Bile acid metabolites predict multiple sclerosis progression and supplementation is safe in progressive disease.

Background: Bile acid metabolism is altered in multiple sclerosis (MS) and tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) supplementation ameliorated disease in mouse models of MS.

Methods: Global metabolomics was performed in an observational cohort of people with MS, followed by pathway analysis to examine relationships between baseline metabolite levels and subsequent brain and retinal atrophy. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was completed in people with progressive MS (PMS), randomized to receive either TUDCA (2 g/day) or placebo for 16 weeks.

Central nervous system involvement in Erdheim-Chester disease: a magnetic resonance imaging study.

Purpose: To characterize brain MR imaging findings in a cohort of 58 patients with ECD and to evaluate relationship between these findings and the BRAF pathogenic variant.

Methods: ECD patients of any gender and ethnicity, aged 2-80 years, with biopsy-confirmed ECD were eligible to enroll in this study. Two radiologists experienced in evaluating ECD CNS disease activity reviewed MRI studies.

This is a successful removal of more than 450 pieces of metal objects from a patient's stomach: a case report.

Background: Ingestion of foreign bodies may be seen unconsciously or intentionally in patients with mental health problems. Most cases pass through the esophagus slowly; however, in some cases, the tumor may be located in narrower areas of the digestive tract that require endoscopic or surgical intervention. This study describes a rare case of successful removal of more than 450 pieces of metal objects from the stomach of a 36-year-old man via ingestion of foreign bodies at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz.

Cancer treatment comes to age: from one-size-fits-all to next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and one of the greatest challenges in extending life expectancy. The paradigm of one-size-fits-all medicine has already given way to the stratification of patients by disease subtypes, clinical characteristics, and biomarkers (stratified medicine). The introduction of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in clinical oncology has made it possible to tailor cancer patient therapy to their molecular profiles.

Structural and molecular imaging-based characterization of soft tissue and vascular calcification in hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis.

Hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis (HFTC) is a rare disorder caused by deficient FGF23 signaling and resultant ectopic calcification. Here, we systematically characterized and quantified macro- and micro-calcification in a HFTC cohort using CT and 18F-sodium fluoride PET/CT (18F-NaF PET/CT). Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was performed on 4 phenotypically different calcifications from a patient with HFTC, showing the dominant component to be hydroxyapatite.

Multivariate signal-to-noise ratio as a metric for characterizing spectral computed tomography.

With the introduction of spectral CT techniques into the clinic, the imaging capacities of CT were expanded to multiple energy levels. Due to a variety of factors, the acquired signal in spectral CT datasets is shared between these images. Conventional image quality metrics assume independence between images which is not preserved within spectral CT datasets, limiting their utility for characterizing energy selective images.

Development of a separability index for task specific characterization of spectral computed tomography.

Purpose: In this work, we define a signal detection based metrology to characterize the separability of two different multi-dimensional signals in spectral CT acquisitions.

Method: Signal response was modelled as a random process with a deterministic signal and stochastic noise component. A linear Hotelling observer was used to estimate a scalar test statistic distribution that predicts the likelihood of an intensity value belonging to a signal.

Evaluation of Hematoma Formation after Thyroidectomy Surgery and Its Related Factors.

Background: In the last decade, the number of patients undergoing thyroidectomy has increased. Compared to other methods, thyroidectomy is a relatively safe method for treating various types of thyroid diseases. However, the blood flow rate in the thyroid gland is high, and hematoma after thyroidectomy is one of its complications.

Evaluation of antibody titers in COVID-19 patients with cerebral or pulmonary symptoms and mild symptoms.

Background And Objectives: This study aimed to compare the production of antibodies in three different groups of patients with COVID-19. These groups included patients with pulmonary and cerebral symptoms, as well as those with mild symptoms.

Materials And Methods: Blood samples were collected from 80 patients admitted to COVID-19-specific hospitals.

Spatial Atlas for Mapping Vascular Microcalcification Using 18F-NaF PET/CT: Application in Hyperphosphatemic Familial Tumoral Calcinosis.

Background: Vascular calcification causes significant morbidity and occurs frequently in diseases of calcium/phosphate imbalance. Radiolabeled sodium fluoride positron emission tomography/computed tomography has emerged as a sensitive and specific method for detecting and quantifying active microcalcifications. We developed a novel technique to quantify and map total vasculature microcalcification to a common space, allowing simultaneous assessment of global disease burden and precise tracking of site-specific microcalcifications across time and individuals.

Technology Characterization Through Diverse Evaluation Methodologies: Application to Thoracic Imaging in Photon-Counting Computed Tomography.

Objective: Different methods can be used to condition imaging systems for clinical use. The purpose of this study was to assess how these methods complement one another in evaluating a system for clinical integration of an emerging technology, photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT), for thoracic imaging.

Methods: Four methods were used to assess a clinical PCCT system (NAEOTOM Alpha; Siemens Healthineers, Forchheim, Germany) across 3 reconstruction kernels (Br40f, Br48f, and Br56f).

