Registry of Aortic Diseases to Model Adverse Events and Progression (ROADMAP) in Uncomplicated Type B Aortic Dissection: Study Design and Rationale

PURPOSE To describe the design and methodological approach of a multicenter, retrospective study to externally validate a clinical and imaging-based model for predicting the risk of late adverse events in patients with initially uncomplicated type B aortic dissection (uTBAD). MATERIALS AND METHODS The Registry of Aortic Diseases to Model Adverse Events and Progression (ROADMAP) is a collaboration between 10 academic aortic centers in North America and Europe. Two centers have previously developed and internally validated a recently developed risk prediction model. Clinical and imaging data from eight ROADMAP centers will be used for external validation. Patients with uTBAD who survived the initial hospitalization between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2013, with follow-up until 2020, will be retrospectively identified. Clinical and imaging data from the index hospitalization and all follow-up encounters will be collected at each center and transferred to the coordinating center for analysis. Baseline and follow-up CT scans will be evaluated by cardiovascular imaging experts using a standardized technique. RESULTS The primary end point is the occurrence of late adverse events, defined as aneurysm formation (≥6 cm), rapid expansion of the aorta (≥1 cm/y), fatal or nonfatal aortic rupture, new refractory pain, uncontrollable hypertension, and organ or limb malperfusion. The previously derived multivariable model will be externally validated by using Cox proportional hazards regression modeling. CONCLUSION This study will show whether a recent clinical and imaging-based risk prediction model for patients with uTBAD can be generalized to a larger population, which is an important step toward individualized risk stratification and therapy.Keywords: CT Angiography, Vascular, Aorta, Dissection, Outcomes Analysis, Aortic Dissection, MRI, TEVAR© RSNA, 2022See also the commentary by Rajiah in this issue

Concrete Mix Design

The compressive strength of hardened concrete which is generally considered to be an index of its other properties, depends upon many factors, e.g. quality and quantity of cement, water and aggregates; batching and mixing; placing, compaction and curing.The requirements which form the basis of selection and proportioning of mix ingredients are : a)The minimum compressive strength required from structural considerationb)Theadequate workability necessary for full compaction with the compacting equipment available.c) Maximum water-cement ratioand/or maximum cement content to give adequate durability for the particular site condition

CONCRETE MIX DESIGN

The compressive strength of hardened concrete which is generally considered to be an index of its other properties, depends upon many factors, e.g. quality and quantity of cement, water and aggregates; batching and mixing; placing, compaction and curing.The requirements which form the basis of selection and proportioning of mix ingredients are : a)The minimum compressive strength required from structural considerationb)Theadequate workability necessary for full compaction with the compacting equipment available.c) Maximum water-cement ratioand/or maximum cement content to give adequate durability for the particular site condition

Evaluation of renal quantitative T2* changes on MRI following administration of ferumoxytol as a T2* contrast agent

Sandeep S Hedgire,1 Shaunagh McDermott,1 Gregory R Wojtkiewicz,1 Seyed Mahdi Abtahi,1 Mukesh Harisinghani,1 Jason L Gaglia21Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Richard B Simches Research Center, 2Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USAPurpose: To evaluate the time-dependent changes in regional quantitative T2* maps of the kidney following intravenous administration of ferumoxytol.Materials and methods: Twenty-four individuals with normal kidney function underwent T2*-weighted MRI of the kidney before, immediately after, and 48 hours after intravenous administration of ferumoxytol at a dose of 4 mg/kg (group A, n=12) or 6 mg/kg (group B, n=12). T2* values were statistically analyzed using two-tailed paired t-tests.Results: In group A, the percentage changes from baseline to immediate post and baseline to 48 hours were 85.3% and 64.2% for the cortex and 90.8% and 64.6% for the medulla, respectively. In group B, the percentage changes from baseline to immediate post and baseline to 48 hours were 85.2% and 73.4% for the cortex and 94.5% and 74% for the medulla, respectively. This difference was significant for both groups (P<0.0001).Conclusion: There is significant and differential uptake of ferumoxytol in the cortex and medulla of physiologically normal kidneys. This differential uptake may offer the ability to interrogate renal cortex and medulla with possible clinical applications in medical renal disease and transplant organ assessment. We propose an organ of interest based dose titration of ferumoxytol to better differentiate circulating from intracellular ferumoxytol particles.Keywords: USPIO, ferumoxytol, renal MRI, T2* weighted imagin

Blood pool contrast agents for venous magnetic resonance imaging

Imaging of the venous system plays a vital role in the diagnosis and management of a wide range of clinically significant disorders. There have been great advances in venous imaging techniques, culminating in the use of magnetic resonance venography (MRV). Although MRV has distinct advantages in anatomic and quantitative cross sectional imaging without ionizing radiation, there are well-known challenges in acquisition timing and contrast administration in patients with renal impairment. The latest advancement involves the addition of new contrast media agents, which have emerged as valuable alternatives in these difficult scenarios. In this review, we will focus on a group of specific contrast agents called blood pool agents and discuss their salient features and clinical applications

Arterial Interventions in Gastrointestinal Bleeding

The diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding are complicated. A multitude of pathologic processes results in GI bleeding, and often, the bleeding is intermittent in nature. Of the available diagnostic tools, angiography has been the gold standard. Management of patients requires a multidisciplinary approach involving gastroenterologists, interventional radiologists, and surgeons. Therapeutic arterial interventions include pharmacologic control with the use of intraarterial vasopressin, embolization with temporary and permanent embolizing materials, and catheter-induced vasospasm

Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging of prostate cancer

In India, prostate cancer has an incidence rate of 3.9 per 100,000 men and is responsible for 9% of cancer-related mortality. It is the only malignancy that is diagnosed with an apparently blind technique, i.e., transrectal sextant biopsy. With increasing numbers of high-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment being installed in India, the radiologist needs to be cognizant about endorectal MRI and multiparametric imaging for prostate cancer. In this review article, we aim to highlight the utility of multiparamteric MRI in prostate cancer. It plays a crucial role, mainly in initial staging, restaging, and post-treatment follow-up