Objective: A survey was conducted to analyze the concussion care practices of emergency physicians (EPs) and identify the need for educational programs based on concussion care guidelines. Methods: The cross-sectional self-report online survey was conducted over two months in 2023 and engaged emergency medicine residents and board-certified EPs. The survey consisted of questions about the respondents’ information and 23 questions regarding diagnosis practices, discharge instructions, follow-up instructions, and recovery instruction behaviors. The respondents were tasked with categorizing their practices as “usually” (more than 75% of the time); “often” (between 25% and 75% of the time); or “rarely” (less than 25% of the time). Results: Of the 115 participating emergency physicians, 70.4% held board certification. Most respondents (93.9%) usually explained potential emergency symptoms when discharging patients. On the other hand, the symptom scale tools for pediatric patients and screening for recovery-delay risk factors were rarely used. Only 34.8% and 33.0% of respondents usually explained the need for rest before non-contact, light aerobic activities and how to return to sports and physical activity, respectively, because of the lack of familiarity with the discharge and recovery instructions. Conclusion Despite their knowledge of clinical decision rules and guidelines, EPs often struggled to apply them because of time constraints. These results highlight the importance of providing education and training to EPs to enhance their knowledge and skills in concussion care management. By doing so, it is possible to improve the quality of care provided to patients who have suffered concussions and reduce the risk of complications.

Objective: A survey was conducted to analyze the concussion care practices of emergency physicians (EPs) and identify the need for educational programs based on concussion care guidelines. Methods: The cross-sectional self-report online survey was conducted over two months in 2023 and engaged emergency medicine residents and board-certified EPs. The survey consisted of questions about the respondents’ information and 23 questions regarding diagnosis practices, discharge instructions, follow-up instructions, and recovery instruction behaviors. The respondents were tasked with categorizing their practices as “usually” (more than 75% of the time); “often” (between 25% and 75% of the time); or “rarely” (less than 25% of the time). Results: Of the 115 participating emergency physicians, 70.4% held board certification. Most respondents (93.9%) usually explained potential emergency symptoms when discharging patients. On the other hand, the symptom scale tools for pediatric patients and screening for recovery-delay risk factors were rarely used. Only 34.8% and 33.0% of respondents usually explained the need for rest before non-contact, light aerobic activities and how to return to sports and physical activity, respectively, because of the lack of familiarity with the discharge and recovery instructions. Conclusion Despite their knowledge of clinical decision rules and guidelines, EPs often struggled to apply them because of time constraints. These results highlight the importance of providing education and training to EPs to enhance their knowledge and skills in concussion care management. By doing so, it is possible to improve the quality of care provided to patients who have suffered concussions and reduce the risk of complications.

Objective: A survey was conducted to analyze the concussion care practices of emergency physicians (EPs) and identify the need for educational programs based on concussion care guidelines. Methods: The cross-sectional self-report online survey was conducted over two months in 2023 and engaged emergency medicine residents and board-certified EPs. The survey consisted of questions about the respondents’ information and 23 questions regarding diagnosis practices, discharge instructions, follow-up instructions, and recovery instruction behaviors. The respondents were tasked with categorizing their practices as “usually” (more than 75% of the time); “often” (between 25% and 75% of the time); or “rarely” (less than 25% of the time). Results: Of the 115 participating emergency physicians, 70.4% held board certification. Most respondents (93.9%) usually explained potential emergency symptoms when discharging patients. On the other hand, the symptom scale tools for pediatric patients and screening for recovery-delay risk factors were rarely used. Only 34.8% and 33.0% of respondents usually explained the need for rest before non-contact, light aerobic activities and how to return to sports and physical activity, respectively, because of the lack of familiarity with the discharge and recovery instructions. Conclusion Despite their knowledge of clinical decision rules and guidelines, EPs often struggled to apply them because of time constraints. These results highlight the importance of providing education and training to EPs to enhance their knowledge and skills in concussion care management. By doing so, it is possible to improve the quality of care provided to patients who have suffered concussions and reduce the risk of complications.

This study presents transatrial stenting as a palliative treatment for central venous obstruction in dogs with cardiac tumors. Two dogs presented with lethargy and respiratory distress. On diagnostic imaging, a large cardiac tumor with central venous obstruction was identified in both dogs. One dog showed pleural effusion, plethoric caudal vena cava (CdVC), hepatic congestion, and ascites. The other dog had cervical swelling and pleural effusion. Transatrial stenting was performed in the cranial vena cava, right atrium, and CdVC for the relief of caval and atrial compression due to cardiac tumors. Clinical improvement was observed post-procedure, despite thrombus formation within the stent in the second case. Endovascular transatrial stenting is a promising palliative treatment for venous return obstruction caused by cardiac tumors, effectively alleviating clinical symptoms and providing a viable management option.

Objective: As part of an ongoing study, this study examined the impact of medications, such as heparin, aspirin, and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), on the factors linked to PTE after an intravenous injection of canine mesenchymal stem cell into experimental animals. Methods: Fluorescently labeled canine AdMSCs were administered intravenously into the tail veins of five-week-old male BALB/c hairless mice. This study compared the survival rates, biodistribution, platelet counts, D-dimer levels, and histological examination results among the drug treatment experimental and the control groups. Results: The final survival rates in the SNP, control aspirin, and heparin groups were 25%, 33%, 50%, and 100%, respectively. Ex vivo imaging confirmed fluorescence exclusively in the lungs of all subjects who died during the injection, with no fluorescence detected in the other organs. On the other hand, in the heparin experimental group, the surviving individuals exhibited fluorescence in the lungs and the liver on day one. Histological biopsies revealed PTE in all deceased individuals within the medication experimental groups (p = 0.029). Conclusions and Relevance: Heparin was highly effective, with no PTE-related deaths observed when used alongside cell injections. Aspirin revealed moderate effectiveness, surpassing the control group. On the other hand, the efficacy of SNP was inferior to that of the other two drugs.

