iRadiology最新文献

Ectopic pregnancy (EP) could be defined as any embryo that got implanted in any site rather than the endometrial cavity. Lately, different types of EP were reportedly managed by high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). We aimed to pool all available data in a systematic review without meta-analysis and investigate the efficacy and safety tendencies of HIFU among different types of EP. We applied our comprehensive terms in Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Ovid, and PubMed Central databases from their inception until September 23. Retrieved references were gathered using EndNote in which we omitted the duplicates and exported the record for screening. Data regarding characteristics, safety and efficacy outcomes, and baseline information of the enrolled population were extracted. The eligible case reports were assessed using a tool by Murad and colleagues, while the quality of the included cohorts was appraised using the NIH tool. We retrieved 6637 studies, which were scrutinized by titles and abstracts. We scrutinized the full texts of 36 studies and ultimately included a total of 17 studies. All studies were conducted in China, and on different types of ectopic pregnancy including tubal, cervical, intramural, caesarian scar, and corneal ectopic pregnancy. The mean age of enrolled patients was 33.03 years, and we pooled a total sample of 853 patients. The follow-up period varied widely among the included studies, ranging from 1.3 months to up to 69 months. Normal menstruation recurred after a mean of 35 days, as reported by nine studies. Most of the included studies reported normal β-HCG after around 30–40 days. Twelve studies with 757 patients reported a cumulative incidence of 179 cases of abdominal pain after HIFU. Neither of the enrolled patients reportedly complained of skin burn after HIFU. We suggested managing EP patients with HIFU, especially when seeking further conceiving. High-quality randomized controlled trials are required to draw a stronger level of evidence.

Non-invasive, real-time, dynamic, and quantitative molecular imaging has been developed to facilitate disease diagnosis, drug development, and pathological analysis at the molecular level. Qualitative and quantitative analysis and imaging of physiological processes at the molecular level can be achieved with advanced molecular imaging by employing imaging contrast agents in combination with traditional imaging modalities, such as optical imaging, ultrasound imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, single-photon emission computed tomography, and positron emission tomography. With the aid of molecular imaging, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and other processes of drugs in various animals can be monitored quantitatively, and in vivo pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics can be simulated before clinical trials, which significantly shorten the period for drug development and reduce the number of animals participating in various tests. Here, the role of molecular imaging in drug target validation, drug screening, drug sensitivity analysis, pharmacokinetics research, drug efficacy evaluation, and other processes of chemical and biological drug research and development is summarized. Molecular imaging has become a powerful and effective tool in the research and development of various drugs for the treatment of a variety of diseases. Advanced molecular imaging can provide important support for disease and drug research, which will accelerate drug discovery and development.

Quinoline-based fibroblast activation protein (FAP) inhibitor (FAPI)-based positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and radioligand therapy (RLT) are being investigated for use in a wide variety of diseases, and recent results have been promising. This review summarizes the current status of FAPI radiopharmaceuticals in PET imaging of malignant tumors and benign conditions and compares their diagnostic efficacy with ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose. In addition, we summarize the previously published FAP-targeted RLT data and discuss its current clinical use and future potential. Our qualitative summary can inform future research directions, medical guidelines, and optimal clinical decision-making.

Colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) is highly expressed in mononuclear phagocytes and in the central nervous system. It has emerged as a promising target for tumor therapy and neuroinflammation imaging. Although therapeutic agents targeting CSF1R have shown great success, the development of diagnostic radiotracers for CSF1R has faced numerous challenges. Consequently, there is an urgent need to overcome these obstacles for the development of CSF1R radiotracers, particularly positron emission tomography tracers, not only for diagnostic purposes but also to aid the development of more effective therapeutic drugs. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the development of CSF1R radiotracers, presenting detailed profiles of each tracer's ability to image CSF1R. Additionally, we discuss reported CSF1R small-molecule inhibitors and antibodies, highlighting their relevance to the further development of CSF1R radiotracers. We aim to shed light on the current state of CSF1R radiotracer research and development, provide an insight into the challenges in this field, and offer guidance for future exploration.

In today's rapidly evolving medical landscape, the fields of radiology and nuclear medicine occupy a distinct and indispensable position. These disciplines serve as vanguards of modern healthcare, providing essential tools for disease diagnosis, treatment planning, and cutting-edge research. However, like any medical specialty, the sustained development of these fields relies on cultivating and nurturing the interest of medical students. Ensuring a steady supply of skilled professionals in radiology and nuclear medicine is paramount to meeting the burgeoning demand in these domains. We would like to delve into the profound significance of radiology and nuclear medicine and into the challenges encountered in attracting medical students and present a comprehensive array of strategies designed to effectively ignite their interest.

Radiology and nuclear medicine have carved out pivotal roles in the realm of modern medicine. Radiology, encompassing modalities such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI, and ultrasound, offers noninvasive imaging techniques that facilitate precise and accurate disease diagnosis. In parallel, nuclear medicine harnesses radioactive tracers to visualize physiological processes, greatly aiding in diagnosing complex ailments like cancer, heart disease, and neurological disorders. These specialties not only excel in diagnosis but also substantially contribute to treatment guidance. Radiological interventions, including image-guided biopsies and minimally invasive procedures, have revolutionized patient care. Similarly, nuclear medicine showcases its therapeutic potential, as seen in treatments like radioactive iodine therapy for thyroid disorders [1].

Furthermore, radiology and nuclear medicine have become the cornerstone of medical research, propelling innovations in imaging technology and therapeutic modalities. Researchers utilize these disciplines to explore the intricacies of diseases and develop groundbreaking treatments such as the novel [177Lu] Lu-PSMA-617 radioligand therapy for metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer [2]. On a broader scale, the two disciplines play indispensable roles in global health initiatives. They assist in detecting and combating diseases in resource-constrained regions, with mobile X-ray units and portable nuclear medicine devices proving instrumental in disease surveillance and treatment.

However, despite their irrefutable importance, radiology and nuclear medicine face a series of challenges in attracting medical students. From a personal perspective, there are only about 3–5 in 150 students that say would consider a career in radiology or nuclear medicine. Often, radiology and nuclear medicine occupy the periphery of medical education, with limited exposure during the formative years of medical training. According to the “Your Training Counts” report by the Medical Council of Ireland in 2015, just 53% of first-year postgraduate residents felt adeq

Pyrophosphate (PPi) anions are crucial in numerous biological and ecological processes involved in energy conversion, enzymatic reactions, and metabolic regulation along with adenosine. They are also significant biological markers for various processes related to diseases. Fluorescent PPi sensors would enable visual and/or biological detection in convenient settings. However, the current availability of commercial sensors has been limited to costly enzymes that are not compatible for imaging. Sensor development has also encountered challenges such as poor selectivity and stability and limited practical applications. In this review, we analyze the situation of PPi sensing via commercial kits and focus on sensors that use metal complexes. We address their designs, sensing mechanisms, selectivities, and detection limits. Finally, we discuss limitations and perspectives for PPi detection and imaging.

Motor neuron diseases (MNDs), such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), are a group of devastating and progressive neurodegenerative disorders that affect the upper and lower motor neurons (UMN and LMN) [1]. Other forms of MND include primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), progressive muscular atrophy, progressive bulbar palsy, spinal muscular atrophy, and frontotemporal dementia-MND [2]. Early and accurate diagnosis is critical; yet the diagnosis and prognosis of MNDs are challenging due to the complexity and heterogeneity of these diseases. Therefore, there is a need for sensitive, suggestive, and reliable biomarkers to detect and monitor the progression of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in MNDs [1].

The motor band sign (MBS), described as a curvilinear “band” of hypointensity in the precentral gyrus (and primary motor cortex [M1 area]) in susceptibility-weighted images generated from gradient-echo pulse sequences (GRE/SWI) or the GRE-T2*-weighted image, is considered a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarker of UMN involvement in MNDs, such as ALS and PLS (Figure 1) [1, 3]. The sensitivity of SWI is particularly high when it comes to detecting deoxygenated blood and mineral deposits within the brain [4]. The MBS has also been observed in other neurodegenerative movement disorders [1, 5, 6], such as Parkinson's disease [5-7], Alzhimer's disease [5-8], and Huntington's disease [9].

The exact cause of MBS is not yet fully comprehended, but it is widely believed to result from an accumulation of iron in the motor cortex due to the degeneration of microglia [1]. The suspected basis is increased cortical iron deposition and microglial activity in UMN regions as supported by neuroimaging and neuropathological studies [10].

Mohammadi and Ghaderi (2023) provide a comprehensive review of the literature for the growing body of evidence supporting the utility of MRI for detecting characteristic changes in MNDs with a focus on the MBS [1]. The study found that the presence of MBS, observed as a hypointensity area along the precentral gyri, is linked to the severity of UMN impairment in patients with MNDs. The study highlighted a strong association between MBS and the severity of UMN impairment [1]. This builds on previous work demonstrating the specificity of MBS for ALS and PLS compared to healthy controls [3].

Quantitative MRI techniques like quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) allow sensitive quantification of iron deposition and have shown promise for accurately detecting MBS in MNDs [1]. Compared to conventional MRI techniques, such as T2-weighted (T2-w), T2*-w, and R2* relaxation, susceptibility imaging including QSM and SWI offers superior sensitivity to iron accumulation in the motor cortex [4]. As ment

Concomitant fields are the unwanted transverse components that arise when spatial encoding gradients are applied in MRI. We measured the changing gradient magnetic field at multiple locations inside the scanner and examined the internal distribution and linearity of the three vector components of the field. Our results illustrate some not-so-obvious spatial characteristics of the gradient field, which can seem unintuitive at first glance, but are quite reasonable when considering electromagnetic theory and MRI-scanner physics constraints.

Atherosclerosis is a major cause of mortality and morbidity, and rupture can lead to myocardial infarction and stroke. The vulnerability assessment of atherosclerosis plaques is important for providing medical treatment. Identifying vulnerable plaques requires noninvasive, high-resolution imaging techniques for capturing and locating high-risk markers. Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is a hybrid and novel imaging modality that uses nonionizing excitation and has substantial promise for vulnerability assessment of atherosclerosis. The current review examined current applications of multimodal PAI for identification of atherosclerosis plaques. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges and limitations in the implementation this method and future research directions to overcome these difficulties. First, we discuss two aspects of vulnerable plaque characterization: large necrotic cores and thin degraded cap component identification. Then, we then discuss applications of high-risk plaque characterization, including intraplaque hemorrhage and heme degradation markers detection. We hope that this review will shed light on the potential application of optical imaging techniques in atherosclerosis identification and facilitate further studies that will ultimately lead to the broader application of multimodal PAI in clinical practice.