[Research Study on the Effects of Disinfectants on Medical Images and Medical Equipment in Infection Control Measures].

In this study, we investigated the effects of various disinfectants used to prevent infectious diseases on medical images and medical equipment. First, we investigated the effect of residual disinfectant on medical images in CT, mammography (MMG), and general imaging systems. Acrylic discs with various disinfectants attached were photographed using each imaging device, and visual evaluation and changes in image signal values were evaluated.

Development of a new body weight estimation method using head CT scout images.

Background: Imaging examinations are crucial for diagnosing acute ischemic stroke, and knowledge of a patient's body weight is necessary for safe examination. To perform examinations safely and rapidly, estimating body weight using head computed tomography (CT) scout images can be useful.

Objective: This study aims to develop a new method for estimating body weight using head CT scout images for contrast-enhanced CT examinations in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Verification of Qfix Encompass™ couch modeling using the Acuros XB algorithm and HypeArc™ using a high-spatial-resolution two-dimensional diode array.

We modeled the Qfix Encompass™ immobilization system and further verified the calculated dose distribution of the AcurosXB (AXB) dose calculation algorithm using SRS MapCHECK (SRSMC) in the HyperArc™ (HA) clinical plan. An Encompass system with a StereoPHAN™ QA phantom was scanned by SOMATOM go.Sim and imported to an Eclipse™ treatment planning system to create a treatment plan for Encompass modeling.

U-Net-based image segmentation of the whole heart and four chambers on pediatric X-ray computed tomography.

This study aimed to determine whether a U-Net-based segmentation method could be used to automatically extract regions of the whole heart and atrioventricular regions from pediatric cardiac computed tomography images with high accuracy. Pediatric cardiac contrast computed tomography images with no abnormalities (n = 20; patient age, 0-13 years; mean 5 years) were used for segmentation of the whole heart and each atrioventricular region using U-Net. Segmentation accuracy was evaluated using the Dice similarity coefficient.

[Evaluation of a Bone Coordinate System Constructed Using MR Image Composing].

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of a bone coordinate system constructed using MR image composing.

Method: A femoral coordinate system constructed using image composing of MR images of a whole bovine femur was evaluated using CT images. The MR images were acquired by moving the table and were processed with 3D distortion correction and composing.

[A Method for Evaluating the T-weighting Effect in MRI].

Purpose: To propose a method for evaluating the T*-weighting effect in MRI.

Methods: Multiple solutions with different concentrations of a superparamagnetic iron oxide contrast agent were made and their signal intensities on T*-weighted images were measured. The relationship between iron concentration and signal intensity was determined, and we simulated an iron concentration map representing a simplified model of a brain microbleed and converted the pixel values in the map to signal intensity based on the determined relationship, generating a simulated T*-weighted image.

Screening and follow-up of chronic liver diseases with understanding their etiology in clinics and hospitals.

Background And Aim: Considering the increasing prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the development of an effective screening and follow-up system that enables the recognition of etiological changes by primary physicians in clinics and specialists in hospitals is required.

Methods: Chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV), NASH, and alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH) patients who were assayed for Mac-2-binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) ( = 272) and underwent magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) ( = 119) were enrolled. Patients who underwent MRE were also tested by ultrasound elastography (USE) ( = 80) and for M2BPGi ( = 97), autotaxin (ATX) ( = 62), and platelet count ( = 119), and their fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index was calculated ( = 119).

Improved wedge method for the measurement of sub-millimeter slice thicknesses in magnetic resonance imaging.

The standard method for measuring the slice thickness of magnetic resonance images uses the inclined surface of a wedge (wedge method); it is sensitive to small increases in noise because of the differentiation of the edge response function (ERF) required. The purpose of this study was to improve the wedge method by fitting a curve to the ERF. The curve-fit function was obtained by convolving an ideal ERF (a ramp function) with a Gaussian function to represent ERF blurring.

Flavonol glycosides in the petal of Rosa species as chemotaxonomic markers.

