Abstract Structural alterations in schizophrenia have mainly been regarded as the result of neurodevelopmental processes. However, it remains unresolved whether the pattern of morphological brain ...changes differs between different stages of disease. We examined structural brain changes in 93 first-episode (FES) and 72 recurrently ill (REZ) patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and 175 matched healthy control subjects (HC) using cross-sectional and conjunctional voxel-based morphometry (VBM) of whole-brain MRI data in a three-step approach. We found significant grey matter density (GMD) reductions in FES compared to HC bilaterally in the temporal and prefrontal areas, including the anterior cingulate gyrus, as well as in both thalami. Hippocampus and amygdala were affected on the left side ( P < 0.05, corrected). In REZ patients this pattern was spatially extended. The basal ganglia were exclusively reduced in the recurrently ill group compared to controls. Common to both disease groups were reductions in the bilateral perisylvian regions, the opercular region, the insula, prefrontal cortex, left inferior temporal gyrus, limbic system including hippocampus and amygdala, and the thalami. In FES patients there were no regions affected that were not also affected in REZ patients. In contrast, REZ patients showed extended alterations within the frontal and temporal regions, the hippocampus, amygdala and exclusively in the basal ganglia relative to the FES patients. Our findings suggest a system-specific involvement of neuronal networks in schizophrenia. Furthermore, our data suggest that in the advanced stages of schizophrenia additional cortical and subcortical brain areas become involved in the disease process. Longitudinal data will be required to further test this hypothesis.
Ultrasound is the most used interdisciplinary non-ionizing imaging technique in clinical routine. Therefore, ultrasound has a special value in the diagnosis and monitoring of cystic renal lesions, ...which can be classified as non-complicated or complicated and by means of occurrence as solitary or multifocal lesions. The Bosniak classification (I-IV) classifies renal cysts in 5 different categories with the help of ultrasound and computed tomography image criteria and is used for decisions of further clinical treatment. Additionally to normal native B-mode sonography, several new methods are in clinical use to improve diagnostic accuracy of unclear cases. Contrast enhanced ultrasound and MRI/CT are able to find and characterize difficult pathologies. This review explains the most important pathologies of cystic lesions of the kidney and stresses the different imaging methods of native B-mode sonography and the new techniques of contrast enhanced ultrasound.
X-ray phase-contrast imaging has received growing interest in recent years due to its high capability in visualizing soft tissue. Breast imaging became the focus of particular attention as it is ...considered the most promising candidate for a first clinical application of this contrast modality. In this study, we investigate quantitative breast tissue characterization using grating-based phase-contrast computed tomography (CT) at conventional polychromatic x-ray sources. Different breast specimens have been scanned at a laboratory phase-contrast imaging setup and were correlated to histopathology. Ascertained tumor types include phylloides tumor, fibroadenoma and infiltrating lobular carcinoma. Identified tissue types comprising adipose, fibroglandular and tumor tissue have been analyzed in terms of phase-contrast Hounsfield units and are compared to high-quality, high-resolution data obtained with monochromatic synchrotron radiation, as well as calculated values based on tabulated tissue properties. The results give a good impression of the method's prospects and limitations for potential tumor detection and the associated demands on such a phase-contrast breast CT system. Furthermore, the evaluated quantitative tissue values serve as a reference for simulations and the design of dedicated phantoms for phase-contrast mammography.
Well-proportioned Re–Zr-doped Ni-based mixed metal oxides (MMOs) are the ideal precursor for highly active and selective methanation catalysts for the final removal of CO from hydrogen-rich gas ...reformates with an excess of CO
2. Comparisons of the catalytic properties of these ternary oxides with those of the respective binary oxides as well as the base oxide reveal a strong synergism between the different components. A detailed characterization of the various materials was undertaken. The role of the different dopants is discussed.
The influence of different dopants in varying contents on the activity and selectivity of Ni-based methanation catalysts under proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) relevant conditions (hydrogen-rich gas reformate with low concentrations of CO and excess CO
2) was investigated. The modification of Ni
100O
x
with 2.2
mol% of Re resulted in a catalyst highly inactive for both the methanation of CO and CO
2 while the addition of Zr led to an enhanced CO and CO
2 methanation activity. Further modification of Zr
10Ni
90O
x
with small amounts of Re caused a drastically decreased reactivity towards the undesired hydrogenation of CO
2 while that for CO was practically unchanged. Solo methanation experiments unambiguously reveal that this increase in selectivity is based on a loss of the intrinsic CO
2 reactivity and not necessarily associated with any competition for active sites between the different kinds of carbon oxides. A detailed study of the impact of the compositional variations on structural and chemical properties was performed using nitrogen physisorption, hydrogen chemisorption, temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), temperature-programmed desorption experiments of CO
2 (CO
2 TPD), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) as well as TEM. As a part of the catalytically active Ni particles, Re changes the surface of the catalyst resulting in drastically altered catalytic properties while Zr or the Ni–ZrO
2 interfacial region seems to play a decisive role in the activation of the CO molecule.
Introduction
Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) data in gunshot-related death were evaluated by two reader groups and compared to the gold standard autopsy for the determination of forensic ...pathology criteria.
Materials and methods
Reader group I consisted of two board-certified radiologists whereas one board-certified radiologist and one board-certified forensic pathologist formed group II. PMCT data of 51 gunshot-related deaths were evaluated for the forensic pathology criteria number of gun shots, localization of gunshot injury, caliber, and direction of the gunshot differentiating between entry and exit wound as well as associated injury to surrounding tissue. The results of both reader groups were compared to the each other and to autopsy findings considered as gold standard.
