bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lymph Nodes in the Hepato-Duodenal Ligament
Authors: Lyttkens K. , Hannesson P. , Prytz H. , Wallengren N.-O. , Forsberg L. 
Published: June 2015

Purpose: We investigated whether a low-field MR unit (0.2 T) could demonstrate and determine the size of the lymph nodes in the hepato-duodenal ligament that were previously found on ultrasound. Material and Methods: Eighteen patients were examined with ultrasound, MR and liver biopsy on consecutive days. Results: Two-thirds of the enlarged nodes detected by ultrasound were also detected with the low-field MR technique. However, the size of the nodes was slightly larger on ultrasound. Conclusion: Compared to low-field MR, ultrasound appears to be superior in the evaluation of lymph nodes in the liver hilus.
Extraforaminal Stenosis in the Lumbosacral Spine
Authors: Hashimoto M. , Watanabe O. , Hirano H. 
Published: June 2015

Purpose: To review experience with MR images of extraforaminal (EF) stenosis in the lumbosacral spine. Material: MR images from 9 patients with 10 EF stenoses were reviewed. The diagnosis was confirmed in 6 patients at surgery, and in 4 on the basis of findings of nerve root injection combined with nerve block. Results and Conclusion: All patients had congenital lumbosacral anomalies with various degrees of fixation between the last formed level and the pelvis. In all cases, affected roots were compressed between the transverse process of the last lumbar segment and the sacral ala. MR using coronal plane imaging demonstrated the root impingement directly in the far lateral zone in all patients. However, sagittal and axial images were unable to define the EF stenoses in all patients. The results of this study show that a transitional vertebra is a cause of EF stenosis and that MR images using coronal plane are useful in the assessment of EF stenosis.
Relations between Radiographic Trabecular Pattern and Biomechanical Characteristics of Human Vertebrae
Authors: Korstjens C. M. , Mosekilde L. , Spruijt R. J. , Geraets W. G. M. , van der Stelt P. F. 
Published: June 2015

Purpose: Relations between the radiographic trabecular pattern and the biomechanical characteristics of bone were studied. Material and Methods: The material comprised L2 and L3 vertebral bodies of 14 individuals (aged 22–76 years; 6 women and 8 men). Compressive strength and ash density of the complete L2 vertebral body were determined. Of the L3 vertebral body, ash density and compressive strength in both horizontal and vertical directions were measured on cylinders of merely trabecular bone. Radiographs were taken of a midsagittal slice of L3 vertebrae. They were digitized to measure trabecular bone geometry and orientation. The procedure was repeated several times to obtain reliable measures. Results: The radiographic trabecular pattern was significantly related to compressive strength, ash density and age. One of the radiographic geometric features in particular seems to offer information concerning the structural integrity of the trabecular architecture. Conclusion: Analysis of the radiographic trabecular pattern appears to be a promising technique for prediction of trabecular bone strength.
Delineation of Segmental Liver Anatomy
Authors: Jung G. , Krahe T. , Krug B. , Hahn U. , Raab M. 
Published: June 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of noninvasive imaging methods to localize focal liver lesions to specific hepatic segments. Material and Methods: In a prospective study we evaluated 24 patients with hepatic masses with ultrasonography (US), spiral CT and MR imaging. Results: The primary segmental location of the lesions was correct with US in 15 of 24 patients (63%), with CT in 21 of 24 patients (88%) and with MR imaging in 17 of 22 patients (77%). The full extent of the lesions was correctly described with US in 9 of 24 patients (38%), with CT in 16 of 24 patients (67%) and with MR in 12 of 22 patients (55%). Conclusion: Among the noninvasive imaging methods, CT provides the best information for determining the segmental location and planning the surgical approach to hepatic resections.
Mr Imaging of the Lacrimal Gland
Authors: Ueno H. , Ariji E. , Izumi M. , Uetani M. , Hayashi K. , Nakamura T. 
Published: June 2015

