Cylindrical Region Of Interest Research Articles

Spatial Behavior of Solutions in Linear Thermoelasticity with Voids and Three Delay Times

This brief contribution aims to complement a study of well-posedness started by the same authors in 2020, showing—for that same mathematical model—the existence of a domain of influence of external data. The object of investigation, we recall, is a linear thermoelastic model with a porous matrix modeled on the basis of the Cowin–Nunziato theory, and for which the heat exchange phenomena are intended to obey a time-differential heat transfer law with three delay times. We therefore consider, without reporting it explicitly, the (suitably adapted) initial-boundary value problem formulated at that time, as well as some analytical techniques employed to handle it in order to address the uniqueness and continuous dependence questions. Here, a domain of influence theorem is proven, showing the spatial behavior of the solution in a cylindrical domain, by activating the hypotheses that make the model thermodynamically consistent. The theorem, in detail, demonstrates that for a finite time t>0, the assigned external (thermomechanical) actions generate no disturbance outside a bounded domain contained within the cylindrical region of interest. The length of the work is deliberately kept to a minimum, having opted where possible for bibliographic citations in favor of greater reading fluency.

Apparent diffusion coefficient correlates with different histopathological features in several intrahepatic tumors

ObjectivesTo investigate associations between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and cell count, Ki 67, tumor-stroma ratio (TSR), and tumoral lymphocytes in different hepatic malignancies.MethodsWe identified 149 cases with performed liver biopsies: hepatocellular cancer (HCC, n = 53), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCC, n = 29), metastases of colorectal cancer (CRC, n = 24), metastases of breast cancer (BC, n = 28), and metastases of pancreatic cancer (PC, n = 15). MRI was performed on a 1.5-T scanner with an axial echo-planar sequence. MRI was done before biopsy. Biopsy images of target lesions were selected. The cylindrical region of interest was placed on the ADC map of target lesions in accordance with the needle position on the biopsy images. Mean ADC values were estimated. TSR, cell counts, proliferation index Ki 67, and number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were estimated. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients and intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated.ResultsInter-reader agreement was excellent regarding the ADC measurements. In HCC, ADC correlated with cell count (r = − 0.68, p < 0.001) and with TSR (r = 0.31, p = 0.024). In iCC, ADC correlated with TSR (r = 0.60, p < 0.001) and with cell count (r = − 0.54, p = 0.002). In CRC metastases, ADC correlated with cell count (r = − 0.54 p = 0.006) and with Ki 67 (r = − 0.46, p = 0.024). In BC liver metastases, ADC correlated with TSR (r = 0.55, p < 0.002) and with Ki 67 (r = − 0.51, p = 0.006). In PC metastases, no significant correlations were found.ConclusionsADC correlated with tumor cellularity in HCC, iCC, and CRC liver metastases. ADC reflects TSR in BC liver metastases, HCC, and iCC. ADC cannot reflect intratumoral lymphocytes.Clinical relevance statementThe present study shows that the apparent diffusion coefficient can be used as a surrogate imaging marker for different histopathological features in several malignant hepatic lesions.Key Points• ADC reflects different histopathological features in several hepatic tumors.• ADC correlates with tumor cellularity in HCC, iCC, and CRC metastases.• ADC strongly correlates with tumor-stroma ratio in BC metastases and iCC.

Open-Structure Magnetic Particle Spectroscopy (OMPS): Feasibility Study

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been widely used as effective agents for actuation and localization for targeted drug delivery. Especially for the localization of MNPs, magnetic particle imaging (MPI) has been developed to use magnetization generated by a magnetic field. However, most MPI systems use a bore-type structure, and there exist limitations in terms of working space, compatibility with surrounding medical devices, and being able to respond to emergency situations from a medical perspective. To address these issues, we present a novel, open-structure, magnetic particle spectroscopy (OMPS) technique. The structural design, theoretical background, and analysis of the OMPS are presented, and experiments are conducted to evaluate the OMPS. The experimental results indicate that the detection volume can be obtained as a cylindrical region of interest (ROI) of 50 mm &#x00D7; 50 mm &#x00D7; 25 mm, and the feasibility can be exhibited within the same or larger ROI with similar amounts of Resovist as used in previous MPI studies. The results demonstrate the promising potential for OMPS.

