Conjugated Organic Photothermal Films for Spatiotemporal Thermal Engineering.

With the growth of photoenergy harvesting and thermal engineering, photothermal materials (PTMs) have attracted substantial interest due to their unique functions such as localized heat generation, spatiotemporal thermal controllability, invisibility, and light harvesting capabilities. In particular, π-conjugated organic PTMs show advantages over inorganic or metallic PTMs in thin film applications due to their large light absorptivity, ease of synthesis and tunability of molecular structures for realizing high NIR absorption, flexibility, and solution processability. This review is intended to provide an overview of organic PTMs, including both molecular and polymeric PTMs.

Shear Wave Elastography of the Spleen for Monitoring Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Function: A Pilot Study.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility of splenic shear wave elastography in monitoring transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) function.

Methods: We measured splenic shear wave velocity (SWV), main portal vein velocity (PVV), and splenic vein velocity (SVV) in 33 patients 1 day before and 3 days to 12 months after TIPS placement. We also measured PVV, SVV, and SWV in 10 of 33 patients with TIPS dysfunction 1 day before and 3 to 6 days after TIPS revision.

Hymenobacter swuensis sp. nov., a gamma-radiation-resistant bacteria isolated from mountain soil.

Gram stain-negative and non-motile bacteria, designated as DY53(T) and DY43, were isolated from mountain soil in South Korea prior exposure with 5 kGy gamma radiation. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the strains belonged to the family Cytophagaceae in the class Cytophagia. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of strains DY53(T) and DY43 was 100 %.

Correlation between Doppler parameters and renal cortical fibrosis in lupus nephritis: a preliminary observation.

To assess the relationship between renal Doppler parameters and renal cortical fibrosis in lupus nephritis (LN), we retrospectively reviewed 24 patients with LN underwent both renal color Doppler sonography and renal biopsy. The angle-corrected Doppler parameters, including peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistive index (RI) at the main and interlobar renal arteries were measured. The Doppler parameters and PSV and EDV ratios of the interlobar artery to main renal artery were compared with histopathologic analysis of the kidney biopsy specimen.

Hepatocellular carcinoma: clinical and radiological findings in patients with chronic B viral hepatitis and chronic C viral hepatitis.

Aim: To compare clinical and radiological findings of newly diagnosed hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections.

Materials And Methods: Dynamic contrast-enhanced CT images in 532 patients with newly diagnosed HCC were retrospectively reviewed. Of these patients, 418 had chronic HBV infections and 114 had chronic HCV infections.

Preoperative radiographic parameters predict long-term renal impairment following partial nephrectomy.

Purpose: We analyzed radiographic parameters describing anatomic features of renal tumors to identify preoperative characteristics that could help predict long-term decline in renal function following partial nephrectomy.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 194 consecutive patients who underwent partial nephrectomy from January 2006 to March 2009 and analyzed a cohort of 53 patients for whom complete clinical, radiographic, and operative information was available. Computed tomography images were reviewed by a single radiologist.

Doppler parameters in renal transplant dysfunction: correlations with histopathologic changes.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between intrarenal Doppler parameters and histopathologic changes shown on kidney biopsy in renal transplant dysfunction.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 113 patients (61 men and 52 women; age range, 22-76 years; mean age ± SD, 50.9 ± 12.

Extension of air into the right perirenal space after duodenal perforation: CT findings.

Purpose: To determine the extraperitoneal distribution of air following perforation of the second portion of the duodenum.

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approval was obtained for this HIPAA-compliant study. The requirement for written informed consent was waived.

Diagnostic performance of virtual gastroscopy using MDCT in early gastric cancer compared with 2D axial CT: focusing on interobserver variation.

Objective: The objective of our study was to assess the diagnostic performance of virtual gastroscopy using MDCT for the detection of early gastric cancer (EGC) compared with 2D axial CT, focusing on interobserver reliability.

Materials And Methods: During an 11-month period, we performed CT examinations of 94 consecutive patients with EGC and a control group composed of 68 patients without EGC. Three radiologists retrospectively interpreted the 2D axial CT and virtual gastroscopy images.

CT findings of cholangiocarcinoma associated with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to determine the characteristic CT findings of cholangiocarcinoma associated with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis.

Conclusion: CT findings of cholangiocarcinoma associated with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis are important in order to improve early diagnosis and proper treatment. Cholangiocarcinoma associated with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis is predominantly located in the atrophic hepatic lobes and in the hepatic lobes of biliary calculi and is associated with the narrowing or obliteration of the portal vein.

Imaging of various gastric lesions with 2D MPR and CT gastrography performed with multidetector CT.

Recent advances in computed tomographic (CT) technology, three-dimensional imaging software, and cheaper data storage capacity have made faster, simpler, and more accurate gastric imaging available. Two-dimensional multiplanar reformation and CT gastrography including virtual gastroscopy and transparency rendering allow multiplanar cross-sectional imaging, gastroscopic viewing, and upper gastrointestinal series imaging in the same data acquisition. Multi-detector row CT allows noninvasive assessment of the gastric wall and the perigastric extent of disease.

Early gastric cancer: virtual gastroscopy.

