Hydrophilic polymers have found ubiquitous use in drug delivery and novel polymer materials to advance drug delivery systems are highly sought after. Herein, an amylose mimic (PEGose) was combined with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) in an amphiphilic block copolymer to form PEG-free nanoparticles as an alternative to PEG-based nanomedicines. The block copolymer self-assembled into 150-200 nm particles with a narrow dispersity in aqueous environment.