Preference-Based Implementation of Video Consultations in Urban and Rural Regions in Outpatient Care in Germany: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

Background: Particularly in rural regions, factors such as lower physician density and long travel distances complicate adequate outpatient care. However, urban regions can also be affected by deficits in care, for example, long waiting times. One model of care intending to improve the situation is the implementation of video consultations.

Iopromide for Contrast-Enhanced Mammography: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis of Pertinent Literature.

Background: Contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) is an emerging breast imaging modality. Clinical data is scarce.

Objectives: To summarize clinical evidence on the use of iopromide in CEM for the detection or by systematically analyzing the available literature on efficacy and safety.

Combined Analysis of Two Parallel Randomized Trials of Sirolimus-Coated and Paclitaxel-Coated Balloons in Coronary In-Stent Restenosis Lesions.

Background: Paclitaxel-coated balloons (PCBs) are a preferred treatment option for coronary in-stent restenosis. To date, data from randomized trials of alternative drug coatings are lacking. The aim of the randomized Malaysian and German-Swiss randomized trials was to investigate a novel sirolimus-coated balloon (SCB) compared with a PCB in in-stent restenosis.

Long-term cardiac pathology in individuals with mild initial COVID-19 illness.

Cardiac symptoms are increasingly recognized as late complications of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in previously well individuals with mild initial illness, but the underlying pathophysiology leading to long-term cardiac symptoms remains unclear. In this study, we conducted serial cardiac assessments in a selected population of individuals with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) with no previous cardiac disease or notable comorbidities by measuring blood biomarkers of heart injury or dysfunction and by performing magnetic resonance imaging. Baseline measurements from 346 individuals with COVID-19 (52% females) were obtained at a median of 109 days (interquartile range (IQR), 77-177 days) after infection, when 73% of participants reported cardiac symptoms, such as exertional dyspnea (62%), palpitations (28%), atypical chest pain (27%) and syncope (3%).

Treatment of Coronary De Novo Lesions by a Sirolimus- or Paclitaxel-Coated Balloon.

Objectives: The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate a novel sirolimus-coated balloon (SCB) compared with the best investigated paclitaxel-coated balloon (PCB).

Background: There is increasing clinical evidence for the treatment of coronary de novo disease using drug-coated balloons. However, it is unclear whether paclitaxel remains the drug of choice or if sirolimus is an alternative, in analogy to drug-eluting stents.

The Effect of Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents on Longitudinal Changes of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Signal Intensities and Relaxation Times in the Aging Rat Brain.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the possible influence of changes in the brain caused by age on relaxometric and relaxation time-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters in the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) and the globus pallidus (GP) of Gd-exposed and control rats over the course of 1 year.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-five Wistar-Han rats were equally subdivided into 5 groups and initially received 8 injections on 4 consecutive days per week of either 3.6 mL/kg body weight saline (group I-III) or 1.

Assessing the Quality and Coherence of Network Meta-Analyses of Biologics in Plaque Psoriasis: What Does All This Evidence Synthesis Tell Us?

Introduction: A range of treatments are available for moderate-to-severe psoriasis; however, there remains a paucity of direct comparisons of these in head-to-head trials. Network meta-analyses (NMA) allow comparisons of these to support clinical decision making. This systematic literature review assesses the methodological quality of NMAs available for moderate-to-severe psoriasis and compares their methods and results.

Non-contrast-enhanced MR-angiography (MRA) of lower extremity peripheral arterial disease at 3 tesla: Examination time and diagnostic performance of 2D quiescent-interval single-shot MRA vs. 3D fast spin-Echo MRA.

Purpose: Non-contrast enhanced MRA is a promising diagnostic alternative to contrast-enhanced (CE-) MRA or CT in patients with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) but potentially associated with prolonged examination times and inferior diagnostic performance. We aimed to compare examination times and diagnostic performance of non-contrast enhanced quiescent-interval slice-selective (QISS)-MRA and fast-spin-echo (FSE)-MRA at 3.0 T.

Comparability of compressed sensing-based gradient echo perfusion sequence SPARSE and conventional gradient echo sequence in assessment of myocardial ischemia.

Purpose: Stress perfusion imaging plays a major role in non-invasive detection of coronary artery disease. We compared a compressed sensing-based and a conventional gradient echo perfusion sequence with regard to image quality and diagnostic performance.

Method: Patients sent for coronary angiography due to pathologic stress perfusion CMR were recruited.

Impact of sequence type and field strength (1.5, 3, and 7T) on 4D flow MRI hemodynamic aortic parameters in healthy volunteers.

Purpose: 4D flow magnetic resonance imaging (4D-MRI) allows time-resolved visualization of blood flow patterns, quantification of volumes, velocities, and advanced parameters, such as wall shear stress (WSS). As 4D-MRI enters the clinical arena, standardization and awareness of confounders are important. Our aim was to evaluate the equivalence of 4D flow-derived aortic hemodynamics in healthy volunteers using different sequences and field strengths.