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers and one of the most frequent causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Early detection and accurate preoperative staging of early gastric cancer (ECG) offers the best prognosis and is essential for planning optimal therapy such as endoscopic mucosal resection or gastric resection. Recent advances in computed tomographic technology and three-dimensional imaging software have enabled more accurate gastric imaging.

CT gastrography.

The rapid dissemination of multidetector-row computed tomographic (CT) technology will make faster and more accurate gastric imagining available. Two-dimensional multiplanar reconstruction and CT gastrography including virtual gastroscopy and transparency rendering using volume rendering are types of interactive two- and three-dimensional medical imaging tools. It provides multiplanar cross-sectional imaging, gastroscopic viewing, and upper gastrointestinal series imaging in the same data acquisition.

Imaging diagnosis of cystic pancreatic lesions: pseudocyst versus nonpseudocyst.

Although the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features of cystic pancreatic lesions are well known, preoperative diagnosis is difficult. Differentiation between a pancreatic pseudocyst and a cystic pancreatic neoplasm is crucial in determining the proper treatment. Careful evaluation of the patient's clinical history is important for accurate diagnosis of a pseudocyst.

Milk of calcium in a pancreatic pseudocyst.

A 46-year-old man with a history of chronic alcohol use was found to have milk of calcium that had developed in a pancreatic pseudocyst. This was found incidentally on abdominal computed tomography during a workup for abnormal liver enzymes. Milk of calcium in the pancreas has been described only twice in the literature using plain abdominal radiographs and computed tomography.

Usefulness of known computed tomography and clinical criteria for diagnosing strangulation in small-bowel obstruction: analysis of true and false interpretation groups in computed tomography.

Computed tomography (CT) criteria have proven useful, but not sufficient, for diagnosis of bowel strangulation. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the use of clinical criteria in the interpretation of CT scans as a means of improving the diagnostic accuracy of CT, especially in patients whose CT scans are equivocal for distinguishing simple obstruction from strangulated obstruction. We analyzed the CT scans of 136 patients with simple (n=70) or strangulated (n=66) small-bowel obstruction.

CT analysis of postoperative tumor recurrence patterns in periampullary cancer.

Background: We analyzed postoperative tumor recurrence in periampullary cancer on computed tomography (CT).

Methods: Forty-six patients with tumor recurrence (16 pancreas head cancers, 19 distal common bile duct cancers, and 11 ampulla of Vater cancers) of 125 patients who underwent surgery for periampullary cancer were enrolled. Recurrence was diagnosed by CT findings plus elevated CA 19-9 (n = 28) or biopsy (n = 18).

Intragastric metastasis in a patient with gastric cancer: unusual CT manifestation.

We describe computed tomographic findings of intragastric metastasis in a patient with gastric cancer. On computed tomography, the intragastric metastatic lesion appeared as an exophytically growing cystic masss with minimal thickening of the adjacent gastric wall, thus mimicking an exophytically growing submucosal tumor or adenocarcinoma.

Usefulness of MR imaging for diseases of the small intestine: comparison with CT.

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of MR imaging for diseases of the small intestine, emphasizing a comparison with CT.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-four patients who underwent both CT and MR imaging using FLASH 2D and HASTE sequences were analyzed. All patients had various small bowel diseases with variable association of peritoneal lesions.

CT differentiation of mesenteric ischemia due to vasculitis and thromboembolic disease.

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to differentiate CT findings of acute mesenteric ischemia due to vasculitis (MV) or thromboembolism (MTE).

Method: CT scans of 69 patients with mesenteric ischemia caused by MV (n = 37) or MTE (n = 32) were analyzed. After dividing the patients into groups with and without MV, we compared them with regard to gastrointestinal tract involvement patterns, mesenteric changes, and presence or absence of vascular thrombosis, atherosclerosis, other organ changes, and ascites.

Abdominopelvic actinomycosis involving the gastrointestinal tract: CT features.

Purpose: To assess the computed tomographic (CT) features of abdominopelvic actinomycosis involving the gastrointestinal tract.

Materials And Methods: CT scans were analyzed in 18 patients with pathologically proved abdominopelvic actinomycosis involving the gastrointestinal tract. Eight patients had a history of using intrauterine contraceptive devices.

CT features of primary colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma.

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to evaluate the CT features of 15 patients with primary colorectal signet-ring cell carcinomas.

Method: We retrospectively reviewed the CT scans of 15 patients (mean age 44 years) with pathologically proved colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma. On CT, we evaluated the site and length of the tumor, bowel wall thickening patterns, perirectal or pericolic infiltration, the presence or absence of colonic obstruction, and metastasis to other organs.

Pelioid-type hepatocellular carcinoma masquerading as a hepatic hemangioma on technetium-99m red blood cell scintigraphy.

Technetium-99m red blood cell (RBC) scintigraphy is a very specific method to differentiate a hemangioma from other hepatic masses. The authors report a case of hepatocellular carcinoma that showed a focal area of increased uptake on Tc-99m RBC SPECT in a 60-year-old man. Dynamic computed tomography and angiography revealed features of both hemangioma and hepatocellular carcinoma.