MR elastography: high rate of technical success in pediatric and young adult patients.

Background: Magnetic resonance (MR) elastography allows the noninvasive assessment of liver stiffness, which is a surrogate for fibrosis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe our experience using liver MR elastography in a large pediatric population with attention to the frequency and causes of exam failure.

Materials And Methods: Imaging records were searched for patients ≤18 years of age who underwent 2-D gradient recalled echo (GRE) MR elastography of the liver between September 2011 and August 2015 on one of two 1.

Three-dimensional assessment of left atrial appendage orifice geometry and potential implications for device closure.

Transcatheter placement of left atrial closure device is an attractive therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), to avoid anticoagulation and reduce cerebrovascular events; however peri-device leaks occur. The geometry of the left atrial appendage (LAA) is not well understood, largely owing to limitations of 2-dimensional imaging techniques. We sought to better define the LAA orifice geometry, by performing 3-dimensional multi-detector computed tomography measurements.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase activity of breast cancer stem cells is primarily due to isoform ALDH1A3 and its expression is predictive of metastasis.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are proposed to initiate cancer and propagate metastasis. Breast CSCs identified by aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity are highly tumorigenic in xenograft models. However, in patient breast tumor immunohistological studies, where CSCs are identified by expression of ALDH isoform ALDH1A1, CSC prevalence is not correlative with metastasis, raising some doubt as to the role of CSCs in cancer.