Imaging Procedures Research Articles

Detection rate of gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPr) targeted tracers for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in primary prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPr) has gained recognition as a promising target for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications in a variety of human cancers. This study aims to explore the primary tumor detection capabilities of [68Ga] Ga-GRPr PET imaging, specifically in newly diagnosed intra-prostatic prostate cancer lesions (PCa). Following PRISMA-DTA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Diagnostic Test Accuracy Studies) guidelines, a systematic literature search was conducted using the Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Data regarding patient characteristics and imaging procedure details-including the type of radiotracer used, administered activity, image acquisition time, scanner modality, criteria, and detection rate of index test-were extracted from the included studies. The pooled patient-and lesion-based detection rates, along with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI), were calculated using a random effects model. The final analysis included 9 studies involving 291 patients and 350 intra-prostatic lesions with [68Ga] Ga-GRPr PET imaging in primary PCa. In per-patient-based analysis of [68Ga] Ga-GRPr PET imaging, the pooled detection rates of overall and patients with Gleason score ≥ 7 were 87.09% (95% CI 74.98-93.82) and 89.01% (95% CI 68.17-96.84), respectively. In per-lesion-based analysis, the pooled detection rate [68Ga] Ga-GRPr PET imaging was 78.54% (95% CI 69.8-85.29). The pooled detection rate mpMRI (multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging) in patient-based analysis was 91.85% (95% CI 80.12-96.92). The difference between the detection rates of the mpMRI and [68Ga] Ga-GRPr PET imaging was not statistically significant (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.23-3.51). Our findings suggest that [68Ga] Ga-GRPr PET imaging has the potential as a diagnostic target for primary PCa. Future research is needed to determine the effectiveness of [68Ga] Ga-GRPr PET in delivering additional imaging data and guiding therapeutic decisions.

Thermography is a promising breast cancer detection complementary diagnostic tool

From the last Twenty years of complying with the strict standardized thermogram interpretation protocols by proper infrared-trained personnel as documented in the literature, breast thermography has achieved high sensitivity and specificity [1]. An abnormal thermogram is reported as the significant biological risk marker for the existence of or continued development of breast tumors. This paper further discusses the implementation, performance, and environmental requirements in characterizing thermography as being used for breast tumor screening under strict indoor controlled environmental conditions. The essential elements of performance requirements include display temperature color scale, display temperature resolution, emissivity setting, screening temperature range, workable target plane, response time, and selection of critical parameters such as uniformity, minimum detectable temperature difference, detector pixels and drift between auto-adjustment. The imaging procedure in this study was carried out at Warith International Oncology Institute

Framework for Successful Integration of Health Services Research Into a Breast Imaging Career.

Health services research (HSR)is a multidisciplinary field of inquiry that examines how health care is structured, providing valuable data on health care outcomes and delivery. Over the past few decades, a shift in the U.S. health care system toward value-based care has placed a priority on health services topics. Health services research has been central to the evolution of breast imaging over this period, with increased emphasis placed on the following: (1) design of appropriate-use criteria for imaging services; (2) determination of cost-effectiveness of imaging protocols and screening regimens guiding policy; and (3) evaluation of policy related to reimbursement for diagnostic imaging and image-guided procedures. Examples of HSR topics that can be applied directly to breast imaging include evaluation of health care availability and accessibility, analysis of health care use patterns, exploration of patient preferences, assessment of technological innovation, development and implementation of clinical practice guidelines and screening strategies, and examination of health care organization and delivery models. Breast imaging radiologists who perform HSR are uniquely positioned to advocate for patients, to promote transformative health care interventions, and to influence policy changes and public health initiatives in breast imaging through analysis of health care data and translation of their research findings. In this Training and Professional Development article, we aim to provide practical approaches to explore interest in HSR and to describe a framework for successful integration of HSR into a breast imaging career.

Pathogen-induced diseases of the spinal cord and adjacent structures

Pathogen-induced myelitis is an inflammatory disease of the spinal cord that can be caused by various pathogens including viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites. The most frequent viral pathogens include herpes and enteroviruses, while bacterial myelitis can be caused by, e.g., Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Borrelia burgdorferi and Treponema pallidum. Fungi such as Candida and Aspergillus and parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii and schistosomes can also cause myelitis. The main symptom is subacute paraplegia with motor, sensory and autonomic deficits to varying degrees, often accompanied by fever and ageneral malaise. Following athorough clinical examination and review of the medical history diagnostic imaging procedures, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) along with cerebrospinal fluid analysis and blood tests that include antibody testing are warranted. The treatment is directed at the cause of the myelitis and mostly with anti-infective agents but for some viral pathogens no specific treatment is available and the only option is asymptomatic treatment. The prognosis is very variable and depends on the etiology and severity of the disease. Afast diagnosis and targeted treatment are crucial to achieve agood outcome.

