Noninvasive Imaging Method Research Articles

Current applications and research trends of ultrasound examination in acute kidney injury assessment: a bibliometric analysis.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a significant clinical condition, and ultrasound examination has emerged as a crucial non-invasive imaging method for assessing kidney status, especially in its diagnosis and management. This study aims to perform a bibliometric analysis to clarify current research trends in ultrasound assessment of AKI. We conducted a literature search in the Web of Science database using keywords related to ultrasound examinations of acute kidney injury, up to November 15, 2023. The results were analyzed using the bibliometric software package in R. Relevant literature information was analyzed. A total of 1109 articles were included in the study. Research papers published between 2019 and 2024 demonstrated a significant upward trend. The United States, China, and Italy ranked as the top three countries in terms of publication volume. Among the top 10 research institutions with the highest number of publications, 6 are in the United States, with Université de Montréal being the institution with the most publications. Keyword trends focused on: resistive index, risk factors, therapy, glomerular filtration rate, survival, etc. CONCLUSION: This bibliometric study highlights the advancements in ultrasound examination for AKI and underscores the importance of such analyses in determining research trends. Future research should emphasize the integration of various imaging techniques to improve diagnostic accuracy and clinical management of AKI.

PEGylated ATP-Independent Luciferins for Noninvasive High-Sensitivity High-Speed Bioluminescence Imaging.

Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) is a powerful, noninvasive imaging method for animal studies. NanoLuc luciferase and its derivatives are attractive bioluminescent reporters recognized for their efficient photon production and ATP independence. However, utilizing them for animal imaging poses notable challenges. Low substrate solubility has been a prominent problem, limiting in vivo brightness, while the susceptibility of luciferins to auto-oxidation by molecular oxygen in air increases handling complexity and poses an obstacle to obtaining consistent results. To address these issues, we developed a range of caged PEGylated luciferins with increased auto-oxidation resistance and water solubility of up to 25 mM, resulting in substantial in vivo bioluminescence increases in mouse models. This advancement has created the brightest and most sensitive luciferase-luciferin combination, enabling high-speed video-rate imaging of freely moving mice with brain-expressed luciferase. These innovative substrates offer new possibilities for investigating a wide range of biological processes and are poised to become invaluable resources for chemical, biological, and biomedical fields.

Reliability of non-invasive imaging methods in the evaluation of pancreatic parenchyma changes in tumors of the pancreaticoduodenal zone

Background. Pancreatoduodenectomy is a radical surgical intervention in case of neoplasms of the pancreatoduodenal zone. Assessment of changes in the pancreatic parenchyma at the preoperative stage will allow appropriate therapeutic and preventive measures to be taken to reduce the frequency of pancreatic fistula. The purpose of the study: to determine the diagnostic significance of non-invasive imaging methods in the assessment of fibrous changes in the pancreatic parenchyma of patients with neoplasms of the pancreatoduodenal zone. Materials and methods. The study included 82 patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy for neoplasms of the pancreatoduodenal zone. The age of the patients varied from 34 to 77 years, there were 42 (50.9 %) men and 40 (49.1 %) wo­men. At the preoperative stage, all patients underwent non-invasive imaging using multidetector computed tomography and ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE). In the postoperative period, histological studies of pancreatic biopsies taken in the isthmus region were performed. Morphological studies were carried out on a Primo Star microscope (Carl Zeiss) using the AxioCam program (ERc 5s). Ki-67, a marker of proliferative activity, was used to conduct immunohistochemical study. The reaction of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was evaluated by a semiquantitative method depen­ding on the intensity of staining. Primary monoclonal antibodies from Dako (Denmark) and Thermo Scientific were used. Results. According to the applied morphological Ammann’s fibrosis score, mild fibrosis was diagnosed in 23 (28.1 %) patients, moderate — in 22 (26.8 %) patients, severe — in 37 (45.1 %). Immunohistochemical study found that without fibrosis and with mild fibrosis, the average Ki-67 was (6.4 ± 2.3), while in moderate fibrosis, it was (16.1 ± 2.5) (p < 0.05 compared to mild fibrosis), with severe fibrosis, the average Ki-67 indicator was (18.3 ± 2.4) (р < 0.05 compared to mild fibrosis). According to the results of the correlation analysis, a strong positive relationship was found between the expression of α-SMA and stromal Ki-67 (r = 0.75, p < 0.001). In patients with mild pancreatic fibrosis in the postoperative period, the native density of the pancreatic parenchyma at the preoperative stage was 1.5 times (p < 0.001) lower than in the group with moderate fibrosis and 1.9 times (p < 0.001) lower compared to patients with pronounced pancreatic fibrosis. According to SWE, the Young’s modulus, which characterizes the stiffness of the pancreatic parenchyma, was highest in severe fibrosis, (8.55 ± 1.75) kPa, which was 2.2 times (p < 0.001) higher than in mild fibrosis and 1.3 times (р < 0.01) higher than in moderate pancreatic fibrosis. According to the results of the correlation analysis, a direct strong relationship was found between the Young’s modulus and the level of stromal Ki-67, α-SMA and the Ammann’s fibrosis score, as well as medium positive correlations of the native pancreatic density with morphological indicators. Conclusions. Non-invasive diagnostic parameters such as parenchymal stiffness according to SWE (sensitivity 90.9 %, specificity 81.2 %) and native density according to computed tomography (sensitivity 69.7 %, specificity 87.5 %) can be used as diagnostic criteria for assessing pancreatic fibrosis in patients with neoplasms of the pancreaticoduodenal zone in the preoperative period.

