Guanosine hydrogels in focus: A comprehensive analysis through mid-infrared spectroscopy.

Guanosine nucleosides and nucleotides have the peculiar ability to self-assemble in water to form supramolecular complex architectures from G-quartets to G-quadruplexes. G-quadruplexes exhibit in turn a large liquid crystalline lyotropic polymorphism, but they eventually cross-link or entangle to form a densely connected 3D network (a molecular hydrogel), able to entrap very large amount of water (up to the 99% v/v). This high water content of the hydrogels enables tunable softness, deformability, self-healing, and quasi-liquid properties, making them ideal candidates for different biotechnological and biomedical applications. In order to fully exploit their possible applications, Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform InfraRed (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy was used to unravel the vibrational characteristics of supramolecular guanosine structures. First, the characteristic vibrations of the known quadruplex structure of guanosine 5'-monophosphate, potassium salt (GMP/K), were investigated: the identified peaks reflected both the chemical composition of the sample and the formation of quartets, octamers, and quadruplexes. Second, the role of K+ and Na+ cations in promoting the quadruplex formation was assessed: infrared spectra confirmed that both cations induce the formation of G-quadruplexes and that GMP/K is more stable in the G-quadruplex organization. Finally, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy was used to investigate binary mixtures of guanosine (Gua) and GMP/K or GMP/Na, both systems forming G-hydrogels. The same G-quadruplex-based structure was found in both mixtures, but the proportion of Gua and GMP affected some features, like sugar puckering, guanine vibrations, and base stacking, reflecting the known side-to-side aggregation and bundle formation occurring in these binary systems.

Early Detection of Myocardial Involvement in Thalassemia Intermedia Patients: Multiparametric Mapping by Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

BACKGROUND: No study has assessed myocardial T1 and T2 values in patients with beta-thalassemia intermedia (ß-TI). PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of myocardial involvement in ß-TI patients by T2* relaxometry and native T1 and T2 mapping and to determine the correlation of myocardial relaxation times with demographic and clinical parameters. STUDY TYPE: Prospective matched-cohort study. SUBJECTS: 42 ß-TI patients (27 females, 39.65 ± 12.32 years), enrolled in the Extension-Myocardial Iron Overload in Thalassaemia Network, and 42 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers (27 females, 40.01 ± 11.36 years) and thalassemia major (TM) patients (27 females, 39.27 ± 11.57 years). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 1.5 T/multi-echo gradient echo, modified Look-Locker inversion recovery, multi-echo fast-spin-echo, cine balanced steady-state-free precession, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) sequences. ASSESSMENT: Hepatic, pancreatic, and left ventricular (LV) T2* values, LV native T1 and T2 values, biventricular ejection fractions and volumes, and presence and extent of replacement myocardial fibrosis. STATISTICAL TESTS: Comparisons between two groups were performed with two-sample t tests, Wilcoxon's signed rank tests, or χ2 testing. Correlation analysis was performed using Pearson's or Spearman's test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: ß-TI patients had significantly higher LV T2 values than healthy subjects (56.84 ± 4.03 vs. 52.46 ± 2.50 msec, P < 0.0001) and significantly higher LV T1 values than TM patients (1018.32 ± 48.94 vs. 966.66 ± 66.47 msec, P < 0.0001). In ß-TI, female gender was associated with significantly increased LV T1 (P = 0.041) and T2 values (P < 0.0001), while splenectomy and presence of regular transfusions were associated with significantly lower LV T1 values (P = 0.014 and P = 0.001, respectively). In ß-TI patients, all LV relaxation times were significantly correlated with each other (T2*-T1: P = 0.003; T2*-T2: P = 0.003; T1-T2: P < 0.0001). Two patients with a reduced LV T2* also had a reduced LV T1, while only one had a reduced LV T2. Three patients had a reduced LV T1 but a normal LV T2*; 66.7% of the patients had an increased LV T2. All LV relaxation times were significantly correlated with pancreas T2* values (T2*: P = 0.033; T1: P < 0.0001; T2: P = 0.014). No LV relaxation time was associated (P > 0.05) with hepatic iron concentration, biventricular function parameters, or LGE presence. CONCLUSION: The combined use of all three myocardial relaxation times has potential to improve sensitivity in the detection of early/subclinical myocardial involvement in ß-Tl patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

Could CT Radiomic Analysis of Benign Adrenal Incidentalomas Suggest the Need for Further Endocrinological Evaluation?

