Real-time magnetic resonance imaging in pediatric radiology - new approach to movement and moving children.

The recent development of highly undersampled radial gradient echo sequences in combination with nonlinear inverse image reconstruction now allows for MRI examinations in real time. Image acquisition times as short as 20 ms yield MRI videos with rates of up to 50 frames per second with spin density, T1- and T2-type contrast. The addition of an initial 180° inversion pulse achieves accurate T1 mapping within only 4 s.

Death is associated to the type of drug-eluting stent in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and elevated natriuretic peptide levels.

As advanced heart failure (HF) with elevated NT-proBNP is characterized by an activated coagulation system, coronary events clinically noticed as sudden or HF death may be more common after treatment with first- compared to newer-generation DES. Our study evaluates (1) if patients with left ventricular dysfunction (LVSD) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention have a better survival with first- or newer-generation DES, and (2) if the survival benefit is predicted by NT-proBNP. Our observational study evaluated patients with LVSD who were registered in the coronary catheter laboratory database of the Medical University of Vienna.

Pleiotropy and epistasis within and between signaling pathways defines the genetic architecture of fungal virulence.

Cryptococcal disease is estimated to affect nearly a quarter of a million people annually. Environmental isolates of Cryptococcus deneoformans, which make up 15 to 30% of clinical infections in temperate climates such as Europe, vary in their pathogenicity, ranging from benign to hyper-virulent. Key traits that contribute to virulence, such as the production of the pigment melanin, an extracellular polysaccharide capsule, and the ability to grow at human body temperature have been identified, yet little is known about the genetic basis of variation in such traits.

Enhancing Antimicrobial Peptide Potency through Multivalent Presentation on Coiled-Coil Nanofibrils.

Antibiotic-resistant microbes have become a global health threat. New delivery systems that enhance the efficacy of antibiotics and/or overcome the resistances can help combat them. In this context, we present , a fibril-forming α-helical coiled-coil peptide that functions as an efficient scaffold for the multivalent presentation of the weakly cationic antimicrobial peptide (AMP) .

The Importance of Body Part Labeling to Enable Enterprise Imaging: A HIMSS-SIIM Enterprise Imaging Community Collaborative White Paper.

In order for enterprise imaging to be successful across a multitude of specialties, systems, and sites, standards are essential to categorize and classify imaging data. The HIMSS-SIIM Enterprise Imaging Community believes that the Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine (DICOM) Anatomic Region Sequence, or its equivalent in other data standards, is a vital data element for this role, when populated with standard coded values. We believe that labeling images with standard Anatomic Region Sequence codes will enhance the user's ability to consume data, facilitate interoperability, and allow greater control of privacy.

Design and Evaluation of Peptide Dual-Agonists of GLP-1 and NPY2 Receptors for Glucoregulation and Weight Loss with Mitigated Nausea and Emesis.

There is a critical unmet need for therapeutics to treat the epidemic of comorbidities associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes, ideally devoid of nausea/emesis. This study developed monomeric peptide agonists of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) and neuropeptide Y2 receptor (Y2-R) based on exendin-4 (Ex-4) and PYY. A novel peptide, GEP44, was obtained via receptor screens, insulin secretion in islets, stability assays, and rat and shrew studies of glucoregulation, weight loss, nausea, and emesis.

Comparing the productivity of teaching and non-teaching workflow models in an academic abdominal imaging division.

Purpose: To evaluate the productivity difference between teaching and non-teaching workflow models in an abdominal imaging division in an academic radiology department.

Methods And Materials: RVU data were compiled for six faculty members from the abdominal imaging division over a six-month period. Modalities included ultrasound and CT of the abdomen and pelvis.

Congenital cervical spine malformation due to bi-allelic RIPPLY2 variants in spondylocostal dysostosis type 6.

RIPPLY2 is an essential part of the formation of somite patterning during embryogenesis and in establishment of rostro-caudal polarity. Here, we describe three individuals from two families with compound-heterozygous variants in RIPPLY2 (NM_001009994.2): c.