Osteoconductive properties of upside-down bilayer collagen membranes in rat calvarial defects

BackgroundBilayer collagen membranes are routinely used in guided bone/tissue regeneration to serve as osteoconductive scaffolds and prevent the invasion of soft tissues. It is recommended to place the membranes with their dense layer towards the soft tissue and their porous layer towards the bony defect area. However, evidence supporting this recommendation is lacking. This study aimed to determine whether the alignment of bilayer collagen membranes has an effect on bone regeneration.MethodsIn two groups of ten male Sprague-Dawley rats each, a 5-mm calvarial defect was created. Thereafter, the defect was randomly covered with a bilayer, resorbable, pure type I and III collagen membrane placed either regularly or upside-down (i.e., dense layer towards bone defect). After 4 weeks of healing, micro-computed tomography (μCT), histology, and histomorphometry of the inner cylindrical region of interest (4.5 mm in diameter) were performed to assess new bone formation and the consolidation of the collagen membrane in the defect area.ResultsQuantitative μCT showed similar bone volume (median 8.0 mm3, interquartile range 7.0–10.0 vs. 6.2 mm3, 4.3–9.4, p = 0.06) and trabecular thickness (0.21 mm, 0.19–0.23 vs. 0.18 mm, 0.17–0.20, p = 0.03) between upside-down and regular placement, both leading to an almost complete bony coverage. Histomorphometry showed comparable new bone areas between the upside-down and regularly placed membranes, 3.9 mm2 (2.7–5.4) vs. 3.8 mm2 (2.2–4.0, p = 0.31), respectively. Both treatment groups revealed the same regeneration patterns and spatial distribution of bone with and without collagen fibers, as well as residual collagen fibers.ConclusionsOur data support the osteoconductive properties of collagen membranes and suggest that bone regeneration is facilitated regardless of membrane layer alignment.

A Short and Light, Sparse Dipolar Halbach Magnet for MRI

Recently designed dipolar Halbach magnets used in portable MRI systems are much lighter and more compact than standard permanent or superconductive magnets. However, improved designs and manufacturing techniques aiming at lower weight and smaller external size are an area of continual interest especially for application to space flight. Most Halbach magnet design techniques aim to optimize homogeneity suitable for MRI over a diameter-spherical volume (DSV) that requires the aspect ratio (length/inner diameter) to be larger than 1.5:1. Furthermore, current magnet construction techniques often use low-coercivity magnetic pieces and imperfect formers that produce a mismatch in the intended designs. As a result, Halbach magnets require complex shimming methods to improve the magnetic field homogeneity, causing further size and weight increase. Here, we propose to reduce the weight and the aspect ratio of the Halbach magnet by optimizing homogeneity over a cylindrical region of interest (ROI) rather than a DSV, applying a genetic algorithm, high-coercivity ferromagnets (N40UH) and a robust construction technique. The assembled 67 mT magnet, with aspect ratio ~ 1:1, produces almost identical homogeneity (11152 ppm) as simulations (11451 ppm) within a 12.7 cm diameter, 1 cm long cylinder ROI. The magnet structure was 3D printed ring-by-ring and assembled coaxially. The magnet can be disassembled for transportation.

Blood-brain barrier disruption in humans using an implantable ultrasound device: quantification with MR images and correlation with local acoustic pressure.

