Quantitative 2-Dimensionsal Digital Subtraction Venography for Venous Interventions: Validation in Phantom and In Vivo Porcine Models.

Purpose: To determine the feasibility of using a 2-dimensional quantitative digital subtraction venography (qDSV) technique that employs a temporally modulated contrast medium injection to quantify blood velocity in phantom, normal, and stenotic porcine iliac vein models.

Materials And Methods: Blood velocity was calculated using qDSV following temporally modulated pulsed injections of iodinated contrast medium and compared with Doppler ultrasound (US) measurements (phantom, in-line sensor; in vivo, diagnostic linear probe). Phantom evaluation was performed in a compliant polyethylene tube phantom with simulated venous flow.

Microwave Ablation of the Pig Growth Plate: Proof of Concept for Minimally Invasive Epiphysiodesis.

Background: Different surgical methods for epiphysiodesis of limb length discrepancy (LLD) have been described. Although these methods are variably effective, they are associated with morbidity (pain and limp) and potential complications. Microwave ablation is a less-invasive opportunity to halt growth by selectively destroying the growth plate via thermal energy to treat LLD in children.

DMH neurons regulate aging and lifespan in mice through hypothalamic-adipose inter-tissue communication.

Recent studies have shown that the hypothalamus functions as a control center of aging in mammals that counteracts age-associated physiological decline through inter-tissue communications. We have identified a key neuronal subpopulation in the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH), marked by Ppp1r17 expression (DMH neurons), that regulates aging and longevity in mice. DMH neurons regulate physical activity and WAT function, including the secretion of extracellular nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (eNAMPT), through sympathetic nervous stimulation.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Very Elderly Patients Admitted to Intensive Care: A Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Analysis.

Objectives: To characterize and compare trends in ICU admission, hospital outcomes, and resource utilization for critically ill very elderly patients (≥ 80 yr old) compared with the younger cohort (16-79 yr old).

Design: A retrospective multicenter cohort study.

Setting: One-hundred ninety-four ICUs contributing data to the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Centre for Outcome and Resource Evaluation Adult Patient Database between January 2006 and December 2018.

Sleep-wake patterns are altered with age, Prdm13 signaling in the DMH, and diet restriction in mice.

Old animals display significant alterations in sleep-wake patterns such as increases in sleep fragmentation and sleep propensity. Here, we demonstrated that PR-domain containing protein 13 (Prdm13)+ neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) are activated during sleep deprivation (SD) in young mice but not in old mice. Chemogenetic inhibition of Prdm13+ neurons in the DMH in young mice promotes increase in sleep attempts during SD, suggesting its involvement in sleep control.

On the pursuit of emissions-free clean mobility - Electric vehicles versus e-fuels.

With the passing of every second we get closer to a society that is more cognizant of the effect carbon dioxide emissions are having on our planet, and that is more willing to take part in sustainable efforts to combat this and ever more interested in investing in cleaner technologies like electric vehicles (EVs). EVs are marching strongly into a market that is currently dominated by internal combustion engine vehicles, the current main fuel of which is a known contributor to most of the emission related climate problems that we now find ourselves in. Moving ahead, it is important that any move from internal combustion engines to more nascent technologies like EVs is sustainable and not detrimental to the environment.

Quantification of localized NAD changes reveals unique specificity of NAD regulation in the hypothalamus.

Recently, it has become a consensus that systemic decreases in NAD are a critical trigger for age-associated functional decline in multiple tissues and organs. The hypothalamus, which contains several functionally distinct subregions called nuclei, functions as a high-order control center of aging in mammals. However, due to a technical difficulty, how NAD levels change locally in each hypothalamic nucleus during aging remains uninvestigated.

A hybrid deformable registration method to generate motion-compensated 3D virtual MRI for fusion with interventional real-time 3D ultrasound.

Purpose: Ultrasound is often the preferred modality for image-guided therapy or treatment in organs such as liver due to real-time imaging capabilities. However, the reduced conspicuity of tumors in ultrasound images adversely impacts the precision and accuracy of treatment delivery. This problem is compounded by deformable motion due to breathing and other physiological activity.

