Multicenter Randomized Trial Assessing MRI and Image-guided Biopsy for Suspected Prostate Cancer: The MULTIPROS Study.

Background The optimal diagnostic pathway for prostate cancer (PCa) is evolving, requiring further evaluation in a randomized controlled trial. Purpose To assess the diagnostic accuracy of prebiopsy multiparametric MRI in the identification of clinically significant PCa (csPCa) using radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens as the reference standard, and to test the diagnostic accuracy of combined US and MRI fusion-targeted biopsy with systematic biopsies. Materials and Methods In a prospective randomized controlled trial including university hospitals, men with suspected PCa were recruited between January 2015 and August 2020 to assess the diagnostic accuracy of multiparametric MRI before biopsy in detection of csPCa at biopsy and RP histopathologic structure (primary outcome).

Tayside Screening For Cardiac Events (TASCFORCE) study: a prospective cardiovascular risk screening study.

Purpose: Risk factor-based models struggle to accurately predict the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) at the level of the individual. Ways of identifying people with low predicted risk who will develop CVD would allow stratified advice and support informed treatment decisions about the initiation or adjustment of preventive medication, and this is the aim of this prospective cohort study.

Participants: The Tayside Screening for Cardiac Events (TASCFORCE) study recruited men and women aged≥40 years, free from known CVD, with a predicted 10-year risk of coronary heart disease<20%.

A Randomized, Controlled Trial of the Effect of Allopurinol on Left Ventricular Mass Index in Hemodialysis Patients.

Introduction: Increased left ventricular mass index (LVMI) is associated with mortality in end-stage renal disease. LVMI regression may improve outcomes. Allopurinol has reduced LVMI in randomized controlled trials in chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and ischemic heart disease.

A randomized controlled trial of dapagliflozin on left ventricular hypertrophy in people with type two diabetes: the DAPA-LVH trial.

Aim: We tested the hypothesis that dapagliflozin may regress left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods And Results: We randomly assigned 66 people (mean age 67 ± 7 years, 38 males) with T2D, LVH, and controlled blood pressure (BP) to receive dapagliflozin 10 mg once daily or placebo for 12 months. Primary endpoint was change in absolute left ventricular mass (LVM), assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Effect of allopurinol on phosphocreatine recovery and muscle function in older people with impaired physical function: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Allopurinol has vascular antioxidant effects and participates in purinergic signalling within muscle. We tested whether allopurinol could improve skeletal muscle energetics and physical function in older people with impaired physical performance.

Methods: We conducted a randomised, double blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled trial, comparing 20 weeks of allopurinol 600 mg once daily versus placebo.

Dapagliflozin Versus Placebo on Left Ventricular Remodeling in Patients With Diabetes and Heart Failure: The REFORM Trial.

Objective: To determine the effects of dapagliflozin in patients with heart failure (HF) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on left ventricular (LV) remodeling using cardiac MRI.

Research Design And Methods: We randomized 56 patients with T2DM and HF with LV systolic dysfunction to dapagliflozin 10 mg daily or placebo for 1 year, on top of usual therapy. The primary end point was difference in LV end-systolic volume (LVESV) using cardiac MRI.

A multicentre parallel-group randomised trial assessing multiparametric MRI characterisation and image-guided biopsy of prostate in men suspected of having prostate cancer: MULTIPROS study protocol.

Background: There is growing evidence suggesting that multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is a marker for prostate cancer (PCa) aggressiveness and could be used to plan treatment. Improving early detection of clinically significant PCa with pre-biopsy mpMRI would very likely have advantages including optimising the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and diminishing patient anxiety.

Methods And Materials: This is a prospective multicentre study of pre-biopsy mpMRI diagnostic test accuracy with subgroup randomisation at a 1:1 ratio with respect to transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) and MRI/US fusion-guided biopsy or TRUS-only biopsy.

Allopurinol treatment adversely impacts left ventricular mass regression in patients with well-controlled hypertension.

Objectives: Previous studies have demonstrated that high-dose allopurinol is able to regress left ventricular (LV) mass in cohorts with established cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to assess whether treatment with high-dose allopurinol would regress LV mass in a cohort with essential hypertension, LV hypertrophy and well-controlled blood pressure but without established cardiovascular disease.

Methods: We conducted a mechanistic proof-of-concept randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of allopurinol (600 mg/day) versus placebo on LV mass regression.

A randomized controlled trial of metformin on left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with coronary artery disease without diabetes: the MET-REMODEL trial.

Aim: We tested the hypothesis that metformin may regress left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients who have coronary artery disease (CAD), with insulin resistance (IR) and/or pre-diabetes.

Methods And Results: We randomly assigned 68 patients (mean age 65 ± 8 years) without diabetes who have CAD with IR and/or pre-diabetes to receive either metformin XL (2000 mg daily dose) or placebo for 12 months. Primary endpoint was change in left ventricular mass indexed to height1.

The Impact of Different Magnetic Resonance Imaging Equipment and Scanning Parameters on Signal Intensity Ratio Measurements in Phantoms and Healthy Volunteers: Implications for Interpreting Gadolinium Signal Changes Within the Brain.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the variation in signal intensity ratio (SIR) values in Eurospin gel phantoms and healthy volunteer (HV) brain images in response to different magnetic resonance imaging hardware and software settings.

Materials And Methods: Gel phantoms with T1 relaxation times similar to the dentate nucleus (DN), pons (P), globus palladus (GP), and thalamus (Th) were scanned using a T1-weighted 2-dimensional spin-echo sequence on 2 magnetic resonance imaging scanners (3 T and 1.5 T).

Non-contrast MRI methods as a tool for the pre-operative assessment and surveillance of the arterio-venous fistula for haemodialysis.

Objective: To compare non-contrast enhanced MRI with ultrasound (US) for measurement of arm blood vessel geometries and flow velocities in volunteers and patients with end-stage renal disease.

Materials And Methods: Subjects were scanned using US (reference standard), and MRI 2D time-of-flight (ToF), 2D phase contrast (PC), and 3D multi-echo data image combination (MEDIC). Patients were also scanned after arteriovenous fistula (AVF) surgery.

Morphological and hemodynamical alterations in brachial artery and cephalic vein. An image-based study for preoperative assessment for vascular access creation.

The current study aims to computationally evaluate the effect of right upper arm position on the geometric and hemodynamic characteristics of the brachial artery (BA) and cephalic vein (CV) and, furthermore, to present in detail the methodology to characterise morphological and hemodynamical healthy vessels. Ten healthy volunteers were analysed in two configurations, the supine (S) and the prone (P) position. Lumen 3D surface models were constructed from images acquired from a non-contrast MRI sequence.

Prevalence and Distribution of Atherosclerosis in a Low- to Intermediate-Risk Population: Assessment with Whole-Body MR Angiography.

Purpose To quantify the burden and distribution of asymptomatic atherosclerosis in a population with a low to intermediate risk of cardiovascular disease. Materials and Methods Between June 2008 and February 2013, 1528 participants with 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease less than 20% were prospectively enrolled. They underwent whole-body magnetic resonance (MR) angiography at 3.

Quantitative parameters in dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for the detection and characterization of prostate cancer.

Objectives: to assess the diagnostic accuracy of quantitative parameters of DCE-MRI in multi-parametric MRI (mpMRI) in comparison to the histopathology (including Gleason grade) of prostate cancer.

Patients And Methods: 150 men with suspected prostate cancer (abnormal digital rectum examination and or elevated prostate-specific antigen) received pre-biopsy 3T mpMRI and were recruited into peer-reviewed, protocol-based prospective study. The DCE-MRI quantitative parameters ( (influx transfer constant) and (efflux rate constant)) of the cancerous and normal areas were recorded using four different kinetic models employing Olea Sphere (Olea Medical, La Ciotat, France).

Quantitative MRI evaluation of whole abdomen adipose tissue volumes in healthy volunteers-validation of technique and implications for clinical studies.

Objective: To explore "whole abdomen" MRI methods for quantifying adipose tissue volumes and to establish associations with body mass index (BMI) and measurement reproducibility-relative to existing "partial abdomen" methods.

Methods: 15 healthy volunteers were scanned on a 3T MRI scanner using a double-echo three-point-Dixon gradient echo sequence. Whole abdomen volumes were acquired via three separate scans ("supine 1", "supine 2" and "prone").

Systemic arteriosclerosis is associated with left ventricular remodeling but not atherosclerosis: a TASCFORCE study.

Background: Arteriosclerosis (arterial stiffening) is associated with future cardiovascular events, with this effect postulated to be due to its effect on cardiac afterload, atherosclerosis (plaque formation) progression or both, but with limited evidence examining these early in disease formation. The aim of the current study is to examine the association between arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis and ventricular remodelling in a population at low-intermediate cardiovascular risk.

Methods: One thousand six hundred fifty-one subjects free of clinical cardiovascular disease and with a < 20% 10 year cardiovascular risk score underwent a cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) study and whole body CMR angiogram.

Imaging in Vascular Access.

This review examines four imaging modalities; ultrasound (US), digital subtraction angiography (DSA), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT), that have common or potential applications in vascular access (VA). The four modalities are reviewed under their primary uses, techniques, advantages and disadvantages, and future directions that are specific to VA. Currently, US is the most commonly used modality in VA because it is cheaper (relative to other modalities), accessible, non-ionising, and does not require the use of contrast agents.

Effects of inaccuracies in arterial path length measurement on differences in MRI and tonometry measured pulse wave velocity.

Background: Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) and aortic PWV measured using MRI (MRI-PWV) show good correlation, but with a significant and consistent bias across studies. The aim of the current study was to evaluate whether the differences between cf.-PWV and MRI-PWV can be accounted for by inaccuracies of currently used distance measurements.

Investigation of Ultrasound-Measured Flow Velocity, Flow Rate and Wall Shear Rate in Radial and Ulnar Arteries Using Simulation.

Parameters of blood flow measured by ultrasound in radial and ulnar arteries, such as flow velocity, flow rate and wall shear rate, are widely used in clinical practice and clinical research. Investigation of these measurements is useful for evaluating accuracy and providing knowledge of error sources. A method for simulating the spectral Doppler ultrasound measurement process was developed with computational fluid dynamics providing flow-field data.

Left Ventricular Noncompaction: Anatomical Phenotype or Distinct Cardiomyopathy?

Background: There is considerable overlap between left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) and other cardiomyopathies. LVNC has been reported in up to 40% of the general population, raising questions about whether it is a distinct pathological entity, a remodeling epiphenomenon, or merely an anatomical phenotype.

Objectives: The authors determined the prevalence and predictors of LVNC in a healthy population using 4 cardiac magnetic resonance imaging diagnostic criteria.

Prevalence of unrecognized myocardial infarction in a low-intermediate risk asymptomatic cohort and its relation to systemic atherosclerosis.

Aims: Unrecognized myocardial infarctions (UMIs) have been described in 19-30% of the general population using late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac magnetic resonance. However, these studies have focused on an unselected cohort including those with known cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of the current study was to ascertain the prevalence of UMIs in a non-high-risk population using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).