Ultrafast MRI for Pediatric Brain Assessment in Routine Clinical Practice.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of ultrafast brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in pediatric patients.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 194 pediatric patients aged 0 to 19 years (median 10.2 years) who underwent both ultrafast and conventional brain MRI between May 2019 and August 2020.

Erectile dysfunction in patient with obstructive sleep apnea: effects of continuous positive airway pressure.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is linked to various health complications, including erectile dysfunction (ED), which is more prevalent in individuals with OSA. This study explored ED in Korean OSA patients and assessed the impact of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on ED.

Methods: A total of 87 male patients with OSA from four different sleep centers underwent physical measurements and completed sleep and mental health (MH) questionnaires, including the Korean version of the International index of erectile function (IIEF), before and three months after initiating CPAP therapy.

Electron microscopic analysis of necrotic bone and failed implant surface in a patient with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Background: Bisphosphonates (BP), a commonly used medication for various bone diseases, have been known to have severe complications such as bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ). Failure of dental implants has also been found in patients with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). In this study, we analyzed the necrotic bone tissues and the surface of the failed implants removed from the jaw in patients treated with BPs and antiresorptive agents.

The Efficacy and Safety of a Human Perirenal Adipose Tissue-Derived Stromal Vascular Fraction in an Interstitial Cystitis Rat Model.

Background: Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic and intractable disease that can severely deteriorate patients' quality of life. Recently, stem cell therapy has been introduced as a promising alternative treatment for IC in animal models. We aimed to verify the efficacy and safety of the human perirenal adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) in an IC rat model.

Interventional urethral balloon dilatation before endoscopic visual internal urethrotomy for post-traumatic bulbous urethral stricture: A case report.

Background: While several treatment options are available for pediatric urethral strictures, the appropriate treatment must be based on several factors. Although endoscopic visual internal urethrotomy (EVIU) could be a first-line treatment option for short pediatric urethral strictures, it is not feasible if the urethroscope cannot pass through the stricture point. Herein, we present a pediatric case of severe post-traumatic bulbous urethral stricture that was successfully treated by EVIU after securing the urethral route via interventional balloon dilatation.

The value of magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography (MRI/US)-fusion biopsy in clinically significant prostate cancer detection in patients with biopsy-naïve men according to PSA levels: A propensity score matching analysis.

Objectives: To evaluate the detection rate of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) in Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography (MRI/US) fusion biopsy in patients with biopsy-naïve men for varying prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Since MRI can efficiently detect csPCa compared to standard transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided biopsy; however, the optimal PSA threshold for its use is unclear.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed those who underwent MRI/US-fusion and standard biopsy from January 2016 to June 2018.

Contrast-enhanced voiding ultrasonography to detect intrarenal reflux in children: comparison with 99mTc-DMSA renal scans.

Purpose: This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced voiding ultrasonography (CeVUS) for detecting intrarenal reflux (IRR) and the correlation between CeVUS-detected IRR sites and photon defect sites in acute 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scans in pediatric patients.

Methods: Fifty-four kidneys from 27 patients (20 males and seven females; mean age, 5.6±4.

Deep Learning-Assisted Diagnosis of Pediatric Skull Fractures on Plain Radiographs.

Objective: To develop and evaluate a deep learning-based artificial intelligence (AI) model for detecting skull fractures on plain radiographs in children.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective multi-center study consisted of a development dataset acquired from two hospitals (n = 149 and 264) and an external test set (n = 95) from a third hospital. Datasets included children with head trauma who underwent both skull radiography and cranial computed tomography (CT).

Generating synthetic contrast enhancement from non-contrast chest computed tomography using a generative adversarial network.

This study aimed to evaluate a deep learning model for generating synthetic contrast-enhanced CT (sCECT) from non-contrast chest CT (NCCT). A deep learning model was applied to generate sCECT from NCCT. We collected three separate data sets, the development set (n = 25) for model training and tuning, test set 1 (n = 25) for technical evaluation, and test set 2 (n = 12) for clinical utility evaluation.

