Intelligent digital tools for screening of brain connectivity and dementia risk estimation in people affected by mild cognitive impairment: the AI-Mind clinical study protocol.

More than 10 million Europeans show signs of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a transitional stage between normal brain aging and dementia stage memory disorder. The path MCI takes can be divergent; while some maintain stability or even revert to cognitive norms, alarmingly, up to half of the cases progress to dementia within 5 years. Current diagnostic practice lacks the necessary screening tools to identify those at risk of progression.

Preliminary Evaluation of the Scandinavian Guidelines for Initial Management of Minimal, Mild, and Moderate Head Injuries with Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein.

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) has become the most promising biomarker for detecting traumatic abnormalities on head computed tomography (CT) in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), but most studies have not addressed the potential added value of combining the biomarker with clinical variables that confer risk for intracranial injuries. The Scandinavian Guidelines for Initial Management of Minimal, Mild, and Moderate Head Injuries in Adults were the first clinical decision rules in the field with an incorporated biomarker, the S100 astroglial calcium-binding protein B (S100B), which is used in the Mild (Low Risk) group defined by the guidelines. Our aim was to evaluate the performance of the guidelines when S100B was substituted with GFAP.

METhodological RadiomICs Score (METRICS): a quality scoring tool for radiomics research endorsed by EuSoMII.

Purpose: To propose a new quality scoring tool, METhodological RadiomICs Score (METRICS), to assess and improve research quality of radiomics studies.

Methods: We conducted an online modified Delphi study with a group of international experts. It was performed in three consecutive stages: Stage#1, item preparation; Stage#2, panel discussion among EuSoMII Auditing Group members to identify the items to be voted; and Stage#3, four rounds of the modified Delphi exercise by panelists to determine the items eligible for the METRICS and their weights.

A systematic review for the evidence of recommendations and guidelines in hybrid nuclear cardiovascular imaging.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the level of evidence of expert recommendations and guidelines for clinical indications and procedurals in hybrid nuclear cardiovascular imaging.

Methods: From inception to August 2023, a PubMed literature analysis of the latest version of guidelines for clinical hybrid cardiovascular imaging techniques including SPECT(/CT), PET(/CT), and PET(/MRI) was performed in two categories: (1) for clinical indications for all-in primary diagnosis; subgroup in prognosis and therapy evaluation; and for (2) imaging procedurals. We surveyed to what degree these followed a standard methodology to collect the data and provide levels of evidence, and for which topic systematic review evidence was executed.

Intra-individual comparison of coronary CT angiography-based FFR between energy-integrating and photon-counting detector CT systems.

Background: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)-based fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) allows for noninvasive determination of the functional severity of anatomic lesions in patients with coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to intra-individually compare CT-FFR between photon-counting detector (PCD) and conventional energy-integrating detector (EID) CT systems.

Methods: In this single-center prospective study, subjects who underwent clinically indicated CCTA on an EID-CT system were recruited for a research CCTA on PCD-CT within 30 days.

Brain magnetic resonance imaging findings six months after critical COVID-19: A prospective cohort study.

Background: COVID-19 patients suffered from neurological symptoms in the acute phase. Whether this led to long-term consequences was unknown. We studied long-term brain MRI findings in ICU-treated COVID-19 patients and compared them with findings in groups with less severe acute disease.

Photon-counting detector CT reduces the rate of referrals to invasive coronary angiography as compared to CT with whole heart coverage energy-integrating detector.

Background: We sought to compare the degree of maximal stenosis and the rate of invasive coronary angiography (ICA) recommendations in patients who underwent coronary CT angiography (CCTA) with photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) versus those who underwent CCTA with whole heart coverage energy-integrating detector CT (EID-CT).

Methods: In our retrospective single-center study, we included consecutive patients with suspected CAD who underwent CCTA performed with either PCD-CT or a 280-slice EID-CT. The degree of coronary stenosis was classified as no CAD, minimal (1-24 ​%), mild (25-49 ​%), moderate (50-69 ​%), severe stenosis (70-99 ​%), or occlusion.

Effects of Gender and Vitamin D on Vascular Reactivity of the Carotid Artery on a Testosterone-Induced PCOS Model.

The negative cardiovascular effects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and vitamin D deficiency (VDD) have been discussed previously; however, the sex differences between PCOS females and males are not yet known. Our aim was to investigate the effect of PCOS and VDD in the carotid artery of male and female Wistar rats. Females were treated with transdermal testosterone (Androgel) for 8 weeks, which caused PCOS.

Comparison of quantitative [C]PE2I brain PET studies between an integrated PET/MR and a stand-alone PET system.

PET/MR systems demanded great efforts for accurate attenuation correction (AC) but differences in technology, geometry and hardware attenuation may also affect quantitative results. Dedicated PET systems using transmission-based AC are regarded as the gold standard for quantitative brain PET. The study aim was to investigate the agreement between quantitative PET outcomes from a PET/MR scanner against a stand-alone PET system.

Radiomics of pericardial fat: a new frontier in heart failure discrimination and prediction.

Objectives: To use pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) radiomics phenotyping to differentiate existing and predict future heart failure (HF) cases in the UK Biobank.

Methods: PAT segmentations were derived from cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) studies using an automated quality-controlled model to define the region-of-interest for radiomics analysis. Prevalent (present at time of imaging) and incident (first occurrence after imaging) HF were ascertained using health record linkage.

Rim lesions in MS at 3T: clinical correlation and possible radiological alternatives for daily practice at lower field strength.

