Added value of pre-procedural magnetic resonance angiography in transarterial embolization for refractory musculoskeletal pain.

Background: Transarterial microembolization (TAME) is a minimally invasive treatment for chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Identifying angiogenesis and the supplying vessels of the target joint is important but challenging. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is commonly used to diagnose musculoskeletal diseases, it typically excludes vascular imaging.

Maternal exposure to hyperbaric oxygen at the preimplantation stages increases apoptosis and ectopic Cdx2 expression and decreases Oct4 expression in mouse blastocysts via Nrf2-Notch1 upregulation and Nf2 downregulation.

Background: The environmental oxygen tension has been reported to impact the blastocyst quality and cell numbers in the inner cell mass (ICM) during human and murine embryogenesis. While the molecular mechanisms leading to increased ICM cell numbers and pluripotency gene expression under hypoxia have been deciphered, it remains unknown which regulatory pathways caused the underweight fetal body and overweight placenta after maternal exposure to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO).

Results: The blastocysts from the HBO-exposed pregnant mice revealed significantly increased signals of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nuclear Nrf2 staining, decreased Nf2 and Oct4 expression, increased nuclear Tp53bp1 and active caspase-3 staining, and ectopic nuclear signals of Cdx2, Yap, and the Notch1 intracellular domain (N1ICD) in the ICM.

Short-Term Effects of Genicular Artery Embolization on Symptoms and Bone Marrow Abnormalities in Patients with Refractory Knee Osteoarthritis.

Purpose: To evaluate the short-term outcomes of genicular artery embolization (GAE) for knee osteoarthritis (OA) with and without bone marrow lesion (BML) and/or subchondral insufficiency fracture of the knee (SIFK).

Materials And Methods: This single-institution prospective observational pilot study analyzed 24 knees in 22 patients with mild to moderate knee OA, including 8 knees without BML, 13 knees with BML, and 3 knees with both BML and SIFK. The area and volume of BMLs on magnetic resonance images were measured before and after GAE.

Transcatheter Arterial Embolization for Alleviating Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and Improving Physical Function: A Narrative Review.

Chronic musculoskeletal pain imposes immense suffering and diminishes the quality of life for millions of patients worldwide; the pain persists despite the use of standard conservative treatments. Increases in our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying musculoskeletal disorders indicate the involvement of inappropriate angiogenesis. Accordingly, the resulting neovessels are the target of emerging treatments for chronic musculoskeletal pain, including transarterial embolization.

Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) for Automatic Reconstruction of the 3D Spine Structure by Using Simulated Bi-Planar X-ray Images.

In this study, we modified the previously proposed X2CT-GAN to build a 2Dto3D-GAN of the spine. This study also incorporated the radiologist's perspective in the adjustment of input signals to prove the feasibility of the automatic production of three-dimensional (3D) structures of the spine from simulated bi-planar two-dimensional (2D) X-ray images. Data from 1012 computed tomography (CT) studies of 984 patients were retrospectively collected.

Comparison of ultrasound and dorsal tangential view for dorsal cortex screw penetration in volar plating of the distal radius.

We compared the accuracy of the fluoroscopic dorsal tangential view (DTV) and an ultrasound (US) examination in detecting dorsal screw penetration during volar distal radius plating. In six fresh cadaveric distal radii, seven periarticular locking screws in two rows for each plate were inserted according to the measured length using a depth gauge and then replaced with another that was 1 and 2 mm longer, respectively. The actual protruded length of each screw was determined using computed tomography (CT) images.

Automated Stanford classification of aortic dissection using a 2-step hierarchical neural network at computed tomography angiography.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of automatic Stanford classification of classic aortic dissection (AD) using a 2-step hierarchical neural network.

Methods: Between 2015 and 2019, 130 arterial phase series (57 type A, 43 type B, and 30 negative cases) in aortic CTA were collected for the training and validation. A 2-step hierarchical model was built including the first step detecting AD and the second step predicting the probability (0-1) of Stanford types.

Clinical application of mask region-based convolutional neural network for the automatic detection and segmentation of abnormal liver density based on hepatocellular carcinoma computed tomography datasets.

The aim of the study was to use a previously proposed mask region-based convolutional neural network (Mask R-CNN) for automatic abnormal liver density detection and segmentation based on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) computed tomography (CT) datasets from a radiological perspective. Training and testing datasets were acquired retrospectively from two hospitals of Taiwan. The training dataset contained 10,130 images of liver tumor densities of 11,258 regions of interest (ROIs).

Automated Radiology Alert System for Pneumothorax Detection on Chest Radiographs Improves Efficiency and Diagnostic Performance.

We aimed to set up an Automated Radiology Alert System (ARAS) for the detection of pneumothorax in chest radiographs by a deep learning model, and to compare its efficiency and diagnostic performance with the existing Manual Radiology Alert System (MRAS) at the tertiary medical center. This study retrospectively collected 1235 chest radiographs with pneumothorax labeling from 2013 to 2019, and 337 chest radiographs with negative findings in 2019 were separated into training and validation datasets for the deep learning model of ARAS. The efficiency before and after using the model was compared in terms of alert time and report time.

Computer-Assisted System in Stress Radiography for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury with Correspondent Evaluation of Relevant Diagnostic Factors.

We sought to design a computer-assisted system measuring the anterior tibial translation in stress radiography, evaluate its diagnostic performance for an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, and assess factors affecting the diagnostic accuracy. Retrospective research for patients with both knee stress radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at our institution was performed. A complete ACL rupture was confirmed on an MRI.

Diastolic and systolic right ventricular diameters for predicting pulmonary hypertension in children with congenital heart disease.

