Gradient-echo-train-based sub-millisecond periodic event encoded dynamic imaging with random (k, t)-space undersampling: k-t get-SPEEDI.

Purpose: The gradient-echo-train-based Sub-millisecond Periodic Event Encoded Dynamic Imaging (get-SPEEDI) technique provides ultrahigh temporal resolutions (∼0.6 ms) for detecting rapid physiological activities, but its practical adoption can be hampered by long scan times. This study aimed at developing a more efficient variant of get-SPEEDI for reducing the scan time without degrading temporal resolution or image quality.

Phase-independent thermometry by Z-spectrum MR imaging.

Purpose: Z-spectrum imaging, defined as the consecutive collection of images after saturating over a range of frequency offsets, has been recently proposed as a method to measure the fat-water fraction by the simultaneous detection of fat and water resonances. By incorporating a binomial pulse irradiated at each offset before the readout, the spectral selectivity of the sequence can be further amplified, making it possible to monitor the subtle proton resonance frequency shift that follows a change in temperature.

Methods: We tested the hypothesis in aqueous and cream phantoms and in healthy mice, all under thermal challenge.

Early detection of increased marrow adiposity with age in rats using Z-spectral MRI at ultra-high field (7 T).

Background: Nowadays, the drive towards high-field MRI is fueled by the pursuit of higher signal-to-noise ratio, spatial resolution, and imaging speed. However, high field strength is associated with field inhomogeneity, acceleration of T * decay, and increased chemical shift, which may pose challenges to conventional MRI for fat quantification in complex tissues such as bone marrow. With proton MRI spectroscopy ( H-MRS), on the other hand, it is difficult to produce high resolution.

Combination of natural killer cell-based immunotherapy and irreversible electroporation for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the most lethal cancer types despite great advancement in overall survival of the patients over the last decades. Surgical resection or partial hepatectomy has been approved as the curative treatment for early-stage HCC patients however only up to 30% of them are eligible for the procedures. Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes recognized for killing virally infected cells and improving immune functions for defending the body against malignant cells.

Combination of NK-based immunotherapy and sorafenib against hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent malignancy of the liver, which is considered the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Liver transplant and surgical resection are curative treatments for HCC, but only 10-15% of HCC patients are eligible candidates. The FDA-approved sorafenib is a multi-kinase inhibitor systemic therapy for advanced HCC that extends the overall survival by over 3 months when compared with placebo.

Characterization of microenvironmental changes in the intervertebral discs of patients with chronic low back pain using multiparametric MRI contrasts extracted from Z-spectrum.

Purpose: Z-spectral MRI data were analyzed to produce multiparametric metabolic and microenvironmental contrasts for identifying intervertebral discs with/without pain symptom and sore pain.

Methods: Z-spectra data were collected from the lumbar discs of 26 patients with non-specific chronic low bck pain (CLBP) and 21 asymptomatic controls (AC) with a chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST). Data were fitted to quantify the CEST effects from glycosaminoglycan, amide proton transfer (APT), nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE), semi-solid magnetization transfer contrast effects, and the direct saturation of water.

Gastroenterological complications in kidney transplant patients.

Kidney transplantation is the surgical operation by which one of the two original kidneys is replaced with another healthy one donated by a compatible individual. In most cases, donors are recently deceased. There is the possibility of withdrawing a kidney from a consenting living subject.

COVID-19 and Living Donor Kidney Transplantation in Naples during the Pandemic.

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 is a virus that causes a potentially deadly syndrome that affects especially the respiratory tract. Kidney-transplanted patients are immunosuppressed and more susceptible to viral infections. We have examined our transplantation activity to explore the future role of kidney transplantation from deceased and living donors in COVID-19 era.

Physical activity in elderly kidney transplant patients with multiple renal arteries.

Background: Kidney transplantation (KT) is the gold standard for treatment of patients with end-stage-renal disease. To expand the donor reserve, it is necessary to use marginal/suboptimal kidneys.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the short/long-term outcome of 34 KT elderly patients who received allografts with vascular abnormalities (MRA group), in comparison with 34 KT patients who received a kidney with a single renal artery (SRA group) pair-matched by age, length of time on dialysis, comorbidity and donor age.

Relation Between Wound Complication and Lymphocele After Kidney Transplantation: A Monocentric Study.

Introduction: Wound complication frequently arises after kidney transplantation and its risk factors are well known. In a previous paper we analyzed these factors, and in this new retrospective study we evaluate the influence of lymphocele in the development of wound complications.

Patients And Methods: From January 2000 to December 2018, 731 consecutive kidney transplants have been performed in our center.

Characterization of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients by Z-Spectral Imaging (ZSI).

Purpose: To characterize brown adipose tissue (BAT) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients in comparison to healthy subjects using Z-spectral imaging (ZSI).

Method: ZSI data were collected on 19 normal control females (NCF), 17 males (NCM), and 13 PCOS patients. By fitting to multiple Lorentzian functions, ZSI provides fat-water fraction (FWF) of tissue in the supraclavicular area that can be used to differentiate between white adipose tissue (WAT), BAT, and muscle.

quantification of proton exchange rate in healthy human brains with omega plot.

Background: To implement omega plot method for mapping of proton exchange rates in human brain by taking into account the water direct saturation (DS) effect and multiple saturation transfer exchanging species .

Methods: Four Z-spectra were collected with chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) saturation power =1, 2, 3 & 4 µT. Water DS was estimated by fitting the Z-spectrum to a linear combination of multiple Lorentzian components and its contribution to the signal was subsequently removed.

