The paternal heredity of obesity and diabetes induced by a high-fat and/or high-sugar diet (Western-like diet) has been demonstrated through epidemiological analysis of human cohorts and experimental ...analysis, but the nature of the hereditary vector inducing this newly acquired phenotype is not yet well defined. Here, we show that microinjection of either testis or sperm RNA of male mice fed a Western-like diet into naive one-cell embryos leads to the establishment of the Western-like diet-induced metabolic phenotype in the resulting progenies, whereas RNAs prepared from healthy controls did not. Among multiple sequence differences between the testis transcriptomes of the sick and healthy fathers, we noted that several microRNAs had increased expression, which was of interest because this class of noncoding RNA is known to be involved in epigenetic control of gene expression. When microinjected into naive one-cell embryos, one of these small RNA, i.e., the microRNA miR19b, induced metabolic alterations that are similar to the diet-induced phenotype. Furthermore, this pathological phenotype was inherited by the offspring after crosses with healthy partners. Our results indicate that acquired food-induced trait inheritance might be enacted by RNA signalling.
Objective
To assess noise reduction achievable with an iterative reconstruction algorithm.
Methods
32 consecutive chest CT angiograms were reconstructed with regular filtered back projection (FBP) ...(Group 1) and an iterative reconstruction technique (IRIS) with 3 (Group 2a) and 5 (Group 2b) iterations.
Results
Objective image noise was significantly reduced in Group 2a and Group 2b compared with FBP (
p
< 0.0001). There was a significant reduction in the level of subjective image noise in Group 2a compared with Group 1 images (
p
< 0.003), further reinforced on Group 2b images (Group 2b vs Group 1;
p
< 0.0001) (Group 2b vs Group 2a;
p
= 0.0006). The overall image quality scores significantly improved on Group 2a images compared with Group 1 images (
p
= 0.0081) and on Group 2b images compared with Group 2a images (
p
< 0.0001). Comparative analysis of individual CT features of mild lung infiltration showed improved conspicuity of ground glass attenuation (
p
< 0.0001), ill-defined micronodules (
p
= 0.0351) and emphysematous lesions (
p
< 0.0001) on Group 2a images, further improved on Group 2b images for ground glass attenuation (
p
< 0.0001), and emphysematous lesions (
p
= 0.0087).
Conclusion
Compared with regular FBP, iterative reconstructions enable significant reduction of image noise without loss of diagnostic information, thus having the potential to decrease radiation dose during chest CT examinations.
Purpose
To evaluate the image quality of an iterative reconstruction algorithm (IRIS) in low-dose chest CT in comparison with standard-dose filtered back projection (FBP) CT.
Materials and methods
...Eighty consecutive patients referred for a follow-up chest CT examination of the chest, underwent a low-dose CT examination (Group 2) in similar technical conditions to those of the initial examination, (Group 1) except for the milliamperage selection and the replacement of regular FBP reconstruction by iterative reconstructions using three (Group 2a) and five iterations (Group 2b).
Results
Despite a mean decrease of 35.5% in the dose-length-product, there was no statistically significant difference between Group 2a and Group 1 in the objective noise, signal-to-noise (SNR) and contrast-to-noise (CNR) ratios and distribution of the overall image quality scores. Compared to Group 1, objective image noise in Group 2b was significantly reduced with increased SNR and CNR and a trend towards improved image quality.
Conclusion
Iterative reconstructions using three iterations provide similar image quality compared with the conventionally used FBP reconstruction at 35% less dose, thus enabling dose reduction without loss of diagnostic information. According to our preliminary results, even higher dose reductions than 35% may be feasible by using more than three iterations.
During COVID-19, the main manifestations of the disease are not only pneumonia but also coagulation disorders. The purpose of this study was to evaluate pulmonary vascular abnormalities 3 months ...after hospitalization for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in patients with persistent respiratory symptoms.