One of the goals in this study was to set up a semiautomatic method to estimate blood-brain barrier disruption obtained in patients with glioblastoma by using an implantable, unfocused, ultrasound device. Another goal was to correlate the probability of significant ultrasound-induced signal enhancement (SUISE) with local acoustic pressure in the brain. Gd-enhanced MR images acquired before and after ultrasound treatments were analyzed prospectively. The image sets were segmented, normalized, and coregistered to evaluate contrast enhancement. The volume of SUISE was calculated with voxels labeled as gray or white matter, in a cylindrical region of interest, and with enhancement above a given threshold. To validate the method, the resulting volumes of SUISE were compared to qualitative grades previously assigned by 3 clinicians for 40 ultrasound treatments in 15 patients. A parametric study was performed to optimize the algorithm prediction of the qualitative grades. The 3D acoustic field in the brain was estimated from measurements in water combined with simulations accounting for ultrasound attenuation in brain and overlaid on each MR image to correlate local acoustic pressure with the probability of SUISE (defined as enhancement > 10%). The algorithm predicted grade 2 or 3 and grade 3 openings with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.831 and 0.995, respectively. The probability of SUISE was correlated with local acoustic pressure (R2 = 0.98) and was 3.33 times higher for gray matter than for white matter. An algorithm for evaluating blood-brain barrier disruption was validated and can be used for future clinical trials to further understand and quantify this technique in humans.Clinical trial registration no.: NCT02253212 (clinicaltrials.gov).

Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Endothelial Progenitor Cells Stimulate Bone Regeneration and Mineral Density

Alveolar bone deficiency is a major clinical problem in maxillofacial reconstructive surgery. The available surgical techniques to enhance extracortical bone augmentation are generally unpredictable and not satisfying. The aim of the present study is to quantify extracortical bone augmentation and tissue mineral density (TMD) after cotransplantation of peripheral blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) by microcomputed tomography (micro-CT). Bone regeneration was tested in the guided bone regeneration rat calvaria model. Gold domes filled with beta tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP; control [CNT]) or β-TCP mixed with 5 × 10(5) rat EPCs and 5 × 10(5) rat osteogenic transformed MSCs (EPC/otMSCs) were fixed to the exposed calvaria. Rats were sacrificed after 3 months. Bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and TMD were analyzed using micro-CT. In the middle of the dome, a cylindrical region of interest was defined (it represents the area in which implants are placed) and subdivided into bottom, middle, and top to analyze the effect of the distance from the calvaria on bone formation. In the whole cylinder, BV/TV and TMD were higher in the EPC/otMSC group compared with CNT (BV/TV: 22.9% ± 4.4% versus 29.1 ± 2.2%, P = 0.02; TMD: 937.79 ± 18.68 versus 960.78 ± 5.8 mgHA/ccm, P = 0.03; CNT versus EPC/otMSC, respectively). In each of the three subregions, BV/TV was higher in the EPC/otMSC group compared with CNT (top: 20.25% ± 2.4% versus 23.74% ± 1.5%, P = 0.007; middle: 23.2% ± 4.8% versus 28% ± 2.2%, P = 0.05; bottom: 25.3% ± 7.6% versus 35.7% ± 4.9%, P = 0.02; CNT versus EPC/otMSC, respectively). Three-dimensional quantification by micro-CT demonstrated that cotransplantation of EPC/otMSCs significantly improved bone formation and mineral density.

Reduced field of view MRI with rapid, B1‐robust outer volume suppression

MRI scans are inefficient when the size of the anatomy under investigation is small relative to the subject's full extent. The field of view must be expanded, and acquisition times accordingly prolonged. Shorter scans are feasible with reduced field of view imaging (rFOV) using outer volume suppression (OVS), a magnetization preparation sequence that attenuates signal outside a region of interest (ROI). This work presents a new OVS sequence with a cylindrical ROI, short duration, and improved tolerance for B(1)+ inhomogeneity. The sequence consists of a nonselective adiabatic tipdown pulse, which provides B(1)+-robust signal suppression, and a fast 2D spiral cylindrical tipback pulse. Analysis of the Bloch equations with transverse initial magnetization reveals a conjugate symmetric constraint for tipback pulses with small flip angles. This property is exploited to achieve two-shot performance from the single-shot tipback pulse. The OVS sequence is validated in phantoms and in vivo with multislice spiral imaging at 3 T. The relative signal-to-noise ratio efficiency of the proposed sequence was 98% in a phantom and 75-90% in vivo. The effectiveness is demonstrated with cardiovascular rFOV imaging, which exhibits improved resolution and reduced artifacts compared to conventional, full field of view imaging.

