Glycation promotes pulp calcification in Type 2 diabetes rat model.

OBJECTIVES: Intrapulpal calcifications can occur in the dental pulp of patients with diabetes. We focused on the association between ectopic calcifications in the dental pulp and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT)-fatty rats, an obese type 2 diabetic rat model, to determine the mechanism of calcification with pulp stone in the dental pulp. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pathologic calcification in the dental pulp of SDT-fatty rats was observed using electron microscopy and immunohistochemical analysis. Moreover, mechanical analysis of periapical region of molar tooth against occlusal force was performed. RESULTS: In SDT-fatty rats, pathogenic pulpal calcifications occurred during blood glucose elevation after 6 weeks, and granular calcification was observed in the dental pulp after 11 weeks. Pentosidine, a major AGE, and the receptor for AGEs were strongly expressed in the dental pulp of SDT-fatty rats. S100A8, TNF-α, and IL-6 also showed positive response in the dental pulp of the SDT-fatty rat, which indicated pulpal inflammation. Blood flow disorder and hypoxic dental pulp cells were also observed. In silico simulation, strain from occlusal force concentrates on the root apex. CONCLUSIONS: Glycation makes blood vessels fragile, and occlusal forces damage the vessels mechanically. These are factors for intrapulpal calcification of diabetes.

Negative correlation between organ heteroplasmy, particularly hepatic heteroplasmy, and age at death revealed by post-mortem studies of m.3243A > G cases.

Mitochondrial DNA m.3243A > G mutation causes mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) and its associated multi-organ disorders, including diabetes. To clarify associations between m.3243A > G organ heteroplasmy and clinical phenotypes, including the age at death, we combined genetic and pathological examinations from seven unreported and 36 literature cases of autopsied subjects. Clinical characteristics of subjects were as follows: male, 13; female, 28; unknown, 2; the age at death, 36.9 ± 20.2 [4-82] years; BMI, 16.0 ± 2.9 [13.0-22.3]; diabetes, N = 21 (49%), diabetes onset age 38.6 ± 14.2 years; deafness, N = 27 (63%); stroke-like episodes (StLEp), N = 25 (58%); congestive heart failure (CHF), N = 15 (35%); CHF onset age, 51.3 ± 14.5 years. Causes of death (N = 32) were as follows: cardiac, N = 13 (41%); infection, N = 8 (25%); StLEp, N = 4 (13%); gastrointestinal, N = 4 (13%); renal, N = 2 (6%); hepatic, N = 1 (2%). High and low heteroplasmies were confirmed in non-regenerative and regenerative organs, respectively. Heteroplasmy of the liver, spleen, leukocytes, and kidney for all subjects was significantly associated with the age at death. Furthermore, the age at death was related to juvenile-onset (any m.3243A > G-related symptoms appeared before 20) and stroke-like episodes. Multiple linear regression analysis with the age at death as an objective variable showed the significant contribution of liver heteroplasty and juvenile-onset to the age at death. m.3243A > G organ heteroplasmy levels, particularly hepatic heteroplasmy, are significantly associated with the age at death in deceased cases.

Effects of advanced glycation end products on dental pulp calcification.

OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on the calcification of cultured rat dental pulp cells (RDPCs) and to investigate the crystallisation ability of glycated collagen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: AGEs were prepared via non-enzymatic glycation of a dish coated with type I collagen using dl-glyceraldehyde. To investigate the effects of AGEs on RDPCs, we performed WST-1 and lactate dehydrogenase assays; alkaline phosphatase, Alizarin Red S and immunohistochemical staining; and real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR. In addition, we performed crystallisation experiments on glycated collagen. All microstructures were analysed using scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy/diffraction pattern analysis. RESULTS: AGEs did not affect the proliferation or differentiation of RDPCs, but enhanced the calcification rate and cytotoxicity. No major calcification-related genes or proteins were involved in these calcifications, and glycated collagen was found to exhibit a negative polarity and form calcium phosphate crystals. Cytotoxicity due to drastic changes in the concentration of pericellular ions led to dystrophic calcification, assumed to represent an aspect of diabetic pulp calcifications. CONCLUSION: Glycated collagen-containing AGEs provide a nurturing environment for crystallisation and have a significant effect on the early calcification of RDPCs.

