In the healthy volunteer study, C1 improved from 0.08 for CISS and 0.18 for T2-SPACE to 0.43 for SSSR. This is because the nerve signals in conventional methods were low due to the heavy T2-weighted, while those in the SSSR method were high due to the short TE and effect of the restore pulse. In conclusion, the contrast between the nerves and blood was significantly higher in the SSSR method compared with conventional methods.
  Dynamic C-arm computed tomography perfusion (C-arm CTP) is a newly developed application that can provide cerebral perfusion images in the angio suite, similar to conventional multi-detector CTP in a diagnostic room. We introduce the workflow of C-arm CTP acquisition and our initial experience in a clinical setting.
 
  C-arm CTP was acquired with 40 ml of non-diluted contrast medium injected at 4 ml/s in the median cubital vein followed by 30 ml of saline injected at the same rate. The injection began 5 seconds after the acquisition was started. Two mask runs were followed with eight successive fill runs. Arterial input function was automatically calculated to deliver perfusion maps. Incidence of acquisition errors was evaluated in two phases.
 
  C-arm CTP images were successfully acquired in all cases, and the images provided useful information under a stable examination protocol. However, we experienced some operational and systematic artifacts that degraded image quality of perfusion maps in Phase 1. The incident rate of errors was significantly improved in Phase 2.
 
  C-arm CTP acquisitions were feasible during acute stroke treatment in the angio suite. It is expected that the image quality will be further improved through process improvement and reconstruction setting optimization to minimize unexpected artifacts in individual cases.
 C-arm CTP acquisitions were feasible during acute stroke treatment in the angio suite. It is expected that the image quality will be further improved through process improvement and reconstruction setting optimization to minimize unexpected artifacts in individual cases.Although the test bolus tracking method is available as a predicting method of scan timing in the coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography, it is known that there is a problem of scan timing due to the use of a part of test bolus method. The diluted test bolus method was adopted for test bolus, and as a result of using in combination with the test bolus tracking method, it showed a higher contrast enhancement compared with the test bolus tracking method; a stable contrast enhancement with less variation in CT number was obtained. The CT number at the peak in the test scan and the CT number of the main scan showed a high correlation.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/ZM-447439.html  The contrast injection technique using the diluted test bolus method and the test bolus tracking method is a useful method in the coronary CT angiography. We named this contrast injection technique diluted test bolus tracking method.The purpose of this study was to calculate statistically significant patient data and test bolus (TB) parameters in order to predict the contrast enhancement of main bolus (eMB) in coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography, and to create a predictive model of eMB with the calculated parameters by machine learning. A total of 126 patients underwent coronary CT angiography. Contrast material was administered at a fixed injection rate and volume. The peak enhancement (PE) and the time needed to reach peak (TP) of the TB were calculated for each patient. The dependency of MB contrast attenuation on these parameters was evaluated. Significant correlations were obtained among PE, TP, and the patient body surface area (BSA) with the eMB. The coefficient of determination of the linear regression model to estimate eMB by machine learning using the above three variables was 0.70 for the training data and 0.55 for the test data. For comparison, the coefficient of determination of the model using only BSA was 0.55 for the training data and 0.36 for the test data; the accuracy of the model created during this time was confirmed.
  The aim of this work was to evaluate the coincidence between light and X-ray field width in air.
 
  Light fields are often used for confirmation of irradiation position to superficial tumors and final confirmation of the patient's irradiation position. To guarantee collation by the light field, the light and X-ray fields must coincide. Currently, the light field width is determined mainly by visual evaluation using manual methods, such as use of graph paper and rulers. The light field width is difficult to visually recognize a definite position at the edge of the light field.
 
  We quantified the width of light fields emitted from a linear accelerator using a light probe detector and compared the results with those of X-ray fields. In-air measurements were conducted at the same position in the light field with the light probe detector and X-ray field using an ionization chamber installed in an emptied three-dimensional water phantom.
 
  The radiation field in air was approximately 2 mm larger than the light field, and we found some influence of transmission and scattered rays on the penumbra region. Before and after exchanging crosshair sheets, the fields also exhibited differences in uniformity.
 
  The proposed method quantifies the light field using a photodetector and can be used to compare the light field with the X-ray field, conforming a useful tool for evaluating the accuracy of treatment devices in an objective and systematic manner.
 The proposed method quantifies the light field using a photodetector and can be used to compare the light field with the X-ray field, conforming a useful tool for evaluating the accuracy of treatment devices in an objective and systematic manner.
  With the rapid spread of COVID-19, hospitals providing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were placed in unique and unfamiliar circumstances. This study evaluated variations in the treatment of coronary artery disease according to time course of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.Methods and ResultsThe Japanese Association of Cardiovascular Intervention and Therapeutics performed serial surveys during the pandemic (in mid-April, late-April and mid-May 2020) with queries regarding the implementation of PCI. Hospitals were asked about their treatment strategies for elective PCI and emergency PCI for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and high-risk acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. Most hospitals opted to perform primary PCI in the usual manner at the beginning of the pandemic. As the pandemic progressed, hospitals in the 7 populated areas downgraded the performance of PCI for chronic coronary syndrome and high-risk ACS, but not for STEMI patients. After the state of emergency was lifted in most prefectures in mid-May, the rate of PCI gradually normalized.