Synergistic Role of Quantitative Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Predicting Outcomes After Traumatic Brain Injury.

Objective: This study aimed to assess if quantitative diffusion magnetic resonance imaging analysis would improve prognostication of individual patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

Methods: We analyzed images of 30 healthy controls to extract normal fractional anisotropy ranges along 18 white-matter tracts. Then, we analyzed images of 33 patients, compared their fractional anisotropy values with normal ranges extracted from controls, and computed severity of injury to white-matter tracts.

3D MR Neurography.

High-resolution isotropic volumetric three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) techniques enable multiplanar depiction of peripheral nerves. In addition, 3D MRN provides anatomical and functional tissue characterization of different disease conditions affecting the peripheral nerves. In this review article, we summarize clinically relevant technical considerations of 3D MRN image acquisition and review clinical applications of 3D MRN to assess peripheral nerve diseases, such as entrapments, trauma, inflammatory or infectious neuropathies, and neoplasms.

Imaging Assessment of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

Imaging studies play a significant role in assessment of thoracic outlet syndrome. In this article, we discuss the etiology and definition of thoracic outlet syndrome and review the spectrum of imaging findings seen in patients with thoracic outlet syndrome. We then discuss an optimized technique for computed tomography and MRI of patients with thoracic outlet syndrome, based on the experience at our institution and present some representative examples.

Current Applications and Future Impact of Machine Learning in Radiology.

Recent advances and future perspectives of machine learning techniques offer promising applications in medical imaging. Machine learning has the potential to improve different steps of the radiology workflow including order scheduling and triage, clinical decision support systems, detection and interpretation of findings, postprocessing and dose estimation, examination quality control, and radiology reporting. In this article, the authors review examples of current applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques in diagnostic radiology.

Proposal of a New Adverse Event Classification by the Society of Interventional Radiology Standards of Practice Committee.

Purpose: To develop a new adverse event (AE) classification for the interventional radiology (IR) procedures and evaluate its clinical, research, and educational value compared with the existing Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) classification via an SIR member survey.

Materials And Methods: A new AE classification was developed by members of the Standards of Practice Committee of the SIR. Subsequently, a survey was created by a group of 18 members from the SIR Standards of Practice Committee and Service Lines.

Socioeconomic and Demographic Predictors of Missed Opportunities to Provide Advanced Imaging Services.

Purpose: The extent to which racial and socioeconomic disparities exist in accessing clinically appropriate, advanced diagnostic imaging has not been well studied. This study assesses the relationship between demographic and socioeconomic factors and the incidence of imaging missed care opportunities (IMCOs).

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of outpatient CT and MRI appointments at a quaternary academic medical center and affiliated outpatient facilities during a 12-month period.

Effectiveness of second-opinion radiology consultations to reassess the cervical spine CT scans: a study on trauma patients referred to a tertiary-care hospital.

Purpose: A second opinion is a valuable resource in confirming proper medical diagnosis and treatment. This study evaluates the effectiveness of second-opinion radiology consultations to reassess the cervical spine computed tomography (CT) scans of the trauma patients referred to our hospital.

Methods: Cervical spine CT scans of 301 consecutive adult trauma patients, who were referred to our hospital from outside institutions, were analyzed.

Hospital Evaluations by Social Media: A Comparative Analysis of Facebook Ratings among Performance Outliers.

Background: An increasing number of hospitals and health systems utilize social media to allow users to provide feedback and ratings. The correlation between ratings on social media and more conventional hospital quality metrics remains largely unclear, raising concern that healthcare consumers may make decisions on inaccurate or inappropriate information regarding quality.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which hospitals utilize social media and whether user-generated metrics on Facebook(®) correlate with a Hospital Compare(®) metric, specifically 30-day all cause unplanned hospital readmission rates.

Technical limitations of dual-energy CT in neuroradiology: 30-month institutional experience and review of literature.

Background: Dual-energy CT (DECT) has been shown to be a useful modality in neuroradiology.

Objective: To assess failure modes and limitations of DECT in different neuroimaging applications.

Patients And Methods: Dual-source DECT scans were performed in 72 patients over 30 months to differentiate contrast agent staining or extravasation from intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) (n=40); to differentiate calcium from ICH (n=2); for metal-artifact reduction (n=5); and for angiographic assessment (n=25).

Coronary artery calcification is often not reported in pulmonary CT angiography in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism: an opportunity to improve diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: In patients with suspected pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), coronary artery calcification (CAC) can be an incidental finding on pulmonary CT angiography. We evaluated the frequency of CAC not being reported and its association with a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Materials And Methods: Data of 469 consecutive patients who were referred to the emergency radiology department for pulmonary CT angiography of suspected PTE were reviewed.

Temporal evolution of intraparenchymal hyperdensity after intra-arterial therapy in patients with ischemic stroke: optimal discrimination between hemorrhage and iodinated contrast.

Purpose: CT hyperattenuation arising from iodinated contrast has a different temporal evolution than that arising due to hemorrhage. This paper presents a method for optimal discrimination between hemorrhage and iodinated contrast in a postintervention CT in stroke patients.

Methods: We analyzed the brain computed tomography (CT) scans of consecutive patients with intraparenchymal hyperattenuation due to hemorrhage (n=41), those due to iodinated contrast alone (n=24), and those due to contrast mixed with hemorrhage after reperfusion therapy (n=14) in stroke patients.

