Assignment of opsonic values to pneumococcal reference serum 007sp and a second pneumococcal OPA calibration serum panel (Ewha QC sera panel B) for 11 serotypes.

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have been effective in reducing the disease burden caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. The first licensed PCV (PCV7) was composed of capsular polysaccharides from seven serotypes. This was followed by PCV10, then PCV13, and currently there are a number of higher valency vaccines in development.

Creation, characterization, and assignment of opsonic values for a new pneumococcal OPA calibration serum panel (Ewha QC sera panel A) for 13 serotypes.

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have been very effective in reducing the disease burden caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes covered by the current vaccine formulations. However, the incidence of disease caused by serotypes not covered by the vaccine is increasing. Consequently, there are active efforts to develop new PCVs with additional serotypes in order to provide protection against the emergent serotypes.

Artificial luminal narrowing on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiograms on an occasion of stent-assisted coiling of intracranial aneurysm: in vitro comparison using two different stents with variable imaging parameters.

Objective: Intracranial stenting for stent-assisted coiling of aneurysms requires adequate follow-up imaging. The aim of this in vitro study was to compare in-stent artificial luminal narrowing on contrast-enhanced MR angiograms (CE-MRA) when applying Neuroform® and Enterprise® stents for stent-assisted coiling.

Materials And Methods: Two intracranial nitinol stents (Enterprise® and Neuroform®) were placed in silicon tubes and then imaged at 3 T and 1.

Granulocytic sarcoma of the spine: MRI and clinical review.

Objective: Granulocytic sarcoma is a tumor formed by myeloid precursors at an extramedullary site. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the MRI findings and clinical manifestations in 32 cases of granulocytic sarcoma of the spine.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-two patients (21 males, 11 females; mean age, 32 years) with myeloid leukemia and spinal granulocytic sarcoma were included in this study.

Significance of nipple enhancement of Paget's disease in contrast enhanced breast MRI.

Purpose: To evaluate significance of nipple enhancement of Paget's disease in contrast enhanced (CE) breast MRI.

Methods: Ten patients of biopsy proven Paget's disease were included in this study. Preoperative mammogram and ultrasonogram (US) were obtained in all 10 patients, and 8 patients underwent CE breast MRI prior to surgery.

Necrotizing fasciitis versus pyomyositis: discrimination with using MR imaging.

Objective: We wanted to evaluate the MR findings for differentiating between necrotizing fasciitis (NF) and pyomyositis (PM).

Materials And Methods: The MR images of 19 patients with surgically confirmed NF (n = 11) and pathologically confirmed PM (n = 8) were retrospectively reviewed with regard to the presence or absence of any MRI finding criteria that could differentiate between them.

Results: The patients with NF had a significantly greater prevalence of the following MR findings (p < 0.