Comparison of Low-Brilliance X-Ray Phase-Contrast Tomography and Contrast-Enhanced Attenuation-Contrast Micro-Computed Tomography of Rat Kidneys.

Structural analysis of soft biological tissues is conventionally done with destructive 2D histology. 3D information can be accessed with non-invasive imaging methods, such as X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). While attenuation-based X-ray imaging alone does not provide reasonable contrast with soft-tissue samples, the combination with contrast-enhancing staining has proven effective. The staining process, however, comes with several disadvantages, such as tissue alterations and laboriousness. A novel X-ray imaging method known as phase-contrast imaging has emerged as an interesting alternative to contrast-enhanced micro-CT. Our objective is to show the feasibility of laboratory-based phase-contrast imaging in (murine) kidney research. X-ray phase-contrast images of male rat kidneys were acquired with a Talbot-Lau interferometer. Moreover, attenuation-based X-ray images of the same unstained kidneys were acquired with a regular micro-CT device. Afterwards, the kidneys were stained with phosphotungstic acid for several months. Attenuation-based micro-CT images were re-acquired after the staining. Contrast-to-noise ratio was evaluated for all three cases. For unstained kidneys, the phase-contrast images show significantly improved contrast in comparison with attenuation images. Several key features, including the cortex, inner and outer medulla, papilla, as well as the main blood vessels can be identified. While the contrast in attenuation images improves significantly after staining, the benefit is deteriorated by sample areas that the contrast agent did not reach properly; even after 206 days. Our results indicate that X-ray phase-contrast imaging is a viable option for kidney imaging in a laboratory setting providing comparable or better results than contrast-enhanced micro-CT. With imaging setups optimized for image resolution and faster imaging times, the advantages of phase-contrast imaging will be even greater.

CNN-Based Cross-Modality Fusion for Enhanced Breast Cancer Detection Using Mammography and Ultrasound.

Background/Objectives: Breast cancer is a leading cause of mortality among women in Taiwan and globally. Non-invasive imaging methods, such as mammography and ultrasound, are critical for early detection, yet standalone modalities have limitations in regard to their diagnostic accuracy. This study aims to enhance breast cancer detection through a cross-modality fusion approach combining mammography and ultrasound imaging, using advanced convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures. Materials and Methods: Breast images were sourced from public datasets, including the RSNA, the PAS, and Kaggle, and categorized into malignant and benign groups. Data augmentation techniques were used to address imbalances in the ultrasound dataset. Three models were developed: (1) pre-trained CNNs integrated with machine learning classifiers, (2) transfer learning-based CNNs, and (3) a custom-designed 17-layer CNN for direct classification. The performance of the models was evaluated using metrics such as accuracy and the Kappa score. Results: The custom 17-layer CNN outperformed the other models, achieving an accuracy of 0.964 and a Kappa score of 0.927. The transfer learning model achieved moderate performance (accuracy 0.846, Kappa 0.694), while the pre-trained CNNs with machine learning classifiers yielded the lowest results (accuracy 0.780, Kappa 0.559). Cross-modality fusion proved effective in leveraging the complementary strengths of mammography and ultrasound imaging. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the potential of cross-modality imaging and tailored CNN architectures to significantly improve diagnostic accuracy and reliability in breast cancer detection. The custom-designed model offers a practical solution for early detection, potentially reducing false positives and false negatives, and improving patient outcomes through timely and accurate diagnosis.

Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography in lichen planopilaris and frontal fibrosing alopecia: A pilot study.

Lichen planopilaris (LPP) and frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) are common causes of cicatricial alopecia. While several studies have demonstrated the usefulness of non-invasive imaging methods such as reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the diagnosis of scarring alopecia, this study aimed to identify characteristic features of cicatricial alopecia in LPP/FFA using line-field confocal OCT (LC-OCT). Fifty-one patients (26 LPP, 24 FFA, 1 LPP and FFA) were prospectively analyzed with LC-OCT at three defined locations on the scalp: (1) scarring area = lesion, (2) scar-hair boundary = transition zone and (3) healthy area for the presence of the following pre-defined criteria: no hair follicles left, destructed hair follicles, dermal sclerosis, no rimming of the dermal papillae, epidermal and dermal inflammatory infiltrate, infundibular hyperkeratosis, dilated blood vessels, hypervascularization, melanophages, epidermal pigment incontinence. Comparison of the transition zone with healthy control sites revealed the four main LC-OCT features in LPP/FFA: dermal sclerosis (100%), dermal inflammatory infiltrate (90.2%), infundibular hyperkeratosis (60.8%) and hypervascularization (76.5%). LC-OCT detects specific criteria of pathological changes in LPP/FFA around hair follicles in the epidermis and dermis and therefore can be used for further studies investigating scarring alopecia.

Evaluation of the redox alteration in Duchenne muscular dystrophy model mice using in vivo DNP-MRI

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic muscular disease and is the most common type of muscular dystrophy in Japan. Noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used for follow-up evaluation of myositis and muscular dystrophy, including DMD and inflammation is evaluated based on the increased muscle water as evaluated by T2-weighted MR images. However, in MDM, the redox status has not been evaluated non-invasively during the disease progression. We assessed the inflammation via the redox status in experimental animal disease models using in vivo dynamic nuclear polarization MRI (DNP-MRI) with a redox probe. The current study aimed to evaluate the skeletal muscle of mdx mice, a DMD model, in which muscle fiber necrosis, inflammation, and muscle regeneration were chronically repeated. Results showed that the reduction rate of Carbamoyl-PROXYL (CmP), one of the redox probes, radicals in mdx mice increased compared with that in normal mice. In vitro, more mitochondria or macrophages enhanced the radical form decay reaction by reducing CmP. Due to muscle fiber damage, the mdx mice had a lower mitochondrial concentration in the gastrocnemius muscle than the normal mice. However, the in vivo DNP-MRI results strongly reflected the increased reduction of CmP radicals by macrophages. In conclusion, in vivo DNP-MRI, a noninvasive imaging method is useful for locally evaluating skeletal muscle inflammation.

Six-Year Outcome of Lentigo Maligna Treated with "Spaghetti" Technique and Margin Identification by Reflectance Confocal Microscopy.

Lentigo maligna (LM) and LM melanoma (LMM) present surgical challenges due to their poorly defined boundaries, making it difficult to determine precise peripheral margins. In addition, their preferential localization on the face increases the need to minimize the amount of tissue excised. Striking a balance between reducing the excision size and maintaining oncologic effectiveness is critical in managing LM/LMM. Reflectance Confocal Microscopy (RCM), a noninvasive imaging method that provides cellular-level visualization, could be an ideal tool to define the peripheral margins in the "spaghetti" surgical technique. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of using RCM combined with the "spaghetti" technique for LM/LMM excisions. Seventy patients with LM/LMM on the face underwent RCM-guided margin definition followed by the "spaghetti" technique. The sample of patients was the same group of patients included in the authors' 2017 study. The authors subsequently evaluated the effectiveness of the authors' protocol via regular follow-up of the cohort. A total of 59 LMs and 11 LMMs were included. The mean follow-up time was 6.3 years. The recurrence rate was 5.7%. The authors identified 4 recurrences: 3 of which occurred more than 5 years after the procedure. The recorded mortality was 20%, no deaths were attributed to LM/LMM. The mean margin from lesion to clearance was 2.7 mm. If the authors cluster the 3 principal studies in terms of cohort and follow-up time for LM/LMM treated by Wide local Excision, the recurrence rate is from 5.3% to 5.9%, which is equivalent to the authors'. However, the mean margin excision from lesion is more than 2 times inferior in the authors' protocol (2.7 mm vs 6.7 mm). Therefore, the spaghetti technique with RCM margin identification seems to be an effective method for LM/LMM management.

Visualization of Unconjugated Bilirubin In Vivo with a Novel Approach Using Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a Rat Model.

Unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) visualization is valuable for early bilirubin encephalopathy (BE) diagnosis and management. UCB neurotoxicity is a challenge, necessitating improved imaging modalities for precise localization and characterization. This study developed a noninvasive method for UCB imaging in the brain using chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) magnetic resonance imaging, which visualizes UCB distribution through amide-bulk water proton exchange, a process termed bilirubin CEST (Bil-CEST) imaging. Bil-CEST imaging parameters were initially optimized; the exchange rate of the amide protons of UCB was calculated. Bil-CEST imaging characteristics and specificity were assessed using in vitro images of UCB solutions under different conditions and images of other brain metabolites. Bil-CEST maps of the rat brain were collected at the baseline and dynamically, postinjection of the UCB solution or vehicle into lateral ventricles of Sprague-Dawley rats. The model was validated using a water maze and pathological staining. In vitro, the Bil-CEST effect was observed at approximately 5.5 ppm downfield from bulk water. This effect was proportional to the UCB concentration and B1 amplitude. In vivo, Bil-CEST imaging revealed a progressive enhancement following a lateral ventricular UCB injection. Conversely, no significant imaging changes were observed in the vehicle group. Compared with the vehicle group, the UCB group had more hippocampal neuronal apoptosis and worse cognitive function. These findings highlight the utility of Bil-CEST in direct UCB imaging, indicating its potential as a clinically valuable biomarker for BE diagnosis and management.

Relaxation-exchange magnetic resonance imaging (REXI): a non-invasive imaging method for evaluating trans-barrier water exchange in the choroid plexus.

The choroid plexus (CP) plays a crucial role in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) production and brain homeostasis. However, non-invasive imaging techniques to assess its function remain limited. This study was conducted to develop a novel, contrast-agent-free MRI technique, termed relaxation-exchange magnetic resonance imaging (REXI), for evaluating CP-CSF water transport, a potential biomarker of CP function. REXI utilizes the inherent and large difference in magnetic resonance transverse relaxation times (T2s) between CP tissue (e.g., blood vessels and epithelial cells) and CSF. It uses a filter block to remove most CP tissue magnetization (shorter T2), a mixing block for CP-CSF water exchange with mixing time tm, and a detection block with multi-echo acquisition to determine the CP/CSF component fraction after exchange. The REXI pulse sequence was implemented on a 9.4 T preclinical MRI scanner. For validation of REXI's ability to measure exchange, we conducted preliminary tests on urea-water proton-exchange phantoms with various pH levels. We measured the steady-state water efflux rate from CP to CSF in rats and tested the sensitivity of REXI in detecting CP dysfunction induced by the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide. REXI pulse sequence successfully captured changes in the proton exchange rate (from short-T2 component to long-T2 component [i.e., ksl]) of urea-water phantoms at varying pH, demonstrating its sensitivity to exchange processes. In rat CP, REXI significantly suppressed the CP tissue signal, reducing the short-T2 fraction (fshort) from 0.44 to 0.23 (p < 0.0001), with significant recovery to 0.28 after a mixing time of 400 ms (p = 0.014). The changes in fshort at various mixing times can be accurately described by a two-site exchange model, yielding a steady-state water efflux rate from CP to CSF (i.e., kbc) of 0.49 s-1. A scan-rescan experiment demonstrated that REXI had excellent reproducibility in measuring kbc (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.90). Notably, acetazolamide-induced CSF reduction resulted in a 66% decrease in kbc within rat CP. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the feasibility of REXI for measuring trans-barrier water exchange in the CP, offering a promising biomarker for future assessments of CP function.

