Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Minim Invasive Ther Allied Technol 2020 May 19:1-8. Epub 2020 May 19.

Department of Urology SLK-Kliniken Heilbronn, University of Heidelberg, Heilbronn, Germany.

To prove the feasibility, as well as the reproducibility of laparoscopic totally intracorporeal ileal ureter replacement (LIUR), by presenting a multicenter patient cohort with a long follow-up. Records of patients undergoing different types of ureteral replacements have been collected. Follow-up included a chemical profile and urine cultures. Read More

Photoacoustics 2020 Jun 24;18:100165. Epub 2020 Apr 24.

Imaging Program, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.

With a lifetime risk of 1 in 8, breast cancer continues to be a major concern for women and their physicians. The optimal treatment of the disease depends on the stage of the cancer at diagnosis, which is typically assessed using medical imaging. However, currently employed imaging systems for breast tumor measurement rarely agree perfectly. Read More

Mol Psychiatry 2020 May 14. Epub 2020 May 14.

Division of Neurosurgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are common, often refractory, neuropsychiatric conditions for which new treatment approaches are urgently needed. Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a novel surgical technique permitting incisionless ablative neurosurgery. We examined the safety profile, clinical response, and imaging correlates of MRgFUS bilateral anterior capsulotomy in patients with refractory obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD, N = 6) and major depressive disorder (MDD, n = 6). Read More

Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging 2020 May 10;5(5):542-553. Epub 2020 Feb 10.

The Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China; Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Background: Mental disorders are typically defined as distinct diagnostic entities, but similar patterns of clinical and cognitive impairments are frequently found across diagnostic groups. We investigated whether these transdiagnostic deficits result from common neural substrates across disorders or various illness-specific mechanisms, or a combination of both.

Methods: Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected from clinically stable patients with major depressive disorder (n = 53), bipolar disorder (n = 78), or schizophrenia (n = 100) and matched healthy control subjects (n = 109) using a single scanner. Read More

Theranostics 2020 1;10(4):1604-1618. Epub 2020 Jan 1.

Physical Science Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.

: Clinical trials are currently underway to test the safety and efficacy of delivering therapeutic agents across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) using focused ultrasound and microbubbles (FUS+MBs). While acoustic feedback control strategies have largely minimized the risk of overt tissue damage, transient induction of inflammatory processes have been observed following sonication in preclinical studies. The goal of this work was to explore the potential of post-sonication dexamethasone (DEX) administration as a means to mitigate treatment risk. Read More

Theriogenology 2020 Mar 18;145:31-38. Epub 2020 Jan 18.

Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Napoli "Federico II", Via Delpino 1, 80137, Naples, Italy.

The aim of this study was to investigate the repeat breeding condition in Italian Mediterranean buffaloes that failed to conceive after at least 300 days in milk. The trial was carried out on 40 pluriparous Italian Mediterranean buffaloes with more than 300 days in milk. All the animals underwent ultrasound examination to assess endometrial thickness and oestrus synchronization by the Ovsynch-TAI Program. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2019 Aug 27;19(1):311. Epub 2019 Aug 27.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tuen Mun Hospital, 23 Tsing Chung Koon Road, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China.

Background: Monochorionic multifetal pregnancies are at increased risk of adverse perinatal outcome because of placental vascular anastomoses. We present a case of multicystic encephalomalacia and gastrointestinal injury in two surviving fetuses following single fetal death in first trimester and subsequent fetofetal transfusion syndrome in a monochorionic triplet pregnancy.

Case Presentation: A 31-year-old nulliparous woman had a spontaneous monochorionic triamniotic triplet pregnancy. Read More

Ultrasonics 2019 Nov 15;99:105943. Epub 2019 Jul 15.

Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, Krešimirova 42, 51 000 Rijeka, Croatia; University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Braće Branchetta 20, 51 000 Rijeka, Croatia. Electronic address:

The evaluation of the performance of nine physiotherapy ultrasound transducers used clinically was performed in the hospital environment using an acoustically absorbing thermocromic tile developed at the National Physical Laboratory (UK). The method consists of exposing an acoustic absorber tile, part of which contains a thermochromic pigment, to the ultrasonic beam, thereby forming an image of the intensity profile of the transducer. Images acquired using thermochromic materials were postprocessed in order to estimate effective radiating area (ERA) and beam nonuniformity ratio (BNR) for ultrasound transducers operating within the frequency range from 1. Read More

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2020 Jun;55(6):806-814

Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, affiliated with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Objectives: To evaluate the utility of ultrasound markers in the management of pregnancies complicated by preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) between 23 + 0 and 33 + 6 weeks' gestation, and to assess the ability of ultrasound markers to predict adverse neonatal outcomes.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of all patients with PPROM between 23 + 0 and 33 + 6 weeks' gestation and latency period (PPROM to delivery) > 48 h, who delivered before 34 weeks' gestation at a tertiary referral center between 2005 and 2017. All patients underwent a non-stress test daily and an ultrasound scan twice a week for assessment of amniotic fluid volume, biophysical profile (BPP) and umbilical artery (UA) pulsatility index (PI). Read More

J Control Release 2019 09 18;309:25-36. Epub 2019 Jul 18.

Division of Neurosurgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. Electronic address:

The blood-brain barrier, while fundamental in maintaining homeostasis in the central nervous system, is a bottleneck to achieving efficacy for numerous therapeutics. Improved brain penetration is also desirable for reduced dose, cost, and systemic side effects. Transient disruption of the blood-brain barrier with focused ultrasound (FUS) can facilitate drug delivery noninvasively with precise spatial and temporal specificity. Read More

Neuroimage 2019 10 4;200:474-481. Epub 2019 Jul 4.

Research Center for Motor Control and Neuroplasticity, KU Leuven, 3001, Leuven, Belgium; Brain Imaging and Neural Dynamics Research Group, IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, 30126, Venice, Italy. Electronic address:

Electrophysiological studies revealed that different neuronal oscillations, among which the alpha (8-13 Hz) rhythm in particular, but also the beta (13-30 Hz) and gamma (30-80 Hz) rhythms, are modulated during rest in the default mode network (DMN). Little is known, however, about the role of these rhythms in supporting DMN connectivity. Biophysical studies suggest that lower and higher frequencies mediate long- and short-range connectivity, respectively. Read More

Brachytherapy 2019 Sep - Oct;18(5):658-667. Epub 2019 Jun 22.

Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada.

Purpose: To develop a treatment planning platform for episcleral Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study plaque therapy in an established treatment planning software and to improve an existing quality assurance (QA) process for nonuniformly loaded plaques that measures air kerma strengths (AKSs) and loading profile.

Materials And Methods: Treatment planning is performed in Pinnacle using scripts that let the planner choose plaque size and notching. Scripts load seed positions for each plaque and five source groups corresponding to available stock seeds that can be placed into each seed position. Read More

J Neurosurg 2019 May 10:1-8. Epub 2019 May 10.

1Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute.

OBJECTIVEThe object of this study was to correlate lesion size with accumulated thermal dose (ATD) in transcranial MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatments of essential tremor with focal temperatures limited to 50°C-54°C.METHODSSeventy-five patients with medically refractory essential tremor underwent MRgFUS thalamotomy at the authors' institution. Intraoperative MR thermometry was performed to measure the induced temperature and thermal dose distributions (proton resonance frequency shift coefficient = -0. Read More

J Am Coll Radiol 2019 May;16(5S):S116-S125

Specialty Chair, University of Toronto and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Fetal growth restriction, or an estimated fetal weight of less than the 10th percentile, is associated with adverse perinatal outcome. Optimizing management for obtaining the most favorable outcome for mother and fetus is largely based on detailed ultrasound findings. Identifying and performing those ultrasound procedures that are most associated with adverse outcome is necessary for proper patient management. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2019 Jul 11;45(7):1268-1276. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mie University, Tsu, Japan.

Aim: To predict the prognosis of infants with congenital heart disease, accurate prenatal diagnosis of structural abnormality and heart failure are both necessary. The aim of this study was to investigate whether cardiovascular profile (CVP) and biophysical profile (BP) scores are useful for predicting prognosis in infants with congenital heart defect (CHD).

Methods: A retrospective review of singletons prenatally diagnosed with CHD at a tertiary pediatric cardiac center between 2011 and 2015 was undertaken. Read More

J Neonatal Perinatal Med 2019 ;12(3):321-324

Department of Pediatrics, Staten Island University Hospital Northwell Health, Staten Island, NY, USA.

