Deciphering the Role of Trehalose in Chroococcidiopsis sp. 029's High-Desiccation Resistance: Sequence Determination, Structural Modelling and Simulative Analysis of the 30S Ribosomal Subunit.

Desert strains of the genus Chroococcidiopsis are among the most desiccation-resistant cyanobacteria capable of anhydrobiosis. The accumulation of two sugars, sucrose and trehalose, facilitates the entrance of anhydrobiotes into a reversible state of dormancy by stabilizing cellular components upon water removal. This study aimed to evaluate, at the atomistic level, the role of trehalose in desiccation resistance by using as a model system the 30S ribosomal subunit of the desert cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis sp. 029. Molecular dynamic simulations provided atomistic evidence regarding its protective role on the 30S molecular structure. Trehalose forms an enveloping shell around the ribosomal subunit and stabilizes the structures through a network of direct interactions. The simulation confirmed that trehalose actively interacts with the 30S ribosomal subunit and that, by replacing water molecules, it ensures ribosomal structural integrity during desiccation, thus enabling protein synthesis to be carried out upon rehydration.

circPVT1 and PVT1/AKT3 show a role in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and tumor subtype-definition in small cell lung cancer.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is treated as a homogeneous disease, although the expression of NEUROD1, ASCL1, POU2F3, and YAP1 identifies distinct molecular subtypes. The MYC oncogene, amplified in SCLC, was recently shown to act as a lineage-specific factor to associate subtypes with histological classes. Indeed, MYC-driven SCLCs show a distinct metabolic profile and drug sensitivity. To disentangle their molecular features, we focused on the co-amplified PVT1, frequently overexpressed and originating circular (circRNA) and chimeric RNAs. We analyzed hsa_circ_0001821 (circPVT1) and PVT1/AKT3 (chimPVT1) as examples of such transcripts, respectively, to unveil their tumorigenic contribution to SCLC. In detail, circPVT1 activated a pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic program when over-expressed in lung cells, and knockdown of chimPVT1 induced a decrease in cell growth and an increase of apoptosis in SCLC in vitro. Moreover, the investigated PVT1 transcripts underlined a functional connection between MYC and YAP1/POU2F3, suggesting that they contribute to the transcriptional landscape associated with MYC amplification. In conclusion, we have uncovered a functional role of circular and chimeric PVT1 transcripts in SCLC; these entities may prove useful as novel biomarkers in MYC-amplified tumors.

CT-guided Pulsed Radiofrequency Combined with Steroid Injection for Sciatica from Herniated Disk: A Randomized Trial.

Background Evidence regarding effective nonsurgical management of sciatica remains limited. Purpose To determine a difference in effectiveness between combined pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) and transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) treatment versus TFESI alone for sciatic pain due to lumbar disk herniation. Materials and Methods This prospective multicenter double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted between February 2017 and September 2019 in participants with sciatica due to lumbar disk herniation lasting 12 weeks or longer that was not responsive to conservative treatment. Study participants were randomly assigned to undergo one CT-guided treatment with combined PRF and TFESI (n = 174) or TFESI alone (n = 177). The primary outcome was leg pain severity, as assessed with the numeric rating scale (NRS) (range, 0-10) at weeks 1 and 52 after treatment. Secondary outcomes included Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) score (range, 0-24) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score (range, 0-100). Outcomes were analyzed according to the intention-to-treat principle via linear regression. Results Mean age of the 351 participants (223 men) was 55 years ± 16 (SD). At baseline, NRS was 8.1 ± 1.1 in the PRF and TFESI group and 7.9 ± 1.1 in the TFESI group. NRS was 3.2 ± 0.2 in the PRF and TFESI group and 5.4 ± 0.2 in the TFESI group (average treatment effect, 2.3; 95% CI: 1.9, 2.8; P < .001) at week 1 and 1.0 ± 0.2 and 3.9 ± 0.2 (average treatment effect, 3.0; 95% CI: 2.4, 3.5; P < .001), respectively, at week 52. At week 52, the average treatment effect was 11.0 (95% CI: 6.4, 15.6; P < .001) for ODI and 2.9 (95% CI: 1.6, 4.3; P < .001) for RMDQ, favoring the combined PRF and TFSEI group. Adverse events were reported in 6% (10 of 167) of participants in the PRF and TFESI group and in 3% (six of 176) of participants in the TFESI group (eight participants did not complete follow-up questionnaires). No severe adverse events occurred. Conclusion In the treatment of sciatica caused by lumbar disk herniation, pulsed radiofrequency combined with transforaminal epidural steroid injection is more effective for pain relief and disability improvement than steroid injection alone. © RSNA, 2023 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Jennings in this issue.

