Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine for prevention of COVID-19 and other respiratory tract infections in older adults with comorbidities: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To test whether Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination would reduce the incidence of COVID-19 and other respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in older adults with one or more comorbidities.

Methods: Community-dwelling adults aged 60 years or older with one or more underlying comorbidities and no contraindications to BCG vaccination were randomized 1:1 to BCG or placebo vaccination and followed for 6 months. The primary endpoint was a self-reported, test-confirmed COVID-19 incidence.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors of preventable hospital readmissions within 30 days.

Knowledge regarding preventable hospital readmissions is scarce. Our aim was to compare the clinical characteristics of potentially preventable readmissions (PPRs) with non-PPRs. Additionally, we aimed to identify risk factors for PPRs.

Supplemental Breast MRI for Women with Extremely Dense Breasts: Results of the Second Screening Round of the DENSE Trial.

Background In the first (prevalent) supplemental MRI screening round of the Dense Tissue and Early Breast Neoplasm Screening (DENSE) trial, a considerable number of breast cancers were found at the cost of an increased false-positive rate (FPR). In incident screening rounds, a lower cancer detection rate (CDR) is expected due to a smaller pool of prevalent cancers, and a reduced FPR, due to the availability of prior MRI examinations. Purpose To investigate screening performance indicators of the second round (incidence round) of the DENSE trial.

Quality of life in patients with liver tumors treated with holmium-166 radioembolization.

Holmium-166 radioembolization is a palliative treatment option for patients with unresectable hepatic malignancies. Its influence on quality of life has not been evaluated yet. Since quality of life is very important in the final stages of disease, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of holmium-166 radioembolization on quality of life.

Contradiction between amide-CEST signal and pH in breast cancer explained with metabolic MRI.

Purpose: Metabolic MRI is a noninvasive technique that can give new insights into understanding cancer metabolism and finding biomarkers to evaluate or monitor treatment plans. Using this technique, a previous study has shown an increase in pH during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) treatment, while recent observation in a different study showed a reduced amide proton transfer (APT) signal during NAC treatment (negative relation). These findings are counterintuitive, given the known intrinsic positive relation of APT signal to pH.

MRI guided focal HDR brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer: Toxicity, biochemical outcome and quality of life.

Purpose: To describe toxicity, biochemical outcome and quality of life after MRI guided focal high dose rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) in a single fraction of 19 Gy for localized prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: Between May 2013 and April 2016, 30 patients were treated by MRI-guided focal HDR-BT. Patients with visible tumour on MRI were included.

Additional hepatic Ho-radioembolization in patients with neuroendocrine tumours treated with Lu-DOTATATE; a single center, interventional, non-randomized, non-comparative, open label, phase II study (HEPAR PLUS trial).

Background: Neuroendocrine tumours (NET) consist of a heterogeneous group of neoplasms with various organs of origin. At diagnosis 21% of the patients with a Grade 1 NET and 30% with a Grade 2 NET have distant metastases. Treatment with peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) shows a high objective response rate and long median survival after treatment.

Accuracy of SPECT/CT-based lung dose calculation for Holmium-166 hepatic radioembolization before OSEM convergence.

Purpose: In intra-arterial hepatic radioembolization using Holmium-166 ( Ho) microspheres, a predicted lung-absorbed dose of more than 30 Gy is a contraindication for therapy. Therefore, scout imaging by means of quantitative SPECT of the lungs after a low-dose pretreatment session is essential. Earlier we showed the superiority of Monte Carlo-based iterative SPECT reconstructions over conventional reconstructions due to its quantitative nature, required for dosimetry, at the cost of substantial computation times.

Radioembolisation in Europe: A Survey Amongst CIRSE Members.

Introduction: Radioembolisation of liver tumours demands many choices from the physician regarding planning of treatment and subsequent follow-up.

Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed amongst all members of the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE) to investigate the current state of radioembolisation practice.

Results: The survey was completed by 60 centres.

Focal MRI-Guided Salvage High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy in Patients With Radiorecurrent Prostate Cancer.

Introduction: Whole-gland salvage treatment of radiorecurrent prostate cancer has a high rate of severe toxicity. The standard of care in case of a biochemical recurrence is androgen deprivation treatment, which is associated with morbidity and negative effects on quality of life. A salvage treatment with acceptable toxicity might postpone the start of androgen deprivation treatment, might have a positive influence on the patients' quality of life, and might even be curative.

Eligibility of patients for minimally invasive breast cancer therapy based on MRI analysis of tumor proximity to skin and pectoral muscle.

There is growing interest in minimally invasive breast cancer therapy. Eligibility of patients is, however, dependent on several factors related to the tumor and treatment technology. The aim of this study is to assess the proportion of patients eligible for minimally invasive breast cancer therapy for different safety and treatment margins based on breast tumor location.

Anatomic versus Metabolic Tumor Response Assessment after Radioembolization Treatment.

