The T1-dark-rim: A novel imaging sign for detecting smoldering inflammation in multiple sclerosis.

Purpose: Paramagnetic rim lesions (PRLs), usually identified in susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), are a promising prognostic biomarker of disability progression in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, SWI is not routinely performed in clinical practice. The objective of this study is to define a novel imaging sign, the T1-dark rim, identifiable in a standard 3DT1 gradient-echo inversion-recovery sequence, such as 3D T1 turbo field echo (3DT1FE) and explore its performance as a SWI surrogate to define PRLs.

Methylprednisolone Pulses Plus Tacrolimus in Addition to Standard of Care vs. Standard of Care Alone in Patients With Severe COVID-19. A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Severe lung injury is triggered by both the SARS-CoV-2 infection and the subsequent host-immune response in some COVID-19 patients. We conducted a randomized, single-center, open-label, phase II trial with the aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of methylprednisolone pulses and tacrolimus plus standard of care (SoC) vs. SoC alone, in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19.

COVID-19 and Ischemic Stroke: Clinical and Neuroimaging Findings.

Background And Purpose: SARS-CoV-2 causes multiorgan disease due to altered coagulability and microangiopathy. Patients may have an increased risk of cerebrovascular accidents (CVA). Our objective was to analyze clinical and neuroimaging characteristics of patients with ischemic CVA during the pandemic peak in our region, in order to identify atypical presentations.

Minimizing acquisition-related radiomics variability by image resampling and batch effect correction to allow for large-scale data analysis.

Objective: To identify CT-acquisition parameters accounting for radiomics variability and to develop a post-acquisition CT-image correction method to reduce variability and improve radiomics classification in both phantom and clinical applications.

Methods: CT-acquisition protocols were prospectively tested in a phantom. The multi-centric retrospective clinical study included CT scans of patients with colorectal/renal cancer liver metastases.

Acute effect of static exercise in patients with aortic regurgitation assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance: role of left ventricular remodelling.

Objective: In patients with aortic regurgitation (AR), the effect of static exercise (SE) on global ventricular function and AR severity has not been previously studied.

Methods: Resting and SE cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) were prospectively performed in 23 asymptomatic patients with AR.

Results: During SE, we observed a decrease in regurgitant volume in both end-diastolic (EDV) and end-systolic (ESV) volume in both ventricles, as well as a slight decrease in LV ejection fraction (EF).

Liver fat deposition and mitochondrial dysfunction in morbid obesity: An approach combining metabolomics with liver imaging and histology.

Aim: To explore the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) for assessment of non-alcoholic fat liver disease (NAFLD) as compared with liver histological and metabolomics findings.

Methods: Patients undergoing bariatric surgery following procedures involved in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy were recruited as a model of obesity-induced NAFLD in an observational, prospective, single-site, cross-sectional study with a pre-set duration of 1 year. Relevant data were obtained prospectively and surrogates for inflammation, oxidative stress and lipid and glucose metabolism were obtained through standard laboratory measurements.

Acute effect of static exercise on the cardiovascular system: assessment by cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Purpose: The acute effect of static exercise on the global dynamics of the cardiovascular system is poorly understood. The use of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) may be useful for evaluating this effect.

Methods: A total of 12 healthy individuals underwent CMR imaging at rest and while performing a maximal sustained static exercise (weight elevation with both legs).

Systematic analysis of transrectal prostate biopsies using an ink method and specific histopathologic protocol: a prospective study.

Background. Transrectal prostate biopsy is the standard protocol for the screening for prostate cancer. It helps to locate prostatic adenocarcinoma and plan treatment.

Dilated aortic root is related to a global aortic dilating diathesis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between the dilatation of the aortic root and the diameters of the rest of the aorta and to identify some related factors that could be used to identify patients at higher risk of presenting with an aortic aneurysm.

Methods: In 71 consecutive patients with a dilated aortic root identified by transthoracic echocardiography, prospective helical computed tomography was performed. Aortic diameters were measured perpendicular to the flow at seven levels in the thoracic and abdominal aorta.

Influenza-like infection can result in diffuse fluordeoxyglucose uptake in the lungs.

A 32-year-old man underwent an F-18 fluordeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET/CT) scan for response assessment of mediastinal bulky non-Hodgkin lymphoma after completion of a CHOP therapy regimen. The F-18 FDG-PET/CT scan showed complete response regarding the mediastinal lesion. However, an unexpected pattern of prominent lung and abdominal muscular uptake was detected.

Subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in HIV-infected patients: role of combination antiretroviral therapy.

Background And Purpose: Whether or not combination antiretroviral therapy (CART) alone directly contributes to accelerating atherosclerosis in HIV-infected patients has not been studied in depth. This study aimed to ascertain the relationship between this therapy and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis according to cardiovascular risk.

Methods: Sixty-eight HIV-infected patients with < or =1 cardiovascular risk factors and 64 with > or =2 risk factors completed the study protocol consisting of clinical, laboratory, and vascular evaluation by carotid high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography.

Atherosclerosis in patients infected with HIV is influenced by a mutant monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 allele.

Background: Patients infected with HIV present with premature atherosclerosis, and the 2 diseases share common pathogenic pathways. We investigated mutations in the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and CCR-2 genes, which are known to control aspects of these pathways, to ascertain whether they are involved in atherogenesis in these patients.

Methods And Results: We performed carotid and femoral artery ultrasonography to detect subclinical atherosclerosis in patients infected with HIV (n=183).