We studied the application of CT texture analysis in adrenal incidentalomas with baseline characteristics of benignity that are highly suggestive of adenoma to find whether there is a correlation between the extracted features and clinical data. Patients with hormonal hypersecretion may require medical attention, even if it does not cause any symptoms. A total of 206 patients affected by adrenal incidentaloma were retrospectively enrolled and divided into non-functioning adrenal adenomas (NFAIs, n = 115) and mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS, n = 91). A total of 136 texture parameters were extracted in the unenhanced phase for each volume of interest (VOI). Random Forest was used in the training and validation cohorts to test the accuracy of CT textural features and cortisol-related comorbidities in identifying MACS patients. Twelve parameters were retained in the Random Forest radiomic model, and in the validation cohort, a high specificity (81%) and positive predictive value (74%) were achieved. Notably, if the clinical data were added to the model, the results did not differ. Radiomic analysis of adrenal incidentalomas, in unenhanced CT scans, could screen with a good specificity those patients who will need a further endocrinological evaluation for mild autonomous cortisol secretion, regardless of the clinical information about the cortisol-related comorbidities.

Take a look at the heart: Incidental detection of a right atrial thrombus during abdominal MR.

Cardiac masses include a wide range of lesions whose nature could be both neoplastic (primary and secondary) or not. Here we report the case of a 53-year-old woman referred to our center for pancreatic lesion follow up by magnetic resonance. The collateral finding of a rounded-shaped lesion in the right heart atrium, during the abdomen examination, led to further diagnostic investigation. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance by nonparametric and parametric sequences was performed to settle the differential diagnosis, allowing for the definition of right atrial thrombus. At the best of our knowledge no data are available in literature about the incidental diagnosis of cardiac thrombi through abdominal magnetic resonance. This case underlines the importance of image evaluation for incidental findings, further demonstrating the feasibility of initiating an image-guided therapy after a characterization by CMR.

Combined Brain-Heart Imaging in Takotsubo Syndrome: Towards a Holistic Patient Assessment.

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a type of cardiomyopathy usually precipitated by either emotional or physical stress and potentially leading to reversible heart failure. There is emerging evidence indicating an interaction between the brain and the heart in patients with TTS. Nevertheless, these new insights are not reflected in the current clinical approach to TTS. The application of novel and existing imaging modalities for the evaluation of brain-heart interactions is an interesting approach that could potentially augment diagnostic and prognostic yield, as well as improve our pathophysiologic understanding in the context of TTS. In this opinion piece, we discuss the evidence supporting a brain-heart interaction in patients with TTS and discuss how a combined evaluation of brain-heart interactions could potentially be implemented.

Combined brain-heart MRI identifies cardiac and white matter lesions in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and/or antiphospholipid syndrome: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) can occur primarily (PAPS) or secondary to another autoimmune disease (SAPS), most commonly systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Recently, we reported that subclinical brain involvement was highly prevalent in patients with autoimmune diseases, including SLE. We aimed to investigate whether patients with SLE, PAPS or SAPS and cardiac symptoms showed differences in cardiac/brain involvement based on combined brain-heart magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: We prospectively recruited 15 patients with SAPS (86 % with SLE) and 3 patients with PAPS and compared their MRI findings to those of 13 patients with SLE from our previous publication. All patients underwent routine cardiovascular/neurological examination and standard echocardiography. RESULTS: No patients had abnormalities in routine clinical workup/echocardiography. The vast majority had white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) and all had evidence of myocardial fibrosis and/or inflammation. Patients with SAPS had a lower median WMH number [1.00 (1.00, 2.00)] than those with PAPS [3.00 (2.50, 3.00)] or SLE [2.00 (2.00, 3.00)] (p = 0.010). Subcortical and deep WM were highly prevalent. Periventricular WMHs were more frequent in patients with SLE [6 (46.2 %)] or PAPS [2 (66.7 %)] (p = 0.023). Higher lesion burdens (1 WMH vs. 2 WMHs vs. ≥ WMHs) were associated with the presence of cardiac fibrosis [3 (33.3 %) vs. 10 (83.3) vs. 7 (77.8), p = 0.039] and affected the deep and periventricular WM (p < 0.001 for both). CONCLUSION: In patients with PAPS, SAPS or SLE, cardiac symptoms and normal routine workup, combined brain-heart MRI identified abnormalities in both organs in the majority of patients. Combined brain-heart MRI offers excellent diagnostic value, but its incorporation into routine clinical practice should be further investigated. Clinical relevance statement Combined brain-heart magnetic resonance imaging in antiphospholipid syndrome may help to assess the presence of abnormalities in both organs.

