Radiomic Analysis Applied to Pretreatment Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR Imaging Predicts Response to Selective Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of radiomic analysis applied to pretreatment gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MRI (Gd-EOB-DTPA-MRI) for predicting the response to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: Data and images from 40 consecutive patients (28 men, 12 women) who underwent pretreatment Gd-EOB-DTPA-MRI and a total of 52 TACE procedures for 75 non-treated hepatocellular carcinomas were retrospectively analyzed. Two radiologists manually outlined lesions on pretreatment arterial- and hepatobiliary-phase hepatic images to extract radiomic features.

Multi-institutional study for comparison of detectability of hypovascular liver metastases between 70- and 40-keV images: DELMIO study.

Purpose: To compare the lesion detectability of hypovascular liver metastases between 70-keV and 40-keV images from dual energy-computed tomography (CT) reconstructed with deep-learning image reconstruction (DLIR).

Methods: This multi-institutional, retrospective study included adult patients both pre- and post-treatment for gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma. All patients underwent contrast-enhanced CT with reconstruction at 40-keV and 70-keV.

Effect of rust due to freshwater on the provenance determination of unearthed iron artifacts using nondestructive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.

We examined the effect of rust due to freshwater on the provenance determination of iron artifacts, which is typically conducted based on elemental concentrations determined using nondestructive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. This was achieved by comparing a rusted iron sickle collected from farmland in Fukuoka, Japan before and after rust removal. The data were collected at 30 positions on the surface of the sample using nondestructive XRF spectrometry before and after rust removal.

Hepatic extracellular volume fraction obtained by dual-energy CT: a comparison of 3- and 5-min delayed phases and correlation with clinical data.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare 3-min delayed phase images with 5-min delayed phase images for quantifying hepatic extracellular volume fraction (ECV) using dual-energy CT.

Methods: Between January 2020 and July 2022, 80 consecutive patients with chronic liver disease (45 men and 35 women, mean age: 69.3 ± 10.

Single-Energy, Dual-Energy, and Photon-Counting Computed Tomography of the Liver: Current Development and Clinical Utility for the Assessment of Focal Liver Lesions.

Advancements in computed tomography (CT) technology, particularly the emergence of dual-energy CT (DE-CT) and photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT), can improve detection, characterization, and treatment monitoring of focal liver lesions. DE-CT, through its ability to differentiate tissues with similar densities and produce diverse datasets, has enhanced lesion visibility and diagnostic precision. PCD-CT further advances imaging with superior spatial resolution and material decomposition capabilities, offering potential for complex diagnostic scenarios.

Utility of serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 and surfactant protein-D levels for the diagnosis of immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced immune-related pneumonitis.

Background: Immune-related pneumonitis (irP) is a severe immune-related adverse event that can occur after treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs); accurate monitoring and early diagnosis are crucial. Serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) and surfactant protein-D (SP-D) are used to diagnose and monitor the disease activity of various types of interstitial lung disease. This study evaluated the usefulness of KL-6 and SP-D for diagnosing irP in cancer patients receiving ICIs.

Association of interstitial lung abnormalities with cytotoxic agent-induced pneumonitis in patients with malignancy.

Background And Objective: The association between interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) and various conditions and diseases, including drug-related pneumonitis (DRP), has been reported. However, the association of the presence of ILA with developing DRP in patients undergoing cytotoxic agent-based chemotherapy, one of the standard treatments for malignancies, remains unclear. This warrants urgent investigation.

Accuracy of leg length changes in total hip arthroplasty using a computed tomography-based augmented reality navigation system.

Introduction: Leg length is an important consideration in total hip arthroplasty (THA) as leg length discrepancies (LLD) after THA cause poor outcomes and medical litigation. This study aimed to investigate the accuracy of computed tomography (CT)-based navigation with augmented reality (AR) technology for measuring intra-operative leg length change using anteroposterior radiography (two-dimensional, 2D) and CT (three-dimensional, 3D).

Materials And Methods: This study included 71 patients (75 hips) who underwent primary cementless THA in the supine position between June 2022 and November 2023 using the HoloNavi One.

Fluorescent Staining and Quantification of Starch Granules in Chloroplasts of Live Plant Cells Using Fluorescein.

Plants use CO, water, and light energy to generate carbohydrates through photosynthesis. During daytime, these carbohydrates are polymerized, leading to the accumulation of starch granules in chloroplasts. The catabolites produced by the degradation of these chloroplast starch granules are used for physiological responses and plant growth.

