Highly visible-light-active sulfur and carbon co-doped TiO2 (SC-TiO2) heterogeneous photocatalysts prepared by underwater discharge plasma.

To promptly and simply create highly crystalline S/C co-doped TiO2 (SC-TiO2) photocatalysts at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, we suggest a novel plasma-assisted sol-gel synthesis method. This method is a simultaneous synthetic process, in which an underwater plasma undergoes continuous reactions to generate high-energy atomic and molecular species that enable TiO2 to achieve crystallinity, a large surface area, and a heterogeneous structure within a few minutes. In particular, it was demonstrated that the heterogeneously structured TiO2 was formed by doping that sulfur and carbon replace O or Ti atoms in the TiO2 lattice depending on the composition of the synthesis solution during underwater plasma treatment. The resultant SC-TiO2 photocatalysts had narrowed bandgap energies and extended optical absorption scope into the visible range by inducing the intermediate states within bandgap due to generation of oxygen vacancies on the surface of TiO2 through synthesis, crystallization, and doping. Correspondingly, SC-TiO2 showed a significant degradation efficiency ([k] = 6.91 h-1) of tetracycline (TC, antibiotics) under solar light irradiation, up to approximately 4 times higher compared to commercial TiO2 ([k] = 1.68 h-1), resulting in great water purification. Therefore, we anticipate that this underwater discharge plasma system will prove to be an advantageous technique for producing heterostructural TiO2 photocatalysts with superior photocatalytic efficiency for environmental applications.

Application of Thermally Fluorinated Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes as an Additive to an Li4Ti5O12 Lithium Ion Battery.

In this study, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were modified by thermal fluorination to improve dispersibility between MWCNTs and Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) and were used as additives to compensate for the disadvantages of LTO anode materials with low electronic conductivity. The degree of fluorination of the MWCNTs was controlled by modifying the reaction time at constant fluorination temperature; the clear structure and surface functional group changes in the MWCNTs due to the degree of fluorination were determined. In addition, the homogeneous dispersion in the LTO was improved due to the strong electronegativity of fluorine. The F-MWCNT conductive additive was shown to exhibit an excellent electrochemical performance as an anode for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). In particular, the optimized LTO with added fluorinated MWCNTs not only exhibited a high specific capacity of 104.8 mAh g-1 at 15.0 C but also maintained a capacity of ~116.8 mAh g-1 at a high rate of 10.0 C, showing a capacity almost 1.4 times higher than that of LTO with the addition of pristine MWCNTs and an improvement in the electrical conductivity. These results can be ascribed to the fact that the semi-ionic C-F bond of the fluorinated MWCNTs reacts with the Li metal during the charge/discharge process to form LiF, and the fluorinated MWCNTs are converted into MWCNTs to increase the conductivity due to the bridge effect of the conductive additive, carbon black, with LTO.

Simple quantification of paracardial and epicardial fat dimensions at low-dose chest CT: correlation with metabolic risk factors and usefulness in predicting metabolic syndrome.

PURPOSE: To assess the usefulness of simple axial bi-dimensional diameters of pericardial fat tissues at low-dose chest CT, in correlation with metabolic parameters in predicting metabolic syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were 373 asymptomatic individuals who performed both low-dose chest CT and abdominal fat CT for medical check-up. Maximum bi-dimensional axial diameters of paracardial fats at right (RPF) and left (LPF) cardiophrenic angle portions, and epicardial fats around right (REF) and left (LEF) coronary arteries, and coronary sinus (SEF) were measured. Correlation between pericardial fat diameters and metabolic parameters were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: RPF, LPF, REF, LEF, and SEF diameters were moderately correlated with abdominal visceral fat (AVF) area (R = 0.74, 0.70, 0.48, 0.41, and 0.53, respectively, p < 0.01) in Pearson's correlation analysis. In multiple linear regression analysis, coefficient of RPF for AVF showed highest value. Means of each PF and EF diameters in subjects with metabolic syndrome were significantly larger than those without metabolic syndrome (p < 0.001). All PF and EF diameters were well-discriminated for prediction of metabolic syndrome in ROC analysis (AUC values, from 0.696 to 0.795). CONCLUSION: RPF diameter at low-dose chest CT would be a simple method for prediction of metabolic syndrome.