The additive prognostic value of end-systolic pressure-volume relation by stress CMR in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease.

PURPOSE: The difference between rest and peak stress end-systolic pressure-volume relation (ΔESPVR) is an afterload-independent index of left ventricular (LV) contractility. We assessed the independent prognostic value of ΔESPVR index by dipyridamole stress-cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with known/suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: We considered 196 consecutive patients (62.74 ± 10.66 years, 49 females). Wall motion and perfusion abnormalities at rest and peak stress were analysed. Replacement myocardial fibrosis was detected by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) technique. The ESPVR was evaluated at rest and peak stress from raw measurement of systolic arterial pressure and end-systolic volume by biplane Simpson's method. RESULTS: A reduced ΔESPVR index (≤ 0.02 mmHg/mL/m2) was found in 88 (44.9%) patients and it was associated with a lower LV ejection fraction (EF) and with a higher frequency of abnormal stress CMR and myocardial fibrosis. During a mean follow-up of 53.17 ± 28.21 months, 50 (25.5%) cardiac events were recorded: 5 cardiac deaths, 17 revascularizations, one myocardial infarction, 23 hospitalisations for heart failure or unstable angina, and 4 ventricular arrhythmias. According to Cox regression analysis, diabetes, family history, LVEF, abnormal stress CMR, myocardial fibrosis, and reduced ΔESPVR were significant univariate prognosticators. In the multivariate analysis the independent predictors were ΔESPVR index ≤ 0.02 mmHg/mL/m2 (hazard ratio-HR = 2.58, P = 0.007), myocardial fibrosis (HR = 2.13, P = 0.036), and diabetes (HR = 2.33, P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: ΔESPVR index by stress-CMR was independently associated with cardiac outcomes in patients with known/suspected CAD, in addition to replacement myocardial fibrosis and diabetes. Thus, the assessment of ΔESPVR index may be included into the standard stress-CMR exam to further stratify the patients.

Multiparametric Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Assessment in Sickle Beta Thalassemia.

Cardiac involvement in sickle beta thalassemia (Sß-thal) patients has been poorly investigated. We aimed to evaluate cardiac function and myocardial iron overload by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with Sß-thal. One-hundred and eleven Sß-thal patients consecutively enrolled in the Myocardial Iron Overload in Thalassemia (MIOT) network were studied and compared with 46 sickle cell anemia (SCA) patients and with 111 gender- and age- matched healthy volunteers. Cine images were acquired to quantify biventricular function. Myocardial iron overload (MIO) was assessed by the T2* technique, while macroscopic myocardial fibrosis was evaluated by the late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) technique. In Sß-thal and SCA patients, the morphological and functional CMR parameters were not significantly different, except for the left atrial area and left ventricular (LV) stroke volume, indexed by body surface area (p = 0.023 and p = 0.048, respectively), which were significantly higher in SCA patients. No significant differences between the two groups were found in terms of myocardial iron overload and macroscopic myocardial fibrosis. When compared to healthy subjects, Sß-thal patients showed significantly higher bi-atrial and biventricular parameters, except for LV ejection fraction, which was significantly lower. The CMR analysis confirmed that Sß-thal and SCA patients are phenotypically similar. Since Sß-thal patients showed markedly different morphological and functional indices from healthy subjects, it would be useful to identify Sß-thal/SCA-specific bi-atrial and biventricular reference values.

Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Status in Adult Patients with Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia: Correlation with Demographic, Laboratory, and Clinical Biomarkers.

