SR-CycleGAN: super-resolution of clinical CT to micro-CT level with multi-modality super-resolution loss.

We propose a super-resolution (SR) method, named SR-CycleGAN, for SR of clinical computed tomography (CT) images to the micro-focus x-ray CT CT ( ) level. Due to the resolution limitations of clinical CT (about ), it is challenging to obtain enough pathological information. On the other hand, scanning allows the imaging of lung specimens with significantly higher resolution (about or higher), which allows us to obtain and analyze detailed anatomical information.

Depth-based branching level estimation for bronchoscopic navigation.

Purpose: Bronchoscopists rely on navigation systems during bronchoscopy to reduce the risk of getting lost in the complex bronchial tree-like structure and the homogeneous bronchus lumens. We propose a patient-specific branching level estimation method for bronchoscopic navigation because it is vital to identify the branches being examined in the bronchus tree during examination.

Methods: We estimate the branching level by integrating the changes in the number of bronchial orifices and the camera motions among the frames.

Unsupervised colonoscopic depth estimation by domain translations with a Lambertian-reflection keeping auxiliary task.

Purpose: A three-dimensional (3D) structure extraction technique viewed from a two-dimensional image is essential for the development of a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system for colonoscopy. However, a straightforward application of existing depth-estimation methods to colonoscopic images is impossible or inappropriate due to several limitations of colonoscopes. In particular, the absence of ground-truth depth for colonoscopic images hinders the application of supervised machine learning methods.

A visual SLAM-based bronchoscope tracking scheme for bronchoscopic navigation.

Purpose: Due to the complex anatomical structure of bronchi and the resembling inner surfaces of airway lumina, bronchoscopic examinations require additional 3D navigational information to assist the physicians. A bronchoscopic navigation system provides the position of the endoscope in CT images with augmented anatomical information. To overcome the shortcomings of previous navigation systems, we propose using a technique known as visual simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) to improve bronchoscope tracking in navigation systems.

Realistic endoscopic image generation method using virtual-to-real image-domain translation.

A realistic image generation method for visualisation in endoscopic simulation systems is proposed in this study. Endoscopic diagnosis and treatment are performed in many hospitals. To reduce complications related to endoscope insertions, endoscopic simulation systems are used for training or rehearsal of endoscope insertions.

Renal angiomyolipoma (AML) harboring a missense mutation of with copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity (CN-LOH).

Angiomyolipoma (AML) is classified as a perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasm, mostly occurring in the kidney. Twenty percent of patients with renal AML have tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) caused by germline variation in the or gene. In this paper, we report the first case of renal AML harboring somatic missense mutations of the gene and concomitant copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity (CN-LOH).

Prognostic Value of Serum Tumor Markers in Patients With Stage III NSCLC Treated With Chemoradiotherapy.

Background/aim: Serum tumor markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen and cytokeratin subunit 19 fragment are generally monitored in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in the clinical practice. However, their clinical relevance in stage III NSCLC treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) remains unclear. Herein, we examined the clinical relevance of tumor markers in those patients.

Pharmacokinetics and toxicokinetics of d-serine in rats.

In the mammalian brain, d-serine acts as a co-agonist at the glycine-binding site on the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor. Because plasma d-serine levels are significantly lower in patients with schizophrenia than in healthy subjects, d-serine has been proposed as a potential therapeutic agent for schizophrenia treatment. However, d-serine has a nephrotoxic effect in rats at high doses.

Automated mediastinal lymph node detection from CT volumes based on intensity targeted radial structure tensor analysis.

This paper presents a local intensity structure analysis based on an intensity targeted radial structure tensor (ITRST) and the blob-like structure enhancement filter based on it (ITRST filter) for the mediastinal lymph node detection algorithm from chest computed tomography (CT) volumes. Although the filter based on radial structure tensor analysis (RST filter) based on conventional RST analysis can be utilized to detect lymph nodes, some lymph nodes adjacent to regions with extremely high or low intensities cannot be detected. Therefore, we propose the ITRST filter, which integrates the prior knowledge on detection target intensity range into the RST filter.

Evaluation of the Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale for Predicting Hospitalization and Exacerbation in Japanese Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Objective: The modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale is recommended for conducting assessments of dyspnea and disability and functions as an indicator of exacerbation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the mMRC scale can be used to predict hospitalization and exacerbation in Japanese patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: In a previous 52-week prospective study, 123 patients with COPD were classified into five groups (grades 0 to 4) according to the mMRC scale and four groups (stages I to IV) according to the spirometric Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) classification.

New constraint on the existence of the μ+ → e+ γ decay.

The analysis of a combined data set, totaling 3.6 × 10(14) stopped muons on target, in the search for the lepton flavor violating decay μ(+) → e(+)γ is presented. The data collected by the MEG experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institut show no excess of events compared to background expectations and yield a new upper limit on the branching ratio of this decay of 5.