Key CT and MRI findings of drug-associated hepatobiliary and pancreatic disorders.

Obtaining an imaging diagnosis of various hepatobiliary and pancreatic disorders caused by certain drugs can often be challenging. Familiarity with these conditions may improve diagnostic accuracy and patient management. This review aimed to describe the imaging findings of drug-associated hepatobiliary and pancreatic disorders and identify suggestions for obtaining a correct diagnosis.

Association of the lung immune prognostic index with the survival of patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonias.

Background And Objective: The lung immune prognostic index (LIPI), a simple index calculated from the blood lactate dehydrogenase level and derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, is thought to be associated with host immune status. However, the utility of LIPI in patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) is unknown.

Methods: In this multicentre, retrospective, observational study, an association between LIPI and the survival of patients with IIPs was evaluated.

Fluorescein staining of chloroplast starch granules in living plants.

Chloroplast starch granules (cpSGs) store energy harvested through photosynthesis in plants, and cpSG dynamics have important roles in plant energy metabolism and stress responses. To date, cpSGs have been visualized using several methods, such as iodine staining; however, no method can be used to specifically visualize cpSGs in living cells from various plant species. Here, we report a simple method to visualize cpSGs in living plant cells in various species by staining with fluorescein, a commonly used fluorescent dye.

Magnetic resonance imaging-based risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma after direct-acting antiviral therapy: A multicenter observational study.

Aim: To determine risk factors associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development following direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy.

Methods: We enrolled patients with chronic hepatitis C who underwent direct-acting antiviral therapy and achieved sustained virologic response at 12 weeks between 2012 and 2018. Subsequently, patients were followed up.

Inter-observer agreement and accuracy of LI-RADS v2018 for differentiating tumor in vein from bland thrombus using gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: To assess inter-observer agreement and accuracy of LI-RADS v2018 for differentiating tumor in vein (TIV) from bland thrombus on gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (Gx-MRI). Secondarily, to determine whether a multi-feature model improves accuracy compared to LI-RADS.

Methods: We retrospectively identified consecutive patients at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma with venous occlusion(s) reported on Gx-MRI.

Gadoxetic Acid-Enhanced Liver MRI: Everything You Need to Know.

Since its introduction in the worldwide medical market, gadoxetic acid has attracted considerable interest. The year 2023 marks the 15th anniversary of the introduction of gadoxetic acid in Japan. Gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (GA-MRI) is the predominantly performed contrast MRI examination for the liver.

A predictive model for acute exacerbation of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias.

Background: Acute exacerbation of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (AE-IIPs) induces permanent pulmonary dysfunction and is potentially lethal. The unpredictable occurrence of AE-IIPs remains an important clinical issue in the management of IIPs.

Methods: In this multicentre, retrospective, observational study, a predictive score for AE-IIPs was designed using clinical factors based on multivariate Fine-Gray analysis in patients with IIPs.

Clinical Significance of Liver MR Imaging.

MRI is widely used in clinical practice for detecting liver diseases. Since the introduction of gadoxetic acid, MRI has become the most effective modality for the detection and characterization of focal liver lesions. According to previous meta-analyses, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was 0.

Live-cell imaging of the chloroplast outer envelope membrane using fluorescent dyes.

Unlabelled: Chloroplasts are organelles composed of sub-organellar compartments-stroma, thylakoids, and starch granules-and are surrounded by outer and inner envelope membranes (OEM and IEM, respectively). The chloroplast OEM and IEM play key roles not only as a barrier separating the chloroplast components from the cytosol but also in the interchange of numerous metabolites and proteins between the chloroplast interior and the cytosol. Fluorescent protein markers for the chloroplast OEM have been widely used to visualize the outermost border of chloroplasts.

Model-based Deep Learning Reconstruction Using a Folded Image Training Strategy for Abdominal 3D T1-weighted Imaging.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of folded image training strategy (FITS) and the quality of images reconstructed using the improved model-based deep learning (iMoDL) network trained with FITS (FITS-iMoDL) for abdominal MR imaging.

Methods: This retrospective study included abdominal 3D T1-weighted images of 122 patients. In the experimental analyses, peak SNR (PSNR) and structure similarity index (SSIM) of images reconstructed with FITS-iMoDL were compared with those with the following reconstruction methods: conventional model-based deep learning (conv-MoDL), MoDL trained with FITS (FITS-MoDL), total variation regularized compressed sensing (CS), and parallel imaging (CG-SENSE).