Iron overload in beta transfusion-dependent thalassemia (ß-TDT) may provoke oxidative stress and reduction of the antioxidant defenses, with serious consequences for the disease course and complications. The present study evaluated the oxidant/antioxidant status of ß-TDT patients and its correlation with demographic, clinical, laboratory, and instrumental biomarkers. The OXY-adsorbent assay and the d-ROMs (Diacron, Grosseto, Italy) were evaluated in 58 ß-TDT patients (mean age: 37.55 ± 7.83 years, 28 females) enrolled in the Extension-Myocardial Iron Overload in Thalassemia Network. Iron overload was quantified with R2* magnetic resonance imaging. Mean OXY was 323.75 ± 113.19 µmol HClO/mL and 39 (67.2%) patients showed a decreased OXY-Adsorbent level (<350 µmol HClO/mL), of whom 22 (37.9%) showed severely reduced levels. Mean d-ROMs was 305.12 ± 62.19 UA; 12 (20.7%) patients showed oxidative stress, and 4 (6.9%) elevated oxidative stress. OXY showed a significant negative correlation with global and segmental cardiac iron levels. D-ROMs levels significantly correlated with markers of cardiovascular risk (aging, glycemia, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide). Antioxidant depletion is frequent in ß-TDT patients, where OXY might serve as additive biomarker to assess heart iron status, whereas the d-ROMs might be helpful to assess the cardiovascular risk burden.

Potential Benefits of Photon-Counting CT in Dental Imaging: A Narrative Review.

Background/Objectives: Advancements in oral imaging technology are continually shaping the landscape of dental diagnosis and treatment planning. Among these, photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT), introduced in 2021, has emerged as a promising, high-quality oral technology. Dental imaging typically requires a resolution beyond the standard CT systems achievable with the specialized cone-beam CT. PCCT can offer up to 100 µm resolution, improve soft-tissue contrast, and provide faster scanning times, which are crucial for detailed dental diagnosis and treatment planning. Using semiconductor detectors, PCCT produces sharper images and can potentially reduce the number of scans required, thereby decreasing patient radiation exposure. This review aimed to explore the potential benefits of PCCT in dental imaging. Methods: This review analyzed the literature on PCCT in dental imaging from January 2010 to February 2024, sourced from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, focusing on high-resolution, patient safety, and diagnostic efficiency in dental structure assessment. We included English-language articles, case studies, letters, observational studies, and randomized controlled trials while excluding duplicates and studies unrelated to PCCT's application in dental imaging. Results: Studies have highlighted the superiority of PCCT in reducing artifacts, which are often problematic, compared to conventional CBCT and traditional CT scans, due to metallic dental implants, particularly when used with virtual monoenergetic imaging and iterative metal artifact reduction, thereby improving implant imaging. This review acknowledges limitations, such as the potential for overlooking other advanced imaging technologies, a narrow study timeframe, the lack of real-world clinical application data in this field, and costs. Conclusions: PCCT represents a promising advancement in dental imaging, offering high-resolution visuals, enhanced contrast, and rapid scanning with reduced radiation exposure.

Overcoming the Boundaries of Heart Warm Ischemia in Donation After Circulatory Death: The Padua Case.

A 45 year old male obese patient with a previous history of repaired congenital heart disease developed worsening heart failure making heart transplantation listing mandatory. Unfortunately, due to his anthropometric measures, the search for a suitable brain-dead donor was unsuccessful. For this reason, he accepted to be enrolled in the controlled donation after circulatory death (cDCD) program. According to the Italian Law regulating death declaration after cardiac arrest (no-touch period of 20 minutes-one of the longest in the world), we faced a 34 minute cardiac asystole, after which the heart was recovered through a thoraco-abdominal normothermic regional perfusion excluding the epiaortic vessels. The heart was then preserved by means of cold static storage. Heart transplantation was performed successfully without any signs of primary graft failure. Postoperative endomyocardial biopsies were negative for acute cellular and antibody-mediated rejection. Furthermore, echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance evaluation of the heart did not show any functional abnormalities. The patient was discharged on post-operative day (POD) #39 in good clinical conditions.

Liver T1 and T2 mapping in a large cohort of healthy subjects: normal ranges and correlation with age and sex.

OBJECTIVE: We established normal ranges for native T1 and T2 values in the human liver using a 1.5 T whole-body imager (General Electric) and we evaluated their variation across hepatic segments and their association with age and sex. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One-hundred healthy volunteers aged 20-70 years (50% females) underwent MRI. Modified Look-Locker inversion recovery and multi-echo fast-spin-echo sequences were used to measure hepatic native global and segmental T1 and T2 values, respectively. RESULTS: T1 and T2 values exhibited good intra- and inter-observer reproducibility (coefficient of variation < 5%). T1 value over segment 4 was significantly lower than the T1 values over segments 2 and 3 (p < 0.0001). No significant regional T2 variability was detected. Segmental and global T1 values were not associated with age or sex. Global T2 values were independent from age but were significantly lower in males than in females. The lower and upper limits of normal for global T1 values were, respectively, 442 ms and 705 ms. The normal range for global T2 values was 35 ms-54 ms in males and 39 ms-54 ms in females. DISCUSSION: Liver T1 and T2 mapping is feasible and reproducible and the provided normal ranges may help to establish diagnosis and progression of various liver diseases.

