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Purpose: To assess the added value of radiomics models from preoperative chest CT in predicting the presence of spread through air spaces (STAS) in the early stage of surgically resected lung adenocarcinomas using multiple validation datasets. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 550 early-stage surgically resected lung adenocarcinomas in 521 patients, classified into training, test, internal validation, and temporal validation sets (n=211, 90, 91, and 158, respectively). Radiomics features were extracted from the segmented tumors on preoperative chest CT, and a radiomics score (Rad-score) was calculated to predict the presence of STAS. Diagnostic performance of the conventional model and the combined model, based on a combination of conventional and radiomics features, for the diagnosis of the presence of STAS were compared using the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: Rad-score was significantly higher in the STAS-positive group compared to the STAS-negative group in the training, test, internal, and temporal validation sets. The performance of the combined model was significantly higher than that of the conventional model in the training set {AUC: 0.784 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.722-0.846] vs. AUC: 0.815 (95% CI: 0.759-0.872), p=0.042}. In the temporal validation set, the combined model showed a significantly higher AUC than that of the conventional model (p=0.001). The combined model showed a higher AUC than the conventional model in the test and internal validation sets, albeit with no statistical significance. Conclusion: A quantitative CT radiomics model can assist in the non-invasive prediction of the presence of STAS in the early stage of lung adenocarcinomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI) is a disease defined by lung injuries caused by e-cigarette use. It predominantly manifests in forms of organized pneumonia or diffuse alveolar damage but rarely as acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP). This report describes a 34-year-old male with acute respiratory symptoms and a vaping history of only nicotine. Chest CT revealed peripheral distributing multiple patchy consolidations and ground-glass opacities dominant in both lower lobes, bilateral diffuse interlobular septal thickening, and bilateral pleural effusion without cardiomegaly. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluids showed increased eosinophilia levels, while infectious laboratory results were all negative, enabling the diagnosis of both AEP and EVALI. Herein, we report a rare case of only-nicotine vaping EVALI manifested as AEP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Painful muscle cramps are a common complication in liver cirrhosis patients, and no effective treatment is available. This pilot study aimed to evaluate whether taurine supplementation improves muscle cramps in Korean cirrhotic patients. Materials and Methods: Ten cirrhotic patients who experienced muscle cramps one or more times/week were enrolled in this prospective single-arm study and administered with an oral taurine solution (1 g/50 mL) thrice a day for 4 weeks. Taurine was discontinued for the subsequent 4 weeks. The frequency and intensity of muscle cramps were evaluated using a questionnaire at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 after the start of treatment. Results: At baseline, the median frequency of muscle cramps was six times/week, and all patients had severe pain. Muscle cramp scores (frequency×intensity) decreased in seven patients by weeks 4 and 8 after treatment initiation. Compared to baseline muscle cramp scores [median 21, interquartile range (IQR): 8-84], median muscle cramp scores were lower at week 4 (6.5, IQR: 3-12, p=0.126) and week 8 (5, IQR: 1.5-56, p=0.066). All five patients whose baseline plasma taurine levels were below the normal limit showed increased taurine levels at week 4; 60% of them experienced improvements in their muscle cramps. Of the five patients with normal or higher taurine levels, 80% experienced an improvement in symptoms at week 4. The safety and tolerability of the 4-week taurine therapy were excellent. Conclusion: Oral taurine therapy for 4 weeks improved muscle cramps safely in cirrhotic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To demonstrate the relationship between epicardial fat accumulation and left atrial reverse remodeling by cardiac multi-detector CT (MDCT) after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Materials and Methods Seventy-six patients underwent cardiac MDCT before and after catheter ablation of AF. Left atrial volume (LAV) and epicardial fat volume (EFV) were measured. LAV and EFV before and after catheter ablation of AF were respectively compared and the change percentages (CPs) were evaluated. Results The LAV after catheter ablation of AF was significantly less than the baseline LAV (107.5 ± 50.2 mL vs. 144.9 ± 62.6 mL, p < 0.001). The EFV after catheter ablation of AF was significantly greater than the baseline EFV (105.0 ± 35.6 mL vs. 90.1 ± 31.9 mL, p < 0.001). Mean CPs of LAV and EFV were -23.3% ± 20.8% and 15.9% ± 20.9%, respectively. There was a significantly negative relationship between the CPs of LAV and EFV (R = -0.53, p < 0.001). Conclusion Catheter ablation of AF may result in a reduction in LAV and an increase in EFV. Left atrial reverse remodeling with a reduction in LAV may be associated with epicardial fat accumulation in patients who undergo catheter ablation of AF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers, and the lungs are a common site of metastasis from extrathoracic malignancies. Surgical resection is the gold standard treatment for lung malignancies. However, some of the patients are poor surgical candidates due to various reasons. Currently, image-guided ablation is used as one of the lung cancer treatment modalities. Cryoablation has been adapted as one of the treatments of lung tumors and a growing body of literature has shown that it is a safe and effective option. We report a case of successful cryoablation for a metastatic lesion from surgically resected primary lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Lung size mismatch is a major cause of poor lung function and worse survival after lung transplantation (LTx). We compared predicted total lung capacity (pTLC) and TLC measured by chest computed tomography (TLCCT) in LTx candidates. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients on waiting lists for LTx. According to the results of pulmonary function tests, patients were divided into an obstructive disease group and restrictive disease group. The differences between pTLC calculated using the equation of the European Respiratory Society and TLCCT were analyzed in each group. Results: Ninety two patients met the criteria. Thirty five patients were included in the obstructive disease group, and 57 patients were included in the restrictive disease group. pTLC in the obstructive disease group (5.50±1.07 L) and restrictive disease group (5.57±1.03 L) had no statistical significance (p=0.747), while TLCCT in the restrictive disease group (3.17±1.15 L) was smaller than that I the obstructive disease group (4.21±1.38 L) (p<0.0001). TLCCT/pTLC was 0.770 in the obstructive disease group and 0.571 in the restrictive disease group. Conclusion: Regardless of pulmonary disease pattern, TLCCT was smaller than pTLC, and it was more apparent in restrictive lung disease. Therefore, we should consider the difference between TLCCT and pTLC, as well as lung disease patterns of candidates, in lung size matching for LTx. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]