Purpose: The subject of this study was to define age-related and gender-dependent changes in MR features of the lacrimal gland. Material and Methods: MR images were retrospectively analyzed in 104 normal subjects aged 2–79 years to measure thickness and area of the lacrimal gland, its MR signal intensity ratio, and SD of the MR signal intensity profile. Results: Thickness and area of the lacrimal gland decreased with age in women (p<0.001), but not in men. Furthermore, MR signal intensity ratio of the lacrimal gland showed an age-related increase in women (p<0.001), but not in men. On the other hand, SD of the MR signal intensity increased with age in both women and men (p<0.001). Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that gender has a significant influence on lacrimal gland structure during development and aging.
Coronary Angiographic Finding of Thrombus in the Left Atrial Appendage
Authors: Sakamoto I. , Hayashi K. , Matsunaga N. , Ogawa Y. , Matsuoka Y. , Okimoto T. , Takagi M. , Yano K. , Toda G. , Miyahara Y. 
Published: June 2015

Purpose: The value of coronary angiography in the diagnosis of thrombus in the left atrial appendage (LAA) was retrospectively analyzed. Material and Methods: The study covers 34 patients in whom coronary angiography showed coronary neovascularity in LAA with coronary artery-left atrial fistula indicating LAA thrombus. All 34 patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography within one week of coronary angiography. Open-heart surgery was undertaken 2–31 months after angiography in 28 patients. Results: Coronary neovascularity and coronary artery-left atrial fistula arose from the left circumflex artery in 28 patients, and from the left circumflex artery and the right coronary artery in the remaining 6 patients. By echocardiography, LAA thrombus was detected in only one of the 34 patients. In 18 of the 28 patients who underwent open-heart surgery, LAA thrombus was found at surgery to have resolved. Conclusion: Coronary angiography is useful in the diagnosis of LAA thrombus, and coronary neovascularity and fistula formation may indicate that the thrombus can spontaneously resolve.
Normal Nonuniformity of Left Ventricular Contraction
Authors: Naito H. , Arisawa J. , Harada K. , Yamagami H. , Kozuka T. , Tamura S. 
Published: June 2015

Purpose: To identify the normal performance of left ventricular (LV) regional contraction using cine MR imaging with presaturation myocardial tagging. Material and Methods: Sixteen normal volunteers were examined on a 1.5 T MR system with tagging cine sequences. Tags were applied at end-diastole as 2 parallel black lines on short-axis and 4-chamber sections, and the fractional shortenings were calculated at 7 LV locations. Results: The following results were obtained with significance: a transmural gradient of contractility in the short-axis section; prolonged late-systolic endocardial shortening and epicardial early termination in the free wall; initial delay of shortening in the anterior wall; apical predominance of contractility; predominance of circumferential shortening in the free wall and of meridional shortening in the septum. These findings could be associated with myocardial fiber architecture, presumed wall stress and temporal asynergy of excitation. Conclusion: Cine MR imaging with myocardial tagging proved to be useful in assessing the nonuniformity of LV contraction.
Activity in the Gastrointestinal Tract after Administration of Bone-Seeking Radiopharmaceuticals
Authors: Cronhjort M. , Jonsson C. , Nilsson S.-O. , Garmelius B. , Jacobsson H. 
Published: June 2015

Purpose: To test the possibility that (radio)activity of non-pertechnetate nature is excreted into the gastrointestinal tract at bone scintigraphy. Material and Methods: The distribution of a bone-seeking radiopharmaceutical (99mTc-HDP) was studied in an experimental mouse system by dissecting different organs and assessing their activity with a gamma-counter. Results: A comparison of the activity of the submandibular glands, which are assumed to accumulate only pertechnetate, and the gastrointestinal tract showed that a significant fraction of the activity excreted into the gastrointestinal tract did not consist of pertechnetate. Part of the excretion took place in the stomach. It was not connected to a specific bone-seeking agent or 99Mo/99mTc generator. Nor did it increase with time between make-up and injection. The excretion of the non-pertechnetate acitvity was reduced by cimetidine and omeprazole. These gastric-secretion blocking drugs did not reduce excretion of pertechnetate or significantly affect the general distribution of the radiopharmaceutical. Conclusion: There is a significant excretion of non-pertechnetate activity in the gastrointestinal tract. Part of this may be caused by excretion of the undegraded radiopharmaceutical by the stomach mucosa.
Preoperative Staging of Rectal Carcinoma Using Double-Contrast MR Imaging
Authors: Wallengren N.-O. , Holtås S. , Andrén-Sandberg Å. 
Published: June 2015

