Sectional measurements of shoulder muscle volume and computed tomography density in anterior shoulder instability.

In patients with anterior shoulder instability (ASI), a chronic imbalance might exist between the anterior and posterior shoulder muscles (i.e., subscapular [Ssc] vs.

Three-dimensional sectional measurement approach for serial volume changes in shoulder muscles after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Purpose: This study assessed the serial volume changes in multiple shoulder muscles simultaneously following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) by a three-dimensional (3D) modeling-based sectional measurement. These volume changes were correlated with background preoperative factors.

Methods: Four consecutive magnetic resonance imaging scans (preoperatively and postoperatively at 3, 6, and 12 months) of 33 shoulders from 31 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were examined.

Three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging-based statistical shape analysis and machine learning-based prediction of patellofemoral instability.

This study performed three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based statistical shape analysis (SSA) by comparing patellofemoral instability (PFI) and normal femur models, and developed a machine learning (ML)-based prediction model. Twenty (19 patients) and 31 MRI scans (30 patients) of femurs with PFI and normal femurs, respectively, were used. Bone and cartilage segmentation of the distal femurs was performed and subsequently converted into 3D reconstructed models.

Non-exercise Activity Thermogenesis Correlated With Clinical Parameters in Patients With or At-Risk for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A Pilot Study.

Background: Attention to physical activity has grown in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as it serves as a robust indicator for mortality associated with COPD. Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) is the energy expenditure due to physical activities besides active sports-like exercises and resistance training in daily life, and decreased NEAT may be related to physical inactivity in patients with COPD. We examined whether NEAT assessed using a questionnaire reflects clinical parameters in patients with or at risk for COPD.

High-resolution EEG source localization in personalized segmentation-free head model with multi-dipole fitting.

. Electroencephalograms (EEGs) are often used to monitor brain activity. Several source localization methods have been proposed to estimate the location of brain activity corresponding to EEG readings.

Magnetic resonance imaging findings related to sacroiliac joint pain in high-performance athletes.

Background: Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) dysfunction in athletes affects competitiveness. However, the pathology and imaging features have not been clarified.

Objective: To clarify the association between SIJ pain and MRI findings in high-performance athletes.

Possible association of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels with trunk muscle deficits and decrease in energy expenditure in patients with or at risk for COPD: A pilot study.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with low muscle mass and function caused by malnutrition and physical inactivity. We aimed to investigate possible associations between serum biomarkers and clinical traits including computed tomography-derived muscle measurements and energy expenditure indices in COPD.

Methods: Total energy expenditure (TEE) was measured by the doubly labeled water method, while physical activity level (PAL) was calculated as TEE/basal metabolic rate.

Polyamines produced by an extreme thermophile are essential for cell growth at high temperature.

An extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus grows at an optimum temperature of around 70°C and produces 16 different polyamines including long-chain and branched-chain polyamines. We found that the composition of polyamines in the thermophile cells changes with culture temperature. Long-chain and branched-chain polyamines (unusual polyamines) were increased in the cells grown at high temperature such as 80°C, but they were minor components in the cells grown at relatively lower temperature such as 60°C.

Signal and morphological changes in the endolymph of patients with vestibular schwannoma on non-contrast 3D FLAIR at 3 Tesla.

Background: Non-contrast FLAIR revealed increased signal within the inner ear in patients with vestibular schwannoma, which is generally assumed to occur in the perilymph; however, the majority of previous studies did not differentiate between the endolymph and perilymph. Therefore, endolymph signal changes have not yet been investigated in detail. The purpose of the present study was three-fold: (1) to assess perilymph signal changes in patients with vestibular schwannoma on heavily T2-weighted (T2W) 3D FLAIR, also termed positive perilymphatic images (PPI), (2) to evaluate signal and morphological changes in the endolymph on PPI, and (3) to establish whether vertigo correlates with the signal intensity ratios (SIR) of the vestibular perilymph or vestibular endolymphatic hydrops.

Intravenous enhanced 3D FLAIR imaging to identify CSF leaks in spontaneous intracranial hypotension: Comparison with MR myelography.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical utility of intravenous gadolinium-enhanced heavily T2-weighted 3D fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (HT2-FLAIR) imaging for identifying spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH).

Methods: Patients with SIH underwent MR myelography and post-contrast HT2-FLAIR imaging after an intravenous gadolinium injection. Two types of CSF leaks (epidural fluid collection and CSF leaks around the nerve root sleeve) at each vertebral level were compared between the 2 sequences.

Energy expenditure and physical activity in COPD by doubly labelled water method and an accelerometer.

Although weight loss suggests poor prognosis of COPD, only a few studies have examined total energy expenditure (TEE) or physical activity level (PAL) using the doubly labelled water (DLW) method. We evaluated TEE and PAL using the DLW method together with a triaxial accelerometer to elucidate the relationships between TEE, PAL and clinical parameters leading to a practical means of monitoring COPD physical status. This study evaluated 50- to 79-year-old male patients with mild to very severe COPD (n=28) or at risk for COPD (n=8).

Contrast Enhancement of the Normal Infundibular Recess Using Heavily T2-weighted 3D FLAIR.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate contrast enhancement of the infundibular recess in the normal state using heavily T2-weighted 3D fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) (HT2-FLAIR).

Methods: Twenty-six patients were retrospectively recruited. We subjectively assessed overall contrast enhancement of the infundibular recess between postcontrast, 4-hour (4-h) delayed postcontrast, and precontrast HT2-FLAIR images.