Biophysical profile (BPP) with ultrasound performed for a 32-year-old G5P3013 admitted at 31 weeks gestation with preterm, premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) noted an extracalvarial mass concerning for an encephalocele. Fetal MRI demonstrated edema over the occiput with no definable lesion visualized. Preterm labor requiring Cesarean delivery resulted in a live male neonate at 33 weeks gestation. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 05 8;125:261-270. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.

Background: Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is a novel radiation-free tomographic imaging method that provides a background-free, signal attenuation-free, direct quantification of the spatial distribution of superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) with high temporal resolution (milliseconds), high spatial resolution (<1 mm), and extreme sensitivity (μmol). The technique is based on nonlinear magnetization of the SPIONs when exposed to an oscillating magnetic field. MPI was first described in 2001. Read More

Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2019 02 29;16(2):129-142. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

a Physical Sciences Platform , Sunnybrook Research Institute , Toronto , ON , Canada.

Introduction: Treatment of several diseases of the brain are complicated by the presence of the skull and the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Focused ultrasound (FUS) and microbubble (MB)-mediated BBB treatment is a minimally invasive method to transiently increase the permeability of blood vessels in targeted brain areas. It can be used as a general delivery system to increase the concentration of therapeutic agents in the brain parenchyma. Read More

Theriogenology 2019 Feb 13;125:210-215. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

MTA-SZIE Large Animal Clinical Research Group, H-2225, Üllő, Hungary.

Prepartum fetal surveillance techniques have been widely used in both human and veterinary obstetrics, although these tests differ in their sensitivity for the assessment of fetal well-being. In equine reproduction, the 'gold standard' examination technique is the equine biophysical profile (EBP) described by Virginia Reef in 1995. Although this fetal assessment has many benefits, its accuracy, sensitivity and specificity have not been evaluated so far. Read More

Neuroimage 2019 02 19;186:464-475. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK; EPSRC / Wellcome Centre for Medical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, King's College, London, UK.

Quantitative proton density (PD) maps measure the amount of free water, which is important for non-invasive tissue characterization in pathology and across lifespan. PD mapping requires the estimation and subsequent removal of factors influencing the signal intensity other than PD. These factors include the T1, T2* relaxation effects, transmit field inhomogeneities, receiver coil sensitivity profile (RP) and the spatially invariant factor that is required to scale the data. Read More

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2019 Sep 6;54(3):334-337. Epub 2019 Aug 6.

Barnes Jewish Christian Medical Group, Maternal Fetal Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.

Objective: To investigate the association between large-for-gestational-age (LGA) pregnancy and stillbirth to determine if the LGA fetus may benefit from antenatal testing with non-stress test or biophysical profile.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies that were ongoing at 24 weeks' gestation and that had undergone routine second-trimester anatomy ultrasound examination, during the period 1990 to 2009. Pregnancies complicated by fetal anomaly or aneuploidy, those with missing birth weight information and those that were small-for-gestational age were excluded. Read More

Sensors (Basel) 2018 Oct 16;18(10). Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 41345 Gothenburg, Sweden.

We have developed a transmission-based, open-ended coaxial dielectric probe that can be used in clinical situations and overcomes many of the limitations related to the typical reflection-based dielectric probes. The approach utilizes the low profile, open-ended coaxial cables enabling clinicians to still probe relatively compact spaces. The sensing depth can be extended to as large as 1. Read More

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2019 02 31;98(2):154-161. Epub 2018 Oct 31.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo University Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Introduction: The present study aims to investigate the association of spontaneous labor onset with neonatal outcomes in pregnancies with fetal gastroschisis. The secondary goal was to evaluate the association between ultrasound markers and labor onset in pregnancies with fetal gastroschisis.

Material And Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for 207 pregnancies with fetal gastroschisis between 2005 and 2017. Read More

Obstet Gynecol 2018 10;132(4):1033-1039

Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Associates, PLLC, New York, New York.

Objective: To report the utility of the ultrasonographic biophysical profile, which includes all the components of a biophysical profile minus the nonstress test, in women with maternal indications for antepartum surveillance.

Methods: We conducted a case series reviewing the records of all women at 32 weeks of gestation or greater with at least one indication for antenatal testing (per the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) delivered by a single maternal-fetal medicine practice between 2006 and 2018. Indications included diabetes, hypertension, lupus, antiphospholipid syndrome, sickle cell disease, renal disease, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, isoimmunization, inherited thrombophilia, and prior intrauterine fetal demise. Read More

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019 04 17;91:94-102. Epub 2018 Aug 17.

Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada; Robarts Research Institute, London, ON. Canada; Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON. Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. Electronic address:

Background: Glutathione [GSH] is a major intracellular antioxidant that disposes peroxides and protects neurons and glial cells from oxidative stress. In both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, atypical levels of GSH have been demonstrated, particularly in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), though no consistent results have emerged due to limitations in sample size. Our objective was to evaluate if GSH levels in the ACC are abnormal in these 2 disorder, when compared to healthy controls. Read More

Med Phys 2018 Oct 31;45(10):4704-4710. Epub 2018 Aug 31.

Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075, Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada.

Purpose: To correlate the accumulated thermal dose (ATD) with lesion size in magnetic resonance (MR)-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) thalamotomy to help guide future clinical treatments.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-six patients with medication-refractory essential tremor were treated using a commercial MRgFUS brain system (ExAblate 4000, InSightec) in a 3T MR scanner (MR750, GE Healthcare). Intraoperative MR-thermometry was performed to measure the induced temperature and thermal dose distributions (thermal coefficient = -0. Read More

J Perinat Med 2018 Dec;47(1):61-67

Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, University of Ferrara, Cona, Ferrara, Italy.

Fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH) is an obstetrical challenge. It is defined as a passage of fetal blood into the maternal circulation or vice versa, which might complicate pregnancy or delivery. Most cases of acute and chronic FMH are idiopathic in origin and involve uncomplicated near-term pregnancies. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2018 Sep 9;228:13-26. Epub 2018 Jun 9.

School of Medicine, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia; UROGIV Research Group, Colombia. Electronic address:

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic performance of different diagnostic tests for histologic chorioamnionitis in patients at more than 20 weeks of gestation.

Methods: A systematic search was carried out through MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, CENTRAL and unpublished literature. Observational studies included with pregnant women (>20 weeks) with chorioamnionitis. Read More

Fetal Diagn Ther 2019 23;45(2):125-130. Epub 2018 May 23.

Pediatric Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.

Background: Gastroschisis is an abdominal wall defect with increasing incidence. Given the lack of surveillance guidelines among maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists, this study describes current practices in gastroschisis management.

Materials And Methods: An online survey was administered to MFM specialists from institutions affiliated with the North American Fetal Therapy Network (NAFTNet). Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2018 Apr;40(4):e251-e271

Halifax, NS.

Objective: This guideline provides new recommendations pertaining to the application and documentation of fetal surveillance in the antepartum period that will decrease the incidence of birth asphyxia while maintaining the lowest possible rate of obstetrical intervention. Pregnancies with and without risk factors for adverse perinatal outcomes are considered. This guideline presents an alternative classification system for antenatal fetal non-stress testing to what has been used previously. Read More

Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes 2018 5;11:105-116. Epub 2018 Apr 5.

Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Purpose: To identify the most common practices implemented for the screening and treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to estimate the GDM clinician-reported proportion as a proxy of the incidence in Mexico.

Materials And Methods: Three hundred fifty-seven physicians in four major cities were asked about their practices regarding GDM screening, treatment, clinical exams, and health care staff involved in case of GDM diagnosis, as well as the percentage of women with GDM they care for. Data management and statistical analyses were done with Stata 13. Read More

BMC Cancer 2018 04 2;18(1):358. Epub 2018 Apr 2.

Institute of Genetics and Biophysics "Adriano Buzzati-Traverso", National Research Council of Italy, Naples, Italy.

Background: Giant Cell Tumour of Bone (GCT) is a locally aggressive primary bone tumour that usually occurs at the epiphyses of the long bones of the appendicular skeleton with a tendency to recurrence. Recurrent somatic H3F3A mutations have been described in 92% of GCT cases. GCTs involving the Clivus are extremely rare lesions and less than 15 cases are described in the literature. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2018 Jun 2;44(6):1057-1062. Epub 2018 Apr 2.

Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Osaka Medical Center Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Osaka, Japan.

Aim: To examine the predictive value of ultrasound parameters for antepartum non-reassuring fetal status (NRFS) in fetal growth restriction (FGR) cases after late preterm.

