Comparison of DWI techniques in patients with epidermoid cyst: TGSE-BLADE DWI vs. SS-EPI DWI.

Purpose: To compare quantitative values and image quality between single-shot echo-planar imaging (SS-EPI) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and two-dimensional turbo gradient- and spin-echo DWI with non-Cartesian BLADE trajectory (TGSE-BLADE DWI) in patients with epidermoid cyst.

Methods: Patients with epidermoid cyst who underwent both SS-EPI DWI and TGSE-BLADE DWI were included in this study. Two raters placed ROIs encircling the entire epidermoid cyst on SS-EPI DWI, and then on TGSE-BLADE DWI.

Effect of galanin-like peptide on hypothalamic kisspeptin expression in female Zucker fatty rats.

Kisspeptin and galanin-like peptide (GALP) neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) are involved in gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neuron-mediated pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. Zucker fatty (ZF) rats display a leptin receptor gene abnormality and suppressed pulsatile LH secretion. ZF rats reportedly exhibit low hypothalamic GALP and kisspeptin expression, and GALP administration induces LH release in ZF rats.

Clinical impact of endogenous luteinizing hormone in frozen-thawed embryo transfer during hormone replacement cycle without gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog coadministration: Effects on pregnancy outcomes.

Purpose: To assess the correlation between serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels preceding luteal replacement initiation and outcomes of frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles during hormone replacement therapy (HRT) without co-administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 490 FET cycles performed between March 2018 and May 2023. Patients were categorized into quartiles based on their serum LH levels preceding luteal replacement.

β-hydroxybutyrate suppresses pathological changes of blood-induced arthropathy in rats.

Arthropathy is a common complication in haemophilia and decreases quality of life. It has been known that concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in blood are increased by a ketogenic diet, and elevated levels of circulating BHB restricts the progression of inflammation-mediated joint pathological changes. We hypothesized that elevation of blood BHB concentrations could be effective for reducing the progression of bleeding-induced arthropathy by moderating the inflammatory responses of macrophages.

Comparison study of quantitative susceptibility mapping with GRAPPA and wave-CAIPI: reproducibility, consistency, and microbleeds detection.

Purpose: We compared quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) with wave-CAIPI 9 × (QSM_WC9 ×) with reference standard QSM with GRAPPA 2 × (QSM_G2 ×) in two MR scanners. We also compared detectability of microbleeds in both QSMs to demonstrate clinical feasibility of both QSMs.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study was approved by the institutional review board and written informed consent was obtained from each subject.

Quantitative assessment of gadolinium deposition in dentate nuclei with MR fingerprinting.

Rationale And Objectives: Gadolinium deposition in the dentate nucleus (DN) has been evaluated by T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) and T1 (R1) mapping, but not MR fingerprinting (MRF). This study investigated associations between T1 and T2 values of DN and gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) using 2-dimensional MRF.

Materials And Methods: This study included 101 patients.

Clinical and imaging characteristics of supratentorial glioma with IDH2 mutation.

Purpose: The rarity of IDH2 mutations in supratentorial gliomas has led to gaps in understanding their radiological characteristics, potentially resulting in misdiagnosis based solely on negative IDH1 immunohistochemical staining. We aimed to investigate the clinical and imaging characteristics of IDH2-mutant gliomas.

Methods: We analyzed imaging data from adult patients with pathologically confirmed diffuse lower-grade gliomas and known IDH1/2 alteration and 1p/19q codeletion statuses obtained from the records of our institute (January 2011 to August 2022, Cohort 1) and The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA, Cohort 2).

Usefulness of thermography for differentiating Wallenberg's syndrome from noncentral vertigo in the acute phase.

Objectives: Wallenberg's syndrome (WS) is caused by a stroke in the lateral medulla and can present with various symptoms. One of the main symptoms is vertigo, which can be misdiagnosed as noncentral vertigo (NCV). Approximately 90% of the patients with acute WS have a lateral difference in body surface temperature (BST) due to autonomic pathway disturbances from infarction.

Thin-slice reverse encoding distortion correction DWI facilitates visualization of non-functioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (PitNET)/pituitary adenoma and surrounding normal structures.

Background: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of thin-slice echo-planar imaging (EPI)-based diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with an on-console distortion correction technique, termed reverse encoding distortion correction DWI (RDC-DWI), in patients with non-functioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (PitNET)/pituitary adenoma.

Methods: Patients with non-functioning PitNET/pituitary adenoma who underwent 3-T RDC-DWI between December 2021 and September 2022 were retrospectively enrolled. Image quality was compared among RDC-DWI, DWI with correction for distortion induced by B inhomogeneity alone (B-corrected-DWI), and original EPI-based DWI with anterior-posterior phase-encoding direction (AP-DWI).

