Improving Diagnostic Accuracy in Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Insights from Spectral Dual-energy CT.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of spectral dual-energy detector computed tomography (SDCT) and its associated parameters in diagnosing acute pulmonary embolism (APE).

Methods: Retrospective analysis of imaging data from 86 APE-diagnosed patients using SDCT was conducted. Virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) at 40, 70, and 100 KeV, Iodine concentration (IC) maps, Electron Cloud Density Map (ECDM), Effective atomic number (Z-eff) maps, and Hounsfield unit attenuation plots (VMI slope) were reconstructed from pulmonary artery phase CT images.

Dynamic changes of gut microbiota in mouse models of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis and its transition to hepatocellular carcinoma.

Dysbiosis of gut microbiota may account for pathobiology in simple fatty liver (SFL), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), fibrotic progression, and transformation to MASH-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (MASH-HCC). The aim of the present study is to investigate gut dysbiosis in this progression. Fecal microbial rRNA-16S sequencing, absolute quantification, histopathologic, and biochemical tests were performed in mice fed high fat/calorie diet plus high fructose and glucose in drinking water (HFCD-HF/G) or control diet (CD) for 2, 16 weeks, or 14 months.

Comparison of the Ability of Gadobenate Dimeglumine and Gadolinium Ethoxybenzyl Dimeglumine to Display the major Features for Noninvasively Diagnosing Hepatocellular Carcinoma According to the LI-RADS 2018v.

Objective: To compare the ability of gadolinium ethoxybenzyl dimeglumine (Gd-EOB-DTPA) and gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA) to display the 3 major features recommended by the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS 2018v) for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study, we included 98 HCC lesions that were scanned with either Gd-EOB-DTPA-MR or Gd-BOPTA-M.For each lesion, we collected multiple variables, including size and enhancement pattern in the arterial phase (AP), portal venous phase (PVP), transitional phase (TP), delayed phase (DP), and hepatobiliary phase (HBP).

Comparative analysis of the performance of hepatobiliary agents in depicting MRI features of microvascular infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: To compare the ability to depict MRI features of hepatobiliary agents in microvascular infiltration (MVI) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) during different stages of dynamic enhancement MRI.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study included 111 HCC lesions scanned with either Gd-EOB-DTPA or Gd-BOPTA. All cases underwent multiphase dynamic contrast-enhanced scanning before surgery, including arterial phase (AP), portal venous phase (PVP), transitional phase (TP), delayed phase (DP), and hepatobiliary phase (HBP).

Enhancing predictions of remedial reagent transport via a vertical groundwater circulation well with high-resolution aquifer characterization.

The vertical groundwater circulation well (GCW) is a commonly used technique in contaminated sites to remove secondary contaminants from low permeable zones. Early GCW studies often used simple subsurface hydraulic properties, such as anisotropic homogeneous aquifers or low conductivity lens/blocks, to mimic the complex subsurface heterogeneity. Although studies based on simplified representations of aquifer heterogeneity provide straightforward flow and transport information for engineering design of a GCW, they may over- or under-estimate contaminant fate and transport in the field.

JCAD deficiency attenuates activation of hepatic stellate cells and cholestatic fibrosis.

Background/aims: Cholestatic liver diseases including primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) are associated with active hepatic fibrogenesis, which ultimately progresses to cirrhosis. Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the main fibrogenic effectors in response to cholangiocyte damage. JCAD regulates cell proliferation and malignant transformation in nonalcoholic steatoheaptitis-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (NASH-HCC).

Impact of the COVID-19 vaccine booster strategy on vaccine protection: a pilot study of a military hospital in Taiwan.

Purpose: The global fight against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has led to widespread vaccination efforts, yet the optimal dosing schedule for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines remains a subject of ongoing research. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of administering two booster doses as the third and fourth doses at different intervals to enhance vaccine protection.

Materials And Methods: This study was conducted at a military regional hospital operated by the Ministry of National Defense in Taiwan.

Fusion extracted features from deep learning for identification of multiple positioning errors in dental panoramic imaging.

Background: Dental panoramic imaging plays a pivotal role in dentistry for diagnosis and treatment planning. However, correctly positioning patients can be challenging for technicians due to the complexity of the imaging equipment and variations in patient anatomy, leading to positioning errors. These errors can compromise image quality and potentially result in misdiagnoses.

Air embolism after CT-guided localization of pulmonary ground-glass nodules.

Objective: To investigate the incidence of air embolism (AE) related to CT-guided localization of pulmonary ground-glass nodules (GGNs) prior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

Methods: The data of all patients who received CT-guided localization of GGNs before VATS from May 2020 to October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: A total of 1395 consecutive patients with 1553 GGNs were enrolled.

Cyclic stretching combined with cell-cell adhesion is sufficient for inducing cell intercalation.

Although the important role of cell intercalation within a collective has long been recognized particularly for morphogenesis, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Here we investigate the possibility that cellular responses to cyclic stretching play a major role in this process. By applying synchronized imaging and cyclic stretching to epithelial cells cultured on micropatterned polyacrylamide (PAA) substrates, we discovered that uniaxial cyclic stretching induces cell intercalation along with cell shape change and cell-cell interfacial remodeling.

