Brain/diagnostic imaging* ; Child ; Encephalitis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVE: To study the feasibility of ultrasonic molecular imaging of immediately blood-mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR) in vitro.
 METHODS: IBMIR models in vitro were divided into 3 groups: Group A, no microbubbles were added; Group B, non-targeted micro-bubbles were added; Group C, Lys-Gly-Asp-Ser (KGDS)-targeted microbubbles (MBK) were added. The ultrasonic enhancement of IBMIR in loops by ultrasonic contrast imaging was evaluated.
 RESULTS: The contrast-enhanced US imaging did not show thrombus formation in the group A, whereas the thrombus was found in the Group B and C with a change in filling defects or ring enhancement, respectively. The time for detecting thrombosis was (7.3 ± 0.5) min and (13.2 ± 0.6) min in Group B and Group C, respectively (P<0.05). The average-gray scales of thrombus in Group B and Group C were 31.22 ± 3.56 and 75.85 ± 5.21, respectively (P<0.05). The fluorescence microscope also showed that MBK was attached to thrombus surrounding islets.
 CONCLUSION IBMIR model in vitro showed that KGDS-targeted ultrasound contrast agent could adhere to thrombus shell surrounding islets and molecular target ultrasonography could image these thrombi noninvasively and effectively.
Contrast Media ; Humans ; Inflammation ; diagnostic imaging ; Islets of Langerhans Transplantation ; Microbubbles ; Thrombosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the agreement between clinical signs (tenderness and/or swelling) in ankles and feet joints and ultrasound findings in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: RA patients with at least 1 tender and/or swollen joint in bilateral ankles and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints detected by physical examination were enrolled and underwent ultrasound examination by greyscale (GS) and power Doppler (PD) mode. The agreement between clinical signs and ultrasound-detected inflammation (joint effusion, synovitis, or tenosynovitis) was analyzed. RESULTS: In the study, 113 consecutive RA patients were included, with mean age of (52.5±12.6) years, median duration of 60 (13, 129) months, mean disease activity score in 28 joints based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate [DAS28 (ESR)] of 5.1±1.7, mean disease activity score in 28 joints based on C reactive protein[DAS28 (CRP)]of 4.6±1.5. The tenderness and swelling was most commonly detected in ankles (52.7% and 31.9%, respectively), while GS (+) synovitis was most frequently detectable in MTP2 (34.1%), followed by ankles (32.7%) and MTP1 (27.9%), and PD (+) synovitis was most frequently detectable in MTP1 (14.2%), followed by ankles (12.4%) and MTP2 (10.6%). The prevalence of tenosynovitis was 41.1%, which mostly located in tibialis posterior tendon (22.1% of GS positive and 17.6% of PD positive). The highest prevalence of joint effusion was detected in ankles (9.7%), while that of bone erosion in MTP5 (19%). The overall concordance rate between positive clinical signs and ultrasound-determined joint inflammation was poor in the above joints (κ < 0.2, P < 0.05), in which swelling had the highest κ coefficient with ultrasound-determined joint inflammation in ankles (κ=0.225, P < 0.05). Moreover, swelling had the highest κ coefficient with synovitis in ankles (κ=0.231, P < 0.05).The concordance between tenosynovitis and signs in ankles was also poor (κ < 0.20, P < 0.05). There was no significant agreement between joint effusion and clinical signs (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The overall concordance between clinical signs and inflammation on ultrasound was poor in ankles and feet joints. Tenderness and swelling was more common in ankles, while more lesions were detected by ultrasound at MTP joints. Ultrasound is useful in assessing the lesions besides physical examination in patients with RA.
Adult ; Aged ; Ankle ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/diagnostic imaging* ; Humans ; Inflammation/diagnostic imaging* ; Middle Aged

Adult ; Eosinophilia ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ureteral Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery

Pancreatic panniculitis (PP) is a necrotizing inflammation of subcutaneous fat that is a rare complication of pancreatic disease appearing in 2% to 3% of all patients. It is more common in the elderly and often affects the extremities. It presents as skin inflammation with pain and erythema nodules. We report a case of acute pancreatitis associated with PP in an old female. She was admitted for vomiting and abdominal pain for 3 days and presented with a 2-week history of erythematous subcutaneous nodules on her legs. Laboratory and ultrasonic findings revealed acute pancreatitis. High frequency ultrasound showed hypoechoic foci in subcutaneous soft tissue layer and adipose layer. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of PP. Nodules disappeared with the resolution of acute pancreatic inflammation. PP may be the first manifestation of pancreatic disease. Imaging features of this pathology are seldom described and ultrasonic diagnosis experience is worth to be accumulated.
Acute Disease ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation/complications* ; Pancreatic Diseases/diagnostic imaging* ; Pancreatitis/diagnostic imaging* ; Panniculitis/etiology* ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of oxidative stress and inflammation in the development of plaque rupture. METHODS: One hundred and ten patients enrolled in this study. All patients underwent coronary angiography. It included 85 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and 25 controls. The angiographic morphology of plaques was analyzed. According to the morphologic types of plaque, CHD patients were divided into Type I (smooth borders) group (n=31), Type II (irregular lesions) group (n=35), and Type III (long lesions) group (n=19). All patients were measured of MDA-LDL, hs-CRP, creatine kinase (CK), and MB isoenzyme of CK (CK-MB) in the plasma. RESULTS: Plasma MDA-LDL and hs-CRP in the Type II group were significantly higher than those in the control group, Type I group, and Type III group (P<0.01). The plasma levels of MDA-LDL were not correlated to LDL and HDL in patients in Type II group (P>0.05). The plasma levels of MDA-LDL and hs-CRP had a significant positive correlation in patients in Type II group (r=0.630, P<0.01). CONCLUSION Oxidative stress and inflammation may cause plaque rupture in CHD patients. The oxidative stress is likely to either induce or intensify the inflammatory action, and may co-affect with inflammation factors to cause or accelerate plaque rupture.
Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Inflammation Mediators ; blood ; Oxidative Stress

