Surface complexation modeling of Hg(II) adsorption at the goethite/water interface using the charge distribution multi-site complexation (CD-MUSIC) model.

Hypothesis: Previous attempts to describe Hg(II) adsorption onto mineral surfaces using surface complexation models (SCMs) have proven unsuccessful and/or require the use of hypothetical surface species. Given that metal ion adsorption at the mineral-water interface is greatly influenced by mineral surface heterogeneity and the presence of competing adsorbates in solution, it stands to reason that estimating the crystal face composition (CFC) of the mineral surface and the extent of carbonate contamination in the experimental system will improve SCM predictions.

Experiments: The Charge Distribution Multi-Site Complexation (CD-MUSIC) model was used to simulate experimental Hg(II) adsorption data, collected on the iron hydroxide mineral goethite, in the presence and absence of competing adsorbates and complexing ligands as a function of pH and ionic strength.

Usefulness of texture analysis in differentiating transient from persistent part-solid nodules(PSNs): a retrospective study.

Background: Early discrimination between transient and persistent par-solid ground-glass nodules (PSNs) at CT is essential for patient management. The objective of our study was to retrospectively investigate the value of texture analysis in differentiating pulmonary transient and persistent PSNs in addition to clinical and CT features.

Methods: This retrospective study was performed with IRB approval and a waiver of the requirement for patients' informed consent.

Learning curve of septoplasty with radiofrequency volume reduction of the inferior turbinate.

Objectives: Since few studies on surgical training and learning curves have been performed, majority of inexperienced surgeons are anxious about performing operations. We aimed to access the results and learning curve of septoplasty with radiofrequency volume reduction (RFVR) of the inferior turbinate.

Methods: We included 270 patients who underwent septoplasty with RFVR of the inferior turbinate by 6 inexperienced surgeons between January 2009 and July 2011.

Correlation between the size of the solid component on thin-section CT and the invasive component on pathology in small lung adenocarcinomas manifesting as ground-glass nodules.

Introduction: We aimed to evaluate the correlation between the size of the solid component on thin-section computed tomography (CT) and invasive component on pathology in small lung adenocarcinomas manifesting as subsolid nodules.

Methods: Fifty-nine subsolid nodules in 58 patients were evaluated. The maximum diameters of subsolid nodules and the solid component on CT were measured by two radiologists in three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) planes using in-house software.

The effect of direct addition of iron(III) on anaerobic digestion efficiency and odor causing compounds.

The role of iron addition to sewage sludge prior to anaerobic digestion was evaluated to determine the effect of iron on digestion performance and generation of odor-causing compounds. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and volatile organic sulfur compounds (VOSCs) were the odorous gases evaluated in this study. Samples were obtained from seven municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and batch anaerobic digestion tests were conducted using primary and secondary sludges at 30 day solids retention time (SRT) under mesophilic conditions.

Positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of lung cancer: current status and future prospects.

Various designs of positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) systems have been recently introduced to clinical practice, which have overcome preexisting technical challenges concerning the fusion of PET and MRI systems. Although further improvements are still necessary especially for bony lesions, quantification using current MRI-based attenuation correction techniques has been shown to be comparable to that of PET/computed tomography (CT) systems. On the basis of the results of previous whole-body MRI studies, PET/MRI is expected to show even better performance than PET/CT in M-staging especially for brain and liver metastases.

Quantitative analysis of emphysema and airway measurements according to iterative reconstruction algorithms: comparison of filtered back projection, adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction and model-based iterative reconstruction.

Objectives: To evaluate filtered back projection (FBP) and two iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms and their effects on the quantitative analysis of lung parenchyma and airway measurements on computed tomography (CT) images.

Methods: Low-dose chest CT obtained in 281 adult patients were reconstructed using three algorithms: FBP, adaptive statistical IR (ASIR) and model-based IR (MBIR). Measurements of each dataset were compared: total lung volume, emphysema index (EI), airway measurements of the lumen and wall area as well as average wall thickness.

Pulmonary subsolid nodules: what radiologists need to know about the imaging features and management strategy.