Focused Ultrasound and External Beam Radiation Therapy for Painful Bone Metastases: A Phase II Clinical Trial.

Background Recent consensus statements and clinical trials have assessed the value of MRI-guided focused ultrasound surgery for pain palliation of bone metastases; however, a comparison with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) has not been performed. Purpose To compare safety and effectiveness data of MRI-guided focused ultrasound and EBRT in the treatment of bone metastases. Materials and Methods Participants with painful bone metastases, excluding skull and vertebral bodies, were enrolled in a prospective open-label nonrandomized phase II study between January 2017 and May 2019 and underwent either MRI-guided focused ultrasound or EBRT. The primary end point was the overall response rate at 1-month following treatment, assessed via the numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain (0-10 scale, with zero meaning "no pain" and 10 meaning "the worst pain imaginable"). Secondary end points were improvements at 12-month follow-up in NRS and quality of life (QoL) measures, including the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), QoL-Questionnaire Cancer-15 Palliative Care (QLQ-C15-PAL), and QoL-Questionnaire Bone Metastases-22 (QLQ-BM22) and analysis of adverse events. Statistical analyses, including linear regression, χ2 test, and Student t test followed the per-protocol principle. Results Among 198 participants, 100 underwent MRI-guided focused ultrasound (mean age, 63 years ± 13 [SD]; 51 women), and 98 underwent EBRT (mean age, 65 years ± 14; 52 women). The overall response rates at 1-month follow-up were 91% (91 of 100) and 67% (66 of 98), respectively, in the focused ultrasound and EBRT arms (P < .001), and complete response rates were 43% (43 of 100) and 16% (16 of 98) (P < .001). The mean baseline NRS score was 7.0 ± 2.1 for focused ultrasound and 6.6 ± 2.4 for EBRT (P = .16); at 1-month follow-up, they were reduced to 3.2 ± 0.3 and 5.1 ± 0.3 (P < .001), respectively. QLQ-C15-PAL for physical function (P = .002), appetite (P < .001), nausea and vomiting (P < .001), dyspnea (P < .001), and QoL (P < .001) scores were lower in the focused ultrasound group. The overall adverse event rates were 15% (15 of 100) after focused ultrasound and 24% (24 of 98) after EBRT. Conclusion MRI-guided focused ultrasound surgery and external beam radiation therapy showed similar improvements in pain palliation and quality of life, with low adverse event rates. © RSNA, 2023 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Kelekis in this issue.

Multi-center validation of an artificial intelligence system for detection of COVID-19 on chest radiographs in symptomatic patients.

OBJECTIVES: While chest radiograph (CXR) is the first-line imaging investigation in patients with respiratory symptoms, differentiating COVID-19 from other respiratory infections on CXR remains challenging. We developed and validated an AI system for COVID-19 detection on presenting CXR. METHODS: A deep learning model (RadGenX), trained on 168,850 CXRs, was validated on a large international test set of presenting CXRs of symptomatic patients from 9 study sites (US, Italy, and Hong Kong SAR) and 2 public datasets from the US and Europe. Performance was measured by area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC). Bootstrapped simulations were performed to assess performance across a range of potential COVID-19 disease prevalence values (3.33 to 33.3%). Comparison against international radiologists was performed on an independent test set of 852 cases. RESULTS: RadGenX achieved an AUC of 0.89 on 4-fold cross-validation and an AUC of 0.79 (95%CI 0.78-0.80) on an independent test cohort of 5,894 patients. Delong's test showed statistical differences in model performance across patients from different regions (p < 0.01), disease severity (p < 0.001), gender (p < 0.001), and age (p = 0.03). Prevalence simulations showed the negative predictive value increases from 86.1% at 33.3% prevalence, to greater than 98.5% at any prevalence below 4.5%. Compared with radiologists, McNemar's test showed the model has higher sensitivity (p < 0.001) but lower specificity (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: An AI model that predicts COVID-19 infection on CXR in symptomatic patients was validated on a large international cohort providing valuable context on testing and performance expectations for AI systems that perform COVID-19 prediction on CXR. KEY POINTS: • An AI model developed using CXRs to detect COVID-19 was validated in a large multi-center cohort of 5,894 patients from 9 prospectively recruited sites and 2 public datasets. • Differences in AI model performance were seen across region, disease severity, gender, and age. • Prevalence simulations on the international test set demonstrate the model's NPV is greater than 98.5% at any prevalence below 4.5%.

Musculoskeletal oncology and thermal ablation: the current and emerging role of interventional radiology.

The role of interventional radiology (IR) is expanding. With new techniques being developed and tested, this radiology subspecialty is taking a step forward in different clinical scenarios, especially in oncology. Musculoskeletal tumoral diseases would definitely benefit from a low-invasive approach that could reduce mortality and morbidity in particular. Thermal ablation through IR has already become important in the palliation and consolidation of bone metastases, oligometastatic disease, local recurrences, and treating specific benign tumors, with a more tailored approach, considering the characteristics of every patient. As image-guided ablation techniques lower their invasiveness and increase their efficacy while the collateral effects and complications decrease, they become more relevant and need to be considered in patient care pathways and clinical management, to improve outcomes. We present a literature review of the different percutaneous and non-invasive image-guided thermal ablation methods that are currently available and that could in the future become relevant to manage musculoskeletal oncologic diseases.

The NuroSleeve, a user-centered 3D printed hybrid orthosis for individuals with upper extremity impairment.

BACKGROUND: Active upper extremity (UE) assistive devices have the potential to restore independent functional movement in individuals with UE impairment due to neuromuscular diseases or injury-induced chronic weakness. Academically fabricated UE assistive devices are not usually optimized for activities of daily living (ADLs), whereas commercially available alternatives tend to lack flexibility in control and activation methods. Both options are typically difficult to don and doff and may be uncomfortable for extensive daily use due to their lack of personalization. To overcome these limitations, we have designed, developed, and clinically evaluated the NuroSleeve, an innovative user-centered UE hybrid orthosis. METHODS: This study introduces the design, implementation, and clinical evaluation of the NuroSleeve, a user-centered hybrid device that incorporates a lightweight, easy to don and doff 3D-printed motorized UE orthosis and a functional electrical stimulation (FES) component. Our primary goals are to develop a customized hybrid device that individuals with UE neuromuscular impairment can use to perform ADLs and to evaluate the benefits of incorporating the device into occupational therapy sessions. The trial is designed as a prospective, open-label, single-cohort feasibility study of eight-week sessions combined with at-home use of the device and implements an iterative device design process where feedback from participants and therapists informs design improvement cycles. RESULTS: All participants learned how to independently don, doff, and use the NuroSleeve in ADLs, both in clinical therapy and in their home environments. All participants showed improvements in their Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), which was the primary clinical trial outcome measure. Furthermore, participants and therapists provided valuable feedback to guide further development. CONCLUSIONS: Our results from non-clinical testing and clinical evaluation demonstrate that the NuroSleeve has met feasibility and safety goals and effectively improved independent voluntary function during ADLs. The study's encouraging preliminary findings indicate that the NuroSleeve has met its technical and clinical objectives while improving upon the limitations of the existing UE orthoses owing to its personalized and flexible approach to hardware and firmware design. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04798378, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04798378 , date of registration: March 15, 2021.

Musculoskeletal Oncologic Interventions: Proceedings from the Society of Interventional Radiology and Society of Interventional Oncology Research Consensus Panel.

Musculoskeletal interventions are increasingly used with palliative and curative intent in the multidisciplinary treatment of oncology patients with bone and soft-tissue tumors. There is an unmet need for high-quality evidence to guide broader application and adoption of minimally invasive interventional technologies to treat these patients. Therefore, the Society of Interventional Radiology Foundation and the Society of Interventional Oncology collaborated to convene a research consensus panel to prioritize a research agenda addressing the gaps in the current evidence. This article summarizes the panel's proceedings and recommendations for future basic science and clinical investigation to chart the course for interventional oncology within the musculoskeletal system. Key questions that emerged addressed the effectiveness of ablation within specific patient populations, the effect of combination of ablation with radiotherapy and/or immunotherapy, and the potential of standardization of techniques, including modeling and monitoring, to improve the consistency and predictability of treatment outcomes.

CT texture-based radiomics analysis of carotid arteries identifies vulnerable patients: a preliminary outcome study.

PURPOSE: To assess the potential role of computed tomography (CT) texture analysis (CTTA) in identifying vulnerable patients with carotid artery atherosclerosis. METHODS: In this case-control pilot study, 12 patients with carotid atherosclerosis and a subsequent history of transient ischemic attack or stroke were age and sex matched with 12 control cases with asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis (follow-up time 103.58 ± 9.2 months). CTTA was performed using a commercially available research software package (TexRAD) by an operator blinded to clinical data. CTTA comprised a filtration-histogram technique to extract features at different scales corresponding to spatial scale filter (fine = 2 mm, medium = 3 mm, coarse = 4 mm), followed by quantification using histogram-based statistical parameters: mean, kurtosis, skewness, entropy, standard deviation, and mean value of positive pixels. A single axial slice was selected to best represent the largest cross-section of the carotid bifurcation or the greatest degree of stenosis, in presence of an atherosclerotic plaque, on each side. RESULTS: CTTA revealed a statistically significant difference in skewness between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients at the medium (0.22 ± 0.35 vs - 0.18 ± 0.39, p < 0.001) and coarse (0.23 ± 0.22 vs 0.03 ± 0.29, p = 0.003) texture scales. At the fine-texture scale, skewness (0.20 ± 0.59 vs - 0.18 ± 0.58, p = 0.009) and standard deviation (366.11 ± 117.19 vs 300.37 ± 82.51, p = 0.03) were significant before correction. CONCLUSION: Our pilot study highlights the potential of CTTA to identify vulnerable patients in stroke and TIA. CT texture may have the potential to act as a novel risk stratification tool in patients with carotid atherosclerosis.

Intraoperative imaging findings in transcranial MR imaging-guided focused ultrasound treatment at 1.5T may accurately detect typical lesional findings correlated with sonication parameters.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the intraoperative neuroimaging findings in patients treated with transcranial MR-guided focused ultrasound (tcMRgFUS) thalamotomy using 1.5T equipment in comparison with the 48-h follow-up. METHODS: Fifty prospectively enrolled patients undergoing unilateral tcMRgFUS thalamotomy for either medication-refractory essential tremor (n = 39) or Parkinson tremor (n = 11) were included. Two radiologists evaluated the presence and size of concentric lesional zones (zone I, zone II, and zone III) on 2D T2-weighted sequences acquired intraoperatively after the last high-energy sonication and at 48 h. Sonication parameters including number of sonications, delivered energy, and treatment temperatures were also recorded. Differences in lesion pattern and size were assessed using the McNemar test and paired t test, respectively. RESULTS: Zones I, II, and III were visualized in 34 (68%), 50 (100%), and 44 (88%) patients, and 31 (62%), 50 (100%), and 45 (90%) patients after the last high-energy sonication for R1 and R2, respectively. All three concentric zones were visualized intraoperatively in 56-58% of cases. Zone I was significantly more commonly visualized at 48 h (p < 0.001). Diameter of zones I and II and the thickness of zone III significantly increased at 48 h (p < 0.001). Diameters of zones I and II measured intraoperatively demonstrated significant correlation with thermal map temperatures (p ≤ 0.001). Maximum temperature significantly correlated with zone III thickness at 48 h. A threshold of 60.5° had a sensitivity of 56.5-66.7% and a specificity of 70.5-75.5% for thickness > 6 mm at 48 h. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative imaging may accurately detect typical lesional findings, before completing the treatment. These imaging characteristics significantly correlate with sonication parameters and 48-h follow-up. KEY POINTS: • Intraoperative T2-weighted images allow the visualization of the zone I (coagulation necrosis) in most of the treated patients, while zone II (cytotoxic edema) is always detected. • Lesion size depicted with intraoperative transcranial MRgFUS imaging correlates well with procedure parameters. • Intraoperative transcranial MRgFUS imaging may have a significant added value for treating physicians.

