Optimal beam quality for chest flat panel detector system: realistic phantom study.

Objective: To investigate optimal beam quality for chest flat panel detector (FPD) system by semi-quantitatively assessment using a realistic lung phantom.

Materials And Methods: Chest FPD radiographs were obtained on a realistic lung phantom with simulated lung opacities using various X-ray tube voltage levels (90-140 kV) with/without copper filter. Entrance skin dose was set to maintain identical for all images (0.

Potential asbestos exposure among patients with primary lung cancer in Japan.

Objective: To investigate the extent of asbestos exposure among patients with primary lung cancer in Japan.

Methods: A retrospective estimation of potential asbestos-exposed individuals, as determined by the presence of pleural plaques identified on chest computed tomography (CT), was conducted on 885 pathologically confirmed primary lung cancer patients (mean age 71.3 years, 641 males).

Clinical performance metrics of 3D stereoscopic digital mammography compared with 2D digital mammography: observer study.

Objective: To assess the clinical performance of three-dimensional stereoscopic digital mammography (3DsDM) compared with two-dimensional digital mammography (2DDM) for breast lesion diagnosis with jackknife free-response receiver operating characteristics (JAFROC) observer study.

Methods: 40 pairs of standard-dose 2DDM and their 3DsDM images were used for an observer performance study. A total of 18 lesions were identified as the reference standard of actionable breast lesions (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System Category 3 or more) by two breast radiologists.

Detection of lung carcinoma with predominant ground-glass opacity on CT using temporal subtraction method.

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of the CT temporal subtraction (TS) method for the detection of the lung cancer with predominant ground-glass opacity (LC-pGGO).

Materials And Methods: Twenty-five pairs of CT and their TS images in patients with LC-pGGO (31 lesions) and 25 pairs of those in patients without nodules were used for an observer performance study. Eight radiologists participated and the statistical significance of differences with and without the CT-TS was assessed by JAFROC analysis.

Evaluation of the R2* value in invasive ductal carcinoma with respect to hypoxic-related prognostic factors using iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares emission (IDEAL).

Objective: To correlate the R2* value obtained by iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares emission (IDEAL) with fibrotic focus (FF), microvessel density and hypoxic biomarker (HIF-1α) in breast carcinoma.

Methods: Forty-two patients who were diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast underwent breast MRI including IDEAL before surgery. The entire region of interest (ROI) was delineated on the R2* map, and average tumour R2* value was calculated for each ROI.

Prediction of Femoral Neck Strength in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus with Trabecular Bone Analysis and Tomosynthesis Images.

Purpose To determine trabecular bone analysis values by using tomosynthesis images in determining femoral neck strength in patients with diabetes mellitus and compare its parameters between vertebral compression fracture and nonfracture groups. Materials and Methods The institutional review board approved this study, and written informed consent was obtained from all patients. Forty-nine patients with diabetes mellitus were included.

Effects of Brain Temperature on Cerebrovascular Autoregulation During the Acute Stage of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

The pressure reactivity index (PRx) is calculated as a moving correlation coefficient between intracranial pressure (ICP) and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), and this analytical value is viewed as reflecting a vasomotor response to MABP variability. At present, the factors influencing the PRx value during the acute stage of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are not known. We observed significant cases where changes in the calculated value of PRx seemed to be influenced by changes in brain temperature during the course of acute stage TBI.

Strategies and Pitfalls of Motor-Evoked Potential Monitoring during Supratentorial Aneurysm Surgery.

Background: The aims of this study were to reveal the strategies and pitfalls of motor-evoked potential (MEP) monitoring methods during supratentorial aneurysm surgery, and to discuss the drawbacks and advantages of each method by reviewing our experiences.

Methods: Intraoperative MEP monitoring was performed in 250 patients. Results from 4 monitoring techniques using combinations of 2 stimulation sites and 2 recording sites were analyzed retrospectively.

[Fact-finding survey on regional healthcare services for patients with epilepsy based on a questionnaire administered to public health centers in Japan].

Objectives: Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. The prevalence of epilepsy is about 1%, and its incidence is increasing with the aging population. In addition to their medical problems, epilepsy patients face many social problems, including schooling, working, and maintaining their driver's licenses.

Concurrent hyperfractionated chemoradiotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: the prognostic impact of the overall treatment time and completion rates of chemotherapy.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the overall treatment time and completion rates of chemotherapy were predictive factors for the survival rates in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) who were treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) using hyperfractionated radiotherapy (RT) and daily carboplatin. The number of intermission days of RT were as follows; 0 (n = 37), 1-5 (n = 8), 6-10 (n = 12) and ≥11 (n = 12), and the days of RT without carboplatin; 0 (n = 27), 1-5 (n = 13), 6-10 (n = 13) and ≥7 (n = 16). The overall treatment time (≤48 vs ≥49 days) was a significant prognostic factor for the local control, disease-free survival and overall survival rates.

