FPGA-PLC-based multi-channel position measurement system.

The existing Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) based on microprocessors (µp) or micro-controllers (µc) are commonly used in the industry for various instrumentation and control applications. PLC exhibits limitations such as less flexibility, poor scanning time, slower speed, and degraded response for high-speed industrial applications due to its fixed hardware and serial execution mechanism. A new Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) based PLC multi-channel High Speed Counter (HSC) module has been proposed, enhancing performance and flexibility compared to the existing PLC-HSC module. The proposed FPGA-PLC-HSC module has a 2-phase 2-Input counter with resolutions of 1X, 2X, and 4X which improve performance in terms of accuracy for position speed, and direction measurement applications. The FPGA-PLC-HSC module is implemented with the feedback node method and the shift register method inside LabVIEW FPGA along with device utilization. The simulation results show that the FPGA-PLC-HSC module has faster scanning time, good linearity, better resolution, maximum supporting input frequency, and counting frequency. For experimental purposes, an optical encoder M110960 (E8P-512-118-S-D-M-B) with a signal conditioning circuit is connected to the NI-myRIO-1900 FPGA platform. The experimental results point out that the proposed FPGA-PLC-HSC module offers faster scanning time, better accuracy and linearity in 1X, 2X, and 4X resolution.

Graft-Versus-Host Disease Presenting as a Myositis and Myonecrosis.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major complication of bone marrow transplantation. Polymyositis with myonecrosis is a rare manifestation of GVHD. Here, we report the case of a 32-year-old man with acute myeloid leukemia who developed GVHD after transplant. He subsequently developed polymyositis, which was diagnosed on PET/CT and confirmed on pathology. Treatment with corticosteroids resulted in the resolution of the symptoms. Abnormal muscular FDG uptake resolved on the follow-up PET/CT.

Radiographic findings predictive of irreducibility and surgical resection in ileocolic intussusception.

BACKGROUND: Ileocolic intussusception is a common cause of intestinal obstruction in young children. Radiographs may be of limited value in the diagnosis of intussusception and are sometimes utilized primarily to exclude pneumoperitoneum before therapeutic enema reduction. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine if radiographic findings in ileocolic intussusception can offer prognostic information regarding the outcome of therapeutic air enema and, for those requiring surgical intervention, surgical outcomes and/or complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single institution retrospective study was performed including all enemas for intussusception performed during a 5-year period from September 2012 to August 2017. Radiographs obtained before therapeutic enema, including our institution radiographs, outside facility radiographs, or scout images obtained during fluoroscopy or computed tomography (CT), were independently scored by two pediatric radiologists for normal bowel gas pattern, soft-tissue mass, paucity of bowel gas, meniscus sign and bowel obstruction. The reviewers were blinded to enema and surgical outcomes at the time of review. Differences were resolved by consensus. Cases were excluded in which there was no adequate pre-procedure radiograph. In total, 182 cases were reviewed. The medical records were reviewed for enema and surgical outcomes. RESULTS: Radiographic findings included normal bowel gas pattern in 13%, soft-tissue mass in 26%, paucity of bowel gas in 65%, meniscus sign in 12% and obstruction in 10% of the cases, with 17.5% of patients having more than one finding. In patients with bowel obstruction on radiographs, there was a statistically significant decrease in success of therapeutic enema (83% vs. 21%, P=0.0001), increase in complicated surgical reductions (47% vs. 4%, P=0.0012), and increase in bowel resection (42% vs. 4%, P=0.003) compared to patients with normal bowel gas pattern. CONCLUSION: Radiographs can offer prognostic information regarding the potential for therapeutic enema success, as well as potential surgical outcomes in patients failing enema reduction. Particularly, bowel obstruction significantly decreases the success of therapeutic enema and increases the need for bowel resection.

CT Myelography: Clinical Indications and Imaging Findings.

CT myelography is an important imaging modality that combines the advantages of myelography and the high resolution of CT. It provides a detailed delineation of pathologic spine conditions, especially those involving the thecal sac and its contents. However, the role of CT myelography has dramatically and appropriately decreased with the advent of MRI, which provides a noninvasive method to demonstrate pathologic spine conditions with high signal intensity in soft tissues. At the present time, CT myelography is often performed in patients who require evaluation of the thecal sac but have a contraindication to undergoing MRI. However, there remain many situations in which CT myelography is indicated and plays a critical role in patient treatment. The authors review common and uncommon indications for CT myelography and demonstrate various pathologic conditions in which CT myelography plays a vital role in patient treatment in this modern era of MRI.©RSNA, 2020.

Subglottic Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Population-Based Study of 889 Cases.

OBJECTIVE: Subglottic squamous cell carcinoma (SCCa) is a rare malignancy representing <5% of all laryngeal cancers. Patients often present with late-stage disease, and survival outcomes are reportedly worse than those for SCCa in other regions of the larynx. STUDY DESIGN: Analysis of a population-based tumor registry. SETTING: Academic medical center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The US National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was queried for cases of subglottic SCCa from 1973 to 2011 (889 cases). Resulting data were analyzed, including patient demographics, therapeutic measures, and survival outcomes. RESULTS: Subglottic SCCa most frequently occurred in the fifth to seventh decade of life, with a mean age at diagnosis of 65.7 ± 11.3 years. There was a strong male predilection, with a male:female ratio of 3.83:1. Most patients were stage III and IV (64.4%) per the American Joint Committee on Cancer. The most common treatment modality was a combination of radiotherapy and surgery (38.8%), followed by radiotherapy alone (33.9%), and surgery alone (17.0%). Overall 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 53.7%. When stratified by treatment modality, 5-year disease-specific survival was 62.4% for surgery alone, 56.7% for radiotherapy alone, and 55.1% for surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy (P = .3892). CONCLUSION: This study represents the largest cohort of subglottic SCCa. It shows a strong predilection for men in the US population. Surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy was the most commonly employed treatment modality. No statistically significant differences were observed in 5-year DSS by treatment modality.