Dual-energy spectral detector computed tomography differential diagnosis of adrenal adenoma and pheochromocytoma: Changes in the energy level curve, a phenomenon caused by lipid components?

Background And Objectives: Pheochromocytoma and adrenal adenoma are common space-occupying lesions of the adrenal gland, and incorrect surgery may lead to adrenal crisis. We used a new method, dual-energy spectral detector computed tomography (SDCT), to differentiate between the two.

Materials And Methods: We analysed the imaging images of patients with SDCT scans and pathologically confirmed adrenal adenomas (n=70) and pheochromocytomas (n=15).

Computed tomography combined with gastroscopy for assessment of pancreatic segmental portal hypertension.

Background: Pancreatic segmental portal hypertension (PSPH) is the only type of portal hypertension that can be completely cured. However, it can easily cause varicose veins in the esophagus and stomach and hemorrhage in the digestive tract.

Aim: To explore the application of computed tomography (CT) to examine the characteristics of PSPH and assess the risk level.

oligosaccharides increase serotonin in the brain and ameliorate depression promoting 5-hydroxytryptophan production in the gut microbiota.

oligosaccharides (MOO) are an oral drug approved in China for the treatment of depression in China. However, MOO is hardly absorbed so that their anti-depressant mechanism has not been elucidated. Here, we show that oral MOO acted on tryptophan → 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) → serotonin (5-HT) metabolic pathway in the gut microbiota.

Nuclear Receptor NR1D1 Regulates Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Development by Targeting the Mitochondrial Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle Enzyme Aconitase-2.

Background: Metabolic disorder increases the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). NRs (nuclear receptors) have been increasingly recognized as important regulators of cell metabolism. However, the role of NRs in AAA development remains largely unknown.

Differentiation of Meningiomas and Gliomas by Amide Proton Transfer Imaging: A Preliminary Study of Brain Tumour Infiltration.

Background: Gliomas are more malignant and invasive than meningiomas.

Objective: To distinguish meningiomas from low-grade/high-grade gliomas (LGGs/HGGs) using amide proton transfer imaging (APT) combined with conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to explore the application of APT in evaluating brain tumour invasiveness.

Materials And Methods: The imaging data of 50 brain tumors confirmed by pathology in patients who underwent APT scanning in our centre were retrospectively analysed.

Application of dual-layer spectral detector computed tomography to evaluate the expression of Ki-67 in colorectal cancer.

Background: Compared with traditional computed tomography (CT), dual-layer spectral detector CT (SDCT) shows significant improvement in imaging soft tissues of the digestive tract. This work aimed to explore the application of SDCT to evaluate the expression of the molecular marker Ki-67 in colorectal cancer.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the imaging data of the SDCT (IQon Spectral CT; Philips Healthcare) of 45 patients with colorectal cancer in our centre.

Marking ground glass nodules with pulmonary nodules localization needle prior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of marking ground glass nodules (GGNs) with pulmonary nodules localization needle (PNLN) prior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

Materials And Methods: From June 2020 to February 2021, all patients with GGNs who received CT-guided localization using PNLN before VATS were enrolled. Clinical and imaging data were retrospectively analyzed.

Antibacterial and Fluorescence Staining Properties of an Innovative GTR Membrane Containing 45S5BGs and AIE Molecules In Vitro.

This study aimed to add two functional components-antibacterial 45S5BGs particles and AIE nanoparticles (TPE-NIM) with bioprobe characteristics-to the guided tissue regeneration (GTR) membrane, to optimize the performance. The PLGA/BG/TPE-NIM membrane was synthesized. The static water contact angle, morphologies, and surface element analysis of the membrane were then characterized.

Aquifer Characterization Using Fiber Bragg Grating Multi-Level Monitoring System.

Groundwater responses measured from multiple wells at different depths are essential for delineating the aquifer heterogeneity using hydraulic tomography (HT). In general, conducting HT requires many wells because traditional well monitoring is usually partially open at a specific depth interval or is fully penetrating. Accordingly, conducting an HT survey is typically costly and time-consuming.

The Efficacy of Long-Term Chinese Herbal Medicine Use on Lung Cancer Survival Time: A Retrospective Two-Center Cohort Study with Propensity Score Matching.

Objective: To explore the efficacy of long-term use of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) on survival time of lung cancer.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on lung cancer patients. A propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance the covariates.

Baseline left ventricular ejection fraction associated with symptom improvements in both children and adolescents with postural tachycardia syndrome under metoprolol therapy.

Background: Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a common childhood disease that seriously affects the patient's physical and mental health. This study aimed to investigate whether pre-treatment baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) values were associated with symptom improvement after metoprolol therapy for children and adolescents with POTS.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 51 children and adolescents with POTS who received metoprolol therapy at the Peking University First Hospital between November 2010 and July 2019.

Cyclic stretching-induced epithelial cell reorientation is driven by microtubule-modulated transverse extension during the relaxation phase.

Many types of adherent cells are known to reorient upon uniaxial cyclic stretching perpendicularly to the direction of stretching to facilitate such important events as wound healing, angiogenesis, and morphogenesis. While this phenomenon has been documented for decades, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Using an on-stage stretching device that allowed programmable stretching with synchronized imaging, we found that the reorientation of NRK epithelial cells took place primarily during the relaxation phase when cells underwent rapid global retraction followed by extension transverse to the direction of stretching.