Fast Non-contrast MR Angiography Using a Zigzag Centric k - k k-space Trajectory and Exponential Refocusing Flip Angles with Restoration of Longitudinal Magnetization.

Purpose: Fresh blood imaging (FBI) utilizes physiological blood signal differences between diastole and systole, causing a long acquisition time. The purpose of this study is to develop a fast FBI technique using a centric k - k k-space trajectory (cFBI) and an exponential refocusing flip angle (eFA) scheme with fast longitudinal restoration.

Methods: This study was performed on 8 healthy subjects and 2 patients (peripheral artery disease and vascular disease) with informed consent, using a clinical 3-Tesla MRI scanner.

Non-contrast MRI of micro-vascularity of the feet and toes.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop novel non-contrast MR perfusion techniques for assessing micro-vascularity of the foot in human subjects.

Methods: All experiments were performed on a clinical 3 T scanner using arterial spin labeling (ASL). Seven healthy subjects (30-72 years old, 5 males and 2 females) were enrolled and bilateral feet were imaged with tag-on and tag-off alternating inversion recovery spin labeling for determining micro-vascularity.

Evaluation of deep learning reconstruction on diffusion-weighted imaging quality and apparent diffusion coefficient using an ice-water phantom.

This study assessed the influence of deep learning reconstruction (DLR) on the quality of diffusion-weighted images (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) using an ice-water phantom. An ice-water phantom with known diffusion properties (true ADC = 1.1 × 10 mm/s at 0 °C) was imaged at various b-values (0, 1000, 2000, and 4000 s/mm) using a 3 T magnetic resonance imaging scanner with slice thicknesses of 1.

High-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma with fusion gene abnormality identified after 10 years of recurrent pulmonary metastases: A case report.

•Endometrial stromal sarcoma is the second most common type of uterine sarcoma.•Endometrial stromal sarcoma has undergone modifications since its proposal.•This case highlights the importance of accurately diagnosing endometrial stromal sarcoma.

Early symptoms preceding post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome following COVID-19: a retrospective observational study incorporating daily gastrointestinal symptoms.

Background: Intestinal microinflammation with immune dysfunction due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 reportedly precipitates post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome. This study aimed to elucidate potential risk factors for subsequent development of irritable bowel syndrome, hypothesizing that it is associated with specific symptoms or patient backgrounds.

Methods: This single-center retrospective observational study (2020-2021) included adults with confirmed coronavirus disease requiring hospital admission and was conducted using real-world data retrieved from a hospital information system.

Aliphatic and Olefinic Fat Suppression in the Orbit Using Polarity-altered Spectral and Spatial Selective Acquisition (PASTA) with Opposed Phase.

Purpose: Fatty acid composition of the orbit makes it challenging to achieve complete fat suppression during orbit MR imaging. Implementation of a fat suppression technique capable of suppressing signals from saturated (aliphatic) and unsaturated (olefinic or protons at double-bonded carbon sites) fat would improve the visualization of an optical nerve. Furthermore, the ability to semi-quantify the fractions of aliphatic and olefinic fat may potentially provide valuable information in assessing orbit pathology.

Physical Exercise Alters Egress Pathways for Intrinsic CSF Outflow: An Investigation Performed with Spin-labeling MR Imaging.

Purpose: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) clearance is essential for maintaining a healthy brain and cognition by removal of metabolic waste from the central nervous system. Physical exercise has been shown to improve human health; however, the effect of physical exercise on intrinsic CSF outflow in humans remains unexplored. The purpose of this study was to investigate intrinsic CSF outflow pathways and quantitative metrics of healthy individuals with active and sedentary lifestyles.

Age-related Decline of Intrinsic Cerebrospinal Fluid Outflow in Healthy Humans Detected with Non-contrast Spin-labeling MR Imaging.

Purpose: Clearance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is important for the removal of toxins from the brain, with implications for neurodegenerative diseases. Imaging evaluation of CSF outflow in humans has been limited, relying on venous or invasive intrathecal injections of contrast agents. The objective of this study was to introduce a novel spin-labeling MRI technique to detect and quantify the movement of endogenously tagged CSF, and then apply it to evaluate CSF outflow in normal humans of varying ages.

Impact of arm position on vertebral bone marrow proton density fat fraction in chemical-shift-encoded magnetic resonance imaging: a preliminary study.

Arm positions employed during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can affect magnetic field distribution, which may result in variability in proton density fat fraction (PDFF) measurements. This study evaluated the effect of arm position on lumbar PDFF measured using chemical-shift-encoded MRI (CSE-MRI). Fifteen healthy volunteers from a single-center underwent lumbar CSE-MRI at two different arm positions (side and elevated) using a single 3T scanner.

Threshold of increase in oxygen demand to predict mechanical ventilation use in novel coronavirus disease 2019: A retrospective cohort study incorporating restricted cubic spline regression.

