Evaluating current acute aortic syndrome pathways: Collaborative Acute Aortic Syndrome Project (CAASP).

Background: Diagnosis of acute aortic syndrome is challenging and associated with high perihospital mortality rates. The study aim was to evaluate current pathways and understand the chronology of acute aortic syndrome patient care.

Method: Consecutive patients with acute aortic syndrome imaging diagnosis between 1 January 2018 and 1 June 2021 were identified using a predetermined search strategy and followed up for 6 months through retrospective case note review.

Insights from explainable AI in oesophageal cancer team decisions.

Background: Clinician-led quality control into oncological decision-making is crucial for optimising patient care. Explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) techniques provide data-driven approaches to unravel how clinical variables influence this decision-making. We applied global XAI techniques to examine the impact of key clinical decision-drivers when mapped by a machine learning (ML) model, on the likelihood of receiving different oesophageal cancer (OC) treatment modalities by the multidisciplinary team (MDT).

A machine learning approach using stone volume to predict stone-free status at ureteroscopy.

Introduction: To develop a predictive model incorporating stone volume along with other clinical and radiological factors to predict stone-free (SF) status at ureteroscopy (URS).

Material And Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing URS for kidney stone disease at our institution from 2012 to 2021. SF status was defined as stone fragments < 2 mm at the end of the procedure confirmed endoscopically and no evidence of stone fragments > 2 mm at XR KUB or US KUB at 3 months follow up.

Understanding the current acute aortic syndrome (AAS) pathways-The Collaborative Acute Aortic Syndrome Project (CAASP) protocol.

Background: Acute aortic syndrome (AAS) is an emergency associated with high peri-hospital mortality rates. Variable clinical presentation makes timely diagnosis challenging and such delays in diagnosis directly impact patient outcomes.

Aims And Objectives: The aims of the Collaborative Acute Aortic Syndrome Project (CAASP) are to characterise and evaluate the current AAS pathways of a cohort of hospitals in the UK, USA and New Zealand to determine if patient outcomes are influenced by the AAS pathway (time to hospital admission, diagnosis and management plan) and demographic, social, geographic and patient-specific factors (clinical presentation and comorbidities).

Quality of life after melphalan percutaneous hepatic perfusion for patients with metastatic uveal melanoma.

Background: Recent studies indicate that melphalan percutaneous hepatic perfusion (M-PHP) for liver metastases from ocular melanoma (mUM) improves survival. Importantly, this benefit must be carefully balanced with changes in a patient's quality of life (QoL). This study examines the QoL changes post-M-PHP.

Machine learning to predict curative multidisciplinary team treatment decisions in oesophageal cancer.

Background: Rising workflow pressures within the oesophageal cancer (OC) multidisciplinary team (MDT) can lead to variability in decision-making, and health inequality. Machine learning (ML) offers a potential automated data-driven approach to address inconsistency and standardize care. The aim of this experimental pilot study was to develop ML models able to predict curative OC MDT treatment decisions and determine the relative importance of underlying decision-critical variables.

The Oesophageal Cancer Multidisciplinary Team: Can Machine Learning Assist Decision-Making?

Background: The complexity of the upper gastrointestinal (UGI) multidisciplinary team (MDT) is continually growing, leading to rising clinician workload, time pressures, and demands. This increases heterogeneity or 'noise' within decision-making for patients with oesophageal cancer (OC) and may lead to inconsistent treatment decisions. In recent decades, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and more specifically the branch of machine learning (ML) has led to a paradigm shift in the perceived utility of statistical modelling within healthcare.

The Effect of Protective Coil Embolization of Penile Anastomoses during Prostatic Artery Embolization on Erectile Function: A Propensity-Matched Analysis.

Purpose: To explore whether coil embolization of penile collateral arteries to prevent nontarget embolization during prostatic artery embolization (PAE) negatively affects erectile function.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on a prospectively maintained multicenter PAE database on all patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (January 2014 to July 2016). International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) scores were collected at baseline and within 12 months after the procedure.

Comprehensive Review on Current Controversies and Debate in Prostate Artery Embolization.

Prostate artery embolization is emerging as one of the most effective therapies amidst a new era of mini- mally invasive benign prostate hyperplasia treatment and technology. However, several current controver- sies remain unanswered which could impact the widespread adoption of this novel and unique transarterial(rather than transurethral) intervention. This is reflected in the differences between the UK (NICE), European (EAU), and American (AUA) guidelines, the latter of which only recommends the use of prostate arteryembolization in a clinical trial setting.

Chemosaturation with percutaneous hepatic perfusion of melphalan for metastatic uveal melanoma.

Uveal melanoma, the most common primary ocular malignancy in adults, carries a poor prognosis: 50% of patients develop the metastatic disease with a 10-25% 1-year survival and no established standard of care treatment. Prior studies of melphalan percutaneous hepatic perfusion (M-PHP) have shown promise in metastatic uveal melanoma (mUM) patients with liver predominant disease but are limited by small sample sizes. We contribute our findings on the safety and efficacy of the procedure in the largest sample population to date.

10-year experience of Paediatric varicocele embolization in a tertiary centre with long-term follow-up.