SU‐DD‐A4‐02: Potential Improvement of PET Imaging Quantitative Accuracy with An External Reference Source

Purpose: PET has been increasingly used to assess therapeutic response. As PET suffers from many inaccuracies, it might be difficult to distinguish between actual treatment response and acquisition error. The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy improvement of PET imaging with an external reference source. Method and Materials: A reference source was scanned in two different PET/CT scanners: GE Discovery LS (DLS) and GE Discovery VCT (DVCT). The reference source was scanned at various distances from the center of bore and at a fixed position near a scatter phantom filled with . In addition, the reference source was scanned next to patients over the period of two years. A series of scans was performed for each patient. All PET images were reconstructed using 2D‐OSEM. A cylindrical region of interest on PET was automatically segmented. Results: The measured activity was found to be inversely proportional to the distance from the center of the bore. The activity decreased by 0.95 ± 0.09 % and 0.78 ± 0.19 % per cm for DLS and DVCT respectively. The measured activity was also found to be related to activity concentration of the phantom. Within each series of patient scans, the position of the reference source varied by 1.1 ± 0.8 (SD) cm leading to 1.0 % variation in activity. However, the observed inter‐scan variation of activity was 7.0 ± 6.4 %, which cannot be explained solely by the distance effect. Conclusion: The observed inter‐scan variation for the same patients was greater than that solely due to displacement of the reference indicating a significant intra‐scan variation at different time points. The on‐going phantom studies will determine quantitative accuracy of PET imaging, providing a standardized imaging procedure.

Novel measurements of periaortic adipose tissue in comparison to anthropometric measures of obesity, and abdominal adipose tissue

Perivascular adipose tissue may be associated with the amount of local atherosclerosis. We developed a novel and reproducible method to standardize volumetric quantification of periaortic adipose tissue by computed tomography (CT) and determined the association with anthropometric measures of obesity, and abdominal adipose tissue. Measurements of adipose tissue were performed in a random subset of participants from the Framingham Heart Study (n=100) who underwent multidetector CT of the thorax (ECG triggering, 2.5 mm slice thickness) and the abdomen (helical CT acquisition, 2.5 mm slice thickness). Abdominal periaortic adipose tissue (AAT) was defined by a 5 mm cylindrical region of interest around the aortic wall; thoracic periaortic adipose tissue (TAT) was defined by anatomic landmarks. TAT and AAT were defined as any voxel between -195 and -45 HU and volumes were measured using dedicated semiautomatic software. Measurement reproducibility and association with anthropometric measures of obesity, and abdominal adipose tissue were determined. The intra- and inter-observer reproducibility for both AAT and TAT was excellent (ICC: 0.97 and 0.97; 0.99 and 0.98, respectively). Similarly, the relative intra- and inter-observer difference was small for both AAT (-1.85+/-1.28% and 7.85+/-6.08%; respectively) and TAT (3.56+/-0.83% and -4.56+/-0.85%, respectively). Both AAT and TAT were highly correlated with visceral abdominal fat (r=0.65 and 0.77, P<0.0001 for both) and moderately correlated with subcutaneous abdominal fat (r=0.39 and 0.42, P<0.0001 and P=0.009), waist circumference (r=0.49 and 0.57, P<0.0001 for both) and body mass index (r=0.47 and 0.58, P<0.0001 for both). Standardized semiautomatic CT-based volumetric quantification of periaortic adipose tissue is feasible and highly reproducible. Further investigation is warranted regarding associations of periaortic adipose tissue with other body fat deposits, cardiovascular risk factors and clinical outcomes.