Comparison of noncontrast, dynamic, and hepatobiliary phase abbreviated MRI protocols for detection of hepatic malignancies.

Background: Abbreviated MRI for surveillance in patients at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has recently gained interest.

Purpose: To compare the performance among the three types of abbreviated MRI protocols for the detection of hepatic malignancies in patients at risk for HCC.

Material And Methods: This retrospective review using data from a prospective-registry study included 221 patients with one or more hepatic nodules detected during surveillance for chronic liver disease.

Heart Failure-Smart Life: a randomized controlled trial of a mobile app for self-management in patients with heart failure.

Background: It is an important strategy for healthcare providers to support heart failure patients with comprehensive aspects of self-management. A practical alternative to a comprehensive and user-friendly self-management program for heart failure patients is needed. This study aimed to develop a mobile self-management app program for patients with heart failure and to identify the impact of the program.

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma in a recent cohort at a tertiary cancer center: incidence and factors associated with major complications and unexpected hospitalization events.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the incidence of and factors associated with major complications, delayed discharge, and emergency room (ER) visits or readmission after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) <3 cm in a recent cohort at a tertiary cancer center.

Methods: A total of 188 patients with treatment-naïve single HCCs <3 cm who underwent RFA between January 2018 and April 2021 were included in the analysis. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the factors associated with major complications, delayed discharge, and ER visits or readmission.

Estrogen mediates inflammatory role of mast cells in endometriosis pathophysiology.

Endometriosis is an estrogen dependent, chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the growth of endometrial lining outside of the uterus. Mast cells have emerged as key players in regulating not only allergic responses but also other mechanisms such as angiogenesis, fibrosis, and pain. The influence of estrogen on mast cell function has also been recognized as a potential factor driving disease pathophysiology in number of allergic and chronic inflammatory conditions.

Laparoscopic Hepatic Resection Versus Laparoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation for Subcapsular Hepatocellular Carcinomas Smaller Than 3 cm: Analysis of Treatment Outcomes Using Propensity Score Matching.

Objective: To compare the therapeutic outcomes of laparoscopic hepatic resection (LHR) and laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation (LRFA) for single subcapsular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: We screened 244 consecutive patients who had received either LHR or LRFA between January 2014 and December 2016. The feasibility of LRFA in patients who underwent LHR was retrospectively assessed by two interventional radiologists.

Hyperechoic pancreas on ultrasonography: an analysis of its severity and clinical implications.

Purpose: This study investigated risk factors for hyperechoic pancreas (HP) on ultrasonography (US) according to HP severity.

Methods: Between December 2008 and February 2014, 1,459 subjects who underwent abdominal US as part of health examinations were retrospectively included. Two radiologists assessed and categorized the severity of HP as normal, mild, moderate, and severe.

A modified LI-RADS: targetoid tumors with enhancing capsule can be diagnosed as HCC instead of LR-M lesions.

Objective: To elucidate whether the presence of enhancing capsule can be applied to establish a modified Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) to differentiate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from non-HCC malignancies in extracellular contrast agent (ECA)-enhanced and hepatobiliary agent (HBA)-enhanced MRI.

Methods: We enrolled 198 participants (161 men; mean age, 56.3 years) with chronic liver disease who underwent ECA-MRI and HBA-MRI before surgery for de novo hepatic nodule(s).

EASL versus LI-RADS: Intra-individual comparison of MRI with extracellular contrast and gadoxetic acid for diagnosis of small HCC.

Background & Aims: Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) and European Association for the Study (EASL) criteria for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis have been updated in 2018. We aimed to compare the HCC diagnostic performance of LI-RADS and EASL criteria with extracellular contrast agents-MRI (ECA-MRI) and hepatobiliary agents-MRI (HBA-MRI).

Methods: We prospectively evaluated 179 participants with cirrhosis (n = 105) or non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis B (CHB) (n = 74) who underwent both ECA-MRI and HBA-MRI before surgery for de novo nodule(s) measuring 10-30 mm.

Seasonal and monthly variation in peak expiratory flow rate in children with asthma.

