Characteristic Metabolic Changes of the Crust from Dry-Aged Beef Using 2D NMR Spectroscopy.

Two-dimensional quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (2D qNMR)-based metabolomics was performed to understand characteristic metabolic profiles in different aging regimes (crust from dry-aged beef, inner edible flesh of dry-aged beef, and wet-aged beef striploin) over 4 weeks. Samples were extracted using 0.6 M perchlorate to acquire polar metabolites. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis showed a good cumulative explained variation (R2 = 0.967) and predictive ability (Q2 = 0.935). Metabolites of crust and aged beef (dry- and wet-aged beef) were separated in the first week and showed a completely different aspect in the second week via NMR-based multivariable analyses. Moreover, NMR-based multivariable analyses could be used to distinguish the method, degree, and doneness of beef aging. Among them, the crust showed more unique metabolic changes that accelerated proteolysis (total free amino acids and biogenic amines) and inosine 5'-monophosphate depletion than dry-aged beef and generated specific microbial catabolites (3-indoxyl sulfate) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), while asparagine, glutamine, tryptophan, and glucose in the crust were maintained or decreased. Compared to the crust, dry-aged beef showed similar patterns of biogenic amines, as well as bioactive compounds and GABA, without a decrease in free amino acids and glucose. Based on these results, the crust allows the inner dry-aged beef to be aged similarly to wet-aged beef without microbial effects. Thus, 2D qNMR-based metabolomic techniques could provide complementary information about biochemical factors for beef aging.

Mosaicking Opportunistically Acquired Very High-Resolution Helicopter-Borne Images over Drifting Sea Ice Using COTS Sensors.

Observing sea ice by very high-resolution (VHR) images not only improves the quality of lower-resolution remote sensing products (e.g., sea ice concentration, distribution of melt ponds and pressure ridges, sea ice surface roughness, etc.) by providing details on the ground truth of sea ice, but also assists sea ice fieldwork. In this study, two fieldwork-based methods are proposed, one for the practical acquisition of VHR images over drifting Arctic sea ice using low-cost commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) sensors equipped on a helicopter, and the other for quantifying the compensating effect from continuously drifting sea ice that reduces geolocation uncertainty in the image mosaicking procedure. The drifting trajectory of the target ice was yielded from that recorded by an icebreaker that was tightly anchored to the floe and was then used to reversely compensate the locations of acquired VHR images. After applying the compensation, three-dimensional geolocation errors of the VHR images were decreased by 79.3% and 24.2% for two pre-defined image groups, respectively. The enhanced accuracy of the imaging locations was affected by imaging duration causing variable drifting distances of individual images. Further applicability of the mosaicked VHR image was discussed by comparing it with a TerraSAR-X synthetic aperture radar image containing the target ice, suggesting that the proposed methods can be used for precise comparison with satellite remote sensing products.

Islandinium minutum subsp. barbatum subsp. nov. (Dinoflagellata), a New Organic-Walled Dinoflagellate Cyst from the Western Arctic: Morphology, Phylogenetic Position Based on SSU rDNA and LSU rDNA, and Distribution.

A study of modern sediment from the Western Arctic has revealed the presence of a distinctive brown-colored cyst with a spherical central body bearing unbranched processes that are usually solid with a small basal pericoel. Distinctive barbs project from some processes, and process tips are usually minutely expanded into conjoined barbs. The archeopyle is apical and saphopylic. This cyst corresponds to Islandinium? cezare morphotype 2 of Head et al. (2001, J. Quat. Sci., 16:621). Phylogenetic analyses based on the small and large subunit rRNA genes infer close relationship with Islandinium minutum, the type of which is that of the genus. Re-examination of specimens of I. minutum reveals the presence of minute barbs on its processes, but differences with Islandinium? cezare morphotype 2 remain based on size, process distribution, and barb development. Furthermore, the internal transcribed spacer shows I. minutum to be distinct from this morphotype. On the basis of these small but discrete differences, we propose the new subspecies Islandinium minutum subsp. barbatum subsp. nov. Molecular sequencing of other cysts encountered, namely Echinidinium karaense, an unidentified flattened cyst, and "Polykrikos quadratus", places them in the Monovela clade, the latter showing greater morphological variability than previously thought.

Quality Management of Ultrasound Surveillance for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Under the Korean National Cancer Screening Program.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the quality of ultrasound (US) examinations for hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance under the Korean National Cancer Screening Program and to assess knowledge and experience about liver US of physicians who perform US examinations. METHODS: The investigation about the quality of liver US for hepatocellular carcinoma screening was based on the results of a nationwide quality assurance (QA) evaluation between 2012 and 2014 at all medical institutions participating in the National Cancer Screening Program. The QA evaluation was for personnel, equipment, education, and clinical images. Medical institutions with fewer than 60 of 100 points were considered to have failed the evaluation. Follow-up education in the form of a hands-on workshop was provided for physicians who worked in medical institutions that failed the QA evaluation. A questionnaire about basic knowledge and experience with US was administered during follow-up education. RESULTS: After the QA evaluation, 542 of 685 hospitals and 1340 of 1985 private clinics passed the test. The evaluation of private clinics and hospitals showed substantial differences in the frequency of adequacy or mean scores between the pass and fail groups for all QA items, even requirements. Among 233 participants in the hands-on workshops, 187 physicians (80.2%) responded to the questionnaire. Results revealed that physicians had deficient knowledge and experience about liver US. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of liver US for hepatocellular carcinoma screening remains suboptimal. Education for physicians who perform liver US examinations is unsatisfactory in Korea. We should make an effort to improve the quality of liver US and teach basic US techniques to physicians.

Sonographic Diagnosis of a Colovesical Fistula Due to Sigmoid Colon Cancer.

Based on sonographic findings, colovesical fistula was diagnosed in a 71-year-old man with sigmoid colon cancer. Gray-scale sonography revealed an irregular thickening of the sigmoid colon wall abutting the urinary bladder which also showed thickening in the region of contact. Color Doppler sonography showed a twinkling artifact within the thickened bladder wall. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan showed luminal communication between the sigmoid colon and the bladder in the region of thickening.

Comparison of Low- and Standard-Dose CT for the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis: A Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: A meta-analysis was performed to compare low-dose CT and standard-dose CT in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis with an emphasis on diagnostic value. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search for articles published through June 2016 was performed to identify studies that compared low-dose CT with standard-dose CT for the evaluation of patients suspected of having acute appendicitis. Summary estimates of sensitivity and specificity with 95% CIs were calculated using a bivariate random-effects model. Meta-regression was used to perform statistical comparisons of low-dose CT and standard-dose CT. RESULTS: Of 154 studies, nine studies investigating a total of 2957 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of low-dose CT were 96.25% (95% CI, 91.88-98.31%) and 93.22% (95% CI, 88.75-96.00%), respectively. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of standard-dose CT were 96.40% (95% CI, 93.55-98.02%) and 92.17% (95% CI, 88.24-94.86%), respectively. In a joint model estimation of meta-regression, lowand standard-dose CT did not show a statistically significant difference (p = 0.71). Both lowand standard-dose CT seem to be characterized by high positive and negative predictive values across a broad spectrum of pretest probabilities for acute appendicitis. CONCLUSION: Low-dose CT is highly effective for the diagnosis of suspected appendicitis and can be considered a valid alternative first-line imaging test that reduces the potential risk of exposure to ionizing radiation.

Diagnostic Usefulness of Low-Dose Nonenhanced Computed Tomography With Coronal Reformations in Patients With Suspected Acute Appendicitis: A Comparison With Standard-Dose Computed Tomography.

PURPOSE: The aims of the study were to evaluate the usefulness of low-dose (LD) nonenhanced CT (NECT) with coronal reformation in diagnosing acute appendicitis and to compare LD NECT with standard-dose (SD) NECT and SD contrast-enhanced CT (CECT). METHODS: A total of 452 patients suspected of having acute appendicitis underwent CT using a scan 1 (SD NECT and SD CECT1, n = 182) or a scan 2 protocol (LD NECT and SD CECT2, n = 270). The diagnostic performance and interobserver agreement for diagnosing acute appendicitis were compared. RESULTS: Although the area under the curves of both reviewers of LD NECT were lower than those of SD CECT2, area under the curves of both reviewers for SD NECT were not significantly different for SD CECT1 and LD NECT (all P > 0.05). The interobserver agreements within each scan were excellent (all κ > 0.8). CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose NECT with coronal reformation showed high diagnostic performance and can be used as the first-line imaging tool in the work-up of patients with suspected acute appendicitis.

Sonography of Gastrointestinal Tract Diseases: Correlation With Computed Tomographic Findings and Endoscopy.

Sonographic evaluation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract may be difficult because of overlying intraluminal bowel gas and gas-related artifacts. However, in the absence of these factors and with the development of high-resolution scanners and the technical experience of radiologists, sonography can become a powerful tool for GI tract assessment. This pictorial essay focuses on sonographic findings of GI tract lesions compared with endoscopic, computed tomographic, and magnetic resonance imaging findings. Neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases and postoperative complications are illustrated, and the distinctive sonographic characteristics of these entities are highlighted.

Compensation Method of Natural Head Movement for Gaze Tracking System Using an Ultrasonic Sensor for Distance Measurement.

Most gaze tracking systems are based on the pupil center corneal reflection (PCCR) method using near infrared (NIR) illuminators. One advantage of the PCCR method is the high accuracy it achieves in gaze tracking because it compensates for the pupil center position based on the relative position of corneal specular reflection (SR). However, the PCCR method only works for user head movements within a limited range, and its performance is degraded by the natural movement of the user's head. To overcome this problem, we propose a gaze tracking method using an ultrasonic sensor that is robust to the natural head movement of users. Experimental results demonstrate that with our compensation method the gaze tracking system is more robust to natural head movements compared to other systems without our method and commercial systems.

Cystic Duct Enhancement: A Useful CT Finding in the Diagnosis of Acute Cholecystitis Without Visible Impacted Gallstones.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the incremental value of the presence of cystic duct enhancement for diagnosing acute cholecystitis without visible impacted gallstones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT scans of 63 patients with acute cholecystitis and 63 control subjects were retrospectively and independently reviewed by two radiologists to determine the presence of cystic duct enhancement or impacted stones. Two additional radiologists were then asked to independently evaluate all CT images using a 5-point scoring system for diagnosing acute cholecystitis. They conducted the evaluations both before and after being informed that cystic duct enhancement could be substituted for a CT finding of impacted gallstones. RESULTS: The prevalence of either cystic duct enhancement or stone impaction was observed to be significantly more common in the patient group (86-91%) than in the control group (6-14%) (p < 0.001) with good interobserver agreement (κ = 0.79). Diagnostic sensitivities increased significantly from 60.3% to 85.7% for reviewer 1 (p = 0.001) and from 71.4% to 87.3% for reviewer 2 (p = 0.028) after the reviewers were informed of the presence of cystic duct enhancement. Diagnostic accuracy increased significantly for the less experienced radiologist, from 75.4% to 87.3% (p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: The accuracy and sensitivity of CT for the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis improved significantly when cystic duct enhancement was used as an alternative to impacted gallstones as a diagnostic criterion.

Extract of Ginkgo Biloba Ameliorates Streptozotocin-Induced Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and High-Fat Diet-Induced Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Mice.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is caused by either destruction of pancreatic ß-cells (type 1 DM) or unresponsiveness to insulin (type 2 DM). Conventional therapies for diabetes mellitus have been developed but still needs improvement. Many diabetic patients have complemented conventional therapy with alternative methods including oral supplementation of natural products. In this study, we assessed whether Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb) 761 could provide beneficial effects in the streptozotocin-induced type 1 DM and high-fat diet-induced type 2 DM murine model system. For the type 1 DM model, streptozotocin-induced mice were orally administered EGb 761 for 10 days prior to streptozotocin injection and then again administered EGb 761 for an additional 10 days. Streptozotocin-treated mice administered EGb 761 exhibited lower blood triglyceride levels, lower blood glucose levels and higher blood insulin levels compared to streptozotocin-treated mice. Furthermore, liver LPL and liver PPAR-α were increased whereas IL-1ß and TNF-α were decreased in streptozotocin-injected mice treated with EGb 761 compared to mice injected with streptozotocin alone. For the type 2 DM model, mice were given high-fat diet for 60 days and then orally administered EGb 761 every other day for 80 days. We found that mice given a high-fat diet and EGb 761 showed decreased blood triglyceride levels, increased liver LPL, increased liver PPAR-α and decreased body weight compared to mice given high-fat diet alone. These results suggest that EGb 761 can exert protective effects in both type 1 and type 2 DM murine models.

Does the Degree of Perihepatitis Have Any Relevance to the Severity of the Manifestations of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease on Multidetector Computed Tomography?

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the degree of perihepatitis and the severity of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) on multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). METHODS: A total of 177 women with PID who underwent biphasic abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans were enrolled. Two reviewers retrospectively reviewed the CT scans with consensus and subjectively categorized the severity of PID into 4 grades (normal, mild, moderate, and severe). Another reviewer independently assigned the extent (grades 0 to 4) and the depth (grades 0 to 4) of hepatic surface enhancement in terms of the degree of perihepatitis. Relationships between the degree of perihepatitis and the CT severity as well as each CT manifestation of PID were evaluated using the χ test or a cumulative logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 177 patients, 99 (55.9%) showed hepatic surface enhancement. The severity of PID on MDCT was significantly related with the degree of perihepatitis (all P < 0.001). Salpingitis, oophoritis, pelvic fat haziness, complicated ascites, and omental/mesenteric fat infiltration were significantly related with the degree of perihepatitis (all P < 0.05). Among these variables, omental/mesenteric fat infiltration (odds ratio = 10.9) and salpingitis (odds ratio = 6.0) were the CT manifestations that were most associated with the presence of perihepatitis in PID. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of perihepatitis seems to show a relationship with the severity of PID on MDCT. Omental/mesenteric fat infiltration and salpingitis can be strongly related with perihepatitis in PID.

Distribution of Epididymal Involvement in Mumps Epididymo-orchitis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate characteristic sonographic findings for mumps orchitis with epididymal involvement. METHODS: This study included 18 patients (aged 12-18 years) with mumps orchitis. We assessed the volume, echogenicity, and vascularity of the testes and the transverse diameter, echogenicity, and vascularity of the epididymal head, body, and tail. We classified 4 types of epididymal involvement: 1A, focal swelling of the epididymal head with hypervascularity only on the swollen head; 1B, focal swelling of the epididymal head with hypervascularity on the entire epididymis; 1C, diffuse swelling of the entire epididymis with hypervascularity; and 2, no epididymal involvement. The Student t test was used to evaluate the significance of the size of each part of the epididymis and the epididymal head-to-tail diameter ratio. RESULTS: Orchitis was unilateral in 13 patients and bilateral in 5. Of 23 affected hemiscrotums, 7 (30.4%) were type 1A, 4 (17.4%) type 1B, 2 (8.7%) type 1C, and 10 (43.5%) type 2. In 11 patients with unilateral epididymal involvement, the mean diameters ± SDs of the epididymal heads on the affected and contralateral sides were 1.11 ± 0.19 (range, 0.7-1.7) and 0.65 ± 0.14 (0.3-0.9) cm (significantly different, P <.001). The diameters of the epididymal tails on the affected and contralateral sides were 0.51 ± 0.41 (0.2-0.8) and 0.46 ± 0.21 (0.3-0.6) cm (not statistically different, P = .106). The mean head-to-tail ratios on the affected and contralateral sides were 2.28 ± 0.49 (1.29-3.00) and 1.41 ± 0.22 (1.00-1.75; significantly different, P < .001). In all types 1A and 1B, the ratio was higher than 2.00; in 22 of 23 unaffected epididymides, the ratio was lower than 2.00. CONCLUSIONS: Focal swelling of epididymal heads was a characteristic sonographic finding of mumps epididymo-orchitis, and a head-to-tail ratio higher than 2.00 can be a useful diagnostic finding.

Using optimal interpolation to assimilate surface measurements and satellite AOD for ozone and PM2.5: A case study for July 2011.

UNLABELLED: We employed an optimal interpolation (OI) method to assimilate AIRNow ozone/PM2.5 and MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) aerosol optical depth (AOD) data into the Community Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ) model to improve the ozone and total aerosol concentration for the CMAQ simulation over the contiguous United States (CONUS). AIRNow data assimilation was applied to the boundary layer, and MODIS AOD data were used to adjust total column aerosol. Four OI cases were designed to examine the effects of uncertainty setting and assimilation time; two of these cases used uncertainties that varied in time and location, or "dynamic uncertainties." More frequent assimilation and higher model uncertainties pushed the modeled results closer to the observation. Our comparison over a 24-hr period showed that ozone and PM2.5 mean biases could be reduced from 2.54 ppbV to 1.06 ppbV and from -7.14 µg/m³ to -0.11 µg/m³, respectively, over CONUS, while their correlations were also improved. Comparison to DISCOVER-AQ 2011 aircraft measurement showed that surface ozone assimilation applied to the CMAQ simulation improves regional low-altitude (below 2 km) ozone simulation. IMPLICATIONS: This paper described an application of using optimal interpolation method to improve the model's ozone and PM2.5 estimation using surface measurement and satellite AOD. It highlights the usage of the operational AIRNow data set, which is available in near real time, and the MODIS AOD. With a similar method, we can also use other satellite products, such as the latest VIIRS products, to improve PM2.5 prediction.

A new gaze estimation method considering external light.

Gaze tracking systems usually utilize near-infrared (NIR) lights and NIR cameras, and the performance of such systems is mainly affected by external light sources that include NIR components. This is ascribed to the production of additional (imposter) corneal specular reflection (SR) caused by the external light, which makes it difficult to discriminate between the correct SR as caused by the NIR illuminator of the gaze tracking system and the imposter SR. To overcome this problem, a new method is proposed for determining the correct SR in the presence of external light based on the relationship between the corneal SR and the pupil movable area with the relative position of the pupil and the corneal SR. The experimental results showed that the proposed method makes the gaze tracking system robust to the existence of external light.

A case of intussusception of the appendix secondary to endometriosis: US and CT findings.

Intussusception of the appendix is an uncommon condition that is difficult to diagnose with radiology. Endometriosis causing appendiceal intussusception is a rare condition that has only been reported a few times in the literature. Here, we report a case of appendiceal intussusception caused by endometriosis in a 33-year-old woman who presented with intermittent right lower abdominal pain. Sonography revealed a hypoechoic mass invaginating into the cecum, which was covered by echogenic cecal wall with central dimpling indicating the appendiceal orifice. On CT, the mass was identified as an enhancing mass invaginating into the cecum at the level the appendiceal orifice.

Gastrointestinal tract perforation: evaluation of MDCT according to perforation site and elapsed time.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) for the prediction of perforation site according to each gastrointestinal (GI) tract site and elapsed time. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-eight patients who underwent MDCT before laparotomy for GI tract perforation were enrolled and allocated to an early or late lapse group based on an elapsed time of 7 h. Two reviewers independently evaluated the perforation site and assessed the following CT findings: free air location, mottled extraluminal air bubbles, focal bowel wall discontinuity, segmental bowel wall thickening, perivisceral fat stranding and localised fluid collection. RESULTS: The overall diagnostic accuracy was 91.07 % and 91.67 % for reviewers 1 and 2, respectively, with excellent agreement (kappa 0.86). Accuracies (98.97 % and 97.94 %) and agreements (kappa 0.894) for stomach and duodenum perforation were higher than for other perforation sites. Strong predictors of perforation at each site were: focal bowel wall discontinuity for stomach, duodenal bulb and left colon, mottled extraluminal air bubbles for retroperitoneal duodenum and right colon, and segmental bowel wall thickening for small bowel. The diagnostic accuracy was not different between the early- and late-lapse groups. CONCLUSIONS: MDCT can accurately predict upper GI tract perforation with high reliability. Elapsed time did not affect the accuracy of perforation site prediction. KEY POINTS: Perforation of the stomach and duodenum can be accurately predicted with MDCT. Knowledge of CT findings predicting perforation site can improve diagnostic accuracy. Elapsed time does not significantly affect accuracy in predicting perforation sites.

Sonographic findings of tuberculous vasitis.

The purpose of this series was to describe the sonographic findings of tuberculous vasitis. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 3 cases of tuberculous vasitis. The following grayscale and color Doppler sonographic features were analyzed: location, echogenicity of the lesion, epididymal or testicular involvement, presence of hydrocele, and blood flow within the lesion. All 3 patients had focal (n = 2) or multifocal (n = 1) involvement of the scrotal segment of the vas deferens. The sonographic findings for tuberculous vasitis were heterogeneously hypoechoic in all of the cases. On color Doppler sonography, no blood flow was identified within the lesions of the vas deferens. All 3 patients had tuberculous epididymitis in addition to tuberculous vasitis. Tuberculous vasitis presents with infection along with tuberculous epididymitis, and it appears as a heterogeneously hypoechoic lesion in the scrotal segment of the vas deferens adjacent to the epididymal tail.

Dropped omental fat post laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy with omentectomy mistaken for malignant peritoneal seeding on sonography.

We report the sonographic findings in a case of dropped omental fat post laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy with omentectomy for stomach cancer mistaken for malignant intraperitoneal seeding. Gray-scale sonography revealed an ovoid-shaped hyperechoic mass with central poorly defined hypoechoic portion in the right perihepatic space. Color Doppler sonography showed no blood flow within the mass. Contrast-enhanced CT scan of the liver revealed an oval-shaped fatty mass with a CT number of -100 HU

Imaging and Clinical Findings of Xanthogranulomatous Inflammatory Disease of Various Abdominal and Pelvic Organs: A Pictorial Essay.

Xanthogranulomatous (XG) inflammatory disease is a rare benign disease involving various organs, including the gallbladder, bile duct, pancreas, spleen, stomach, small bowel, colon, appendix, kidney, adrenal gland, urachus, urinary bladder, retroperitoneum, and female genital organs. The imaging features of XG inflammatory disease are nonspecific, usually presenting as a heterogeneous solid or cystic mass. The disease may also extend to adjacent structures. Due to its aggressive nature, it is occasionally misdiagnosed as a malignant neoplasm. Herein, we review the radiological features and clinical manifestations of XG inflammatory diseases in various organs of the abdomen and pelvis.