Computed Tomography-guided Puncture: Preprocedural Preparation, Technical Tips, and Radioprotection.

Computed tomography-guided puncture is a useful technique for various interventional radiology procedures. Puncture from various locations and angles becomes possible using this technique. Moreover, bone and air do not interfere with the computed tomography image.

Autoantibody profiles in intravenous immunoglobulin preparations: A possible cause of mistaken autoimmunity diagnosis.

Background: Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIgs) derived from the pooled plasma of thousands of donors contain numerous types of IgG molecules, including autoantibodies commonly used to diagnose autoimmunity. While these autoantibodies can cause misinterpretation of serological tests for IVIg recipients, their profiles in IVIg preparations are not fully understood.

Study Design And Methods: Using binding-capability based immune assays, we measured 18 varieties of clinically relevant autoantibodies in domestic blood donor-derived IVIg products.

Radiofrequency Ablation Combined with Hepatic Artery Embolization Using a Tris-acryl Gelatin Microsphere for Colorectal Liver Metastases-Initial Experience.

Purpose: We aim to evaluate retrospectively the feasibility, safety, and initial therapeutic outcomes of radiofrequency ablation combined with hepatic artery embolization using a tris-acryl gelatin microsphere for colorectal liver metastases.

Material And Methods: Six consecutive patients (4 men and 2 women) with median age of 68 years (range 57-78 years) underwent computed tomography fluoroscopy-guided radiofrequency ablation immediately after hepatic artery embolization using microspheres. This study evaluated tumor visibility on noncontrast-enhanced computed tomography immediately after hepatic artery embolization; analyzed local tumor progression; defined technical success as the coverage of the tumor by the ablative zone; and assessed adverse events based on Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.

Efficacy of Percutaneous Direct Puncture Biopsy of Malignant Lung Tumors Contacting to the Pleura.

Background/aim: This is a retrospective evaluation of whether percutaneous direct puncture biopsy of lung lesions contacting to the pleura is justified.

Patients And Methods: Between August 2016 and July 2021, 163 consecutive patients (100 males, 63 females with a median age of 73 years) who had malignant lung tumors measuring 0.6-12.

Clinical Utility of Bland Embolization Using Microspheres for Painful Malignant Musculoskeletal Tumors.

Background/aim: To evaluate retrospectively whether bland embolization using microspheres is safe and useful for relieving pain in patients with painful malignant musculoskeletal (MSK) tumors.

Patients And Methods: Bland embolization using microspheres was performed for 20 patients (11 women/9 men) with a median age of 69 years (range=40-89 years) who had 22 painful malignant MSK tumors. The maximum tumor diameters were 2.

Agaritine derived from Murrill induces apoptosis via mitochondrial membrane depolarization in hematological tumor cell lines.

Objectives: Agaritine (AGT) is a hydrazine-containing compound derived from the mushroom Murill. We previously reported the antitumor effect of AGT on hematological tumor cell lines and suggested that AGT induces apoptosis in U937 cells via caspase activation. However, the antitumor mechanism of AGT has not been fully understood.

Radioprotective Effects of a Semicircular X-ray Shielding Device for Operators During CT Fluoroscopy-Guided Interventional Procedures: Experimental and Clinical Studies.

Purpose: To evaluate, experimentally and clinically, the radioprotective effects of a semicircular X-ray shielding device for operators during CT fluoroscopy-guided IR procedures.

Materials And Methods: During experimentation, the reduction rates of scattered radiation rates from CT fluoroscopy were evaluated using a humanoid phantom. Two shielding device positions were tested: "shielding close to the CT gantry" and "shielding close to the operator".

Clinical Experience of Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation Using an arfa RF ABLATION SYSTEM in Various Organs.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of radiofrequency (RF) ablation using an ablation system (arfa RF ABLATION SYSTEM; Japan Lifeline Co. Ltd.) for treating solid tumors in various organs.

Andrographolide, isolated from induces apoptosis in monocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma cells via augmentation of reactive oxygen species production.

: Andrographolide (Andro) is a diterpenoid component of the plant that is known for its anti-tumor activity against a variety of cancer cells.   : We studied the effects of Andro on the viability of the human leukemia monocytic cell line THP-1 and the human multiple myeloma cell line H929. Andro was compared with cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) and vincristine (VCR), which are well-established therapeutics against hematopoietic tumors.

Successful Embolization of Collaterals from the Round Ligament Artery during Uterine Artery Embolization for Traumatic Uterine Leiomyoma Rupture: A Case Report.

We describe the case of a 48-year-old woman who presented with traumatic rupture of a giant leiomyoma and massive hemoperitoneum caused by slipping and falling in the bathroom. She was in shock on arrival, and resuscitation was performed. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed massive intra-abdominal hematoma and extravasation from the subserous leiomyoma.

Use of Microballoon Catheter in Transarterial Ethanol Embolization of Renal Angiomyolipoma: A Retrospective Comparative Study with Historical Control?