Gender-specific association of body composition with inflammatory and adipose-related markers in healthy elderly Europeans from the NU-AGE study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this work was to examine the cross-sectional relationship between body composition (BC) markers for adipose and lean tissue and bone mass, and a wide range of specific inflammatory and adipose-related markers in healthy elderly Europeans. METHODS: A whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan was made in 1121 healthy (65-79 years) women and men from five European countries of the "New dietary strategies addressing the specific needs of elderly population for a healthy aging in Europe" project (NCT01754012) cohort to measure markers of adipose and lean tissue and bone mass. Pro-inflammatory (IL-6, IL-6Rα, TNF-α, TNF-R1, TNF-R2, pentraxin 3, CRP, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein, albumin) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10, TGF-ß1) molecules as well as adipose-related markers such as leptin, adiponectin, ghrelin, and resistin were measured by magnetic bead-based multiplex-specific immunoassays and biochemical assays. RESULTS: BC characteristics were different in elderly women and men, and more favorable BC markers were associated with a better adipose-related inflammatory profile, with the exception of skeletal muscle mass index. No correlation was found with the body composition markers and circulating levels of some standard pro- and anti-inflammatory markers like IL-6, pentraxin 3, IL-10, TGF-ß1, TNF-α, IL-6Rα, glycoprotein 130, TNF-α-R1, and TNF-α-R2. CONCLUSIONS: The association between BC and inflammatory and adipose-related biomarkers is crucial in decoding aging and pathophysiological processes, such as sarcopenia. DXA can help in understanding how the measurement of fat and muscle is important, making the way from research to clinical practice. KEY POINTS: • Body composition markers concordantly associated positively or negatively with adipose-related and inflammatory markers, with the exception of skeletal muscle mass index. • No correlation was found with the body composition markers and circulating levels of some standard pro- and anti-inflammatory markers like IL-6, pentraxin 3, IL-10, TGF-ß1, TNF-α, IL-6Rα, gp130, TNF-α-R1, and TNF-α-R2. • Skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) shows a good correlation with inflammatory profile in age-related sarcopenia.

Magnetic-resonance-guided focused ultrasound treatment of non-spinal osteoid osteoma in children: multicentre experience.

BACKGROUND: Osteoid osteoma is a benign and painful musculoskeletal tumour that usually affects children. Current standard treatment is CT-guided radiofrequency ablation, a minimally invasive percutaneous procedure, with clinical success rates ranging between 85% and 98%. Though minimally invasive, however, this type of procedure is not free from complications. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of magnetic resonance (MR)-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS), a needleless procedure of thermal ablation employed in the treatment of non-spinal osteoid osteoma in paediatric patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report the results of 33 procedures of ablation of osteoid osteoma performed with MRgFUS in three university hospitals. To ablate a lesion on the bone surface, MRgFUS employs the ultrasound energy transduced along the soft tissue. The follow-up studies lasted 24 months and were performed combining clinical and imaging data. RESULTS: Mean age of the children was 13.8 years. The clinical outcome showed a primary success of 97%. One case alone was submitted to repeat treatment because the first one failed (secondary success). No major or minor complications were recorded. During the investigation time, no relapse of symptomatology or delayed complications were observed. CONCLUSION: Although our study is preliminary and limited by a low number of patients, our data show that MRgFUS is effective. This suggests that it might be useful as the first-line treatment in paediatric patients with osteoid osteoma.

Percutaneous management of bone metastases: state of the art, interventional strategies and joint position statement of the Italian College of MSK Radiology (ICoMSKR) and the Italian College of Interventional Radiology (ICIR).

Interventional radiology provides local management of bone metastases (BM) with a palliative intent in most cases, or with a curative intent in selected patients. Its role has rapidly expanded in the last decade, offering new treatment solutions often in combination with surgery, radiation therapy and medical treatments. The aim of the present paper is to increase awareness, acceptance and adoption of interventional radiology procedures for the treatment of BM; and to present the joint position of the Italian College of Musculoskeletal Radiology and the Italian College of Interventional Radiology.

Validity of an Automated Balance Error Scoring System.

The Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) is a human-scored, field-based balance test used in cases of suspected concussion. Recently developed instrumented alternatives to human scoring carry substantial advantages over traditional testing, but thus far report relatively abstract outcomes which may not be useful to clinicians or coaches. In contrast, the Automated Assessment of Postural Stability (AAPS) is a computerized system that tabulates error events in accordance with the original description of the BESS. This study compared AAPS and human-based BESS scores. Twenty-five healthy adults performed the modified BESS. Tests were scored twice each by human raters (3) and the computerized system. Interrater (between-human) and inter-method (AAPS vs. human) agreement (ICC(2,1)) were calculated alongside Bland-Altman limits of agreement (LOA). Interrater analyses were significant (p<0.005) and demonstrated good to excellent agreement. Inter-method agreement analyses were significant (p<0.005), with agreement ranging from poor to excellent. Computerized scores were equivalent across rating occasions. LOA ranges for AAPS vs. the Human Average exceeded the average LOA ranges between human raters. Coaches and clinicians may consider a system such as AAPS to automate balance testing while maintaining the familiarity of human-based scoring, although scores should not yet be considered interchangeable with those of a human rater.

MRI-guided treatment in the breast.

In the last decades, an increasing interest has developed towards non-invasive breast lesion treatments, which offer advantages such as the lack of surgery-related complications, better cosmetic outcomes, and less psychological distress. In addition, these treatments could be an option for patients with poor health who are not candidates for surgery. Non-surgical ablation can be performed under magnetic resonance (MR) or ultrasound (US) guidance. US is cheaper and easily available, while contrast-enhanced MR is more accurate, ensuring better safety and efficacy for the patient. Overall results of studies about MRI-guided tumor ablation reported complete ablation rates ranging between 20% and 100%. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU or FUS) is the most studied ablative technique and it is already established as a valid technique for ablation of benign and malignant tumors in various organs. Ultrasound-guided FUS is very useful for young patients who refuse surgery or with multiple nodules; however, MR-guided FUS is more sensitive and allows a better evaluation of thermal accumulation within the ablated tissue or the adjacent structures. Most MR-guided FUS studies used a dedicated high-field MR scanner and complete tumor ablation was reported in 17-90% of cases. Other techniques using thermal tissue destruction are radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT). Only a few studies assessed the efficacy of these treatments, all were performed with open MR devices. RFA showed complete tumor ablation in 30-96% of patients, while LITT in 10-71%, but all the studies had a small number of patients. Cryoablation obtains tissue ablation by a rapid decrease of temperature, with a complete tumor removal reported in 18-52% of cases with MR guidance. No serious complications were reported with these techniques. Currently, breast conservative surgery replaced radical surgery when possible. Therefore, future research should focus on these treatments to shift towards an even less invasive approach to breast neoplasms. Level of Evidence: 5 Technical Efficacy: Stage 5 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;48:1479-1488.

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Pain Management in Patients with Cancer.

Cancer-related pain affects up to 80% of patients with malignancies. Pain is an important distressing symptom that diminishes the quality of life and negatively affects the survival of patients. Opioid analgesics are generally the primary therapy for cancer-related pain, with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and other interventions used in cases of treatment-resistant pain. These treatments, which can be associated with substantial side effects and systemic toxicity, may not be effective. High-intensity focused ultrasound is an entirely noninvasive technique that is approved for treatment of uterine fibroids, bone metastases, and essential tremors. With magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasonographic guidance, high-intensity ultrasound waves are focused on a small well-demarcated region to result in precise localized ablation. This treatment may represent a multimodality approach to treating patients with malignant diseases-facilitating pain palliation, enhanced local drug delivery and radiation therapy effects, and stimulation of anticancer specific immune responses, and potentially facilitating local tumor control. Focused ultrasound can be used to achieve pain palliation by producing several effects, including tissue denervation, tumor mass reduction, and neuromodulation, that can influence different pathways at the origin of the pain. This technology has several key advantages compared with other analgesic therapies: It is completely noninvasive, might be used to achieve rapid pain control, can be safely repeated, and can be used in combination with chemotherapy and radiation therapy to enhance their effects. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ©RSNA, 2018.

