Secondhand smoke exposure and asthma status among adolescents: Findings from the 2019-2020 California Student Tobacco Survey.

Background And Objectives: Secondhand tobacco smoke is associated with worsening asthma symptoms among children. However, the relationship between secondhand marijuana smoke and asthma symptoms among youth has not been examined. This study compares the prevalence of secondhand tobacco and marijuana smoke exposure, overall and by asthma status, among middle and high school students.

The genetic and environmental etiology of novel frequency-driven regional parcellations of abnormal white matter.

The prevalence of white matter disease increases with age and is associated with cerebrovascular disease, cognitive decline, and risk for dementia. MRI measures of abnormal signal in the white matter (AWM) provide estimates of damage, however, regional patterns of AWM may be differentially influenced by genetic or environmental factors. With our data-driven regional parcellation approach, we created a probability distribution atlas using Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging (VETSA) data (n = 475, mean age 67.

A Multicenter Assessment of Interreader Reliability of LI-RADS Version 2018 for MRI and CT.

Background Various limitations have impacted research evaluating reader agreement for Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS). Purpose To assess reader agreement of LI-RADS in an international multicenter multireader setting using scrollable images. Materials and Methods This retrospective study used deidentified clinical multiphase CT and MRI and reports with at least one untreated observation from six institutions and three countries; only qualifying examinations were submitted.

Changes in abdominal adipose tissue depots assessed by MRI correlate with hepatic histologic improvement in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Background & Aims: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is prevalent in adults with obesity and can progress to cirrhosis. In a secondary analysis of prospectively acquired data from the multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled FLINT trial, we investigated the relationship between reduction in adipose tissue compartment volumes and hepatic histologic improvement.

Methods: Adult participants in the FLINT trial with paired liver biopsies and abdominal MRI exams at baseline and end-of-treatment (72 weeks) were included (n = 76).

Establishing Institutional Scores With the Rigor and Transparency Index: Large-scale Analysis of Scientific Reporting Quality.

Background: Improving rigor and transparency measures should lead to improvements in reproducibility across the scientific literature; however, the assessment of measures of transparency tends to be very difficult if performed manually.

Objective: This study addresses the enhancement of the Rigor and Transparency Index (RTI, version 2.0), which attempts to automatically assess the rigor and transparency of journals, institutions, and countries using manuscripts scored on criteria found in reproducibility guidelines (eg, Materials Design, Analysis, and Reporting checklist criteria).

MR elastography in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: inter-center and inter-analysis-method measurement reproducibility and accuracy at 3T.

Objectives: To assess reproducibility and fibrosis classification accuracy of magnetic resonance elastography (MRE)-determined liver stiffness measured manually at two different centers, and by automated analysis software in adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), using histopathology as a reference standard.

Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional study included 91 adults with NAFLD who underwent liver MRE and biopsy. MRE-determined liver stiffness was measured independently for this analysis by an image analyst at each of two centers using standardized manual analysis methodology, and separately by an automated analysis.

Magnetic resonance elastography biomarkers for detection of histologic alterations in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the absence of fibrosis.

Objectives: To investigate associations between histology and hepatic mechanical properties measured using multiparametric magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) in adults with known or suspected nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) without histologic fibrosis.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 88 adults who underwent 3T MR exams including hepatic MRE and MR imaging to estimate proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) within 180 days of liver biopsy. Associations between MRE mechanical properties (mean shear stiffness (|G*|) by 2D and 3D MRE, and storage modulus (G'), loss modulus (G″), wave attenuation (α), and damping ratio (ζ) by 3D MRE) and histologic, demographic and anthropometric data were assessed.

Repeatability and accuracy of various region-of-interest sampling strategies for hepatic MRI proton density fat fraction quantification.

Purpose: To evaluate repeatability of ROI-sampling strategies for quantifying hepatic proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and to assess error relative to the 9-ROI PDFF.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis in subjects with known or suspected nonalcoholic fatty liver disease who underwent MRI for magnitude-based hepatic PDFF quantification. Each subject underwent three exams, each including three acquisitions (nine acquisitions total).

