Recent trends in scientific research in chest radiology: What to do or not to do? That is the critical question in research.

Hereby inviting young rising stars in chest radiology in Japan for contributing what they are working currently, we would like to show the potentials and directions of the near future research trends in the research field. I will provide a reflection on my own research topics. At the end, we also would like to discuss on how to choose the themes and topics of research: What to do or not to do? We strongly believe it will stimulate and help investigators in the field.

Paravertebral crystal deposition disease: a retrospective study of clinical presentation, prevalence, and CT imaging findings.

Objectives: Paravertebral crystal deposition disease, characterized by the deposition of crystals around the vertebral bodies leading to acute inflammation and pain, is a condition that remains largely unrecognized. This study aims to elucidate the prevalence, clinical features, and CT findings associated with this disease.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 14,839 consecutive patients who underwent chest and/or abdominal CT (September 2017 to September 2024) owing to chest, abdominal, or back pain.

Macular, choroidal and disc associations across women's reproductive life stages: a scoping review from menarche to post-menopause.

Oestrogen and progesterone fluctuate cyclically in women throughout their adult lives. Although these hormones cross the blood-retinal barrier and bind to intraocular receptors, their effects remain unclear. We present the first review to date on associations between posterior pole structures-specifically the macula, choroid, and optic disc-and both the menstrual cycle and post-menopausal period, utilising multimodal imaging techniques in healthy adult non-pregnant women.

Modulating effects of fitness and physical activity on Alzheimer's disease: Implications from a six-month randomized controlled sports intervention.

Background: Physical activity and fitness are major targets in Alzheimer's disease (AD) preventive research. However, current research is heterogeneous and often disregards the relationship between these parameters and disease outcomes.

Objective: To assess the effects of physical activity and fitness on AD within the context of a multicomponent sports intervention.

Surgical Bailout in Patients Undergoing Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Incidence, Trends, and Clinical Outcomes.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) harbors the risk of periprocedural complications that require emergent cardiac surgery, or "surgical bailout." Surgical bailout intends to be lifesaving but is associated with high mortality. This has given rise to discussion on the necessity of surgical backup during TAVR.

Serum Biomarkers of Pulmonary Damage and Risk for Progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease.

Objective: To investigate baseline and change of pulmonary damage biomarkers (serum Krebs von den Lungen 6 [KL-6], human surfactant protein D [hSP-D], and matrix metalloproteinase 7 [MMP-7]) with rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) progression.

Methods: In the Korean Rheumatoid Arthritis Interstitial Lung Disease (KORAIL) cohort, a prospective cohort, we enrolled patients with RA and ILD confirmed by chest computed tomography imaging and followed annually. ILD progression was defined as worsening in physiological and radiological domains of the 2022 American Thoracic Society, European Respiratory Society, Japanese Respiratory Society, and Latin American Thoracic Society guideline for progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF).

"Are you ready?" A longitudinal interpretative phenomenological analysis of couples' experiences with breast reconstruction decision-making.

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to explore women's and their male partners' experiences with breast reconstruction (BR) decision and to study the evolution of their experiences since undergoing mastectomy to one year after.

Methods: Unstructured individual interviews with four couples facing mastectomy for breast cancer and BR decision-making were conducted following mastectomy (T1) and one year after mastectomy (T2). Longitudinal interpretative phenomenological analysis (LIPA) was conducted on the data.

Assessment of the thymus in fetuses prior to spontaneous preterm birth using functional MRI.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to utilise T2* relaxometry (an indirect method of quantifying tissue oxygenation) to assess the fetal thymus in uncomplicated pregnancies throughout gestation and in a cohort of fetuses that subsequently deliver very preterm.

Methods: A control group of participants with low-risk pregnancies were recruited and retrospectively excluded if they developed any pregnancy related complications after scanning. Participants were recruited who were deemed to be at very high risk of delivery prior to 32 weeks' gestation and retrospectively excluded if they did not deliver prior to this gestation.

Fracture Prevention with Infrequent Zoledronate in Women 50 to 60 Years of Age.

Background: Zoledronate prevents fractures in older women when administered every 12 to 18 months, but its effects on bone density and bone turnover persist beyond 5 years. Whether infrequent zoledronate administration would prevent vertebral fractures in early postmenopausal women is unknown.

Methods: We conducted a 10-year, prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving early postmenopausal women (50 to 60 years of age) with bone mineral density T scores lower than 0 and higher than -2.

Digital Mammography, Tomosynthesis, and Contrast-Enhanced Mammography: Intraindividual Comparison of Mean Glandular Dose for Screening Examinations.

Contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) is growing in clinical use due to its increased sensitivity and specificity compared to full-field digital mammography (FFDM) and/or digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), particularly in patients with dense breasts. To perform an intraindividual comparison of MGD between FFDM, DBT, a combination protocol using both FFDM and DBT (combined FFDM-DBT), and CEM, in patients undergoing breast cancer screening. This retrospective study included 389 women (median age, 57.

Echo intensity of the superficial part of the medial infrapatellar fat pad and medial meniscal extrusion are associated with knee symptoms in community-dwelling older adults.

