Alterations of the resting-state brain network connectivity and gray matter volume in patients with fibromyalgia in comparison to ankylosing spondylitis.

Fibromyalgia (FM) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are both rheumatic diseases characterized by significant musculoskeletal pain. In this study, we investigated the differences of the resting-state network (RSN) connectivity and gray matter volume (GMV) between FM, AS and healthy controls (HCs). We recruited 38 FM patients, 82 AS patients and 61 HCs in this study.

Identifying enthesitis in the sacroiliac joints in patients with axial spondyloarthritis by readers of varying experience: impact of the learning progress.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the accuracy of identifying enthesitis along with other inflammatory lesions and structural lesions on the MRI of the sacroiliac joints (SIJ) by readers of varying experience and how training sessions and workshops could help improve the accuracy.

Methods: A total of 224 patients with clinical diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis who underwent SIJ MRI examinations were retrospectively included in this study. Three readers with 5 years, 3 years and 1 year of experience in musculoskeletal imaging were invited to review the SIJ MRI images independently, while the imaging reports of a senior radiologist (> 10 years' experience) were used as reference.

The diagnostic value of morphological features of fat deposition of sacroiliac joint steatosis in axial spondyloarthritis.

Background: Findings of fatty lesions in the context of other imaging manifestations, especially bone marrow edema and erosions can effectively assist in the diagnosis of axSpA. Chemical shift-encoded MRI is a sequence which allows for the quantification of fat signal and has been applied in the imaging evaluation of the SIJ in axSpA. The objective of this study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of morphological features of fatty lesions visualized by CSE-MRI in the imaging evaluation of SIJ in axSpA.

Zero echo time MRI improved detection of erosions and sclerosis in the sacroiliac joint in comparison with LAVA-flex.

Background: T1-weighted spoiled 3D Gradient Recalled Echo pulse sequences, exemplified by Liver Acquisition with Volume Acceleration-flexible MRI (LAVA-Flex), are currently the preferred MR sequence for detecting erosions of the sacroiliac joint (SIJ). However, zero echo time MRI (ZTE) is recently reported to provide excellent visualization of the cortical bone.

Purpose: To directly compare the diagnostic accuracy of ZTE and LAVA-Flex in the detection of structural lesions of the SIJ, including erosions, sclerosis and joint space changes.

Arterial spin labeling and diffusion-weighted MR imaging: quantitative assessment of renal pathological injury in chronic kidney disease.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the performance of arterial spin labeling (ASL), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and clinical biomarkers in assessing renal pathological injury in CKD.

Materials And Methods: Forty-five biopsy-proven CKD patients and 17 healthy volunteers underwent DWI and ASL examinations. Renal cortical blood flow (RBF) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were acquired.

Quantification of Fat Metaplasia in the Sacroiliac Joints of Patients With Axial Spondyloarthritis by Chemical Shift-Encoded MRI: A Diagnostic Trial.

Objective: To study the diagnostic performance of chemical shift-encoded MRI (CSE-MRI) in the diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Methods: CSE-MRI images were acquired for consecutive patients complaining of back pain as well as healthy volunteers. Proton density fat fraction (PDFF) values were measured independently by two readers.

Distribution of Acute and Chronic Lesions in the Sacroiliac Joints of Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate whether there was a pattern of distribution of acute and chronic lesions in the sacroiliac joints (SIJ) of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Methods: A total of 96 patients diagnosed as axSpA were retrospectively included in this study. The Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada sacroiliac joint inflammation score (SIS) and structural score (SSS) were used to evaluate the acute and chronic lesions in the SIJs.

Active Inflammatory and Chronic Structural Damages of Sacroiliac Joint in Patients With Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis and Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis.

Objective: Evaluate the MRI evidence of active inflammatory and chronic structural damages in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA).

Methods: A retrospective review of 253 patients who underwent sacroiliac joint (SIJ) MRI between June 2014 and December 2019 was performed. MRI images including short tau inversion recovery scan and T1-weighted spin echo scans were assessed using the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) score and SPARCC MRI SIJ structural score by two independent readers.

Medical adhesive vs hookwire for computed tomography-guided preoperative localization and risk factors of major complications.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of medical adhesive and hookwire as CT-guided non-palpable pulmonary nodule (NPN) localization methods before video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) resection, and determine the risk factors for common complications during localization.

Methods: This was a single-center non-randomized retrospective study. 102 consecutive patients with 109 NPNs were divided into Group A (medical adhesive, 66 patients, 72 nodules) and Group B (hookwire, 36 patients, 37 nodules) before VATS.

Imbalance of Peripheral Lymphocyte Subsets in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Meta-Analysis.

Ankylosing spondylitis is a complicated consequence of genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Enthesitis is believed to be the hallmark of ankylosing spondylitis, and the chronic inflammatory state of this disease is perpetuated by the disturbances of both the innate immune system and the acquired immune system. To clarify the alteration of immune system in patients with AS, we conducted a meta-analysis concerning the proportions of major lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of AS patients.

Accuracies of Chemical Shift In/Opposed Phase and Chemical Shift Encoded Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Detect Intratumoral Fat in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) being a noninvasive modality may help in preoperative evaluation of intratumoral fat in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using chemical shift encoded (CSE) MRI and in-/opposed-phase (IOP) imaging sequences.

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of chemical shift encoded fat fraction at three different flip angles (FAs) using quantitative chemical shift encoded MRI (CSE-MRI) with in-/opposed phase (IOP) imaging to evaluate intratumoral fat in HCC.

Study Type: Retrospective.

Pain- and Fatigue-Related Functional and Structural Changes in Ankylosing Spondylitis: An fRMI Study.

Chronic pain and fatigue are two cardinal features of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and how to effectively treat these conditions continues to be a challenge. The underlying mechanisms and the relationship between AS-related pain and fatigue remain poorly understood. The present study was conducted, therefore, to explore the brain functional and structural changes associated with pain and fatigue in AS.

Postinfectious inflammatory response syndrome in HIV-uninfected and nontransplant men after cryptococcal meningitis.

The aim of our study was to describe the characteristics of postinfectious inflammatory response syndrome (PIIRS) in HIV-uninfected and nontransplant men after cryptococcal meningitis (CM).  A case-control study was designed to compare HIV-uninfected and nontransplant male CM patients with and without PIIRS. CM-PIIRS patients had increased rates of hearing loss, V-P shunt placement, amphotericin B treatment, higher cerebrospinal fluid pressures and counts in the first CM episode.