Volume-based parameters measured by using FDG PET/CT in patients with stage I NSCLC treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy: prognostic value.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prognostic importance and predictive performance of volume-based parameters of fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study had institutional review board approval. All patients gave written informed consent for SBRT as well as for future anonymous use of clinical data. Data in 88 patients with stage I NSCLC (68 patients with T1N0M0 disease and 20 with T2aN0M0 disease) who had undergone FDG PET/CT and then SBRT were retrospectively evaluated. Seventy-seven tumors were histopathologically proved (48 adenocarcinomas, 24 squamous cell carcinomas, and five unspecified non-small cell carcinomas), and the remaining 11 tumors were diagnosed clinically without histopathologic diagnosis. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were analyzed. The MTV of the primary tumor was calculated as all voxels with an SUV of 2.5 or greater within the isocontour line, while TLG was calculated as MTV multiplied by the average SUV, by using fixed thresholds of either 50% (TLG50) or 60% (TLG60) of the maximum intratumoral FDG activity. The prognostic importance of PET parameters and other clinicopathologic variables (age, sex, tumor size, tumor location [peripheral or central], and biologically effective dose) was assessed by using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) for both univariate and multiple-variable analyses. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 33 months. At 3 years, OS and DFS were 70.0% and 49.7%, respectively. In the univariate analyses, SUVmax (P = .001), MTV (P = .002), TLG50 (P = .001), and TLG60 (P < .001) were found to be significantly associated with DFS. In multiple variable analysis, these parameters were also significantly associated with DFS (P = .011 for SUVmax, P = .010 for MTV, P = .004 for TLG50, and P = .005 for TLG60). Only volumetric parameters (MTV, TLG50, and TLG60) were significant indicators of DFS in patients with tumors larger than 3 cm. CONCLUSION: SUVmax, MTV, and TLG at FDG PET/CT have a prognostic role for patients with NSCLC treated with SBRT. When tumors are larger than 3 cm, only MTV and TLG are predictive of DFS.

Phase-slope and phase measurements of tunable CW-THz radiation with terahertz comb for wide-dynamic-range, high-resolution, distance measurement of optically rough object.

Phase measurement of continuous-wave terahertz (CW-THz) radiation is a potential tool for direct distance and imaging measurement of optically rough objects due to its high robustness to optical rough surfaces. However, the 2π phase ambiguity in the phase measurement of single-frequency CW-THz radiation limits the dynamic range of the measured distance to the order of the wavelength used. In this article, phase-slope measurement of tunable CW-THz radiation with a THz frequency comb was effectively used to extend the dynamic range up to 1.834 m while maintaining an error of a few tens µm in the distance measurement of an optically rough object. Furthermore, a combination of phase-slope measurement of tunable CW-THz radiation and phase measurement of single-frequency CW-THz radiation enhanced the distance error to a few µm within the dynamic range of 1.834 m without any influence from the 2π phase ambiguity. The proposed method will be a powerful tool for the construction and maintenance of large-scale structures covered with optically rough surfaces.

Presence of a hypovascular hepatic nodule showing hypointensity on hepatocyte-phase image is a risk factor for hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the presence of a hypovascular nodule in the liver showing hypointensity on hepatocyte-phase of gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (EOB-MRI) is a risk factor for hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic liver disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-one patients with pathologically confirmed hypervascular HCC and 41 age- and gender-matched controls were retrospectively selected. These patients had undergone EOB-MRI at least twice: the latest EOB-MRI and EOB-MRI performed more than 6 months earlier. History of hypervascular HCC, presence of a hypointense hypovascular nodule in previous hepatocyte-phase MR images, percent prothrombin time, platelet count, serum levels of albumin, total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, α-fetoprotein, and protein induced by vitamin K absence-II (PIVKA-II) were variables evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis revealed that serum albumin level (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 0.19 [0.06-0.57]; P = 0.0024), history of hypervascular HCC (8.62 [2.71-32.8]; P = 0.0001), and presence of a hypointense hypovascular nodule (4.18 [1.18-17.2]; P = 0.0256) were significant risk factors for hypervascular HCC. CONCLUSION: Patients with chronic liver disease showing a hypointense hypovascular nodule in the liver on hepatocyte-phase EOB-MRI have a high risk of HCC development.