Longitudinal prospective comparison of pancreatic iron by magnetic resonance in thalassemia patients transfusion-dependent since early childhood treated with combination deferiprone-desferrioxamine vs deferiprone or deferasirox monotherapy.

BACKGROUND: In transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients who started regular transfusions in early childhood, we prospectively and longitudinally evaluated the efficacy on pancreatic iron of a combined deferiprone (DFP) + desferrioxamine (DFO) regimen versus either oral iron chelator as monotherapy over a follow-up of 18 months. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We selected patients consecutively enrolled in the Extension-Myocardial Iron Overload in Thalassemia network who received a combined regimen of DFO+DFP (No.=28) or DFP (No.=61) or deferasirox (DFX) (No.=159) monotherapy between the two magnetic resonance imaging scans. Pancreatic iron overload was quantified by the T2* technique. RESULTS: At baseline no patient in the combined treatment group had a normal global pancreas T2* (≥26 ms). At follow-up the percentage of patients who maintained a normal pancreas T2* was comparable between the DFP and DFX groups (57.1 vs 70%; p=0.517).Among the patients with pancreatic iron overload at baseline, global pancreatic T2* values were significantly lower in the combined DFO+DFP group than in the DFP or DFX groups. Since changes in global pancreas T2* values were negatively correlated with baseline pancreas T2* values, the percent changes in global pancreas T2* values, normalized for the baseline values, were considered. The percent changes in global pancreas T2* values were significantly higher in the combined DFO+DFP group than in either the DFP (p=0.036) or DFX (p=0.030) groups. DISCUSSION: In transfusion-dependent patients who started regular transfusions in early childhood, combined DFP+DFO was significantly more effective in reducing pancreatic iron than was either DFP or DFX.

Nodal staging with MRI after neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer: a fast and reliable method.

OBJECTIVES: In patients with locally advanced rectal carcinoma (LARC), negative nodal status after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) may allow for rectum-sparing protocols rather than total mesorectal excision; however, current MRI criteria for nodal staging have suboptimal accuracy. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of different MRI dimensional criteria for nodal staging after nCRT in patients with LARC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent MRI after nCRT for LARC followed by surgery were retrospectively included and divided into a training and a validation cohort of 100 and 39 patients, respectively. Short-, long-, and cranial-caudal axes and volume of the largest mesorectal node and nodal status based on European Society of Gastrointestinal Radiology consensus guidelines (i.e., ESGAR method) were assessed by two radiologists independently. Inter-reader agreement was assessed in the training cohort. Histopathology was the reference standard. ROC curves and the best cut-off were calculated, and accuracies compared with the McNemar test. RESULTS: The study population included 139 patients (median age 62 years [IQR 55-72], 94 men). Inter-reader agreement was high for long axis (κ = 0.81), volume (κ = 0.85), and ESGAR method (κ = 0.88) and low for short axis (κ = 0.11). Accuracy was similar (p > 0.05) for long axis, volume, and ESGAR method both in the training (71%, 74%, and 65%, respectively) and in the validation (83%, 78%, and 75%, respectively) cohorts. CONCLUSION: Accuracy of the measurement of long axis and volume of the largest lymph node is not inferior to the ESGAR method for nodal staging after nCRT in LARC. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: In MRI restaging of rectal cancer, measurement of the long axis or volume of largest mesorectal lymph node after preoperative chemoradiotherapy is a faster and reliable alternative to ESGAR criteria for nodal staging. KEY POINTS: • Current MRI criteria for nodal staging in locally advanced rectal cancer after chemo-radiotherapy have suboptimal accuracy and are time-consuming. • Measurement of long axis or volume of the largest mesorectal lymph node on MRI showed good accuracy for assessment of loco-regional nodal status in locally advanced rectal cancer. • MRI measurement of the long axis and volume of largest mesorectal lymph node after chemo-radiotherapy could be a faster and reliable alternative to ESGAR criteria for nodal staging.