CT-guided core biopsy of malignant lung lesions: how many needle passes are needed?

AIM: The study aims to determine the number of needle pass in the CT-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) in making a diagnosis of pulmonary malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 434 CNB records were retrospectively reviewed. The specimen obtained from each needle pass was put in a formalin container and then labelled for separate histopathological reporting. The patients were divided into five groups according to the total number of needle passes (n = 1, n = 2, n = 3, n = 4 and n ≥ 5). In each of the groups 2-4, it was analysed how many needle passes are required before a plateau in diagnostic yield is achieved. RESULTS: CNB produced 283 true-positive and 23 false-negative diagnosis of malignancy. Cumulative sensitivity significantly (P < 0.05) increased between the first and second as well as the second and the third (if done) needle passes, but not between the third and fourth ones. CONCLUSION: Three coaxial needle passes might be optimal in the diagnosis of lung malignancy.

Prediction of postoperative lung function in patients undergoing lung resection: dual-energy perfusion computed tomography versus perfusion scintigraphy.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of dual-energy perfusion computed tomography (CT) for predicting postoperative lung function in patients undergoing lung resection. METHODS: Fifty-one patients (38 men, 13 women; mean age, 63.8 years) were prospectively enrolled and subsequently underwent dual-energy CT, perfusion scintigraphy, a pulmonary function test before surgery, and a pulmonary function test 6 months after surgery. Computed tomography was performed using dual-source CT with the dual-energy technique. Using weighted average images, each lobe was segmented and using perfusion images, the iodine value was quantitatively measured. Lobar perfusion was calculated by multiplying the volume of the lobe by the iodine value. The ratio of lobar perfusion per whole-lung perfusion was then calculated. The predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume during 1 second (post-FEV1) was calculated by multiplying the preoperative FEV1 by the fractional contribution of perfusion of the remaining lung. The agreement between the predicted post-FEV1 and the actual post-FEV1 was then evaluated. The percentage of error of the predicted post-FEV1 to that of the actual post-FEV1 was then calculated. RESULTS: Using the Bland-Altman method, the limits of agreement between the actual post-FEV1 and the predicted post-FEV1 were -29.3% and 26.9% for scintigraphy and -28.9% and 17.3% for CT. The percentage of error of CT (15.4%) was comparable with that of scintigraphy (17.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Dual-energy perfusion CT was more accurate than perfusion scintigraphy was for predicting postoperative lung function.

Analysis of perfusion defects by causes other than acute pulmonary thromboembolism on contrast-enhanced dual-energy CT in consecutive 537 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess causes, incidence and patterns of perfusion defects (PDs) on dual-energy perfusion CT angiography (DECTA) in clinically suspected acute pulmonary thromboembolisms (PTE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive 537 patients who underwent DECTA for suspicion of PTE were retrospectively reviewed. After excluding patients with possible PTE or unsatisfactory perfusion map quality, 299 patients with 1697 lobes were included. The DECTA (Somatom Definition, Siemens) was performed at 140kV and 80kV. Color-coded perfusion images were obtained with a lung PBV application of the workstation software (Syngo Dual Energy). The presence, incidence, three patterns of PDs (wedge-shaped, heterogeneous, and regionally homogeneous), pulmonary diseases, and the matchedness between the PD and the disease extent were studied. RESULTS: 315 of 1697 lobes (18.6%) in 156 of 299 patients (81.3%) showed PDs. Among them, 51 (3%), 257 (15.1%), and 7 (0.4%) lobes had PDs due to vascular, nonvascular, and unidentifiable causes, respectively. Vascular causes include: pulmonary arterial (PA) hypertension (0.7%), extrinsic occlusion of PA by fibrosis (0.6%), PA hypoplasia (0.6%), vasculitis (0.5%), cancer mass compressing PA, venous occlusion, AVM, and pulmonary angiosarcoma. Most of PDs were wedge-shaped and well-matched. Nonvascular causes include: mosaic attenuation (4.1%), emphysema (3.2%), interstitial fibrosis (1.6%), bronchitis (1.4%), GGO (1.2%), cellular bronchiolitis (1%), bronchiectasis, airway obstruction, compensaroty lung hyperinflation, air trapping, cor-pulmonale, bronchopneumonia, physiologic decreased ventilation, and segmental bronchial atresia. Most of PDs showed heterogeneous pattern and were not matched. CONCLUSIONS: Various vascular and nonvascular diseases cause PDs on DECTA. Each disease shows different pattern of PD depending on pathophysiology and physiologic compensation.

A pilot trial on pulmonary emphysema quantification and perfusion mapping in a single-step using contrast-enhanced dual-energy computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: To know whether contrast-enhanced dual-energy computed tomography angiography (DECTA) can be used for simultaneous assessment of emphysema quantification and regional perfusion evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed 27 patients who had pulmonary emphysema and no pulmonary embolism on visual assessment of CT images, among 584 consecutive patients who underwent DECTA for the evaluation of pulmonary embolism. Virtual noncontrast (VNC) images were generated by modifying the "Liver VNC" application in a dedicated workstation. Using in-house software, the low-attenuation area below 950HU (LAA950), the 15th percentile attenuation (15pctlVNC) and the mean lung attenuation (MeanVNC) were calculated. The "Lung PBV" application was used to assess perfusion, and the low-iodine area below 5HU (LIA5), the 15th percentile iodine (15pctlIodine), and the mean iodine value (MeanIodine) were calculated from iodine map images. The correlation between VNC parameters and pulmonary function test data (available in 22 patients) and the correlation between VNC and iodine map parameters (all included 27 patients) were assessed. Color-coded map of VNC image were compared with iodine map images for the evaluation of regional heterogeneity. RESULTS: We observed moderate correlations between LAA950 and predicted %FEV1 (rs = -0.47, P < 0.05), and 15pctlVNC and predicted %FEV1 (rs = 0.56, P < 0.05). We also observed significant correlations between LAA950 and LIA5 (rs = 0.48, P < 0.05), 15pctlVNC and 15pctlIodine (rs = 0.59, P = 0.001), and MeanVNC and MeanIodine (rs = 0.47, P < 0.05). On visual assessment of the regional heterogeneity, 82% of patients showed relatively good correlation between the areas of perfusion impairment on iodine map images and areas of emphysema on color-coded VNC images. CONCLUSIONS: We observed moderate correlations between quantitative parameters on VNC images and pulmonary function test data, and also observed moderate correlations between the severity of parenchymal destruction, as determined from VNC images, and perfusion status, as determined from iodine maps. Therefore, the contrast-enhanced DECTA can be used for the emphysema quantification and regional perfusion evaluation by using the VNC images and iodine map, simultaneously.

Computed tomography findings in invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in non-neutropenic transplant recipients and neutropenic patients, and their prognostic value.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated CT findings and their prognostic value in non-neutropenic transplant recipients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) compared with neutropenic patients with IPA. METHODS: All adult patients during a 27-month who met the criteria for proven or probable IPA according to the 2008 EORTC/MSG criteria were retrospectively enrolled. Initial CT findings were reviewed by two radiologists blinded to the patients' demographics and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 50 non-neutropenic transplant recipients and 60 neutropenic patients were enrolled. Consolidation-or-mass, halo signs, and angio-invasive form were observed less often in non-neutropenic transplant recipients than in neutropenic patients: (56%, 26%, and 32%) versus (78%, 55%, and 60%, p = 0.01, p = 0.002, and p = 0.003, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that macronodules (HR 0.31, p = 0.001), multiple infarct-shaped consolidations (HR 4.26, p < 0.001), renal replacement therapy (HR 5.62, p < 0.001) and persistence of a positive serum galactomannan (HR 7.14, p < 0.001) were independently associated with 90-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that CT findings in non-neutropenic transplant recipients with IPA are similar to those in neutropenic patients with IPA except that consolidation-or-mass, halo sings, and angio-invasive form are less frequent, and certain CT findings such as macronodules and multiple infarct-shaped consolidations have prognostic implications in IPA.

