Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Stem Cells Int 2019 14;2019:9732319. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Stem cell therapies, although promising for treating peripheral arterial disease (PAD), often suffer from low engraftment rates and the inability to confirm the delivery success and track cell distribution and engraftment. Stem cell microencapsulation combined with imaging contrast agents may provide a means to simultaneously enhance cell survival and enable cell tracking with noninvasive imaging. Here, we have evaluated a novel MRI- and X-ray-visible microcapsule formulation for allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) delivery and tracking in a large animal model. Read More

Otol Neurotol 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School.

Hypothesis: The vestibular aqueduct (VA) in Menière's disease (MD) exhibits different angular trajectories depending on the presenting endolymphatic sac (ES) pathology, i.e., 1) ES hypoplasia or 2) ES degeneration. Read More

Prenat Diagn 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

IMOGEN - Centre of Advanced Research Studies, Emergency County Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish the diagnostic accuracy of high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 7 Tesla (T) compared to that of stereomicroscopic autopsy for assessing first trimester fetuses.

Methods: Nine consecutive cases of first trimester fetuses resulting from spontaneous and therapeutic pregnancy termination were considered. The cases were divided into two groups according to gestational age: the Embryo Group with cases of 9-10 gestational weeks (GW) and the Fetus Group with cases of 13 GW. Read More

BMC Med Imaging 2019 04 12;19(1):29. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Section of Forensic Pathology, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Frederik V's vej 11, 1 sal, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Background: Left ventricular mass (LVM) is an independent risk factor for the prediction of cardiac events. Its assessment is a clinically important diagnostic procedure in cardiology and may be performed by Computed Tomography (CT). The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between the cardiac left ventricular shell volume (LVShV) determined by postmortem Computed Tomography (PMCT) and the anatomic LVM obtained at autopsy and to calculate the myocardial tissue density. Read More

Fetal Diagn Ther 2019 Apr 10:1-8. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

Department of Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.

Introduction: Organ volumes at postmortem magnetic resonance imaging (PMMR) should reflect autopsy organ weights, and thus brain:liver volume ratios on imaging could be a surrogate for weight volume ratios at autopsy to indicate fetal growth restriction (FGR). This study aims to determine whether imaging-based organ volume ratios can replace autopsy organ weight ratios. Materials and Meth ods: An unselected cohort of perinatal deaths underwent PMMR prior to autopsy. Read More

PLoS One 2019 4;14(4):e0214939. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Department of Medical Imaging, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong, China.

Few investigators have analyzed fetal ocular growth with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of high magnetic strength. Our purpose is to obtain normative biometrics for fetal ocular development in the second trimester of pregnancy. Sixty specimens with a gestational age (GA) of 12-23 weeks were scanned using a 7. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Apr;98(14):e15042

Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai.

Rationale: The application of post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) and PMCT angiography (PMCTA) is becoming increasingly common in forensic investigations. One of the most frequently applied techniques today is PMCTA. However, few studies have focused on the application of contrast-enhanced PMCT of hollow organs such as the gastrointestinal tract. Read More

Virchows Arch 2019 Apr 1. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Radiodiagnostic Unit No. 2, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy.

Computed tomography (CT) and other advanced diagnostic imaging techniques are gaining popularity in forensic pathology. This paper aims to define and offer complete and easily accessible "state of the art" for post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT), by reviewing the latest international literature. The proposed format answers the "five Ws" that follows: (1) What: We report the different kinds of CT scan and settings generally used in post-mortem imaging. Read More

Eur Radiol 2019 Mar 18. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Department of Radiology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Xueshi Rd No. 1, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of MRI in the prenatal diagnosis and classification of cleft palate (CP).