Assessment of COPD severity by combining pulmonary function tests and chest CT images.

Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by airflow limitations. Physicians frequently assess the stage using pulmonary function tests and chest CT images. This paper describes a novel method to assess COPD severity by combining measurements of pulmonary function tests (PFT) and the results of chest CT image analysis.

A necrotic lung ball caused by co-infection with Candida and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Introduction: A necrotic lung ball is a rare radiological feature that is sometimes seen in cases of pulmonary aspergillosis. This paper reports a rare occurrence of a necrotic lung ball in a young male caused by Candida and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Case Report: A 28-year-old male with pulmonary candidiasis was found to have a lung ball on computed tomography (CT) of the chest.

New limit on the lepton-flavor-violating decay μ+→e+γ.

We present a new result based on an analysis of the data collected by the MEG detector at the Paul Scherrer Institut in 2009 and 2010, in search of the lepton-flavor-violating decay μ(+)e(+)γ. The likelihood analysis of the combined data sample, which corresponds to a total of 1.8×10(14) muon decays, gives a 90% C.

Comparison of leukotriene receptor antagonists and anti-histamines as an add-on therapy in patients with asthma complicated by allergic rhinitis.

Patients with asthma are often complicated by allergic rhinitis, and the intimate pathophysiological association between allergic rhinitis and asthma often imposes a significant morbidity on affected individuals. The present study was conducted to assess the clinical efficacies of leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) and anti-histamines on asthma as an add-on therapy in patients with asthma complicated by allergic rhinitis. Consecutive patients with asthma were recruited to fill in systematic self-administered questionnaires concerning symptoms and conditions related to asthma and allergic rhinitis.

Automatic segmentation of pulmonary blood vessels and nodules based on local intensity structure analysis and surface propagation in 3D chest CT images.

Purpose: Pulmonary nodules may indicate the early stage of lung cancer, and the progress of lung cancer causes associated changes in the shape and number of pulmonary blood vessels. The automatic segmentation of pulmonary nodules and blood vessels is desirable for chest computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems. Since pulmonary nodules and blood vessels are often attached to each other, conventional nodule detection methods usually produce many false positives (FPs) in the blood vessel regions, and blood vessel segmentation methods may incorrectly segment the nodules that are attached to the blood vessels.

Organizing pneumonia associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is known to produce infiltrative and/or nodular opacities that are often localized. A patient presented to us with diffuse centrilobular, peribronchovascular, and perilobular opacities after documented Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. A surgical biopsy proved the lung disease to be organizing pneumonia, which dramatically resolved in response to treatment with corticosteroid.

Selective image similarity measure for bronchoscope tracking based on image registration.

We propose a selective method of measurement for computing image similarities based on characteristic structure extraction and demonstrate its application to flexible endoscope navigation, in particular to a bronchoscope navigation system. Camera motion tracking is a fundamental function required for image-guided treatment or therapy systems. In recent years, an ultra-tiny electromagnetic sensor commercially became available, and many image-guided treatment or therapy systems use this sensor for tracking the camera position and orientation.

Characteristics of the control of standing posture during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, the physical and mental states greatly change. We investigated the influences of pregnancy and anxiety on postural control in pregnant women (P) standing upright in the late trimester. An analysis of posturograms revealed that the area of body sway and length of antero-posterior body sway were greater in P than those in non-pregnant controls (NP).

Preparation and photocatalytic property of phosphorus-doped TiO2 particles.

Phosphorus-doped titania powders were prepared by a sol-gel method using titanium (IV) tetrabutoxide and sodium hypophosphite as starting materials. The as-prepared products were characterized by XRD, XPS, TEM and UV-vis spectroscopy. The TiO2 powders calcined at 400 degrees C for 5 h in an N2 atmosphere showed an anatase structure.

Fabrication and photocatalytic activity of TiO2/MoO3 particulate films.

TiO(2) and TiO(2)/MoO(3) particulate films were successfully prepared using a Langmuir-Blodgett technique. The as-deposited films were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). The results indicate that the TiO(2) and TiO(2)/MoO(3) films are composed of separate layers of TiO(2) and MoO(3) particles.

Digital bowel cleansing free colonic polyp detection method for fecal tagging CT colonography.

Rationale And Objectives: Fecal tagging computed tomographic colonography (ftCTC) reduces the discomfort and the inconvenience of patients associated with bowel cleansing procedures before CT scanning. In conventional colonic polyp detection techniques for ftCTC, a digital bowel cleansing (DBC) technique is applied to detect polyps in tagged fecal materials (TFM). However, DBC removes the surface of soft tissues and hampers polyp detection.

Pseudo-Meigs'syndrome as a cause of exertional dyspnea: a case report.

A 61-year-old otherwise healthy woman presented with gradually worsening exertional dyspnea. Routine examinations revealed bilateral pleural effusion with no other notable cardiopulmonary diseases. Systemic examinations showed ascites and a pelvic tumor, which turned out to be right ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma.