Publications by authors named "Ayako Taketomi-Takahashi"
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the challenges of assessing spatial resolution in MRI, particularly the effects of slice resolution on multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) images, aiming to propose optimal imaging conditions.
- The researchers used various 3D imaging sequences, employing a method known as the ladder method for objective evaluation of image quality while also performing visual assessments.
- Results showed that image quality was stable up to 80% slice resolution, suggesting that reducing acquisition time by 20% may be feasible without compromising the resolution in reconstructed cross-sections.
Article Synopsis
- Dialysis patients face a heightened risk of developing renal cell carcinoma (RCC), but distinguishing RCC from benign cysts can be challenging with standard imaging techniques like CT and ultrasound.
- This study conducted between 2012 and 2016 used FDG-PET/CT to screen for RCC in 150 participants with end-stage renal disease, with evaluations made by three radiologists.
- The results showed that FDG-PET/CT had a high sensitivity (100%) and negative predictive value (100%), ultimately diagnosing RCC in seven out of twenty patients identified as positive for malignancy.
Purpose: To identify gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs)-related and patient-related risk factors for acute adverse reactions (AARs), and to examine the incidence and severity of repeated AARs.
Methods: This study retrospectively evaluated all intravenous GBCA injections in MRI studies at a single institution from January 2012 to September 2019. First-time AARs in patients without a past history of AARs and risk factors were assessed using multivariable regression models with generalized estimating equations.
Purpose: To evaluate the clinical features and risk factors of iodinated contrast media (ICM)-induced anaphylaxis.
Methods: This retrospective study included all patients undergoing contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) with intravenous ICM administration (iopamidol, iohexol, iomeprol, iopromide, ioversol) at our hospital between April 2016 and September 2021. Medical records of patients who experienced anaphylaxis were reviewed, and the multivariable regression model using generalized estimating equations was employed to eliminate the effect of intrapatient correlation.
Purpose: To assess the associations between simple measurements of left atrial (LA) size and image quality of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).
Materials And Methods: Four hundred and nineteen patients who underwent CCTA were retrospectively examined. Image quality was measured by coronary artery attenuation and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the proximal coronary artery (mean values of right coronary artery and left main trunk).
Article Synopsis
- Gadolinium deposition in the brain, especially in iron-rich areas, has raised concerns about its effects on neuronal cells, specifically focusing on Purkinje cells in the cerebellum.
- The study examined how iron (Fe) influenced the impact of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) on the growth of dendrites in Purkinje cells using various treatment groups and immunocytochemistry techniques.
- Results indicated that while the number of Purkinje cells remained similar across all groups, dendrite growth was significantly enhanced in groups treated with gadolinium compared to controls, with iron amplifying the gadopentetate effect but not influencing gadobutrol.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess the threshold dose of carbon-ion radiation therapy (C-ion RT) and its influencing factors in liver cancer patients by observing changes in MRI signal intensity post-treatment.
- It involved a retrospective review of 60 patients and measured focal liver reaction (FLR) volume after treatment, while accounting for tumor volume changes and other relevant health metrics such as Child-Pugh score.
- Results indicated that the Child-Pugh score significantly influenced the threshold dose, with median values of 51.6 Gy for Child-Pugh class A patients and 27.0 Gy for class B patients, while the number of treatment fractions did not show a significant effect.
Objective Dilatation of the pulmonary artery itself (PAD: pulmonary artery diameter) or in relation to the ascending aorta (PAD/AAD: pulmonary artery diameter to ascending aortic diameter ratio) has been reported to be associated with pulmonary hypertension and with a prognostic outcome of either heart failure or cardiovascular events. We herein aimed to assess the correlations between pulmonary hypertension-related parameters PAD (or PAD/AAD) and left ventricular (LV) remodeling and LV function. Methods This retrospective study included 193 patients (ages: 67±12 years) who underwent both coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and echocardiography.
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- * The study involved three groups of renal failure mice receiving different treatments: saline, gadodiamide, and gadopentetate, over a three-week period, with skin lesions monitored and inflammatory markers analyzed.
- * Results indicated increased fibrotic markers and NE activity in mice treated with GBCAs, with gadodiamide causing more significant changes compared to gadopentetate, suggesting NE's involvement in fibrosis development from GBCAs.
