Search Results (329)

Diagnosing digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) pathologies, particularly manica flexoria (MF) tears, can be challenging with standard imaging modalities. Standing low-field MRI tenography (MRIt) may improve the detection rate of MF tears. This study aimed to compare ultrasonography, contrast radiography, pre-contrast MRI, and MRIt to detect naturally occurring MF lesions in horses undergoing tenoscopy. Ten horses with a positive DFTS block, which underwent contrast radiography, ultrasonography, MRI, MRIt, and tenoscopy were included. Two radiologists evaluated the images and recorded whether an MF lesion was present and determined the lesion side. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each modality using tenoscopy as a reference. MRIt and contrast radiography detected MF lesions with the same frequency, both showing 71% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Pre-contrast MRI and ultrasonography detected MF lesions with a lower sensitivity (57%); however, the MRI (100%) demonstrated a higher specificity than ultrasonography (33%). Adding contrast in MRI changed the sensitivity from (4/7 lesions) 57% to (5/7 lesions) 71%, with a constant high specificity (100%). MRIt diagnoses MF tears with a similar sensitivity to contrast radiography, with the same specificity, but with the added benefit of lesion laterality detection. The combined advantages of the anatomical detail of the T1 sequence and the post-contrast hyperintense appearance of the fluid may help diagnose MF tears and identify intact MFs. However, this needs to be substantiated in a larger number of cases. Full article

Background: Chronic cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection may favor the development of immunosenescence and inflammation that impair vaccine responses, including COVID-19. In addition, the polymorphism of the interferon-lambda gene (IFNλ) affects COVID-19 immune responses in older adults. Objective: We aimed to investigate the impact of IFNλ polymorphism (IL28B gene-rs12979860) on the immune/inflammatory response to vaccination with CoronaVac for COVID-19 in older adults who were CMV-seropositive. Methods: Blood samples from 42 CMV-seropositive older adults (73.7 ± 4.5 years) were collected before and 30 days after immunization with a second dose of the CoronaVac vaccine to evaluate the immune/inflammatory response. Results: At genotyping, 20 subjects were homozygous for the C/C alleles (Allele-1 group), 5 were homozygous for the T/T Alleles (Allele-2 group), and 17 were heterozygous (C/T, Alleles-1/2 group). The Allele-1 group showed higher IgG levels for COVID-19 (p = 0.0269) and intermediate monocyte percentage (p = 0.017), in contrast to a lower non-classical monocyte percentage (p = 0.0141) post-vaccination than pre-vaccination. Also, this group showed that IgG levels for CMV were positively associated with a systemic pro-inflammatory state and senescent T cells (CD4+ and CD8+). The Allele-2 group presented higher IFN-β levels at pre- (p = 0.0248) and post-vaccination (p = 0.0206) than the values in the Allele-1 and Alleles-1/2 groups, respectively. In addition, the Allele-2 and Alleles-1/2 groups showed that IgG levels for COVID-19 were positively associated with a balanced systemic inflammatory state. Conclusion: CMV-seropositivity in older adults who had Allele-1 could lead to an unbalanced systemic inflammatory state, which may impair their antibody response to COVID-19 vaccination compared to other volunteer groups. Full article

Gastric cancer remains the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Advanced disease is associated with a poor prognosis, emphasizing the critical importance of early diagnosis through endoscopy. In addition to prognosis, disease extent also plays a pivotal role in guiding management strategies. Therefore, accurate locoregional staging (T and N staging) is vital for optimal prognostic and therapeutic planning. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has long been an essential tool in this regard, with computed tomography (CT) and, more recently, positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET–CT) serving as alternative imaging modalities. EUS is particularly valuable in the assessment of early gastric cancer, defined as tumor invasion confined to the mucosa or submucosa. These tumors are increasingly managed by endoscopic resection techniques offering improved post-treatment quality of life. EUS has also recently been utilized in the restaging process after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, aiding in the evaluation of tumor resectability and prognosis. Its performance may be further enhanced through the application of emerging techniques such as contrast-enhanced endosonography, EUS elastography, and artificial intelligence systems. In advanced, unresectable disease, complications such as gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) severely impact patient quality of life. In this setting, EUS-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE) offers a less invasive alternative to surgical gastrojejunostomy. This review summarizes and critically analyzes the role of EUS in the context of gastric cancer, highlighting its applications across different stages of the disease and evaluating its performance relative to other diagnostic modalities. Full article