Precocious Puberty Diagnoses Spike, COVID-19 Pandemic, and Body Mass Index: Findings From a 4-year Study.

Context: Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the number of girls with suspected precocious puberty has increased. Objective: To compare the incidence of idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) during COVID-19 with that of the previous 4 years. Methods: Anthropometric, biochemical, and radiological parameters were collected between January 2016 and June 2021 from 133 girls who met the Rapidly Progressive ICPP criteria (RP-ICPP). Results: We found a higher incidence of RP-ICPP between March 2020 and June 2021 (group 2) compared with January 2016 through March 2020 (group 1) (53.5% vs 41.1%); 2021 showed the highest annual incidence (P < .05). Group 1 and group 2 differed in age at diagnosis (7.96 ± 0.71 vs 7.61 ± 0.94; P < .05), mean Tanner stage (2.86 ± 0.51 vs 2.64 ± 0; P < .05), and in the time between the appearance of thelarche and diagnosis (0.93 ± 0.75 vs 0.71 ± 0.62 years, P < .05). There was an increase in the number of girls aged <8 years in group 2 and a significantly higher number of girls aged >8 years was found in group 1 (42 in group 1 vs 20 in group 2, P < 0.05). Overall body mass index SD score showed higher values ​​in group 2 (1.01 ± 1.23 vs 0.69 ± 1.15; P = .18), which spent an average of 1.94 ± 1.81 hours per day using electronic devices; 88.5% of this group stopped any physical activity. Conclusions: A spike in new diagnoses of idiopathic (1.79-fold higher) and RP-CPP coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. The incidence of RP-ICPP was 1.3-fold higher during COVID-19 with a trend toward an increase in body mass index SD score. The expanding use of digital devices and the reduction of daily physical activity represent possible risk factors.

Biventricular Tissue Tracking with Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance: Reference Values of Left- and Right-Ventricular Strain.

We derived reference values of left-ventricular (LV) and right-ventricular (RV) strain parameters in a cohort of 100 healthy subjects by feature tracking cardiac magnetic resonance (FT-CMR). Global and regional strain values were calculated for the LV; circumferential and radialSAX strain parameters were derived from the short-axis (SAX) stack, while longitudinal and radialLAX strain parameters were assessed in three long-axis (LAX) views. Only global longitudinal strain (GLS) was calculated for the RV. Peak global LV circumferential strain was -16.7% ± 2.1%, LV radialSAX strain was 26.4% ± 5.1%, LV radialLAX strain was 31.1% ± 5.2%, LV GLS was -17.7% ± 1.9%, and RV GLS was -23.9% ± 4.1%. Women presented higher global LV and RV strain values than men; all strain values presented a weak relationship with body surface area, while there was no association with age or heart rate. A significant association was detected between all LV global strain measures and LV ejection fraction, while RV GLS was correlated to RV end-diastolic volume. The intra- and inter-operator reproducibility was good for all global strain measures. In the regional analysis, circumferential and radial strain values resulted higher at the apical level, while longitudinal strain values were higher at the basal level. The assessment of cardiac deformation by FT-CMR is feasible and reproducible and gender-specific reference values should be used.

Consensus on the assessment of systemic sclerosis-associated primary heart involvement: World Scleroderma Foundation/Heart Failure Association guidance on screening, diagnosis, and follow-up assessment.

Introduction: Heart involvement is a common problem in systemic sclerosis. Recently, a definition of systemic sclerosis primary heart involvement had been proposed. Our aim was to establish consensus guidance on the screening, diagnosis and follow-up of systemic sclerosis primary heart involvement patients. Methods: A systematic literature review was performed to investigate the tests used to evaluate heart involvement in systemic sclerosis. The extracted data were categorized into relevant domains (conventional radiology, electrocardiography, echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, laboratory, and others) and presented to experts and one patient research partner, who discussed the data and added their opinion. This led to the formulation of overarching principles and guidance statements, then reviewed and voted on for agreement. Consensus was attained when the mean agreement was ⩾7/10 and of ⩾70% of voters. Results: Among 2650 publications, 168 met eligibility criteria; the data extracted were discussed over three meetings. Seven overarching principles and 10 guidance points were created, revised and voted on. The consensus highlighted the importance of patient counseling, differential diagnosis and multidisciplinary team management, as well as defining screening and diagnostic approaches. The initial core evaluation should integrate history, physical examination, rest electrocardiography, trans-thoracic echocardiography and standard serum cardiac biomarkers. Further investigations should be individually tailored and decided through a multidisciplinary management. The overall mean agreement was 9.1/10, with mean 93% of experts voting above 7/10. Conclusion: This consensus-based guidance on screening, diagnosis and follow-up of systemic sclerosis primary heart involvement provides a foundation for standard of care and future feasibility studies that are ongoing to support its application in clinical practice.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Iron Overload Assessment by MRI in Patients with Hemoglobinopathies: The E-MIOT Network Experience.

