Assessment of aortic dissection remodeling with patient-specific fluid-structure interaction models.

Aortic dissection leads to late complications due to chronic degeneration and dilatation of the false lumen. However, the interaction between hemodynamics and microstructural remodeling driving long-term changes is not fully understood. This study examines the progression of a patient's aortic dissection, tracked from pre-dissection to the chronic phase using computed tomography angiography.

Early three-dimensional growth in uncomplicated type B aortic dissection is associated with long-term outcomes.

Objective: Late adverse events (LAEs) are common among initially uncomplicated type B aortic dissection (uTBAD); however, identifying those patients at highest risk of LAEs remains a significant challenge. Early false lumen (FL) growth has been suggested to increase risk, but confident determination of growth is often hampered by error in two-dimensional clinical measurements. Semi-automated three-dimensional (3D) mapping of aortic growth, such as by vascular deformation mapping (VDM), can potentially overcome this limitation using computed tomography angiograms (CTA).

Tumor board simulation improves interdisciplinary decision-making in medical students.

Introduction: Training of interdisciplinary clinical reasoning and decision-making skills, essential in daily clinical practice in oncological specialties, are still underrepresented in medical education. Therefore, at LMU University Hospital Munich, we implemented a didactically modified tumor board simulation with experts from five different disciplines (medical oncology, pathology, radiation oncology, radiology, and surgery) presenting patient cases into a one-week course on the basic principles of oncology. In this survey, we examined the self-assessed impact of our course on the interdisciplinary decision-making skills of medical students.

Long-term residence and efficacy of adenovirus-mimetic nanoparticles in renal target tissue.

A major shortcoming in the treatment of mesangial cell-associated diseases such as IgA nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy, or lupus nephritis, which frequently progress to end-stage renal disease, is poor drug availability in the glomerular mesangium. Drug delivery active targeting of nanoparticles, using ligands attached to the particle surface for target cell recognition to increase the biodistribution to the mesangium, is a promising strategy to overcome this hurdle. However, although several glomerular tissue targeting approaches have been described, so far no study has demonstrated the particles' ability to deliver sufficient drug amounts combined with an appropriate nanoparticle target retention time to trigger relevant biological effects in the mesangium.

Demographics, Utilization, Workflow, and Outcomes Based on Observational Data From the RSNA-ACR 3D Printing Registry.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to report data from the first 3 years of operation of the RSNA-ACR 3D Printing Registry.

Methods: Data from June 2020 to June 2023 were extracted, including demographics, indications, workflow, and user assessments. Clinical indications were stratified by 12 organ systems.

Re-irradiation treatment regimens for patients with recurrent glioma - Evaluation of the optimal dose and best concurrent therapy.

Purpose: Re-irradiation (reRT) is an effective treatment modality for patients with recurrent glioma. Data on dose escalation, the use of simulated integrated boost and concomitant therapy to reRT are still scarce. In this monocentric cohort of n = 223 patients we investigated the influence of reRT dose escalation as well as the concomitant use of bevacizumab (BEV) with regard to post-recurrence survival (PRS) and risk of radionecrosis (RN).

FET PET-based target volume delineation for the radiotherapy of glioblastoma: A pictorial guide to help overcome methodological pitfalls.

PET is increasingly used for target volume definition in the radiotherapy of glioblastoma, as endorsed by the 2023 ESTRO-EANO guidelines. In view of its growing adoption into clinical practice and upcoming PET-based multi-center trials, this paper aims to assist in overcoming common pitfalls of FET PET-based target delineation in glioblastoma.

3D Printing for the Development of Palatal Defect Prosthetics.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) printing has emerged as a promising new technology for the development of surgical prosthetics. Research in orthopedic surgery has demonstrated that using 3D printed customized prosthetics results in more precise implant placements and better patient outcomes. However, there has been little research on implementing customized 3D printed prosthetics in otolaryngology.

Feasibility of virtual non-iodine coronary calcium scoring on dual source photon-counting coronary CT angiography: a dynamic phantom study.

Background: The aim of our current systematic dynamic phantom study was first, to optimize reconstruction parameters of coronary CTA (CCTA) acquired on photon counting CT (PCCT) for coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring, and second, to assess the feasibility of calculating CAC scores from CCTA, in comparison to reference calcium scoring CT (CSCT) scans.

Methods: In this phantom study, an artificial coronary artery was translated at velocities corresponding to 0, < 60, and 60-75 beats per minute (bpm) within an anthropomorphic phantom. The density of calcifications was 100 (very low), 200 (low), 400 (medium), and 800 (high) mgHA/cm, respectively.

Dummy run for planning of isotoxic dose-escalated radiation therapy for glioblastoma used in the PRIDE trial (NOA-28; ARO-2024-01; AG-NRO-06).

Background: The PRIDE trial (NOA-28; ARO-2024-01; AG-NRO-06; NCT05871021) is designed to determine whether a dose escalation with 75.0 Gy in 30 fractions can enhance the median overall survival (OS) in patients with methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) promotor unmethylated glioblastoma compared to historical median OS rates, while being isotoxic to historical cohorts through the addition of concurrent bevacizumab (BEV). To ensure protocol-compliant irradiation planning with all study centers, a dummy run was planned and the plan quality was evaluated.

Denoising Multiphase Functional Cardiac CT Angiography Using Deep Learning and Synthetic Data.

Coronary CT angiography is increasingly used for cardiac diagnosis. Dose modulation techniques can reduce radiation dose, but resulting functional images are noisy and challenging for functional analysis. This retrospective study describes and evaluates a deep learning method for denoising functional cardiac imaging, taking advantage of multiphase information in a three-dimensional convolutional neural network.