Background: We evaluated the utility of HNSCC LN R2* relaxation times to infer the oxygenation status of LN non-invasively at baseline and when breathing air and 100% oxygen to predict chemoradiotherapeutic locoregional response at 2 years. Hypoxia within LNs has been associated with poorer outcomes following CRT. Deoxyhaemoglobin decreases MRI transverse relaxation time (T2*) (lengthening inverse, R2*). Methods: A total of 54 patients underwent 1.5T-MRI before CRT. Conventional MR sequences were supplemented with T2* sequences breathing both air and 100% oxygen; pathological nodes identified in consensus were volumetrically contoured to T2* parametric maps. Results: Patients followed-up with for >2 years were categorised by multidisciplinary consensus into post-therapy complete local response (CR; n = 32/54) and local nodal disease relapse (RD; n = 22/54). Our data demonstrated, by R2*, that nodes that sustained post-therapy CR are significantly more hypoxic compared with relapsing nodes and paradoxically demonstrate a significant increase in hypoxia on 100% oxygen. Pre-treatment LN short axis diameter, various qualitative descriptors of malignancy, and quantitative DWI were not useful in discriminating successful response to CRT. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that a significant differential response to 100% oxygen and higher baseline R2* LN measurements could be exploited in risk stratification prior to CRT, and future work could be directed towards understanding the contrast mechanisms of R2* imaging, underpinning the observed differences in the context of hypoxia. Full article

Tracking T cells in vivo using MRI is a major challenge due to the difficulty of labeling these non-phagocytic cells with a sufficient contrast agent to generate a detectable signal change. In this study, we explored CD4-Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION), which is commonly used in magnetic cell sorting, as a potential receptor-mediated, specific CD4⁺ T cell MRI labeling agent. We optimized the labeling protocol for maximal CD4⁺ cell labeling and viability. Cell health was confirmed with trypan blue assay, and labeling efficacy was confirmed with Prussian blue staining, transmission electron microscopy, and MRI of labeled cell pellets. Key cell functionality was assessed by flow cytometry. Next, CD4-SPION-labeled T cells or unlabeled T cells were delivered via intravenous injection in naïve mice. Liver MRIs pre-, 24 h, and 72 h post-T cell injection were performed to determine in vivo tracking ability. Our results show that CD4-SPION induces significant attenuation of T2 signals in a concentration-dependent manner, confirming their potential as an effective MRI contrast agent. In vitro, analyses showed that CD4⁺ T cells were able to uptake CD4-SPION without affecting cellular activity and key functions, as evidenced by Prussian blue staining and flow cytometric analysis of IL-2 receptor and the IL-7 receptor α-chains, CD69 upregulation, and IFN-γ secretion. In vivo, systemically distributed CD4-SPION-labeled T cells could be tracked in the liver at 24 and 72 h after injection, contrary to controls. Histological staining of tissue sections validated the findings. Our results showed that SPION CD4⁺ T cell sorting coupled with longitudinal MR imaging is a valid method to track CD4⁺ T cells in vivo. This safe, specific, and sensitive approach will facilitate the use of SPION as an MRI contrast agent in clinical practice, allowing for non-invasive tracking of adoptive cell therapies in multiple disease conditions. Full article

Skin cancer, including melanoma and non-melanoma cancers (basal and squamous cell carcinomas), is the most common type of cancer. UV radiation, family history, and genetic predisposition are the main risk factors. Although surgical excision is the standard treatment, essential oils are attracting growing interest for their anti-cancer effects. This study tested the effects of Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb. (Cupressaceae), Lavandula vera DC. (Lamiaceae), and Salvia fruticosa (Mill). (Lamiaceae) essential oils extracted from Middle Eastern medicinal plants on HaCaT (normal), A5 (benign), and II4 (low-grade malignant) keratinocytes. Essential oils were extracted from Juniperus excelsa, Lavandula vera, and Salvia libanotica using steam distillation and then were chemically analyzed. The oils were sterilized, dissolved in DMSO, and prepared at concentrations of 0.75, 0.5, and 0.25 mg/mL. Human keratinocyte (HaCaT), benign (A5), and malignant (II4) cell lines were cultured in DMEM and treated with the essential oils for 24 or 48 h. Cell viability was assessed using the Trypan Blue Exclusion Test, while cell proliferation was evaluated using the MTT assay. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA with appropriate post hoc tests, considering p < 0.05 as significant. The results show that J. excelsa is cytotoxic but lacks selectivity, limiting its efficacy. In contrast, L. vera and S. fruticosa preferentially target malignant cells, particularly at low concentrations, while sparing normal cells. These oils have dose-dependent anticancer effects, with L. vera efficacy increasing as the concentration increases. In conclusion, L. vera and S. fruticosa are promising candidates for the treatment of skin cancer, although further in vivo studies are required. Full article