Texture analysis of muscle MRI: machine learning-based classifications in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

To develop a machine learning (ML) model that predicts disease groups or autoantibodies in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) using muscle MRI radiomics features. Twenty-two patients with dermatomyositis (DM), 14 with amyopathic dermatomyositis (ADM), 19 with polymyositis (PM) and 19 with non-IIM were enrolled. Using 2D manual segmentation, 93 original features as well as 93 local binary pattern (LBP) features were extracted from MRI (short-tau inversion recovery [STIR] imaging) of proximal limb muscles.

Effect of thermospermine on expression profiling of different gene using massive analysis of cDNA ends (MACE) and vascular maintenance in Arabidopsis.

polyamine oxidase 5 gene () functions as a thermospermine (T-Spm) oxidase. Aerial growth of its knock-out mutant () was significantly repressed by low dose(s) of T-Spm but not by other polyamines. To figure out the underlying mechanism, massive analysis of 3'-cDNA ends was performed.

The product of trunk muscle area and density on the CT image is a good indicator of energy expenditure in patients with or at risk for COPD.

Background: Physical inactivity due to cachexia and muscle wasting is well recognized as a sign of poor prognosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there have been no reports on the relationship between trunk muscle measurements and energy expenditure parameters, such as the total energy expenditure (TEE) and physical activity level (PAL), in COPD. In this study, we investigated the associations of computed tomography (CT)-derived muscle area and density measurements with clinical parameters, including TEE and PAL, in patients with or at risk for COPD, and examined whether these muscle measurements serve as an indicator of TEE and PAL.

Imaging evaluation of the cartilage in rheumatoid arthritis patients with an x-ray phase imaging apparatus based on Talbot-Lau interferometry.

X-ray Talbot-Lau interferometry is one of the x-ray phase imaging methods that has high sensitivity in depicting soft tissues. Unlike earlier x-ray phase imaging methods that required particular types of x-ray sources, such as a synchrotron or a micro-focus x-ray tube, x-ray Talbot-Lau interferometry enables to perform clinical x-ray phase imaging using a conventional x-ray source with a relatively compact configuration. We developed an apparatus to depict cartilage in the metacarpophalangeal joints of the hands.

An Unusual Ovarian Mucinous Borderline Tumor with a Large Solid Component.

Herein, we report magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of a mucinous borderline tumor of the ovary, which we observed as a mainly solid tumor with large solid components in the lower pelvic cavity. The appearance of ovarian epithelial tumors on imaging is often complex. Cystic to solid appearing masses may be observed, and they often resemble epithelial carcinoma.

The C-terminal flexible region of branched-chain polyamine synthase facilitates substrate specificity and catalysis.

Branched-chain polyamine synthase (BpsA) catalyzes sequential aminopropyl transfer from the donor, decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine (dcSAM), to the acceptor, linear-chain polyamine, resulting in the production of a quaternary-branched polyamine via tertiary branched polyamine intermediates. Here, we analyzed the catalytic properties and X-ray crystal structure of Tth-BpsA from Thermus thermophilus and compared them with those of Tk-BpsA from Thermococcus kodakarensis, which revealed differences in acceptor substrate specificity and C-terminal structure between these two enzymes. To investigate the role of the C-terminal flexible region in acceptor recognition, a region (QDEEATTY) in Tth-BpsA was replaced with that in Tk-BpsA (YDDEESSTT) to create chimeric Tth-BpsA C9, which showed a severe reduction in catalytic efficiency toward N -aminopropylnorspermidine, but not toward N -aminopropylspermidine, mimicking Tk-BpsA substrate specificity.

Development of anisotropic phantoms using wood and fiber materials for diffusion tensor imaging and diffusion kurtosis imaging.

Objective: Several studies have demonstrated that anisotropic phantoms can be utilized for diffusion magnetic resonance imaging. The purpose of our study was to examine whether wood is suitable as an anisotropic phantom material from the viewpoints of affordability and availability. In the current study, wood was used for restricted diffusion, and fibers were used for hindered diffusion.

Simultaneous multi-slice MR imaging of the hip at 3 T to reduce acquisition times and maintain image quality.

Background: Newly developed simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) scans are now being introduced as a clinical application in neuroimaging. We examined the feasibility of SMS scans for joint imaging. The purpose of the present study was to prospectively compare the resolution and specific absorption rate (SAR) obtained using SMS to those of conventional methods in hip joint magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and establish whether imaging times may be reduced using SMS in 3 T MRI and if image quality is affected.

Development of a Surface Marker for Fractional Anisotropy Maps Using Wood in a Phantom Study.

Purpose: To improve imaging, a reliable setup method is critical for the accurate localization of lesions and surface markers. Because an anisotropic marker has not yet been validated for MRI, direct localization of surface markers is not yet feasible in fractional anisotropy (FA) maps. This study aimed to develop an anisotropic surface marker using wood for an FA map and to determine whether a wood marker is useful for various sequences.

Identification of seven polyamine oxidase genes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and their expression profiles under physiological and various stress conditions.

Polyamines (PAs) are implicated in developmental processes and stress responses of plants. Polyamine oxidases (PAOs), flavin adenine dinucleotide-dependent enzymes that function in PA catabolism, play a critical role. Even though PAO gene families of Arabidopsis and rice have been intensely characterized and their expression in response to developmental and environmental changes has been investigated, little is known about PAOs in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum).