CDR3α drives selection of the immunodominant Epstein Barr virus (EBV) BRLF1-specific CD8 T cell receptor repertoire in primary infection.

The T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire is an essential component of the CD8 T-cell immune response. Here, we seek to investigate factors that drive selection of TCR repertoires specific to the HLA-A2-restricted immunodominant epitope BRLF1109-117 (YVLDHLIVV) over the course of primary Epstein Barr virus (EBV) infection. Using single-cell paired TCRαβ sequencing of tetramer sorted CD8 T cells ex vivo, we show at the clonal level that recognition of the HLA-A2-restricted BRLF1 (YVL-BR, BRLF-1109) epitope is mainly driven by the TCRα chain.

Computed tomography-guided percutaneous hook wire localization of pulmonary nodular lesions before video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: Highlighting technical aspects.

Objective: Confirming the histologic diagnosis of small pulmonary nodules or Ground-glass opacity nodules (GGNs) of unknown origin is difficult. These nodules are not always appropriate for percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy. Preoperative localization of pulmonary lesions provides more precise target points to ensure complete surgical excision.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Electrocardiogram-Gated Thoracic Computed Tomography Angiography without Heart Rate Control for Detection of Significant Coronary Artery Stenosis in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Comparative Study.

Objective: To compare the diagnostic performance of electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated thoracic computed tomography angiography (TCTA) without heart rate (HR) control in ischemic stroke patients with coronary CTA (CCTA) in non-stroke patients for detection of significant coronary artery stenosis.

Materials And Methods: From September 2009 through August 2014, we retrospectively enrolled 138 consecutive patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke who had undergone ECG-gated TCTA and conventional coronary angiography (CCA). Over the same period, we selected 167 non-stroke patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease who had undergone CCTA and CCA.

Diagnostic performance of static single-scan stress perfusion cardiac computed tomography in detecting hemodynamically significant coronary artery stenosis: a comparison with combined invasive coronary angiography and cardiovascular magnetic resonance-myocardial perfusion imaging.

Background Non-invasive anatomical and physiological evaluations of coronary artery disease (CAD) may be obtained with static single-scan stress perfusion cardiac computed tomography (SSPCT). Purpose To determine the diagnostic performance of static SSPCT for identifying hemodynamically significant CAD. Material and Methods This prospective study included 29 patients with suspected or known CAD who underwent static SSPCT, cardiovascular magnetic resonance myocardial perfusion imaging (CMR-MPI), and invasive coronary angiography (ICA).

Broad TCR repertoire and diverse structural solutions for recognition of an immunodominant CD8 T cell epitope.

A keystone of antiviral immunity is CD8 T cell recognition of viral peptides bound to MHC-I proteins. The recognition modes of individual T cell receptors (TCRs) have been studied in some detail, but the role of TCR variation in providing a robust response to viral antigens is unclear. The influenza M1 epitope is an immunodominant target of CD8 T cells that help to control influenza in HLA-A2 individuals.

Differences in Aortic Valve and Left Ventricular Parameters Related to the Severity of Myocardial Fibrosis in Patients with Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis.

Objective: This study investigated the morphological and functional characteristics of the aortic valve and the left ventricular (LV) systolic functional parameters and myocardial mass related to the severity of myocardial fibrosis (MF) in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis (AS).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 81 patients (48 men; mean age: 59±12 years) with severe AS who underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), cardiac computed tomography (CCT), and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) within 1 month and subsequent aortic valve surgery. Degree of MF was determined on delayed contrast-enhanced CMR with visual sub-segmental analysis-based quantification and was classified into three groups (no, mild, and severe) for identifying the differences in LV function and characteristics of the aortic valve.

Indirect CT Venography at 80 kVp with Sinogram-Affirmed Iterative Reconstruction Compared to 120 kVp with Filtered Back Projection: Assessment of Image Quality and Radiation Dose.

Objective: To evaluate the image quality and radiation dose of indirect computed tomographic venography (CTV) using 80 kVp with sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE) and 120 kVp with filtered back projection (FBP).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study was approved by our institution and informed consent was waived. Sixty-one consecutive patients (M: F = 27: 34, mean age 60 ± 16, mean BMI 23.

Color radiography in lung nodule detection and characterization: comparison with conventional gray scale radiography.

Background: To compare the capability of lung nodule detection and characterization between dual-energy radiography with color-representation (DCR) and conventional gray scale chest radiography (GSR).

Methods: A total of 130 paired chest radiographs (DCR and GSR) obtained from 65 patients (14 with normal scans and 51 with pulmonary nodules) were evaluated. After analysis, 45 non-calcified and 21 calcified nodules were identified.

Morphological and Functional Evaluation of Quadricuspid Aortic Valves Using Cardiac Computed Tomography.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the morphological and functional characteristics of quadricuspid aortic valves (QAV) on cardiac computed tomography (CCT).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 11 patients with QAV. All patients underwent CCT and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), and 7 patients underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).

Virtual Non-Contrast CT Using Dual-Energy Spectral CT: Feasibility of Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of coronary artery calcium scoring based on three virtual noncontrast-enhanced (VNC) images derived from single-source spectral dual-energy CT (DECT) as compared with true noncontrast-enhanced (TNC) images.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study was conducted with the approval of our Institutional Review Board. Ninety-seven patients underwent noncontrast CT followed by contrast-enhanced chest CT using single-source spectral DECT.

Detection of skeletal muscle metastasis: torso FDG PET-CT versus contrast-enhanced chest or abdomen CT.

Background: Skeletal muscle metastasis (SMM) in cancer patients has not been sufficiently evaluated regarding prevalence and proper method of detection.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of SMM and compare the diagnostic competencies for SMM of torso F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) and contrast-enhanced chest or abdomen CT.

Material And Methods: We investigated 18,225 PET-CT studies of 6359 cancer patients performed from 2005 to 2012.

Detection of cardiac myxomas with non-contrast chest CT.

Background: Cardiac myxomas are sources of systemic embolism. Currently a large volume of chest CT and calcium-scoring CT scans are performed without contrast injection.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic capability of non-contrast CT covering heart in detecting cardiac myxomas.

Digital tomosynthesis of the thorax: the influence of respiratory motion artifacts on lung nodule detection.

Background: Digital tomosynthesis considerably reduces problems created by overlapping anatomy compared with chest X-ray (CXR). However, digital tomosynthesis requires a longer scan time compared with CXR, and thus may be vulnerable to motion artifacts.

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic performance of digital tomosynthesis in subjects with and without respiratory motion artifacts.

Thoracic Castleman disease: computed tomography and clinical findings.

Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinicoradiological findings of thoracic Castleman disease.

Methods: The study included 34 patients (22 male and 12 female patients; mean age, 32 [SD, 18.1] years) with thoracic Castleman disease.

Tuberculous lymphadenitis of the thorax: comparisons of imaging findings between patients with and those without HIV infection.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to discern differences in the clinical and radiologic presentations of intrathoracic tuberculous lymphadenitis in adult patients with and those without HIV infection.

Materials And Methods: Between 2000 and 2010, 66 patients (28 men, 38 women; mean age, 45 ± 13.9 years) were found to have intrathoracic tuberculous lymphadenitis.

CT findings of late-onset noninfectious pulmonary complications in patients with pathologically proven graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic stem cell transplant.

Objective: We retrospectively analyzed the CT features of late-onset noninfectious pulmonary complications in patients with pathologically proven graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT).

Materials And Methods: We analyzed the CT features of late-onset noninfectious pulmonary complications in 14 patients with pathologic diagnoses of GVHD who survived disease free for more than 3 months after SCT. Late-onset noninfectious pulmonary complications were diagnosed by excluding pulmonary infection in these patients with respiratory symptoms and signs.

Solitary pulmonary nodular lung adenocarcinoma: correlation of histopathologic scoring and patient survival with imaging biomarkers.

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of histopathologic scoring for survival prediction in patients with solitary pulmonary nodular (SPN) lung adenocarcinomas and to correlate the histopathologic scoring with the results of computed tomography (CT) and fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET)/CT.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study was institutional review board approved and the requirement for informed consent was waived. A total of 148 patients with SPN lung adenocarcinoma underwent PET/CT and CT.

Assessment of response to radiotherapy for prostate cancer: value of diffusion-weighted MRI at 3 T.

Objective: The objective of our study was to investigate the changes of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in prostate cancers before and after radiotherapy at 3 T using a phased-array coil.

Materials And Methods: Forty-nine patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer who received radiotherapy underwent diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) at 3 T and were included in the study. Biopsies in all patients were performed before the initial MRI examination (range, 15-35 days before MRI; mean, 23.

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma abutting the diaphragm and gastrointestinal tracts with the use of artificial ascites: safety and technical efficacy in 143 patients.

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility, safety and efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with the use of artificial ascites for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) adjacent to the diaphragm and gastrointestinal tract. One hundred forty-three patients with 181 HCCs who underwent US-guided percutaneous RFA with the use of artificial ascites were retrospectively reviewed. Among the 181 HCCs, 148 HCCs were defined as problematic nodules for two major reasons: poor sonic window or possible thermal injury.

Kidney-specific activity of the bovine uromodulin promoter.

A 10-kilobase (kb) lambda bacteriophage bovine genomic clone containing 5.4 kb of the 5'-flanking region, exons, and introns of bovine uromodulin gene was isolated. Transgenic mice containing 3.