Amyloid cardiomyopathy: сlinical significance and diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging

The incidence and prevalence of amyloid cardiomyopathy (AC) has been increasing in recent years, and this diagnosis is often detected at the final stage. This determines late prescription of specific therapy and worsening prognosis of patients. Unfortunately, doctors are not sufficiently informed about the pathogenesis of AC and diagnostic methods. This circumstance leads to prolongation of time from the manifestation of the disease to the diagnosis. Despite the presence of a large number of AC masks, a number of specific clinical diagnostic markers called «red flags» helps to suspect AC. In addition, the development of diagnostic algorithms using non-invasive imaging methods can help not only in diagnosing AC at an early stage of the disease, but also in determining the type of amyloidosis, that determines the success of timely administration of disease-modifying therapy. The aim of this review is to analyze the possibility of using MRI criteria to attempt non-invasive typing of amyloidosis and to differentiate ATTR and AL AС.

ASPECTS OF LIVER ECHINOCOCCOSIS SURGERY

According to the WHO, «…at any given time, more than 1 million people worldwide are aff ected by echinococcosis…». Due to the lack of tendency to decrease the number of patients and the existence of endemic regions where the incidence rate varies from 1.2 to 9.0 per 100,000 population, this parasitic disease continues to be a serious medical and social problem. At the present stage, the diagnosis of echinococcosis does not present signifi cant diffi culties, mainly due to the emergence of non-invasive imaging methods, the informative value of the complex application of which reaches 95-100 %.Aim of the study. Improving the treatment results of patients with liver echinococcosis.Research materials. The study included 328 patients with liver echinococcosis admitted to the surgery department of the multidisciplinary clinic of the Samarkand State Medical University in the period from 2005 to 2023. Depending on the choice of treatment, the patients were divided into two groups: the comparison group consisted of 154 (46.9 %) patients treated from 2005 to 2012 and the main group included 174 (53.0 %) patients operated on from 2013 to 2023.Research results. Compared with the comparison group, in the main group of patients, intraoperative complications decreased from 6.5 to 2.3 %, and complications in the early postoperative period from 18.2 to 5.2 %. In the late postoperative period, the recurrence of the disease decreased from 16.2 % to 3.6 %.Conclusions. The introduction of improved surgical instruments into practice – a modifi ed puncture needle, a «basket clamp» allowed to level the risk of seeding of surrounding tissues with embryonic elements. The introduction of a device for the purpose of identifying hidden biliary fi stulas in the residual cavity after echinococcectomy from the liver reduced the number of bile leaks. With the introduction of a modifi ed method for eliminating the residual cavity after echinococcectomy from the liver, the number of complications during surgery and in the early postoperative period was minimized.

Improved visualisation of ACP-engineered osteoblastic spheroids: a comparative study of contrast-enhanced micro-CT and traditional imaging techniques

This study investigates osteoblastic cell spheroid cultivation methods, exploring flat-bottom, U-bottom, and rotary flask techniques with and without amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) supplementation to replicate the 3D bone tissue microenvironment. ACP particles derived from eggshell waste exhibit enhanced osteogenic activity in 3D models. However, representative imaging of intricate 3D tissue-engineered constructs poses challenges in conventional imaging techniques due to notable scattering and absorption effects in light microscopy, and hence limited penetration depth. We investigated contrast-enhanced micro-CT as a methodological approach for comprehensive morphological 3D-analysis of thein-vitromodel and compared the technique with confocal laser scanning microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and classical histology. Phosphotungstic acid and iodine-based contrast agents were employed for micro-CT imaging in laboratory and synchrotron micro-CT imaging. Results revealed spheroid shape variations and structural integrity influenced by cultivation methods and ACP particles. The study underscores the advantage of 3D spheroid models over traditional 2D cultures in mimicking bone tissue architecture and cellular interactions, emphasising the growing demand for novel imaging techniques to visualise 3D tissue-engineered models. Contrast-enhanced micro-CT emerges as a promising non-invasive imaging method for tissue-engineered constructs containing ACP particles, offering insights into sample morphology, enabling virtual histology before further analysis.

Current and Emerging Approaches to Imaging Large Vessel Vasculitis.