Deep learning permits imaging of multiple structures with the same fluorophores

Fluorescence microscopy, which employs fluorescent tags to label and observe cellular structures and their dynamics, is a powerful tool for life sciences. However, due to the spectral overlap between different dyes, a limited number of structures can be separately labeled and imaged for live-cell applications. In addition, the conventional sequential channel imaging procedure is quite time consuming, as it needs to switch either different lasers or filters. Here, we propose a novel double-structure network (DBSN) that consists of multiple connected models, which can extract six distinct subcellular structures from three raw images with only two separate fluorescent labels. DBSN combines the intensity-balance model to compensate for uneven fluorescent labels for different structures and the structure-separation model to extract multiple different structures with the same fluorescent labels. Therefore, DBSN breaks the bottleneck of the existing technologies and holds immense potential applications in the field of cell biology.

Cardiac positron emission tomography and other modalities for coronary artery disease assessment: A snapshot from the medicare data

BackgroundPositron emission tomography (PET) is an important tool for assessing coronary artery disease (CAD), but its widespread utilization is limited due to various factors, including limited local champion availability. This study aims to compare the frequency of PET procedures and their interpreters with other common CAD assessment modalities. MethodsUsing Medicare data, we examined the number of cardiac PET procedures billed and compared them with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), stress magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and stress echocardiography. Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes were used to identify procedures. We calculated the total number of PET myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) procedures, the proportion of PET/CT and myocardial blood flow (MBF) assessments, and the median number of studies read per physician. We also analyzed the trends in the use of different CAD assessment modalities between 2018 and 2022. Descriptive statistics summarized the data. ResultsIn 2022, Medicare billed for 212,106 PET MPI scans. SPECT was six times more frequent (1,343,519), whereas stress echocardiography (201,676) and CCTA (118,734) had similar or lower use. Stress MRI (3,932) was least used. Of the PET MPI scans, 46% were PET/CT, and 39% included MBF measurements. Cardiologists interpreted 86% of PET scans, with a median of 58 studies per reader; 23% interpreted ≤25 studies annually. SPECT had a median of 63 studies per reader, and CCTA, stress MRI, and stress echocardiography had medians of 27, 20, and 24, respectively. PET, CT, and MRI use increased from 2018 to 2022, whereas SPECT and stress echocardiography declined. ConclusionIn the Medicare population, radionuclide perfusion imaging (SPECT and PET) remained the preferred method for assessment of CAD, with SPECT being the most frequently used modality and PET being the second most frequently used modality for this application. However, PET/CT and MBF are underutilized, limiting diagnostic and prognostic capabilities. Efforts to enhance education and awareness of PET's advantages and to address barriers to its wider adoption are essential to maximize its clinical benefits and improve patient outcomes.

Insights into patient awareness and preferences in medical imaging procedures involving ionizing radiation

Abstract Introduction: Advancements in technology have revolutionized the landscape of medical imaging, offering a multitude of modalities. However, this progress is not always fully traceable to patients, necessitating studies in this area to bridge the gap between technological advancements and patients’ insights. This study delves into patient awareness, preferences, and understanding concerning radiation risk in medical imaging procedures using ionizing radiation. Material and methods: An anonymous survey was conducted among 152 patients in Bulgaria who underwent X-ray procedures to gauge their insights into medical imaging. Data analysis utilized SPSS version 20.0, computing frequencies and percentages for categorical variables like gender, age, and education. Results: Significant correlations were found between gender and the need for knowledge related to radiation risks (χ2 = 4.622, p = 0.032), as well as patient understanding of radiation dose information and decision-making preferences (χ2 = 10.800; p = 0.020). Female participants showed higher awareness levels in these areas compared to male participants. Younger patients, notably aged 36-50 (52.6%), comprised a significant portion undergoing X-ray imaging, diverging from global trends. Age correlated with the frequency of X-ray examinations (χ2 = 171.256; p = 0.000) and decision-making preferences (χ2 = 8.324; p = 0.016), with older patients favoring informed decisions with physician input. Education levels significantly influenced radiation risk awareness (χ2 = 7.084, p = 0.008) and understanding of radiation dose information (χ2 = 14.752, p = 0.001). Patients with higher education levels demonstrated a significantly better understanding of absorbed radiation doses compared to those with secondary education. These findings highlight the influence of demographic factors such as gender, age, and education on patient awareness, knowledge acquisition, and decision-making processes regarding medical imaging and radiation risks. Conclusions: Tailored communication strategies, informed consent practices, and ongoing specialist education are crucial to enhancing patient awareness, optimizing decision-making processes, and ensuring radiation safety in medical imaging. Implementation of electronic health records can further improve radiation exposure monitoring, aligning with evolving technological standards and patient needs.