Among the 320 patients who participated in a systematic follow-up 3 months after hospitalization, 76 patients had residual symptoms justifying a specialized follow-up in the department of pulmonology. Among them, dual-energy CT angiography (DECTA) was obtained in 55 patients.
The 55 patients had partial (n = 40; 72.7%) or complete (n = 15; 27.3%) resolution of COVID-19 lung infiltration. DECTA was normal in 52 patients (52/55; 94.6%) and showed endoluminal filling defects in 3 patients (3/55; 5.4%) at the level of one (n = 1) and two (n = 1) segmental arteries of a single lobe and within central and peripheral arteries (n = 1). DECT lung perfusion was rated as non-interpretable (n = 2;3.6%), normal (n = 17; 30.9%) and abnormal (n = 36; 65.5%), the latter group comprising 32 patients with residual COVID-19 opacities (32/36; 89%) and 4 patients with normal lung parenchyma (4/36; 11%). Perfusion abnormalities consisted of (a) patchy defects (30/36; 83%), (b) PE-type defects (6/36; 16.6%) with (n = 1) or without proximal thrombosis (n = 5); and (c) focal areas of hypoperfusion (2/36; 5.5%). Increased perfusion was seen in 15 patients, always matching GGOs, bands and/or vascular tree-in- bud patterns.
DECT depicted proximal arterial thrombosis in 5.4% of patients and perfusion abnormalities suggestive of widespread microangiopathy in 65.5% of patients. Lung microcirculation was abnormal in 4 patients with normal lung parenchyma.
To evaluate the effect of iterative reconstruction on the depiction of systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease (ILD) when the radiation dose is reduced by 60%.
This study was based on ...retrospective interpretation of prospectively acquired data over a 12-month period and approved by the institutional review board. The requirement to obtain informed consent was waived. Fifty-five chest computed tomographic (CT) examinations were performed in 38 women and 17 men (mean age, 55.8 years; range, 23-82 years) by using a dual-source CT unit with (a) both tubes set at similar energy (120 kVp) and (b) the total reference milliampere seconds (ie, 110 mAs) split up in a way that 40% was applied to tube A and 60% to tube B. Two series of images were generated simultaneously from the same dataset: (a) standard-dose images (generated from both tubes) reconstructed with filtered back projection (group 1, the reference standard) and (b) reduced-dose images (generated from tube A; 60% dose reduction) reconstructed with sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE) (group 2). In both groups, the analyzed parameters comprised the image noise and the visualization and conspicuity of CT features of ILD. Two readers independently analyzed images from both groups. Results were compared by using the Wilcoxon test for paired samples; the 95% confidence interval was calculated when appropriate.
The mean level of objective noise in group 2 was significantly lower than that in group 1 (22.02 HU vs 26.23 HU, respectively; P < .0001). The CT features of ILD in group 1 were always depicted in group 2, with subjective conspicuity scores (a) improved in group 2 for ground-glass opacity, reticulation, and bronchiectasis and/or bronchiolectasis and (b) identical in both groups for honeycombing. The interobserver agreement for their depiction was excellent in both groups (κ, 0.84-0.98).
Despite a 60% dose reduction, images reconstructed with SAFIRE allowed similar detection of systematic sclerosis-related ILD compared with the reference standard.
Sensory imprinting produces life-long attachment to environmental features experienced during a critical period of early development. Imprinting of this kind is highly conserved in evolution and is ...an important form of adaptive behavioral plasticity
1. The nematode
Caenorhabditis elegans undergoes such adaptation to new environments through imprinting: attractive odorants, when present during the first larval stage, produce life-long olfactory imprints that enhance attraction and egg-laying rates in the adults
2. Here I report evidence that the olfactory imprint can be transmitted to the next generation. If the imprint is generated successively over more than four generations, it is not just transmitted through one further generation, but rather, it is stably inherited through many following generations. While the transient nature of the inheritance suggests the existence of resetting mechanisms, stable
trans-generational inheritance of the kind reported here raises the possibility that a behavioral alteration produced by an environmental change might be genetically assimilated after a limited number of generations.