Hepatocellular carcinoma risk assessment using gadoxetic acid-enhanced hepatocyte phase magnetic resonance imaging.

AIM: To investigate whether the patients with hypovascular liver nodules determined on the arterial phase and hypointensity on the hepatocyte phase gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (hypovascular hypointense nodules) are at increased risk of hepatocarcinogenesis, we assessed subsequent typical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development at any sites of the liver with and without such nodules. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-seven patients with chronic hepatitis B or C and without a history of HCC, including 68 with liver cirrhosis, were divided into those with (non-clean liver group, n = 18) and without (clean liver group, n = 109) hypovascular hypointense nodules. All the patients were followed up for 3 years, and HCC development rates and risk factors were analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional hazard model, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 17 patients (10 in the non-clean liver group and seven in the clean liver group) developed typical HCC. Cumulative 3-year rates of HCC development were 55.5% in the non-clean liver group and 6.4% in the clean liver group (P < 0.001), and those at the different sites from the initial nodules was also higher in the non-clean liver group (22.2%) than the clean liver group (6.4%) (P = 0.003). Multivariate analysis identified older age (P = 0.024), low platelet counts (P = 0.017) and a non-clean liver (P < 0.001) as independent risk factors for subsequent HCC development. CONCLUSION: Patients with hypovascular hypointense liver nodules are at a higher risk for HCC development at any sites of the liver than those without such nodules.

High-resolution microscopy for biological specimens via cathodoluminescence of Eu- and Zn-doped Y2O3 nanophosphors.

High-resolution microscopy for biological specimens was performed using cathodoluminescence (CL) of Y(2)O(3):Eu, Zn nanophosphors, which have high CL intensity due to the incorporation of Zn. The intensity of Y(2)O(3):Eu nanophosphors at low acceleration voltage (3 kV) was increased by adding Zn. The CL intensity was high enough for imaging even with a phosphor size as small as about 30 nm. The results show the possibility of using CL microscopy for biological specimens at single-protein-scale resolution. CL imaging of HeLa cells containing laser-ablated Y(2)O(3):Eu, Zn nanophosphors achieved a spatial resolution of a few tens of nanometers. Y(2)O(3):Eu, Zn nanophosphors in HeLa cells were also imaged with 254 nm ultraviolet light excitation. The results suggest that correlative microscopy using CL, secondary electrons and fluorescence imaging could enable multi-scale investigation of molecular localization from the nanoscale to the microscale.

Fast three-dimensional terahertz computed tomography using real-time line projection of intense terahertz pulse.

We demonstrated fast three-dimensional transmission terahertz computed tomography by using real-time line projection of intense terahertz beam generated by optical rectification in lithium niobate crystal. After emphasizing the advantage of intense terahertz pulse generation for two-dimensional spatio-temporal terahertz imaging, peak-to-peak amplitudes of pulsed terahertz electric field have been used to obtain a series of projection images at different rotation angles. Then a standard reconstruction algorithm has been employed to perform final three-dimensional reconstruction. Test samples including a medicine capsule have been investigated with a total acquisition time to only 6 minutes.

Rib fracture after stereotactic radiotherapy for primary lung cancer: prevalence, degree of clinical symptoms, and risk factors.

BACKGROUND: As stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a highly dose-dense radiotherapy, adverse events of neighboring normal tissues are a major concern. This study thus aimed to clarify the frequency and degree of clinical symptoms in patients with rib fractures after SBRT for primary lung cancer and to reveal risk factors for rib fracture. Appropriate α/ß ratios for discriminating between fracture and non-fracture groups were also investigated. METHODS: Between November 2001 and April 2009, 177 patients who had undergone SBRT were evaluated for clinical symptoms and underwent follow-up thin-section computed tomography (CT). The time of rib fracture appearance was also assessed. Cox proportional hazard modeling was performed to identify risk factors for rib fracture, using independent variables of age, sex, maximum tumor diameter, radiotherapeutic method and tumor-chest wall distance. Dosimetric details were analyzed for 26 patients with and 22 randomly-sampled patients without rib fracture. Biologically effective dose (BED) was calculated with a range of α/ß ratios (1-10 Gy). Receiver operating characteristics analysis was used to define the most appropriate α/ß ratio. RESULTS: Rib fracture was found on follow-up thin-section CT in 41 patients. The frequency of chest wall pain in patients with rib fracture was 34.1% (14/41), and was classified as Grade 1 or 2. Significant risk factors for rib fracture were smaller tumor-chest wall distance and female sex. Area under the curve was maximal for BED at an α/ß ratio of 8 Gy. CONCLUSIONS: Rib fracture is frequently seen on CT after SBRT for lung cancer. Small tumor-chest wall distance and female sex are risk factors for rib fracture. However, clinical symptoms are infrequent and generally mild. When using BED analysis, an α/ß ratio of 8 Gy appears most effective for discriminating between fracture and non-fracture patients.

