Modulating endothelial adhesion and migration impacts stem cell therapies efficacy.

Background: Limited knowledge of stem cell therapies` mechanisms of action hampers their sustainable implementation into the clinic. Specifically, the interactions of transplanted stem cells with the host vasculature and its implications for their therapeutic efficacy are not elucidated. We tested whether adhesion receptors and chemokine receptors on stem cells can be functionally modulated, and consequently if such modulation may substantially affect therapeutically relevant stem cell interactions with the host endothelium.

Cell motility and migration as determinants of stem cell efficacy.

Background: Stem cells` (SC) functional heterogeneity and its poorly understood aetiology impedes clinical development of cell-based therapies in regenerative medicine and oncology. Recent studies suggest a strong correlation between the SC migration potential and their therapeutic efficacy in humans. Designating SC migration as a denominator of functional SC heterogeneity, we sought to identify highly migrating subpopulations within different SC classes and evaluate their therapeutic properties in comparison to the parental non-selected cells.

Potential of gadolinium as contrast material in second generation dual energy computed tomography - An ex vivo phantom study.

Purpose: To evaluate the potential of gadolinium (Gd) as contrast material (CM) in second generation dual energy computed tomography (DECT).

Material And Methods: In a phantom model, DECT post-processing was used to increase Gd attenuation using advanced monoenergetic extrapolation (MEI), to create virtual non-contrast images (Gd-VNC) and Gd maps and to quantify Gd content. Dilutions of Gd and iodinated CM (7-296 HU) were filled in syringes, placed in an attenuation phantom and scanned with standard DECT protocols (80 &100/Sn140 kV).

Viability and MR detectability of iron labeled mesenchymal stem cells used for endoscopic injection into the porcine urethral sphincter.

Direct stem cell therapies for functionally impaired tissue require a sufficient number of cells in the target region and a method for verifying the fate of the cells in the subsequent time course. In vivo MRI of iron labeled mesenchymal stem cells has been suggested to comply with these requirements. The study was conducted to evaluate proliferation, migration, differentiation and adhesion effects as well as the obtained iron load of an iron labeling strategy for mesenchymal stem cells.

Dual-Source Dual-Energy CT Angiography of the Supra-Aortic Arteries with Tin Filter: Impact of Tube Voltage Selection.

Rationale And Objectives: Automatic bone and plaque subtraction (BPS) in computed tomographic angiographic (CTA) examinations using dual-energy CT (DECT) remains challenging because of beam-hardening artifacts in the shoulder region and close proximity of the internal carotid artery to the base of the skull. The selection of the tube voltage combination in dual-source CT influences the spectral separation and the susceptibility for artifacts. The purpose of this study was to assess which tube voltage combination leads to an optimal image quality of head and neck DECT angiograms after bone subtraction.

Dual-energy CT: virtual calcium subtraction for assessment of bone marrow involvement of the spine in multiple myeloma.

OBJECTIVE. Dual-energy CT (DECT) enables subtraction of calcium, facilitating the visualization of bone marrow (BM) in the axial skeleton. The purpose of this study was to assess whether DECT BM images have the potential to improve the detection of multifocal and diffuse BM infiltration in multiple myeloma (MM) in comparison with regular CT with MRI as the reference standard.

Angioplasty of femoral-popliteal arteries with drug-coated balloons: 5-year follow-up of the THUNDER trial.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the 5-year follow-up (FU) data of the THUNDER (Local Taxan With Short Time Contact for Reduction of Restenosis in Distal Arteries).

Background: The THUNDER trial was the first study to investigate the treatment of femoropopliteal arteries with a paclitaxel-coated balloon (PCB).

Methods: In 154 patients, femoropopliteal arteries were treated with PCB, with angioplasty with paclitaxel in contrast medium, or no paclitaxel (control).

Tendinopathy of the achilles tendon: volume assessed by automated contour detection in submillimeter isotropic 3-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging data sets recorded at a field strength of 3 T.

Objective: This prospective study assesses volume changes of the Achilles tendon in case of chronic tendinopathy (TEN), using an automated contour detection algorithm in submillimeter isotropic 3-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging data sets, recorded at 3 T.

Methods: Forty-one subjects (median age, 40 years; range, 19-68 years) were included in this prospective study and underwent nonenhanced magnetic resonance imaging of both Achilles tendons at 3 T, deploying a T2-weighted 3-dimensional Fast-Spin-Echo sequence with submillimeter resolution of 0.8 mm.