Methods: We collected 94 fetal cases that were suspected of cleft palate with or without cleft lip by prenatal ultrasound (US) and then carried out further MRI to examine the entire body of each fetus within 1 week. The diagnoses resulting from MRI and US examination were compared separately with the final diagnoses obtained from postnatal physical examination or fetal autopsy. Read More

Cortex 2019 Feb 21. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. Electronic address:

Aphasia typically is associated with comparable difficulties in written and spoken modalities of language expression and comprehension. In contrast, auditory verbal agnosia is the disproportionate difficulty comprehending spoken compared to written language, also typically greater than difficulties with spoken and written language expression, in the absence of a primary sensory deficit. The terms pure word deafness and auditory verbal agnosia are often used synonymously. Read More

Autops Case Rep 2019 Jan-Mar;9(1):e2018063. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Hospital Universitário, Internal Medicine Division. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a feared entity that occurs most frequently in conditions of extreme immunodeficiency. The diagnosis is often made long after the onset of symptoms due to the physicians' unfamiliarity, and the unavailability of diagnostic tests in some medical centers. Although the incidence of PML is decreasing among HIV patients with the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), in Brazil this entity is the fourth highest neurological complication among these patients. Read More

Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019 Mar 11;7(1):37. Epub 2019 Mar 11.

Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, WACC, Suite 715, 15th Parkman St., Boston, MA, 02114, USA.

[F-18]-MK-6240, a novel tau positron emission tomography (PET) tracer recently discovered for the in vivo detection of neurofibrillary tangles, has the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy in the detection of Alzheimer disease. We have examined regional and substrate-specific binding patterns as well as possible off-target binding of this tracer on human brain tissue to advance towards its validation. We applied [F-18]-MK-6240 phosphor screen and high resolution autoradiography to postmortem samples from patients with a definite pathological diagnosis of Alzheimer disease, frontotemporal lobar degeneration-tau (Pick's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration), chronic traumatic encephalopathy, frontotemporal lobar degeneration-Tar DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), dementia with Lewy bodies, cerebral amyloid angiopathy and elderly controls free of pathologic changes of neurodegenerative disease. Read More

Alzheimers Dement 2019 Mar 6. Epub 2019 Mar 6.

Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address:

Introduction: Recent research with neuropathologic or biomarker evidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) casts doubt on traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a risk factor for AD. We leveraged the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center to examine the association between self-reported TBI with loss of consciousness and AD neuropathologic changes, and with baseline and longitudinal clinical status.

Methods: The sample included 4761 autopsy participants (453 with remote TBI with loss of consciousness; 2822 with AD neuropathologic changes) from National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center. Read More

Brain Inform 2019 Mar 7;6(1). Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Holzinger Group, Institute for Medical Informatics and Statistics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.

Enhanced resolution of 7 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners has considerably advanced our knowledge of structure and function in human and animal brains. Post-industrialized countries are particularly prone to an ever-increasing number of ageing individuals and ageing-associated neurodegenerative diseases. Neurodegenerative diseases are associated with volume loss in the affected brain. Read More

J Med Case Rep 2019 Mar 7;13(1):64. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Third Department of Internal Medicine, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8522, Japan.

Background: Gastric cancer has a wide spectrum of clinical features, imaging manifestations, and pathology. Punctate calcifications in gastric cancer are infrequent but are usually found in mucinous adenocarcinoma. However, there have only been a few autopsy case reports describing the correlation between the radiology and pathology findings of calcified mucinous adenocarcinoma of the stomach. Read More

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2019 Apr 28;40(4):709-712. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Departments of Radiology (K.A., B.F.B.).

Background And Purpose: Prior studies of radiologic superior semicircular canal dehiscence have suggested that CT may overcall dehiscence. However, many of those studies were performed before the advent of multichannel helical CT. Furthermore, there are limited data investigating the prevalence of radiologic superior semicircular canal dehiscence in asymptomatic individuals. Read More

Pediatr Radiol 2019 May 28;49(5):694-701. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Department of Clinical Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK.

Postmortem CT for investigating childhood deaths is increasingly utilised as a noninvasive adjunct or alternative to standard autopsy; however there are no standardised published imaging protocols. This article describes a standardised imaging protocol that has been developed based on current practices of international postmortem imaging practitioners and experts. This recommendation is expected to be useful for postmortem imaging centres wishing to update their existing practices and for those starting paediatric postmortem CT as a new service. Read More

J Thorac Imaging 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Forensic Medicine, National Forensic Service, Wonju, Republic of Korea.