Intravoxel incoherent motion imaging of focal hepatic lesions.

PURPOSE: To compare diffusivity values between malignant and benign focal hepatic lesions using the intravoxel incoherent motion model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 84 focal hepatic lesions in 84 patients. Final diagnoses were as follows: hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 45), cholangiocarcinoma (n = 6), metastatic liver tumor (n = 3), cyst (n = 20), hemangioma (n = 5), inflammatory pseudotumor (n = 2), abscess (n = 2), and focal nodular hyperplasia (n = 1). Diffusion-weighted images at 12 b-values were used to obtain the diffusion coefficient of pure molecular diffusion (D), diffusion coefficient of microcirculation or perfusion-related diffusion (D*), and perfusion-related diffusion fraction (f). Parameters of malignant and benign focal hepatic lesions were compared using the Wilcoxon test. The diagnostic performance for distinguishing between malignant and benign hepatic lesions was also analyzed. RESULTS: Both the D value (1.15 ± 0.21 × 10(-3) mm(2) /s [mean ± standard deviation]) and D* value (62.7 ± 12.7 × 10(-3) mm(2) /s) in malignant lesions was significantly lower than that in benign lesions (D value [2.46 ± 0.45× 10(-3) mm(2) /s], P < 0.0001; D* value [87.6 ± 35.3 × 10(-3) mm(2) /s], P = 0.0008). The f value did not differ significantly between malignant (25.0 15.1 ± 15.1%) and benign lesions (30.1 ± 16.3%). CONCLUSION: D* and D values were suppressed in malignant lesions. However, the D value was more reliable for distinguishing between malignant and benign focal hepatic lesions.

Associations among q-space MRI, diffusion-weighted MRI and histopathological parameters in meningiomas.

OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this MR-based study were to calculate q-space imaging (QSI)-derived mean displacement (MDP) in meningiomas, to evaluate the correlation of MDP values with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and to investigate the relationships among these diffusion parameters, tumour cell count (TCC) and MIB-1 labelling index (LI). METHODS: MRI, including QSI and conventional diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), was performed in 44 meningioma patients (52 lesions). ADC and MDP maps were acquired from post-processing of the data. Quantitative analyses of these maps were performed by applying regions of interest. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated for ADC and MDP in all lesions and for ADC and TCC, MDP and TCC, ADC and MIB-1 LI, and MDP and MIB-1 LI in 17 patients who underwent subsequent surgery. RESULTS: ADC and MDP values were found to have a strong correlation: r = 0.78 (P = <0.0001). Both ADC and MDP values had a significant negative association with TCC: r = -0.53 (p = 0.02) and -0.48 (P = 0.04), respectively. MIB-1 LI was not, however, found to have a significant association with these diffusion parameters. CONCLUSION: In meningiomas, both ADC and MDP may be representative of cell density. KEY POINTS: • Diffusion-weighted MRI offers possibilities to assess the aggressiveness of meningiomas. • The q-space imaging-derived mean displacement correlates strongly with apparent diffusion coefficients. • Both diffusion parameters showed a strong negative association with tumour cell counts. • Derived mean displacement may help assess the aggressiveness of meningiomas preoperatively.

