Flat-panel detector CT assessment in stroke to reduce times to intra-arterial treatment: A study of multiphase computed tomography angiography in the angiography suite to bypass conventional imaging.

Background: Bypassing the emergency department and the computed tomography suite by directly transporting to the neuroangiography suite for imaging assessment and treatment may shorten reperfusion times while maintaining proper patient selection.

Objective: To determine whether flat-panel detector multiphase computed tomography angiography protocol is associated with reduced treatment times and a similar safety profile as the standard imaging protocol.

Methods: Single-center prospective study of consecutive patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion strokes transferred to our facility for consideration of endovascular therapy from May 2016 to December 2017.

Evaluation of a noise reduction imaging technology in iliac digital subtraction angiography: noninferior clinical image quality with lower patient and scatter dose.

Purpose: To determine whether equivalent-quality images can be obtained from digital subtraction angiography (DSA) of the iliac artery after implementation of a novel imaging technology that reduces patient and scatter x-ray dose.

Materials And Methods: Imaging using two randomly ordered DSA runs was performed in 51 adults scheduled for iliac artery angiography or intervention or both. One DSA run used standard acquisition chain and image processing algorithms (referred to as " reference DSA"), and the other DSA run used dose-reduction and real-time advanced image noise reduction technology (referred to as "study DSA").

Image guidance for endovascular repair of complex aortic aneurysms: comparison of two-dimensional and three-dimensional angiography and image fusion.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of image fusion (IF) of preprocedural arterial-phase computed tomography with intraprocedural fluoroscopy for roadmapping in endovascular repair of complex aortic aneurysms, and to compare this approach versus current roadmapping methods (ie, two-dimensional [2D] and three-dimensional [3D] angiography).

Materials And Methods: Thirty-seven consecutive patients with complex aortic aneurysms treated with endovascular techniques were retrospectively reviewed; these included aneurysms of digestive and/or renal arteries and pararenal and juxtarenal aortic aneurysms. All interventions were performed with the same angiographic system.

Live MR angiographic roadmapping for uterine artery embolization: a feasibility study.

Purpose: To assess the feasibility of live magnetic resonance (MR) angiography roadmapping guidance for uterine artery (UA) embolization (UAE) for fibroid tumors.

Materials And Methods: Twenty patients underwent UAE with live MR angiographic roadmapping. The pre-acquired MR angiography scan was coregistered with the live intraprocedural fluoroscopy stream to create a visual roadmap to direct the microcatheter during UAE.

Three-dimensional rotational angiography is preferable to conventional two-dimensional techniques for uterine artery embolization.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the potential benefits of three-dimensional rotational angiography (3DRA) compared to two-dimensional (2D) roadmapping to visualize the uterine artery (UA) origins during uterine artery embolization (UAE) procedures.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-three UAE cases performed under 3DRA guidance were reviewed retrospectively to determine if there was an optimal angiographic projection angle for identifying UA origin. Digital subtraction angiogram (DAS)-like images of the pelvic vessels were generated from the 3DRA scans at six different angles: left anterior oblique (LAO) 25°, 35°, 45°; and right anterior oblique (RAO) 25°, 35°, 45°.

Intervertebral disk nutrition: a review of factors influencing concentrations of nutrients and metabolites.

The biomechanical behavior of the intervertebral disk ultimately depends on the viability and activity of a small population of resident cells that make and maintain the disk's extracellular matrix. Nutrients that support these cells are supplied by the blood vessels at the disks' margins and diffuse through the matrix of the avascular disk to the cells. This article reviews pathways of nutrient supply to these cells; examines factors that may interrupt these pathways, and discusses consequences for disk cell survival, disk degeneration, and disk repair.

Notochordal intervertebral disc cells: sensitivity to nutrient deprivation.

Objective: The nucleus pulposus (NP) of the intervertebral disc develops from the notochord. Humans and other species in which notochordal cells (NCs) disappear to be replaced by chondrocyte-like mature NP cells (MNPCs) frequently develop disc degeneration, unlike other species that retain NCs. The reasons for NC disappearance are unknown.

An in vitro organ culturing system for intervertebral disc explants with vertebral endplates: a feasibility study with ovine caudal discs.

Study Design: Whole ovine caudal intervertebral discs with vertebral endplates were cultured under uniaxial diurnal loading for 7 days.

Objectives: To establish and characterize an organ culture system for intervertebral discs, in which disc cells may be "maintained" in their native three-dimensional environment under load.

Summary Of Background Data: In vitro culturing of entire discs with preserved biologic and structural integrity would be a useful model to study the effects of nutrition and mechanical loading.

Nutrient supply and intervertebral disc metabolism.

The metabolic environment of disc cells is governed by the avascular nature of the tissue. Because cellular energy metabolism occurs mainly through glycolysis, the disc cells require glucose for survival and produce lactic acid at high rates. Oxygen is also necessary for cellular activity, although not for survival; its pathway of utilization is unclear.