Definitive 3D-CRT for clinically localized prostate cancer: modifications of the clinical target volume following a prostate MRI and the clinical benefits.

Purpose: To evaluate the modifications of the tumor stage and clinical target volume following a prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate the tumor (T) staging, and the clinical benefits for prostate cancer.

Methods: A total of 410 patients with newly diagnosed and clinically localized prostate cancer were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were treated with definitive three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT).

The Palm-Sized Cryoprobe System Based on Refrigerant Expansion and Boiling and Its Application to an Animal Model of Epilepsy.

Goal: The purpose of this study is to propose the palm-sized cryoprobe system based on a new concept and to suggest that the freezing technique could be used for treatment of epilepsy.

Methods: We propose herein a cryoprobe system based on the boiling effect that uses a specific refrigerants with a boiling point higher than that of liquid nitrogen yet low enough to result in cell necrosis. To evaluate and verify the effectiveness of the proposed system, cooling characteristics are investigated in agar.

A novel trigger for cholesterol-dependent smooth muscle contraction mediated by the sphingosylphosphorylcholine-Rho-kinase pathway in the rat basilar artery: a mechanistic role for lipid rafts.

Hyperlipidemia is a risk factor for abnormal cerebrovascular events. Rafts are cholesterol-enriched membrane microdomains that influence signal transduction. We previously showed that Rho-kinase-mediated Ca(2+) sensitization of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) induced by sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) has a pivotal role in cerebral vasospasm.

Changes in glutamate concentration, glucose metabolism, and cerebral blood flow during focal brain cooling of the epileptogenic cortex in humans.

Objective: Recently, focal brain cooling (FBC) was proposed as a method for treating refractory epilepsy. However, the precise influence of cooling on the molecular basis of epilepsy has not been elucidated. Thus the aim of this study was to assess the effect of FBC on glutamate (Glu) concentration, cerebral blood flow (CBF), and glucose metabolism in patients with intractable epilepsy.

Temporal subtraction method for lung nodule detection on successive thoracic CT soft-copy images.

Purpose: To assess the effects of a new computed tomographic (CT) temporal subtraction (TS) method on radiologist performance in lung nodule detection on thin-section CT images.

Materials And Methods: The institutional review board approved this study, and the informed consent requirement was waived. Fifty pairs (current and previous CT images) of standard-dose 2-mm thin-section CT images and corresponding CT TS images were used for an observer performance study.

Tomosynthesis of the wrist and hand in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: comparison with radiography and MRI.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to compare tomosynthesis with radiography and MRI of the wrist and hand for evaluating bone erosion in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Materials And Methods: Twenty consecutive patients with an established diagnosis of RA and five control patients were included in this study. They underwent radiography, tomosynthesis, and MRI of the bilateral hand and wrist within a week.

A case of thrombosed giant aneurysm of the azygos anterior cerebral artery: clipping under monitoring of motor evoked potentials of the lower extremities.

Giant aneurysms of the distal anterior cerebral artery (ACA), especially the azygos ACA, are rare. We treated a patient with giant aneurysm of the azygos ACA who underwent aspiration of thrombus and clipping under monitoring of motor evoked potentials of the lower extremities (L-MEPs), resulting in remarkable recovery of motor and intellectual function. A 72-year-old male was admitted with left motor weakness persisting for 2 weeks.

Characteristics of intraoperative abnormal hemodynamics during resection of an intra-fourth ventricular tumor located on the dorsal medulla oblongata.

Abnormal hemodynamics during extirpation of a para-medulla oblongata (MO) tumor is common and may be associated with direct vagal stimulation of the medullary circuit. However, resection of tumors on the dorsal MO may also induce hemodynamic instability without direct vagal stimulus. The objective of this study was to examine the characteristics of hemodynamic instability unrelated to vagal stimulus during dissection of an intra-fourth ventricular tumor with attachment to the dorsal MO.

Development of an implantable flexible probe for simultaneous near-infrared spectroscopy and electrocorticography.

A combination of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and electrocorticography (ECoG) provides beneficial information on cortical activity from different aspects. Integration of such multimodal measurement capability into a single apparatus and the direct measurement of cortical activity during chronic subdural implantation may be a powerful means for clinical diagnosis and neuroscience. However, an optical fiber-based NIRS probe cannot be miniaturized for implantation into the brain, and the light-scattering effect of ECoG electrodes in NIRS measurements is unknown.

Effect of the neutrophil elastase inhibitor sivelestat on perioperative inflammatory response after pediatric heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass: a prospective randomized study.

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) elicits a systemic inflammatory response. The neutrophil elastase inhibitor sivelestat is known to suppress this systemic inflammatory response, which can eventually result in acute organ failure. The prophylactic effect of sivelestat on acute lung injury, especially in pediatric cardiac surgery, remains unclear.