With the introduction of modern imaging technology into the forensic field, postmortem imaging, particularly postmortem computed tomography (PMCT), has gained increasing importance in forensic investigations of deaths. In recent years, PMCT, which aims to provide observer-independent, reproducible forensic assessment in a minimally invasive manner, has been incorporated into routine forensic practice in many medicolegal institutions worldwide as a complement to autopsy. To address questions with regard to vascular pathologies, postmortem computed tomography angiography (PMCTA) has been developed and has become a useful tool for exploring the vascular system. Read More

J Vet Cardiol 2019 Feb 11;21:28-33. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA.

A two-month-old Red Angus heifer calf presented to the University of Wisconsin Veterinary Care for evaluation of suspected severe bronchopneumonia. Pertinent physical exam findings included tachycardia, tachypnea, dyspnea with a significant abdominal component, and cyanotic mucous membranes. On thoracic auscultation, wheezes were present bilaterally, as well as a grade 2/6 right apical systolic murmur. Read More

J Vet Cardiol 2019 Feb 6;21:10-17. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK.

A 2-year 10-month, male neutered, crossbreed dog presented for evaluation of cyanosis and exercise intolerance. Doppler echocardiography revealed severe dilation of the right atrium and right ventricle with moderate pulmonary hypertension. Right-to-left shunting across a large ostium secundum atrial septal defect was confirmed by contrast echocardiography. Read More

Eur J Neurol 2019 Feb 20. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Department of Neurology, Washington University, Saint Louis, MO, USA.

Background And Purpose: AV-1451 ( F-AV-1451, flortaucipir) positron emission tomography was performed in C9orf72 expansion carriers to assess tau accumulation and disease manifestation.

Methods: Nine clinically characterized C9orf72 expansion carriers and 18 age- and gender- matched cognitively normal individuals were psychometrically evaluated and underwent tau positron emission tomography imaging. The regional AV-1451 standard uptake value ratios from multiple brain regions were analyzed. Read More

Cardiovasc Pathol 2019 Jan 19;40:12-18. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

University of British Columbia, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Vancouver General Hospital, Neuropathology, Vancouver, BC, Canada; St. Paul's Hospital, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address:

Introduction: Iatrogenic embolization following cardiac investigative procedures may result from hydrophilic polymer emboli (HPE) from catheter valve and vessel wall calcifications, and air embolism from open heart surgery. This retrospective clinical pathologic analysis was undertaken to ascertain the frequency and extent of these potentially fatal complications.

Methods: This retrospective clinical pathologic autopsy analysis with premortem diagnostic imaging correlation identified 110 individuals who had undergone endovascular procedures between 2010 and 2016 within 90 days of death and followed by hospital autopsy. Read More

Addict Biol 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Centre for Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Excessive use of cocaine is known to induce changes in brain white and gray matter. It is unknown whether the extent of these changes is related to individual differences in vulnerability to cocaine addiction. One factor increasing vulnerability involves reduced expression of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT). Read More

Eur J Neurol 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Neurology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO.

Background And Purpose: Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by an abnormal isoform of the human prion protein. Structural magnetic resonance imaging in patients with pathologically confirmed sCJD was compared with cognitively normal individuals to identify a cortical thickness signature of sCJD.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study compared patients with autopsy-confirmed sCJD with dementia (n = 11) with age- and sex-matched cognitively normal individuals (n = 22). Read More

J Neuroimaging 2019 Feb 3. Epub 2019 Feb 3.

U.O.C. Neurologia, Fondazione IstitutoG. Giglio, Contrada Pietrapollastra-Pisciotto, 90015, Cefalù, Italy.

Background And Purpose: While AD can be definitively confirmed by postmortem histopathologic examination, in vivo imaging may improve the clinician's ability to identify AD at the earliest stage. The aim of the study was to test the performance of amyloid PET using new processing imaging algorithm for more precise diagnosis of AD.