The significance of the visible tumor on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging in localized prostate cancer.

Objectives: We investigated the relationship between tumor characteristics and visible tumors on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and examined the prognosis of tumor detection on MRI compared with no tumor detection in localized prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed 214 patients with pT2N0M0 prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy between January 2009 and December 2016. All the patients underwent MRI preoperatively.

Feasibility study of ultra-low-dose dedicated maxillofacial computed tomography using filter-based spectral shaping in patients with craniofacial trauma: assessment of image quality and radiation dose.

Background: In the setting of multiple trauma, radiation exposure is considered a relevant issue because patients may require repeated imaging to evaluate injuries in different body parts. Recently, spectral shaping of the X-ray beam has been shown to be beneficial in reducing radiation exposure. We investigated the clinical feasibility of a tin-filtered 100 kV protocol for the diagnostic use, compared to routine dedicated maxillofacial CT at 120 kVp in patients with craniofacial trauma; we assessed the image quality, radiation dose, and interobserver agreement.

Pneumothorax after CT-guided transthoracic lung biopsy: A comparison between immediate and delayed occurrence.

Background: In CT-guided transthoracic lung biopsy (CTLB), pneumothorax can occur as a late complication (delayed pneumothorax). The incidence, risk factors, and clinical significance of delayed pneumothorax are not well known.

Objectives: To compare the risk factors for immediate and delayed pneumothorax after CTLB and to know their clinical significance.

Clinical experience with distal transradial access for endovascular treatment of various noncoronary interventions in a multicenter study.

Background: Transradial access is a well-known alternative to conventional transfemoral access for interventional procedures. Recently, transradial access through the "snuffbox", which lies in the radial dorsal aspect of the hand, has been introduced as a new technique with positional versatility. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical feasibility and safety of distal transradial access for interventional procedures in a retrospective, multicenter study.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Nausea and Vomiting after Exposure to Low-Osmolality Iodinated Contrast Media in Children: A Focus on Preparative Fasting.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors of emetic complications associated with the intravenous administration of low-osmolality iodinated contrast media (ICM) in children undergoing computed tomography (CT).

Materials And Methods: All children who underwent contrast-enhanced CT between April 2017 and July 2019 were included. Pediatric patients were instructed on the preparative dietary protocol at our institution.

Clinical Feasibility of Reduced Field-of-View Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Computed Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Technique in Breast Cancer Patients.

Background: We evaluated the feasibility of the reduced field-of-view (rFOV) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with computed DWI technique by comparison and analysis of the inter-method agreement among acquired rFOV DWI (rFOVA), rFOV DWI with computed DWI technique (rFOVS), and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with breast cancer.

Methods: A total of 130 patients with biopsy-proven breast cancers who underwent breast MRI from April 2017 to December 2017 were included in this study. The rFOVS were reformatted by calculation of the apparent diffusion coefficient curve obtained from rFOVA = 0 s/mm and = 500 s/mm.

Preoperative Prophylactic Balloon-Assisted Occlusion of the Internal Iliac Arteries in the Management of Placenta Increta/Percreta.

: Preoperative prophylactic balloon-assisted occlusion (PBAO) of the internal iliac arteries minimizes blood loss and facilitates surgery performance, through reductions in the rate of uterine perfusion, which allow for better control in hysterectomy performance, with decreased rates of bleeding and surgical complications. We aimed to investigate the maternal and fetal outcomes associated with PBAO use in women with placenta increta or percreta. : The records of 42 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of placenta increta or percreta were retrospectively reviewed.

Feasibility Study of Synthetic Diffusion-Weighted MRI in Patients with Breast Cancer in Comparison with Conventional Diffusion-Weighted MRI.

Objective: To investigate the clinical feasibility of synthetic diffusion-weighted imaging (sDWI) at different b-values in patients with breast cancer by assessing the diagnostic image quality and the quantitative measurements compared with conventional diffusion-weighted imaging (cDWI).