Accurately identifying incident cases of venous thromboembolism in the electronic health record: Performance of a novel phenotyping algorithm

BackgroundAccurate identification of incident venous thromboembolism (VTE) for quality improvement and health services research is challenging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of a novel incident VTE phenotyping algorithm defined using standard terminologies, requiring three key indicators documented in the electronic health record (EHR): VTE diagnostic code, VTE-related imaging procedure code, and anticoagulant medication code. MethodsRetrospective chart reviews were conducted to assess the performance of the algorithm using a random sample of phenotype(+) and phenotype(−) diagnostic encounters from primary care practices and acute care sites affiliated with five hospitals across a large integrated care delivery system in Massachusetts. The performance of the algorithm was evaluated by calculating the positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), sensitivity, and specificity, using the phenotype(+) and phenotype(−) diagnostic encounters sample and target population data. ResultsBased on gold-standard manual chart review, the algorithm had a PPV of 95.2 % (95 % CI: 93.1–96.8 %), NPV of 97.1 % (95 % CI: 95.3–98.4 %), sensitivity of 91.7 % (95 % CI: 90.8–92.6 %), and specificity of 98.4 % (95 % CI: 98.1–98.6 %). The algorithm systematically misclassified a low number of specific types of encounters, highlighting potential areas for improvement. ConclusionsThis novel phenotyping algorithm offers an accurate approach for identifying incident VTE in general populations using EHR data and standard terminologies, and accurately identifies the specific encounter and date of diagnosis of the incident VTE. This approach can be used for measurement of incident VTE to drive quality improvement, research to expand the evidence, and development of quality metrics and clinical decision support to improve the diagnostic process.

Non-operating Room Anesthesia (NORA): A Comprehensive Review of Monitored Anesthesia Care.

Monitored anesthesia care (MAC) is being increasingly employed in non-operative environments, particularly in the realms of endoscopy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures. This in-depth analysis delves into the essential components of MAC within these specific contexts, with a primary focus on ensuring patient safety, evaluating efficacy, and assessing procedural outcomes. It is a common practice in endoscopic procedures to necessitate sedation for the purpose of alleviating discomfort and anxiety, ultimately ensuring patient cooperation and the successful completion of the procedure. MAC, which entails the administration of sedatives and analgesics under the close supervision of an anesthesia professional, offers a personalized approach that carefully balances the depth of sedation with maintaining optimal patient safety standards. Within the domain of MRI procedures, where challenges such as claustrophobia and motion artifacts can significantly impact the process, MAC plays a crucial role in providing a controlled setting that not only enhances image quality but also improves patient compliance throughout the procedure. The review extensively investigates the various pharmacological agents commonly utilized in these scenarios, including but not limited tomidazolamand fentanyl, shedding light on their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties specific to these contexts. Furthermore, the critical role of the anesthesia provider in effectively managing potential complications, such as respiratory depression, hemodynamic instability, and allergic reactions, is thoroughly examined and discussed. The analysis extends to the implementation of MAC protocols, encompassing pre-procedural assessments, continuous intra-procedural monitoring, and comprehensive post-procedural care, all aimed at ensuring the best possible outcomes for patients. Additionally, the review delves into the economic considerations associated with MAC, taking into account its impact on procedural efficiency, healthcare costs, and patient throughput within these settings. By exploring current guidelines and recommendations established by professional societies such as the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), this review aims to provide a holistic understanding of the best practices in MAC for both endoscopy and MRI procedures. Through the synthesis of available evidence, the primary objective of this review is to contribute to informing clinical practices, enhancing patient safety measures, improving procedural success rates, and ultimately advocating for the broader adoption of monitored anesthesia care in diverse non-operative medical settings.

Correction to: Imaging Procedure and Clinical Studies of [18F]FP‑CIT PET

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13139-024-00881-2.