Pulmonary interstitial lymphography: A prospective trial with potential impact on stereotactic ablative radiotherapy planning for early-stage lung cancer.

This prospective feasibility trial investigated pulmonary interstitial lymphography to identify thoracic primary nodal drainage (PND). A post-hoc analysis of nodal recurrences was compared with PND for patients with early-stage lung cancer; larger studies are needed to establish correlation. Exploratory PND-inclusive stereotactic ablative radiotherapy plans were assessed for dosimetric feasibility.

Interprofessional Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Carbapenems Improves ICU Care and Guideline Adherence in Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure.

(1) Background: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a severe, rapidly progressing disease in patients with liver cirrhosis. Meropenem is crucial for treating severe infections. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) offers an effective means to control drug dosages, especially vital for bactericidal antibiotics like meropenem.

Dosimetric feasibility analysis and presentation of an isotoxic dose-escalated radiation therapy concept for glioblastoma used in the PRIDE trial (NOA-28; ARO-2022-12).

Background And Purpose: The PRIDE trial (NOA-28; ARO-2022-12; NCT05871021) is scheduled to start recruitment in October 2023. Its primary objective is to enhance median overall survival (OS), compared to historical median OS rates, in patients with methylguanine methlyltransferase (MGMT) promotor unmethylated glioblastoma by incorporating isotoxic dose escalation to 75 Gy in 30 fractions. To achieve isotoxicity and counteract the elevated risk of radiation necrosis (RN) associated with dose-escalated regimens, the addition of protective concurrent bevacizumab (BEV) serves as an innovative approach.

Hemodynamic effects of entry and exit tear size in aortic dissection evaluated with in vitro magnetic resonance imaging and fluid-structure interaction simulation.

Understanding the complex interplay between morphologic and hemodynamic features in aortic dissection is critical for risk stratification and for the development of individualized therapy. This work evaluates the effects of entry and exit tear size on the hemodynamics in type B aortic dissection by comparing fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulations with in vitro 4D-flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A baseline patient-specific 3D-printed model and two variants with modified tear size (smaller entry tear, smaller exit tear) were embedded into a flow- and pressure-controlled setup to perform MRI as well as 12-point catheter-based pressure measurements.

Longitudinal investigation of aortic dissection in mice with computational fluid dynamics.

Predicting late adverse events in aortic dissections is challenging. One commonly observed risk factor is partial thrombosis of the false lumen. In this study we investigated false lumen thrombus progression over 7 days in four mice with angiotensin II-induced aortic dissection.

Successful implementation of online educational lectures of the German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO).

Purpose: Modern digital teaching formats have become increasingly important in recent years, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2021, an online-based webinar series was established by the German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO) and the young DEGRO (yDEGRO) working group. In the monthly 120-minute courses, selected lecturers teach curricular content as preparation for the board certification exam for radiation oncology.

Principles of oncology taught in a one-week course.

Background: Growing challenges in oncology require evolving educational methods and content. International efforts to reform oncology education are underway. Hands-on, interdisciplinary, and compact course formats have shown great effectiveness in the education of medical students.

Automated cross-sectional view selection in CT angiography of aortic dissections with uncertainty awareness and retrospective clinical annotations.

Surveillance imaging of patients with chronic aortic diseases, such as aneurysms and dissections, relies on obtaining and comparing cross-sectional diameter measurements along the aorta at predefined aortic landmarks, over time. The orientation of the cross-sectional measuring planes at each landmark is currently defined manually by highly trained operators. Centerline-based approaches are unreliable in patients with chronic aortic dissection, because of the asymmetric flow channels, differences in contrast opacification, and presence of mural thrombus, making centerline computations or measurements difficult to generate and reproduce.

Current situation in radiation oncology residency-Results of a national survey performed by the working group Young DEGRO of the German Society of Radiation Oncology.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the current status of the radiation oncology (RO) residency programs in Germany. For this, RO residents and RO specialists were surveyed regarding the current situation of the RO residency training and the working conditions in Germany.

Methods: The Continuing Education Section of the Young DEGRO (yDEGRO) Working Group of the German Society of Radiation Oncology (DEGRO) developed a survey to assess (1) the overall satisfaction, learning objectives, and teaching methods used during training; and (2) the perception of the importance of specific disease patterns in RO training.

Prognostic Value of TSPO PET Before Radiotherapy in Newly Diagnosed IDH-Wild-Type Glioblastoma.

The 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO) is gaining recognition as a relevant target in glioblastoma imaging. However, data on the potential prognostic value of TSPO PET imaging in glioblastoma are lacking. Therefore, we investigated the association of TSPO PET imaging results with survival outcome in a homogeneous cohort of glioblastoma patients.

Highlights 2022.

Since its inaugural issue in 2019, has disseminated the latest scientific advances and technical developments in cardiac, vascular, and thoracic imaging. In this review, we highlight select articles published in this journal between October 2021 and October 2022. The scope of the review encompasses various aspects of coronary artery and congenital heart diseases, vascular diseases, thoracic imaging, and health services research.

Stereotactic radiosurgery versus whole-brain radiotherapy in patients with 4-10 brain metastases: A nonrandomized controlled trial.

Background And Purpose: There is no randomized evidence comparing whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the treatment of multiple brain metastases. This prospective nonrandomized controlled single arm trial attempts to reduce the gap until prospective randomized controlled trial results are available.

Material And Methods: We included patients with 4-10 brain metastases and ECOG performance status ≤ 2 from all histologies except small-cell lung cancer, germ cell tumors, and lymphoma.