Purpose: During diagnostic cerebral angiography, catheter navigation requires manual contrast “puff” injections, while subsequent 2D/3D runs often use automated power injectors. Using power injectors for navigation puffs has not been described. We present a closed-circuit dual-port injector system (Nemoto Press Duo Elite) that integrates both navigation puff delivery and diagnostic run injection into a single automated platform, eliminating all manual tableside contrast handling. A foot pedal interface enables operator-controlled puff timing, potentially reducing contrast waste and air embolism risk while improving single-operator ergonomics with future remote robotic implications. Materials and Methods: This retrospective comparative cohort study compared 19 consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic cerebral angiography with foot pedal-controlled puff injections (June–July 2023) to 19 historical controls using manual hand injections (May 2021). Both groups used 90% contrast concentration. Fluoroscopy time, radiation dose, contrast utilization, and safety outcomes were compared. Results: Groups were demographically matched (mean age 52.1±14.2 vs. 50.2±12.9 years; 73.7% female). All 38 procedures achieved diagnostic adequacy with no complications. The foot pedal group demonstrated significantly shorter procedure time per vessel (11.5±4.4 vs. 18.9±10.5 min/vessel, P=0.010) with no significant differences in fluoroscopy time (P=0.171), radiation dose (P=0.690), or contrast delivered (88.7±30.9 vs. 88.2±42.5 mL, P=0.966). A trend toward improved contrast efficiency was observed (23.4±9.4 vs. 27.4±10.4 mL/vessel, P=0.226). Despite undergoing significantly more 3D rotational runs (1.3±1.0 vs. 0.6±0.7, P=0.030), the foot pedal group maintained comparable safety metrics, strengthening the non-inferiority findings. Conclusion A closed-circuit dual-port injector system integrating automated navigation puff delivery with diagnostic run injection demonstrates non-inferiority to manual injection for diagnostic cerebral angiography, with shorter procedure time per vessel (39% reduction, P=0.010), though interpretation is limited by differences in indication distribution. By eliminating manual tableside contrast handling, this approach enables precise digital contrast accounting and reduces air embolism risk, establishing a foundation for remote and robotic angiography applications.

Background: and Purpose Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the cerebellar hemisphere represents a new option in treating essential tremor (ET) patients. We aimed to determine the efficacy of cerebellar rTMS in treating ET using different protocols regarding the number of sessions, exposure duration, and follow-up duration. Methods: A randomized sham-controlled trial was conducted, in which 45 recruit patients were randomly allocated to 2 groups. The first (active group) comprised 23 patients who were exposed to 12 sessions of active rTMS with 900 pulses of 1-Hz rTMS at 90% of the resting motor threshold daily on each side of the cerebellar hemispheres over 4 weeks. The second group (sham group) comprised 22 patients who were exposed to 12 sessions of sham rTMS. Both groups were reassessed at baseline and after 1 day, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months using the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin tremor-rating scale (FTM). Results: Demographic characteristics did no differ between the two groups. There were significant reductions both in FTM subscores A and B and in the FTM total score in the active-rTMS group during the period of assessment and after 3 months (p=0.031 and 0.011, respectively).However, subscore C did not change significantly from baseline when assessed at 2 and 3 months (p=0.073 and 0.236, respectively). Furthermore, the global assessment score was significantly higher in the active-rTMS group (p>0.001). Conclusions Low-frequency rTMS over the cerebellar cortex for 1 month showed relative safety and long-lasting efficacy in patients with ET. Further large-sample clinical trials are needed that include different sites of stimulation and longer follow-ups.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ascites is a dreadful complication of liver cirrhosis associated with short survival. Large volume paracentesis (LVP) is used to treat tense or refractory ascites. Paracentesis induced circulatory dysfunction (PICD) develops if no plasma expanders are given with ominous complications. To study the effect of ascites flow rate on PICD development. METHODS: Sixty patients with cirrhosis and tense ascites underwent LVP of 8 L were randomized into 3 equal groups of different flow rate extraction; group I (80 mL/minute), group II (180 mL/minute) and group III (270 mL/minute). Plasma renin activity (PRA) was measured baseline and on day six. PICD was defined as increase in PRA >50% of the pretreatment value. RESULTS: In group I through 3; the mean age was (52.5±9.4 vs. 56.4±8.5 vs. 55.8±7.1 years; P>0.05), mean arterial pressure (81.4±5.6 vs. 81.5±7 vs. 79.5±7.2 mmHg; P>0.05), MELD (17.6±4.1 vs. 15.8±4.1 vs. 14.7±4.5). Baseline PRA was comparable (1,366.0±1244.9 vs. 1,151.3±1,444.8 vs. 951.9±1,088 pg/mL; P>0.05). There was no statistically significant (P>0.05) flow mediated changes (Delta) of creatinine (0.23±0.27 vs. 0.38±0.33 vs. 0.26±0.18 mg/dL), MELD (1.25±5.72 vs. 1.70±2.18 vs. 1.45±2.21) or PRA (450.93±614.10 vs. 394.61±954.64 vs. 629.51±1,116.46 pg/mL). PICD was detected in a similar frequency in the three groups (P>0.05). On univariate logistic analysis only female sex was a fairly significant PICD predictor (Wald 3.85, odds ratio 3.14; P=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The ascites flow rate does not correlate with PICD development.
Adult ; Aged ; Arteries/physiology ; Blood Pressure ; Creatinine/blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; International Normalized Ratio ; Liver Cirrhosis/*diagnosis/pathology ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paracentesis/*adverse effects ; Renin/blood ; Sex Factors ; Shock/diagnosis/*etiology