Magnetic Resonance Imaging Monitoring of Thermal Lesions Produced by Focused Ultrasound.

Background: The main goal of the study was to find the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters that optimize contrast between tissue and thermal lesions produced by focused ultrasound (FUS) using T1-weighted (T1-W) and T2-weighted (T2-W) fast spin echo (FSE) sequences.

Methods: FUS sonications were performed in porcine tissue using a single-element FUS transducer of 2.6 MHz in 1.

Effect of Magnetic Resonance Imaging on the Motion Accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Imaging-compatible Focused Ultrasound Robotic System.

Purpose: The current study provides insights into the challenges of safely operating a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) robotic system in a high-field MRI scanner in terms of robotic motion accuracy.

Materials And Methods: Grid sonications were carried out in phantoms and excised porcine tissue in a 3T MRI scanner using an existing MRgFUS robotic system. Fast low-angle shot-based magnetic resonance thermometry was employed for the intraprocedural monitoring of thermal distribution.

Effects of Warm-Ups with Weighted Vests and Resistance Bands on Physical Fitness and Combat Ability of Kumite Karate Athletes.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a dynamic warm-up either with weighted vests (WVs) or with resistance bands (RBs) may enhance the physical fitness and combat ability of kumite karate athletes. Nine male athletes (age range from 16 to 30 years), participated in this study. Athletes followed three different warm-up programs in a randomized order: (a) with their body mass only (C), (b) with a WV of 10% load of their body mass and (c) with a wearable RB of 10% tension of their body mass.

MRI compatibility testing of commercial high intensity focused ultrasound transducers.

Purpose: The study aimed to compare the performance of eight commercially available single-element High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) transducers in terms of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) compatibility.

Methods: Imaging of an agar-based MRI phantom was performed in a 3 T MRI scanner utilizing T2-Weighted Fast Spin Echo (FSE) and Fast low angle shot (FLASH) sequences, which are typically employed for high resolution anatomical imaging and thermometry, respectively. Reference magnitude and phase images of the phantom were compared with images acquired in the presence of each transducer in terms of the signal to noise ratio (SNR), introduced artifacts, and overall image quality.

Triple Tube Drainage for the Treatment of Complex Duodenal Injury: A Case Report and Literature Update.

Duodenal trauma resulting in perforation is rare and management can be challenging due to injuries in other organs and vascular structures. Primary repair is the preferred option and is technically feasible even in cases with large defects. In more complex injuries with pancreaticobiliary tract involvement, damage control techniques and staged procedures may be required.

Tumor phantom model for MRI-guided focused ultrasound ablation studies.

Background: The persistent development of focused ultrasound (FUS) thermal therapy in the context of oncology creates the need for tissue-mimicking tumor phantom models for early-stage experimentation and evaluation of relevant systems and protocols.

Purpose: This study presents the development and evaluation of a tumor-bearing tissue phantom model for testing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided FUS (MRgFUS) ablation protocols and equipment based on MR thermometry.

Methods: Normal tissue was mimicked by a pure agar gel, while the tumor simulator was differentiated from the surrounding material by including silicon dioxide.

Phantom-based assessment of motion and needle targeting accuracy of robotic devices for magnetic resonance imaging-guided needle biopsy.

Background: The current study proposes simple methods for assessing the performance of robotic devices intended for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)-guided needle biopsy.

Methods: In-house made agar-based breast phantoms containing biopsy targets served as the main tool in the evaluation process of an MRI compatible positioning device comprising a needle navigator. The motion accuracy of mechanical stages was assessed by calliper measurements.

Critical care pharmacy workforce: a 2020 re-evaluation of the UK deployment and characteristics.

Introduction: Critical care pharmacists improve the quality and efficiency of medication therapy whilst reducing treatment costs where they are available. UK critical care pharmacist deployment was described in 2015, highlighting a deficit in numbers, experience level, and critical care access to pharmacy services over the 7-day week. Since then, national workforce standards have been emphasised, quality indicators published, and service commissioning documents produced, reinforced by care quality assessments.

Radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of a presumed enchondroma in the flat bones of the pelvis.