Purpose: To assess applicability of metabolic tumor response assessment on F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) after radioembolization (RE) in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) by comparison with one-dimensional size-based response assessment on MR imaging.

Materials And Methods: This prospective cohort study comprised 38 patients with CRLM undergoing RE. MR imaging and F-FDG PET/CT imaging were performed at baseline, 1 month (n = 38), and 3 months (n = 21).

Efficacy of Radioembolization with Ho-Microspheres in Salvage Patients with Liver Metastases: A Phase 2 Study.

Radioembolization of liver malignancies with Ho-microspheres has been shown to be safe in a phase 1 dose-escalation study. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of Ho radioembolization. In this prospective single-arm study, 56 patients were enrolled, all with liver metastases refractory to systemic therapy and ineligible for surgical resection.

Safety analysis of holmium-166 microsphere scout dose imaging during radioembolisation work-up: A cohort study.

Objective: Radioembolisation is generally preceded by a scout dose of technetium-99m-macroaggregated albumin to estimate extrahepatic shunting of activity. Holmium-166 microspheres can be used as a scout dose (±250 MBq) and as a therapeutic dose. The general toxicity of a holmium-166 scout dose (Ho-SD) and safety concerns of an accidental extrahepatic deposition of Ho-SD were investigated.

Early health technology assessment of magnetic resonance-guided high intensity focused ultrasound ablation for the treatment of early-stage breast cancer.

Background: Magnetic resonance-guided high intensity focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU) ablation is in development for minimally invasive treatment of breast cancer. Cost-effectiveness has not been assessed yet. An early health technology assessment was performed to estimate costs of MR-HIFU ablation, compared to breast conserving treatment (BCT).

Recommendations for radioembolisation after liver surgery using yttrium-90 resin microspheres based on a survey of an international expert panel.

Introduction: Guidelines on how to adjust activity in patients with a history of liver surgery who are undergoing yttrium-90 radioembolisation (Y-RE) are lacking. The aim was to study the variability in activity prescription in these patients, between centres with extensive experience using resin microspheres Y-RE, and to draw recommendations on activity prescription based on an expert consensus.

Methods: The variability in activity prescription between centres was investigated by a survey of international experts in the field of Y-RE.

Patient Preferences for Minimally Invasive and Open Locoregional Treatment for Early-Stage Breast Cancer.

Background: Noninvasive or minimally invasive treatments are being developed as alternatives to surgery for patients with early-stage breast cancer. Patients' preferences with regard to these new treatments have not been investigated.

Objectives: To assess preferences of patients with breast cancer and of healthy women regarding these new techniques, compared with conventional surgical treatments.

Hepatobiliary scintigraphy may improve radioembolization treatment planning in HCC patients.

Background: Routine work-up for transarterial radioembolization, based on clinical and laboratory parameters, sometimes fails, resulting in severe hepatotoxicity in up to 5% of patients. Quantitative assessment of the pretreatment liver function and its segmental distribution, using hepatobiliary scintigraphy may improve patient selection and treatment planning. A case series will be presented to illustrate the potential of this technique.

Surefire infusion system versus standard microcatheter use during holmium-166 radioembolization: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: An anti-reflux catheter (ARC) may increase the tumor absorbed dose during radioembolization (RE) by elimination of particle reflux and its effects on hemodynamics. Since the catheter is fixed in a centro-luminal position, it may also increase the predictive accuracy of a scout dose administration before treatment. The purpose of the SIM trial is to compare the effects of ARC use during RE with holmium-166 (Ho) microspheres in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM), with the use of a standard end-hole microcatheter.

Procedural sedation and analgesia for respiratory-gated MR-HIFU in the liver: a feasibility study.

Background: Previous studies demonstrated both pre-clinically and clinically the feasibility of magnetic resonance-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU) ablations in the liver. To overcome the associated problem of respiratory motion of the ablation area, general anesthesia (GA) and mechanical ventilation was used in conjunction with either respiratory-gated energy delivery or energy delivery during induced apnea. However, clinical procedures requiring GA are generally associated with increased mortality, morbidity, and complication rate compared to procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA).

Erratum to: Dynamic contrast-enhanced breast MRI at 7T and 3T: an intra-individual comparison study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s40064-015-1654-7.].

High-resolution T-weighted cervical cancer imaging: a feasibility study on ultra-high-field 7.0-T MRI with an endorectal monopole antenna.

Objectives: We studied the feasibility of high-resolution T-weighted cervical cancer imaging on an ultra-high-field 7.0-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system using an endorectal antenna of 4.7-mm thickness.

Liver CT for vascular mapping during radioembolisation workup: comparison of an early and late arterial phase protocol.

Objectives: To compare right gastric (RGA) and segment 4 artery (A4) origin detection rates during radioembolisation workup between early and late arterial phase liver CT protocols.

Methods: 100 consecutive patients who underwent liver CT between May 2012-January 2015 with early or late arterial phase protocol (n = 50 each, 10- vs. 20-s post-threshold delay) were included.