Methods: Amyloid PET results using a new processing imaging algorithm (MRI-Less and AAL Atlas) were correlated with clinical, cognitive status, CSF analysis, and other imaging. Read More

Neuroimage Clin 2019 Jan 29;22:101698. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Well-characterized, high-quality brain tissue of non-neurological control subjects is a prerequisite to study the healthy aging brain, and can serve as a control for the study of neurological disorders. The Normal Aging Brain Collection Amsterdam (NABCA) provides a comprehensive collection of post-mortem (ultra-)high-field MRI (3Tesla and 7 Tesla) and neuropathological datasets of non-neurological controls. By providing MRI within the pipeline, NABCA uniquely stimulates translational neurosciences; from molecular and morphometric tissue studies to the clinical setting. Read More

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2019 Mar 31;40(3):401-407. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Departments of Radiology (M.T.B., N.C., T.M.S.)

Background And Purpose: The brain stem is compactly organized with life-sustaining sensorimotor and autonomic structures that can be affected by numerous pathologies but can be difficult to resolve on conventional MR imaging.

Materials And Methods: We applied an optimized TSE T2 sequence to washed postmortem brain samples to reveal exquisite and reproducible brain stem anatomic MR imaging contrast comparable with histologic atlases. This resource-efficient approach can be performed across multiple whole-brain samples with relatively short acquisition times (2 hours per imaging plane) using clinical 3T MR imaging systems. Read More

Neuroradiology 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Department of Radiology-Studio Diagnostico Eco, Vimercate, Italy.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to evaluate the postmortem micro-CT anatomy of early fetal human fetal brains, either in situ or isolated.

Methods: We studied 12 ex vivo specimens, 9 whole human fetuses (9-18 GW), and 3 isolated samples (16-26 GW). Specimens were fixed in formalin, then immersed in Lugol solution. Read More

Can Assoc Radiol J 2019 Feb;70(1):83-95

Department of Maternal and Child, Fluminense Federal University (UFF), Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Objective: To assess the applicability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to complement ultrasound in the diagnosis of fetal urinary tract anomalies.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study that included 41 women between 19 weeks and 37 weeks and 6 days of gestation carrying fetuses with malformations of the urinary tract which were initially diagnosed by ultrasound and then referred for MRI. In all cases, the diagnosis was confirmed after birth either through imaging or autopsy. Read More

Semin Ultrasound CT MR 2019 Feb 28;40(1):86-93. Epub 2018 Oct 28.

Department of Radiology, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy; Department of Radiology, Scientific Institute "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza" Hospital, Foggia, Italy. Electronic address:

Postmortem imaging is a fascinating field of forensic radiology that has seen extraordinary growth in the last 10 years. Indeed, if autopsy represents the sole reliable method of determining the definitive cause of death, imaging may provide an efficient guide to supplement conventional autopsy. This is particularly true because of several techniques that are currently available, such as postmortem computed tomography, multiphase postmortem computed tomography angiography, and postmortem magnetic resonance imaging. Read More

Semin Ultrasound CT MR 2019 Feb 13;40(1):79-85. Epub 2018 Oct 13.

Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Molecular Imaging and Radiotherapy, PTV Foundation, "Tor Vergata" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.

Hemopericardium (HP) is defined as the accumulation of blood in the pericardial sack. In a clinical setting, prompt identification of the presence of HP is of huge importance, because HP can result in pericardial tamponade. While echocardiography remains the most appropriate method for the evaluation of pericardial effusions in the clinical setting, postmortem imaging computed tomography (PMCT) is a valuable instrument for detecting the presence of HP and in evaluating its significance in causing mechanical impairment of cardiac activity and finally death. Read More

Semin Ultrasound CT MR 2019 Feb 27;40(1):67-78. Epub 2018 Oct 27.

Department of Biopathology and Medical Biotechnologies (Di.Bi.Med), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.

The applications of forensic radiology involve both Virtopsy both studies on living people - to demonstrate bone age, search for foreign bodies, such as voluntary injection of drug ovules or surgical sponges accidentally forgotten, to assess gunshot wounds, to evaluate injuries by road accidents, and cases of violence or abuse (both in adults and in children). Computed tomography is the most used imaging tool used in forensic pathology and its indications are mainly focused on cases of unnatural deaths or when a crime is suspected. It is preferred over the standard autopsy in selected cases, such as in putrefied, carbonized or badly damaged bodies; or as a preliminary evaluation in mass disasters. Read More

Semin Ultrasound CT MR 2019 Feb 27;40(1):56-66. Epub 2018 Oct 27.

Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Molecular Imaging and Radiotherapy, PTV Foundation, "Tor Vergata" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.

Postmortem imaging is considered a routine investigative modality in many forensic institutions worldwide. Because of its ability to provide a quick and complete documentation of skeletal system and major parenchymal alterations, postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) is the imaging technique most frequently applied in postmortem forensic investigations. Also postmortem magnetic resonance has been implemented in postmortem setting, but its use is mostly limited to focused analysis (eg, study of the heart and brain). Read More

Nat Commun 2019 01 24;10(1):409. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Center for Translational and Computational Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA.

Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, have important roles in brain health. However, little is known about the regulation and consequences of microglial activation in the aging human brain. Here we report that the proportion of morphologically activated microglia (PAM) in postmortem cortical tissue is strongly associated with β-amyloid, tau-related neuropathology, and the rate of cognitive decline. Read More

J Neuroophthalmol 2019 Jan 22. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (RNM, GPVS, RR, GJH) and Neurology (LS), Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri; Blue Sky Neurology (NHK), Denver, Colorado; Department of Pathology and Immunology (CJF, RES, SD, GJH), Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; Department of Radiology (JT), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado; and Department of Neurology (AD), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

A 21-year-old man experienced unilateral vision loss associated with multiple atrophic chorioretinal lesions. He was treated for a presumptive diagnosis of acute retinal necrosis, but his vision did not improve with antiviral therapy. Over the course of several weeks, his symptoms progressed to involve both eyes. Read More

Stroke 2019 Feb;50(2):328-335

MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease (MIND), Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown (W.M.F., B.J.B., M.P.F., S.J.v.V.).

Background and Purpose- Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a common small vessel disease that independently effects cognition in older individuals. The pathophysiology of CAA and CAA-related bleeding remains poorly understood. In this postmortem study, we explored whether blood-brain barrier leakage is associated with CAA and microvascular lesions. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2019 ;1919:175-186

Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA.

Limited access to primary tissue from various nonhuman primate (NHP) species represents a significant unmet need that hampers progress in understanding unique cellular diversity and gene regulation of specific tissues and organs in stem cell translational research. Most comparative biology studies have been limited to using postmortem tissue usually frozen specimens with limited utility for research. The generation of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from somatic cells, such as adult skin or blood cells, offers an alternative to invasive and ethically controversial interventions for acquiring tissue. Read More

Clin Case Rep 2019 Jan 11;7(1):54-57. Epub 2018 Nov 11.

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics CHRU de Nancy Nancy France.

Apert syndrome in monozygotic twins can lead to different phenotypic expression of the disease in the two fetuses. Apert syndrome can be associated with congenital left diaphragmatic hernia and cleft palate. Read More

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2019 Jan 15. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Brugmann, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.

Objective: To compare the diagnostic rate and diagnostic accuracy of 3 Tesla (T) postmortem magnetic resonance imaging (PMMRI) and postmortem ultrasound (PMUS) in an unselected population.

Methods: In a blinded manner, we prospectively performed 3T PMMRI and PMUS on 160 unselected fetuses at 13-41 weeks of gestation. All imaging was reported according to a pre-specified template, for 5 anatomical regions: brain, thorax, heart, abdomen and spine. Read More

Forensic Sci Int 2019 Mar 6;296:22-27. Epub 2019 Jan 6.

Department of Radiology and Radiation Oncology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata, 951-8520, Japan.

Background: Measurement of heart weight is important when investigating cause of death, but there is presently no satisfactory method of heart weight estimation by postmortem computed tomography (PMCT).