Noise-optimized virtual monoenergetic images and iodine maps for the detection of venous thrombosis in second-generation dual-energy CT (DECT): an ex vivo phantom study.

Aims And Objectives: Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) can be difficult to detect using CT due to poor and heterogeneous contrast. Dual-energy CT (DECT) allows iodine contrast optimization using noise-optimized monoenergetic extrapolations (MEIs) and iodine maps (IMs). Our aim was to assess whether MEI and IM could improve the delineation of thrombotic material within iodine-enhanced blood compared to single-energy CT (SECT).

Primary localization and tumor thickness as prognostic factors of survival in patients with mucosal melanoma.

Background: Data on survival with mucosal melanoma and on prognostic factors of are scarce. It is still unclear if the disease course allows for mucosal melanoma to be treated as primary cutaneous melanoma or if differences in overall survival patterns require adapted therapeutic approaches. Furthermore, this investigation is the first to present 10-year survival rates for mucosal melanomas of different anatomical localizations.

Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy with 7-gauge, 8-gauge, 9-gauge, 10-gauge, and 11-gauge needles: how many specimens are necessary?

Background: Published national and international guidelines and consensus meetings on the use of vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) give different recommendations regarding the required numbers of tissue specimens depending on needle size and imaging method.

Purpose: To evaluate the weights of specimens obtained with different VAB needles to facilitate the translation of the required number of specimens between different breast biopsy systems and needle sizes, respectively.

Material And Methods: Five different VAB systems and seven different needle sizes were used: Mammotome® (11-gauge (G), 8-G), Vacora® (10-G), ATEC Sapphire™ (9-G), 8-G Mammotome® Revolve™, and EnCor Enspire® (10-G, 7-G).

Added value of integrated circuit detector in head CT: objective and subjective image quality in comparison to conventional detector design.

Rationale And Objectives: A new computed tomography (CT) detector with integrated electric components and shorter conducting pathways has recently been introduced to decrease system inherent electronic noise. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential benefit of such integrated circuit detector (ICD) in head CT by comparing objective and subjective image quality in low-dose examinations with a conventional detector design.

Materials And Methods: Using a conventional detector, reduced-dose noncontrast head CT (255 mAs; effective dose, 1.

Diffusion-weighted imaging during MR-guided radiofrequency ablation of hepatic malignancies: analysis of immediate pre- and post-ablative diffusion characteristics.

Background: Previous studies have shown a benefit of magnetic resonance (MR)-diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for follow-up after liver radiofrequency (RF) ablation. However, no data are available concerning acute changes of DWI characteristics immediately after RF ablation.

Purpose: To analyze and compare the MR-diffusion characteristics of pre-interventional hepatic malignancies and the ablation zone during successful MR-guided RF ablation.

Transarterial chemoembolization using drug eluting beads and subsequent percutaneous MR-guided radiofrequency ablation in the therapy of intermediate sized hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: To evaluate safety, efficacy, survival and recurrence-free survival of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with drug eluting (DC) beads combined with MR-guided radiofrequency (RF) ablation for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) larger than 3 cm.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board. 20 patients (69.

Single-source dual-energy computed tomography: use of monoenergetic extrapolation for a reduction of metal artifacts.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to retrospectively determine the potential of virtual monoenergetic (ME) reconstructions for a reduction of metal artifacts using a new-generation single-source computed tomographic (CT) scanner.

Materials And Methods: The ethics committee of our institution approved this retrospective study with a waiver of the need for informed consent. A total of 50 consecutive patients (29 men and 21 women; mean [SD] age, 51.

Measurement of apparent diffusion coefficient with simultaneous MR/positron emission tomography in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis: comparison with 18F-FDG-PET.

Purpose: To characterize peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) of different histologically proven primary tumors based on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and (18) F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET).

Materials And Methods: Forty-one patients underwent simultaneous MR/PET after clinically indicated (18) F-FDG-PET/CT. For all patients, histology of the primary tumor was obtained.

Simultaneous whole-body PET/MR imaging in comparison to PET/CT in pediatric oncology: initial results.

Purpose: To compare positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and PET/computed tomography (CT) for lesion detection and interpretation, quantification of fluorine 18 ((18)F) fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake, and accuracy of MR-based PET attenuation correction in pediatric patients with solid tumors. Materials and Methods This prospective study had local ethics committee and German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices approval. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients and legal guardians.