Background: Although understanding the seasonal patterns of asthma deterioration is important to prevent asthma exacerbation, previous approaches have limitations in evaluating the actual trend of asthma exacerbation.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the seasonal and monthly variations in the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) among children with asthma.

Methods: A total of 89 patients with asthma were enrolled between December 2012 and March 2015.

Severity of hyperechoic pancreas on ultrasonography as a risk factor for glycemic progression.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the severity of hyperechoic pancreas (HP) on ultrasonography (US) and glycemic progression.

Methods: In total, 1,386 participants who underwent abdominal US as part of health examinations between December 2008 and May 2014 were included in this retrospective study. We classified pancreatic echogenicity on a 4-point scale, and compared it using two distinct criteria: fatty pancreas (FP) 1 criterion (normal vs.

Intraindividual Comparison of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Washout between MRIs with Hepatobiliary and Extracellular Contrast Agents.

Objective: To intraindividually compare hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) washout between MRIs using hepatobiliary agent (HBA) and extracellular agent (ECA).

Materials And Methods: This study included 114 prospectively enrolled patients with chronic liver disease (mean age, 55 ± 9 years; 94 men) who underwent both HBA-MRI and ECA-MRI before surgical resection for HCC between November 2016 and May 2019. For 114 HCCs, the lesion-to-liver visual signal intensity ratio (SIR) using a 5-point scale (-2 to +2) was evaluated in each phase.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas: diagnostic performance of the 2017 international consensus guidelines using CT and MRI.

Objectives: To assess the diagnostic performance of the 2017 international consensus guidelines for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas and to compare the diagnostic performance and intermodality agreement between contrast-enhanced CT and MRI.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients with surgical resection of IPMN of the pancreas who underwent preoperative CT and MRI between 2009 and 2019. Two radiologists evaluated the clinical and imaging features of IPMN of pancreas according to the 2017 international consensus guideline.

Adjustment of azathioprine dose should be based on a lower 6-TGN target level to avoid leucopenia in NUDT15 intermediate metabolisers.

Background: The association between NUDT15 polymorphisms and thiopurine-induced leucopenia is well known.

Aim: To investigate the association between NUDT15 polymorphisms and time-to-leucopenia in paediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) receiving azathioprine and to determine the relationship between NUDT15 polymorphisms and 6-thioguanine nucleotide (6-TGN) levels.

Methods: This retrospective observational study included Korean paediatric patients with IBD who were treated with azathioprine and underwent NUDT15 and TPMT genotyping.

Prognosis of resected intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas: using revised 2017 international consensus guidelines.

Purpose: Although there has been considerable effort to define pre-operative features to predict the malignant potential of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs), the prognostic value of pre-operative clinical and MRI features has not been assessed. The aim of this study was to determine pre-operative clinical and MRI features that are predictive of disease-specific death or recurrence in patients undergoing pancreatic resection for IPMNs.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 167 patients (mean age, 65 years; 114 men and 53 women) who underwent pre-operative MRI and surgical resection of IPMN of pancreas between 2009 and 2019.

Association between intraoperative hypotension and postoperative myocardial injury in patients with prior coronary stents undergoing high-risk surgery: a retrospective study.

Purpose: We conducted a single-center retrospective study to evaluate the effects of intraoperative hypotension (IOH) on postoperative myocardial injury during major noncardiac surgery in patients with prior coronary stents with preoperatively normal cardiac troponin I levels. Although IOH is assumed to increase the risk of postoperative myocardial injury in patients with prior coronary stents, the level and duration of hazardous low blood pressure have not been clarified.

Methods: Of 2517 patients with prior coronary stents undergoing noncardiac surgery between January 2010 and March 2017, we analyzed 195 undergoing major surgery (vascular, abdominal, and thoracic surgery) who had a normal preoperative high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) level and were followed up postoperatively within 3 days.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging With Extracellular Contrast Detects Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Greater Accuracy Than With Gadoxetic Acid or Computed Tomography.

Background & Aims: Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are used to detect hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We performed a prospective study to compare the diagnostic performance of CT, MRI with extracellular contrast agents (ECA-MRI), and MRI with hepatobiliary agents (HBA-MRI) in the detection of HCC using the liver imaging reporting and data system (LI-RADS).

Methods: We studied 125 participants (102 men; mean age, 55.

Clinical Outcomes and the Role of Adjuvant Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy in D2-resected LN-positive Young Patients (≤45 Years) With Gastric Cancer.

Background/aim: This study aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes and role of adjuvant concurrent chemo-radiation therapy (CCRT) compared to adjuvant chemotherapy alone in young patients with gastric cancer (GC) defined as those ≤45 years old versus older patients.

Patients And Methods: Data were collected from December 2004 to January 2013 on patients with pathologically confirmed, regional lymph node metastasis of GC who had undergone curative D2 resection.

Results: During the study period, a total of 1,633 patients (341 young and 1,292 older GC) was investigated.

Differentiation of hypervascular primary hepatic tumors showing hepatobiliary hypointensity on gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: To determine the imaging features that help differentiate hypervascular primary hepatic tumors showing hepatobiliary hypointensity on gadoxetic acid MRI.

Methods: This study comprised 148 patients with pathologically proven hypervascular hepatic tumors who underwent gadoxetic acid MRI. Tumors included 23 atypical focal nodular hyperplasias (FNHs), 11 hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs), 15 neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), 25 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas (ICCs), and 74 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs).

Combination of CT findings can reliably predict radiolucent common bile duct stones: a novel approach using a CT-based nomogram.

Objectives: To identify CT features that reliably predict the presence of radiolucent common bile duct (CBD) stones.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 112 patients (mean age, 60.6 years) with clinically suspected CBD stones that were not visible on CT.

Usefulness of non-contrast MR imaging in distinguishing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma from focal pancreatitis.

Background: Accurate differentiation between pancreatic adenocarcinoma and focal pancreatitis is challenging.

Purpose: To investigate the usefulness of non-contrast MRI by comparing with multidetector row CT (MDCT) and gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI in the discrimination of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and focal pancreatitis (FP).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 187 patients (116 with PDACs and 71 with FP) who underwent gadoxetic acid-MRI and MDCT prior to surgical resection or biopsy.

The Important Factors Associated with Treatment Response in Laser Treatment of Facial Scars: A Single-Institution Based Retrospective Study.

Background: There is increased interest in laser treatment of facial scars.

Objective: To determine the factors associated with treatment response.

Methods: We conducted an institution-based retrospective study by including the patients treated with laser for facial scars from 2012 to 2015.

Intrahepatic Mass-forming Cholangiocarcinoma: Arterial Enhancement Patterns at MRI and Prognosis.

Purpose To identify whether arterial enhancement pattern at MRI could predict the prognosis after surgical resection of intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma (IMCC). Materials and Methods Patients who underwent curative hepatic resection and preoperative MRI for IMCC from November 2007 to September 2016 were retrospectively evaluated. MRI enhancement pattern was classified by two radiologists.

Intra-individual comparison of gadolinium-enhanced MRI using pseudo-golden-angle radial acquisition with gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI for diagnosis of HCCs using LI-RADS.

Objectives: To determine the usefulness of extracellular contrast agent (ECA)-enhanced multiphasic liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a pseudo-golden-angle radial acquisition scheme by intra-individual comparison with gadoxetic acid-MRI (EOB-MRI) with regard to image quality and the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: This prospective study enrolled 15 patients with 18 HCCs who underwent EOB-MRI using a Cartesian approach and ECA-MRI using the pseudo-golden-angle radial acquisition scheme (free-breathing continuous data acquisition for 64 s following ECA injection, generating six images). Two reviewers evaluated the arterial and portal phases of each MRI for artifacts, organ sharpness, and conspicuity of intrahepatic vessels and the hepatic tumors.

Risk of Metachronous Advanced Neoplasia in Patients With Multiple Diminutive Adenomas.

Objectives: Individuals with advanced adenomas or three or more adenomas have a higher risk of metachronous advanced neoplasia (AN) and are recommended to undergo surveillance colonoscopy at shorter intervals. However, it is questionable whether patients with multiple (three or more) non-advanced diminutive adenomas should be considered as high-risk.

Methods: We analyzed 5482 patients diagnosed with one or more adenomas during their first colonoscopy screening and who underwent a follow-up colonoscopy.