Opportunistic CT for Prediction of Adverse Postoperative Events in Patients with Spinal Metastases.

The purpose of this study was to assess the value of body composition measures obtained from opportunistic abdominal computed tomography (CT) in order to predict hospital length of stay (LOS), 30-day postoperative complications, and reoperations in patients undergoing surgery for spinal metastases. 196 patients underwent CT of the abdomen within three months of surgery for spinal metastases. Automated body composition segmentation and quantifications of the cross-sectional areas (CSA) of abdominal visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue and abdominal skeletal muscle was performed.

Bone marrow adipocytes fuel emergency hematopoiesis after myocardial infarction.

After myocardial infarction (MI), emergency hematopoiesis produces inflammatory myeloid cells that accelerate atherosclerosis and promote heart failure. Since the balance between glycolysis and mitochondrial metabolism regulates hematopoietic stem cell homeostasis, metabolic cues may influence emergency myelopoiesis. Here, we show in humans and female mice that hematopoietic progenitor cells increase fatty acid metabolism after MI.

Cross-sectional areas of rotator cuff muscles in males without tears on shoulder MRI.

Objective: To establish reference values of rotator cuff (RC) cross sectional area (CSA) in males.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed shoulder MRIs from 500 patients aged 13-78 years, grouped as follows (N=100 in each): <20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50, >50 years. All examinations were reviewed to exclude prior surgery, tears, or significant RC pathology.

Original research: utilization of a convolutional neural network for automated detection of lytic spinal lesions on body CTs.

Objective: To develop, train, and test a convolutional neural network (CNN) for detection of spinal lytic lesions in chest, abdomen, and pelvis CT scans.

Materials And Methods: Cases of malignant spinal lytic lesions in CT scans were identified. Images were manually segmented for the following classes: (i) lesion, (ii) normal bone, (iii) background.

Role of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activation and other metabolic variables in relation to arterial inflammation in HIV.

Background: Arterial inflammation remains increased among persons with HIV (PWH) compared with persons without HIV (PWOH) even when controlling for traditional risk factors. We sought to understand whether increased renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activation may be related to arterial inflammation in PWH and when compared with PWOH.

Design: Twenty PWH and 9 PWOH followed a controlled, standardized low and liberal sodium diet to simulate a RAAS-activated and RAAS-suppressed state, respectively.

Body Composition Predictors of Adverse Postoperative Events in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Long Bone Metastases.

Introduction: Body composition assessed using opportunistic CT has been recently identified as a predictor of outcome in patients with cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the cross-sectional area (CSA) and the attenuation of abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and paraspinous and abdominal muscles are the predictors of length of hospital stay, 30-day postoperative complications, and revision surgery in patients treated for long bone metastases.

Methods: A retrospective database of patients who underwent surgery for long bone metastases from 1999 to 2017 was used to identify 212 patients who underwent preoperative abdominal CT.

Metatarsal Bone Marrow Edema on Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Its Correlation to Bone Stress Injuries in Male Collegiate Basketball Players.

Background: The presence of bone marrow edema (BME) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used to evaluate for bone stress injuries in athletes.

Purpose: To examine the prevalence of MRI findings, including BME, in a single male collegiate basketball team before and after a single season and to assess its association with clinically symptomatic metatarsal bone stress injuries.

Study Design: Cohort Study; Level of evidence, 3.

Body composition predictors of mortality in patients undergoing surgery for long bone metastases.

Background And Objectives: Body composition measurements using computed tomography (CT) may serve as imaging biomarkers of survival in patients with and without cancer. This study assesses whether body composition measurements obtained on abdominal CTs are independently associated with 90-day and 1-year mortality in patients with long-bone metastases undergoing surgery.

Methods: This single institutional retrospective study included 212 patients who had undergone surgery for long-bone metastases and had a CT of the abdomen within 90 days before surgery.

Body composition predictors of mortality on computed tomography in patients with spinal metastases undergoing surgical treatment.

Background Context: Although survival of patients with spinal metastases has improved over the last decades due to advances in multi-modal therapy, there are currently no reliable predictors of mortality. Body composition measurements obtained using computed tomography (CT) have been recently proposed as biomarkers for survival in patients with and without cancer. Patients with cancer routinely undergo CT for staging or surveillance of therapy.

Automated detection and segmentation of sclerotic spinal lesions on body CTs using a deep convolutional neural network.

Purpose: To develop a deep convolutional neural network capable of detecting spinal sclerotic metastases on body CTs.