Large vessel vasculitides (LVV) comprise a group of inflammatory disorders that involve the large arteries, such as the aorta and its primary branches. The cause of LVV is often rheumatologic and includes giant cell arteritis and Takayasu arteritis. Giant cell arteritis is the most common form of LVV affecting people >50 years of age with a slight female predominance. Takayasu arteritis is more frequently seen in younger populations and is significantly more common in women. Prompt identification of LVV is crucial as it can lead to debilitating complications if left untreated, including blindness in the case of giant cell arteritis and large artery stenosis and aneurysms in the case of all forms of LVV. Noninvasive imaging methods have greatly changed the approach to managing LVV. Today, imaging (with ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and positron emission tomography) is routinely used in the diagnosis of LVV. In patients with giant cell arteritis, imaging often spares the use of invasive procedures such as temporal artery biopsy. In addition, vascular imaging is also crucial for longitudinal surveillance of arterial damage. Finally, imaging is currently being studied for its role in assessing treatment response and ongoing disease activity and its potential value in determining the presence of vascular wall remodeling (eg, scarring). This review explores the current uses of noninvasive vascular imaging in LVV.

Rotary excitation of non-sinusoidal pulsed magnetic fields: Towards non-invasive direct detection of cardiac conduction.

There is a need for high resolution non-invasive imaging methods of physiologic magnetic fields. The purpose of this work is to develop a MRI detection approach for non-sinusoidal magnetic fields based on the rotary excitation (REX) mechanism which was previously successfully applied for the detection of oscillating magnetic fields in the sub-nT range. The new detection concept was examined by means of Bloch simulations, evaluating the interaction effect of spin-locked magnetization and low-frequency pulsed magnetic fields. The REX detection approach was validated under controlled conditions in phantom experiments at 3 T. Gaussian and sinc-shaped stimuli were investigated. In addition, the detection of artificial fields resembling a cardiac QRS complex, which is the most prominent peak visible on a magnetocardiogram, was tested. Bloch simulations demonstrated that the REX method has a high sensitivity to pulsed fields in the resonance case, which is met when the spin-lock frequency coincides with a non-zero Fourier component of the stimulus field. In the experiments, we found that magnetic stimuli of different durations and waveforms can be distinguished by their characteristic REX response spectrum. The detected REX amplitude was proportional to the stimulus peak amplitude (R2 > 0.98) and the lowest field detection was 1 nT. Furthermore, the detection of QRS-like fields with varying QRS durations yielded significant results in a phantom setup (p < 0.001). REX detection can be transferred to non-sinusoidal pulsed magnetic fields and could provide a non-invasive, quantitative tool for spatially resolved assessment of cardiac biomagnetism. Potential applications include the direct detection and characterization of cardiac conduction.

The Story of an Egyptian Cat Mummy Through CT Examination

Much of the fascination surrounding Egyptian civilization is linked to the practice of mummification. In fact, to ensure the preservation of the body, the ancient Egyptians mummified both human and animal subjects. However, mummified animal remains are less well studied, although they represent a significant part of the material culture and history of ancient Egypt. The introduction of non-invasive imaging methods has allowed researchers to study the material hidden within the wrappings of mummies. In this article, the cat mummy currently exhibited at the Museo Etnologico Missionario di San Francesco di Fiesole (Florence, Italy), originating from Luxor and legally acquired during an expedition in the 20th century, was analyzed using computed tomography (CT). The CT enabled the identification of the casing content, showing the presence of an entire cat skeleton. The cat had several fractures, some of which were identified in the cervical region, possibly related to the cause of death. Furthermore, the zooarcheological analysis allowed the identification of the age at death of the cat, providing further information about the story of the mummy. This research provides a further contribution to the analysis of mummies, with a case study of a cat mummy that emphasizes the importance of CT scans in humanistic studies and museum environments.

Reproducibility of Thermography for Measuring Skin Temperature of Upper Limbs in Breast Cancer Survivors.

