Objective: To explore the clinical value of combining split-bolus contrast injection with dual-energy CT(DECT) scanning technology in pediatric computed tomography urography (CTU) imaging.
Methods: A total of 128 children aged 0-17 years were prospectively selected and randomly assigned to three groups: A, B, and C. For Group A, a high-pitch flash mode was employed, where a single bolus of contrast agent was followed by four-phase scanning (noncontrast, cortex, medulla, and excretory phases). In Group B, a dual-energy scanning mode was used with a split-bolus injection technique (50 % of the contrast agent was administered initially, followed by the remaining 50 % after 37-43 s), and the children underwent two-phase scanning (corticomedullary and excretory phases). In Group C, dual-energy scanning was similarly used with a split-bolus injection technique (65 % contrast agent was administered initially, followed by the remaining 35 % after 37-43 s), along with two-phase scanning (corticomedullary and excretory phases). Virtual noncontrast (VNC) images were obtained from the corticomedullary phase images using iodine subtraction techniques for Groups B and C. The image quality and radiation dose across the groups were compared and analysed.
Results: When the CT values of the renal cortex, erector spinae muscles, and standard deviation (SD) values were compared between Group A's cortical phase and Groups B and C's corticomedullary phases, the order was Group B > Group C > Group A (P < 0.05). The comparison of the cortical CNR and SNR between Group A's cortical phase and Groups B's and C's corticomedullary phases (cortices) revealed that Group C > Group B > Group A (P < 0.05). The comparison of the medullary CNR and SNR between Group A's medullary phase and Groups B and C's corticomedullary phases (medulla) showed that Group A > Group C > Group B (P < 0.05). The scores for the VNC images in Groups B and C were lower than those for the true noncontrast (TNC) images in Group A (P > 0.05). In the subjective evaluations of the corticomedullary and excretory phase images, Group B > Group C > Group A (P < 0.05). The comparison of radiation doses revealed that Group B < Group C < Group A (P < 0.05). A significant correlation was found between BMI and the effective radiation dose (P < 0.01), with a correlation coefficient of 0.62.
Conclusion: The combination of split-bolus contrast injection and DECT enhances image quality in pediatric CTU while reducing radiation dosage.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2025.111949 | DOI Listing |
JMIR Mhealth Uhealth
January 2025
Department of Learning and Workforce Development, The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, Soesterberg, Netherlands.
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View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Int Neuropsychol Soc
January 2025
Department of Psychiatry, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
Objectives: This study compared cognitive flexibility (CF) and emotion recognition (ER) in adolescents with eating disorders (ED) to a healthy group.
Methods: Forty healthy individuals aged 12-18 years with no psychiatric diagnosis and 46 patients diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), or binge eating disorder (BED) according to DSM-5 criteria participated. CF was assessed using the Cognitive Flexibility Scale (CFS), Stroop Test, and Berg Card Sorting Test (BCST), while ER was evaluated using the test of perception of affect via nonverbal cues.
Radiat Oncol
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German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Tübingen, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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View Article and Find Full Text PDFConfl Health
January 2025
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Department of Non-Communicable Diseases Epidemiology, Keppel street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.
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View Article and Find Full Text PDFExp Hematol Oncol
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Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) represent a group of heterogeneous myeloid clonal diseases derived from aberrant hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is an important regulator in gene expression through methyltransferase-dependent or methyltransferase-independent mechanisms. Herein, we found EZH2 inhibition led to MDS cell pyroptosis through RNA Helicase A (RHA) down-regulation induced overexpression of S100A9, a key regulator of inflammasome activation and pyroptosis.
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