Intraosseous needles in pediatric cadavers: Rate of malposition.

Aim Of The Study: Intraosseous vascular access is a commonly conducted procedure especially in pediatric resuscitation. Very high success rates for intraosseous (IO) devices are reported. Aim of the study was to describe the rates of malposition of intraosseous needles (ION) in pediatric cadavers via post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT).

Improved prediction of nephron-sparing surgery versus radical nephrectomy by the optimized R.E.N.A.L. Score in patients undergoing surgery for renal masses.

Background: One major objective of currently available morphometric scores (MS) for renal masses, i.e., R.

Proapoptotic and antiapoptotic proteins of the Bcl-2 family regulate sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells toward gemcitabine and T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

Sensitivity of carcinoma cells towards gemcitabine (Gem) has been linked to mitochondrial apoptotic proteins. Recently, we described synergistic efficacy of Gem-based chemoimmunotherapy and a dendritic cell (DC) tumor vaccine in a murine pancreatic carcinoma model. Here, we investigated the role of the mitochondrial proteins Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Bax for sensitization of pancreatic carcinoma cells toward T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity alone and in combination with Gem.

DCE-MRI biomarkers for monitoring an anti-angiogenic triple combination therapy in experimental hypopharynx carcinoma xenografts with immunohistochemical validation.

Background: Novel anti-angiogenic treatments are increasingly complementing established cancer therapy strategies in head and neck tumors. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be applied for early and non-invasive therapy monitoring by non-invasive quantitative assessment of tumor microcirculation as in vivo imaging biomarkers of therapy response.

Purpose: To monitor the anti-angiogenic effects of a novel combination therapy on experimental head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) with dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI.

Concomitant gemcitabine therapy negatively affects DC vaccine-induced CD8(+) T-cell and B-cell responses but improves clinical efficacy in a murine pancreatic carcinoma model.

Background: Multiple studies have shown that dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccines can induce antitumor immunity. Previously, we reported that gemcitabine enhances the efficacy of DC vaccination in a mouse model of pancreatic carcinoma. The present study aimed at investigating the influence of gemcitabine on vaccine-induced anti-tumoral immune responses in a syngeneic pancreatic cancer model.

Quantification of coronary artery calcium on the basis of dual-energy coronary CT angiography.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of using virtual noncontrast material-enhanced (VNC) computed tomographic (CT) series derived from dual-energy CT imaging studies for coronary artery calcium quantification.

Materials And Methods: This HIPAA-compliant study was institutional review board approved; all patients provided written informed consent. Thirty-six patients prospectively underwent noncontrast-enhanced CT calcium scoring followed by coronary CT angiography performed in dual-energy mode.

Dendritic cell-based vaccination of patients with advanced pancreatic carcinoma: results of a pilot study.

Background And Aims: Dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccination can induce antitumor T cell responses in vivo. This clinical pilot study examined feasibility and outcome of DC-based tumor vaccination for patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Methods: Tumor lysate of patients with pancreatic carcinoma was generated by repeated freeze-thaw cycles of surgically obtained tissue specimens.

Computing effective dose in cardiac CT.

We present a method of estimating effective doses in cardiac CT that accounts for selected techniques (kV mAs(-1)), anatomical location of the scan and patient size. A CT dosimetry spreadsheet (ImPACT CT Patient Dosimetry Calculator) was used to estimate effective doses (E) using ICRP 103 weighting factors for a 70 kg patient undergoing cardiac CT examinations. Using dose length product (DLP) for the same scans, we obtained values of E/DLP for three CT scanners used in cardiac imaging from two vendors.

Organ doses to adult patients for chest CT.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to estimate organ doses for chest CT examinations using volume computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol) data as well as accounting for patient weight.

Methods: A CT dosimetry spreadsheet (ImPACT CT patient dosimetry calculator) was used to compute organ doses for a 70 kg patient undergoing chest CT examinations, as well as volume computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol) in a body CT dosimetry phantom at the same CT technique factors. Ratios of organ dose to CTDIvoI (f(organ)) were generated as a function of anatomical location in the chest for the breasts, lungs, stomach, red bone marrow, liver, thyroid, liver, and thymus.

X-ray beam filtration, dosimetry phantom size and CT patient dose conversion factors.

We examine how the choice of CT x-ray beam filtration and phantom size influences patient dose (D) to computed tomography dose index (CTDI) conversion factors (i.e. D/CTDI).