Automatic Virtual Contrast-Enhanced CT Synthesis Using Dual-Energy CT and Residual U-Net with Attention Module for Detecting Pulmonary Hilar Lymphadenopathy.

Rationale And Objectives: To propose an automatic virtual contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography (CT) synthesis using dual-energy CT and a Residual U-Net with an attention module to detect clinically significant hilar lymphadenopathy.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 2082 patients who underwent dual-energy chest CT scans. Our approach utilized a Residual U-Net combined with a Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) to transform non-contrast CT images into virtual contrast-enhanced CT images.

Deep learning-based algorithm for automatic quantification of nigrosome-1 and Parkinsonism classification using susceptibility map-weighted MRI.

Background And Purpose: To develop and validate a deep learning-based automatic quantification for nigral hyperintensity and a classification algorithm for neurodegenerative parkinsonism using susceptibility map-weighted imaging (SMwI).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively collected 450 participants (210 with idiopathic Parkinson's disease [IPD] and 240 individuals in the control group) for training data between November 2022 and May 2023, and 237 participants (168 with IPD, 58 with essential tremor, and 11 with drug-induced Parkinsonism) for validation data between July 2021 and January 2022. SMwI data were reconstructed from multi-echo GRE.

Endogenously produced itaconate negatively regulates innate-driven cytokine production and drives global ubiquitination in human macrophages.

A wide variety of electrophilic derivatives of itaconate, the Kreb's cycle-derived metabolite, are immunomodulatory, yet these derivatives have overlapping and sometimes contradictory activities. Therefore, we generated a genetic system to interrogate the immunomodulatory functions of endogenously produced itaconate in human macrophages. Endogenous itaconate is driven by multiple innate signals restraining inflammatory cytokine production.

Deep Learning Model Using Stool Pictures for Predicting Endoscopic Mucosal Inflammation in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis.

Introduction: Stool characteristics may change depending on the endoscopic activity of ulcerative colitis (UC). We developed a deep learning model using stool photographs of patients with UC (DLSUC) to predict endoscopic mucosal inflammation.

Methods: This was a prospective multicenter study conducted in 6 tertiary referral hospitals.

Regional Burden of Enlarged Perivascular Spaces and Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Drug-Naive Patients With Parkinson Disease.

Background And Objectives: Although the potential role of enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVSs) in Parkinson disease (PD) is increasingly recognized, whether EPVSs located in different anatomical regions exert differential effects on clinical manifestation remains uncertain. We investigated the regional EPVS burden and its association with cognition and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs) in newly diagnosed PD population.

Methods: In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, EPVS in the temporal lobe (T-EPVS), centrum semiovale (CS-EPVS), and basal ganglia (BG-EPVS) were visually rated in drug-naive patients with PD who underwent magnetic resonance imaging, dopamine transporter (DAT) scans, neuropsychological assessments, and Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire at baseline.

HHV-6B detection and host gene expression implicate HHV-6B as pulmonary pathogen after hematopoietic cell transplant.

Limited understanding of the immunopathogenesis of human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) has prevented its acceptance as a pulmonary pathogen after hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT). In this prospective multicenter study of patients undergoing bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for pneumonia after allogeneic HCT, we test blood and BAL fluid (BALF) for HHV-6B DNA and mRNA transcripts associated with lytic infection and perform RNA-seq on paired blood. Among 116 participants, HHV-6B DNA is detected in 37% of BALs, 49% of which also have HHV-6B mRNA detection.

Ocular Manifestations and Outcomes in Children With Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: A Comparison With Adult Patients.

Purpose: To compare the clinical features and visual outcomes in children and adults with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).

Design: Retrospective comparative case series.

Methods: This retrospective study included 280 eyes of 140 patients (35 children and 105 adults) with SJS/TEN treated between 2010 and 2020.

Asthma innovations from the first International Collaborative Asthma Network forum.

Background: Many patients have uncontrolled asthma despite available treatments. Most of the new asthma therapies have focused on type 2 (T2) inflammation, leaving an unmet need for innovative research into mechanisms of asthma beyond T2 and immunity. An international group of investigators developed the International Collaborative Asthma Network (ICAN) with the goal of sharing innovative research on disease mechanisms, developing new technologies and therapies, organising pilot studies and engaging early-stage career investigators from across the world.

Contribution of Previously Unrecognized RNA Splice-Altering Variants to Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: Known genetic causes of congenital heart disease (CHD) explain <40% of CHD cases, and interpreting the clinical significance of variants with uncertain functional impact remains challenging. We aim to improve diagnostic classification of variants in patients with CHD by assessing the impact of noncanonical splice region variants on RNA splicing.