Liver stiffness measured by magnetic resonance elastography as a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma: a preliminary case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine if liver stiffness measured by magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic liver disease. METHODS: By reviewing the records of magnetic resonance (MR) examinations performed at our institution, we selected 301 patients with chronic liver disease who did not have a previous medical history of HCC. All patients underwent MRE and gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging. HCC was identified on MR images in 66 of the 301 patients, who were matched to controls from the remaining patients without HCC according to age. MRE images were obtained by visualising elastic waves generated in the liver by pneumatic vibration transferred via a cylindrical passive driver. Risk factors of HCC development were determined by the odds ratio with logistic regression analysis; gender and liver stiffness by MRE and serum levels of aspartate transferase, alanine transferase, alpha-fetoprotein, and protein induced by vitamin K absence-II. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis revealed that only liver stiffness by MRE was a significant risk factor for HCC with an odds ratio (95 % confidence interval) of 1.38 (1.05-1.84). CONCLUSION: Liver stiffness measured by MRE is an independent risk factor for HCC in patients with chronic liver disease.

Age-related white matter changes in high b-value q-space diffusion-weighted imaging.

INTRODUCTION: To assess and compare age-related diffusion changes in the white matter in different cerebral lobes, as quantified by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and high b-value q-space imaging (QSI). METHODS: Seventy-three cases without neurological symptoms or imaging abnormalities were grouped by age as young (<30 years, n = 20), middle-aged (30-49 years, n = 19), old (50-69 years, n = 18), and very old (> 70 years, n = 16) and imaged by a 1.5-T MR scanner for DWI and QSI. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and mean displacement (MDP) values were calculated in the white matter of frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes and compared using Dunnett's test, with the young group as a control. RESULTS: MDP values in frontal and parietal lobes were significantly higher in old and very old age groups than in the young, while those in the temporal lobes were significantly higher only in the very old group. ADC values were significantly higher in all three lobes in the very old group. CONCLUSION: QSI is more sensitive than DWI to age-related myelin loss in white matter.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy for stage I non-small-cell lung cancer: a historical overview of clinical studies.

Because of difficulties with stabilization, breathing motion and dosimetry, stereotactic body radiotherapy for lung cancer has only been practiced for the past 15 years. However, a large amount of case data has rapidly been accumulated in recent years. Stereotactic body radiotherapy for Stage I non-small-cell lung cancer has been actively investigated in inoperable patients since around 1995, and a number of clinical trials have been undertaken. Early studies from 2001 presented a 3-year local control rate of 94% and a 3-year overall survival rate of 66% for patients receiving 50-60 Gy in 10 fractions. Another study in 2005, using 48 Gy in four fractions, presented a 3-year local control rate of 98% and 3-year overall survival rates of 83% for Stage IA patients and 72% for Stage IB patients. A multi-institutional study showed favorable local control and survival rates in a group receiving a biologically effective dose of 100 Gy. A dose-escalation study in the USA suggested a maximum tolerated dose of 60 Gy in three fractions. A Phase II clinical trial (RTOG0236) followed, with a reported 3-year local control rate of 98% and a 3-year overall survival rate of 56% for patients who received 60 Gy in three fractions. A Japanese Phase II clinical trial (JCOG0403) investigated a dose of 48 Gy in four fractions among 165 Stage IA patients, showing a 3-year survival rate of 76% and a 3-year locally progression-free survival rate of 69% for the operable group. An overview of past clinical trials in stereotactic body radiotherapy for Stage I non-small-cell lung cancer and current issues is presented and discussed.

Enhancement of ascites during abdominal oncological endovascular intervention without iatrogenic extravasation in patients with chronic liver disease.

AIM: To evaluate ascites enhancement during abdominal oncological endovascular intervention (IVR) without iatrogenic extravasation and the factors associated with enhancement of ascites. METHODS AND MATERIALS: CT images were obtained using an IVR-CT system for 73 patients with chronic liver disease and ascites. The CT images were obtained at least twice during each IVR. Radiodensity values of ascites at CT were measured for the first and last CT images in each procedure. The factors evaluated for their association with elevated ascitic fluid density were age, interval from the first to the last CT scan, Child-Pugh score, albumin level, total bilirubin level, prothrombin activity, the need for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), estimated glomerular filtration rate, total amount of contrast material (CM) per square metre of body surface area (/m(2)), amount of ascitic fluid, and the amount of CM entering the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) or coeliac artery/m(2). RESULTS: The average ascitic radiodensity values for the first and last CT images were 18 and 51 HU, respectively. The percentage of patients with "significantly elevated" ascitic fluid density (≥10 HU) was 92%. Multivariate analysis showed that the total amount of CM/m(2) and the amount of ascitic fluid were significantly correlated and inversely correlated, respectively, with elevated ascitic fluid density. CONCLUSIONS: Ascites enhancement without extravasation frequently occurs during abdominal oncological endovascular intervention in patients with chronic liver disease.