Thirteen flavonol glycosides were isolated from the petals of Rosa species belonging to the section Gallicanae, and their structures were identified from their spectroscopic data. These flavonol glycosides, along with two flavonol glycosides isolated from Rosa rugosa, in the petals of 31 Rosa species belonging to sections Gallicanae, Cinnamomeae, Caninae, and Synstylae were quantitatively analyzed by UPLC. The results indicated that the species belonging to these sections could be classified into four types (Type A, B, C and D) based on the pattern of flavonol glycoside contents, whereas the R.

Inhibitory effects of Capsicum annuum L. water extracts on lipoprotein lipase activity in 3T3-L1 cells.

Obesity, an intractable metabolic disease, currently has no medical treatment without side effects, so studies have been actively carried out to find natural compounds that have anti-obesity activity with minimum side effects. In this study, the anti-obesity effects of water extracts of seven Capsicum annuum L. varieties being Putgochu (Pca), Oyee gochu (Oca), Kwari putgochu (Kca), Green pepper (Gca), Yellow paprika (Yca), Red paprika (Rca) and Cheongyang gochu (Cca), were examined through the evaluation of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) mRNA expression level in 3T3-L1 cells (mouse pre-adipocytes).

[Preparation of water in oil type cream with high content of water containing Kochia scoparia fruit and Cnidium monnieri fruit].

Kikisui is a herbal lotion containing Kochia scoparia Fruit and Cnidium monnieri Fruit that is clinically used as an antipruritic for itchy dry skin. However, this formulation is unsuitable for inducing a prolonged effect. Here, we attempted to change the formulation from a lotion to a cream.

Botanical origin of mei-gui hua (petal of a Rosa species).

Mei-gui hua has been used as a crude drug in traditional medicine and as herbal tea in China. The scientific name of Mei-gui is Rosa rugosa thunb. However, the morphological characteristics and botanical ecology of Mei-gui were different from those of R.

Simultaneous determination of hydrolysable tannins in the petals of Rosa rugosa and allied plants.

The petals of Rosa rugosa and allied plants for medicinal use contain abundant hydrolysable tannins, and they show remarkable biological activities. The activities are dependent on the structures of the hydrolysable tannins, so their contents and compositions are essential for evaluation of medicinal potency. Therefore, we optimized the simultaneous quantitative determination of the hydrolysable tannins using ultra-performance liquid chromatography.

Inhibitory effects of Rosa gallica on the digestive enzymes.

The 50% aqueous ethanol extracts of petals of Rosa gallica collected in Xinjiang province, China, exhibited potent inhibitory effects against alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase. As the active principles, seven hydrolysable tannins were isolated from this species for the first time and elucidated by NMR and ESI-TOF-MS analysis. Quantitative analysis by ultra-performance liquid chromatography demonstrated that the contents of these hydrolysable tannins were 3-5% of the dry weight of the petals, and the hydrolysable tannins must be related to the medicinal utilization of this species.

Diffusion-perfusion mismatch in symptomatic vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Diffusion-weighted and perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were investigated as a method to detect diffusion-perfusion mismatch in the early stages of vasospasm in 17 patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage after aneurysm clipping. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with N-isopropyl-p-[(123)I]iodoamphetamine was also performed. Diffusion-perfusion mismatch was clearly identified in the 3 patients who manifested clinical deterioration.

Effects of Rosa rugosa petals on intestinal bacteria.

The effects of pulverized petal of Rosa rugosa on the growth of 10 species of intestinal and pathogenic bacteria were investigated. Growth of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli was not affected by the addition of the petal in plate cultivation. However, the growth of Bacteroides vulgatus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus was completely inhibited by the addition of 0.

[Detailed magnetic resonance imaging of abducens nerve by 3D-CISS].

Although abducens nerve palsy is a relatively common disease, the abducens nerve has been almost impossible to identify, because it is one of the finest cranial nerves and runs three-dimensionally in the prepontine cistern. Three-dimensional constructive interference in steady state (3D-CISS) is helpful in visualizing fine structural elements in the central nervous system because of its higher spatial resolution and fewer artifacts from cerebrospinal fluid. In this study, we successfully visualized the abducens nerve using 3D-CISS.