Retinal imaging and Alzheimer's disease: a future powered by Artificial Intelligence.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition that primarily affects brain tissue. Because the retina and brain share the same embryonic origin, visual deficits have been reported in AD patients. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has recently received a lot of attention due to its immense power to process and detect image hallmarks and make clinical decisions (like diagnosis) based on images.

Bile acid metabolites predict multiple sclerosis progression and supplementation is safe in progressive disease.

Background: Bile acid metabolism is altered in multiple sclerosis (MS) and tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) supplementation ameliorated disease in mouse models of MS.

Methods: Global metabolomics was performed in an observational cohort of people with MS followed by pathway analysis to examine relationships between baseline metabolite levels and subsequent brain and retinal atrophy. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, was completed in people with progressive MS (PMS), randomized to receive either TUDCA (2g daily) or placebo for 16 weeks.

An overview of analytical methods employed for quality assessment of (saffron).

This paper reviews qualitative and quantitative analytical methodologies used for the appraisal of saffron quality, as the most expensive spice. Due to the chemical diversity of biologically active compounds of the genus, analytical methods with different features are required for their complete analysis. However, screening of the main components, such as carotenoids and flavonoids, appears to be sufficient for quality control, a more precise examination needs evaluation of minor compounds, including anthocyanins and fatty acids.

Skeletal involvement in Erdheim-Chester disease: Multimodality imaging features and association with the BRAF mutation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize the distribution of skeletal involvement in Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) by using radiography, computed tomography (CT), F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), and bone scans, as well as looking for associations with the BRAF mutation.

Material And Methods: Prospective study of 50 consecutive patients with biopsy-confirmed ECD who had radiographs, CT, F-FDG PET/CT, and Tc-99m MDP bone scans. At least two experienced radiologists with expertise in the relevant imaging studies analyzed the images.

Evaluating the performance of Generative Pre-trained Transformer-4 (GPT-4) in standardizing radiology reports.

Objective: Radiology reporting is an essential component of clinical diagnosis and decision-making. With the advent of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models like GPT-4 (Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4), there is growing interest in evaluating their potential for optimizing or generating radiology reports. This study aimed to compare the quality and content of radiologist-generated and GPT-4 AI-generated radiology reports.

Data-driven multi-objective optimization for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

This paper presents a data-driven methodology combining simulation and multi-objective optimization to efficiently implement transportation policy commitments, using as a case study the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. The methodology leverages a baseline simulation model developed by our industry partner, Arup Group Limited, to estimate EV demand and quantities from 2020 to 2050. Four future energy scenarios are considered, and a multi-objective optimization approach is employed to determine the optimal types, locations, and quantities of charging points, along with the corresponding total capital and operational expenditures and charging point operating hours.

Virtual monoenergetic imaging in photon-counting CT of the head and neck.

Purpose: Advantages of virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) have been reported for dual energy CT of the head and neck, and more recently VMIs derived from photon-counting (PCCT) angiography of the head and neck. We report image quality metrics of VMI in a PCCT angiography dataset, expanding the anatomical regions evaluated and extending observer-based qualitative methods further than previously reported.

Methods: In a prospective study, asymptomatic subjects underwent contrast enhanced PCCT of the head and neck using an investigational scanner.

Luminescent Heterobimetallic Pt-Au Complexes Bearing -Heterocyclic Carbenes (NHCs) as Potent Anticancer Agents.

This study aims to probe into new series of heterobimetallic Pt-Au complexes with a general formula of [Pt(-MeCH)(dfppy)(μ-dppm)Au(NHC)]OTf, NHC = IPr, ; IMes, ; dfppy = 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridinate; dppm = 1,1-bis(diphenylphosphino)methane, which are the resultant of the reaction between [Pt(-MeCH)(dfppy)(κ-dppm)], , with [AuCl(NHC)], NHC = IPr, ; IMes, , in the presence of [Ag(OTf)]. In the heterobimetallic complexes, the dppm ligand is settled between both metals as an unsymmetrical bridging ligand. Several techniques are employed to characterize the resulting compounds.

Optimization models for patient and technician scheduling in hemodialysis centers.

Patient and technician scheduling problem in hemodialysis centers presents a unique setting in healthcare operations as (1) unlike other healthcare problems, dialysis appointments have a steady state and the treatment times are determined in advance of the appointments, and (2) once the appointments are set, technicians will have to be assigned to two types of jobs per appointment: putting on and taking off patients (connecting to and disconnecting from dialysis machines). In this study, we design a mixed-integer programming model to minimize technicians' operating costs (regular and overtime costs) at large-scale hemodialysis centers. As this formulation proves to be computationally challenging to solve, we propose a novel reformulation of the problem as a discrete-time assignment model and prove that the two formulations are equivalent under a specific condition.

Prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension and its associated factors in 50-74 years old Iranian adults: a population-based study.

Background: By the lengthening of life span, the incidence of chronic diseases such as hypertension and uncontrolled hypertension has increased. This study aims to determine the prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension and its related factors in the age group of 50-74 years in Shahroud, northeast Iran.

Methods: The data of the third phase of the Shahroud Eye Cohort Study were used in this study.