Quantitative Assessment of Breast-Tumor Stiffness Using Shear-Wave Elastography Histograms.

Purpose: Shear-wave elastography (SWE) measures tissue elasticity using ultrasound waves. This study proposes a histogram-based SWE analysis to improve breast malignancy detection. Methods: N = 22/32 (patients/tumors) benign and n = 51/64 malignant breast tumors with histological ground truth.

The relationship between structural analysis of the hand and clinical characteristics in psoriatic arthritis.

Up to now, there is only limited information available on a possible relationship between clinical characteristics and the mineralization of metacarpal bones and finger joint space distance (JSD) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Computerized digital imaging techniques like digital X-ray radiogrammetry (DXR) and computer-aided joint space analysis (CAJSA) have significantly improved the structural analysis of hand radiographs and facilitate the recognition of radiographic damage. The objective of this study was to evaluate clinical features which potentially influence periarticular mineralization of the metacarpal bones and finger JSD in PsA-patients.

Distribution patterns of arterial affection and the influence of glucocorticoids on F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT in patients with giant cell arteritis.

Background: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) with the involvement of extracranial vessels is increasingly coming into focus. Isolated aortic involvement in the acute phase of GCA is probably more frequent than estimated because only a minority of patients show typical symptoms. F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT) is a reliable imaging tool to diagnose patients with extracranial GCA.

Reliability of a Risk-Factor Questionnaire for Osteoporosis: A Primary Care Survey Study with Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry Ground Truth.

(1) Purpose: Predisposing factors to osteoporosis (OP) as well as dual-source x-ray densitometry (DXA) steer therapeutic decisions by determining the FRAX index. This study examines the reliability of a standard risk factor questionnaire in OP-screening. (2) Methods: = 553 eligible questionnaires encompassed 24 OP-predisposing factors.

Radiographic remission in rheumatoid arthritis quantified by computer-aided joint space analysis (CASJA): a post hoc analysis of the RAPID 1 trial.

Background: The reduction of finger joint space width (JSW) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is strongly associated with joint destruction. Treatment with certolizumab pegol (CZP), a PEGylated anti-TNF, has been proven to be effective in RA patients. The computer-aided joint space analysis (CAJSA) provides the semiautomated measurement of joint space width at the metacarpal-phalangeal joints (MCP) based on hand radiographs.

The role of gadolinium in magnetic resonance imaging for early prostate cancer diagnosis: A diagnostic accuracy study.

Objective: Prostate lesions detected with multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) are classified for their malignant potential according to the Prostate Imaging-Reporting And Data System (PI-RADS™2). In this study, we evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the mpMRI with and without gadolinium, with emphasis on the added diagnostic value of the dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE).

Materials And Methods: The study was retrospective for 286 prostate lesions / 213 eligible patients, n = 116/170, and 49/59% malignant for the peripheral (Pz) and transitional zone (Tz), respectively.

Whole-body MRI: a powerful alternative to bone scan for bone marrow staging without radiation and gadolinium enhancer.

Purpose: Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) is a radiation-free alternative to the Tc-HDP bone scan (BS) for the detection of bone metastasis. The major drawback is the long examination time and application of gadolinium enhancer. The aim of this study is to analyze (i) the performance of WB-MRI versus the BS and (ii) the diagnostic benefit of gadolinium (WB-MRI + Gd) compared to a non-enhanced protocol (NE WB-MRI).

Persistent increase in ventral hippocampal long-term potentiation by juvenile stress: A role for astrocytic glutamine synthetase.

A traumatic childhood is among the most important risk factors for developing stress-related psychopathologies such as posttraumatic stress disorder or depression later in life. However, despite the proven role of astrocytes in regulating transmitter release and synaptic plasticity, the contribution of astrocytic transmitter metabolism to such stress-induced psychopathologies is currently not understood. In rodents, childhood adversity can be modeled by juvenile stress exposure, resulting in increased anxiety, and impaired coping with stress in adulthood.

Inhibition of periarticular bone loss is associated with clinical remission and ACR70-Response in rheumatoid arthritis.

The aim of this study, based on a post hoc analysis of the data set used in the RAPID 1 trial, focuses on the associations between metacarpal bone mineral density, as estimated by digital X-ray radiogrammetry (DXR), and clinical remission as well as ACR70-Response in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with certolizumab pegol (CZP). The trial evaluates a total of 345 RA patients treated with methotrexate versus CZP 200 mg versus CZP 400 mg. All patients underwent X-rays of the hand at baseline and week 52 as well as computerized calculations of bone mineral density (BMD) by DXR.