Prospective comparison of longitudinal change in hepatic proton density fat fraction (PDFF) estimated by magnitude-based MRI (MRI-M) and complex-based MRI (MRI-C).

Purpose: To compare longitudinal hepatic proton density fat fraction (PDFF) changes estimated by magnitude- vs. complex-based chemical-shift-encoded MRI during a weight loss surgery (WLS) program in severely obese adults with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a prospective dual-center longitudinal study of 54 adults (44 women; mean age 52 years; range 27-70 years) with obesity, biopsy-proven NAFLD, and baseline PDFF ≥ 5%, enrolled in a WLS program.

Examining LI-RADS recommendations: should observation size only be measured on non-arterial phases?

Objective: To investigate if size measurements of liver observations is more variable in the arterial phase as suggested by LI-RADS and assess potential higher instability in categorization in this particular phase. Secondarily, to assess inter- and intra-reader agreement for size across phases.

Materials And Methods: Patients with liver cirrhosis who underwent multi-arterial phase MRI between 2017 and 2018 were retrospectively selected.

LI-RADS ancillary feature prediction of longitudinal category changes in LR-3 observations: an exploratory study.

Purpose: To determine whether LI-RADS ancillary features predict longitudinal LR-3 observation category changes.

Materials And Methods: This exploratory, retrospective, single-center study with an independent reading center included patients who underwent two or more multiphase CT or MRI examinations for hepatocellular carcinoma assessment between 2011 and 2015. Three readers independently evaluated each observation using CT/MRI LI-RADS v2017, and observations categorized LR-3 using major features only were included in the analysis.

Accuracy of common proton density fat fraction thresholds for magnitude- and complex-based chemical shift-encoded MRI for assessing hepatic steatosis in patients with obesity.

Purpose: MRI proton density fat fraction (PDFF) can be calculated using magnitude (MRI-M) or complex (MRI-C) MRI data. The purpose of this study was to identify, assess, and compare the accuracy of common PDFF thresholds for MRI-M and MRI-C for assessing hepatic steatosis in patients with obesity, using histology as reference.

Methods: This two-center prospective study included patients undergoing MRI-C- and MRI-M-PDFF estimations within 3 days before weight loss surgery.

Gadoxetate-enhanced Abbreviated MRI for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance: Preliminary Experience.

Purpose: To describe a single-center preliminary experience with gadoxetate disodium-enhanced abbreviated MRI for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening and surveillance in patients with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B virus (cHBV).

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective study of consecutive patients aged 18 years and older with cirrhosis or cHBV who underwent at least one gadoxetate-enhanced abbreviated MRI examination for HCC surveillance from 2014 through 2016. Examinations were interpreted prospectively by one of six abdominal radiologists for clinical care.

A Comparison of E-Cigarette Use Patterns and Smoking Cessation Behavior among Vapers by Primary Place of Purchase.

Background: E-cigarettes are purchased through multiple channels, including general retail, online, and specialty smoke and vape shops. We examine how e-cigarette users' primary purchase place relates to e-cigarette use and smoking cessation behaviors.

Methods: Probability-based samples of the U.

Treating hyperglycemia in early pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Treating women with gestational diabetes mellitus in the third trimester improves perinatal outcomes. It is unknown whether treating women with mild glucose intolerance earlier in pregnancy would be beneficial in the reduction of maternal and neonatal morbidities.

Objective: In women with hyperglycemia (hemoglobin A1c ≥5.

Longitudinal evolution of CT and MRI LI-RADS v2014 category 1, 2, 3, and 4 observations.

Objectives: This study assesses the risk of progression of Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) categories, and the effects of inter-exam changes in modality or radiologist on LI-RADS categorization.

Methods: Clinical LI-RADS v2014 CT and MRI exams at our institution between January 2014 and September 2017 were retrospectively identified. Untreated LR-1, LR-2, LR-3, and LR-4 observations with at least one follow-up exam were included.

Monitoring Fatty Liver Disease with MRI Following Bariatric Surgery: A Prospective, Dual-Center Study.