Purpose: To improve preoperative staging of rectal carcinoma with MR imaging, using a double-contrast technique. Material and Methods: Imaging was performed in 12 patients before and after i.v. injection of Gd-DTPA and rectal administration of a superparamagnetic contrast medium, mainly containing magnetite. The diagnostic information was evaluated and compared with findings at surgery and histopathological analysis. Results: The superparamagnetic contrast medium enema caused a distension of the rectum and intraluminal signal void, whereas Gd-DTPA enhanced the mucosa in T1-weighted images. This allowed an evaluation of the normal rectal wall and separation of the mucosa, tunica muscularis and perirectal space in all cases, which was not possible in T1- or T2-weighted precontrast images. The rectal carcinoma could be delineated and tumor invasion to the rectal wall determined in all cases. The findings in postcontrast MR corresponded with the findings at histopathological examination in 11 of 12 patients. The histopathological examination in one patient revealed metastases (<1 cm) in regional lymph nodes, too small to be identified in pre- or postcontrast MR images. Conclusion: Double-contrast-enhanced MR imaging allows evaluation of the normal rectal wall and preoperative staging of rectal carcinoma.
Gadolinium-Dtpa-Enhanced MR Imaging in Asymptomatic Knees
Authors: Boegård T. , Johansson Å. , Rudling O. , Petersson I. , Forslind K. , Jonsson K. 
Published: June 2015

Purpose: To evaluate the occurrence and extent of Gd-DTPA-enhanced synovial structures in asymptomatic knee joints of middle-aged healthy individuals. Material and Methods: MR imaging of the knee joint was performed in 10 healthy subjects aged 40–61 years. The study included a sagittal T1-weighted SE sequence before and after i.v. injection of 0.1 mmol Gd-DTPA/kg b.w. Results: Contrast-enhanced synovial structures were found in all knees. The extent of the synovial structures was usually not uniform within the examined joint. In the intercondylar fossa, the thickness of synovial structures was more often pronounced. In the suprapatellar recess, synovial thickness was constant and minimal. Conclusion: The presence and the varying extent and thickness of synovial structures in asymptomatic knees in middle-aged individuals must be considered in the evaluation of early and mild synovitis of the knee joint with Gd-enhanced MR imaging in this age group.
Microcatheter Embolization of Arteriovenous Fistulas in the Subclavian Region
Authors: Leppänen M. J. , Seppänen S. K. 
Published: June 2015

Purpose: The retrospective evaluation is presented of 3 patients treated with endovascular embolization of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) in the subclavian region. Material and Methods: Three patients, 2 women and one man, were treated endovascularly in local anesthesia using microcatheters and fibered platinum microcoils. Two patients were asymptomatic and one had unexplained chest pain. Results: All 3 AVFs were successfully occluded. One coil slipped through the fistula into the pulmonary circulation but caused no clinical sequelae. Conclusion: AVFs in the subclavian region can be treated by using microcatheters and fibered platinum microcoils.
Radiological Findings in Biliary Fistula and Gallstone Ileus
Authors: Oikarinen H. , Päivänsalo M. , Tikkakoski T. , Saarela A. 
Published: June 2015

Purpose: Biliary fistula and gallstone ileus are rarely found. The diagnosis is difficult and may be delayed until operation. We reviewed the radiological findings in a retrospective material. Material and Methods: The cases of 16 patients treated for biliary fistula were analyzed with respect to findings at imaging. Ten patients had a spontaneous fistula. Nine of them had an internal bilioduodenal fistula and one had an external fistula with stones passing through a subcutaneous abscess. Five patients also had gallstone ileus and one patient a rare gastric outlet obstruction caused by a gallstone (Bouveret's syndrome). Six patients had an iatrogenic fistula. One of them had internal bile ascites and 5 an external fistula, one of which was a biliocystic fistula resulting from attempted hepatic cyst sclerotherapy. Results: Various imaging modalities were used and there was often a delay in the diagnosis. Imaging did not show the fistula itself in any of the spontaneous cases. However, a nonvisualized or shrunken gallbladder seen at US often coexisted in these cases. CT yielded the diagnosis in one case of gallstone ileus, and a Gastrografin meal yielded it in the case of Bouveret's syndrome. Fistulography and cholangiography provided a correct diagnosis of fistula in all cases of iatrogenic biliocutaneous fistulas. Conclusion: Patients with biliary fistula usually undergo examinations with nonspecific results. The imaging findings could be more specific if the possibility of this diagnosis were remembered.
Toxicity of Ethanol in Low Concentrations
Authors: Tapani E. , Taavitsainen M. , Lindros K. , Vehmas T. , Lehtonen E. 
Published: June 2015