Purpose: Knee pain is a characteristic symptom of early-stage knee osteoarthritis. Recently, the association between knee symptoms and infrapatellar fat pad (IFP) degeneration has garnered attention. This study aimed to clarify the association between ultrasound-derived size and echo intensity (EI) in the IFP and knee symptoms.

Thoracolumbar fascia ultrasound shear strain differs between low back pain and asymptomatic individuals: expanding the evidence.

Objectives: To compare thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) shear strain between individuals with and without nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP), investigate its correlation with symptoms, and assess a standardized massage technique's impact on TLF shear strain.

Methods: Participants were prospectively enrolled between February 2021 and June 2022. Pre- and post-intervention TLF ultrasound and pain/disability questionnaires were conducted.

Cognitive changes and brain structural abnormalities in female carriers of DMD pathogenic variants.

Background: Skeletal and cardiac muscle damage have been increasingly recognized in female carriers of DMD pathogenic variants (DMDc). Little is known about cognitive impairment in these women or whether they have structural brain damage.

Objective: To characterize the cognitive profile in a Brazilian cohort of DMDc and determine whether they have structural brain abnormalities using multimodal MRI.

Outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy for medium vessel occlusion in acute ischemic stroke patients with ASPECTS 4-5 vs. 6-7: a retrospective, multicenter, and multinational study.

Introduction: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) efficacy in medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) stroke, particularly in patients with low Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS), remains less explored.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from 443 AIS patients treated with MT for MeVO and low ASPECTS (4-7) at 37 centers across North America, Asia, and Europe, from September 2017 to July 2021. Patients were categorized into ASPECTS of 4-5 and 6-7.

Repeatability of radiomic features in myocardial T1 and T2 mapping.

Purpose: To investigate the test-retest repeatability of radiomic features in myocardial native T1 and T2 mapping.

Methods: In this prospective study, 50 healthy volunteers (29 women and 21 men, mean age 39.4 ± 13.

Association of aortic valve size with the degree of aortic valve calcification in severe high-gradient aortic stenosis.

Aims: Less pronounced calcification of the aortic valve (AVC) was observed in women with aortic stenosis (AS) as compared to men. Since women have smaller aortic valves (AV), this could explain a lower calcium load. We aimed to analyze the association of AV size with AVC independent from sex.

Retroperitoneal ectopic pregnancy from a tertiary obstetrics hospital in Vietnam: A case series and literature review.

Retroperitoneal ectopic pregnancy is an uncommon condition in clinical practice, often associated with misdiagnosis and unconventional treatment. Delayed interventions can lead to poor prognosis and sometimes catastrophic situations. Due to the limited number of reported cases in the literature, an established treatment protocol has yet to be introduced.

Leveraging Optical Anisotropy of the Morpho Butterfly Wing for Quantitative, Stain-Free, and Contact-Free Assessment of Biological Tissue Microstructures.

Changes in the density and organization of fibrous biological tissues often accompany the progression of serious diseases ranging from fibrosis to neurodegenerative diseases, heart disease and cancer. However, challenges in cost, complexity, or precision faced by existing imaging methodologies and materials pose barriers to elucidating the role of tissue microstructure in disease. Here, we leverage the intrinsic optical anisotropy of the Morpho butterfly wing and introduce Morpho-Enhanced Polarized Light Microscopy (MorE-PoL), a stain- and contact-free imaging platform that enhances and quantifies the birefringent material properties of fibrous biological tissues.

Enhancing detection of previously missed non-palpable breast carcinomas through artificial intelligence.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) reading digital mammograms in increasing the chance of detecting missed breast cancer, by studying the AI- flagged early morphology indictors, overlooked by the radiologist, and correlating them with the missed cancer pathology types.

Methods And Materials: Mammograms done in 2020-2023, presenting breast carcinomas (n = 1998), were analyzed in concordance with the prior one year's result (2019-2022) assumed negative or benign. Present mammograms reviewed for the descriptors: asymmetry, distortion, mass, and microcalcifications.

Imaging characteristics of hypervascular focal nodular hyperplasia-like lesions in patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease.

Background: Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH)-like lesions are hyperplastic formations in patients with micronodular cirrhosis and a history of alcohol abuse. Although pathologically similar to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lesions, they are benign. As such, it is important to develop methods to distinguish between FNH-like lesions and HCC.

Adie's pupil and systemic manifestations: a rare unilateral presentation.

We present a case of a young woman who presented with blurring of vision in her right eye, worsening on near work. Detailed ophthalmic and neurological evaluation was done, which revealed light near dissociation, vermiform iris movements, constriction to diluted pilocarpine with absent deep tendon reflexes. Laboratory investigation indicated mild iron deficiency anemia and reduced vitamin D3 level.

Deterioration of preexisting myoclonus following nifedipine use in parkinsonian syndrome: A case report.

L-type calcium channel antagonists are uncommon causes of myoclonus, and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we report a case of parkinsonian syndrome with deterioration of preexisting myoclonus after nifedipine use. A 96-year-old woman was administered a single dose of sustained-release nifedipine for chest pain.

Small bowel obstruction secondary to uterine fibroids: a case presentation.

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a serious condition with distinct symptoms such as constipation, vomiting, and abdominal distension. It is commonly caused by well-recognised factors. Recent advancements in imaging techniques and minimally invasive procedures have significantly improved our ability to accurately select patients for surgical intervention and promptly identify common SBO causes.