Comparison of directly and indirectly estimated entrance skin dose (ESD) for diagnostic radiation qualities (RQR, RQA and RQT) using water phantom and shadowfree diagnostic chamber (SFD)

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to find the entrance skin dose (ESD) for diagnostic radiation qualities RQRs, RQAs and RQTs given in IAEA technical report series No. 457 using direct and indirect methods of measurement. Measurements were done for 5 × 5, 10 × 10, 15 × 15, 20 × 20 and 25 × 25 cm2 field sizes and 70, 80, 90 and 100 cm source to surface distance (SSD) using shadow-free diagnostic (SFD) chamber and water phantom having dimension 30 × 30 × 30 cm3. ESD direct measurements were done by placing SFD chamber on the surface of water phantom, while in the case of indirect measurements, air kerma values were obtained.ResultsESD values for different selected radiation qualities RQR2, RQR5, RQR8, RQR10, RQA2, RQA5, RQA8, RQA10, RQT8, RQT9 and RQT10 were found to be in the range of 0.0045–5.11 mGy per examination.ConclusionsResults obtained were found to be comparable with ESD values published in the literature. The obtained results in this research would help in establishing the national diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) which would help in the optimization of diagnostic imaging procedures. It would also help the radiographers to optimize field sizes and SSDs in order to reduce dose to the patients thereby ensuring good radiological practices, and this would reduce the stochastic risk to the patients caused by the ionizing radiations.

Overview of the Use of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

The aim of this review is to present and discuss the use of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). OCTA is a non-invasive imaging procedure that gives a detailed indirect view of physiological and pathological vessels in the retina and choroid membrane. Compared with dye-based imaging, OCTA provides a segmented presentation of the individual vascular layers and plexuses, thus enabling previously unattainable differentiation and classification of pathological vascular changes within or underneath the retina. In particular, OCTA facilitates early detection of exudative macular neovascularizations (MNV) so that treatment with anti-VEGF medication can be initiated. Moreover, in the context of both screening and therapy monitoring, it is hoped that OCTA can provide more detailed data to enable greater personalization of treatment and follow-up. The image quality of OCTA is, however, susceptible to artifacts, and validation of the results by studies is required. Recent developments have shown constant improvement both in the algorithms for image calculation and avoidance of artifacts and in image quality, so the scope of OCTA will certainly expand with time.

Angular and torsional malalignments of the paediatric knee joint

Abnormal angular and torsional alignment of the lower extremities during growth are acommon reason for consultation of apaediatrician or orthopaedist. There is often uncertainty about the pathological value of these abnormalities and the need for treatment, even among specialists. In the course of physiological growth and development processes, the axial and torsional alignment of the legs sometimes change considerably and in characteristic patterns. The ability to assess whether abnormal angular or torsional alignments of the lower limb in the course of growth should still be regarded as normal or already as pathological, depending on age and gender, is essential for the treating physician and requires precise knowledge of the physiological development processes and the tolerable limits in all three spatial dimensions. After careful explanation to the frequently concerned parents, arestrictive approach with observation of the spontaneous course of correction on the basis of regular clinical check-ups makes sense in the majority of cases. Pathological deviations from the physiological conditions are rare overall, can be idiopathic or of secondary origin and should be further clarified diagnostically using imaging procedures. As conservative measures are ineffective, pronounced angular and/or torsional deformities of the legs requiring treatment can only be corrected by surgical intervention, even in children and adolescents. The surgical treatment modalities available are varied and differ in terms of their invasiveness and complication profile, depending on the localization, type and severity of the deformity, as well as the age and possible concomitant diseases of the affected child or adolescent.

Unveiling the Mysteries of Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury: New Horizons in Pathogenesis and Prevention.

The utilization of contrast media (CM) in clinical diagnostic imaging and interventional procedures has escalated, leading to a gradual increase in the incidence of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). Presently, the scarcity of effective pharmacological treatments for CI-AKI poses significant challenges to clinical management. Firstly, we explore the pathogenesis of CI-AKI in this review. Beyond renal medullary ischemia and hypoxia, oxidative stress, cellular apoptosis, and inflammation, emerging mechanisms such as ferroptosis, release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and nitrosative stress, which offer promising avenues for the management of CI-AKI, are identified. Secondly, a comprehensive strategy for the early prevention of CI-AKI is introduced. Investigating the risk factors associated with CI-AKI is essential for the timely identification of high-risk groups. Additionally, exploring early sensitive biomarkers is crucial for early diagnosis. A synergistic approach that combines these sensitive biomarkers, CI-AKI risk factors, and disease risk prediction models enhances both the accuracy and efficiency of early diagnostic processes. Finally, we explore recent pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for the management of Cl-AKI. Beyond the traditional focus on the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC), we look at active compounds from traditional Chinese medicine, including tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), salvianolic acid B (Sal B), as well as emerging preventive medications like N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA), alprostadil, and others, which all showed potential benefits in animal and clinical studies for CI-AKI prevention. Furthermore, innovative strategies such as calorie restriction (CR), enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP), and mesenchymal stem cell therapy are highlighted as providing fresh insights into Cl-AKI prevention and management.

