Radiomics analysis of contrast-enhanced CT scans can distinguish between clear cell and non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma in different imaging protocols.

Introduction: This study aimed to construct a radiomics-based machine learning (ML) model for differentiation between non-clear cell and clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCC) that is robust against institutional imaging protocols and scanners.

Materials And Methods: Preoperative unenhanced (UN), corticomedullary (CM), and excretory (EX) phase CT scans from 209 patients diagnosed with RCCs were retrospectively collected. After the three-dimensional segmentation, 107 radiomics features (RFs) were extracted from the tumor volumes in each contrast phase.

The diagnostic performance of deep-learning-based CT severity score to identify COVID-19 pneumonia.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of a deep-learning (DL)-based algorithm using chest computed tomography (CT) scans for the rapid diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as compared to the reference standard reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis, data of COVID-19 suspected patients who underwent RT-PCR and chest CT examination for the diagnosis of COVID-19 were assessed. By quantifying the affected area of the lung parenchyma, severity score was evaluated for each lobe of the lung with the DL-based algorithm.

The Predictive Role of Artificial Intelligence-Based Chest CT Quantification in Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia.

We sought to analyze the prognostic value of laboratory and clinical data, and an artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithm for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity scoring, on CT-scans of patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Moreover, we aimed to determine personalized probabilities of clinical deterioration. Data of symptomatic patients with COVID-19 who underwent chest-CT-examination at the time of hospital admission between April and November 2020 were analyzed.

Overlapping Genetic Background of Coronary Artery and Carotid/Femoral Atherosclerotic Calcification.

Background And Objectives: Multivessel atherosclerosis and its genetic background are under-investigated, although atherosclerosis is seldom local and still causes high mortality. Alternative methods to assess coronary calcification (CAC) might incorporate genetic links between different arteries' atherosclerotic involvement, however, co-occurrences of coronary calcification have not been investigated in twins yet.

Materials And Methods: We assessed the heritability of radio morphologically distinct atherosclerotic plaque types in coronary (non-enhanced CT, Agatston score), carotid, and femoral arteries (B-mode ultrasound) in 190 twin subjects (60 monozygotic, 35 dizygotic pairs).

Three-dimensional CT texture analysis of anatomic liver segments can differentiate between low-grade and high-grade fibrosis.

Background: CT texture analysis (CTTA) has been successfully used to assess tissue heterogeneity in multiple diseases. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate the value of three-dimensional CTTA in the evaluation of diffuse liver disease. We aimed to develop CTTA based prediction models, which can be used for staging of fibrosis in different anatomic liver segments irrespective of variations in scanning parameters.

Genetic and environmental factors on heart rate, mean arterial pressure and carotid intima-media thickness: A longitudinal twin study.

Background: Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) are moderately heritable cardiovascular traits, but the environmental effects on the longitudinal change of their heritability have never been investigated.

Methods: 368 Italian and Hungarian twins (107 monozygotic, 77 dizygotic) underwent oscillometric measurement and B-mode sonography of bilateral carotid arteries in 2009/2010 and 2014. Within- -individual/cross-study wave, cross-twin/within-study wave and cross-twin/cross-study wave correlations were estimated, and bivariate Cholesky models were fitted to decompose the total variance at each wave and covariance between study waves into additive genetic, shared and unique environmental components.

Interobserver agreement and diagnostic accuracy of shearwave elastography for the staging of hepatitis C virus-associated liver fibrosis.

Purpose: Our study aimed to evaluate the technical success rate, interobserver reproducibility, and accuracy of shearwave elastography (SWE) in the staging of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated liver fibrosis.

Methods: A total of 10 healthy controls and 49 patients with chronic liver disease were enrolled prospectively. Two examiners performed point shearwave elastography (pSWE) and two-dimensional shearwave elastography (2D-SWE) measurements with an RS85A ultrasound scanner using the S-Shearwave application (Samsung Medison, Hongcheon, Korea).

Genetic and environmental determinants of longitudinal stability of arterial stiffness and wave reflection: a twin study.

Background: We aimed at evaluating the impact of genetic and environmental factors on longitudinal changes in aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) and aortic augmentation index (aAIx).

Method: Three hundred and sixty-eight Italian and Hungarian adult twins (214 monozygotic, 154 dizygotic) underwent repeated evaluations of aPWV and aAIx (TensioMed Arteriograph). Within-individual/cross-wave, cross-twin/within-wave and cross-twin/cross-wave correlations were calculated; bivariate Cholesky models were fitted to calculate additive genetic (A), shared environmental (C) and unique environmental (E) components.

Genetic influence on femoral plaque and its relationship with carotid plaque: an international twin study.

To disentangle genetic and environmental influences on the development of femoral plaques using a population of adult twins. To evaluate the potential role of shared genetic and environmental factors in the co-occurrence of femoral and carotid plaques. The sample included 566 twins belonging to 164 monozygotic (MZ) and 119 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs, who underwent peripheral arterial assessment by B-mode ultrasound in different centers.

Vertebral Artery Diameter and Flow: Nature or Nurture.

Background And Purpose: In contrast with the carotid arteries, the vertebral arteries (VAs) show considerable variation in length, caliber, and vessel course. This study investigated whether the variation in diameter and flow characteristics of the VAs might be inherited.

Methods: A total of 172 Italian twins from Padua, Perugia, and Terni (54 monozygotic, 32 dizygotic) recruited from the Italian Twin Registry underwent B-mode and pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasound assessment of their VAs.

Heritability of the femoral intima media thickness.

Background: The measurement of femoral intima-media thickness (IMT) is underutilized in the clinical practice, although it is a surrogate marker of cardiovascular disease.

Materials And Methods: 388 Hungarian and Italian twins (121 monozygotic, 73 dizygotic pairs) underwent bilateral B-mode sonography of femoral arteries. IMT was measured by semiautomated software, where available, or by calipers.

Bosniak category III cysts are more likely to be malignant than we expected in the era of multidetector computed tomography technology.

Background: Complex indeterminate Bosniak category III renal cystic masses are traditionally considered to be malignant in 50%. Our aim was to retrospectively evaluate the attenuation characteristics in multiphase computed tomography (CT) and to determinate the incidence of malignancy based on histological findings on all Bosniak category III renal cystic masses investigated in our department between April 3, 2007 and November 21, 2013.

Materials And Methods: QUADRIPHASIC MULTIDETECTOR CT IMAGES OF NINETEEN PATIENTS (MEAN AGE: 56.

Transitional cell and clear cell renal carcinoma: differentiation of distinct histological types with multiphase CT.

Background: Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) may mimic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) when it develops in a similar location, therefore, differentiation with imaging techniques might be challenging. Preoperative differentiation may have a significant role indicating the type of surgical treatment (nephrectomy vs. ureteronephrectomy).

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma and papillary renal cell carcinoma: differentiation of distinct histological types with multiphase CT.

Purpose: Conventional clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) have different behavioral characteristics and clinical management strategies (nephrectomy vs. nephron-sparing surgery). Our aim was to retrospectively evaluate the contrast enhancement pattern of ccRCC and pRCC and evaluate its possible diagnostic role for preoperative differentiation using a standardized protocol.