Safety and immunogenicity of the α-synuclein active immunotherapeutic PD01A in patients with Parkinson's disease: a randomised, single-blinded, phase 1 trial.

Background: Robust evidence supports the role of α-synuclein pathology as a driver of neuronal dysfunction in Parkinson's disease. PD01A is a specific active immunotherapy with a short peptide formulation targeted against oligomeric α-synuclein. This phase 1 study assessed the safety and tolerability of the PD01A immunotherapeutic in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Comparison of 2 CT Contrast Media Injection Systems: Visual Air Identification and Injector Face Cleaning.

Purpose: To compare the MEDRAD Stellant and MEDRAD Stellant FLEX computed tomography contrast media injection systems in terms of radiologic technologists' ability to visually identify air in the syringes at various distances and under different lighting conditions, as well as the ease of cleaning contrast media spills on the injector faces.

Methods: Ten experienced radiologic technologists performed 104 tests (52 per injector) in normal light and in ambient light conditions. The tests were randomized for the radiologic technologists' distance from the injector at 2 ft (61 cm), 8 ft (244 cm), and 16 ft (488 cm).

Diagnostic Efficacy and Safety of Gadoxetate Disodium vs Gadobenate Dimeglumine in Patients With Known or Suspected Focal Liver Lesions: Results of a Clinical Phase III Study.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy and safety of gadoxetate disodium vs gadobenate dimeglumine in patients with known or suspected focal liver lesions.

Methods: This was a prospective, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, inter-individual Phase III study. The primary target-technical efficacy-was already published.

Detection of Sacroiliitis by Short-tau Inversion Recovery and T2-weighted Turbo Spin Echo Sequences: Results from the SIMACT Study.

Objective: To compare proton density-weighted short-tau inversion recovery (PD-STIR) and T2-weighted fat-suppressed turbo spin echo (T2-FS) sequences for detecting osteitis lesions of the sacroiliac joints (SIJ) in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Methods: This prospective study included 110 patients with CLBP and suspected spondyloarthritis and 18 healthy controls. All 128 participants (age range: 19-57 yrs) underwent 3.

Comparing the EQ-5D-5L utility index based on value sets of different countries: impact on the interpretation of clinical study results.

Objective: To compare the country-specific value sets of the EQ-5D-5L utility index and to evaluate the impact on the interpretation of clinical study results. Six country value sets from Canada, England, Japan, Korea, Netherlands and Uruguay were obtained from literature. In addition, ten crosswalk value sets were downloaded from the EuroQol.

On estimands and the analysis of adverse events in the presence of varying follow-up times within the benefit assessment of therapies.

The analysis of adverse events (AEs) is a key component in the assessment of a drug's safety profile. Inappropriate analysis methods may result in misleading conclusions about a therapy's safety and consequently its benefit-risk ratio. The statistical analysis of AEs is complicated by the fact that the follow-up times can vary between the patients included in a clinical trial.

DCE-MR imaging of orbital lesions: diagnostic performance of the tumor flow residence time τ calculated by a multi-compartmental pharmacokinetic tumor model based on individual factors.

Background: Differentiating benign from malignant orbital lesions by imaging and clinical presentation can be challenging.

Purpose: To differentiate benign from malignant orbital masses using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) based on tumor flow residence time τ calculated with the aid of a pharmacokinetic tumor model.

Material And Methods: Sixty patients with orbital masses were investigated by 3-T MRI including dynamic sequences.

Quantification of the left atrium applying cardiovascular magnetic resonance in clinical routine.

Objectives: In recent years the impact of the left atrium (LA) has become more evident in different cardiovascular pathologies. We aim to provide LA parameters in healthy volunteers for cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) using a fast approach.

Design: We analyzed 203 healthy volunteers (mean age 44.

Safety profile of gadoxetate disodium in elderly patients (≥65 years).

Background Safety data on routine clinical use of gadoxetate disodium in elderly patients is not reported yet. Purpose To assess the safety of liver specific gadoxetate disodium in contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in elderly patients (≥65 years) in comparison to adults (18-64 years). Material and Methods Safety data on gadoxetate disodium were analyzed from 12 clinical phase II-III studies and from our pharmacovigilance database.

Comparison of MRI with radiography for detecting structural lesions of the sacroiliac joint using CT as standard of reference: results from the SIMACT study.

Objective: Radiographs of sacroiliac (SI) joints are used for the detection of structural damage in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), but are often difficult to interpret. Here, we address the question how the T1-weighted MRI (T1w MRI) sequence compares with radiography for SI joints' structural lesions using low-dose CT as the standard of reference.

Methods: Radiographs, T1w MRI and low-dose CT of the SI joints from 110 patients (mean age 36.