Materials And Methods: Fifty patients with breast cancer were assessed using cDWI at b-values of 800 and 1500 s/mm² (cDWI and cDWI) and sDWI at b-values of 1000 and 1500 s/mm² (sDWI and sDWI). Qualitative analysis (normal glandular tissue suppression, overall image quality, and lesion conspicuity) was performed using a 4-point Likert-scale for all DWI sets and the cancer detection rate (CDR) was calculated.

Significance of Soluble CD93 in Type 2 Diabetes as a Biomarker for Diabetic Nephropathy: Integrated Results from Human and Rodent Studies.

Cluster of differentiation 93 (CD93) is a glycoprotein expressed in activated endothelial cells. The extracellular portion of CD93 can be secreted as a soluble form (sCD93) under inflammatory conditions. As diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a well-known inflammatory disease, we hypothesized that sCD93 would be a new biomarker for DN.

Engineered human FcγRIIa fusion: A novel strategy to extend serum half-life of therapeutic proteins.

The immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecule has a long circulating serum half-life (~3 weeks) through pH- dependent FcRn binding-mediated recycling. To hijack the intracellular trafficking and recycling mechanism of IgG as a way to extend serum persistence of non-antibody therapeutic proteins, we have evolved the ectodomain of a low-affinity human FcγRIIa for enhanced binding to the lower hinge and upper CH2 region of IgG, which is very far from the FcRn binding site (CH2-CH3 interface). High-throughput library screening enabled isolation of an FcγRIIa variant (2A45.

One-Minute Ultrafast Brain MRI With Full Basic Sequences: Can It Be a Promising Way Forward for Pediatric Neuroimaging?

The long scan time of brain MRI is a major drawback that limits its clinical use for evaluating pediatric patients who are inherently prone to motion and frequently require sedatives. This study investigated the clinical feasibility of a 1-minute ultrafast brain MRI protocol in pediatric patients by assessing its image quality in comparison with that of routine brain MRI. Twenty-three patients were enrolled who underwent 1-minute ultrafast MRI and routine brain MRI protocols including five essential sequences (T1-weighted imaging, T2-weighted imaging, DWI, FLAIR, and T2*-weighted imaging).

Comprehensive analyses with radiological and biological markers of breast cancer on contrast-enhanced chest CT: a single center experience using dual-layer spectral detector CT.

Objectives: To evaluate the predictive value of virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) by assessing tumor conspicuity on dual-layer spectral detector CT (SDCT) and correlate tumor conspicuity on VMI with prognostic biomarkers in patients with breast cancer.

Methods: Sixty-four patients underwent arterial phase and 90-s delayed phase dual-layer SDCT. A retrospective tumor conspicuity analysis of 14 benign tumors and 65 breast cancers was performed using conventional images (CIs) and VMI at 40 keV (VMI40) on arterial and delayed phase scans (CI, VMI40, CI, VMI40).

Validation of Deep Learning-Based Artifact Correction on Synthetic FLAIR Images in a Different Scanning Environment.

We investigated the capability of a trained deep learning (DL) model with a convolutional neural network (CNN) in a different scanning environment in terms of ameliorating the quality of synthetic fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images. The acquired data of 319 patients obtained from the retrospective review were used as test sets for the already trained DL model to correct the synthetic FLAIR images. Quantitative analyses were performed for native synthetic FLAIR and DL-FLAIR images against conventional FLAIR images.

Emergent carotid artery stenting in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to cervical internal carotid artery steno-occlusive lesion: Comparison of tandem intracranial occlusion and isolated cervical internal carotid artery occlusion.

Purpose: Acute ischemic strokes caused by steno-occlusive lesion of the cervical internal carotid artery are associated with poor clinical outcome. We evaluated the clinical efficacy of emergent carotid artery stenting for the management of these lesions. We compared the clinical outcomes regarding the intracranial lesion, namely tandem occlusions versus isolated cervical internal carotid artery occlusion.