Materials And Methods: Our study was IRB-approved and HIPAA-compliant. Cases of confirmed sclerotic bone metastases in chest, abdomen, and pelvis CTs were identified.

Body composition predictors of outcome in patients with COVID-19.

Background/objective: Obesity is a strong risk factor for adverse outcomes in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, however, the distribution of fat and the amount of muscle mass are more accurate risk factors than BMI. The objective of this study was to assess body composition measures obtained on opportunistic abdominal CTs as predictors of outcome in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. We hypothesized that elevated visceral and intermuscular adipose tissue would be associated with adverse outcome.

Bone marrow adipose tissue composition following high-caloric feeding and fasting.

Background: Bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) plays a role in systemic energy metabolism and responds to nutritional changes. Chronic starvation as well as visceral adiposity are associated with BMAT accumulation. Two types of BMAT have been described which differ in anatomic location (proximal-regulated-rBMAT vs distal-constitutive-cBMAT) and composition (higher unsaturated lipids of cBMAT compared to rBMAT).

Changes in marrow adipose tissue in relation to changes in bone parameters following estradiol replacement in adolescent and young adult females with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea.

Context: Low energy availability causes disruption of hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion leading to functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) and hypoestrogenism, which in turn contributes to decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and increased bone marrow adipose tissue (MAT). Transdermal estradiol administration in physiologic doses increases BMD in adolescents and adults with FHA. However, the impact of estrogen replacement on MAT in relation to changes in BMD has not been studied in adolescents and young adults.

Effect of recombinant human growth hormone on liver fat content in young adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highly prevalent in young adults with obesity. Obesity is associated with relative growth hormone (GH) deficiency, and data from animal studies and from humans with pituitary GH deficiency suggest a role for GH deficiency in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. The effects of GH on NAFLD in those with obesity are unknown, however, prompting this pilot study to assess effects of GH administration on measures of NAFLD in young adults.

Quantitative Imaging of Body Composition.

Body composition refers to the amount and distribution of lean tissue, adipose tissue, and bone in the human body. Lean tissue primarily consists of skeletal muscle; adipose tissue comprises mostly abdominal visceral adipose tissue and abdominal and nonabdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue. Hepatocellular and myocellular lipids are also fat pools with important metabolic implications.

Deep learning method for segmentation of rotator cuff muscles on MR images.

Objective: To develop and validate a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) method capable of (1) selecting a specific shoulder sagittal MR image (Y-view) and (2) automatically segmenting rotator cuff (RC) muscles on a Y-view. We hypothesized a CNN approach can accurately perform both tasks compared with manual reference standards.

Material And Methods: We created 2 models: model A for Y-view selection and model B for muscle segmentation.

Clinical Predictors of Liver Fibrosis Presence and Progression in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects more than one-third of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Nonetheless, its natural history is poorly understood, including which patients are most likely to have a progressive disease course.

Methods: We leveraged a randomized trial of the growth hormone-releasing hormone analogue tesamorelin to treat NAFLD in HIV.

MRI texture analysis in acromegaly and its role in predicting response to somatostatin receptor ligands.

Purpose: Given the paucity of reliable predictors of tumor recurrence, progression, or response to somatostatin receptor ligand (SRL) therapy in acromegaly, we attempted to determine whether preoperative MR image texture was predictive of these clinical outcomes. We also determined whether image texture could differentiate somatotroph adenomas from non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs).

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of patients with acromegaly due to a macroadenoma who underwent transsphenoidal surgery at our institution between 2007 and 2015.

Effects of tesamorelin on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in HIV: a randomised, double-blind, multicentre trial.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a substantial cause of comorbidity in people with HIV and there are no proven pharmacological treatments for the disease in this population. We assessed the effects of tesamorelin on liver fat and histology in people with HIV and NAFLD.

Methods: This randomised, double-blind, multicentre study with identical placebo as a comparator was done in a hospital and a medical research centre in the USA.

Deep learning for automated segmentation of pelvic muscles, fat, and bone from CT studies for body composition assessment.

Objective: To develop a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) to automatically segment an axial CT image of the pelvis for body composition measures. We hypothesized that a deep CNN approach would achieve high accuracy when compared to manual segmentations as the reference standard.

Materials And Methods: We manually segmented 200 axial CT images at the supra-acetabular level in 200 subjects, labeling background, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), muscle, inter-muscular adipose tissue (IMAT), bone, and miscellaneous intra-pelvic content.