Pulmonary subsolid nodules (SSNs) refer to pulmonary nodules with pure ground-glass nodules and part-solid ground-glass nodules. SSNs are frequently encountered in the clinical setting, such as screening chest computed tomography (CT). The main concern regarding pulmonary SSNs, particularly when they are persistent, has been lung adenocarcinoma and its precursors.

Time-dependent changes in the obstruction pattern during drug-induced sleep endoscopy.

Purpose: Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) is used to identify the site of obstruction causing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, previous studies have reported a wide range of DISE findings, and new patterns of airway obstruction have also been observed during postoperative DISE. Therefore, we aimed to determine the features of changes in obstructive patterns during DISE.

Sequential morphological changes in follow-up CT of pulmonary mucormycosis.

Purpose: We aimed to describe the computed tomography (CT) features of pulmonary mucormycosis including sequential changes between follow-ups.

Materials And Methods: Between June 2001 and May 2011, five patients (three males and two females; median age, 43 years; age range, 13-73 years) who had been pathologically diagnosed with pulmonary mucormycosis constituted our study population. Their clinical and CT features including sequential changes over follow-ups were evaluated retrospectively.

The efficacy of extracorporeal magnetic stimulation for treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome patients who do not respond to pharmacotherapy.

Objective: To investigate the effect of extracorporeal magnetic stimulation (EMS) on symptoms of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) in men who did not respond to pharmacotherapy.

Methods: Patients with chronic pelvic pain and/or voiding symptoms in the absence of urinary tract infection for at least 3 months in spite of medication were included in this study. All patients underwent EMS for 6 weeks for a total of 12 sessions.

A comparison of two commercial volumetry software programs in the analysis of pulmonary ground-glass nodules: segmentation capability and measurement accuracy.

Objective: To compare the segmentation capability of the 2 currently available commercial volumetry software programs with specific segmentation algorithms for pulmonary ground-glass nodules (GGNs) and to assess their measurement accuracy.

Materials And Methods: In this study, 55 patients with 66 GGNs underwent unenhanced low-dose CT. GGN segmentation was performed by using 2 volumetry software programs (LungCARE, Siemens Healthcare; LungVCAR, GE Healthcare).

External validation of the cancer of the prostate risk assessment-s score in koreans undergoing radical prostatectomy.

Purpose: To evaluate the validity of the University of California San Francisco Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment-S score (CAPRA-S score), a biochemical indicator of recurrent prostate cancer that uses histopathologic data, in Korean prostate cancer patients.

Materials And Methods: A total of 203 prostate cancer patients who underwent radical prostatectomy between February 1997 and November 2010 were observed for longer than 6 months. The CAPRA-S score of 134 patients for whom records were available for preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA), pathologic specimen Gleason score, surgical margin, seminal vesicle invasion, extracapsular extension, and lymph node invasion were calculated.

Pure and part-solid pulmonary ground-glass nodules: measurement variability of volume and mass in nodules with a solid portion less than or equal to 5 mm.

Purpose: To prospectively assess and compare the measurement variability of volume and mass for pure and part-solid ground-glass nodules (GGNs) with solid portions less than or equal to 5 mm by using a commercially available volumetric software program.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study was approved by the institutional review board. Written informed consent was obtained.

Adaptive 4D volume perfusion CT of lung cancer: effects of computerized motion correction and the range of volume coverage on measurement reproducibility.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether measurement reproducibility can be improved using computerized motion correction and whole-tumor coverage in adaptive 4D perfusion CT of lung cancer.

Subjects And Methods: Perfusion CT covering the entire z-axis of a mass was performed of 40 patients with lung cancer. Each perfusion CT study was performed in 93.

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma of the mediastinum: CT and F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose PET findings.

Mediastinal follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) is an exceedingly rare malignant tumor. We report, herein, detailed imaging findings of mediastinal FDCS, appearing as a large, well-circumscribed, strongly enhancing mass with central coarse calcification on computed tomography, with moderately increased metabolic activity on F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography.