Background: Rapid deterioration of oxygenation occurs in novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and prediction of mechanical ventilation (MV) is needed for allocation of patients to intensive care unit. Since intubation is usually decided based on varying clinical conditions, such as required oxygen changes, we aimed to elucidate thresholds of increase in oxygen demand to predict MV use within 12 h.

Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study using data between January 2020 and January 2021was conducted.

Time-Resolved Noncontrast Magnetic Resonance Perfusion Imaging of Paraspinal Muscles.

Background: While evaluation of blood perfusion in lumbar paraspinal muscles is of interest in low back pain, it has not been performed using noncontrast magnetic resonance (MR) techniques.

Purpose: To introduce a novel application of a time-resolved, noncontrast MR perfusion technique for paraspinal muscles and demonstrate effect of exercise on perfusion parameters.

Study Type: Longitudinal.

Periosteal Myxoid Leiomyosarcoma Histologically Mimicking Extraskeletal Myxoid Chondrosarcoma: Report of a Case with Histopathological and Cytopathological Comparison with Extraskeletal Myxoid Chondrosarcoma.

Myxoid leiomyosarcoma (MLS) is a rare variant of leiomyosarcoma, with most cases occurring in the uterus. A case of MLS arising in the periosteal region of the tibia, mimicking extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (EMC), is described. The evaluation included histological and cytological comparison with EMC.

Preoperative CT Findings for Predicting Acute Exacerbation of Interstitial Pneumonia After Lung Cancer Surgery: A Multicenter Case-Control Study.

Acute exacerbation (AE) is a life-threatening complication of inter-stitial pneumonia (IP). Thoracic surgery may trigger AE. The purpose of this study is to explore the role of preoperative CT findings in predicting postoperative AE in patients with IP and lung cancer.

[A Case of Histological Response of Grade 3 Achieved by Preoperative Chemotherapy with S-1/Oxaliplatin(SOX)].

Histological response of Grade 3 is relatively rare in gastric cancer patients but has recently been observed occasionally. We report the histological response of Grade 3 achieved by S-1/oxaliplatin(SOX)therapy. A 66-year-old man had suffered from epigastralgia when hungry.

Local Epidermal Endocrine Estrogen Protects Human Melanocytes against Oxidative Stress, a Novel Insight into Vitiligo Pathology.

As the outermost barrier of the body, skin is a major target of oxidative stress. In the brain, estrogen has been reported synthesized locally and protects neurons from oxidative stress. Here, we explored whether estrogen is also locally synthesized in the skin to protect from oxidative stress and whether aberrant local estrogen synthesis is involved in skin disorders.

Is There a Role for Cartilage Imaging in Athletes?

This article reviews implications for cartilage imaging in athletes in the setting of (1) acute chondral injury diagnosis, (2) evaluation and follow-up of conservative and surgical therapy, and (3) evaluation of cartilage as a surrogate for meniscal function and joint stability. Focal knee cartilage defects are common in athletic populations. Athletes with articular cartilage injury may initially be able to return to sport with conservative therapy; however, a reduction of athletic ability and progression to osteoarthritis is expected in athletes with untreated severe chondral injury.

[Imaging diagnosis of intracranial artery dissections: visualization of the vessel walls on high-resolution vessel wall imaging].

MRI is a non-invasive imaging modality with a high contrast resolution useful in diagnosing intracranial artery dissections. However, conventional MRI techniques, including time-of-flight MR angiography or basi-parallel anatomical scanning provide only limited information because they focus on imaging findings rather than the vessel walls. A newly devised MRI technique, high-resolution vessel wall imaging (HRVWI), enables direct visualization of vessel wall and therefore more accurate diagnosis.

Imaging spectrum of abnormal subcutaneous and visceral fat distribution.

Adipose tissue plays multiple and complex roles not only in mechanical cushioning and energy storage but also as an important secretory organ that regulates energy balance and homeostasis multilaterally. Fat tissue is categorized into subcutaneous fat tissue (SCAT) or visceral fat tissue (VSA) depending on its distribution, with the two having different metabolic functions. Near-total lack of fat in congenital/acquired generalized lipodystrophy, cachexia, or any other severe malnutrition condition induces severe multi-organ dysfunction due to lack of production of leptin and other adipokines.

Seipin-linked congenital generalized lipodystrophy type 2: a rare case with multiple lytic and pseudo-osteopoikilosis lesions.

Congenital generalized lipodystrophy (CGL), or Berardinelli-Seip syndrome (BSCL), is a part of lipodystrophic syndromes that constitute a heterogeneous group of genetic or acquired generalized or partial body fat loss disorders. It is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by a near-absence of adipose tissue from birth or early infancy and severe insulin resistance. CGL is classified as type 1-4, depending on the gene involved, and bone lytic lesion is found frequently in type 1 especially in long bones, but reported to be rare in type 2.