Computer aided detection in prostate cancer diagnostics: A promising alternative to biopsy? A retrospective study from 104 lesions with histological ground truth.

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis by means of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is a current challenge for the development of computer-aided detection (CAD) tools. An innovative CAD-software (Watson Elementary™) was proposed to achieve high sensitivity and specificity, as well as to allege a correlate to Gleason grade.

Aim/objective: To assess the performance of Watson Elementary™ in automated PCa diagnosis in our hospital´s database of MRI-guided prostate biopsies.

Computed tomography perfusion-based selection of endovascularly treated acute ischaemic stroke patients - Are there lessons to be learned from the pre-evidence era?

Introduction Some of the latest groundbreaking trials suggest that noncontrast cranial computed tomography and computed tomography-angiography are sufficient tools for patient selection within six hours of symptom onset. Before endovascular stroke therapy became the standard of care, patient selection was one of the most useful tools to avoid futile reperfusions. We report the outcomes of endovascularly treated stroke patients selected with a perfusion-based paradigm and discuss the implications in the current era of endovascular treatment.

Computer-aided Detection Fidelity of Pulmonary Nodules in Chest Radiograph.

Aim: The most ubiquitous chest diagnostic method is the chest radiograph. A common radiographic finding, quite often incidental, is the nodular pulmonary lesion. The detection of small lesions out of complex parenchymal structure is a daily clinical challenge.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Palliative Care: A Comparison of Data From Surveys Among Patients and Professionals.

Purpose: Many cancer patients use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) during or after their therapy. Because little is known about CAM in palliative care, we conducted 2 surveys among patients and professionals in the palliative setting.

Participants And Methods: Patients of a German Comprehensive Cancer Center were interviewed, and an independent online survey was conducted among members of the German Society for Palliative Care (DGP).

Multicenter, phase III trial comparing selenium supplementation with observation in gynecologic radiation oncology: follow-up analysis of the survival data 6 years after cessation of randomization.

Purpose: In 2010, we reported that selenium (Se) supplementation during radiation therapy (RT) is effective for increasing blood Se levels in Se-deficient cervical and uterine cancer patients, and reduced the number of episodes and severity of RT-induced diarrhea. In the current study, we examine whether of Se supplementation during adjuvant RT affects long-term survival of these patients.

Patients And Methods: Former patients were identified and questioned with respect to their health and well-being.

The performance of computer-aided detection when analyzing prior mammograms of newly detected breast cancers with special focus on the time interval from initial imaging to detection.

Purpose: The clinical role of CAD systems to detect breast cancer, which have not been on cancer containing mammograms not detected by the radiologist was proven retrospectively.

Methods: All patients from 1992 to 2005 with a histologically verified malignant breast lesion and a mammogram at our department, were analyzed in retrospect focussing on the time of detection of the malignant lesion. All prior mammograms were analyzed by CAD (CADx, USA).

The impact of lesion vascularisation on tumours detection by electrical impedance scanning at 200 Hz.

Objective: Cancer cells exhibit altered local dielectric properties compared to normal cells. These properties are measurable as a difference in electrical conductance using electrical impedance scanning (EIS). EIS is at present not sufficiently accurate for clinical routine despite its technological advantages.

Cardiomyocyte apoptosis is related to left ventricular dysfunction and remodelling in dilated cardiomyopathy, but is not affected by growth hormone treatment.

Background And Aims: Cardiomyocyte apoptosis (CA) is a common feature of end-stage heart failure. We examined whether CA is associated with cardiac dysfunction and remodelling in heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy and studied the effect of human growth hormone (hGH) on CA.

Methods And Results: We studied 38 patients, included in a phase III multi-center, randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial of biosynthetic hGH treatment in dilated cardiomyopathy, at baseline and after 14 weeks treatment.

Potential MRI interpretation model: differentiation of benign from malignant breast masses.

Objective: Our objective was to increase the accuracy of breast MRI using a semiquantitative analysis of typical MRI features and their diagnostic potential. The prevalence of recently reported MRI signs of breast lesions were analyzed and compared with other well-known signs.

Conclusion: New MRI features, especially from T2-weighted images, are promising for more reliable and accurate interpretation of breast lesions.