The pre-operative and post-operative imaging appearances of urethral strictures and surgical techniques.

Urethral strictures arise from a variety of etiologies, most commonly either iatrogenic or inflammatory in the anterior urethra and iatrogenic/surgical or traumatic etiologies in the posterior urethra. Diagnosis and treatment planning depend on urethrography, usually performed with a combination of retrograde urethrography (RUG) and voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) to evaluate the anterior and posterior urethra, respectively. While this is most commonly performed fluoroscopically, sonographic urethrography is an alternative, although at the expense of the posterior urethra, it is only visualized using a transrectal approach.

Intravenous thrombolysis or mechanical thrombectomy do not increase risk of acute symptomatic seizures in patients with ischemic stroke.

Recent data have suggested that performing recanalizing therapies in ischemic stroke might lead to an increased risk of acute symptomatic seizures. This applies to both intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy. We therefore determined the frequency of acute symptomatic seizures attributable to these two recanalization therapies using a large, population-based stroke registry in Central Europe.

Opioid-Sparing Anesthetic Technique for Pediatric Patients Undergoing Adenoidectomy: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: An opioid-sparing anesthetic involves a multi-modal technique with non-opioid medications targeting different analgesic pathways. Such techniques may decrease adverse effects related to opioids. These techniques may be considered in patients at higher risk for opioid-related adverse effects including obstructive sleep apnea or sleep disordered breathing.

Early Tracheostomy Is Associated With Shorter Ventilation Time and Duration of ICU Stay in Patients With Myasthenic Crisis-A Multicenter Analysis.

Background: Myasthenic crisis (MC) requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) is a rare and serious complication of myasthenia gravis. Here we analyzed the frequency of performed tracheostomies, risk factors correlating with a tracheostomy, as well as the impact of an early tracheostomy on ventilation time and ICU length of stay (LOS) in MC.

Methods: Retrospective chart review on patients treated for MC in 12 German neurological departments between 2006 and 2015 to assess demographic/diagnostic data, rates and timing of tracheostomy and outcome.

Functional requirement of the Arabidopsis importin-α nuclear transport receptor family in autoimmunity mediated by the NLR protein SNC1.

IMPORTIN-α3/MOS6 (MODIFIER OF SNC1, 6) is one of nine importin-α isoforms in Arabidopsis that recruit nuclear localization signal-containing cargo proteins to the nuclear import machinery. IMP-α3/MOS6 is required genetically for full autoimmunity of the nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat immune receptor mutant snc1 (suppressor of npr1-1, constitutive 1) and MOS6 also contributes to basal disease resistance. Here, we investigated the contribution of the other importin-α genes to both types of immune responses, and we analyzed potential interactions of all importin-α isoforms with SNC1.

Developmental Validation of a MPS Workflow with a PCR-Based Short Amplicon Whole Mitochondrial Genome Panel.

For the adoption of massively parallel sequencing (MPS) systems by forensic laboratories, validation studies on specific workflows are needed to support the feasibility of implementation and the reliability of the data they produce. As such, the whole mitochondrial genome sequencing methodology-Precision ID mtDNA Whole Genome Panel, Ion Chef, Ion S5, and Converge-has been subjected to a variety of developmental validation studies. These validation studies were completed in accordance with the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) validation guidelines and assessed reproducibility, repeatability, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity to human DNA, and ability to analyze challenging (e.

Porous carbon-carbon composite electrodes for vanadium redox flow batteries synthesized by twin polymerization.

Highly porous carbon-carbon composite electrodes have been synthesized by surface twin polymerization on a macroporous polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based substrate. For this purpose the compound 2,2'-spirobi[benzo-4-1,3,2-dioxasiline] (Spiro), being a molecular precursor for phenolic resin and silica, was polymerized onto PAN-based felts with subsequent thermal transformation of the hybrid material-coated felt into silica-containing carbon. The following etching step led to high surface carbon-carbon composite materials, where each carbon component served a different function in the battery electrode: the carbon fiber substrate possesses a high electron conductivity, while the amorphous carbon coating provides the catalytic function.

