A randomised controlled pilot trial protocol for patient led cognitive gamified training during haemodialysis.

Disruptions in cognitive function have been reported in individuals undergoing haemodialysis and those with chronic kidney disease. This pilot study protocol primarily assesses the feasibility and acceptability of using mobile cognitive gaming apps for patient-led cognitive training during haemodialysis sessions. The protocol consists of three phases: (1) reviewing and evaluating available cognitive gaming apps, (2) conducting focus groups/interviews with people with kidney disease to determine app preferences, and (3) undertaking a quasi-experimental randomised controlled trial to compare cognitive outcomes between a patient-led app intervention group and a standard care control group over four months.

Developing research skills in medical students online using an active research study.

Background: Developing research skills and scholarship are key components of medical education. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated that all teaching be delivered online. We introduced an approach to small group teaching in the academic year 2020-2021 online which involved students in an active (ongoing) research study to develop their research skills.

The negative impact of COVID-19 on working memory revealed using a rapid online quiz.

Although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects the respiratory system, it can also have neurological consequences leading to cognitive deficits such as memory problems. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of COVID-19 on working memory function. We developed and implemented an online anonymous survey with a working memory quiz incorporating aspects of gamification to engage participants.

A comparative experimental study of visual brain event-related potentials to a working memory task: virtual reality head-mounted display versus a desktop computer screen.

Virtual reality head mounted display (VR HMD) systems are increasingly utilised in combination with electroencephalography (EEG) in the experimental study of cognitive tasks. The aim of our investigation was to determine the similarities/differences between VR HMD and the computer screen (CS) in response to an n-back working memory task by comparing visual electrophysiological event-related potential (ERP) waveforms (N1/P1/P3 components). The same protocol was undertaken for VR HMD and CS with participants wearing the same EEG headcap.

Marker-free optical stereo motion tracking for in-bore MRI and PET-MRI application.

Purpose: Prospective motion correction is arguably the "silver bullet" solution for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies impacted by motion, applicable to almost any pulse sequence and immune from the spin history artifacts introduced by a moving object. In prospective motion correction, the magnetic field gradients and radio frequency waveforms are adjusted in real time in response to measured head motion so as to maintain the head in a stationary reference frame relative to the scanner. Vital for this approach are accurate and rapidly sampled head pose measurements, which may be obtained optically using cameras.

Increased cardio-ankle vascular index values in patients with acute branch retinal vein occlusion.

Purpose: Patients with retinal vein occlusions (RVOs) are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Arterial stiffness is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events. Our aim is to evaluate the arterial stiffness in patients with acute branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) by using cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI).

Multiplexed ion beam imaging (MIBI) for characterization of the tumor microenvironment across tumor types.

An ability to characterize the cellular composition and spatial organization of the tumor microenvironment (TME) using multiplexed IHC has been limited by the techniques available. Here we show the applicability of multiplexed ion beam imaging (MIBI) for cell phenotype identification and analysis of spatial relationships across numerous tumor types. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples from tumor biopsies were simultaneously stained with a panel of 15 antibodies, each labeled with a specific metal isotope.

A within-coil optical prospective motion-correction system for brain imaging at 7T.

Purpose: Motion artifact limits the clinical translation of high-field MR. We present an optical prospective motion correction system for 7 Tesla MRI using a custom-built, within-coil camera to track an optical marker mounted on a subject.

Methods: The camera was constructed to fit between the transmit-receive coils with direct line of sight to a forehead-mounted marker, improving upon prior mouthpiece work at 7 Tesla MRI.

Rigid Motion Correction for Brain PET/MR Imaging using Optical Tracking.

A significant challenge during high-resolution PET brain imaging on PET/MR scanners is patient head motion. This challenge is particularly significant for clinical patient populations who struggle to remain motionless in the scanner for long periods of time. Head motion also affects the MR scan data.

Reduced field of view echo-planar imaging diffusion tensor MRI for pediatric spinal tumors.