Background And Purpose: Paramagnetic rim lesions (PRLs) have been described as an imaging feature specific to multiple sclerosis (MS) using high-field strength phase-sensitive MR imaging. These lesions are suggested to reflect chronic active inflammation associated with greater disease severity and a more rapid disability progression. The aim of our study is to investigate the relationship between PRLs, clinical parameters, other radiological findings and disease progression.

Analysis of Genetic and MRI Changes, Blood Markers, and Risk Factors in a Twin Pair Discordant of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative disease, a tauopathy, which results in a wide clinical spectrum of neurological symptoms. The diagnosis is mostly based on clinical signs and neuroimaging; however, possible biomarkers for screening have been under investigation, and the role of the gut microbiome is unknown. The aim of our study was to identify potential blood biomarkers and observe variations in the gut microbiome within a PSP discordant monozygotic twin pair.

Photon-counting detector CT-based virtual monoenergetic reconstructions: repeatability and reproducibility of radiomics features of an organic phantom and human myocardium.

Background: Photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) may influence imaging characteristics for various clinical conditions due to higher signal and contrast-to-noise ratio in virtual monoenergetic images (VMI). Radiomics analysis relies on quantification of image characteristics. We evaluated the impact of different VMI reconstructions on radiomic features in in vitro and in vivo PCD-CT datasets.

Bilateral simultaneous thalamic hematomas - Unusual presentation of intracerebral hemorrhage: A case report.

Background: Bilateral symmetrical simultaneous thalamic hemorrhages are extremely rare.

Case Presentation: A 52-year-old female patient with a history of untreated hypertension, ischemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus was admitted with somnolence, disorientation, 3/5 right-sided hemiparesis and blood pressure of 200/110 mmHg. Cranial CT scan showed bilateral thalamic hemorrhages, with bilateral intraventricular propagation and subarachnoid component along the frontal, parietal and occipital lobes.

Potential benefits of restrictive transfusion in upper gastrointestinal bleeding: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

The optimal red blood cell (RBC) transfusion strategy in acute gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is debated. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of restrictive compared to liberal transfusion strategies in the GIB population. We searched PubMed, CENTRAL, Embase, and Web of Science for randomised controlled trials on 15.

Association between subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiac structure and function-results from the UK Biobank Study.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) is a major health problem and early diagnosis is important. Atherosclerosis is the main cause of HF and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a recognized early measure of atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate whether increased carotid IMT is associated with changes in cardiac structure and function in middle-aged participants of the UK Biobank Study without overt cardiovascular disease.

Progress of Ultrasound Techniques in the Evaluation of Carotid Vulnerable Plaque Neovascularization.

Background: The rupture and detachment of unstable plaques in the carotid artery can cause embolism in the cerebral artery, leading to acute cerebrovascular events. Intraplaque neovascularization (IPN) is a very important contributor to carotid plaque instability, and its evolution plays a key role in determining the outcome of vulnerable plaques. Ultrasound techniques, represented by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and superb microvascular imaging (SMI), are reported to be non-invasive, rapid, and effective techniques for the semi-quantitative or quantitative evaluation for IPN.

Tibial Tuberosity Rotation in Patients With Patellar Instability Versus Age- and Sex-Matched Controls.

Background: Several methods have been described to measure external rotation of the tibial tuberosity; all use femoral landmarks.

Purpose: To develop reproducible tibial-based methods to measure external rotation of the tibial tuberosity in patients with patellar instability.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Diagnosis of prostate cancer with magnetic resonance imaging in men treated with 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors.

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate if exposure to 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) modifies the effect of MRI for the diagnosis of clinically significant Prostate Cancer (csPCa) (ISUP Gleason grade ≥ 2).

Methods: This study is a multicenter cohort study including patients undergoing prostate biopsy and MRI at 24 institutions between 2013 and 2022. Multivariable analysis predicting csPCa with an interaction term between 5-ARIs and PIRADS score was performed.

Reproducibility analysis of automated deep learning based localisation of mandibular canals on a temporal CBCT dataset.

Preoperative radiological identification of mandibular canals is essential for maxillofacial surgery. This study demonstrates the reproducibility of a deep learning system (DLS) by evaluating its localisation performance on 165 heterogeneous cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans from 72 patients in comparison to an experienced radiologist's annotations. We evaluated the performance of the DLS using the symmetric mean curve distance (SMCD), the average symmetric surface distance (ASSD), and the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC).

Detection and correction of patient motion in dynamic O-water PET MPI.

Background: Patient motion constitutes a limitation to O-water cardiac PET imaging. We examined the ability of image readers to detect and correct patient motion using simulated motion data and clinical patient scans.

Methods: Simulated data consisting of 16 motions applied to 10 motion-free scans were motion corrected using two approaches, pre-analysis and post-analysis for motion identification.

Competency-based cardiac imaging for patient-centred care. A statement of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). With the contribution of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI), and the support of the Association of Cardiovascular Nursing & Allied Professions (ACNAP), the Association for Acute CardioVascular Care (ACVC), the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC), the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI), the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA), and the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC.

Imaging plays an integral role in all aspects of managing heart disease and cardiac imaging is a core competency of cardiologists. The adequate delivery of cardiac imaging services requires expertise in both imaging methodology-with specific adaptations to imaging of the heart-as well as intricate knowledge of heart disease. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging have developed and implemented a successful education and certification programme for all cardiac imaging modalities.