Preliminary experience with a transcranial magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery system integrated with a 1.5-T MRI unit in a series of patients with essential tremor and Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE Transcranial magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (tcMRgFUS) is one of the emerging noninvasive technologies for the treatment of neurological disorders such as essential tremor (ET), idiopathic asymmetrical tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease (PD), and neuropathic pain. In this clinical series the authors present the preliminary results achieved with the world's first tcMRgFUS system integrated with a 1.5-T MRI unit. METHODS The authors describe the results of tcMRgFUS in a sample of patients with ET and with PD who underwent the procedure during the period from January 2015 to September 2017. A monolateral ventralis intermedius nucleus (VIM) thalamic ablation was performed in both ET and PD patients. In all the tcMRgFUS treatments, a 1.5-T MRI scanner was used for both planning and monitoring the procedure. RESULTS During the study period, a total of 26 patients underwent tcMRgFUS thalamic ablation for different movement disorders. Among these patients, 18 were diagnosed with ET and 4 were affected by PD. All patients with PD were treated using tcMRgFUS thalamic ablation and all completed the procedure. Among the 18 patients with ET, 13 successfully underwent tcMRgFUS, 4 aborted the procedure during ultrasound delivery, and 1 did not undergo the tcMRgFUS procedure after stereotactic frame placement. Two patients with ET were not included in the results because of the short follow-up duration at the time of this study. A monolateral VIM thalamic ablation in both ET and PD patients was performed. All the enrolled patients were evaluated before the treatment and 2 days after, with a clinical control of the treatment effectiveness using the graphic items of the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin tremor rating scale. A global reevaluation was performed 3 months (17/22 patients) and 6 months (11/22 patients) after the treatment; the reevaluation consisted of clinical questionnaires, neurological tests, and video recordings of the tests. All the ET and PD treated patients who completed the procedure showed an immediate amelioration of tremor severity, with no intra- or posttreatment severe permanent side effects. CONCLUSIONS Although this study reports on a small number of patients with a short follow-up duration, the tcMRgFUS procedure using a 1.5-T MRI unit resulted in a safe and effective treatment option for motor symptoms in patients with ET and PD. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first clinical series in which thalamotomy was performed using tcMRgFUS integrated with a 1.5-T magnet.

Analysis of CT features and quantitative texture analysis in patients with thymic tumors: correlation with grading and staging.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate potential relationship between qualitative CT features, quantitative texture analysis (QTA), histology, WHO staging, Masaoka classification and myasthenic syndrome in patients with thymic tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients affected by histologically proven thymic tumors were retrospectively included in the study population. Clinical information, with special regard to myasthenic syndrome and serological positivity of anti-AchR antibodies, were recorded. Qualitative CT evaluation included the following parameters: (a) location; (b) tumor edges; (c) necrosis; (d) pleural effusion; (e) metastases; (f) chest wall infiltration; (g) tumor margins. QTA included evaluation of "Mean" (M), "Standard Deviation" (SD), "Kurtosis" (K), "Skewness" (S), "Entropy" (E), "Shape from Texture" (TX_sigma) and "average of positive pixels" (MPP). Pearson-Rho test was used to evaluate the relationship of continuous non-dichotomic parameters, whereas Mann-Whitney test was used for dichotomic parameters. RESULTS: Histological evaluation demonstrated thymoma in 12 cases and thymic carcinoma in 4 cases. Tumor necrosis was significantly correlated with QTA Mean (p = 0.0253), MPP (p = 0.0417), S (p = 0.0488) and K (p = 0.0178). WHO staging was correlated with Mean (p = 0.0193), SD (p = 0.0191) and MPP (p = 0.0195). Masaoka classification was correlated with Mean (p = 0.0322), MPP (p = 0.0315), skewness (p = 0.0433) and Kurtosis (p = 0.0083). Myasthenic syndrome was significantly associated with Mean (p = 0.0211) and MPP (p = 0.0261), whereas tumor size was correlated with Mean (p = 0.0241), entropy (p = 0.0177), MPP (p = 0.0468), skewness (p = 0.009) and Kurtosis (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates significant relationship between radiomics parameters, histology, grading and clinical manifestations of thymic tumors.