A comparison of internally water-perfused and cryogenically cooled monopolar and bipolar radiofrequency applicators in ex vivo liver samples.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate the ex vivo ablation zones created in hepatic tissue using monopolar and bipolar gas- and water-cooled radiofrequency (RF) applicators.

Materials And Methods: RF ablations were performed on ex vivo bovine liver tissue using closed circuit water-cooled and closed circuit cryogenically cooled (via CO₂ enthalpy) 15-ga linear-needle applicators. Both monopolar and bipolar electrode applicators were used, with the electric current administered ranging in 50-mA increments from 1100 to 1300 mA for the monopolar case, and from 500 to 700 mA for the bipolar case.

Liver lesion conspicuity during real-time MR-guided radiofrequency applicator placement using spoiled gradient echo and balanced steady-state free precession imaging.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the conspicuity of liver lesions in a fluoroscopic spoiled gradient echo (GRE) and a balanced steady-state free precession (SSFP) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence.

Materials And Methods: In all, 103 patients with hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) (41) or liver metastases (67) were treated using MR-guided radiofrequency ablation in a wide-bore 1.5 T scanner.

Midtreatment evaluation of lymphoma response to chemotherapy by volume perfusion computed tomography.

Objective: The aim of this study was to search for chemotherapy-induced perfusion changes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and Hodgkin lymphoma at midtreatment versus baseline volume perfusion computed tomography (VPCT).

Methods: Forty-five consecutive patients with untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and Hodgkin lymphoma received VPCT examinations of the tumor bulk at baseline and during chemotherapy (midtreatment). Blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), and transit constant (K-trans) were determined.

High-grade, non-flow-limiting dissections do not negatively impact long-term outcome after paclitaxel-coated balloon angioplasty: an additional analysis from the THUNDER study.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of using paclitaxel-coated balloons (PCB) on outcome after post-angioplasty dissection in femoropopliteal arteries.

Methods: The angiograms obtained in the THUNDER study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00156624) were analyzed to compare degrees of dissection and angiographic parameters between the control (uncoated balloons, n=43) and treatment (PCBs, n=43) groups before and after the intervention and at 6-month follow-up.

Is there any additional benefit of contrast-enhanced CT as part of routine PET/CT protocols for the differentiation of suspicious incidental gastrointestinal 2-deoxy-(18)F-FDG uptake?

Objective: Suspicious incidental gastrointestinal FDG uptake during positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) examinations can be caused by different diseases, including malignancies. However, differentiation with PET alone is difficult. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of PET alone, contrast-enhanced CT (ceCT), and low-dose CT (ldCT) in routine PET/CT protocols for differentiation of incidental gastrointestinal lesions.

Short-term exercise-induced changes in hydration state of healthy Achilles tendons can be visualized by effects of off-resonant radiofrequency saturation in a three-dimensional ultrashort echo time MRI sequence applied at 3 Tesla.

Purpose: Off-resonant RF saturation influences signal intensity dependent on free and bound water fractions as well as the macromolecular content. The extent of interaction between these compartments can be evaluated by using the off-resonance saturation ratio (OSR). Combined with UTE sequences quantification of OSR even in tendinous tissues with extremely fast signal decay is possible.

Image-guided radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): is MR guidance more effective than CT guidance?

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to retrospectively compare technique effectiveness of computed tomography (CT)-guided versus magnetic resonance (MR)-guided radiofrequency (RF) ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: In 35 consecutive patients 53 CT-guided (n=29) or MR-guided (n=24) ablation procedures were performed in the treatment of 56 (CT: 29; MR: 27) HCC. The entire ablation procedure was performed at a multislice CT-scanner or an interventional 0.

Twelve-month results of a randomized trial comparing mono with dual antiplatelet therapy in endovascularly treated patients with peripheral artery disease.

Purpose: To present the 12-month results of a trial investigating the effects of dual antiplatelet therapy on target lesion revascularization (TLR) after balloon angioplasty ± stenting in the femoropopliteal segment.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, single-center, double-blinded and placebo-controlled clinical trial randomly assigned 40 patients to receive pre- and postinterventional therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel. Another 40 patients received the same doses of aspirin and placebo instead of clopidogrel.