Does antiplatelet therapy increase the risk of hemoptysis during percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy of a pulmonary lesion?

Objective: The purpose of this article is to evaluate whether antiplatelet therapy increases the occurrence and severity of percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB)-related hemoptysis.

Materials And Methods: Our institutional review board approved this retrospective study, with waiver of informed consent. From May 2007 to December 2009, 1251 patients undergoing 1346 PTNBs constituted our study population.

Imaging characteristics of stage I non-small cell lung cancer on CT and FDG-PET: relationship with epidermal growth factor receptor protein expression status and survival.

Objective: To identify CT and FDG-PET features associated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein overexpression, and to evaluate whether imaging features and EGFR-overexpression can help predict clinical outcome.

Materials And Methods: In 214 patients (M : F = 129 : 85; mean age, 63.2) who underwent curative resection of stage I non-small cell lung cancer, EGFR protein expression status was determined through immunohistochemical analysis.

Invasive pulmonary adenocarcinomas versus preinvasive lesions appearing as ground-glass nodules: differentiation by using CT features.

Purpose: To retrospectively investigate the differentiating computed tomographic (CT) features between invasive pulmonary adenocarcinoma (IPA) and preinvasive lesions appearing as ground-glass nodules (GGNs) in 253 patients.

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by the institutional review board. From January 2005 to October 2011, 272 GGNs were pathologically confirmed (179 IPAs and 93 preinvasive lesions) in 253 patients and were included in this study.

Clinical and radiological features of invasive Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess syndrome.

Background: Recently, a striking new clinical manifestation of Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) infection referred to as invasive KP liver abscess syndrome (IKPLAS), defined by liver abscess with contemporaneous metastatic KP infections at other body sites has been documented. Until now, however, there have been relatively few reports regarding its radiologic features.

Purpose: To describe the clinical and radiological features of IKPLAS patients, and to compare them with those with KP liver abscess without metastatic infections to ascertain possible predictors of IKPLAS.

Metabolic characteristics of Castleman disease on 18F-FDG PET in relation to clinical implication.

Purpose: Castleman disease (CD) is a benign lymphoproliferative disease, which usually shows hypermetabolism on 18F-FDG PET/CT. In this study, we investigated metabolic characteristics of CD in consecutive series of patients and analyzed 18F-FDG uptake with regard to major clinicopathologic factors, to investigate clinical implication of 18F-FDG uptake in CD.

Methods: Twelve patients (5 men and 7 women; mean age, 52 ± 14 years) with pathologically confirmed CD, who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT, were retrospectively enrolled, and their images were analyzed.

Metabolic and metastatic characteristics of ALK-rearranged lung adenocarcinoma on FDG PET/CT.

Introduction: ALK rearrangement in lung cancer has been identified as a novel molecular target in lung adenocarcinoma. In this study, we evaluated metabolic and metastatic features of lung adenocarcinoma by using FDG PET/CT, with regard to specific genotypes of ALK and EGFR mutation.

Methods: Patients with lung adenocarcinoma initially diagnosed and examined with FDG PET/CT and molecular genotyping with biopsy specimen, from September 2009 to September 2011, were selected retrospectively.

Clinical implication of protease-activated receptor-2 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a lethal pulmonary disease which is characterized by progressive fibrosis. In general, the exaggerated activation of the coagulation cascade has been observed during initiation or maintenance of the fibrotic disease. In a recent study, protease-activated receptor (PAR)-2, which plays a key role in coagulation cascade, was up-regulated in IPF patients, however, its clinical implications have not been understood.

CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic localization of pulmonary nodules prior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery using barium suspension.

Objective: To describe our initial experience with CT-guided percutaneous barium marking for the localization of small pulmonary nodules prior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

Materials And Methods: From October 2010 to April 2011, 10 consecutive patients (4 men and 6 women; mean age, 60 years) underwent CT-guided percutaneous barium marking for the localization of 10 small pulmonary nodules (mean size, 7.6 mm; range, 3-14 mm): 6 pure ground-glass nodules, 3 part-solid nodules, and 1 solid nodule.