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ABSTRACTDouble-differential thick target neutron yields (TTNYs) for Fe, Pb, and Bi targets induced by 107-MeV protons were measured using the fixed-field alternating gradient accelerator at Kyoto University for the research and development of accelerator-driven systems (ADSs) and fundamental ADS reactor physics research at the Kyoto University Critical Assembly (KUCA). Note that TTNYs were obtained with the time-of-flight method using a neutron detector system comprising eight neutron detectors; each detector has a small EJ-301 liquid organic scintillator and photomultiplier tube. The TTNYs obtained were compared with calculation results using Monte Carlo-based spallation models (i.e. INCL4.6/GEM, Bertini/GEM, JQMD/GEM, and JQMD/SMM/GEM) and the evaluated high-energy nuclear data library, i.e. JENDL-4.0/HE, implemented in the particle and heavy ion transport code system (PHITS). All models, including JENDL-4.0/HE, failed to predict high-energy peaks at a detector angle of . Comparing the energy- and angle-integrated spallation neutron yields at energies of ≤20 MeV estimated using the measured TTNYs and the PHITS indicated that INCL4.6/GEM would be suitable for the Monte Carlo transport simulation of ADS reactor physics experiments at the KUCA.

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a well-known cardiovascular risk factor. In the last year, the CAC score has been investigated in lung cancer (LC) screening, showing promising results in terms of mortality risk assessment. Nevertheless, its role in LC patients has still to be investigated. This study aims to evaluate the performance of a fully automated CAC scoring alone and combined with a prognostic index based on perioperative Routine Blood Tests (RBT) in predicting 5-year survival of patients with stage I LC.

The contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features of adrenal lesions are poorly reported in veterinary literature. Qualitative and quantitative B‐mode ultrasound and CEUS features of 186 benign (adenoma) and malignant (adenocarcinoma and pheochromocytoma) adrenal lesions were evaluated. Adenocarcinomas (n= 72) and pheochromocytomas (n= 32) had mixed echogenicity with B‐mode, and a non‐homogeneous aspect with a diffused or peripheral enhancement pattern, hypoperfused areas, intralesional microcirculation and non‐homogeneous wash‐out with CEUS. Adenomas (n= 82) had mixed echogenicity, isoechogenicity or hypoechogenicity with B‐mode, and a homogeneous or non‐homogeneous aspect with a diffused enhancement pattern, hypoperfused areas, intralesional microcirculation and homogeneous wash‐out with CEUS. With CEUS, a non‐homogeneous aspect and the presence of hypoperfused areas and intralesional microcirculation can be used to distinguish between malignant (adenocarcinoma and pheochromocytoma) and benign (adenoma) adrenal lesions. Lesions were characterised only by means of cytology. CEUS examination is a valuable tool for distinction between benign and malignant adrenal lesions and can potentially differentiate pheochromocytomas from adenocarcinomas and adenomas. However, cytology and histology are necessary to obtain the final diagnosis.

McDonald criteria for multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis were revised in 2017.

Contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features of pancreatic lesions are poorly reported in veterinary literature. Qualitative and quantitative features of pancreatic benign (nodular hyperplasia [NH], cyst and abscess) and malignant (adenocarcinoma and insulinoma) lesions during B‐mode and CEUS examinations are described in 75 dogs. Adenocarcinomas (n= 23) had mixed echogenicity at B‐mode, and they were hypoenhancing or non‐enhancing at CEUS, with a non‐homogeneous and cystic enhancement pattern. Insulinomas (n= 23) appeared as hypoechoic lesions at B‐mode, and as hyperenhancing, homogeneous and solid lesions at CEUS. NH (n= 17) had an constant appearance, being hypoechoic at ultrasound (US) and isoenhancing at CEUS. Cysts (n= 7) were all anechoic, with acoustic enhancement clearly detectable at US, but were non‐enhancing at CEUS. Lastly, abscesses (n= 5) had mixed echogenicity, and they showed both hyperenhancement and non‐enhancement at CEUS. Hypoenhancement and non‐homogeneous appearance had a moderate diagnostic accuracy in the detection of adenocarcinomas. In particular, hyperenhancement was evident only in malignant lesions (adenocarcinomas and insulinomas). CEUS, in combination with B‐mode US features, is a valuable tool for distinction of benign and malignant abnormalities of the pancreas and can potentially differentiate insulinomas from adenocarcinomas.

•MOGAD incidence and prevalence are still unclear.•We report incidence and prevalence of MOGAD in Verona province, Italy.•Prevalence-incidence lower than MS, higher than NMOSD with AQP4-IgG in Caucasians.•More frequent disease onset in autumn-winter period.

•We studied 56 patients with AQP4-IgG+NMOSD (n = 26) or MOGAD (n = 30) who received at least one dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (mRNA-based).•Disease relapses within 1 month of vaccination occurred in only one patient with AQP4-IgG+NMOSD (4%).•The frequency of disease relapses was higher in patients who contracted SARS-CoV-2 infection before the vaccine (20%; 1/5).•In patients with AQP4-IgG+NMOSD or MOGAD the benefits of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination outweigh the risk of potential disease reactivation.

Contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) features of primary hepatobiliary neoplasms have been reported in dogs but no information is available in cats. Qualitative and quantitative features of bile duct adenomas (BDAs, n=20), bile duct carcinomas (BDCs, n=16), and hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs, n=8) are described in 44 cats. There was an overlap in CEUS qualitative features between different histotypes, both in wash‐in and wash‐out phases. Distinction between different neoplasms based only on the CEUS qualitative features was not possible. At peak of enhancement, the BDAs, BDCs and HCCs showed a large range of echogenicities, from hypoenhancement to hyperenhancement, in comparison to the liver parenchyma. Eight of 20 BDAs showed inhomogeneous hyperenhancement during wash‐in, which is a feature reported as typical of malignant lesions in dogs. BDC had a significantly faster wash‐in compared with both BDA and HCC but the diagnostic accuracy of all the included quantitative variables was only moderate. No significant differences in the wash‐out quantitative features of BDA and BDC were evident. There is poor evidence that CEUS may be used to distinguish between different primary hepatobiliary neoplasms in cats.

This study aimed to describe the contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features of canine hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in relation to cellular differentiation and lesion size. Sixty dogs with a cytological diagnosis of HCC and that underwent a CEUS examination were retrospectively selected. The wash‐in and wash‐out patterns of contrast enhancement, along with the time to wash‐in and the time to wash‐out, of each lesion were recorded. A dimensional cut‐off value of 3 cm was adopted for classification. Cellular differentiation had a significant influence on both wash‐in (chi‐squared=16.99; P<0.001) and wash‐out (chi‐squared=10.9; P=0.004) patterns of contrast enhancement. Lesion size had a lower, but still significant, influence on both wash‐in (chi‐squared=12.7; P=0.005) and wash‐out (chi‐squared=7.42; P=0.024) patterns. A homogeneous hyperenhancement in the arterial phase followed by homogeneous wash‐out were suggestive of a well‐differentiated HCC. The cellular differentiation of lesions with inhomogeneous hyperenhancement or hypoenhancement/no enhancement as well as an inhomogeneous wash‐out or no wash‐out could not be inferred. No significant difference in the time to wash‐in and the time to wash‐out in relation to cellular differentiation or lesion size was evident. CEUS has the potential to improve efficiency in the diagnosis of HCCs in dogs.