@article{WengHeidenreichMetzetal.2021, author = {Weng, Andreas M. and Heidenreich, Julius F. and Metz, Corona and Veldhoen, Simon and Bley, Thorsten A. and Wech, Tobias}, title = {Deep learning-based segmentation of the lung in MR-images acquired by a stack-of-spirals trajectory at ultra-short echo-times}, series = {BMC Medical Imaging}, volume = {21}, journal = {BMC Medical Imaging}, doi = {10.1186/s12880-021-00608-1}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-260520}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Background Functional lung MRI techniques are usually associated with time-consuming post-processing, where manual lung segmentation represents the most cumbersome part. The aim of this study was to investigate whether deep learning-based segmentation of lung images which were scanned by a fast UTE sequence exploiting the stack-of-spirals trajectory can provide sufficiently good accuracy for the calculation of functional parameters. Methods In this study, lung images were acquired in 20 patients suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF) and 33 healthy volunteers, by a fast UTE sequence with a stack-of-spirals trajectory and a minimum echo-time of 0.05 ms. A convolutional neural network was then trained for semantic lung segmentation using 17,713 2D coronal slices, each paired with a label obtained from manual segmentation. Subsequently, the network was applied to 4920 independent 2D test images and results were compared to a manual segmentation using the S{\o}rensen-Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and the Hausdorff distance (HD). Obtained lung volumes and fractional ventilation values calculated from both segmentations were compared using Pearson's correlation coefficient and Bland Altman analysis. To investigate generalizability to patients outside the CF collective, in particular to those exhibiting larger consolidations inside the lung, the network was additionally applied to UTE images from four patients with pneumonia and one with lung cancer. Results The overall DSC for lung tissue was 0.967 ± 0.076 (mean ± standard deviation) and HD was 4.1 ± 4.4 mm. Lung volumes derived from manual and deep learning based segmentations as well as values for fractional ventilation exhibited a high overall correlation (Pearson's correlation coefficent = 0.99 and 1.00). For the additional cohort with unseen pathologies / consolidations, mean DSC was 0.930 ± 0.083, HD = 12.9 ± 16.2 mm and the mean difference in lung volume was 0.032 ± 0.048 L. Conclusions Deep learning-based image segmentation in stack-of-spirals based lung MRI allows for accurate estimation of lung volumes and fractional ventilation values and promises to replace the time-consuming step of manual image segmentation in the future.}, language = {en} } @article{WengKoestlerBleyetal.2021, author = {Weng, Andreas M. and K{\"o}stler, Herbert and Bley, Thorsten A. and Ritter, Christian O.}, title = {Effect of short-term smoking \& L-arginine on coronary endothelial function assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance cold pressor testing: a pilot study}, series = {BMC Cardiovascular Disorders}, volume = {21}, journal = {BMC Cardiovascular Disorders}, doi = {10.1186/s12872-021-02050-1}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-260559}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Background The effect of smoking on coronary vasomotion has been investigated in the past with various imaging techniques in both short- and long-term smokers. Additionally, coronary vasomotion has been shown to be normalized in long-term smokers by L-Arginine acting as a substrate for NO synthase, revealing the coronary endothelium as the major site of abnormal vasomotor response. Aim of the prospective cohort study was to investigate coronary vasomotion of young healthy short-term smokers via magnetic resonance cold pressor test with and without the administration of L-Arginine and compare obtained results with the ones from nonsmokers. Methods Myocardial blood flow (MBF) was quantified with first-pass perfusion MRI on a 1.5 T scanner in healthy short-term smokers (N = 10, age: 25.0 ± 2.8 years, 5.0 ± 2.9 pack years) and nonsmokers (N = 10, age: 34.3 ± 13.6) both at rest and during cold pressor test (CPT). Smokers underwent an additional examination after administration of L-Arginine within a median of 7 days of the na{\"i}ve examination. Results MBF at rest turned out to be 0.77 ± 0.30 (smokers with no L-Arginine; mean ± standard deviation), 0.66 ± 0.21 (smokers L-Arginine) and 0.84 ± 0.08 (nonsmokers). Values under CPT were 1.21 ± 0.42 (smokers no L-Arginine), 1.09 ± 0.35 (smokers L-Arginine) and 1.63 ± 0.33 (nonsmokers). In all groups, MBF was significantly increased under CPT compared to the corresponding rest examination (p < 0.05 in all cases). Additionally, MBF under CPT was significantly different between the smokers and the nonsmokers (p = 0.002). MBF at rest was significantly different between the smokers when L-Arginine was given and the nonsmokers (p = 0.035). Conclusion Short-term smokers showed a reduced response to cold both with and without the administration of L-Arginine. However, absolute MBF values under CPT were lower compared to nonsmokers independently of L-Arginine administration.}, language = {en} } @article{SauerGoltzGassenmaieretal.2014, author = {Sauer, Stephanie and Goltz, Jan P. and Gassenmaier, Tobias and Kunz, Andreas S. and Bley, Thorsten A. and Klein, Detlef and Petritsch, Bernhard}, title = {Partial Segmental Thrombosis of the Corpus Cavernosum (PSTCC) diagnosed by contrast-enhanced ultrasound: a case report}, series = {BMC Urology}, volume = {14}, journal = {BMC Urology}, number = {100}, doi = {10.1186/1471-2490-14-100}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-126495}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Background Partial segmental thrombosis of the corpus cavernosum (PSTCC) is a rare disease predominantly occurring in young men. Cardinal symptoms are pain and perineal swelling. Although several risk factors are described in the literature, the exact etiology of penile thrombosis remains unclear in most cases. MRI or ultrasound (US) is usually used for diagnosing this condition. Case presentation We report a case of penile thrombosis after left-sided varicocele ligature in a young patient. The diagnosis was established using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and was confirmed by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (ceMRI). Successful conservative treatment consisted of systemic anticoagulation using low molecular weight heparin and acetylsalicylic acid. Conclusion PSTCC is a rare condition in young men and appears with massive pain and perineal swelling. In case of suspected PSTCC utilization of CEUS may be of diagnostic benefit.}, language = {en} }