Herein, a 30-year-old Caucasian female who presented with a persistent pain in the right pelvic region due to an enchondroma and treated with RF ablation is described. An initial MRI of the pelvis revealed a well-circumscribed lesion in the right inferior ischiopubic ramus with a maximum diameter of 9.5 mm.

Challenges regarding MR compatibility of an MRgFUS robotic system.

Numerous challenges are faced when employing Magnetic Resonance guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) hardware in the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) setting. The current study aimed to provide insights on this topic through a series of experiments performed in the framework of evaluating the MRI compatibility of an MRgFUS robotic device. All experiments were performed in a 1.

Primary Large Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) Lymphoma of the Gallbladder.

Primary lymphoma of the gallbladder (GB) is a rare condition, and very few cases have been reported so far. Diagnosis is usually made after surgery of suspicious GB mass, which is often difficult to differentiate from GB carcinoma. The GB wall does not contain lymphoid tissue, and tumors arise at the submucosal layer.

MR relaxation times of agar-based tissue-mimicking phantoms.

Agar gels were previously proven capable of accurately replicating the acoustical and thermal properties of real tissue and widely used for the construction of tissue-mimicking phantoms (TMPs) for focused ultrasound (FUS) applications. Given the current popularity of magnetic resonance-guided FUS (MRgFUS), we have investigated the MR relaxation times T1 and T2 of different mixtures of agar-based phantoms. Nine TMPs were constructed containing agar as the gelling agent and various concentrations of silicon dioxide and evaporated milk.

Clinical frailty and polypharmacy in older emergency critical care patients: a single-centre retrospective case series.

Background And Objectives: Admission of complex and frail patients to critical care units is common. Little is known about the relationship between clinical frailty and polypharmacy measures in critical care patients or how a critical care admission affects polypharmacy.We sought to: (1) Describe the extent and relationship between clinical frailty and polypharmacy in a cohort of older emergency general critical care patients, and to (2) Describe the effect of the critical care pathway on patient polypharmacy measures.

Simple methods to test the accuracy of MRgFUS robotic systems.

Background: Robotic-assisted diagnostic and therapeutic modalities require a highly accurate performance to be certified for clinical application. In this paper, three simple methods for assessing the accuracy of motion of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) robotic systems are presented.

Methods: The accuracy of motion of a 4 degrees of freedom robotic system intended for preclinical use of MRgFUS was evaluated by calliper-based and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods, as well as visually by performing multiple ablations on a plastic film.

PET/CT imaging of prostate cancer in the era of small molecule prostate specific membrane antigen targeted tracers.

Staging and restaging of prostate cancer is crucial for treatment planning and prognosis. Accurate localization is of high relevance for a tailor-made therapy and an early detection of unknown metastatic spread can lead to a survival benefit. Evidence based guidelines that are currently in use were established using data from conventional imaging (such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and bone scintigraphy).

Neuroprotective Effects of 7-Geranyloxycinnamic Acid from Leaves.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are chronic conditions that have drawn robust interest from the scientific community. Phytotherapeutic agents are becoming an important source of chemicals for the treatment and management of NDDs. Various secondary metabolites have been isolated from plant leaves, including phenolic acid derivatives.

Induction of Apoptosis by Gluconasturtiin-Isothiocyanate (GNST-ITC) in Human Hepatocarcinoma HepG2 Cells and Human Breast Adenocarcinoma MCF-7 Cells.

Gluconasturtiin, a glucosinolate present in watercress, is hydrolysed by myrosinase to form gluconasturtiin-isothiocyanate (GNST-ITC), which has potential chemopreventive effects; however, the underlying mechanisms of action have not been explored, mainly in human cell lines. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the cytotoxicity of GNST-ITC and to further assess its potential to induce apoptosis. GNST-ITC inhibited cell proliferation in both human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) and human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells with IC values of 7.

An improved method to estimate ultrasonic absorption in agar-based gel phantom using thermocouples and MR thermometry.