Clubroot disease, caused by the soil-borne pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae, poses a severe threat to the global production of Brassicaceae crops, including radish (Raphanus sativus L.). Although resistance breeding is an important method for sustainable disease management, the molecular mechanism underlying clubroot resistance remains elusive in radish compared to other Brassicaceae species. In this study, 52 radish inbred lines were screened for disease responses following P. brassicae inoculation, with the resistant line T6 and the susceptible line T14 selected for transcriptome analysis. RNA-Seq was performed at 10, 20, and 30 days post inoculation (DPI) to elucidate transcriptional responses. The susceptible line T14 exhibited a higher number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and persistent upregulation across all time points, indicating ineffective defense responses and metabolic hijacking by the pathogen. In contrast, the resistant line T6 displayed temporally coordinated defense activation marked by rapid induction of core immune mechanisms: enhanced plant–pathogen interaction recognition, MAPK cascade signaling, and phytohormone transduction pathways, consistent with effector-triggered immunity priming and multilayered defense orchestration. These findings indicate that resistance in T6 could be mediated by the rapid activation of multilayered defense mechanisms, including R gene-mediated recognition, MAPK-Ca²⁺-ROS signaling, and jasmonic acid (JA) pathway modulation. The outcomes of this study would not only facilitate clarifying the molecular mechanism underlying clubroot resistance, but also provide valuable resources for genetic improvement of clubroot resistance in radish. Full article

Background/Objectives: Assessment of a novel deep-learning (DL)-based T1w volumetric interpolated breath-hold (VIBE_DL) sequence in breast MRI in comparison with standard VIBE (VIBE_Std) for image quality evaluation. Methods: Prospective study of 52 breast cancer patients examined at 1.5T breast MRI with T1w VIBE_Std and T1 VIBE_DL sequence. T1w VIBE_DL was integrated as an additional early non-contrast and a delayed post-contrast scan. Two radiologists independently scored T1w VIBE _Std/DL sequences both pre- and post-contrast and their calculated subtractions (SUBs) for image quality, sharpness, (motion)–artifacts, perceived signal-to-noise and diagnostic confidence with a Likert-scale from 1: Non-diagnostic to 5: Excellent. Lesion diameter was evaluated on the SUB for T1w VIBE_Std/_DL. All lesions were visually evaluated in T1w VIBE_Std/_DL pre- and post-contrast and their subtractions. Statistics included correlation analyses and paired t-tests. Results: Significantly higher Likert scale values were detected in the pre-contrast T1w VIBE_DL compared to the T1w VIBE_Std for image quality (each p < 0.001), image sharpness (p < 0.001), SNR (p < 0.001), and diagnostic confidence (p < 0.010). Significantly higher values for image quality (p < 0.001 in each case), image sharpness (p < 0.001), SNR (p < 0.001), and artifacts (p < 0.001) were detected in the post-contrast T1w VIBE_DL and in the SUB. SUB_DL provided superior diagnostic certainty compared to SUB_Std in one reader (p = 0.083 or p = 0.004). Conclusions: Deep learning-enhanced T1w VIBE_DL at 1.5T breast MRI offers superior image quality compared to T1w VIBE_Std. Full article

This study aimed to develop and evaluate an AI-driven platform, the Adaptive RAG Assistant MRI Platform (ARAMP), for assisting in the diagnosis and reporting of brain metastases using post-contrast axial T1-weighted (AX_T1+C) MRI. In this retrospective study, 2447 cancer patients who underwent MRI between 2010 and 2022 were screened. A subset of 100 randomized patients with confirmed brain metastases and 100 matched non-cancer controls were selected for evaluation. ARAMP integrates quantitative radiomic feature extraction with an adaptive Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) framework based on a large language model (LLM, GPT-4o), incorporating five authoritative medical references. Three board-certified neuroradiologists and an independent LLM (Gemini 2.0 Pro) assessed ARAMP performance. Metrics of the assessment included Pre-/Post-Trained Inference Difference, Inter-Inference Agreement, and Sensitivity. Post-training, ARAMP achieved a mean Inference Similarity score of 67.45%. Inter-Inference Agreement among radiologists averaged 30.20% (p = 0.01). Sensitivity for brain metastasis detection improved from 0.84 (pre-training) to 0.98 (post-training). ARAMP also showed improved reliability in identifying brain metastases as the primary diagnosis post-RAG integration. This adaptive RAG-based framework may improve diagnostic efficiency and standardization in radiological workflows. Full article