Purpose: To define the threshold ethanol concentration that is toxic to cultured cells. Methods: Three malignant cell lines and freshly isolated normal rat hepatocytes were exposed to 0–50% (vol.) ethanol (concentrations used were 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40 and 50%) on tissue culture plates for 0.25–60 min (exposure times used were 0.25, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min). Cytotoxicity was estimated by trypan blue exclusion test and from 3H-thymidine incorporation. Results: All cells were killed by a 15-s exposure to 30–40% ethanol while a concentration as low as 15–20% gave a total response after 5–10-min exposures. After a one-hour exposure of F9 carcinoma cells and hepatocytes, a total or nearly total response was achieved with 10% ethanol. The cytotoxic effect was thus dependent both on the exposure time and on the concentration of ethanol. There were no significant differences in ethanol tolerance among the cell types. Conclusion: Ethanol seemed to kill cells in the cell culture effectively in much lower concentrations than those currently used in tumour ablation.
Augmentation of Rotator Cuff Repair With Soft Tissue Scaffolds
Authors: Thangarajah Tanujan , Pendegrass Catherine J. , Shahbazi Shirin , Lambert Simon , Alexander Susan , Blunn Gordon W. 
Published: June 2015

Background Tears of the rotator cuff are one of the most common tendon disorders. Treatment often includes surgical repair, but the rate of failure to gain or maintain healing has been reported to be as high as 94%. This has been substantially attributed to the inadequate capacity of tendon to heal once damaged, particularly to bone at the enthesis. A number of strategies have been developed to improve tendon-bone healing, tendon-tendon healing, and tendon regeneration. Scaffolds have received considerable attention for replacement, reconstruction, or reinforcement of tendon defects but may not possess situation-specific or durable mechanical and biological characteristics. Purpose To provide an overview of the biology of tendon-bone healing and the current scaffolds used to augment rotator cuff repairs. Study Design Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods A preliminary literature search of MEDLINE and Embase databases was performed using the terms rotator cuff scaffolds, rotator cuff augmentation, allografts for rotator cuff repair, xenografts for rotator cuff repair, and synthetic grafts for rotator cuff repair. Results The search identified 438 unique articles. Of these, 214 articles were irrelevant to the topic and were therefore excluded. This left a total of 224 studies that were suitable for analysis. Conclusion A number of novel biomaterials have been developed into biologically and mechanically favorable scaffolds. Few clinical trials have examined their effect on tendon-bone healing in well-designed, long-term follow-up studies with appropriate control groups. While there is still considerable work to be done before scaffolds are introduced into routine clinical practice, there does appear to be a clear indication for their use as an interpositional graft for large and massive retracted rotator cuff tears and when repairing a poor-quality degenerative tendon.
Hydration and strength evolution of air-cured zeolite-rich tuffs and siltstone blended cement pastes at low water-to-binder ratio
Authors: Cornejo M.H. , Elsen J. , Paredes C. , Baykara H. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThis contribution is the second part of an in-depth study on the hydration and strength evolution of blended cement pastes at a water to binder (W/B) ratio of 0.3, cured by two different methods. The blended cement pastes showed significant hydration up to 7 days, when almost all of the hydration products had already formed; thereafter, carbonation played an important role up to, and possibly beyond, 91 days. Likewise, the hydration of alite (tricalcium silicate, Ca3SiO5, C3S) proceeded up to 14 days and then started to slow down. However, the hydration of belite (dicalcium silicate, Ca2SiO4, C2S) was affected most strongly, as it nearly ceased, under the air-curing conditions. During hydration, some of the blended cement pastes had a larger calcium hydroxide (CH) content than the unblended (plain) ones. The accelerating effects of the addition of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), the air-curing conditions and the low W/B ratio may explain these unusual results. Under these experimental conditions, the water incorporated into hydrates was about 50% of the total amount of water used during full hydration of the cement pastes. The pozzolanic reaction predominated during the early ages, but disappeared as time passed. In contrast, the carbonation reaction increased by consuming ∼45% of the total amount of CH produced after aging for 91 days. Only one blended cement paste reached the compressive strength of the plain cements. The blended cement pastes containing 5% of the zeolitic tuffs, Zeo1 or Zeo2, or 10% of the calcareous siltstone, Limo, developed the greatest compressive strength under the experimental conditions used in this study.