Objective: Spine MRI is a diagnostic modality for evaluating pediatric CNS tumors. Applying diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) or diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to the spine poses challenges due to intrinsic spinal anatomy that exacerbates various image-related artifacts, such as signal dropouts or pileups, geometrical distortions, and incomplete fat suppression. The zonal oblique multislice (ZOOM)-echo-planar imaging (EPI) technique reduces geometric distortion and image blurring by reducing the field of view (FOV) without signal aliasing into the FOV.

Clinical course of abdominal aortic aneurysms in Behçet disease: a retrospective analysis.

Arterial aneurysms are rare manifestations of Behçet Disease (BD) with high morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate the clinical course of BD patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). We retrospectively searched charts of BD patients, followed up between 1988 and 2011, to identify those with AAA with at least 6-month clinical and radiological follow-up data.

Results and functional outcomes of en-bloc resection and vascular reconstruction in extremity musculoskeletal tumors.

Objectives: This paper aims to evaluate the extremity function and vascular outcome after limb-sparing surgery for extremity musculoskeletal tumors invading vascular structure required reconstruction.

Methods: Of the 507 patients with musculoskeletal tumors, who underwent surgery between 2004 and 2007, 17 (3,3%) patients with major vessel involvement were included in the study. The mean age was 37.

Cutaneous analgesia before transradial access for coronary intervention to prevent radial artery spasm.

Aim: Transradial access (TRA) for coronary intervention is increasingly used in current clinical practice. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hypothesis that cutaneous analgesia before TRA for coronary intervention at a puncture site 30 minutes before puncture can reduce patient discomfort and the incidence of radial artery spasm (RAS).

Methods: Patients (n=104) undergoing planned coronary interventions using TRA were prospectively randomized to receive either 1 mL of 1% lidocaine subcutaneously (n=52) (control group) or subcutaneous lidocaine plus 5% lidocaine cream (n=52) cutaneously 30 minutes before puncture (treatment group).

Prospective motion correction using coil-mounted cameras: Cross-calibration considerations.

Purpose: Optical prospective motion correction substantially reduces sensitivity to motion in neuroimaging of human subjects. However, a major barrier to clinical deployment has been the time-consuming cross-calibration between the camera and MRI scanner reference frames. This work addresses this challenge.

Comparison of serum folate, 25-OH vitamin D, and calcium levels between pregnants with and without fetal anomaly of neural tube origin.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare serum folate, vitamin B12, 25-OH vitamin D, and calcium levels between pregnants with and without fetal anomaly of neural tube origin.

Methods: One hundred seventy-eight pregnants were recruited for this study. Pregnants with and without sonographically detected fetal anomaly of neural tube origin were compared in terms of serum folate, vitamin B12, 25-OH vitamin D, and calcium levels.

Extended hybrid-space SENSE for EPI: Off-resonance and eddy current corrected joint interleaved blip-up/down reconstruction.

Introduction: Geometric distortions along the phase encode direction caused by off-resonant spins are still a major issue in EPI based functional and diffusion imaging. If the off-resonance map is known it is possible to correct for distortions. Most correction methods operate as a post-processing step on the reconstructed magnitude images.

Altered Plasma MicroRNA Expression in Patients with Mitral Chordae Tendineae Rupture.

Background: Mitral chordae tendineae rupture (MCTR) is a progressive disorder which leads to severe mitral regurgitation. Despite its importance, the precise pathogenetic mechanism of MCTR remains unclear. The study aim was to investigate the expression profile of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) as being potentially involved in the development of MCTR.

Prospective motion correction for 3D pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling using an external optical tracking system.

Head motion is an unsolved problem in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of the brain. Real-time tracking using a camera has recently been proposed as a way to prevent head motion artifacts. As compared to navigator-based approaches that use MRI data to detect and correct motion, optical motion correction works independently of the MRI scanner, thus providing low-latency real-time motion updates without requiring any modifications to the pulse sequence.

Endovascular Treatment of Renal Artery Stenosis due to Fibromuscular Dysplasia - Is Stent Implantation Underused in this Circumstance?

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a nonatherosclerotic and noninflammatory arterial disease that commonly affects the renal and carotid arteries. The primary target in treating patients with renal artery FMD is the control of blood pressure in order to prevent end-organ damage, which can be caused by poorly controlled hypertension. Invasive endovascular treatment should be taken into consideration both when hypertension cannot be controlled with medication.