Methods: Retrospective review of singleton FGR cases before 37 weeks gestation who delivered after 34 weeks gestation was performed. The association between ultrasound parameters that was assessed from 34 to 36 weeks gestation and the development of antepartum NRFS that was diagnosed by nonstress test and biophysical profile was analyzed by using multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses. Read More

Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2018 May 1;49:53-65. Epub 2018 Mar 1.

Johns Hopkins Center for Fetal Therapy Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA. Electronic address:

A uniform approach to management of fetal growth restriction (FGR) improves outcome, prevents stillbirth, and allows appropriately timed delivery. An estimated fetal weight below the tenth percentile with coexisting abnormal umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), or cerebroplacental ratio Doppler index best identifies the small fetus requiring surveillance. Placental perfusion defects are more common earlier in gestation; accordingly, early-onset (≤32 weeks of gestation) and late-onset (>32 weeks) FGR differ in clinical phenotype. Read More

Spinal Cord 2018 09 20;56(9):863-872. Epub 2018 Mar 20.

Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders, Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA.

Study Design: Cross-sectional design.

Objectives: This study examined the relationships between circulating adiponectin levels, body composition, metabolic profile, and measures of skeletal muscle mitochondrial enzyme activity and biogenesis.

Settings: Clinical Research in a Medical Center. Read More

J Med Ultrason (2001) 2018 Oct 22;45(4):565-570. Epub 2018 Feb 22.

Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

Introduction: The objective is to assess if fetal halogen light stimulation can reduce the time needed to obtain a normal biophysical profile (BPP).

Methods: Patients scheduled for a BPP and who satisfied the inclusion criteria were prospectively randomized to halogen light stimulation and no stimulation groups. The study group was exposed to handheld halogen light for 10 s whenever fetal breathing, movement, or tone was absent through the first 5 min of BPP. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2018 Apr 21;40(4):454-459. Epub 2017 Dec 21.

Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.

Objective: To review the management and outcome of pregnancies of women presenting to obstetrical triage with decreased fetal movements (DFM).

Study Design: A retrospective review of women presenting with DFMs to two large Canadian obstetrical centres with a combined 9490 deliveries per year. The charts were reviewed for compliance with the Canadian guidelines for demographics (age, parity, GA, comorbidities, etc. Read More

Hum Brain Mapp 2018 01 13;39(1):563-574. Epub 2017 Nov 13.

Departments of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.

Objectives: The innate alarm system (IAS) models the neurocircuitry involved in threat processing in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Here, we investigate a primary subcortical structure of the IAS model, the superior colliculus (SC), where the SC is thought to contribute to the mechanisms underlying threat-detection in PTSD. Critically, the functional connectivity between the SC and other nodes of the IAS remains unexplored. Read More

Wiad Lek 2017;70(4):731-736

Kharkiv National Medical University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.

The Aim: To study the impact of emergent infections (human herpesvirus type 6) on the fetal state.

Materials And Methods: The study involved examination of 90 pregnant women in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of gestation (Group 1 (25 pregnant) consisted of patients with a viral infection, CMV carriers, Group 2 (25 pregnant) included women with a viral infection, herpes simplex virus types 1/2, Group 3 amounted for 20 patients with a viral infection, herpes simplex virus type 6, Group 4 comprised 20 patients with normal pregnancy and no signs of infection. Concentration of IgM and IgG to herpes simplex virus types 1/2, IgM and IgG to herpesvirus type 6 in venous blood of the pregnant was determined by enzyme-immunoassay. Read More

J Clin Diagn Res 2017 Aug 1;11(8):QD06-QD07. Epub 2017 Aug 1.

Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecologya, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Congenital uterine anomaly has been well established as cause of infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss. However, only few studies have reported the association of mullerian anomalies and adverse pregnancy outcome in third trimester. We are hereby reporting a case of 25-year- old female second gravida who presented at 36 weeks six days pregnancy with complaint of decreased foetal movements for the past two weeks. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2017 30;2017:1364818. Epub 2017 Aug 30.

Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders, Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA.

Purpose: To quantify liver adiposity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to determine its association with metabolic profile in men with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Materials And Methods: MRI analysis of liver adiposity by fat signal fraction (FSF) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was completed on twenty participants. Intravenous glucose tolerance test was conducted to measure glucose effectiveness () and insulin sensitivity (). Read More

Nucl Med Biol 2017 Oct 12;53:21-28. Epub 2017 Jul 12.

Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC, UMR 7178, F-67000, Strasbourg, France.

Introduction: Herein we have evaluated the uptake of O-(2-F-fluoroethyl)-l-tyrosine (F-FET) in insulinoma in comparison with those of 6-F-fluoro-3,4-dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine (F-FDOPA) providing first data from both murine xenograft model and one patient with proved endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia.

Methods: Dynamic F-FET and carbidopa-assisted F-FDOPA PET were performed on tumor-bearing nude mice after subcutaneous injection of RIN-m5F murine beta cells and on a 30-year-old man with type-1 multiple endocrine neoplasia and hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia defined by a positive fasting test.

Results: Seven and three nude mice bearing a RIN-m5F insulinoma xenograft were respectively studied by F-FET and F-FDOPA μPET. Read More

Magn Reson Imaging 2017 11 15;43:66-73. Epub 2017 Jul 15.

Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia. Electronic address:

Objective: Kangaroo knee cartilages are robust tissues that can support knee flexion and endure high levels of compressive stress. This study aimed to develop a detailed understanding of the collagen architecture in kangaroo knee cartilages and thus obtain insights into the biophysical basis of their function.

Design: Cylindrical/square plugs from femoral and tibial hyaline cartilage and tibial fibrocartilage were excised from the knees of three adult red kangaroos. Read More

Clin Neurophysiol 2017 09 19;128(9):1774-1809. Epub 2017 Jun 19.

Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany.

Low intensity transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) in humans, encompassing transcranial direct current (tDCS), transcutaneous spinal Direct Current Stimulation (tsDCS), transcranial alternating current (tACS), and transcranial random noise (tRNS) stimulation or their combinations, appears to be safe. No serious adverse events (SAEs) have been reported so far in over 18,000 sessions administered to healthy subjects, neurological and psychiatric patients, as summarized here. Moderate adverse events (AEs), as defined by the necessity to intervene, are rare, and include skin burns with tDCS due to suboptimal electrode-skin contact. Read More

Arch Gynecol Obstet 2017 Oct 11;296(4):635-643. Epub 2017 Jul 11.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Tuebingen, Calwerstrasse 7, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.

Purpose: First trimester risk assessment plays a major role in the contemporary pregnancy care. It has evolved significantly since its introduction in the 1990s when it essentially consisted of just the nuchal translucency measurement. Today, it involves the measurement of several biophysical and biochemical markers and can assess the risk for a wide array of major chromosomal and non-chromosomal defects as well as other pregnancy-related complications. Read More

Acta Inform Med 2017 Mar;25(1):19-23

Clinic for Urology, University Clinical Centre of the Republic of Srpska, Banjaluka, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Introduction: Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), especially preeclampsia, is a state of extremely increased oxidative stress (OS), due to decrease of antioxidant capacity in comparison to normotensive pregnant women. The consequences of increased state of oxidative stress with hypertension disorder in pregnancy are disorder of placental blood flow, intrauterine hypoxia of the fetus and disturbance in transfer of O2 manifested as pathological ultrasound (US) parameters (amount of amniotic fluid and biophysical profile of fetus) and cardiotocography parameters (CTG).

Aim: The aim of this research is to analyze correlation of TBARS oxidative stress markers with ultrasound parameters of pregnancy course and cardiotocography parameters in pregnant women with PIH. Read More

Neurosurgery 2017 May;80(5):793-799

Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Service de Neurochirurgie, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France.

Background: Biophysical modeling of glioma is gaining more interest for clinical practice. The most popular model describes aggressivity of tumor cells by two parameters: net proliferation rate (ρ) and propensity to migrate (D). The ratio ρ/D, which can be estimated from a single preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), characterizes tumor invasiveness profile (high ρ/D: nodular; low ρ/D: diffuse). Read More

Biomater Sci 2017 May;5(5):1001-1013

Department of Biophysics, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, Sichuan, P. R. China.

Multifunctional theranostics have offered some interesting new opportunities for cancer therapy and diagnosis in the last decade. Herein, magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (M-MSNs) were designed and synthesized, then the photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) and antitumor drug doxorubicin (Dox) were adsorbed onto the M-MSNs. Biocompatible alginate/chitosan polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEM) were assembled on the M-MSNs to achieve a pH-responsive drug delivery system and adsorb P-gp shRNA for reversing the multidrug resistance. Read More