Purpose To longitudinally monitor liver fat before and after bariatric surgery by using quantitative chemical shift-encoded (CSE) MRI and to compare with changes in body mass index (BMI), weight, and waist circumference (WC). Materials and Methods For this prospective study, which was approved by the internal review board, a total of 126 participants with obesity who were undergoing evaluation for bariatric surgery with preoperative very low calorie diet (VLCD) were recruited from June 27, 2010, through May 5, 2015. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Hepatic steatosis and reduction in steatosis following bariatric weight loss surgery differs between segments and lobes.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to (1) evaluate proton density fat fraction (PDFF) distribution across liver segments at baseline and (2) compare longitudinal segmental PDFF changes across time points in adult patients undergoing a very low-calorie diet (VLCD) and subsequent bariatric weight loss surgery (WLS).

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of data from 118 morbidly obese adult patients enrolled in a VLCD-WLS program. PDFF was estimated using magnitude-based confounder-corrected chemical-shift-encoded (CSE) MRI in each hepatic segment and lobe at baseline (visit 1), after completion of VLCD (visit 2), and at 1, 3, and 6 months (visits 3-5) following WLS.

Incentives and Patches for Medicaid Smokers: An RCT.

Introduction: Most successful trials of financial incentives for smoking cessation have offered large rewards contingent on outcomes. This study examines whether more modest incentives to encourage engagement, non-contingent on outcomes, also increase cessation; whether sending medications directly to participants boosts quitting; and whether these strategies are effective in Medicaid.

Study Design: Three-group RCT of usual care (UC); nicotine patch (NP); and NP and financial incentive (NP+FI).

Evaluation of the Tobacco-Use Prevention Education (TUPE) program in California.

Background And Aims: The California Tobacco-Use Prevention Education (TUPE) program promotes the use of evidence-based tobacco-specific prevention and cessation programs for adolescents within the school setting. Through a competitive grant process, schools are funded to provide programs for grades 6-12. This research evaluates the association between TUPE funding and tobacco prevention activities and tobacco use prevalence.

Fibrinogen and the prediction of residual obstruction manifested after pulmonary embolism treatment.

Residual pulmonary vascular obstruction (RPVO) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) are both long-term complications of acute pulmonary embolism, but it is unknown whether RPVO can be predicted by variants of fibrinogen associated with CTEPH.We used the Akaike information criterion to select the best predictive models for RPVO in two prospectively followed cohorts of acute pulmonary embolism patients, using as candidate variables the extent of the initial obstruction, clinical characteristics and fibrinogen-related data. We measured the selected models' goodness of fit by analysis of deviance and compared models using the Chi-squared test.

Hepatic R2* is more strongly associated with proton density fat fraction than histologic liver iron scores in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: The liver R2* value is widely used as a measure of liver iron but may be confounded by the presence of hepatic steatosis and other covariates.

Purpose: To identify the most influential covariates for liver R2* values in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Study Type: Retrospective analysis of prospectively acquired data.

Inter-reader agreement of magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction and its longitudinal change in a clinical trial of adults with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Purpose: To determine the inter-reader agreement of magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and its longitudinal change in a clinical trial of adults with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Study Type: We performed a secondary analysis of a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial of a bile acid sequestrant in 45 adults with NASH. A six-echo spoiled gradient-recalled-echo magnitude-based fat quantification technique was performed at 3 T.

Assessment of a high-SNR chemical-shift-encoded MRI with complex reconstruction for proton density fat fraction (PDFF) estimation overall and in the low-fat range.

Background: Improving the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of chemical-shift-encoded MRI acquisition with complex reconstruction (MRI-C) may improve the accuracy and precision of noninvasive proton density fat fraction (PDFF) quantification in patients with hepatic steatosis.

Purpose: To assess the accuracy of high SNR (Hi-SNR) MRI-C versus standard MRI-C acquisition to estimate hepatic PDFF in adult and pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using an MR spectroscopy (MRS) sequence as the reference standard.

Study Type: Prospective.