The widespread clinical use of cardiovascular imaging inspires constant improvement in imaging technology and post-processing applications. Recent advances in hardware and software have brought about important developments in the assessment of myocardial ischemia such as the rapid evaluation of cardiac volumes and function, ability for detection of subtle myocardial changes, and the combination of anatomic and functional assessment of a coronary artery stenosis via a single modality, which was previously not possible in a noninvasive fashion. These milestones indicate the start of a new era, a paradigm shift that broadens the role of noninvasive imaging. The thematic series Myocardial tissue characterization in ischemic heart disease introduces a set of narrative review and original articles by world renowned authors demonstrating such novel advancements and the state-of-the-art techniques in cardiac imaging.The novel corona (SARS-CoV-2) virus causes a global pandemic, which motivates researchers to develop reliable and effective methods for screening and detection of SARS-CoV-2. Though there are several methods available for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 such as RT-PCR and ELSIA, nevertheless, these methods are time-consuming and may not apply at the point of care. In this study, we have developed a specific, sensitive, quantitative and fast detection method for SARS-CoV-2 by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay. The total extracellular protease proteolytic activity from the virus has been used as the biomarker. The specific peptide sequences from the library of 115 dipeptides were identified via changes in the fluorescence signal. The fluorogenic dipeptide substrates have the fluorophore and a quencher at the N- and the C- terminals, respectively. When the protease hydrolyzes the peptide bond between the two specific amino acids, it leads to a significant increase in the fluorescence signals. The specific fluorogenic peptide (H-d) produces a high fluorescence signal. A calibration plot was obtained from the changes in the fluorescence intensity against the different concentrations of the viral protease. The lowest limit of detection of this method was 9.7 ± 3 pfu/mL. The cross-reactivity of the SARS-CoV-2-specific peptide was tested against the MERS-CoV which does not affect the fluorescence signal. A significant change in the fluorescence signal with patient samples indicates that this FRET-based assay might be applied for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 patients. Graphical abstract.
  This study documents the monitorability using different anesthesia regimes and accuracy of muscle motor evoked potentials (mMEPs) in children ≤2 years of age undergoing tethered cord surgery (TCS).
 
  Intraoperative mMEP monitoring was attempted in 100 consecutive children, ≤2 years of age, undergoing TCS. MEP monitoring was done under 4 different anesthetic regimes (Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA); balanced anesthesia with sevoflurane and ketamine; balanced anesthesia with isoflurane and ketamine; and balanced anesthesia with sevoflurane). Factors analyzed for their effect on monitorability were age, neurological deficits, type of anesthesia, and the number of pulses used for stimulation.
 
  Baseline mMEPs were obtained in 87% children. Monitorability of mMEPs was similar in children ≤1 year and 1-2 years of age (85.7% and 87.5%). In multivariate analysis, anesthesia regime was the only significant factor predicting presence of baseline mMEPs. Children undergoing TIVA (p=0.02) or balanced anesthesia with a combination of propofol, sevoflurane, and ketamine (p=0.05) were most likely to have baseline mMEPs. mMEPs had a sensitivity of 97.4%, specificity of 96.4%, negative predictive value of 98.2% and accuracy of 96.8%.
 
  Baseline mMEPs were obtained in >85% of children ≤2 years of age including those who had motor deficits. TIVA and balanced anesthesia with sevoflurane and ketamine are ideal for mMEP monitoring. mMEPs have a high accuracy although, false positive and false negative results can occasionally be experienced.
 85% of children ≤2 years of age including those who had motor deficits. TIVA and balanced anesthesia with sevoflurane and ketamine are ideal for mMEP monitoring. mMEPs have a high accuracy although, false positive and false negative results can occasionally be experienced.
  To investigate the changes in the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) using binarization on enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) images and to evaluate the effect of optic neuritis (ON) attacks on these measurements.
 
  Three groups were created by including forty eyes of 20 patients diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS and had a unilateral history of ON attack and the randomly selected eyes of 30 healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/vbit-4.html  Group 1 (n = 20) consisted of the ON-affected eyes of the MS patients (MSON); group 2 (n = 20) included their fellow healthy eyes (MSNON); group 3 (n = 30) included the eyes of healthy controls.
 
  The mean age was 33.3 ± 9.4 years in the MS group and 33.4 ± 11.1 years in the healthy control group. Mean choroidal vascularity index (CVI) was significantly lower in the MSON group than the MSNON group (59.6 ± 3.72 % vs 61.7 ± 3.16 %, p = 0.007). The CVI values of both the MSON and MSNON groups were significanthophysiology.
  To compare the measurement of central thickness and depth of involvement of opacity-bearing corneas at different intensities (mild, moderate, and dense) using different instruments Visante and Optovue OCTs, ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM), and ultrasound pachymetry (central thickness).
 
  Sample of 102 eyes 70 eyes (68.63 %) with corneal opacity; 32 eyes (31.37%) with normal corneas. Corneal opacity grading included mild (28 eyes, 40.00 %), moderate (27 eyes, 37.57 %), and dense (15 eyes, 21.43 %). Opacity intensity was graded and documented. Central corneal thickness was determined using Optovue and Visante OCTs, ultrasound pachymetry, and UBM VuMax (50 MHz), and depth of corneal opacity, using Optovue and Visante OCTs and UBM.
 
  Total corneal thickness of the control group showed differences with a small correction factor using Optovue OCT (534.03 ± 39.88 μm), Visante OCT (523.72±38.70 μm), and ultrasound pachymetry (529.84 ± 39.76 μm), and were higher when compared to UBM (492.06 ± 37.93 μm). In mild opacity, depth measurements were the same with OCT Optovue and Visante and higher than those by UBM.