Local Glass Transition Temperature () Within Polystyrene Is Strongly Impacted by the Modulus of the Neighboring PDMS Domain.

Profiles in the local glass transition temperature () within polystyrene (PS) next to polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) domains were determined using a localized fluorescence method. By changing the base to cross-linker ratio, we varied the cross-link density and, hence, the Young's modulus of PDMS (Sylgard 184). The local () in PS at a distance of = 50 nm away from the PS/PDMS interface was found to shift by 40 K as the PDMS modulus was varied from 0.

Facile Synthesis of Hierarchical CuS and CuCoS Structures from an Ionic Liquid Precursor for Electrocatalysis Applications.

Covellite-phase CuS and carrollite-phase CuCoS nano- and microstructures were synthesized from tetrachloridometallate-based ionic liquid precursors using a novel, facile, and highly controllable hot-injection synthesis strategy. The synthesis parameters including reaction time and temperature were first optimized to produce CuS with a well-controlled and unique morphology, providing the best electrocatalytic activity toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In an extension to this approach, the electrocatalytic activity was further improved by incorporating Co into the CuS synthesis method to yield CuCoS microflowers.

Shortwave infrared emitting multicolored nanoprobes for biomarker-specific cancer imaging in vivo.

Background: The ability to detect tumor-specific biomarkers in real-time using optical imaging plays a critical role in preclinical studies aimed at evaluating drug safety and treatment response. In this study, we engineered an imaging platform capable of targeting different tumor biomarkers using a multi-colored library of nanoprobes. These probes contain rare-earth elements that emit light in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) wavelength region (900-1700 nm), which exhibits reduced absorption and scattering compared to visible and NIR, and are rendered biocompatible by encapsulation in human serum albumin.

New Nonsense Variant c.2983G>T; p.Glu995* in the CACNA1A Gene Causes Progressive Autosomal Dominant Ataxia.

The genetic testing of hereditary ataxias includes screening for CAG-repeat expansions as well as pathogenic variants and nontranslated oligonucleotide expansion, which can cause spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). Genotype-phenotype correlations of several SCA subtypes are difficult to establish, and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report a 58-year-old male patient who presented with severe generalized ataxia, horizontal gaze-evoked nystagmus, cognitive impairment and a positive family history of gait difficulties.

Pilot multi-site and reproducibility study of hypothalamic gliosis in children.

Objective: Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of mediobasal hypothalamic (MBH) gliosis positively correlates with body mass index (BMI) in adults. This has neither been well explored in children nor have other brain regions involved in appetitive processing been tested for evidence of gliosis.

Methods: Multi-site cross-sectional study in children to test for differences in quantitative T2 signal (measure of gliosis) by region and to assess relationships with age and BMI.

Connections Between Obesity and Puberty: Invited by Manuel Tena-Sempere, Cordoba.

The relationship between obesity and puberty remains controversial. Whereas cross-sectional and longitudinal studies show a clear shift toward earlier puberty in obese girls, the trend in obese boys remains less obvious. Overweight boys mature earlier whereas obese boys mature later compared to healthy weight boys.

A phase 3 randomized clinical trial using a once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist in adolescents and young adults with hypothalamic obesity.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) in patients with hypothalamic obesity (HO).

Materials And Methods: A two-arm, randomized, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 10- to 25-year-olds with hypothalamic injury following intracranial tumour and HO. Participants were randomized to once-weekly subcutaneous injections of a GLP-1 RA exenatide 2 mg (ExQW) or placebo for 36 weeks.

Pulse Oximetry at the Wrist During Sleep: Performance, Challenges and Perspectives.

The state-of-the-art non-invasive measurement of peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) during sleep is mainly based on pulse oximetry at the fingertip. Although this approach is noninvasive, it can still be obtrusive and cumbersome to apply, in particular for ambulatory monitoring over several nights.We developed a wrist-worn reflectance pulse oximetry device which can be embedded in a watch, making it less obtrusive and easy to apply.