Noninvasive Therapy for Osteoid Osteoma: A Prospective Developmental Study with MR Imaging-guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound.

Purpose To demonstrate that magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a safe, effective, and durable treatment option for the management of osteoid osteoma in children and young adults. Materials and Methods This prospective study was institutional review board approved and is registered with clinicaltrials.gov (identification number NCT02302651). Written informed consent was obtained from patients or their parents. Patients who had both clinical and radiologic findings that were diagnostic for nonvertebral osteoid osteoma and no contraindications to MR imaging-guided HIFU were enrolled between June 2010 and June 2013. The feasibility, safety, and clinical effectiveness of MR imaging-guided HIFU were considered primary outcomes; tumor control at imaging was considered a secondary outcome. Analyses were conducted on a per-protocol basis. Results Forty-five of the 50 recruited patients underwent MR imaging-guided HIFU. All patients were discharged without treatment-related complications. The median visual analog scale (VAS) pain score (scale, 0-10) decreased from 8 before treatment to 0 at 1-week and 1- , 6- , 12- , 24- , and 36-month follow-up. Similarly, median VAS scores for the degree to which pain interfered with sleep and physical and daily activities decreased to 0 within the 1st month after treatment and remained stable at subsequent follow-up. Overall, 39 (87%) of the 45 patients achieved and maintained a VAS score of 0 during the 3-year observation period. Quality of life, as assessed by using Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Pain (FACT-BP) scores (scale, 0-60 points), improved, with the median FACT-BP score of 28 (points) before treatment increasing to a median score of 55 at 1-week follow-up and 60 at 6-month and subsequent follow-ups. At (final) 36-month follow-up, MR imaging depicted an absence of residual nidus vascularity in 32 (76%) of the 42 patients who were treated with MR imaging-guided HIFU only. Conclusion The durable clinical efficacy and safety of MR imaging-guided HIFU were demonstrated. These features are evidence of the potential of MR imaging-guided HIFU to be part of a routine strategy for the treatment of osteoid osteoma. © RSNA, 2017.

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound treatment of extra-abdominal desmoid tumors: a retrospective multicenter study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the feasibility, safety and preliminary efficacy of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) for the treatment of extra-abdominal desmoid tumours. METHODS: Fifteen patients with desmoid fibromatosis (six males, nine females; age range, 7-66 years) were treated with MRgFUS, with seven patients requiring multiple treatments (25 total treatments). Changes in viable and total tumour volumes were measured after treatment. Efficacy was evaluated using an exact one-sided Wilcoxon test to determine if the median reduction in viable tumour measured immediately after initial treatment exceeded a threshold of 50 % of the targeted volume. Median decrease after treatment of at least two points in numerical rating scale (NRS) worst and average pain scores was tested with an exact one-sided Wilcoxon test. Adverse events were recorded. RESULTS: After initial MRgFUS treatment, median viable targeted tumour volume decreased 63 %, significantly beyond our efficacy threshold (P = 0.0013). Median viable total tumour volume decreased (105 mL [interquartile range {IQR}, 217 mL] to 54 mL [IQR, 92 mL]) and pain improved (worst scores, 7.5 ± 1.9 vs 2.7 ± 2.6, P = 0.027; average scores, 6 ± 2.3 vs 1.3 ± 2, P = 0.021). Skin burn was the most common complication. CONCLUSIONS: MRgFUS significantly and durably reduced viable tumour volume and pain in this series of 15 patients with extra-abdominal desmoid fibromatosis. KEY POINTS: • Retrospective four-centre study shows MRgFUS safely and effectively treats extra-abdominal desmoid tumours • This non-invasive procedure can eradicate viable tumour in some cases • Alternatively, MRgFUS can provide durable control of tumour growth through repeated treatments • Compared to surgery or radiation, MRgFUS has relatively mild side effects.