Assessment of Motor Cortex in Active, Passive and Imagery Wrist Movement Using Functional MRI.

Background: Functional Magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measures the small fluctuation of blood flow happening during task-fMRI in brain regions.

Objective: This research investigated these active, imagery and passive movements in volunteers design to permit a comparison of their capabilities in activating the brain areas.

Material And Methods: In this applied research, the activity of the motor cortex during the right-wrist movement was evaluated in 10 normal volunteers under active, passive, and imagery conditions.

Identification of the Cognitive Interference Effect Related to Stroop Stimulation: Using Dynamic Causal Modeling of Effective Connectivity in Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS).

Background: The Stroop test is a well-known model to denote the decline in performance under the incongruent condition, which requires selective attention and control of competitive responses. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy can identify activated brain regions associated with the Stroop interference effect.

Objective: This research aims to identify the neural correlates associated with the Stroop tasks within the brain activated regions.

Novel FMRI-Compatible wrist robotic device for brain activation assessment during rehabilitation exercise.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can be applied to study the effects of rehabilitation strategies for neuroscience research. An MRI-wrist robot is designed and used as a clinical tool to examine the process of the brain plasticity changes. In this robot, the patient actuation is accomplished with two standard air cylinders, located inside the MRI chamber with two degrees of freedom (flexion-extension and ulna-radial deviation) with pneumatic air transmission, consisting of simple mechanism converting rotary motion to linear independently.

Intravascular Ultrasound for the Peripheral Vasculature-Current Applications and New Horizons.

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a proven and rapidly developing imaging modality that can be used for a multitude of both diagnostic and interventional purposes. By allowing for superior intraluminal characterization, compared with angiography, IVUS has emerged as a technically valuable tool in interventional procedures such as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt/direct intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, venous interventions (May Thurner stenting, inferior vena cava filter placement, recanalization in the setting of chronic venous thrombosis/insufficiency), percutaneous fenestration in the setting of aortic dissection and angioplasty. Additional applications evaluating coronary arteries and plaque morphology have been described, but are outside the scope of this review.

Use of a vascular closure device during percutaneous arterial access in a dog with impaired hemostasis.

Objective: To report the use of a vascular closure device (VCD) to provide rapid arterial hemostasis following percutaneous femoral arterial catheterization and diagnostic angiography in a thrombocytopenic and coagulopathic dog.

Case Summary: A 6-year-old female spayed Kai Ken Tora dog presented after vehicular trauma. The dog was diagnosed with traumatic pneumothorax, degloving wounds of the right antebrachium, subcutaneous hemorrhage within the axillary tissues of the left thoracic limb, and anemia and thrombocytopenia secondary to acute hemorrhage.

Use of an intravenous sclerosing foam (3% sodium tetradecyl sulfate) for treatment of orbital varix in a dog.

A 6-month-old intact male Standard Dachshund was referred for evaluation of a soft tissue swelling above the right eye. Examination of the right eye revealed mild lateral deviation of the globe, normal vision, and a dorsonasal soft tissue swelling. Examination of the posterior segment was normal.

Complications of Vascular Access: Superior Vena Cava Syndrome.

Stenosis or occlusion of central veins in hemodialysis patients is common, especially with previous intravascular catheter or device use. Superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction is emerging as a frequent chronic complication of central vein cannulation that not only jeopardizes the availability of vascular access for hemodialysis, but can become a life-threatening emergency. Clinical features of SVC syndrome can be subtle or dramatic, including facial swelling and shortness of breath, which require expeditious attention and intervention.

Gastric Artery Embolization Trial for the Lessening of Appetite Nonsurgically (GET LEAN): Six-Month Preliminary Data.

Purpose: To report 6-month safety and efficacy results of a pilot study of left gastric artery (LGA) embolization for the treatment of morbid obesity (ie, body mass index [BMI] > 40 kg/m(2)).

Materials And Methods: Four white patients (three women; average age, 41 y [range, 30-54 y]; mean weight, 259.3 lbs [range, 199-296 lbs]; mean BMI, 42.

Transarterial Chemoembolization for Metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumors With Massive Hepatic Tumor Burden: Is the Benefit Worth the Risk?

Background: Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) have a propensity to metastasize to the liver, often resulting in massive tumor burden and hepatic dysfunction. While transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is effective in treating patients with NET metastatic to the liver, there are limited data on its utility and benefit in patients with large hepatic involvement. The aim of our study was to determine the clinical benefit and complication rate of TACE in patients with massive hepatic tumor burden.

Elevated Alkaline Phosphatase Prior to Transarterial Chemoembolization for Neuroendocrine Tumors Predicts Worse Outcomes.

Introduction: We hypothesized that an elevated preoperative alkaline phosphatase (AP) predicted worse outcomes for patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for neuroendocrine tumor (NET) liver metastases.