Results
Reader groups I and II and as gold standard the autopsy evaluation showed in general a good correlation between all results. The overall discrepancy rate was 12/51 (23.4 %) cases for group I and 8/51 (15.6 %) for group II.
Discussion
Ultimately, the designated reader is able to draw the following conclusion from the presented data. At first, physical autopsy is better than PMCT regarding the localization of most gunshot injuries. Second, PMCT presents with better results than physical autopsy in locating fragmented bullets/fragment clouds, and finally, PMCT results of two radiologists were equivalent to the results of one evaluating radiologist and one pathologist with the exception of caliber assessment. However, referring to the pure numbers, the slight but not significant difference in the overall discrepancy rate of both reader groups might indicate the advantage of combining expertise in evaluating imaging in cases of gunshot-related death.
This study aims to systematically investigate if normal ankle ligaments can be assessed with CT imaging, using MRI as reference standard.
35 patients (mean age: 47 ± 15 years; female n = 19) with ...combined CT and MRI exams and without MR-morphologic signs of ankle ligamental injury were retrospectively identified. 3 readers independently evaluated the syndesmotic, the lateral and medial ankle ligaments in terms of visibility on a 4-point Likert scale (0–3 points) in multiplanar MDCT images in standard bone kernel reconstructions. In consensus CT-based ligament density and thickness were measured and the appearance was rated for each ligament. Results were compared and validated with corresponding MRI images.
Almost all ankle ligaments identified in MRI images could be adequately depicted in standard multiplanar bone kernel CT images with a mean visual score of 2.7/3 (± 0.2). Difficulties in CT morphological delineation of ankle ligaments occurred in cases of filiform TNL and TCL and in cases of concurrent soft tissue edema. Interreader agreement for the CT-assessment of ankle ligaments was excellent, with Fleiss Kappa values >0.8. Mean density of evaluated medial and lateral ankle ligaments was 68 ± 2.9 HU, with substantially inter- and intraindividual variations. Thickness measurements and assessment of appearance of ankle ligaments showed a good concordance between CT and MRI.
Assessment of normal ankle ligaments via standard CT in bone kernel reconstructions is feasible, with some restrictions concerning the medial collateral ligaments and in the presence of soft tissue edema.
► A new aerobic in situ stabilization method is being applied at pilot scale landfill. ► Intermittent aeration and leachate recirculation combination is being utilized. ► COD, BOD5, N-compounds, Cl, ...pH, el. conductivity and ORP were analysed in leachate. ► Biological activity was accelerated resulting in initial higher leachate strength. ► After 1year of operation emission potential of landfill is reduced.
Modern landfill understanding points out controlled operation of landfills. Emissions from landfills are caused mainly by anaerobic biodegradation processes which continue for very long time periods after landfill closure. In situ landfill stabilization aims controlled reduction of emissions towards reduced expenditures as well as aftercare measures. Since April 2010, a new in situ stabilization technique is being applied at a pilot scale landfill (BAIV) within Landfill Konstanz Dorfweiher. This new method utilizes intermittent aeration and leachate recirculation for waste stabilization. In this study, influence of this technique on leachate quality is investigated. Among many other parameters, leachate analyses were conducted for COD, BOD5, NH4–N, NO2–N, NO3–N, TKN and chloride besides continuously on site recorded pH, electrical conductivity and oxidation–reduction potential (ORP). Results from leachate quality analyses showed that biological activity in the landfill was accelerated resulting in initial higher leachate strength and reduced emission potential of landfill. During full scale in situ aeration, ambient conditions differ from optimized laboratory scale conditions which mainly concern temperature increase and deficient aeration of some landfill parts (Ritzkowski and Stegmann, 2005). Thus, as a field application results of this study have major importance on further process optimization and application.
Understanding genetic factors that affect monoamine neurotransmitters flux in prefrontal cortex may help to further specify the complex neurobiological processes that underlie cognitive function and ...dysfunction in health and illness. The current study examined the associations between the polymorphisms of dopaminergic (COMT Met158Val) and serotoninergic (5-HTTLPR) genes and the sequential pattern of responses in a motor random generation task providing well-established indexes for executive functioning in a large sample of 255 healthy women. Participants homozygous for the Met allele of the COMT polymorphism showed impaired inhibition of prepotent responses, whereas individuals homozygous for the s-allele of the 5-HTTLPR showed a restricted ability to update information in working memory. Taken together the results indicate differentiated influences of dopaminergic and serotonergic genes on important and definite executive sub-processes related to cognitive flexibility.
To compare radiation exposure and image quality of oncological staging multidetector CT (MDCT) examinations of the chest, abdomen and pelvis with and without iterative reconstruction (IR).
40 ...patients with known malignancy underwent staging CT examinations at two time points. Both CT scans were performed on the same scanner (SOMATOM® Definition Flash, Siemens Healthcare, Forchheim, Germany). For the baseline scan, the tube current-time product was set to 250 mAs image reconstruction: filtered back projection (FBP) and for the follow-up scan to 150 mAs reconstruction: iterative reconstruction (IR). Effective radiation doses were estimated based on dose-length products for both baseline and follow-up. Noise measurements in defined regions were compared for FBP and IR. Images were also subjectively evaluated for image quality by three radiologists with different levels of experience.
Dose reduction was 44.4±8.2% for reduced-dose CT scans with IR compared with baseline with FBP. Image noise was not significantly different between images reconstructed with FBP and IR. The subjective quality of standard-dose FBP images and reduced-dose iteratively reconstructed CT images were identical.
Our results show the dose-reducing potential of IR of CT image data in oncological patients.
The algorithm tested in the present scientific study allows a >45% dose reduction at maintained image quality.
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