MWA Performed at 5.8 GHz through 'Side Firing' Approach: An Exploratory Study.

Recent studies have shown that ablation techniques have the potential to eradicate adrenal adenomas while preserving the functionalities of the adrenal gland and the surrounding anatomical structures. This study explores a new microwave ablation (MWA) approach operating at 5.8 GHz and using anatomical and dielectric characteristics of the target tissue to create directional heating patterns.

A C-arm photon counting CT prototype with volumetric coverage using multi-sweep step-and-shoot acquisitions.

Existing clinical C-arm interventional systems use scintillator-based energy-integrating flat panel detectors (FPDs) to generate cone-beam CT (CBCT) images. Despite its volumetric coverage, FPD-CBCT does not provide sufficient low-contrast detectability desired for certain interventional procedures. The purpose of this work was to develop a C-arm photon counting detector (PCD) CT system with a step-and-shoot data acquisition method to further improve the tomographic imaging performance of interventional systems.

Contrast-enhanced CT immediately following percutaneous microwave ablation of cT1a renal cell carcinoma: Optimizing cancer outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of intra-procedural contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) and same-session repeat ablation (SSRA) on primary efficacy, the complete eradication of tumor after the first ablation session as confirmed on first imaging follow-up, of clinically localized T1a (cT1a) renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Methods: 398 consecutive patients with cT1a RCC were treated with cryoablation between 10/2003 and 12/2017, radiofrequency (RFA) or microwave ablation (MWA) between 1/2010 and 12/2017. SSRA was performed for residual tumor identified on intra-procedural CECT.

Split-bolus CT urography after microwave ablation of renal cell carcinoma improves image quality and reduces radiation exposure.

Objective: To compare image quality and radiation dose between single-bolus 2-phase and split-bolus 1-phase CT Urography (CTU) performed immediately after microwave ablation (MWA) of clinically localized T1 (cT1) RCC.

Methods: Forty-two consecutive patients (30 M, mean age 67.5 ± 9.

Advanced CT techniques for hepatic microwave ablation zone monitoring and follow-up.

Purpose: To evaluate utility of advanced CT techniques including HighlY constrained back-projection and dual-energy CT for intra- and post-procedure hepatic microwave ablation zone monitoring.

Methods: 8 hepatic microwave ablations were performed in 4 adult swine (5 min/65 W). Low-dose routine CECT and dual-energy CT images were obtained every 1 min during ablation.

Consensus Guidelines for the Definition of Time-to-Event End Points in Image-guided Tumor Ablation: Results of the SIO and DATECAN Initiative.

There is currently no consensus regarding preferred clinical outcome measures following image-guided tumor ablation or clear definitions of oncologic end points. This consensus document proposes standardized definitions for a broad range of oncologic outcome measures with recommendations on how to uniformly document, analyze, and report outcomes. The initiative was coordinated by the Society of Interventional Oncology in collaboration with the Definition for the Assessment of Time-to-Event End Points in Cancer Trials, or DATECAN, group.

Effect of Metabolic Syndrome on Anatomy and Function of the Lower Urinary Tract Assessed on MRI.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) with functional and anatomic changes of the lower urinary tract with MRI.

Materials And Methods: The bladder and prostate of 95 subjects (56M, 39F) were segmented on T2-weighted pelvic MRI using Materialize Mimics 3D software. Bladder wall volume (BWV), post-void residual (PVR) and prostate volume (PV) were quantified from the 3D renderings.

Feature-based automated segmentation of ablation zones by fuzzy c-mean clustering during low-dose computed tomography.

Purpose: Intra-procedural monitoring and post-procedural follow-up is necessary for a successful ablation treatment. An imaging technique which can assess the ablation geometry accurately is beneficial to monitor and evaluate treatment. In this study, we developed an automated ablation segmentation technique for serial low-dose, noisy ablation computed tomography (CT) or contrast-enhanced CT (CECT).