Characterization of the microstructure of the intervertebral disc in patients with chronic low back pain by diffusion kurtosis imaging.

Purpose: Multivariate analysis of T2-weighted signal, diffusion ADC, and DKI parameters and tractography were used to differentiate chronic non-specific low back pain (CLBP) patients and asymptomatic controls (AC).

Methods: A total of 30 patients with CLBP and 23 AC underwent diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) of lumbar spine with a 3T MRI scanner to get the ADC values and seven parameters of DKI in the nucleus pulposus (NP) of the intervertebral disc. The tractography and the tract-related parameters as other parameters were also generated to indicate the intactness of annulus fibrosus (AF).

Diffusion kurtosis imaging provides quantitative assessment of the microstructure changes of disc degeneration: an in vivo experimental study.

Objective: Our aim was to assess the microstructural changes of intervertebral disc degeneration induced by annulus needle puncture in rats by diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI).

Methods: Eighteen rats (36 discs) were punctured percutaneously at the intervertebral disc between C6/7, C7/8 (C-coccygeal vertebrae) with a 21-gauge needle. The rats were divided into six groups according to the time after the puncture: 3 h, 48 h, 3 days, 7 days, 10 days and 14 days.

Improving the detection specificity of endogenous MRI for reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Background: The detection of tissue reactive oxygen species (ROS) using endogenous MRI methods has great potential applications in research and the clinic. We recently demonstrated that ROS produce a significant T -shortening effect. However, T or T -weighted contrast is not specific, as there are many other factors that alter tissue T .

Non-invasive Imaging Methods for Brown Adipose Tissue Detection and Function Evaluation.

Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) has a major role in thermoregulation, producing heat by non-shivering thermogenesis. Primarily found in animals and human infants, the presence of significant brown adipose tissue was identified only recently, and its metabolic role in adults was reconsidered. BAT is believed to have an important role in many metabolic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes, and also to be associated with cancer cachexia.

Mapping brown adipose tissue based on fat water fraction provided by Z-spectral imaging.

Background: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has a great relevance in metabolic diseases and has been shown to be reduced in obesity and insulin resistance patients. Currently, Dixon MRI is used to calculate fat-water fraction (FWF) and differentiate BAT from white adipose tissue (WAT). However, it may fail in areas of phase wrapping and introduce fat-water swapping artifacts.

Influence of Free Radicals on the Intrinsic MRI Relaxation Properties.

Free radicals are critical contributors in various conditions including normal aging, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and diabetes. Currently there is no non-invasive approach to image tissue free radicals based on endogenous contrast due to their extremely short lifetimes and low in vivo concentrations. In this study we aim at characterizing the influence of free radicals on the MRI relaxation properties.

Imaging short-lived reactive oxygen species (ROS) with endogenous contrast MRI.

Purpose: To characterize the relaxation properties of reactive oxygen species (ROS) for the development of endogenous ROS contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials And Methods: ROS-producing phantoms and animal models were imaged at 9.4T MRI to obtain T and T maps.

A longitudinal DTI and histological study of the spinal cord reveals early pathological alterations in G93A-SOD1 mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by selective motor neuron degeneration in the motor cortex, brainstem and spinal cord. It is generally accepted that ALS is caused by death of motor neurons, however the exact temporal cascade of degenerative processes is not yet completely known. To identify the early pathological changes in spinal cord of G93A-SOD1 ALS mice we performed a comprehensive longitudinal analysis employing diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging alongside histology and electron microscopy, in parallel with peripheral nerve histology.

Comparison of Diffusion MRI Acquisition Protocols for the In Vivo Characterization of the Mouse Spinal Cord: Variability Analysis and Application to an Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Model.

Diffusion-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI) has relevant applications in the microstructural characterization of the spinal cord, especially in neurodegenerative diseases. Animal models have a pivotal role in the study of such diseases; however, in vivo spinal dMRI of small animals entails additional challenges that require a systematical investigation of acquisition parameters. The purpose of this study is to compare three acquisition protocols and identify the scanning parameters allowing a robust estimation of the main diffusion quantities and a good sensitivity to neurodegeneration in the mouse spinal cord.

Creatine CEST MRI for Differentiating Gliomas with Different Degrees of Aggressiveness.

Purpose: Creatine (Cr) is a major metabolite in the bioenergetic system. Measurement of Cr using conventional MR spectroscopy (MRS) suffers from low spatial resolution and relatively long acquisition times. Creatine chemical exchange saturation transfer (CrCEST) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an emerging molecular imaging method for tissue Cr measurements.

Is day-surgery laparoscopic cholecystectomy contraindicated in the elderly? Results from a retrospective study and literature review.

Background And Aim: Ideally, day-surgery laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DLC) combines patient satisfaction with cost-effectiveness. However, DLC has not yet been widely applied in the elderly. Thus, to challenge the current perception of DLC as a contraindication, several parameters were investigated for the feasibility of DLC within the general and elderly population.

Immunosuppression and Multiple Primary Malignancies in Kidney-Transplanted Patients: A Single-Institute Study.

Immunodeficiency is associated with higher cancer incidence. However, it is unknown whether there is a link between immunodeficiency and development of multiple primary malignancies. In the present study we analyse this link focusing on kidney-transplanted patients, as they are at higher risk of developing cancer due to the chronic assumption of immunosuppressants.