Objective: This study examined the effects of a short-duration plyometric training program during physical education on neuromuscular ballistic performance in youth. Methods: Thirty-two students were assigned to a control group (CG; n = 16; age: 16.76 ± 0.72 years; height: 1.66 ± 0.09 m; body mass: 61.38 ± 6.07 kg) or an experimental group (EG; n = 16; age: 16.56 ± 0.62 years; height: 1.69 ± 0.09 m; body mass: 61.90 ± 7.83 kg). Both groups completed pre- and post-intervention Countermovement Jump (CMJ) tests using force plates. Over a four-week period, the EG completed eight sessions. Both the EG and the CG participated in 40 min sessions incorporating speed games, directional changes, and agility exercises. Paired t-tests and Cohen’s d were used for analysis. Results: The EG showed significant improvements in jump height (p = 0.006, ES = 0.83), jump momentum (p = 0.008, ES = 0.80), and take-off velocity (p = 0.003, ES = 0.93), with a decrease in peak propulsive power (p = 0.01, ES = 0.77). In contrast, the CG exhibited declines in multiple metrics, including jump height, jump momentum, and take-off velocity. Conclusions: These findings suggest that integrating plyometric training into physical education classes can effectively enhance neuromuscular performance in youth. Implementing structured training protocols within school programs may optimize strength, power, and movement efficiency, benefiting long-term athletic development. Full article

Background: Qualitative motion analysis revealed that the cervical spine moves according to a consistent pattern. This analysis calculates the relative rotation between vertebral segments to determine the sequence in which they contribute to extension, demonstrating a mean sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 85%. However, the extensive time that is required limits its applicability. This study investigated the feasibility of implementing a deep-learning model to analyze qualitative cervical motion. Methods: A U-Net architecture was implemented as 2D and 2D+t models. Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and Intersection over Union (IoU) were used to assess the performance of the models. Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was used to compare the relative rotation of individual vertebrae and segments to the ground truth. Results: IoU ranged from 0.37 to 0.74 and DSC ranged from 0.53 to 0.80. The ICC scores for relative rotation ranged from 0.62 to 0.96 for individual vertebrae and from 0.28 to 0.72 for vertebral segments. For segments, 2D+t models presented higher ICC scores compared to 2D models. Conclusions: This study showed the feasibility of implementing deep-learning models to analyze qualitative cervical motion in dynamic X-ray recordings. Future research should focus on improving model segmentation by enhancing recording contrast and applying post-processing methods. Improved segmentation accuracy will enable routine use of the analysis of motion patterns in clinical research. The absence or presence of a motion pattern, or identification of new patterns has the potential to aid in clinical decision-making. Full article

Background: Pediatric high-grade glioma (pHGG) is a highly aggressive cancer with unique biology distinct from adult high-grade glioma, limiting the effectiveness of standard treatment protocols derived from adult research. Objective: The purpose of this report is to present preliminary results from an ongoing pilot study integrating spectroscopic magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) to guide proton beam therapy and longitudinal imaging analysis in pediatric patients with high-grade glioma (pHGG). Methods: Thirteen pediatric patients under 21 years old with supratentorial WHO grade III-IV glioma underwent baseline and serial whole-brain spectroscopic MRI alongside standard structural MRIs. Radiation targets were defined using T1-weighted contrast enhanced, T2-FLAIR, and Cho/NAA ≥ 2X maps. Longitudinal analyses included voxel-level metabolic change maps and spatial overlap metrics comparing pre-proton therapy and post-. Results: Six patients had sufficient longitudinal data; five received sMRI-guided PBT. Significant positive correlation (R² = 0.89, p < 0.0001) was observed between T2-FLAIR and Cho/NAA ≥ 2X volumes. Voxel-level difference maps of Cho/NAA and Choline revealed dynamic metabolic changes across follow-up scans. Analyzing Cho/NAA and Cho changes over time allowed differentiation between true progression and pseudoprogression, which conventional MRI alone struggles to achieve. Conclusions: Longitudinal sMRI enhanced metabolic tracking in pHGG, detects early tumor changes, and refines RT targeting beyond structural imaging. This first in-kind study highlights the potential of sMRI biomarkers in tracking treatment effects and emphasizes the complementary roles of metabolic and radiographic metrics in evaluating therapy response in pHGG. Full article