Background/Objectives: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a chronic condition that has early diagnosis as a critical component for proper treatment. Thermography, a non-invasive imaging method, is considered a promising complementary tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of BCRL, especially in subclinical stages. The present study aimed to evaluate the intra- and inter-examiner reproducibility of thermography for measuring the skin temperature of the upper limbs (UL) of women with and without BCRL. Methods: This study, conducted with women who underwent a unilateral mastectomy, assessed BCRL using indirect volumetry. Maximum, minimum, and mean skin temperatures were measured in five regions of interest (ROI) of each UL (C1, C2, C3, C4, and Cup) in four different postures. Reproducibility measures were assessed using an intraclass correlation coefficient, 95% confidence interval, and coefficient of variation. Results: The sample comprised 30 women; 14 were diagnosed with BCRL. A total of 120 thermograms were recorded in different postures, and 3600 ROI were analyzed in the UL with and without BRCL. The intraclass correlation coefficient of the analyses indicated intra- and inter-examiner reproducibility from good to excellent (0.82 to 1.00) for all skin temperatures evaluated (maximum, minimum, and mean). The coefficient of variation for all measures was below 10%, indicating low variability. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that thermography shows good-to-excellent reproducibility across multiple postures and regions of interest, reinforcing its potential as a non-invasive and reliable method for assessing lymphedema in breast cancer survivors. This study establishes a foundation for incorporating thermography into clinical practice for early BCRL detection, particularly in subclinical stages, thus improving patient management and outcomes.

A Review of Non-Invasive Skin Imaging in Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Diagnostic Utility and Clinical Implications.

Background/Objectives: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine malignancy characterized by its propensity for rapid growth and early regional and distant metastasis. Given its potentially lethal nature, accurate and timely diagnosis of MCC is of utmost importance. This review aims to describe non-invasive imaging methods that can serve as additional tools in the examination of MCC. Methods: In this narrative review, we describe the up-to-date spectrum of non-invasive skin-imaging methods that can serve as additional tools in the examination of MCC based on the available literature. Dermoscopy might enhance the clinical diagnosis of MCC, facilitate differentiation from other benign and malignant tumors, and help optimize the treatment plan. New imaging technologies might also provide useful information at a sub-macroscopic level and support clinical diagnosis. These techniques include high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS), reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Results: Clinically, MCC typically presents as a rapidly growing, red, purple or skin-colored painless and firm nodule. Diagnosis is usually established with histopathological assessment and immunohistochemistry. However, dermoscopy and new imaging technologies might enhance the clinical diagnosis of MCC, facilitate differentiation from other benign and malignant tumors, and help optimize the treatment plan.

Central Hypothyroidism Associated With Empty Sella: Literature Review and Case Report

Empty Sella Syndrome (ESS) is a rare case of sella turcica malformation, resulting in pituitary gland decrease. It may reveal itself through neurological symptoms, endocrine disorders, visual disturbances or incidental findings during imaging. The urgency of this problem has increased with the widespread use in the diagnosis of the non-invasive method of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It can be discovered as part of the investigation of the pituitary disorders, or as an incidental finding when imaging the brain. Practice shows that such patients rarely come with typical complaints thus an extended review of this case is needed to prompt suspicion and aid in the diagnosis of ESS. Few cases of empty sella associated with isolated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) deficiency were published. We report a case of a 46 year-old woman with complaints: edema, dizziness, low blood pressure, hair loss, dry skin. Examinations were performed: ultrasound of the thyroid gland, TSH, FT4 (free thyroxine), FT3 (free triiodothyronine), anti TPO (Antibodies to thyroid peroxidase). Conclusion: patients with TSH, FT4, and FT3 deficiency, should undergo examinations to exclude empty sella as one of the reason of central hypothyroidism. According to the above mentioned the recommendation is to examine all the tropic hormones of the pituitary gland after diagnosing empty sella. Diagnosing central hypothyroidism associated with empty sella helps improving the knowledge and points to different clinical manifestation of empty sella syndrome.

Sparse-View Photoacoustic Reconstruction Method for Diabetic Retinopathy Using Feature Fusion Network.

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most prevalent microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus, and photoacoustic imaging is an effective method for imaging diabetic retinal vessels. Photoacoustic imaging is an emerging noninvasive imaging method based on the photoacoustic effect, which offers advantages of contrast, resolution, and depth imaging. Appropriate photoacoustic reconstruction methods are essential for obtaining high-quality photoacoustic images. In this study, a multi-input self-attention multiscale feature fusion network (SAMF-Net) is proposed for photoacoustic reconstruction. The algorithm accepts two inputs, namely the original photoacoustic signal and the traditional reconstructed image. Furthermore, a global feature extraction module based on the self-attention mechanism is employed to focus on the global information. The results demonstrate that the proposed method exhibits superior reconstruction capability under different sparse detection views. The method has instructive value for photoacoustic image reconstruction and has the potential for further application in the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy.