Diffusion and structural MRI as potential biomarkers in people with Parkinson's disease and cognitive impairment.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the neuroimage change in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with cognitive impairments, this study investigated the correlation between plasma biomarkers and morphological brain changes in patients with normal cognition and mild cognitive impairment. The objective was to identify the potential target deposition regions of the plasma biomarkers and to search for the relevant early neuroimaging biomarkers on the basis of different cognitive domains. METHODS: Structural brain MRI and diffusion weighted images were analyzed from 49 eligible PD participants (male/female: 27/22; mean age: 73.4 ± 8.5 years) from a retrospective analysis. Plasma levels of α-synuclein, amyloid beta peptide, and total tau were collected. A comprehensive neuropsychological assessment of the general and specific cognitive domains was performed. Difference between PD patients with normal cognition and impairment was examined. Regression analysis was performed to evaluate the correlation between image-derived index and plasma biomarkers or neuropsychological assessments. RESULTS: Significant correlation was found between plasma Aß-42 level and fractional anisotropy of the middle occipital, angular, and middle temporal gyri of the left brain, as well as plasma T-tau level and the surface area of the isthmus or the average thickness of the posterior part of right cingulate gyrus. Visuospatial and executive function is positively correlated with axial diffusivity in bilateral cingulate gyri. CONCLUSION: In nondemented PD patients, the target regions for plasma deposition might be located in the cingulate, middle occipital, angular, and middle temporal gyri. Changes from multiple brain regions can be correlated to the performance of different cognitive domains. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease is primarily linked to biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's disease rather than those related to Parkinson's disease and resembles the frontal variant of Alzheimer's disease, which may guide management strategies for cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease. KEY POINTS: • Fractional anisotropy, surface area, and thickness in the cingulate, middle occipital, angular, and middle temporal gyri can be significantly correlated with plasma Aß-42 and T-tau level. • Axial diffusivity in the cingulate gyri was correlated with visuospatial and executive function. • The pattern of cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease can be similar to the frontal variant than typical Alzheimer's disease.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting of post-irradiated stenosis of subclavian artery: A matched case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Although radiotherapy is common for head/neck and chest cancers (HNCC), it can result in post-irradiation stenosis of the subclavian artery (PISSA). The efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) to treat severe PISSA is not well-clarified. AIMS: To compare the technical safety and outcomes of PTAS between patients with severe PISSA (RT group) and radiation-naïve counterparts (non-RT group). METHODS: During 2000 and 2021, we retrospectively enrolled patients with severe symptomatic stenosis (>60%) of the subclavian artery who underwent PTAS. The rate of new recent vertebrobasilar ischaemic lesions (NRVBIL), diagnosed on diffusion-weight imaging (DWI) within 24 h of postprocedural brain MRI; symptom relief; and long-term stent patency were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in all 61 patients in the two groups. Compared with the non-RT group (44 cases, 44 lesions), the RT group (17 cases, 18 lesions) had longer stenoses (22.1 vs 11.1 mm, P = 0.003), more ulcerative plaques (38.9% vs 9.1%, P = 0.010), and more medial- or distal-segment stenoses (44.4% vs 9.1%, P<0.001). The technical safety and outcome between the non-RT group and the RT group were NRVBIL on DWI of periprocedural brain MRI 30.0% vs 23.1%, P = 0.727; symptom recurrence rate (mean follow-up 67.1 ± 50.0 months) 2.3% vs 11.8%, P = 0.185; and significant in-stent restenosis rate (>50%) 2.3% vs 11.1%, P = 0.200. CONCLUSION: The technical safety and outcome of PTAS for PISSA were not inferior to those of radiation-naïve counterparts. PTAS for PISSA is an effective treatment for medically refractory ischaemic symptoms of HNCC patients with PISSA.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting of post-irradiation stenosis of the vertebral artery.

BACKGROUND: The outcomes of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) in patients with medically refractory post-irradiation stenosis of the vertebral artery (PISVA) have not been clarified. AIM: This retrospective study evaluated the safety and outcomes of PTAS in patients with severe PISVA compared with their radiation-naïve counterparts (non-RT group). METHODS: Patients with medically refractory severe symptomatic vertebral artery stenosis and undergoing PTAS between 2000 and 2021 were classified as the PISVA group or the non-RT group. The periprocedural neurological complications, periprocedural brain magnetic resonance imaging, the extent of symptom relief, and long-term stent patency were compared. RESULTS: As compared with the non-RT group (22 cases, 24 lesions), the PISVA group (10 cases, 10 lesions) was younger (62.0 ± 8.6 vs 72.4 ± 9.7 years, P = 0.006) and less frequently had hypertension (40.0% vs 86.4%, P = 0.013) and diabetes mellitus (10.0% vs 54.6%, P = 0.024). Periprocedural embolic infarction was not significantly different between the non-RT group and the PISVA group (37.5% vs 35.7%, P = 1.000). At a mean follow-up of 72.1 ± 58.7 (3-244) months, there was no significant between-group differences in the symptom recurrence rate (0.00% vs 4.55%, P = 1.000) and in-stent restenosis rate (10.0% vs 12.5%, P = 1.000). CONCLUSION: PTAS of severe medically refractory PISVA is effective in the management of vertebrobasilar ischemic symptoms in head and neck cancer patients. Technical safety and outcome of the procedure were like those features in radiation-naïve patients.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting of post-irradiated stenosis of subclavian artery.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The therapeutic efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) of post-irradiated stenosis of subclavian artery (PISSA) was not well clarified. This retrospective study was designed to evaluate the technical safety and outcome of the patients of severe symptomatic PISSA accepted PTAS. METHODS: Between 2000 and 2019, 16 cases with 17 lesions of symptomatic and medically refractory PISSA accepted PTAS were included. We evaluated their technical success, peri-procedural complications and diffusion-weight imaging (DWI) of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), results of symptom relief, and long-term stent patency. RESULTS: The stenosis of the 17 stenotic lesions were 81.2 ± 11.1%. The most common symptom of the 16 patients was dizziness (14/16, 87.5%). All successfully accepted PTAS without neurological complication and had symptom relief after PTAS (17/17, 100%). Of the 12 patients accepted pre-procedural and early post-procedural MRI follow-up, 2 patients had an asymptomatic tiny acute embolic infarct in the territory of vertebrobasilar system. In a 51.9 ± 54.9 months follow-up, all patients had no severe restenosis and no recurrent vertebrobasilar ischemic symptoms. CONCLUSION: For patients with PISSA and medically refractory ischemic symptoms, PTAS can be an effective alternative management.

A practical biphasic contrast media injection protocol strongly enhances the aorta and pulmonary artery simultaneously using a single CT angiography scan.

BACKGROUND: Enhancement profiles of the pulmonary artery (PA) and aorta differ when using computed tomography (CT) angiography. Our aim was to determine the optimal CT protocol for a one-time CT scan that assesses both blood vessels. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 101 cases of CT angiography in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism or aortic dissection from our center between 2018 and 2020. We also retrospectively collected the data of 40 patients who underwent traditional two-time CT scans between 2015 and 2018. Patients were divided into four groups: test bolus (TB) I, TB II, bolus-tracking (BT) I, and BT II. The enhancement of the PA and aorta, and the radiation doses used in the four groups were collected. Those who underwent two-time scans were classified into the traditional PA or aorta scan groups. Data were compared between the BT and traditional groups. RESULTS: The aortic enhancement was highest in BT II (294.78 ± 64.48 HU) followed BT I (285.18 ± 64.99 HU), TB II (186.58 ± 57.53 HU), and TB I (173.62 ± 69.70 HU). The radiation dose used was lowest in BT I (11.85 ± 5.55 mSv) and BT II (9.07 ± 3.44 mSv) compared with that used in the traditional groups (20.07 ± 7.78 mSv) and accounted for half of the traditional group (45.17-59.02%). The aortic enhancement was also highest in BT II (294.78 ± 64.48 HU) followed by BT I (285.18 ± 64.99 HU) when compared with that in the traditional aorta scan group (234.95 ± 94.18 HU). CONCLUSION: Our CT protocol with a BT technique allows for a lower radiation dose and better image quality of the PA and aorta than those obtained using traditional CT scans. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04832633, retrospectively registered in April 2021 to the clinical trial registry.

Aggressive angiomyxoma: a small palpable vulvar lesion with a huge mass in the pelvis.

Aggressive angiomyxoma (AAM) is a rare soft tissue tumor typically in the pelvis and perineum in women of reproductive age, which is easily misdiagnosed. We describe a woman with vulvar AAM, initially mismanaged as a Bartholin cyst. However, a huge pelvic mass is noted on the following imaging studies. The characteristics of AAM on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging have been specified in the literature, but we further point out the potential value of sonography in diagnosing AAM. Besides, excisional biopsy may cause tumor bleeding in a case of AAM.

Using Deep-Learning-Based Artificial Intelligence Technique to Automatically Evaluate the Collateral Status of Multiphase CTA in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Collateral status is an important predictor for the outcome of acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion. Multiphase computed-tomography angiography (mCTA) is useful to evaluate the collateral status, but visual evaluation of this examination is time-consuming. This study aims to use an artificial intelligence (AI) technique to develop an automatic AI prediction model for the collateral status of mCTA. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled subjects with acute ischemic stroke receiving endovascular thrombectomy between January 2015 and June 2020 in a tertiary referral hospital. The demographic data and images of mCTA were collected. The collateral status of all mCTA was visually evaluated. Images at the basal ganglion and supraganglion levels of mCTA were selected to produce AI models using the convolutional neural network (CNN) technique to automatically predict the collateral status of mCTA. RESULTS: A total of 82 subjects were enrolled. There were 57 cases randomly selected for the training group and 25 cases for the validation group. In the training group, there were 40 cases with a positive collateral result (good or intermediate) and 17 cases with a negative collateral result (poor). In the validation group, there were 21 cases with a positive collateral result and 4 cases with a negative collateral result. During training for the CNN prediction model, the accuracy of the training group could reach 0.999 ± 0.015, whereas the prediction model had a performance of 0.746 ± 0.008 accuracy on the validation group. The area under the ROC curve was 0.7. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the application of the AI model derived from mCTA images to automatically evaluate the collateral status is feasible.

Application of Drug Testing Platforms in Circulating Tumor Cells and Validation of a Patient-Derived Xenograft Mouse Model in Patient with Primary Intracranial Ependymomas with Extraneural Metastases.

Primary intracranial ependymoma is a challenging tumor to treat despite the availability of multidisciplinary therapeutic modalities, including surgical resection, radiotherapy, and adjuvant chemotherapy. After the completion of initial treatment, when resistant tumor cells recur, salvage therapy needs to be carried out with a more precise strategy. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have specifically been detected and validated for patients with primary or recurrent diffused glioma. The CTC drug screening platform can be used to perform a mini-invasive liquid biopsy for potential drug selection. The validation of potential drugs in a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse model based on the same patient can serve as a preclinical testing platform. Here, we present the application of a drug testing model in a six-year-old girl with primary ependymoma on the posterior fossa, type A (EPN-PFA). She suffered from tumor recurrence with intracranial and spinal seeding at 2 years after her first operation and extraneural metastases in the pleura, lung, mediastinum, and distant femoral bone at 4 years after initial treatment. The CTC screening platform results showed that everolimus and entrectinib could be used to decrease CTC viability. The therapeutic efficacy of these two therapeutic agents has also been validated in a PDX mouse model from the same patient, and the results showed that these two therapeutic agents significantly decreased tumor growth. After precise drug screening and the combination of focal radiation on the femoral bone with everolimus chemotherapy, the whole-body bone scan showed significant shrinkage of the metastatic tumor on the right femoral bone. This novel approach can combine liquid biopsy, CTC drug testing platforms, and PDX model validation to achieve precision medicine in rare and challenging tumors with extraneural metastases.

Montgomery T-Tube Airway Restoration and Swallowing Rehabilitation for a Near-Hanging Female.

Patients who fail to commit suicide by hanging often end up with laryngotracheal injuries, which may lead to a compromised airway, swallowing dysfunction, and dysphonia. Previous studies have mainly focused on airway management after near-hanging attempts. Few have shed light on the treatment of swallowing dysfunction after laryngotracheal injuries. Here, we present a near-hanging patient who developed complete dysphagia shortly afterward. We used a Montgomery T-tube as an endolaryngeal stent, combined with swallowing rehabilitation. The patient's swallowing ability was gradually restored one month after the surgery, and the stent was removed six months later. The present case report exemplifies the unique way of using the Montgomery T-tubes in clinical practice. Among the patients with airway stenosis affecting the larynx and extending to the vocal cords, Montgomery T-tube may be the only stent that can help manage strictures at the level of the vocal cords and in the supraglottic region, restoring swallowing function and maintaining the airway.

Adjunctive Bright Light Therapy for Non-Seasonal Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This double-blind, randomized controlled trial assessed bright light therapy (BLT) augmentation efficacy compared with placebo light in treating non-seasonal major depressive disorder. The study participants belonged to a subtropical area (24.5°-25.5°N) with extensive daylight and included outpatients who had received stable dosages and various regimens of antidepressive agents for 4 weeks before enrollment. The outcomes were the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9, which were assessed at weeks 1, 2, and 4. A total of 43 participants (mean age 45 years, ranging from 22-81) were randomized into the BLT [n = 22] and placebo light groups [n = 21]. After a 4-week administration of morning light therapy (30 min/day), depressive symptoms did not reduce significantly, which might be due to the small sample size. Nonetheless, this study had some strengths because it was conducted in warmer climates, unlike other studies, and examined diverse Asians with depression. Our findings suggest that several factors, such as poor drug response, different antidepressive regimens, duration of BLT, and daylength variability (i.e., natural daylight in the environment) may influence the utility of add-on BLT. Researchers may consider these important factors for future non-seasonal depression studies in subtropical environments.

Subclinical alterations of resting state functional brain network for adjunctive bright light therapy in nonseasonal major depressive disorder: A double blind randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: The treatment effect of bright light therapy (BLT) on major depressive disorder (MDD) has been proven, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Neuroimaging biomarkers regarding disease alterations in MDD and treatment response are rarely focused on BLT. This study aimed to identify the modulatory mechanism of BLT in MDD using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rfMRI). Materials and methods: This double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial included a dim red light (dRL) control group and a BLT experimental group. All participants received light therapy for 30 min every morning for 4 weeks. The assessment of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-24 (HAMD-24) and brain MRI exam were performed at the baseline and the 4-week endpoint. The four networks in interest, including the default mode network (DMN), frontoparietal network (FPN), salience network (SN), and sensorimotor network (SMN), were analyzed. Between-group differences of the change in these four networks were evaluated. Results: There were 22 and 21 participants in the BLT and dRL groups, respectively. Age, sex, years of education, baseline severity, and improvement in depressive symptoms were not significantly different between the two groups. The baseline rfMRI data did not show any significant functional connectivity differences within the DMN, FPN, SN, and SMN between the two groups. Compared with the dRL group, the BTL group showed significantly increased functional connectivity after treatment within the DMN, FPN, SN, and SMN. Graph analysis of the BLT group demonstrated an enhancement of betweenness centrality and global efficiency. Conclusion: BLT can enhance intra-network functional connectivity in the DMN, FPN, SN, and SMN for MDD patients. Furthermore, BLT improves the information processing of the whole brain. Clinical trial registration: The ClinicalTrials.gov identifier was NCT03941301.

Angioplasty and stenting for symptomatic stenosis of the left subclavian artery complicated with aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: Aortic dissection is a rare but severe complication of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) for stenosis of the subclavian artery (SA). This retrospective study was designed to evaluate the risk factors and outcomes of patients with severe stenosis of the SA who underwent PTAS complicated by aortic dissection. METHODS: Between 1999 and 2018, 169 cases of severe symptomatic stenosis of the SA underwent PTAS at our institute. Of them, six cases complicated by aortic dissection were included in this study. We evaluated the demographic features, technical factors of PTAS, and clinical outcomes in these six patients. RESULTS: Aortic dissection occurred in 5.3% (6/113) of all left SA stenting cases but in none of the right SA stenting cases. All patients had hypertension and a high severity of SA stenosis (85.0 ± 13.0%, 60%-95%). Five of the six patients received balloon-expandable stents (83.3%). All patients had spontaneous resolution of the aortic dissection with conservative treatment. In a 63.33 ± 33.07 (7-118) month follow-up, five of the six patients (83.3%) had long-term symptom relief and stent patency. CONCLUSION: Aortic dissection occurred in patients who underwent PTAS for severe stenosis of the left SA, mainly with balloon-expandable stents. We suggest using self-expandable stents and angioplasty with an undersized balloon during PTAS for severe stenosis of the left proximal SA to prevent aortic dissection.

Mesenteric lymphadenopathy is a key to diagnosis of radiologically challenging pulmonary lymphoma.

Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (EMZBL), previously known as mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, is the most common type of marginal zone B-cell lymphomas. Primary pulmonary lymphomas only constitute 0.5% of primary lung cancer, but 90% of these are EMZBLs. Primary pulmonary lymphomas share similar imaging features with secondary pulmonary lymphomas. Imaging diagnosis is challenging because many benign and other malignant lung lesions can display similar features. Here, we demonstrate a 70-year-old male case with lung tumors and only mesenteric lymphadenopathy, which was eventually diagnosed as advanced pulmonary EMZBL with involvement of the mesenteric lymph nodes and bone marrow. Pulmonary masses have a wide differential diagnosis, but concurrent isolated mesenteric lymphadenopathy might be a radiological clue to pulmonary lymphoma. KEY POINTS: Concurrent isolated mesenteric lymphadenopathy might be a radiological clue to pulmonary lymphoma. For nonspecific lung tumors, additional abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan might be helpful for diagnosis of possible lymphoma.

Building a model to precisely target the responders of a novel intermittent negative air pressure device-with mechanism definition.

OBJECTIVE: Due to the complexity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), engaging patients in the right treatment poses a constant challenge. A novel oral pressure therapy device, the intermittent negative air pressure Sleep Therapy System (iNAP), has proven to ameliorate respiratory events for OSAS patients. However, the mode of action and the characteristics of its responders are not yet fully understood. Therefore, we have first disclosed the mechanism and provided systemic models to predict the treatment response. METHODS: Series of imaging studies were carried out to differentiate the anatomical features of iNAP responders versus non-responders. Compatible electroencephalography was used to evaluate sleep status during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessments. RESULTS: The upper airway volume was statistically widened under the iNAP treatment while patients were naturally asleep (p < 0.05). Negative predictors included several parameters related to oral-tissue redundancy, enlarged middle pharyngeal space, and longer distance of hyoidale to mandibular plane. Positive predictors included larger angulation of sella-articulate-gonion, longer distance of anterior nasal spine to posterior nasal spine, and elongated tongue, which could correspond to the fact that the iNAP had a greater ability to widen the retropalatal region. Furthermore, algorithms developed by these predictors were built to predict treatment response. CONCLUSIONS: We were able to confirm the effect of the iNAP in widening the upper airway. Anatomic features that can be visually observed or obtained through X-ray films, accompanied with the resulting algorithms, were provided to facilitate physicians' ability to predict patients' treatment response to the iNAP with greater sensitivity and efficiency.

Oblique views of chest radiography from a designed rotation angle recommendation increase the contrast ratio between obscured lesions and surrounding structures.

BACKGROUND: Chest radiography (CXR) is the main tool used to detect pulmonary nodules. Lateral views of CXR are less effective and the aim of our study was to develop a rotation angle recommendation model to obtain the best oblique CXR with significantly increased contrast between lesions and surrounding normal structures in order to enhance the detection rate for potential obscured lesions on traditional posterior and anterior (PA) CXR. METHODS: A total of 140 subjects receiving low-dose lung computed tomography (CT) screening were enrolled from the health check-up database. An additional 14 cases with lung lesions on chest CT were included. Demography was also reviewed. Gross, left and right cardiothoracic ratios (CTR) were measured. All CT images were transformed to CXR to detect the best rotation angles and produce different views of CXR. Contrast ratio was calculated in the transformed CXR from CT with lesions. Comparison of contrast ratio among oblique, posterior-anterior and lateral views was performed. RESULTS: CXR shows smaller gross CTR and left CTR but larger heart width and thoracic width in men than in women. Correlation evaluation displays gross CTR, heart width and left CTR are positively correlated with age only for the women group. The most important factor for the best rotation angle is right CTR for left rotation angle and left CTR for right rotation angle. The contrast ratio of the lesion to surrounding structures is significantly better on the oblique views in the designed angles than that on the traditional views. CONCLUSION: CXR oblique views in the assigned angle from the 10-degree rotation angle recommendation are able to enhance contrast ratio between the possible obscured lesions and surrounding structures on CXR.

A quantitative image analysis using MRI for diagnosis of biliary atresia.

PURPOSE: Biliary atresia is a life-threatening disease that needs early diagnosis and management. Recently, MRI images have been used for the diagnosis of biliary atresia with improved accuracy of diagnosis when other imaging modalities such as ultrasonography are equivocal. This study aimed to evaluate the juxta-hilar extrahepatic biliary tree using MRI images to determine a quantitative value for diagnosing biliary atresia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was approved by the Ethical Committee at Mackey Memorial Hospital (IRB Number: 15MMHIS149e). Between January 2010 and December 2015, twenty-five patients with surgically confirmed biliary atresia were enrolled (age 18-65 days). Another 25 patients with clinically or surgically diagnosed idiopathic neonatal hepatitis (age 6-64 days) and 20 patients with non-hepatobiliary disease (age 6-65 days) were considered control group and normal subjects, respectively. The diameter of the enlarged, T2-hyperintense structure was measured using MRI images by two radiologists both blinded. The cut-off value for a biliary atresia diagnosis was obtained by area under the curve analysis. RESULTS: The diameter of the T2-hyperintense structure at porta hepatis in biliary atresia (4.79 ±â€¯1.14 mm) is larger than in idiopathic neonatal hepatitis (1.72 ±â€¯0.42 mm) or in non-hepatobiliary disease (1.72 ±â€¯0.35 mm) (p < 0.05). The optimum cut-off value for diagnosing biliary atresia was 3.1 mm with 98% sensitivity and 98% specificity. CONCLUSION: The value of the enlarged, T2-hyperintense structure measured on MRI images was significantly increased in biliary atresia and may be useful in diagnosing biliary atresia.

The Combination of Functional and Structural MRI Is a Potential Screening Tool in Alzheimer's Disease.

Introduction: This study aimed to survey the discrimination power of parameters from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, fluorodeoxyglucose uptake on PET (FDG-PET), structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and functional MRI in high- and low-risk subjects or in converters and stable subjects of normal and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) statuses. Methods: We used baseline resting-state functional MRI (rfMRI) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset to analyze functional networks and recorded subjects' characteristics and results of the CSF study, FDG-PET, and structural MRI from the ADNI website. All parameters were evaluated based on the between-group difference among normal (NC), MCI, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) groups. The parameters other than CSF results were included to study the difference between high- and low-AD-risk subjects in NC or MCI groups, based on CSF results. On the basis of two-year follow-up conditions, all parameters were compared between stable subjects and converters in NC and MCI. Results: CSF biomarkers, FDG-PET, structural MRI, and functional MRI are all able to differentiate AD from MCI or NC but not between MCI and NC. As compared with low-AD-risk subjects, high-risk subjects present decreased FDG-PET in both MCI and NC groups but structural MRI change only in MCI status and rfMRI alteration only in NC status. As compared with stable subjects, converters have decreased FDG-PET, functional network changes, and structural changes in both MCI and NC groups. Conclusion: The combination of functional and structural MRI is a safer screening tool but with similar power as FDG-PET to reflect CSF change in the AD pathological process and to identify high-risk subjects and converters in NC and MCI.

Multiplanar reconstruction technique for difficult computed tomography-guided lung biopsy: Improved accuracy and safety.

We assessed the value of the multiplanar reconstruction technique (MRT) for computed tomography-guided lung biopsy. We evaluated 72 difficult biopsy cases (traditional method = 44; MRT = 28) to compare patient and lesion characteristics, diagnostic accuracy, complications, radiation dose, and procedure duration. Diagnostic accuracy was significantly higher using MRT than the traditional method (100% vs. 84.1%, respectively; P = 0.038). There were no severe complications in the MRT group, but one case each of severe pneumothorax and fatal hemothorax in the traditional method group. The dose-length product rate was lower and the procedure duration slightly higher in the MRT than in the traditional group (336.83 vs. 479.64 and 33.39 vs. 25.93 minutes, respectively). MRT using computed tomography-guided lung biopsy could improve diagnostic accuracy and avoid severe complications compared to the traditional method.