Ultrasonography (US) is a cost effective diagnostic imaging tool suitable for routine clinical use. High frequency US is a well-established method for both the diagnosis and monitoring of inflammatory arthritis, capable of detecting a wide range of joint pathologies, including effusion, synovitis, and extra-articular abnormalities. However, to ensure an accurate diagnosis, it is also important to consider periarticular disorders that could clinically mimic joint pathology. Such a diagnosis requires special attention to be paid to the periarticular structures, include the tendon, ligament, muscle, and bursa. Due to the close proximity of these structures to potentially affected joints, periarticular inflammation is often clinically misdiagnosed as articular in origin. In these cases, the processes driving pathology are the result of localized inflammation that is secondary to inflammatory arthritis, such as excessive friction or direct trauma. Therefore, when using US to diagnose inflammatory arthritis, it is important to understand the causative pathology of the periarticular disorders, as well as their clinical presentation.
Arthritis ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Friction ; Inflammation ; Joints ; Ligaments ; Pathology ; Synovitis ; Tendons ; Ultrasonography

Atherosclerosis is a complex and multi-factorial pathophysiological process. Researches over the past decades have shown that the development of atherosclerotic vulnerable plaque is closely related to its components, morphology, and stress status. Biomechanical models have been developed by combining with medical imaging, biological experiments, and mechanical analysis, to study and analyze the biomechanical factors related to plaque vulnerability. Numerical simulation could quantify the dynamic changes of the microenvironment within the plaque, providing a method to represent the distribution of cellular and acellular components within the plaque microenvironment and to explore the interaction of lipid deposition, inflammation, angiogenesis, and other processes. Studying the pathological mechanism of plaque development would improve our understanding of cardiovascular disease and assist non-invasive inspection and early diagnosis of vulnerable plaques. The biomechanical models and numerical methods may serve as a theoretical support for designing and optimizing treatment strategies for vulnerable atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Computer Simulation ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Models, Cardiovascular ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic/diagnostic imaging*

Neuroinflammation is heavily associated with various neurological diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. It is strongly characterized by the activation of microglia which can be visualized using position emission tomography (PET). Traditionally, translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) has been the preferred target for imaging the inflammatory progression of the microglial component. TSPO is expressed in the outer mitochondrial membrane and present in very low concentrations in the healthy human brain, but is markedly upregulated in response to brain injury and inflammation. Due to its value as a marker of microglial activation and subsequent utility for evaluating neuroinflammation in CNS disorders, several classes of TSPO radioligands have been developed and evaluated. However, the application of these second-generation TSPO radiotracers has been subject to several limiting factors, including a polymorphism that affects TSPO binding. This review focuses on recent developments in TSPO imaging, as well as current limitations and suggestions for future directions from a medical imaging perspective.
Alzheimer Disease ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Ligands ; Microglia ; Mitochondrial Membranes ; Molecular Imaging ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Parkinson Disease ; Stroke

A 30-year-old woman presented with a six-month history of left posterior heel pain. Physical examination revealed a tender, inflamed and indurated posterior heel with a visible bony prominence of the posterosuperior aspect of the calcaneus. Lateral ankle radiography showed a prominent left posterosuperior calcaneal tuberosity and thickening of the distal Achilles tendon outline. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated high-signal inflammatory fluid in the retrocalcaneal bursa, increased signal intensity and thickening of the Achilles tendon, and prominence of the posterior calcaneus tuberosity with reactive marrow oedema. The findings are consistent with Haglund's deformity. The patient underwent hind foot surgery after failing a six-month course of conservative therapy. There was no further recurrence of symptoms after surgery. The clinical and radiological features of Haglund's deformity are described, including a short discussion of other causes of hind foot pain.
Achilles Tendon ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Adult ; Bone and Bones ; surgery ; Calcaneus ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Female ; Foot ; diagnostic imaging ; Foot Deformities ; surgery ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pain ; etiology ; Treatment Outcome