A nerve guidance conduit with topographical and biochemical cues: potential application using human neural stem cells
Authors: Jenkins Phillip M , Laughter Melissa R , Lee David J , Lee Young M , Freed Curt R , Park Daewon 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
Despite major advances in the pathophysiological understanding of peripheral nerve damage, the treatment of nerve injuries still remains an unmet medical need. Nerve guidance conduits present a promising treatment option by providing a growth-permissive environment that 1) promotes neuronal cell survival and axon growth and 2) directs axonal extension. To this end, we designed an electrospun nerve guidance conduit using a blend of polyurea and poly-caprolactone with both biochemical and topographical cues. Biochemical cues were integrated into the conduit by functionalizing the polyurea with RGD to improve cell attachment. Topographical cues that resemble natural nerve tissue were incorporated by introducing intraluminal microchannels aligned with nanofibers. We determined that electrospinning the polymer solution across a two electrode system with dissolvable sucrose fibers produced a polymer conduit with the appropriate biomimetic properties. Human neural stem cells were cultured on the conduit to evaluate its ability to promote neuronal growth and axonal extension. The nerve guidance conduit was shown to enhance cell survival, migration, and guide neurite extension.
Target coverage through distributed clustering in directional sensor networks
Authors: Islam Md. Mofijul , Ahasanuzzaman Md. , Razzaque Md. Abdur , Hassan Mohammad Mehedi , Alelaiwi Abdulhameed , Xiang Yang 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
Maximum target coverage with minimum number of sensor nodes, known as an MCMS problem, is an important problem in directional sensor networks (DSNs). For guaranteed coverage and event reporting, the underlying mechanism must ensure that all targets are covered by the sensors and the resulting network is connected. Existing solutions allow individual sensor nodes to determine the sensing direction for maximum target coverage which produces sensing coverage redundancy and much overhead. Gathering nodes into clusters might provide a better solution to this problem. In this paper, we have designed distributed clustering and target coverage algorithms to address the problem in an energy-efficient way. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that exploits cluster heads to determine the active sensing nodes and their directions for solving target coverage problems in DSNs. Our extensive simulation study shows that our system outperforms a number of state-of-the-art approaches.
Eicosapentaenoic Acid as long‐term secondary prevention after ischemic stroke
Authors: Nakase Taizen , Sasaki Masahiro , Suzuki Akifumi 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBackgroundIt is sometimes difficult to choose anti‐thrombotic agents for secondary prevention in stroke patients at high bleeding risk. Recently, Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) was reported to reduce the recurrence of stroke in hypercholesterolemic patients without increasing hemorrhagic risk. In this study, we investigated the features of recurrent stroke patients during EPA medication as secondary stroke prevention.MethodsFollowing the approval of the ethical committee, stroke patients in the outpatient clinic were consecutively screened and patients who continuously take EPA were enrolled in this study (n = 71, average age 69.7 yo). Blood sample data was adopted from the latest visit or the admission at the stroke recurrence. According to the previous stroke history, all patients were classified into the hemorrhagic stroke (HS) group (n = 10) and the ischemic stroke, including asymptomatic infarction, (IS) group (n = 61).ResultAny stroke recurrence was not observed in the HS group. Whereas, ischemic stroke recurrence was observed in 6 patients in the IS group, although there was no hemorrhagic stroke recurrence. Recurrent stroke patients showed the higher serum level of cholesterol or the renal dysfunction. The stroke subtype of patients were 2 embolic strokes, 3 atherothrombotic infarctions (two were compromised with renal failure and one had insufficient amount of EPA) and one lacunar infarction (who showed high triglyceride level).ConclusionHemorrhagic stroke was not occurred in our observation of EPA prescribed patients. The clinical features of recurrent stroke patients were the existing complications of dyslipidemia and renal dysfunction.