An Analysis of Open-Ended Coaxial Probe Sensitivity to Heterogeneous Media.

Open-ended coaxial probe spectroscopy is commonly used to determine the dielectric permittivity of biological tissues. However, heterogeneities in the probe sensing region can limit measurement precision and reproducibility. This study presents an analysis of the coaxial probe sensing region to elucidate the effects of heterogeneities on measured permittivity.

CT and MR imaging surveillance of stage 1 renal cell carcinoma after microwave ablation.

Objective: To describe the CT and MR imaging findings after microwave ablation of clinical stage 1 renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Methods: This single-center retrospective study was performed under a waiver of informed consent. 49 patients (38 M/11F, mean age 66 ± 9.

Radiofrequency and microwave ablation in a porcine liver model: non-contrast CT and ultrasound radiologic-pathologic correlation.

The goal of this study was to compare intra-procedural radiofrequency (RF) and microwave ablation appearance on non-contrast CT (NCCT) and ultrasound to the zone of pathologic necrosis. Twenty-one 5-min ablations were performed in swine liver with (1) microwave at 140 W, (2) microwave at 70 W, or (3) RF at 200 W ( = 7 each). CT and US images were obtained simultaneously at 1, 3, and 5 min during ablation and 2, 5, and 10 min post-ablation.

Heating technology for malignant tumors: a review.

The therapeutic application of heat is very effective in cancer treatment. Both hyperthermia, i.e.

Microwave ablation of the liver in a live porcine model: the impact of power, time and total energy on ablation zone size and shape.

To explore various microwave (MW) time/power combinations to achieve maximum single-probe system performance in a live pig liver model. Fifty-one microwave ablations performed in 12 female pigs using the following time/power combinations: 65 W for 10 min (65W 10MIN), ramped from 20 to 65 W (RAMPED), 95 W pulses with cooling periods (95W PULSED), 40 W for 16 min 15 s (LOW POWER), 1 min 95 W pulse then 8 min 65 W then a second 1 min 95 W pulse (BOOKEND 95W) and 65 W for 15 min (65W 15MIN). Temperatures 1.

Computed Tomography-Based Modeling of Water Vapor-Induced Changes in Permittivity During Microwave Ablation.

Objective: Measurements of tissue permittivity with small open-ended coaxial probes during microwave tissue heating have been plagued by high variability as tissue water becomes vaporized. Analysis of such variability has been hampered by a lack of direct visualization of the measurement volume. The objective of this study was to determine if X-ray computed tomography (CT) could be used to visualize the measurement volume and then predict dielectric permittivity based on the visualized tissue composition.

Endometriosis and Ectopic Pregnancy: A Meta-analysis.

Objective: To systematically review and perform a meta-analysis of the risk of ectopic pregnancy in endometriosis.

Data Sources: MEDLINE (OVID), Embase (OVID), CINAHL (EBSCO), and Cochrane Library to April 1, 2019. Inclusion criteria were cohort or case-control studies from 1990 onward.

Laparoscopic Single-port Subtotal Hysterectomy: Technique and Advantages.

Single-port laparoscopy aims to extend the benefits of minimally invasive surgery by reducing surgical trauma and enhancing patient recovery. Current evidence suggests that single-port hysterectomy is feasible, safe, and equally effective as compared with conventional laparoscopic hysterectomy, although global uptake of this approach has been geographically limited. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a single-port subtotal hysterectomy described in Canada.

Evaluation of tissue deformation during radiofrequency and microwave ablation procedures: Influence of output energy delivery.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to quantitatively analyze tissue deformation during radiofrequency (RF) and microwave ablation for varying output energy levels.

Methods: A total of 46 fiducial markers which were classified into outer, middle, and inner lines were positioned into a single plane around an RF or microwave ablation applicator in each ex vivo bovine liver sample (8 cm × 6 cm × 4 cm, n = 18). Radiofrequency (500 kHz; ~35 W average) or microwave (2.