Evaluation of RANO Criteria for the Assessment of Tumor Progression for Lower-Grade Gliomas.

Purpose: The Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria for lower-grade gliomas (LGGs) define tumor progression as ≥25% change in the T2/FLAIR signal area based on an operator's discretion of the perpendicular diameter of the largest tumor cross-section. Potential sources of error include acquisition inconsistency of 2D slices, operator selection variabilities in both representative tumor cross-section and measurement line locations, and the inability to quantify infiltrative tumor margins and satellite lesions. Our goal was to assess the accuracy and reproducibility of RANO in LG.

Evidence of neuroinflammation in fibromyalgia syndrome: a [ 18 F]DPA-714 positron emission tomography study.

This observational study aimed to determine whether individuals with fibromyalgia (FM) exhibit higher levels of neuroinflammation than healthy controls (HCs), as measured with positron emission tomography using [ 18 F]DPA-714, a second-generation radioligand for the translocator protein (TSPO). Fifteen women with FM and 10 HCs underwent neuroimaging. Distribution volume (V T ) was calculated for in 28 regions of interest (ROIs) using Logan graphical analysis and compared between groups using multiple linear regressions.

Dynamic Amyloid PET: Relationships to F-Flortaucipir Tau PET Measures.

Measuring amyloid and predicting tau status using a single amyloid PET study would be valuable for assessing brain AD pathophysiology. We hypothesized that early-frame amyloid PET (efAP) correlates with the presence of tau pathology because the initial regional brain concentrations of radioactivity are determined primarily by blood flow, which is expected to be decreased in the setting of tau pathology. The study included 120 participants (63 amyloid-positive and 57 amyloid-negative) with dynamic F-florbetapir PET and static F-flortaucipir PET scans obtained within 6 mo of each other.

Biomarker Localization, Analysis, Visualization, Extraction, and Registration (BLAzER) Methodology for Research and Clinical Brain PET Applications.

Background: Tools for efficient evaluation of amyloid- and tau-PET images are needed in both clinical and research settings.

Objective: This study was designed to validate a semi-automated image analysis methodology, called Biomarker Localization, Analysis, Visualization, Extraction, and Registration (BLAzER). We tested BLAzER using two different segmentation platforms, FreeSurfer (FS) and Neuroreader (NR), for regional brain PET quantification in participants in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset.

Myocardial T1 mapping and determination of partition coefficients at 3 tesla: comparison between gadobenate dimeglumine and gadofosveset trisodium.

Objective: To compare an albumin-bound gadolinium chelate (gadofosveset trisodium) and an extracellular contrast agent (gadobenate dimeglumine), in terms of their effects on myocardial longitudinal (T1) relaxation time and partition coefficient.

Materials And Methods: Study subjects underwent two imaging sessions for T1 mapping at 3 tesla with a modified look-locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) pulse sequence to obtain one pre-contrast T1 map and two post-contrast T1 maps (mean 15 and 21 min, respectively). The partition coefficient was calculated as Δ /Δ , where is 1/T1.

Catheter-directed treatment for acute pulmonary embolism: Systematic review and single-arm meta-analyses.

Background: We sought to estimate the efficacy and safety outcomes of catheter-directed treatment (CDT) for patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods: We searched SCOPUS for studies reporting outcomes after CDT for acute PE. Studies were categorized in three groups for analyses due to heterogeneity in the classification of acute PE: 1) patients with PE causing right ventricular dysfunction and haemodynamic instability: unstable haemodynamic status, 2) patients with PE causing right ventricular dysfunction where study outcomes were not stratified by haemodynamic status: stable and unstable haemodynamic status, and 3) patients with PE causing right ventricular dysfunction who remained haemodynamically stable: stable haemodynamic status.

Part 2 - Coronary angiography with gadofosveset trisodium: a prospective intra-subject comparison for dose optimization for 100 % efficiency imaging.

Background: Three tesla (3T) coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) may be optimized using gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) such as gadofosveset trisodium. The goal of this study was to evaluate if there is a qualitative or quantitative improvement in the coronary arteries with variation in contrast dose.

Methods: Twenty-eight healthy volunteers were prospectively recruited for coronary MRA at 3T using a steady state injection technique for 3D radial whole-heart image acquisition with retrospective respiratory self-gating (ClinicalTrials.

Computational Trials: Unraveling Motility Phenotypes, Progression Patterns, and Treatment Options for Glioblastoma Multiforme.

Glioblastoma multiforme is a malignant brain tumor with poor prognosis and high morbidity due to its invasiveness. Hypoxia-driven motility and concentration-driven motility are two mechanisms of glioblastoma multiforme invasion in the brain. The use of anti-angiogenic drugs has uncovered new progression patterns of glioblastoma multiforme associated with significant differences in overall survival.

Part 1 - Coronary angiography with gadofosveset trisodium: a prospective feasibility study evaluating injection techniques for steady-state imaging.

Background: The purpose of this study was to define an optimal injection protocol for 5-10 min duration navigator-based coronary MR angiography using an intravascular gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA), which is better suited for steady-state coronary MR angiography than conventional GBCAs.

Methods: Using projections from pharmacokinetic models of the intravascular concentration of gadofosveset, a dual-injection protocol was formulated and tested on 14 healthy human subjects. Modified Look-Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) sequences were used for T1 mapping at 3 Tesla to evaluate the concentration of tracer in the aorta over the scanning interval.

Abnormal Myocardial Function Is Related to Myocardial Steatosis and Diffuse Myocardial Fibrosis in HIV-Infected Adults.

Background: Impaired cardiac function persists in the era of effective human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) therapy, although the etiology is unclear. We used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure intramyocardial lipid levels and fibrosis as possible contributors to HIV-associated myocardial dysfunction.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 95 HIV-infected and 30 matched-healthy adults, without known cardiovascular disease (CVD) was completed.

Regional Strain Analysis with Multidetector CT in a Swine Cardiomyopathy Model: Relationship to Cardiac MR Tagging and Myocardial Fibrosis.

Purpose: To investigate the use of cine multidetector computed tomography (CT) to detect changes in myocardial function in a swine cardiomyopathy model.

Materials And Methods: All animal protocols were in accordance with the Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing Research and Training and approved by the University of Missouri Animal Care and Use Committee. Strain analysis of cine multidetector CT images of the left ventricle was optimized and analyzed with feature-tracking software.

Modified look-locker inversion recovery T1 mapping indices: assessment of accuracy and reproducibility between magnetic resonance scanners.

Background: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) T1 mapping indices, such as T1 time and partition coefficient (λ), have shown potential to assess diffuse myocardial fibrosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate how scanner and field strength variation affect the accuracy and precision/reproducibility of T1 mapping indices.

Methods: CMR studies were performed on two 1.

3.0-T whole-heart coronary magnetic resonance angiography: comparison of gadobenate dimeglumine and gadofosveset trisodium.

Gadolinium enhanced coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) at 3 T appears to be superior to non-contrast methods. Gadofosveset is an intravascular contrast agent that may be well suited to this application. The purpose of this study was to perform an intra-individual comparison of gadofosveset and gadobenate for coronary MRA at 3 T.