BACKGROUND: The E-MIOT (Extension-Myocardial Iron Overload in Thalassemia) project is an Italian Network assuring high-quality quantification of tissue iron overload by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on E-MIOT services. METHODS: The activity of the E-MIOT Network MRI centers in the year 2020 was compared with that of 2019. A survey evaluated whether the availability of MRI slots for patients with hemoglobinopathies was reduced and why. RESULTS: The total number of MRI scans was 656 in 2019 and 350 in 2020, with an overall decline of 46.4% (first MRI: 71.7%, follow-up MRI: 36.9%), a marked decline (86.9%) in the period March-June 2020, and a reduction in the gap between the two years in the period July-September. A new drop (41.4%) was recorded in the period October-December for two centers, due to the general reduction in the total amount of MRIs/day for sanitization procedures. In some centers, patients refused MRI scans for fear of getting COVID. Drops in the MRI services >80% were found for patients coming from a region without an active MRI site. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic had a strong negative impact on MRI multi-organ iron quantification, with a worsening in the management of patients with hemoglobinopathies.

Self-oriented anisotropic structure of G-hydrogels as a delicate balance between attractive and repulsive forces.

Guanine (G) hydrogels are very attractive materials made by the supramolecular organization of G-derivatives in water. In this paper, hydrogels composed of guanosine 5'-monophosphate (GMP) and guanosine (Gua), that make long, flexible and knotted G-quadruplexes, were investigated by small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS) to comprehend the origin of their unique orientational properties. The SAXS intensity, analysed at a fixed scattering vector modulus Q as a function of polar angle, allowed us to derive the Maier-Saupe orientation parameter m. The strong dependence of m on hydrogel composition and temperature demonstrated that the preferred orientation is controlled by the quadruplex surface charge and flexibility. Indeed, a possible correlation between the orientation parameter m and the quadruplex-to-quadruplex lateral interactions was explored. Results confirmed that the balance between attractive and repulsive interactions plays a main role in the orientational anisotropy: quadruplex clusters lose their orientational properties when attractive interactions decrease. The key role of the number of negative charges per unit length of the G-quadruplex filaments was confirmed by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) observations. Indeed, directionality histograms showed that in the presence of a large amount of Gua, G-quadruplexes follow preferential orientations other than those related to the strong interactions with the K+ pattern on the mica surface. The fact that lateral quadruplex-to-quadruplex interactions, even in the presence of external (opposing) forces, can tune the hydrogel alignment in a given preferred direction provides novel possibilities for scaffold/3D printing applications.

Medical Radiology: Current Progress.

Recently, medical radiology has undergone significant improvements in patient management due to advancements in image acquisition by the last generation of machines, data processing, and the integration of artificial intelligence. In this way, cardiovascular imaging is one of the fastest-growing radiological subspecialties. In this study, a compressive review was focused on addressing how and why CT and MR have gained a I class indication in most cardiovascular diseases, and the potential impact of tissue and functional characterization by CT photon counting, quantitative MR mapping, and 4-D flow. Regarding rectal imaging, advances in cancer imaging using diffusion-weighted MRI sequences for identifying residual disease after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and [18F] FDG PET/MRI were provided for high-resolution anatomical and functional data in oncological patients. The results present a large overview of the approach to the imaging of diffuse and focal liver diseases by US elastography, contrast-enhanced US, quantitative MRI, and CT for patient risk stratification. Italy is currently riding the wave of these improvements. The development of large networks will be crucial to create high-quality databases for patient-centered precision medicine using artificial intelligence. Dedicated radiologists with specific training and a close relationship with the referring clinicians will be essential human factors.