Method: We investigated 33 consecutive cases that underwent both PMCT and autopsy between February 2008 and June 2014. Heart and left ventricular (LV) weights were calculated by PMCT morphometry. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019 01 11;116(5):1686-1691. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287;

While neuroinflammation is an evolving concept and the cells involved and their functions are being defined, microglia are understood to be a key cellular mediator of brain injury and repair. The ability to measure microglial activity specifically and noninvasively would be a boon to the study of neuroinflammation, which is involved in a wide variety of neuropsychiatric disorders including traumatic brain injury, demyelinating disease, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease, among others. We have developed [C]CPPC [5-cyano--(4-(4-[C]methylpiperazin-1-yl)-2-(piperidin-1-yl)phenyl)furan-2-carboxamide], a positron-emitting, high-affinity ligand that is specific for the macrophage colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R), the expression of which is essentially restricted to microglia within brain. Read More

Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2019 03 9;15(1):84-92. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.

Several articles have described the use of postmortem computed tomography (CT) and postmortem magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in forensic medicine. Although access to CT scanners and, particularly, access to MRI scanners, is still limited for several institutes, both modalities are being applied with increasing frequency in the forensic setting. Certainly, postmortem imaging can provide crucial information prior to autopsy, and this method has even been considered a replacement to autopsy in selected cases by some forensic institutes. Read More

Cleve Clin J Med 2019 Jan;86(1):29-37

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.

The last decade has seen major advances in diagnosing and treating cardiac amyloidosis. Early diagnosis can often now be made using noninvasive laboratory testing and imaging. New treatments are effective and well tolerated. Read More

Front Aging Neurosci 2018 10;10:406. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. While neuropathological changes pathognomonic for AD have been defined, early detection of AD prior to cognitive impairment in the clinical setting is still lacking. Pioneer studies applying machine learning to magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI) data to predict mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or AD have yielded high accuracies, however, an algorithm predicting neuropathological change is still lacking. Read More

BMC Med Imaging 2019 01 5;19(1). Epub 2019 Jan 5.

Lausanne University Hospital, Cardiovascular Department, and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Background: Recent autopsy studies found microvascular rarefaction in remodeled myocardium of patients who died of heart failure with preserved ejection-fraction (HFpEF). This condition has not been investigated so far by non-invasive methods in patients with HFpEF. The aim was to quantify the intravascular volume (IVV) compartment by CMR in HFpEF patients. Read More

Neuroradiology 2019 Feb 3;61(2):183-193. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

School of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 44 West Wenhua Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.

Purpose: This postmortem magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of the fetal spine aimed to describe the timing of appearance, shape, volume, and relative positions of the S1-S3 costal element ossification centers (CEOCs).

Methods: We obtained sagittal 3D dual-echo steady-state with water excitation T2 images of the entire spine in 71 fetuses (gestational ages (GAs), 17-42 weeks). Computed tomography and histological examinations were performed on two fetal specimens (GAs, 21 and 30 weeks) to validate the MR images. Read More

J Emerg Med 2019 Feb 28;56(2):153-165. Epub 2018 Dec 28.

Division of Emergency Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.

Background: Delayed diagnoses of unstable thoracolumbar spine (TL-spine) fractures can result in neurologic deficits and avoidable pain, so it is important for clinicians to reach prompt diagnostic decisions. There are no validated decision aids for determining which trauma patients warrant TL-spine imaging.

Objective: Our aim was to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of the injury mechanism, physical examination, associated injuries, clinical decision aids, and imaging for evaluating blunt TL-spine trauma patients. Read More

Cardiovasc Pathol 2019 Mar - Apr;39:25-29. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Department of Medical Research, Odense University Hospital Svendborg, Valdemarsgade, 53, Svendborg, Denmark.

Purpose: Improve mapping and registration of longitudinal view on histopathology vessels in a three-dimensional alignment procedure for postmortem quantitative coronary plaque analyses. This new procedure is applied and results shown using calcified coronary plaque analyses within post-mortem computed tomography angiography (PMCTA), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and the gold standard of histopathology.

Results: In total, 338 annotated histopathology images were included, 166 PMCTA transversal images and 285 OCT images were aligned in the comparison. Read More

BJOG 2019 May 6;126(6):745-753. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Department of Histopathology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

Objective: To investigate whether less invasive methods of autopsy would be acceptable to bereaved parents and likely to increase uptake.

Design: Mixed methods study.

Setting: Bereaved parents recruited prospectively across seven hospitals in England and retrospectively through four parent support organisations. Read More