Article Synopsis
- * Study involved 52 adults with no liver or kidney disease, using various imaging methods to compare fat estimates in the liver.
- * Results showed MRI-PDFF (0.95 correlation) is significantly more accurate than US-HRI (0.38 correlation) for diagnosing fatty liver disease, indicating MRI-PDFF as the preferred method.
Objectives: To evaluate the effect of abolishing instructions to fast prior to contrast-enhanced CT on acute adverse reactions (AARs).
Methods: In our institution, we instructed patients to fast one meal before contrast-enhanced CT examinations. However, we abolished these instructions at the end of March 2019, and solid food intake was not restricted before contrast-enhanced CT after this date.
Purpose: To propose a new strategy to prevent communication errors caused by unread radiology reports.
Materials And Methods: Medical emergencies were prefixed with triple stars on radiology reports, and the attending physician was contacted by telephone. Semi-emergencies (medical issues needing addressing within 2 weeks) were prefixed with double stars.
Objective: Detectable serum thyroglobulin (Tg) in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) after total thyroidectomy indicates progression of the disease. Thyroglobulin doubling-time (TgDT) is a powerful prognostic predictor in patients with DTC. We aimed to evaluate the value of the dynamic TgDT for early detection of progressive disease (PD) in the patients of metastatic DTC with I radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To evaluate the correlation between cardiac functional parameters and image quality in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).
Material And Methods: Sixty-six patients who underwent both CCTA and echocardiography were included. The coronary artery attenuation values and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) were measured in the proximal right coronary arteries (RCA) and left main (LM) trunk.
Objective: To evaluate imaging findings and complications from transcatheter interventional treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma via the inferior phrenic arteries.
Material & Methods: 40 procedures in 25 patients (19 men; age range, 57-89 years) were retrospectively reviewed in this study. In all procedures, a micro-catheter was selectively inserted in the right inferior phrenic artery (n = 39) or left inferior phrenic artery (n = 1), and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (n = 39) or transcatheter arterial embolization (n = 1) was performed.
Purpose: Age-related aortic changes are related to adverse cardiac remodeling and reduced cardiac function. Here, we aim to assess the correlations between aortic arch width (AAW) and left ventricular (LV) remodeling and LV function as well as coronary artery calcification (CAC).
Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 194 patients (ages, 67±12 y) who underwent both coronary computed tomography angiography and echocardiography.
Article Synopsis
- The study examined the effectiveness and safety of combining uterine artery embolization (UAE) with dilation and curettage (D&C) to treat cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP).
- Researchers analyzed outcomes from 33 patients, focusing on factors like normalization of beta-hCG levels, hospitalization duration, menstruation resumption, and pregnancy success post-treatment.
- The results showed that the treatment was mostly successful and safe, with 43.8% of those wishing to conceive achieving healthy pregnancies, suggesting it could be a viable option for preserving fertility.
Purpose: To investigate the incidence and risk factors of contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) after contrast enhanced (CE) computed tomography (CT) in patients with renal dysfunction.
Materials And Methods: Two hundred sixteen inpatients with estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) <60 ml/min/1.73 m underwent CE CT using iodine doses of 420 or 480 mg I/kg.
We propose a practical method for setting the optimal inversion times (TI) for double inversion recovery (DIR) sequences. Our method used the measurement of signal intensity (SI) from real images to set the optimal TI for white-matter (WM) and gray-matter (GM)-attenuated inversion recovery (WAIR and GAIR, respectively) images. 3D-DIR images of healthy volunteers were obtained on 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To assess the incidence and types of sensation of smell and taste during i.v. injection of five kinds of contrast media (CM) in CT examinations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: We developed a new quantitative interpretation technique of radioisotope cisternography (RIC) for the diagnosis of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid hypovolemia (SCH).
Methods: RIC studies performed for suspected SCH were evaluated. (111)In-DTPA RIC images were taken at 0, 1, 3, 6, and 24-h after radioisotope injection following the current protocol.
A rare subpopulation of cancer cells known as cancer stem cells (CSCs) have distinct characteristics resembling stem cells, including cell renewal capability, differentiation into multiple lineages, and endless proliferation potential. Cumulating evidence has revealed that CSCs are responsible for tumorigenicity, invasion, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. Despite continued investigation of CSCs, in vivo behavior of CSCs is not yet fully understood.
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