TASK DEFINITION: In this task, you are given a passage which has a question and the context. You have to generate an answer to the question based on the information present in the context.
PROBLEM: Context: Readout-segmented echo planar imaging (rs-EPI) significantly reduces susceptibility artifacts in diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the breast compared to single-shot EPI but is limited by longer scan times. To compensate for this, we tested a new simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) acquisition for accelerated rs-EPI.', 'After approval by the local ethics committee, eight healthy female volunteers (age, 38.9 ± 13.1 years) underwent breast MRI at 3T. Conventional as well as two-fold (2× SMS) and three-fold (3× SMS) slice-accelerated rs-EPI sequences were acquired at b-values of 50 and 800 s/mm(2). Two independent readers analyzed the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in fibroglandular breast parenchyma. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was estimated based on the subtraction method. ADC and SNR were compared between sequences by using the Friedman test.', 'The acquisition time was 4:21 min for conventional rs-EPI, 2:35 min for 2× SMS rs-EPI and 1:44 min for 3× SMS rs-EPI. ADC values were similar in all sequences (mean values 1.62 × 10(-3)mm(2)/s, p=0.99). Mean SNR was 27.7-29.6, and no significant differences were found among the sequences (p=0.83).\Question: Do simultaneous multi-slice readout-segmented echo planar imaging for accelerated diffusion-weighted imaging of the breast?

SOLUTION: SMS rs-EPI yields similar ADC values and SNR compared to conventional rs-EPI at markedly reduced scan time. Thus, SMS excitation increases the clinical applicability of rs-EPI for DWI of the breast.

PROBLEM: Context: The majority of patients with osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma are diagnosed before skeletal maturity. Paley's multiplier is used for height prediction in healthy children, and has been suggested as a method to make growth predictions for children with osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma when considering limb salvage options. To our knowledge, no evaluation of this method in this particular patient group has been performed, but a temporary growth deficit has been observed in children undergoing chemotherapy.", "We asked whether (1) Paley's formula reliably predicts growth in children who received polychemotherapy; (2) chemotherapy impairs growth velocity; and (3) final adult height is impaired in these patients.", "Retrospectively, data for 94 patients with osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma were retrieved from databases of two sarcoma centers. Onset before 14 years of age in girls and 16 years in boys and a minimum followup until 18 years were required (mean, 67 months; range, 31-124 months) criteria. Exclusion criteria were the intake of growth hormones or no chemotherapy. Thirty-three patients (35%) fulfilled all inclusion criteria. Predicted adult heights were compared with actual adult height. The development of a growth deficit was evaluated for 23 children (without chemotherapy for recurrence) using age- and gender-specific standard deviation scores for height (WHO Z-scores).", "Height prediction using Paley's method showed a high percentage of false predictions (outside ± 1 SD, 70%; outside ± 2 SD, 61%). On average, the mean total height of the patients was overestimated (2.3 cm). The median absolute error of prediction was 5.0 cm (range, -17 to 8). Patients with osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma showed a significant growth impairment during polychemotherapy. A catchup phase in growth before skeletal maturity was observed in patients with osteosarcoma but not with Ewing's sarcoma.\Question: Does paley 's multiplier method accurately predict adult height in children with bone sarcoma?

SOLUTION: Owing to its lack of reliability in this patient group, methods other than Paley's should be evaluated to predict adult height. Although limited by a small number of patients, our study results indicate a decreased adult height in patients with bone sarcoma after chemotherapy.

PROBLEM: Context: Dyspnoea is a threatening sensation of respiratory discomfort that presents many similarities with pain. Experimental dyspnoea in healthy subjects induces analgesia. This 'dyspnoea-pain counter-irritation' could, in reverse, imply that relieving dyspnoea in patients with chronic respiratory diseases would lower their pain thresholds.", 'We first determined pressure pain thresholds in 25 healthy volunteers (22-31\u2005years; 13 men; handheld algometer), during unloaded breathing (BASELINE) and during inspiratory threshold loading (ITL). Two levels of loading were used, adjusted to induce dyspnoea self-rated at 60% or 80% of a 10\u2005cm visual analogue scale (ITL6 and ITL8). 18 patients with chronic respiratory failure due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) were then studied during unassisted breathing and after 30 and 60\u2005min of non-invasive ventilation-NIV30 and NIV60-(same dyspnoea evaluation).', 'In healthy volunteers, pressure pain thresholds increased significantly in the deltoid during ITL6 (p<0.05) and ITL8 (p<0.05) and in the trapezius during ITL8 (p<0.05), validating the use of pressure pain thresholds to study dyspnoea-pain counter-irritation. In patients with ALS, the pressure pain thresholds measured in the deltoid during unassisted breathing decreased by a median of 24.5%-33.0% of baseline during NIV30 and NIV60 (p<0.05).\Question: Does relieving dyspnoea by non-invasive ventilation decrease pain thresholds in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?

SOLUTION:
Relieving dyspnoea by NIV in patients with ALS having respiratory failure is associated with decreased pressure pain thresholds. Clinical implications have yet to be determined, but this observation suggests that patients with ALS could become more susceptible to pain after the institution of NIV, hence the need for reinforced attention towards potentially painful diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.