White matter changes in comatose survivors of anoxic ischemic encephalopathy and traumatic brain injury: comparative diffusion-tensor imaging study.

Purpose: To analyze white matter pathologic abnormalities by using diffusion-tensor (DT) imaging in a multicenter prospective cohort of comatose patients following cardiac arrest or traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approval and informed consent from proxies and control subjects were obtained. DT imaging was performed 5-57 days after insult in 49 cardiac arrest and 40 TBI patients.

Location specific sleep spindle activity in the early visual areas and perceptual learning.

Visual perceptual learning (VPL) is consolidated during sleep. However, the underlying neuronal mechanisms of consolidation are not yet fully understood. It has been suggested that the spontaneous brain oscillations that characterize sleep stages are indicative of the consolidation of learning and memory.

Inter-observer reproducibility of semi-automatic tumor diameter measurement and volumetric analysis in patients with lung cancer.

Objectives: Therapy monitoring in oncologic patient requires precise measurement methods. In order to improve the precision of measurements, we used a semi-automated generic segmentation algorithm to measure the size of large lung cancer tumors. The reproducibility of computer-assisted measurements were assessed and compared with manual measurements.

Long-term white matter changes after severe traumatic brain injury: a 5-year prospective cohort.

Background And Purpose: Extensive white matter damage has been documented in patients with severe traumatic brain injury, yet how this damage evolves in the long term is not well understood. We used DTI to study white matter changes at 5 years after traumatic brain injury.

Materials And Methods: There were 8 healthy control participants and 13 patients with severe traumatic brain injury who were enrolled in a prospective observational study, which included clinical assessment and brain MR imaging in the acute setting (< 6 weeks) and 2 years and 5 years after injury.

C-arm CT for histomorphometric evaluation of lumbar spine trabecular microarchitecture: a study on anorexia nervosa patients.

Bone histomorphometry measurements require high spatial resolution that may not be feasible using multidetector CT (MDCT). This study evaluated the trabecular microarchitecture of lumbar spine using MDCT and C-arm CT in a series of young adult patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). 11 young females with AN underwent MDCT (anisotropic resolution with a slice thickness of ~626 μm) and C-arm CT (isotropic resolution of ~200 µm).

Accuracy of anthropometric parameters in identification of high-risk patients predicted with cardiovascular risk models.

Background: Overweight and obesity are associated with unfavorable outcomes on the cardiovascular system. Early detection of the patients' high risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a primary care priority. Simple-to-use screening tools derived from anthropometric parameters and obesity-related indices could serve this purpose.

Appropriate BMI cut-off values for identification of metabolic risk factors: third national surveillance of risk factors of non-communicable diseases in Iran (SuRFNCD-2007).

Aim: To determine the appropriate threshold of body mass index (BMI) associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in a large representative sample of an Iranian population.

Subjects And Methods: Data of third national surveillance of risk factors of non-communicable diseases (SuRFNCD-2007) were used in this study. Sensitivity, specificity, and shortest distance on the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine gender-specific optimal cut-offs of BMI for cardiometabolic risk factors including elevated blood pressure, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high triglycerides, high fasting plasma glucose and for ≥ 2 of the aforementioned risk factors.

Amygdalin inhibits angiogenesis in the cultured endothelial cells of diabetic rats.

Background: Angiogenesis contributes to different physiological and pathological conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate for the first time the antiangiogenic effects of amygdalin on the cultured endothelial cells of diabetic rats.

Materials And Methods: A total of 20 streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were divided into two equal groups of control and amygdalin-treated animals.

Graves' ophthalmopathy: a review of immunogenetics.

Graves' disease (GD) is the most common cause of thyrotoxicosis and often involves the orbits. Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO), also known as Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), can be clinically significant and advance to sight-threatening stages. Our knowledge of the immunogenetic pathophysiology of GO is rapidly expanding.

The value of visfatin in the prediction of metabolic syndrome: a multi-factorial analysis.

We describe the adipokine concentration in patients with metabolic syndrome, stressing the role of visfatin. A cross-sectional single center study on 70 patients with metabolic syndrome plus 76 controls was performed. Patients with metabolic syndrome had higher visfatin levels compared to controls, following adjustments for age, sex, waist/hip circumference, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1c, body mass index, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) [(5.

Physical inactivity is correlated with levels of quantitative C-reactive protein in serum, independent of obesity: results of the national surveillance of risk factors of non-communicable diseases in Iran.

Increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are associated with coronary heart disease, stroke, and mortality. Physical activity prevents cardiovascular disorders, which can be partly mediated through reducing inflammation, including serum CRP levels. The association of different intensities of physical activity, sedentary behaviours, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in serum was examined after adjustment for markers of adiposity, including waist-circumference and body mass index (BMI), in a large population-based study.

The dual behavior of heat shock protein 70 and asymmetric dimethylarginine in relation to serum CRP levels in type 2 diabetes.

Background: Experimental evidence suggests that heat shock proteins (HSP) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) are induced in the state of chronic inflammation and stress conditions. They are both inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between ADMA and HSP70, in patients with type 2 diabetes with respect to serum levels of C reactive protein (CRP).