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The effective treatment of various diseases requires not only medications but also precise delivery methods to the body and specific organs. In this regard, radiology plays a crucial role, acting as the eyes of physicians. In contrast, interventional radiology serves as its hands, acting as one of the most effective drug delivery systems. Among interventional radiology disciplines, arterial drug delivery through arteries holds paramount importance as organs primarily receive nourishment directly from them. Furthermore, regenerative medicine is a burgeoning field dedicated to repairing diverse body tissues without relying on pharmaceutical drugs. Stem cells, inherent in various parts of our bodies, are vital for tissue regeneration and reconstruction. Depending on the treatment approach, stem cells can be sourced from the patient's body (autologous) or another individual (allogeneic). There exist various types of stem cells across species, with regenerative properties observed in animals and even plants. However, targeted cell therapy is preferred over systematic injections throughout the body for better efficacy. This article aims to familiarize interventionalists with stem cells and provide them with a clear and helpful explanation of their functions, mechanisms of action, different sources, and other relevant aspects. This will help them select the most appropriate cells for their therapeutic purposes. By comprehensively understanding the significance of stem cells in interventional radiology, we can implement optimal methodologies to address diverse medical conditions efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, published in the Arab Journal of Interventional Radiology, discusses the use of CT-fluoroscopy-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as a treatment for osteoid osteomas (OO) in atypical locations. The study evaluated the safety, efficacy, and complications of RFA in 38 patients with OO lesions in unusual locations. The results showed that RFA was effective in relieving pain in the majority of patients, with a success rate of 97.3% after 1 to 2 ablation sessions. The study concludes that RFA is an effective treatment for osteoid osteomas in atypical locations, with high patient satisfaction and few complications. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Glomus jugulare tumors are slow-growing neuroendocrine paragangliomas located in the temporal bone. Surgical excision, the standard treatment option, carries a high risk of intraoperative bleeding due to the vascular nature of these lesions. To mitigate this risk, current practice involves performing intra-arterial embolization prior to surgery. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess postintervention safety, technical success, and the rate of vascular blush size reduction in a group of patients with Glomus jugulare tumors who were planned for surgery and underwent pre-surgical intra-arterial embolization of the lesion. Patients and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, all patients who underwent intravascular embolization for Glomus jugulare tumors from 2017 onwards were included. The study comprised 61 patients scheduled for surgery following embolization. All embolizations were completed in one session and were primarily performed via external carotid artery branches using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The size of the vascular blush was measured before and after embolization in coronal, supero-inferior sagittal, and antero-posterior sagittal planes, and the rate of blush size reduction was calculated. Procedure complications, including post-embolization pain, were recorded. In the statistical analysis, vascular blush size was compared between pre- and post-embolization times. Results: Pain after embolization was reported in 11 patients (18%). There were no other complications among the patients, indicating a high level of safety. All procedures were technically successful. The mean pre-embolization vascular blush diameter in the coronal plane was 29.1 ± 133 mm, which decreased to 16.8 ± 7.1 mm after embolization, representing an average diameter reduction of 38.5% (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The findings of this retrospective cohort study suggest that intra-arterial embolization for Glomus jugulare tumors is safe, technically successful, and effective in reducing vascular blush before surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity and overweight have become a global epidemic affecting people of different ages. Some people face the problem of being overweight since childhood, and many of them become obese over time under the influence of factors such as improper nutrition and sedentary life style. Embolization of the left gastric artery is a new method suggested for management of obesity based on targeting the appetite of an obese person. Objectives: The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the outcomes and risks of interventional left gastric artery embolization to manage obesity. Methods: In this study, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guideline has been used for study design, search strategy, screening and reporting. A systematic search was performed using all available MeSH terms and free keywords in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science databases and Google Scholar search engine. ROBINS-I tool was used for quality assessment. Results: The mean weight reduction at 3-month post-op were 8.28 ± 7.3 in one study19. This number was 6.22 ± 3.6 kg 23, 10.42 ± 8.21 kg 19, 6 ± 12 kg 20 and 20.3lbs 18 at 6-month post-intervention. The 12-month weight loss was ranged from 13 kg 20 to 7.4 kg 21 between studies reported. An absolute weight loss of 13 kg after 24-month was also reported in the follow-up study by Pirlet et al. 22 and 17.2 % average excess weight reduction in 6 months by Syed et al.18. The studies have reported minor complications as deep gastric ulcer (n = 2), puncture site thrombosis (n = 1), superficial linear ulceration (n = 4), and subclinical pancreatitis (n = 1) which were all managed with no further complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]