Interrupted aortic arch with post-interruption aneurysm and bicuspid aortic valve in an adult: a case report and literature review.

Interrupted aortic arch in adults is rare with a limited number of reported cases. We describe a case of a 53-year-old woman with interrupted aortic arch, bicuspid aortic valve, and post-interruption saccular aneurysm of the aorta. To our knowledge, this is only the second report of an adult patient with all 3 abnormalities. We also review the literature on this unusual condition and discuss its relationship with coarctation of the aorta.

Optimal Timing of Whole-Brain Radiation Therapy Following Craniotomy for Cerebral Malignancies.

BACKGROUND: For patients with cerebral metastases that are limited in number, surgical resection followed by whole-brain radiation therapy is the standard of care. In addition, for high-grade gliomas, maximal surgical resection followed by local radiotherapy is considered the optimal treatment. Radiation is known to impair wound healing, including healing of surgical incisions. Radiotherapy shortly after surgical resection would be expected to minimize the opportunity for tumor regrowth or progression. Owing to these competing interests, the purpose of this study was to shed light on the optimal timing of radiotherapy after surgical resection of brain metastasis or high-grade gliomas. METHODS: A review of the literature was conducted on the following topics: radiation and wound healing, corticosteroid use and wound healing, radiotherapy for tumor control for cerebral metastases and high-grade gliomas, and whole-brain radiation therapy or focal radiotherapy after craniotomy with focus on the timing of radiotherapy after surgery. RESULTS: In animal models, wound integrity and healing was less impaired by radiotherapy administered 1 week after surgery. In humans, this timing would be expected to be significantly longer, on the order of several weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Given the limited literature, insufficient conclusions can be drawn. However, animal data suggest a period of at least 1 week (but it is likely several weeks in humans) is necessary for reconstitution of wound strength before initiation of radiation therapy. A randomized prospective study is recommended to understand better the effect of the timing of radiation therapy following surgical intervention for brain metastasis or high-grade gliomas.

A comparative analysis of sinonasal and salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma using population-based data.

BACKGROUND: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common salivary gland (SG) malignancy. Primary sinonasal MEC (SN-MEC) is rare. This study analyzes the demographic, clinicopathologic, and survival characteristics of SN-MEC and establishes comparisons with primary major SG-MEC. METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (1973 to 2010) was queried for SN-MEC (149 cases) and SG-MEC (4234 cases). Data were analyzed comparatively with respect to various demographic and clinicopathologic factors. Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: Mean ± standard deviation (SD) age at diagnosis for SN-MEC was 58.6 ± 16.6 years. High histologic grade (ie, grades III and IV) at the time of diagnosis was more common among SN-MEC than SG-MEC (42.3% vs 25.5%, p < 0.0001). Overall 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) was 61.7% for SN-MEC and 84.1% for SG-MEC (p < 0.001). For SN-MEC, factors associated with poor prognosis were age (75+ years; hazard ratio [HR], 3.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25 to 9.51), higher tumor grade (grade III and IV; HR, 3.62; 95% CI, 1.75 to 8.22), larger tumor size (>4 cm; HR, 8.36, 95% CI, 1.59 to 153.74), and primary tumor site (ethmoid sinus; HR, 2.95; 95% CI, 1.28 to 6.23) (all p < 0.05). Survival was better among those treated with surgery (with [64.4% survival] or without [81.3% survival] adjuvant radiation therapy) than those treated with primary radiation therapy alone (25.6% survival) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This report represents the largest series of SN-MEC to date. Although SN-MEC and SG-MEC share a common histology, there are important clinical differences between the 2 conditions.

Update on the diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment strategies for central neurocytoma.

Central neurocytomas are rare benign tumors of the central nervous system that are typically located in the lateral ventricles. Since they were first reported in the early 1980s, many advancements have been made in terms of their diagnosis and treatment. Despite the progress made, the origin of these rare tumors and effective newer treatment strategies remain elusive. Central neurocytomas represent 0.1-0.5% of all primary brain tumors. Since they are typically intraventricular, these tumors tend to present clinically with hydrocephalus. CT scanning and MRI are useful in localizing these tumors; however, due to their numerous ambiguous features, the ultimate diagnosis relies on immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy studies of sampled tissue. Currently, surgical removal with a gross-total resection of these tumors is the treatment of choice. Various radiotherapy techniques, including both conventional radiotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery, have been shown to be useful in cases of residual tumor after sub-total resection and tumor recurrence. The benign nature of these tumors tends to offer a favorable outcome for most patients; however, recurrence rates are relatively high and tumors with high-grade features or extraventricular location tend to have a less favorable prognosis. We present a comprehensive review of these rare tumors, including their epidemiology, clinical presentation, radiological presentation, histopathological findings, and options for intervention including surgery, radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, and chemotherapy.