To evaluate, by using electrocardiographically (ECG)-gated multidetector computed tomography (CT), parameters such as right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) systolic shortening and myocardial ...thickness and right pulmonary artery (RPA) distensibility, reported to be abnormal at echocardiography and/or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PHT).
The institutional review board approved the study and waived informed consent. Forty-five patients, 21 with PHT (group 1; mean pulmonary arterial pressure PAP, 42 mm Hg) and 24 without (group 2; mean PAP, 16.5 mm Hg), who had undergone thoracic ECG-gated 64-section CT and right heart catheterization as part of their diagnostic work-up were included in this study. Two independent observers measured RPA distensibility and RVOT myocardial thickness, diameter, and cross-sectional area during systole and diastole. Their values were compared in both groups (Mann-Whitney U test). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Spearman correlation with mean PAP were also obtained.
Interobserver agreement was good for all measurements (R > 0.8) except for systolic RVOT wall thickness. Median values of RPA distensibility, diastolic RVOT wall thickness, and systolic RVOT diameter and cross-sectional area were significantly different between groups 1 and 2. The largest area under the ROC curve was obtained with RPA distensibility (0.951; 95% confidence interval: 0.89, 1) also showing the closest correlation with mean PAP (r = -0.79; P < .0001).
Among all parameters evaluated, RPA distensibility shows the best diagnostic value for PHT and could be useful for risk stratification.
To evaluate the strengths and limitations of a rib-unfolding software in a polytrauma context.
Chest computed tomography (CT) examinations of 110 patients were reviewed for specific detection of rib ...fractures using: (1) transverse CT sections ± multiplanar reformattings (ie, the standard of reference), and (2) unfolded rib images reconstructed by the CT Bone Reading software with the possibility of rib analysis along their long axis and creation of standard orthogonal views in different orientations of any area suspected of fracture.
The software provided complete reconstruction of the whole rib cage in 94 patients (85.5%) and partially incomplete reconstruction in 16 patients (14.5%). The percentage of ribs inadequately reconstructed was 1.5% (40 of 2640 ribs), mainly related to unfused epiphyses (13 of 40), costal hypoplasia (8 of 40), and vertebral fracture (6 of 40). The sensitivity and specificity in detecting rib fractures at a per-patient, per-rib, and per-costal arc level ranged from 0.73 to 0.84 and 0.99 to 1, respectively. At a costal arc level, the reader's misinterpretations accounted for 67% (4 of 6) of false-positive and 24% (20/84) of false-negative results, and interpretive difficulties were encountered for single-cortex fractures or fractures at the extremities of the costal shaft.
An accurate diagnosis of rib fracture was achieved with the reading of unfolded rib images. In a polytrauma context, the evaluated system could facilitate rib analysis.
Hemoptysis is symptomatic of a potentially life-threatening condition and warrants urgent and comprehensive evaluation of the lung parenchyma, airways, and thoracic vasculature. Multi-detector row ...computed tomographic (CT) angiography is a very useful noninvasive imaging modality for initial assessment of hemoptysis. The combined use of thin-section axial scans and more complex reformatted images allows clear depiction of the origins and trajectories of abnormally dilated systemic arteries that may be the source of hemorrhage and that may require embolization. Conditions such as bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis, lung malignancy, tuberculosis, and chronic fungal infection are some of the most common underlying causes of hemoptysis and are easily detected with CT. "Cryptogenic" hemoptysis is common among smokers and warrants subsequent follow-up imaging to exclude possible underlying malignancy. The bronchial arteries are the source of bleeding in most cases of hemoptysis. Contributions from the non-bronchial systemic arterial system represent an important cause of recurrent hemoptysis following apparently successful bronchial artery embolization. Vascular anomalies such as pulmonary arteriovenous malformations and bronchial artery aneurysms are other important causes of hemoptysis. Multi-detector row CT angiography permits noninvasive, rapid, and accurate assessment of the cause and consequences of hemorrhage into the airways and helps guide subsequent management.
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