Chronic phase subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator lead dislodgement in a patient with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) is often used in young patients such as arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) and Brugada syndrome due to long-term lead durability issues. Although S-ICD lead dislodgement is rare, we encountered such an incident in a young ARVC patient during the chronic phase following the two-incision technique. Remote monitoring system is useful for early diagnosis of electrode movement (Graphical abstract image).

A Mobile Thrombus Adhering to an Intra-Annular Self-Expanding Transcatheter Aortic Valve.

An 81-year-old woman who had undergone transcatheter aortic valve implantation 3 months earlier underwent routine follow-up transthoracic echocardiography, which revealed a mobile thrombus adhering to the bioprosthetic valve. This thrombus differed in morphology from transcatheter aortic valve implantation valve thrombi commonly seen in daily practice.

Pulmonary artery sarcoma and severe valvular diseases in late-septuagenarian women: was 2-stage surgery an appropriate strategy? A case report.

Background: Pulmonary artery sarcomas (PASs) are rare, and complete tumor resection is often difficult at the time of detection. We encountered a case of PAS that was thought to be resectable; however, the patient had severe symptomatic valvular disease. We faced a difficult decision regarding the surgical strategy.

Progressive myoclonic epilepsy as an expanding phenotype of NGLY1-associated congenital deglycosylation disorder: A case report and review of the literature.

Introduction: NGLY1-associated congenital disorder of deglycosylation (CDDG1: OMIM #615273) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by a functional impairment of endoplasmic reticulum in degradation of glycoproteins. Neurocognitive dysfunctions have been documented in patients with CDDG1; however, deteriorating phenotypes of affected individuals remain elusive.

Case Presentation: A Japanese boy with delayed psychomotor development showed ataxic movements from age 5 years and myoclonic seizures from age 12 years.

Hearing and Hearing Loss Progression in Patients with Gene Mutations: A Long-Term Follow-Up.

We aimed to investigate whether the degree of hearing loss with mutations could be predicted by distinguishing between truncating and non-truncating mutations and whether the genotype could predict the hearing loss level. Additionally, we examined the progression of hearing loss in individuals monitored for over 2 years for an average of 6.9 years.

Collection of environmental DNA from stemflow for monitoring arboreal biodiversity: Preliminary validation using lichens.

The forest canopy harbors a diverse array of organisms. However, monitoring their biodiversity poses challenges due to limited accessibility and the vast taxonomic diversity. To address these challenges, we present a novel method for capturing arboreal biodiversity by harnessing stemflow as a source of DNA from organisms inhabiting trees.

Single-facility study of the effectiveness of rehabilitation therapy using wearable hybrid assistive limb for patients with bleeding disorders: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Haemophilic arthropathy, a serious complication of haemophilia, results from recurrent joint bleeding, causing progressive joint damage and severely impacting patient quality of life. Rehabilitation therapy (RT) effectively addresses declining physical function due to joint degradation, but pain during RT can hinder its success. Therefore, an effective pain-alleviating treatment method is required.

Vessel wall MRI in moyamoya disease: arterial wall enhancement varies depending on age, arteries, and disease progression.

Objective: To investigate the relationship of followings for patients with moyamoya disease (MMD): arterial wall enhancement on vessel wall MRI (VW-MRI), cross-sectional area (CSA), time-of-flight MR angiography (MRA), age, locations from intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) to proximal middle cerebral artery (MCA), disease progression, and transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Methods: Patients who underwent VW-MRI between October 2018 and December 2020 were enrolled in this retrospective study. We measured arterial wall enhancement (enhancement ratio, ER) and CSA at five sections of ICA and MCA.

Incidence of neurocutaneous melanosis in Japanese pediatric patients with congenital melanocytic nevi.

Neurocutaneous melanosis (NCM) is a rare, non-hereditary neurocutaneous disorder characterized by excessive melanocytic proliferation in the skin and central nervous system. As no major studies have covered the incidence of NCM among Japanese patients with congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN), we prospectively investigated the incidence of NCM among Japanese patients who underwent initial treatment for CMN. The relationship of CMN and NCM was also investigated.

Regulation of von Willebrand factor by ADAMTS13 ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury in mice.

The relationship between von Willebrand factor (VWF) and inflammation has attracted considerable attention in recent years. VWF, which is stored in the Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs) of endothelial cells (ECs), is released from WPBs in response to inflammatory stimuli and is thought to contribute to inflammation by promoting leukocyte extravasation. In this study, lung injury model mice were produced by intratracheal injection with lipopolysaccharides.