Early hepatocellular carcinomas showing isointensity or hyperintensity in gadoxetic acid-enhanced, hepatocyte-phase magnetic resonance images.

Hypointensity in the hepatocyte phase is believed to be a key feature of hypovascular early hepatocellular carcinoma, which indicates malignancy. The 3 cases we present suggest that the converse is not true. Three small hepatocellular lesions showed isointensity/hyperintensity on gadoxetic acid-enhanced, hepatocyte-phase magnetic resonance images and were pathologically confirmed as early hepatocellular carcinomas. We conclude that isointensity or hyperintensity in the hepatocyte phase does not always represent benignity of hepatocellular lesions in the cirrhotic liver.

Diffusion-weighted imaging in optic neuritis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate imaging characteristics of optic nerves by using magnetic resonance imaging, especially diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with apparent diffusion coefficient measurements in acute and chronic phases of optic neuritis (ON). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted by using records of 14 patients with clinically suspected acute ON (15 nerves), 5 chronic ON (7 nerves), and 11 normal volunteers with no eye symptoms were used as controls. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed by a 1.5T scanner. Affected nerves were evaluated for sizes, signal characteristics on DWI and T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), contrast enhancement, and apparent diffusion coefficient values. Visually assessed characteristics were compared between the acute and chronic, whereas apparent diffusion coefficient values were assessed among acute ON, chronic ON, and the control groups by using the Fisher exact test and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the diameter of the optic nerves, hyperintensity on DWI, and enhancement characteristics on post-enhanced images in acute and chronic phases of ON (P = .0001, P < .0001, and P = .0022, respectively), apparent diffusion coefficient values of the optic nerves in acute ON, chronic ON, and control groups also differed significantly from each other. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, DWI can add valuable information in assessment of damage to nerve and neuronal barriers and thus in predicting recovery in cases of ON.

Enhancement of spectral resolution and accuracy in asynchronous-optical-sampling terahertz time-domain spectroscopy for low-pressure gas-phase analysis.

The spectral resolution and accuracy of asynchronous-optical-sampling terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (ASOPS-THz-TDS) were evaluated by examining low-pressure gas-phase samples. Use of dual 56-MHz, erbium (Er)-doped, mode-locked femtosecond fiber lasers enhanced the spectral resolution to as low as 50.5 MHz and the spectral accuracy to as low as 6.2 × 10(-6). The results indicate that ASOPS-THz-TDS has the potential to achieve high spectral resolution, high spectral accuracy, and wide spectral coverage at the same time. ASOPS-THz-TDS will open a new door to gas-phase spectroscopy of multiple chemical species in the field of atmospheric gas analysis.

Mass-forming autoimmune pancreatitis and pancreatic carcinoma: differential diagnosis on the basis of computed tomography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, and diffusion-weighted imaging findings.

PURPOSE: To differentiate mass-forming autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) from pancreatic carcinoma by means of analysis of both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with mass-forming AIP diagnosed by revised clinical criteria of Japan Pancreas Society and 70 patients with pathologically proven pancreatic carcinoma were enrolled in this retrospective study. Two radiologists independently evaluated the CT and MR imaging findings. The sensitivity, specificity, and odds ratio of significant imaging findings and combinations of findings were calculated. RESULTS: Seven findings were more frequently observed in AIP patients: (i) early homogeneous good enhancement, (ii) delayed homogeneous good enhancement, (iii) hypoattenuating capsule-like rim, (iv) absence of distal pancreatic atrophy, (v5) duct penetrating sign, (vi) main pancreatic duct (MPD) upstream dilatation ≤ 4 mm, and (vii) an apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) ≤ 0.88 × 10(-3) mm(2) /s. When the findings of delayed homogeneous enhancement and ADC ≤ 0.88 × 10(-3) mm(2) /s were both used in diagnosis of mass-forming AIP, a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 100% were achieved. When 4 of any of the 7 findings were used in the diagnosis of AIP, a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 98% were achieved. CONCLUSION: Analysis of a combination of CT and MR imaging findings allows for highly accurate differentiation between mass-forming AIP and pancreatic carcinoma.