Objective: As part of an ongoing study, this study examined the impact of medications, such as heparin, aspirin, and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), on the factors linked to PTE after an intravenous injection of canine mesenchymal stem cell into experimental animals. Methods: Fluorescently labeled canine AdMSCs were administered intravenously into the tail veins of five-week-old male BALB/c hairless mice. This study compared the survival rates, biodistribution, platelet counts, D-dimer levels, and histological examination results among the drug treatment experimental and the control groups. Results: The final survival rates in the SNP, control aspirin, and heparin groups were 25%, 33%, 50%, and 100%, respectively. Ex vivo imaging confirmed fluorescence exclusively in the lungs of all subjects who died during the injection, with no fluorescence detected in the other organs. On the other hand, in the heparin experimental group, the surviving individuals exhibited fluorescence in the lungs and the liver on day one. Histological biopsies revealed PTE in all deceased individuals within the medication experimental groups (p = 0.029). Conclusions and Relevance: Heparin was highly effective, with no PTE-related deaths observed when used alongside cell injections. Aspirin revealed moderate effectiveness, surpassing the control group. On the other hand, the efficacy of SNP was inferior to that of the other two drugs.

Objective: As part of an ongoing study, this study examined the impact of medications, such as heparin, aspirin, and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), on the factors linked to PTE after an intravenous injection of canine mesenchymal stem cell into experimental animals. Methods: Fluorescently labeled canine AdMSCs were administered intravenously into the tail veins of five-week-old male BALB/c hairless mice. This study compared the survival rates, biodistribution, platelet counts, D-dimer levels, and histological examination results among the drug treatment experimental and the control groups. Results: The final survival rates in the SNP, control aspirin, and heparin groups were 25%, 33%, 50%, and 100%, respectively. Ex vivo imaging confirmed fluorescence exclusively in the lungs of all subjects who died during the injection, with no fluorescence detected in the other organs. On the other hand, in the heparin experimental group, the surviving individuals exhibited fluorescence in the lungs and the liver on day one. Histological biopsies revealed PTE in all deceased individuals within the medication experimental groups (p = 0.029). Conclusions and Relevance: Heparin was highly effective, with no PTE-related deaths observed when used alongside cell injections. Aspirin revealed moderate effectiveness, surpassing the control group. On the other hand, the efficacy of SNP was inferior to that of the other two drugs.

Objective: The present study assessed the occurrence of PTE after the intravenous infusion of canine AdMSCs (cAdMSCs) into experimental animals. Methods: Five-week-old male BALB/c hairless mice were categorized into groups labeled A to G. In the control group (A), fluorescently stained 2 × 106 cAdMSCs were diluted in 200 μL of suspension and injected into the tail vein as a single bolus. The remaining groups included the following: group B with 5 × 106 cells, group C with 3 × 106 cells, group D with 1 × 106 cells, group E with 1 × 106 cells injected twice with a one-day interval, group F with 2 × 106 cells in 100 μL of suspension, and group G with 2 × 106 cells in 300 μL of suspension. Results: Group D achieved a 100% survival rate, while none of the subjects in groups B and C survived (p = 0.002). Blood tests revealed a tendency for the D-dimer levels to increase as the cell dose increased (p = 0.006). The platelet count was higher in the low cell concentration groups and lower in the high cell concentration groups (p = 0.028). A histological examination revealed PTE in most deceased subjects (96.30%). Conclusions and Relevance: PTE was verified, and various variables were identified as potential contributing factors, including the cell dose, injection frequency, and suspension volume.

Objective: As part of an ongoing study, this study examined the impact of medications, such as heparin, aspirin, and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), on the factors linked to PTE after an intravenous injection of canine mesenchymal stem cell into experimental animals. Methods: Fluorescently labeled canine AdMSCs were administered intravenously into the tail veins of five-week-old male BALB/c hairless mice. This study compared the survival rates, biodistribution, platelet counts, D-dimer levels, and histological examination results among the drug treatment experimental and the control groups. Results: The final survival rates in the SNP, control aspirin, and heparin groups were 25%, 33%, 50%, and 100%, respectively. Ex vivo imaging confirmed fluorescence exclusively in the lungs of all subjects who died during the injection, with no fluorescence detected in the other organs. On the other hand, in the heparin experimental group, the surviving individuals exhibited fluorescence in the lungs and the liver on day one. Histological biopsies revealed PTE in all deceased individuals within the medication experimental groups (p = 0.029). Conclusions and Relevance: Heparin was highly effective, with no PTE-related deaths observed when used alongside cell injections. Aspirin revealed moderate effectiveness, surpassing the control group. On the other hand, the efficacy of SNP was inferior to that of the other two drugs.

Recently, deep learning methods have shown great potential in various tasks that involve handling large amounts of digital data. In the field of MR imaging research, deep learning methods are also rapidly being applied in a wide range of areas to complement or replace traditional model-based methods. Deep learning methods have shown remarkable improvements in several MR image processing areas such as image reconstruction, image quality improvement, parameter mapping, image contrast conversion, and image segmentation. With the current rapid development of deep learning technologies, the importance of the role of deep learning in MR imaging research appears to be growing. In this article, we introduce the basic concepts of deep learning and review recent studies on various MR image processing applications.
Complement System Proteins ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Learning ; Machine Learning ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Quality Improvement