Hospital at home worldwide: Program and clinician characteristics from the World Hospital at Home Congress survey.

Hospital at home (HaH) delivers hospital-level care to acutely ill patients at home as a substitute for brick-and-mortar hospital care. The clinician and program characteristics of HaH programs worldwide are relatively unknown. We sought to describe the world's HaH clinicians and their programs' characteristics. We analyzed a survey administered to all attendees of the 2023 World Hospital at Home Congress. Clinician characteristics included age, years worked in HaH, profession, burnout, and experience. Program characteristics included location, daily census, types of care delivery, and clinical capabilities. Of 670 attendees, about 305 were clinicians and 129 responded (42% response rate for clinicians). The majority of clinicians were 30-49 years old (65.1%), new to the field (70.5% worked less than 10 years), and part-time (18% dedicated >74% effort to HaH). Clinicians reported overall satisfaction with their job and low burnout. About half of programs were in Europe (52.1%), newly operational (44.7% less than 5 years), mostly operated in urban environments (87.2%), and mostly had a daily census of less than 25 patients (62.8%). Most programs operated 7-days per week (88.3%), performed intermittent or continuous remote monitoring (81.4%), used video communication (63.8%), and had some advanced capabilities such as in-home imaging (47.9%) and advanced procedures (23.4%). Visit frequencies to the patient's home were variable: most programs had physicians visit the home, nearly all had nurses visit the home, and fewer performed virtual visits. HaH clinicians and programs have significant similarities but also a fair number of divergent practices, much like brick-and-mortar hospital care. Further standardization of the care model will help to unify the field across the globe.

Exposure to Medical Radiation from CT Scans and Other Imaging Procedures in Relation to Increased Risk of Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer

Exposure to Medical Radiation from CT Scans and Other Imaging Procedures in Relation to Increased Risk of Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer

Monte Carlo simulation analysis of radiation attenuation properties induced by arsenic accumulation in femur and tibia bones of rats exposed to sodium arsenite diet

PurposeThe study aims to investigate the effect of sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) on radiation permeability in biological tissues of rats, challenging existing literature claims about NaAsO2's influence on the density of bones. The motivation is determining whether exposure alters radiation permeability within a defined range of radiological energy. Should any changes be observed, radiation protection guidelines may necessitate the use of lower energy levels in imaging procedures involving such exposure. This consideration is vital for ensuring adherence to radiation safety standards, particularly in medical imaging, where minimizing patient and operator exposure to radiation is paramount. Materials and methodsIn this study, rats were divided into two groups: a control group and a NaAsO2-treated group. After the treatment period, these animals were euthanized to collect their femurs and tibias for further analysis. The elemental composition of these bones was then meticulously examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), enhanced by Energy-dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (EDX). Monte Carlo Simulation codes of MCNP6 and PHITS 3.22 were used for investigate photon induced interactions. These powerful tools allowed us to assess the gamma-ray attenuation properties of the collected samples. For an accurate comparison and analysis, we referred to the NIST database using the WinXCom program. Furthermore, the study explored the effects of charged particles on the bone samples, employing the SRIM code for this purpose. This part of the research was crucial to understanding the interactions at a more detailed level. We calculated the photon attenuation parameters for radiological energies up to 0.5 MeV and also investigated the interactions of charged particles with energies as high as 15 MeV. ResultsIn groups treated with NaAsO2, while there is less reduction in mass attenuation coefficients, larger differences have been observed in linear attenuation coefficients. Notably, a decrease in the linear attenuation coefficient has been observed in the NaAs Tibia group. ConclusionThe application of sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) results in a reduction in the Linear Attenuation Coefficient, necessitating a detailed investigation to determine whether this decrease also affects the Hounsfield unit, in accordance with the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle that guides radiation safety protocols.