Radiological and clinical features of subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze computed tomography (CT) and clinical findings of patients with subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CT findings were retrospectively assessed in 8 patients (6 men, 2 women; age range, 23-60 years; mean age, 39.8 years) with pathologically proven SPTCL. The tumor location, number, distribution, size, and morphological characteristics on CT were evaluated, as were maximum standardized uptake values on positron emission tomography. We also evaluated patient symptoms, laboratory findings, immunophenotype, involvement of bone marrow, treatment, and outcomes. RESULTS: All 8 patients had multiple (range, 4 to numerous) soft tissue lesions involving subcutaneous fat tissue of the chest, abdominal wall, back, and buttock. Lesions varied in size (range, 0.5-10 cm) and showed reticular (n = 1), nodular (n = 4), and diffuse infiltrative (n = 3) patterns. Three patients had lesions involving the entire thickness of fat tissue, 3 had partial lesions, and 2 had variable lesions. Skin thickening was mild in 4 patients, moderate in 2, and severe in 2; fascia thickening was mild in 3 patients, moderate in one, severe in one, and variable in 2. In 7 patients, lesions were accompanied by engorged supplying vessels. At onset, maximum standardized uptake values varied from 1.2 to 4.7, decreasing to 0.0 to 4.2. Five patients had αß type and one had γδ type. Clinical outcome varied: two remain alive with disease, two had no disease, and one died. CONCLUSIONS: The SPTCL is characterized by multiple, nodular, or diffuse soft tissue lesions involving subcutaneous fat tissue, accompanied by engorged vessels and skin and fascial thickening. Patients vary in presentation and in treatment outcomes.

CT findings of an intracardiac bronchogenic cyst.

Bronchogenic cysts are classified as congenital bronchopulmonary foregut malformations. It is very rare for bronchogenic cysts to occur within the heart. A 59-year-old woman had a cardiac mass which was detected incidentally during a CT examination. The lesion was a hypoechoic mass with internal echoes on transthoracic echocardiography, and a well-defined hyperdense mass within an interatrial septum with poor enhancement on electrocardiography (ECG)-gated cardiac CT. The lesion was diagnosed as a bronchogenic cyst in the interatrial septum after surgical excision.

F-18 FDG uptake in the nidus of an osteoid osteoma.

Osteoid osteoma is a common skeletal neoplasm with distinctive histologic abnormalities that consist of a central core of vascular osteoid tissue and a peripheral sclerotic zone. We report a case of intense F-18 FDG uptake in the nidus of cortical osteoid osteoma of the distal metaphysis of the right tibia.

Discogenic lumbar pain: association with MR imaging and CT discography.

OBJECTIVE: To correlate MR and CT discography findings with pain response at provocative discography in patients with discogenic back pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-seven patients aged 25-54 years who underwent MR imaging and subsequent CT discography (97 discs) were included in this study. MR images were retrospectively evaluated regarding disc degeneration, endplate abnormalities, facet joint osteoarthritis, and high intensity zone. During discography concordant pain was regarded as positive, whereas discordant pain and no pain were regarded as negative. MR and CT discographic findings were analyzed on the base of concordant pain using the Chi-square test. RESULTS: : Concordant pain was significantly common in the following (P < 0.05): grade 4 or 5 disc degeneration [88% (30/34) in concordant pain versus 48% (30/63) in discordant pain and no pain], high intensity zone [56% (19/34) versus 30% (19/63)], combination of above two findings [53% (18/34) versus 25% (16/63)], fissured and ruptured disc at discogram [94% (32/34) versus 57% (36/63)], and contrast beyond inner annulus at CT discogram [97% (33/34) versus 57% (36/63)]. CONCLUSION: Typical MR findings with concordant pain at discography include grade 4 or 5 disc degeneration and presence of a high intensity zone. Typical CT discography findings with concordant pain were fissured/ruptured discs and contrast extending into/beyond the outer annulus on CT.