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Objectives: Pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) is a challenging diagnosis to make secondary to nonspecific presenting symptoms and imaging findings. This retrospective review aims to discern predictive factors which can guide the decision to perform catheter-based venography and prognosticate outcomes. Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent catheter venography for PCS between January 2014 and December 2019 was performed. Multiple factors, including patient demographics, clinical history, pre-procedural imaging, venographic findings, and treatment outcomes 180 days post-procedure, were included in the analysis. Venographic findings were used to separate patients into two groups (positive or negative), with these factors compared across groups. Regression analysis controlled for the confounding effects of age and body mass index (BMI). Treated subjects were separated based on outcome (partial, no response, complete response, or technical failure), and comparisons were performed. Results: Eighty patients were included in the initial analysis. Two patients were excluded due to prior embolization or portal hypertension. Seventy-eight patients were included in the final analysis. Sixty-two patients had positive findings, and 16 had no venographic findings to suggest PCS. A history of prior pregnancy was a significant predictor of positive venographic results (odds ratio = 5.99, P = 0.007). BMI was significantly lower in those with positive venographic results (P = 0.047). Presence of concomitant diagnoses did not affect venographic findings or treatment outcomes. No factors predicted treatment outcomes. Five of the treated patients had subsequent successful pregnancies. Conclusion: A lower BMI supports the decision to perform venography for suspected PCS. In addition, patients who carried concomitant potentially confounding diagnoses for chronic pelvic pain were found to have similar rates of venographic findings suggesting PCS, as well as similar treatment outcomes.

Unfortunately, the original publication of this article contained a mistake in Fig. 7a. The correct figure is presented here. The original article has been corrected.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has been increasingly used in the setting of FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3)-mutated AML. However, its role in conferring durable relapse-free intervals remains in question. Herein we sought to investigate FLT3 mutational status on transplant outcomes. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 262 consecutive AML patients who underwent first-time allogeneic HCT (2008-2014), of whom 171 had undergone FLT3-ITD (internal tandem duplication) mutational testing. FLT3-mutated AML was associated with nearly twice the relapse risk (RR) compared with those without FLT3 mutation 3 years post-HCT (63% vs 37%, P

Topical 5- Fluorouracil (5-FU) is used more frequently to treat actinic keratosis. We are presenting a skin reaction as a side effect of this medication. Treatment for such cases of 5-FU-induced skin reactions is based on proper skin care and treatment of any superimposed infections. Medical providers should be aware of such side effects to provide their patients with proper instructions to avoid complications.

Cancer drug development generally performs in vivo evaluation of treatment effects that have traditionally relied on detection of morphologic changes. The emergence of new targeted therapies, which may not result in gross morphologic changes, has spurred investigation into more specific imaging methods to quantify response, such as targeted fluorescent probes and bioluminescent cells. The present study investigated tissue response to docetaxel or zoledronic acid (ZA) in a mouse model of bony metastasis. Intratibial implantations of breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) were monitored throughout this study using several modalities: molecular resonance imaging (MRI) tumor volume and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), micro-computed tomography (µCT) bone volume, bioluminescence imaging (BLI) reporting cancer cell apoptosis, and fluorescence using Osteosense 800 and CatK 680-FAST. Docetaxel treatment resulted in tumor cell kill reflected by ADC and BLI increases and tumor volume reduction, with delayed bone recovery seen in µCT prefaced by increased osteoblastic activity (Osteosense 800). In contrast, the ZA treatment group produced similar values in MRI, BLI, and Osteosense 800 fluorescence imaging readouts when compared to controls. However, µCT bone volume increased significantly by the first week post-treatment and the CatK 680-FAST signal was slightly diminished by 4 weeks following ZA treatment. Multimodality imaging provides a more comprehensive tool for new drug evaluation and efficacy screening through identification of morphology as well as function and apoptotic signaling.

Analytic morphomics is a novel methodology that uses high-throughput computed tomography (CT) processing techniques to generate reproducible body measurements (Supplementary Table).1, 2, 3, 4 Body mass index is widely used in clinical and public health studies to predict mortality risk.5 Indeed, we recently examined its impact in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and found that obese patients were at significantly greater risk of mortality compared with normal weight individuals.6 Unfortunately, body mass index does not reliably distinguish adipose tissue mass from muscle mass.7 Therefore, we sought to index patient size using CT measurements.2 The aim of the current study was to apply analytic morphomics in a cohort of allogeneic HCT patients and correlate with clinical outcomes.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasingly being recognized as a highly heterogeneous disorder, composed of varying pathobiology. Accurate detection of COPD subtypes by image biomarkers is urgently needed to enable individualized treatment, thus improving patient outcome. We adapted the parametric response map (PRM), a voxel-wise image analysis technique, for assessing COPD phenotype. We analyzed whole-lung computed tomography (CT) scans acquired at inspiration and expiration of 194 individuals with COPD from the COPDGene study. PRM identified the extent of functional small airways disease (fSAD) and emphysema as well as provided CT-based evidence that supports the concept that fSAD precedes emphysema with increasing COPD severity. PRM is a versatile imaging biomarker capable of diagnosing disease extent and phenotype while providing detailed spatial information of disease distribution and location. PRM's ability to differentiate between specific COPD phenotypes will allow for more accurate diagnosis of individual patients, complementing standard clinical techniques.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among American woman. Platinum-based chemotherapy, such as cisplatin, represents the standard of care for ovarian cancer. However, toxicicity and acquired resistance to cisplatin have been proven challenging in the treatment of cancer patients. Here, we evaluate the efficacy of targeted inhibition of Akt in combination with cisplatin in an ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma (OEA) mouse model wherein Wnt and PI3K signaling pathways are disrupted thus recapitulating the human disease. In cell culture and mouse xenograft models, inhibition of Akt activity in combination with cisplatin is more potent at inducing apoptosis compared to either agent alone. To further explore this finding in living animals, we incorporate a bioluminescence apoptosis reporter into the existing OEA mouse model, to enable monitoring of apoptosis dynamically and non-invasively in real time. Our results demonstrate that Akt inhibitors augment the efficacy of cisplatin by inducing apoptosis more efficiently in our newly developed transgenic OEA model. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was also accomplished to determine tumor burden and normalize changes in bioluminescence. Our results show that inhibition of Akt sensitizes OEA to apoptosis in response to cisplatin thus resulting in reducing tumor burden. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 380. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-380