Background/Objectives: A history of cancer has been linked to stress and concerns about its recurrence. We aimed to test the benefits of an evidence-based self-help stress reduction method, the Clinical Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), in survivors of cutaneous melanoma, and to contrast its effects on wellbeing and perceptions of cancer recurrence when delivered in a group versus individual instruction setting. Methods: This study was preregistered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05421988, 3 April 2022). Fifty-three patients aged 18 and above, diagnosed with melanoma (stage T1a–T2a) at least 6 months prior, and not in active treatment were recruited from a private skin cancer clinic. After consent, all participants were randomized in one step into three condition groups: Group EFT (G-EFT; n = 16), Individual EFT (I-EFT; n = 18), and a waiting-list control condition (CC; n = 19). G-EFT and I-EFT participants attended weekly treatment sessions for four weeks. Perceptions of cancer recurrence and wellbeing measures were obtained pre- and post-intervention and at three-months follow-up using online questionnaires. Subjective units of distress (SUDs) were recorded by the EFT instructor at the beginning and end of each session. Results: Two-way repeated measures ANOVAs revealed significant improvements from pre- to post-intervention in both EFT conditions in terms of participants’ understanding of how to prevent recurrence and in their spiritual wellbeing. No statistically significant effects were found for fear of recurrence, recurrence perceptions, and affect. Significant decreases in SUD scores were observed in both EFT conditions. Over 80% of the experimental conditions’ participants reported positive changes and satisfaction. Conclusions: The findings provide support for offering EFT instruction as a non-pharmacological and noninvasive self-help method to ameliorate the stress of cancer diagnosis and treatment, and for its similar effectiveness in either a group or individual format. Full article

UL16-binding protein 2 (ULBP2), a ligand for the activating receptor NKG2D, plays a dual role in tumor immunity, promoting immune activation or suppression, depending on the context. To investigate its impact on CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cell-targeted immunotherapies, we used a syngeneic CT26 colon cancer model engineered to express ULBP2 and compared tumor growth and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) profiles in control and ULBP2-expressing tumors treated with anti-CD4, anti-CD25, or anti-CTLA-4 antibodies. Tumor growth was uniformly assessed on day 21 post-transplantation, and TIL analysis was performed in groups with evaluable residual tumors. Anti-CD4 antibody significantly suppressed tumor growth in mock-transfected tumors, while no significant suppression was observed in ULBP2-expressing tumors. Anti-CD25 antibody had limited efficacy in mock tumors and tended to promote tumor growth in ULBP2-expressing tumors. Following these treatments, ULBP2 expression was associated with reduced NKG2D expression in CD8⁺ effector memory T cells, particularly PD-1^high subsets. In contrast, anti-CTLA-4 antibody treatment induced marked tumor regression irrespective of ULBP2 expression. These findings suggest that ULBP2–NKG2D signaling may contribute to altered CD8⁺ T cell phenotypes under T cell-modulatory conditions, potentially impacting the outcome of CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cell-targeted therapies and providing insights for optimizing immunotherapeutic strategies. Full article

This study investigates the impact on the Earth’s ionosphere of a severe geomagnetic storm (Dst $\sim -212$ nT) that began on 23 April 2023 at around 17:37 UT according to very low-frequency (VLF, 3–30 kHz) or low-frequency (LF, 30–300 kHz) radio signals and ionosonde data. We analyze VLF/LF signals received by SuperSID monitors located in mid-latitude (Europe) and low-latitude (South America, Colombia) areas across nine different propagation paths in the Northern Hemisphere. Mid-latitude regions exhibited a daytime amplitude perturbation, mostly an increase, by ∼3–5 dB during the storm period, with a subsequent recovery after 7–8 days post April 23. In contrast, signals received in low-latitude regions (UTP, Colombia) did not show significant variation during the storm-disturbed days. We also observe that the 3-hour average of foF2 data declined by up to 3 MHz on April 23 and April 24 at the European Digisonde stations. However, no significant variation in foF2 was observed at the low-latitude Digisonde stations in Brazil. Both the VLF and ionosonde data exhibited anomalies during the storm period in the European regions, confirming that both D- and F-region ionospheric perturbation was caused by the severe geomagnetic storm. Full article