Purpose: To clarify the utility of microballoon catheter in renal arterial ethanol embolization of renal angiomyolipoma (AML).

Material And Methods: A total of 20 patients (15 women, 5 men) with median age of 45 years (39-60 years) underwent embolization to treat 22 AMLs. A mixture of ethanol and iodized oil was injected into the feeding arteries of 13 tumors using balloon occlusion (the balloon embolization group) with a microballoon catheter and 9 tumors without using balloon occlusion (the non-balloon embolization group).

Lymphangiography as a Treatment for Refractory Congenital Chylothorax Due to RASopathies: A Report of Two Cases.

In this study, we report two cases in which intranodal lymphangiography helped improve congenital chylothorax due to RASopathies. We performed lymphangiography after conservative treatments failed to improve chylothorax in an 8-year-old girl with cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome and a 2-month-old boy with Noonan syndrome. Inguinal lymph nodes were punctured with 25-gauge needles under ultrasonographic guidance, and 4 and 1 mL of iodized oil were injected, respectively, showing a backflow of iodized oil into the lungs.

A simple screening method for the diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia using the parameters of a complete blood count and differentials.

Background: This study aimed to develop a simple and inexpensive method using the complete blood count (CBC) and differentials to screen for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

Methods: The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of each CBC parameter, differential and the neutrophil alkaline phosphatase (NAP) score using CML and non-CML cases were generated to determine effective cut-off values. They were applied to the review of randomly-selected 45,608 samples for validation.

Internal Structures of the Globus Pallidus in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: Evaluation with Phase Difference-enhanced Imaging.

Purpose: The medial medullary lamina (MML) separates the medial globus pallidus (GPm) from the lateral. The aim of this study was to assess the changes in appearance of MML related to age using the phase difference-enhanced (PADRE) imaging and to determine whether PADRE can depict the MML in the patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Materials And Methods: We enrolled 20 patients with PD and 50 normal control subjects (NC).

Juxtacortical Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis: Assessment of Gray Matter Involvement Using Phase Difference-enhanced Imaging (PADRE).

Purpose: In multiple sclerosis (MS), a juxtacortical lesion at the border between the gray matter (GM) and subcortical white matter (WM) may often involve the GM. A recently developed, phase-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique "phase difference enhanced imaging (PADRE)" can delineate the GM and WM clearly due to the difference in myelin concentration. We evaluated whether PADRE is useful for the detection of GM involvement in the juxtacortical MS lesions.

Zebra sign of precentral gyri in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A novel finding using phase difference enhanced (PADRE) imaging-initial results.

Objective: We compared the precentral gyri (PG) on the PADRE of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and healthy subjects (HSs) in order to determine whether it is possible to discriminate between ALS patients and HSs on an individual basis.

Methods: First, two radiologists reviewed the appearance of the normal PG and that of ALS patients on PADRE in a non-blinded manner, and deviations from the appearance of the normal PG were recorded. Next, based on the presence of PG abnormalities on PADRE, we performed an observer performance study using 16 ALS patients and 16 HSs.

Identification of Heschl's gyrus on phase difference enhanced imaging.

Background The white matter in the Heschl's gyrus (HG-WM) may appear differently to the other gyri on phase difference enhanced imaging (PADRE), which can enhance the myelin density. Purpose To evaluate the signal intensity (SI) of HG-WM using the PADRE technique and to compare the images with susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI)-like images. Material and Methods The participants included 19 normal controls (38 HGs; mean age, 60.

Improved Detection of Cortical Gray Matter Involvement in Multiple Sclerosis with Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping.

Rationale And Objectives: Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) is a novel technique which allows determining the bulk magnetic susceptibility distribution of tissue in vivo from gradient echo magnetic resonance (MR) phase images. Our purpose was to evaluate if there is additional diagnostic value of QSM images in detecting the cortical gray matter involvement in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.

Materials And Methods: Our institutional review board approved this study.

Internal structures of the globus pallidus in patients with Parkinson's disease: evaluation with quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the susceptibility change in medial and lateral globus pallidus (GPm and GPl) related to age separately, using quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) and to determine whether QSM can depict GPm in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.

Methods: QSM was performed in 19 PD patients and in 41 normal control (NC) subjects. First, we quantitatively analysed age-related changes in QSM value in NC for GPl and GPm by a manual region of interest (ROI) technique.

Diagnosis of intracranial hemorrhagic lesions: comparison between 3D-SWAN (3D T2*-weighted imaging with multi-echo acquisition) and 2D-T2*-weighted imaging.

Background: 3D-susceptibility-weighted angiography (SWAN) can produce high-resolution images that yield excellent susceptibility-weighted contrast at a relatively short acquisition time.

Purpose: To compare SWAN- and 2D-T2*-weighted gradient-echo images (T2*-WI) for their sensitivity in the depiction of cerebral hemorrhagic lesions.

Material And Methods: We subjected 75 patients with suspected cerebral hemorrhagic lesions to SWAN and T2*-WI at 3T.