Introduction: Paediatric varicocele embolization has many benefits over surgical ligation, but lacks published long-term data. We investigated technical and clinical outcomes in this under reported patient group.

Objective: To evaluate technical success, complications and recurrence rates following varicocele embolization in paediatric patients.

1-year cost-utility analysis of prostate artery embolization (PAE) versus transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Objective: To determine whether prostate artery embolization (PAE) is a cost-effective alternative to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in the management of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) after 1-year follow-up.

Design Setting And Main Outcome Measures: A retrospective cost-utility analysis over a 12-month time period was conducted to compare the two interventions from a National Health Service perspective. Effectiveness was measured as quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) derived from data collected during the observational UK Register of Prostate Embolisation (UK-ROPE) Study.

Engineering and clinical use of artificial intelligence (AI) with machine learning and data science advancements: radiology leading the way for future.

Over the years, many clinical and engineering methods have been adapted for testing and screening for the presence of diseases. The most commonly used methods for diagnosis and analysis are computed tomography (CT) and X-ray imaging. Manual interpretation of these images is the current gold standard but can be subject to human error, is tedious, and is time-consuming.

Ultrasound grading of thyroid nodules using the BTA U-scoring guidelines - Is there evidence of intra-and interobserver variability?

Introduction: U-score ultrasound classification (graded U1-U5) is widely used to grade thyroid nodules based on benign and malignant sonographic features. It is well established that ultrasound is an operator-dependent imaging modality and thus more susceptible to subjective variances between operators when using imaging-based scoring systems. We aimed to assess whether there is any intra- or interobserver variability when U-scoring thyroid nodules and whether previous thyroid ultrasound experience has an effect on this variability.

The impact on Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH), uterine fibroid size and uterine artery patency following Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) with a resorbable embolic agent.

The effect of Uterine Fibroid Embolization on fertility and ovarian reserve remains uncertain. We assessed the impact of a new resorbable, spherical particle (Gelbead) on concentration of Anti-Mullerian (AMH) hormone, fibroid volume and uterine artery patency. This prospective cohort study recruited consecutive patients from July 2017 to June 2018.

Prostatic Artery Embolization (PAE) and Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) have a Differential Impact on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS): Retrospective Analysis of the Multicentre UK-ROPE (UK Register of Prostate Embolization) Study.

Purpose: To compare the relative IPSS (International Prostate Symptom Score) improvement in storage and voiding symptoms between prostatic artery embolization (PAE) and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).

Method: Retrospective analysis of the UK-ROPE (UK Register of Prostate Embolization) multicentre database was conducted with inclusion of all patients with full IPSS questionnaire score data. The voiding and storage subscore improvement was compared between interventions.

Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) with Optisphere: A Prospective Study of a New, Spherical, Resorbable Embolic Agent.

Introduction: Optisphere (Teleflex, Wayne, PA, USA, currently distributed by Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) is a new, resorbable, calibrated spherical embolic agent. We aimed to evaluate its clinical safety and effectiveness for fibroid embolization through a prospective case series.

Method: This prospective case series studied patients treated with fibroid embolization using Optisphere between July 2017 and June 2018.

Technical and Imaging Outcomes from the UK Registry of Prostate Artery Embolization (UK-ROPE) Study: Focusing on Predictors of Clinical Success.

Introduction: The UK Registry of Prostate Artery Embolization (UK-ROPE) was a prospective, multicentre study comparing PAE against surgical therapies for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A wealth of data was collected supplementary to the main study outcomes which provide a snapshot of UK PAE practice. We aimed to interpret these data in the hope of providing insight into factors which affect clinical outcome and radiation dose.

Modulation of the Intracortical LFP during Action Execution and Observation.

The activity of mirror neurons in macaque ventral premotor cortex (PMv) and primary motor cortex (M1) is modulated by the observation of another's movements. This modulation could underpin well documented changes in EEG/MEG activity indicating the existence of a mirror neuron system in humans. Because the local field potential (LFP) represents an important link between macaque single neuron and human noninvasive studies, we focused on mirror properties of intracortical LFPs recorded in the PMv and M1 hand regions in two macaques while they reached, grasped and held different objects, or observed the same actions performed by an experimenter.

M1 corticospinal mirror neurons and their role in movement suppression during action observation.

Evidence is accumulating that neurons in primary motor cortex (M1) respond during action observation, a property first shown for mirror neurons in monkey premotor cortex. We now show for the first time that the discharge of a major class of M1 output neuron, the pyramidal tract neuron (PTN), is modulated during observation of precision grip by a human experimenter. We recorded 132 PTNs in the hand area of two adult macaques, of which 65 (49%) showed mirror-like activity.

Large identified pyramidal cells in macaque motor and premotor cortex exhibit "thin spikes": implications for cell type classification.

Recent studies have suggested that extracellular recordings of putative cortical interneurons have briefer spikes than those of pyramidal neurons, providing a means of identifying cortical cell types in recordings from awake monkeys. To test this, we investigated the spike duration of antidromically identified pyramidal tract neurons (PTNs) recorded from primary motor (M1) or ventral premotor cortex (area F5) in 4 awake macaque monkeys. M1 antidromic latencies (ADLs) were skewed toward short ADLs (151 PTNs; 0.