Prospective electrocardiography (ECG)-gated cardiac computed tomography angiography (CTA) is widely used for pediatric patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) due to the lower radiation dose compared with the ECG-gated technique. However, functional parameters acquired using ECG-gated cardiac CT to predict pulmonary hypertension (PH) in children with CHD have not yet been reported. This study aimed to investigate the potential of diastolic and systolic right ventricular diameters (RVD) on prospective ECG-gated cardiac CTA to predict PH in children with CHD.

Receptor discordance and phenotype change in metastatic breast cancer.

Background: changes may occur in tumor phenotype and receptor status during the progression of breast cancer. Discordance between primary and metastases has implications for further treatment and prognosis.

Methods: 185 patients confirmed breast cancer metastasis were retrospectively analyzed during 1999-2019.

Diagnostic Dilemma in Discriminating Between Spinal Neurenteric Cysts and Simple Arachnoid Cysts Based on Embryogenesis and Surgical Correlation.

Background: Neurenteric cyst (NEC) is a rare intradural spinal tumor, but a correct preoperative diagnosis remains challenging. A misdiagnosis of arachnoid cyst (AC) often leads to conflicting surgical management and significantly higher recurrence.

Case Description: We report the case of a 26-year-old woman who presented with progressive spastic quadriparesis with myelopathy below the C4 level, which was caused by a ventral intradural extramedullary cystic tumor at the C3-4 level.

Proteasome Inhibitors Suppress ErbB Family Expression through HSP90-Mediated Lysosomal Degradation.

Although dual EGFR/HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor lapatinib has provided effective clinical benefits for HER2-positive breast cancer patients, acquired resistance to this drug remains a major concern. Thus, the development of alternative therapeutic strategies is urgently needed for patients who failed lapatinib treatment. Proteasome inhibitors have been reported to possess high anti-tumor activity to breast cancer cells.

Magnetic Resonance Elastography in the Assessment of Acute Effects of Kinesio Taping on Lumbar Paraspinal Muscles.

Background: Kinesio tape (KT) is an elastic therapeutic tape used for treating sports-related injuries and a number of other disorders. To date, the objective evidence to link pathophysiological effects and actual reactions triggered by KT is limited.

Purpose: To explore the effect of KT on the lumbar paraspinal muscles by magnetic resonance (MR) elastography.

Five-year outcome of conventional and drug-eluting transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Currently, no standard of care or therapies have been established for patients with advanced HCC. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of conventional transarterial chemoembolization using gelatin sponges or microspheres plus lipiodol-doxorubicin (cTACE) and TACE with doxorubicin-loaded drug eluting beads (DEB-TACE).

Methods: This retrospective study included 273 patients who received cTACE (n = 201) or DEB-TACE.

Nitroglycerine use in transcatheter arterial (chemo) embolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: Five-year retrospective study.

Background: Addition of nitroglycerine (NTG) to transcatheter arterial embolization/transarterial chemoembolization (TAE/TACE) has been shown to increase deposition of Lipiodol emulsion in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate if the addition of nitroglycerin (NTG) to TAE/TACE improved treatment response in HCC.

Methods: Patients with HCC either received (n=42) or did not receive (non-NTG) (n=111) NTG and an emulsion of Lipiodol with or without doxorubicin, followed by embolization with Gelfoam pledgets.

A CT-guided fat transversing coaxial biopsy technique for pancreatic lesion biopsy that avoids major organs and vessels.

Background/aims: The purpose of this study is to report our results using a computed tomography (CT)-guided fat transversing coaxial biopsy technique for pancreatic lesion biopsy that avoids major organs and vessels. We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients referred to our department for pancreatic mass biopsy.

Patients And Methods: The records of patients (from June 2008 to August 2014) in whom biopsy was performed under CT guidance with a coaxial needle using a fat transversing technique were reviewed.

Large-Scale Analysis of Antimicrobial Activities in Relation to Amphipathicity and Charge Reveals Novel Characterization of Antimicrobial Peptides.

It has been unclear to which antimicrobial activities (e.g., anti-gram-positive bacterial, anti-gram-negative bacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, and antiviral activities) of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) a given physiochemical property matters most.

Orbital complications of paranasal sinusitis in Taiwan, 1988 through 2015: Acute ophthalmological manifestations, diagnosis, and management.

Purpose: Paranasal sinusitis is widespread and can lead to orbital complications, blindness, and death. However, the correlation between ophthalmological findings and disease staging remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the staging, acute ophthalmological manifestations, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of orbital complications of paranasal sinusitis during a 27-year period.

Success and complications of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage are influenced by liver entry segment and level of catheter placement.

Purpose: To examine outcomes and complications of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) performed via the right or left lobe and different entry levels (lobar, segmental, subsegmental, sub-subsegmental).

Methods: The records of patients who underwent PTBD for obstructive jaundice from 2008 to 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with outcomes and complications based on entry side and entry level.

Differentiating Radiation-Induced Necrosis from Recurrent Brain Tumor Using MR Perfusion and Spectroscopy: A Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: This meta-analysis examined roles of several metabolites in differentiating recurrent tumor from necrosis in patients with brain tumors using MR perfusion and spectroscopy.

Methods: Medline, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were searched for studies using perfusion MRI and/or MR spectroscopy published up to March 4, 2015 which differentiated between recurrent tumor vs. necrosis in patients with primary brain tumors or brain metastasis.

Pneumopericardium Due to Mediastinum Metastatic Lymph Nodes.

Pneumopericardium is rare. We report a case of unresectable oropharyngeal cancer with mediastinum metastatic lymph nodes, which lead to left main bronchus fistula and pneumopericardium.