Characteristics of imaging in hepatic inflammatory pseudotumors: a comparison between IgG4-related and IgG4-unrelated cases

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to examine the imaging features of hepatic inflammatory pseudotumors (IPTs) associated with IgG4-related and IgG4-unrelated conditions and to enhance the approach toward distinguishing between these two types of IPTs.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted, involving 20 patients diagnosed with hepatic IPTs. Imaging procedures were conducted within a timeframe of 4 weeks prior to hepatectomy or biopsy. The imaging features were then analyzed and compared using chi-squared analysis.ResultsSeventeen (81.0%) IPTs were located in the hepatic subcapsular area; six (66.7%) IgG4-related IPTs were distributed around the hepatic hilum; and eleven (91.7%) IgG4-unrelated and three (33.3%) IgG4-related IPTs had unclear boundaries. All lesions exhibited similar characteristics in CT scans, T1-weighted imaging (T1WI), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), with the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values slightly higher than the surrounding liver tissue. Delayed hypoenhancement, observed in five cases (55.6%), was exclusively present in IgG4-related IPTs. The remaining IPT lesions displayed progressive enhancement, septal and marginal enhancement, and persistent enhancement. Central enhancement was absent in three IgG4-related IPTs (33.3%) and ten IgG4-unrelated IPTs (83.3%). The duct-penetrating sign was identified in two IgG4-unrelated IPTs (16.7%) and seven IgG4-related IPTs (77.8%). Furthermore, seven patients with IgG4-related IPTs had additional lesions outside the liver.ConclusionsIgG4-related lesions are frequently found in the vicinity of the hepatic hilum; they display the duct-penetrating sign and affect other organs as well. Both groups exhibited progressive or persistent contrast enhancement in typical IPT lesions, but delayed hypoenhancement was only observed in the IgG4-related IPT group. IgG4-unrelated IPT lesions often exhibited indistinct boundaries lacking central enhancement.Critical relevance statementDifferences in imaging features differentiate IgG4-related and -unrelated inflammatory pseudotumors (IPT). IgG4-related lesions are frequently near the hepatic hilum, display duct-penetrating sign, and affect other organs. Only the IgG4-related group demonstrated delayed hypoenhancement. IgG4-unrelated IPT lesions often exhibited indistinct boundaries lacking central enhancement.Key PointsCompared with IgG 4-unrelated IPTs, IgG4-related IPTs show delayed hypoenhancement and affect other organs.IgG4-unrelated IPTs have unclear boundaries and lack central enhancement.Improved IPT diagnostic capabilities can help minimize additional, potentially unnecessary, interventions.Graphical

Leveraging Electronic Health Records to Predict the Risk of Acute Kidney Injury after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

The objective of this study is to assess the electronic health records (EHRs), which are potential risk factors for acute kidney injury (AKI) after allogenic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT), and to propose a basic dataset and score for the calculation of HCT-acute kidney injury risk (HCT-AKIR). We undertook a retrospective analysis of the EHRs of 312 patients. Pre- and post-transplant factors were assessed, recognizing the following structured entries: laboratory data, encounters, medication, imaging studies, diagnoses, and procedures. Composite variables were used to create patient groups by combining two or more multivariate significant risk factors for AKI. The EHRs dataset and HCT-AKIR score were created based on the multivariate analysis of the composite variables. A multivariate analysis showed that previous CKD and once-impaired pre-transplant kidney function, sepsis, imaging procedures with contrast media, and cumulative length of intensive care unit stay after transplantation were significant risk factors. A new unit-weighted composite score based on the combination of significant risk factors contained in common EHR resources was proposed. Using our novel HCT-AKIR score calculated from the basic EHR dataset could be an easy way to increase awareness of post-transplant AKI and provide risk stratification.

3D Correlation Imaging for Localized Phase Disturbance Mitigation

Correlation plenoptic imaging is a procedure to perform light-field imaging without spatial resolution loss, by measuring the second-order spatiotemporal correlations of light. We investigate the possibility of using correlation plenoptic imaging to mitigate the effect of a phase disturbance in the propagation from the object to the main lens. We assume that this detrimental effect, which can be due to a turbulent medium, is localized at a specific distance from the lens, and is slowly varying in time. The mitigation of turbulence effects has already fostered the development of both light-field imaging and correlation imaging procedures. Here, we aim to merge these aspects, proposing a correlation light-field imaging method to overcome the effects of slowly varying turbulence, without the loss of lateral resolution, typical of traditional plenoptic imaging devices.