Residential MRI: Development of A Mobile Anywhere-Everywhere MRI Lab

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enables unprecedented visualization of brain and central nervous system anatomy, microstructure, function, and physiology. However, unlike electroencephalography (EEG) or functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), which can be used within a doctor’s office, research laboratory, or at a participant’s home, MRI remains a hospital or center-based modality. The need for patients or research participants to travel to the scanner limits overall healthcare access and potentially biases research study populations. The recent introduction of low magnetic field strength, lightweight, and portable MRI systems offer the potential to extend beyond these traditional hospital and imaging center boundaries. Here we describe the development and deployment of a mobile imaging lab in a modified cargo van that incorporates a removable low field permanent magnet MRI system. The mobile lab allows, for the first time, rapid and routine ‘residential’ MRI that can be performed at home, community center, school, etc. Breaking traditional barriers of access, this mobile approach will enable imaging of patients and participants who have mobility challenges, live long distances from imaging centers, or are otherwise unable to travel to an imaging center or hospital.

Are Strokes Mostly Genetically Based or Acquired? Stenosis vs Hypoplasia of Vertebral Artery Anomalous as The Leading Cause of Stroke (Anatomical Study of VA Anomalies in Neck Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography Angiography)

Background A thorough understanding of the vertebral artery (VA) variations and course of the artery and its related branches could significantly enhance the efficacy and safety of interventions involving the neck and spine. Here, we aimed to investigate the incidence of various VA variations in individuals presenting with signs and symptoms of stroke with our neurology team. In this cross-sectional study, all patients referred to our specialized medical imaging center and underwent neck CT-angiography (CTA) were enrolled in this study for two years from September 2019 onward. Patients' information forms were obtained to collect demographic data. Results An experienced board-certified radiologist evaluated the CTA images, recording the characteristics of VA, regarding dominance and any possible anomalies. These included anomalous origin, anomalous route, anomalous branching, stenosis, hypoplasia, atresia, thrombosis, and dissection. A total of 125 patients (53.6% females; mean age, 60.7 (11–87)) were included. In the case of VA dominance, 66.4% of cases were co-dominant while 16.0% were right, and 12.8% were left dominant. Overall, males had more VA anomalies than females, 24.8% and 17.6%, respectively (in general, 42.4% of all participants) (p = 0.020). Among patients, 4.0% (n = 5) had an anomalous origin and anomalous branching was reported in 5 patients (4.0%). Among the variations, significant stenosis (18.4%) and hypoplasia (17.6%) were the most prevalent anomalies with the earliest one having the higher rate. While anomalous branching was reported in 5 patients (4.0%). Conclusions VA variations are relatively common and should be addressed during procedures involving the neck region and would allow surgeons to avoid life threatening injury.

Gender Determination with Ischiopubic Index and Upper Pelvic Index in Iranian Adult Radiographic Stereotypes

Background: Different parts of the skeletal system have been studied in different studies to determine gender. The pelvis is one of the most important skeletal components for the determination of gender and identification of humans. Objectives: The current study aimed to determine gender using the ischiopubic index and upper pelvic index in the adult population of Iran. Methods: In this study, 140 individuals (70 male and 70 female subjects) referring to Athari Imaging Center in Tehran, Iran, for various medical reasons entered the study by giving written and oral consent using the convenience sampling method. Measurements were performed on digital anteroposterior pelvic radiographs (with standard conditions and radiographic stencil distance from the light source as 100 cm). The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 22). Results: The mean ischemic index of the whole population was 108.88 ± 13.75. The difference in the ischiopubic index between male and female subjects was significant (P < 0.05). The mean upper pelvic index of the whole study population was 81.70 ± 10.09; however, the difference in the upper pelvic index between the two groups of male and female subjects was not significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The pelvic ischemic index in Iranian women is higher than that reported for men. If the ischiopubic index is higher than 103, with 93% sensitivity and 73% specificity, it would be female. According to the study of graphs, if there is a special identity for diagnosis, there will be the possibility to match the graph before the death of the individual with the graph taken from skeletal remains.

Receptor research for the development of new drug therapies for stimulant addiction

Drug addiction is associated with a range of medical and social problems, not least the negative side effects experienced by those who take drugs. The long-term effects are particularly concerning and can be difficult to treat. Changes in the behaviour of long-term drug users can include impulsivity and irrationality, which can negatively impact on society. Dr Kyoji Okita, Integrative Brain Imaging Center (IBIC), National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan, is working to shed light on the neurological biochemistry behind drug addiction, as this aspect is little understood. In his work, he is collaborating with experts and he intends to apply the knowledge he and his collaborators uncover to real-world treatments. A particular focus for Okita is the use of positron emission tomography (PET) to explore the dynamics behind psychological and addiction biology. Currently, he is investigating the potential of a drug called Istradefylline as a treatment for methamphetamine use disorder. The drug is currently used as part of the treatment for Parkinson's disease and Okita wants to decipher if administering Istradefylline to people addicted to methamphetamines can help increase their dopamine sensitivity and, in the process, reduce their reliance on the drug, as well as the psychological side effects. If found to be effective, Istradefylline could form a key part of a treatment programme for addiction.