Methods: We reviewed all patients who underwent TACE for metastatic NET between 2009 and 2013. Survival was evaluated using preprocedure variables.

Transarterial chemoembolization is ineffective for neuroendocrine tumors metastatic to the caudate lobe: a single institution review.

Background: Caudate lobe liver metastases occur commonly in patients with neuroendocrine tumors. It is unknown, however, how these lesions respond to regional therapy and how their presence impacts outcomes. We reviewed our experience treating these lesions using transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Microwave ablation for hepatic malignancies: a multiinstitutional analysis.

Objective: This study hypothesized that tumor size, number of tumors, surgical approach, and tumor histology significantly affected microwave ablation (MWA) success and recurrence-free survival.

Background: Although many hepatobiliary centers have adopted MWA, the factors that influence local control are not well described.

Methods: Consecutive patients with hepatic malignancy treated by MWA were included from 4 high-volume institutions (2003-2011) and grouped by histology: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), colorectal liver metastases, neuroendocrine liver metastases, and other cancers.

Extrahepatic disease should not preclude transarterial chemoembolization for metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma.

Background: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is often utilized for patients with inoperable neuroendocrine carcinoma liver metastases. Often, metastatic disease is not limited to the liver. The impact of extrahepatic disease (EHD) on outcomes and response after TACE has not been described.

Best radiological response to trans-arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma does not imply better outcomes.

Introduction: Regional therapy with trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a common treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Outcomes were examined in patients with the best radiological response (BR) after the initial TACE.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent TACE as the initial treatment for HCC between the years 2000 and 2010.

Inflammatory markers are associated with outcome in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing transarterial chemoembolization.

Background: The serum neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is associated with outcomes in several solid organ cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: We reviewed our experience in patients with HCC who underwent transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) as the initial treatment. Serum complete blood counts were used to calculate the NLR before and after TACE.

Yttrium-90 radioembolization as salvage therapy for colorectal cancer with liver metastases.

Background: Few patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) are candidates for resection of their hepatic disease. Yttrium-90 ((90)Y) radioembolization has promise in the treatment of unresectable mCRC. We conducted a retrospective study to assess the efficacy in patients with refractory mCRC who underwent (90)Y radioembolization.

Persistent left superior vena cava: review of the literature, clinical implications, and relevance of alterations in thoracic central venous anatomy as pertaining to the general principles of central venous access device placement and venography in cancer patients.

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) represents the most common congenital venous anomaly of the thoracic systemic venous return, occurring in 0.3% to 0.5% of individuals in the general population, and in up to 12% of individuals with other documented congential heart abnormalities.

Yttrium-90 microsphere induced gastrointestinal tract ulceration.

Background: Radiomicrosphere therapy (RT) utilizing yttrium-90 (90Y) microspheres has been shown to be an effective regional treatment for primary and secondary hepatic malignancies. We sought to determine a large academic institution's experience regarding the extent and frequency of gastrointestinal complications.

Methods: Between 2004 and 2007, 27 patients underwent RT for primary or secondary hepatic malignancies.

Hepatic artery chemoembolization in 122 patients with metastatic carcinoid tumor: lessons learned.

Background: Hepatic artery chemoembolization (HACE) is a treatment option in the management of metastatic carcinoid. We reviewed our experience to identify potential factors that influence survival.

Methods: The records of 122 patients with metastatic carcinoid tumor undergoing HACE were reviewed.

Proposed pathogenesis of idiopathic loin pain-hematuria syndrome.

Background: To study loin pain-hematuria syndrome (LPHS) pathogenesis, we evaluated 43 consecutive patients for whom urological evaluation failed to disclose the cause of their recurrent flank pain and hematuria. Each underwent percutaneous kidney biopsy. In 9 patients, the biopsy specimen showed immunoglobulin A nephritis, an established cause of LPHS.

Magnetic resonance angiography for preoperative evaluation of potential kidney donors.

Background: Careful evaluation of the renovascular anatomy for living kidney donors is essential to optimize donor and recipient outcomes. Arteriography has been the standard for delineating the renovascular anatomy. However, this procedure is invasive.

Serum pancreastatin levels predict response to hepatic artery chemoembolization and somatostatin analogue therapy in metastatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Introduction: Neuroendocrine tumors often metastasize to the liver and present with disabling hormonal symptoms. Hepatic artery chemoembolization (HACE) combined with somatostatin therapy, pre-embolization, peri-embolization and post-embolization, at doses to control symptoms, is an aggressive approach that can relieve hormonal symptoms with minimal morbidity and mortality.

Methods: Chemoembolization was performed using 30 mg of adriamycin, 50 mg of mitomycin, 12 ml of hexabrix, 10 ml of ethiodol, and 360-500-microm particles.