Methods: We tested de novo variants from trio studies of 2649 CHD probands and their parents, as well as rare (allele frequency, <2×10) variants from 4472 CHD probands in the Pediatric Cardiac Genetics Consortium through a combined computational and in vitro approach.

Abnormal Conduction Zone Detected by Isochronal Late Activation Mapping Accurately Identifies the Potential Atrial Substrate and Predicts the Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Outcome After Pulmonary Vein Isolation.

Background: The presence of abnormal substrate of left atrium is a predictor of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation. We aimed to investigate the isochronal late activation mapping to access the abnormal conduction velocity for predicting AF ablation outcome.

Methods: Forty-five paroxysmal AF patients (30 males, 57.

Nanocomplexes of doxorubicin and DNA fragments for efficient and safe cancer chemotherapy.

Cancer-targeted therapy by a chemotherapeutic agent formulated in a nanoscale platform has been challenged by complex and inefficient manufacturing, low drug loading, difficult characterization, and marginally improved therapeutic efficacy. This study investigated facile-to-produce nanocomplexes of doxorubicin (DOX), a widely used cancer drug, and clinically approved DNA fragments that are extracted from a natural source. DOX was found to self-assemble DNA fragments into relatively monodispersed nanocomplexes with a diameter of ∼70 nm at 14.

Association Between White Matter Networks and the Pattern of Striatal Dopamine Depletion in Patients With Parkinson Disease.

Objectives: Individual variability in nigrostriatal dopaminergic denervation is an important factor underlying clinical heterogeneity in Parkinson disease (PD). This study aimed to explore whether the pattern of striatal dopamine depletion was associated with white matter (WM) networks in PD.

Methods: A total of 240 newly diagnosed patients with PD who underwent F-FP-CIT PET scans and brain diffusion tensor imaging at initial assessment were enrolled in this study.

SARS-CoV-2 Variants Infection in Relationship to Imaging-based Pneumonia and Clinical Outcomes.

Background Few reports have evaluated the effect of the SARS-CoV-2 variant and vaccination on the clinical and imaging features of COVID-19. Purpose To evaluate and compare the effect of vaccination and variant prevalence on the clinical and imaging features of infections by the SARS-CoV-2. Materials and Methods Consecutive adults hospitalized for confirmed COVID-19 at three centers (two academic medical centers and one community hospital) and registered in a nationwide open data repository for COVID-19 between August 2021 and March 2022 were retrospectively included.

Diagnostic Performance of Five Adult-based US Risk Stratification Systems in Pediatric Thyroid Nodules.

Background The validation of adult-based US risk stratification systems (RSSs) in the discrimination of malignant thyroid nodules in a pediatric population remains lacking. Purpose To estimate and compare the diagnostic performance of pediatric US RSSs based on five adult-based RSSs in the discrimination of malignant thyroid nodules in a pediatric sample. Materials and methods Pediatric patients (age ≤18 years) with histopathologically confirmed US-detected thyroid nodules at a tertiary referral hospital between January 2000 and April 2020 were analyzed retrospectively.

Immunomodulatory Role of in Atopic Dermatitis.

is a gram-positive bacterium commonly found on humans, and it constitutes the skin microbiota. Presence of in healthy individuals usually does not pose any threat, as the human body is equipped with many mechanisms to prevent pathogen invasion and infection. However, colonization of has been correlated with many healthcare-associated infections, and has been found in people with atopic diseases.

Association Between White Matter Connectivity and Early Dementia in Patients With Parkinson Disease.

Background And Objectives: Several clinical and neuroimaging biomarkers have been proposed to identify individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) who are at risk for ongoing cognitive decline. This study aimed to explore whether white matter (WM) connectivity disruption is associated with dementia conversion in patients with newly diagnosed PD with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI).

Methods: Seventy-five patients with drug-naive PD-MCI who underwent serial cognitive assessments during the follow-up period (>5 years) were enrolled for the neuroimaging analyses.

Imaging and Clinical Features of COVID-19 Breakthrough Infections: A Multicenter Study.

Background Since vaccines against COVID-19 became available, rare breakthrough infections have been reported despite their high efficacies. Purpose To evaluate the clinical and imaging characteristics of patients with COVID-19 breakthrough infections and compare them with those of unvaccinated patients with COVID-19. Materials and Methods In this retrospective multicenter cohort study, the authors analyzed patient (aged ≥18 years) data from three centers that were registered in an open data repository for COVID-19 between June and August 2021.