Workflow for Visualization of Neuroimaging Data with an Augmented Reality Device

Commercial availability of three-dimensional (3D) augmented reality (AR) devices has increased interest in using this novel technology for visualizing neuroimaging data. Here, a technical workflow and algorithm for importing 3D surface-based segmentations derived from magnetic resonance imaging data into a head-mounted AR device is presented and illustrated on selected examples: the pial cortical surface of the human brain, fMRI BOLD maps, reconstructed white matter tracts, and a brain network of functional connectivity.     

Tumor escape and progression of HER-2/neu negative breast cancer under immune pressure

Background  

Emerging data from pre-clinical and clinical studies suggest that HER-2/neu-specific T cell responses could induce HER-2/neu antigen loss in the tumor cells. These data suggest that patients with HER-2/neu negative breast cancer might have had HER-2/neu positive premalignant lesions in the past that progressed to HER-2/neu negative breast cancer under HER-2/neu-specific immune pressure.     

Magnetic resonance thermometry of flowing blood

Blood temperature is a key determinant of tissue temperature and can be altered under normal physiological states, such as exercise, in diseases such as stroke or iatrogenically in therapies which modulate tissue temperature, such as therapeutic hypothermia. Currently available methods for the measurement of arterial and venous temperatures are invasive and, for small animal models, are impractical. Here, we present a methodology for the measurement of intravascular and tissue temperature by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using the lanthanide agent TmDOTMA^? (DOTMA, tetramethyl‐1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7,10‐tetraacetic acid; Tm, thulium). The approach makes use of phase‐sensitive imaging measurements, combined with spectrally selective excitation, to monitor the temperature‐dependent shift in the resonance of proton nuclei associated with water and with methyl groups of TmDOTMA^?. Measurements were first made in a flow phantom modelling diastolic blood flow in the mouse aorta or inferior vena cava (IVC) and imaged using 7‐T preclinical MRI with a custom‐built surface coil. Flowing and static fluid temperatures agreed to within 0.12°C for these experiments. Proof‐of‐concept experiments were also performed on three healthy adult mice, demonstrating temperature measurements in the aorta, IVC and kidney following a bolus injection of contrast agent. A small (0.7–1°C), but statistically significant, higher kidney temperature compared with the aorta (p  = 0.002–0.007) and IVC (p  = 0.003–0.03) was shown in all animals. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of the technique for in vivo applications and illustrate how the technique could be used to explore the relationship between blood and tissue temperature for a wide range of applications.     

The Diagnosis and Treatment of a Mycotic Coronary Artery Aneurysm: A Case Report

Aneurysms of the coronary arteries are rare and are usually associated with atherosclerosis in adults. Mycotic coronary artery aneurysms are exceedingly uncommon and are typically associated with systemic bacteremia, endocarditis, or septic emboli. Literature and data describing the management of mycotic coronary artery aneurysms are limited. This case describes the successful diagnosis of a large right coronary artery aneurysm by transesophageal echocardiogram as well as the successful management of the aneurysm.     

Physical therapy in the emergency department: A new opportunity for collaborative care

Emergency department-initiated physical therapy (ED PT) is an emerging resource in the United States, with the number of ED PT programs in the United States growing rapidly over the last decade. In this collaborative model of care, physical therapists are consulted by the treating ED physician to assist in the evaluation and treatment of a number of movement and functional disorders, such as low back pain, peripheral vertigo, and various gait disturbances. Patients receiving ED PT benefit from the physical therapist's expertise in musculoskeletal and vestibular conditions and from the individualized attention provided in a typical bedside evaluation and treatment session, which includes education on expected symptom trajectory, recommendations for activity modulation, and facilitated outpatient follow-up. Early data suggest that both physicians and patients view ED PT services favorably, and that ED PT is associated with improvement of several important clinical and operational outcomes. Hospital systems interested in building their own ED PT program may benefit from the key steps outlined in this review, as well as a summary of the typical clinical volumes and practice patterns encountered at existing programs around the country.     

Zahnärztliche Imagepflege

Der Freie Zahnarzt -