In this paper, a novel experimental set-up was developed that measures the absorption coefficient. The proposed system was evaluated in an agar-based gel phantom. The new experimental system provides accurate and fast measurement of the rate of temperature change within the phantom.

Induction of Apoptosis and Cytotoxicity by Raphasatin in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma MCF-7 Cells.

Glucoraphasatin (GRH), a glucosinolate present abundantly in the plants of the family, is hydrolyzed by myrosinase to raphasatin, which is considered responsible for its cancer chemopreventive activity; however, the underlying mechanisms of action have not been investigated, particularly in human cell lines. The aims of this study are to determine the cytotoxicity of raphasatin, and to evaluate its potential to cause apoptosis and modulate cell cycle arrest in human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells. The cytotoxicity was determined following incubation of the cells with glucoraphasatin or raphasatin (0⁻100 µM), for 24, 48, and 72 h.

MRI-guided frameless biopsy robotic system with the inclusion of unfocused ultrasound transducer for brain cancer ablation.

Background: A magnetic resonance image (MRI) guided robotic system dedicated for brain biopsy was developed. The robotic system carries a biopsy needle and a small rectangular unfocused, single element, planar ultrasonic transducer which can be potentially utilized to ablate small and localized brain cancer.

Materials And Methods: The robotic device includes six computer-controlled axes.

Induction of Apoptosis and Cytotoxicity by Isothiocyanate Sulforaphene in Human Hepatocarcinoma HepG2 Cells.

Glucoraphenin, a glucosinolate present in large quantities in radish is hydrolysed by myrosinase to form the isothiocyanate sulforaphene, which is believed to be responsible for its chemopreventive activity; however, the underlying mechanisms of action have not been investigated, particularly in human cell lines. The aim of the study is to assess the cytotoxicity of sulforaphene in HepG2 cells and evaluate its potential to enhance apoptosis. The cytotoxicity of sulforaphene in HepG2 cells was carried out ensuing an initial screening with two other cell lines, MFC-7 and HT-29, where sulforaphene displayed highest toxicity in HepG2 cells following incubation at 24, 48 and 72 h.

Osteoid osteoma of the scaphoid bone associated with flexor carpi radialis calcific tendinitis and treated with CT-guided RF ablation.

Osteoid osteomas of the wrist are relatively rare and the diagnosis is challenging due to atypical clinical features. We describe a case of an osteoid osteoma of the scaphoid bone associated with calcific tendinitis of the adjacent flexor carpi radialis tendon and periarticular soft tissue calcifications in a 21-year-old man presenting with radial-sided wrist pain. The lesion was successfully treated with CT-guided RF ablation.

Antagonistic and synergistic interactions during the binding of binary mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor.

In order to assess the potential of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to interact with each other, benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) was incubated either alone or in combination with other isomeric 5-ring PAHs in precision-cut rat liver slices. At the end of the incubation, the slices were removed and the O-deethylation of ethoxyresorufin (EROD) was determined in microsomal preparations. The BP-mediated rise in EROD activity was suppressed in the presence of dibenzo(a,j)anthracene, dibenzo(a,c)anthracene and picene, whereas it was increased in the presence of pentacene.

Isothiocyanates and Xenobiotic Detoxification.

The potential of isothiocyanates to antagonize the carcinogenicity of structurally diverse chemicals has been established in animals. A feasible mechanism of action involves protecting DNA by reducing the availability of the genotoxic metabolites of chemical carcinogens by either inhibiting their generation and/or stimulating their detoxification. In vivo as well as in vitro studies conducted in rat/human primary hepatocytes and precision-cut tissue slices have revealed that isothiocyanates can impair cytochrome P450 activity, including the CYP1 family which is the most active in the bioactivation of carcinogens, by virtue of being mechanism-based inactivators.

MRI-compatible breast/rib phantom for evaluating ultrasonic thermal exposures.

Introduction: The target of this study was the development of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatible breast phantom for focused ultrasound which includes plastic (ABS) ribs. The objective of the current study was the evaluation of a focused ultrasound procedure using the proposed phantom that eliminates rib heating.

Material And Methods: The proposed phantom was evaluated using two different focused ultrasound exposures.