Overview of the Emergency Department of Internal Medicine of the HUEH during the months of April and May 2021

Introduction This is a simple descriptive analysis of cases received in the Internal Medicine Department of the HUEH during our visit. The objective is to present the demographic characteristics of the main diagnoses. Methodology The data were revealed from the emergency book and the period considered was from April 1 to 22, 2021, and then from May 3 to 30, 2021, due to a work stoppage. 97 patients were recorded in the notebook for the period. SPSS and Excel were used for the analyses. Results The mean age of the patients was 56.82±16.85 years. Of these 57.7% were in the 30-65 age group, and only 8.2% were under 30 years. More than half were male (52.6%). However, women were older than men (59.60±16.78 years vs 54.32±16.67 years) (Figure 1). About the origin, 40.2% came from the Western department, and 13.4% were from the South. (Table 1) Only 21.6% of patients were referred. Of these referred patients 38.1% came from the West department, 19.0% from the Centre department, and 14.3% from Artibonite. 81.4% of the patients received were hospitalized and 12.4% were kept for observation. More than half (54%) had hypertension as a history, and 33% had diabetes and hypertension combined. The 5 main pathologies diagnosed were: global D/C (29.9%); stroke including Sylvian infarction (15.5%); decompensated type 2 diabetes (11.3%); CKD (10.3%) and sepsis (6.2%). Almost one-third of the hospitalizations were global D/C class IV (29.9%), 17.7% had Sylvian infarction, 12.7% had CKD, 11.4% decompensated diabetes, and 7.6% had sepsis. Among the decompensated cardiac patients, 53.8% were between 30 and 65 years, only 7.7% were younger than 30 years, and 59.2% were men. For Sylvian infarction, 78.5% were in the 30-65 age group and more than half (53.3%) were women. In patients with decompensated diabetes, 63.6% were between 30-65 years of age and 54.5% were men. 70% of CKD patients were in the 30-65 age group, and more men (70%) thanwomen (30%). It is worth noting that 20% of these patients were under 30 years of age. Sepsis cases were predominantly in women (66.6%). Conclusion We are in the midst of an epidemiological transition in which infectious pathologies no longer predominate, but cardiovascular ones. We have observed that stroke is the second cause of hospitalization at the HUEH, other studies are needed to confirm this observation, in the meantime, it is an obligation that the HUEH is equipped to meet its primary objective which is a tertiary care and training oriented according to the epidemiological needs of the country, hence the need to strengthen the Cardiology unit and to put a Neurology unit with an imaging center .

Medical Imaging Center Bonn: UKB fördert KI bei der Auswertung von Bilddaten

Die Einladung steht: Das Medical Imaging Center Bonn (MIB), das Anfang April an der dortigen Uniklinik seine Arbeit aufgenommen hat, ist nicht nur offen für Forschungsgruppen des UKB und der Uni Bonn, sondern auch für externe Institute und setzt zudem auf Industriepartner.

Hydrocephalic Dementia: Revisited with Multimodality Imaging and toward a Unified Imaging Approach

Objective Overlap of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and pathology proven cases of dementia is known. The objective of this paper is to correlate both the clinical and multimodality imaging findings in patients with imaging diagnosis NPH and give a hypothesis for association of clinical findings. Methods This is a retrospective observational analysis of 13 cases patients who were referred to molecular imaging center for imaging in 2016 to 2019, and they were divided into four groups based on structural imaging findings. Group 1 had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of diffuse effacement of sulcal spaces (DESH) and flow void, whereas Group 4 had none of these two. Group 3 had MRI findings of DESH but no flow void, and Group 2 had flow void but no DESH. Clinical presentation, MRI-PET findings of four groups are assessed. Results Groups with presence of flow void showed hypometabolism in the medial frontal and medial temporal lobe. Groups with presence of DESH has effacement of parietal sulci showed parietal hypo metabolism with clinical presentation AD/mixed dementia and absence of parietal effacement showed FTD-like presentation. Groups without flow void or DESH showed only mild medial temporal hypometabolism and presented with classical signs of NPH. ASL perfusion changes are in correlation with metabolism on positron emission tomography (PET)-MRI. Conclusion This study has led us to hypothesize the lack of outflow of brain protein and their deposition in parenchyma based on pressure gradient would be easier explanation to go with cluster of findings. MR-PET and other investigations each had different specificity and sensitivity and different pattern of presentation.