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Open Access Publications from the University of California

Scholarly Works (8 results)

  • Article
  • Peer Reviewed
UCLA Radiological Sciences Proceedings, Volume 1, Issue 3 (2021)
Humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament (HAGL) is defined as a disruption of the fibers of the inferior glenohumeral ligament at its humeral insertion. It is a relatively rare but important entity, given its diagnostic and clinical implications and growing debate around the treatment of adolescent patients particularly those who participate in sports. While well described in the orthopedic literature, HAGL has not been often discussed in the radiology literature. This case report presents classic imaging characteristics of HAGL in an adolescent football player. In addition, this case report addresses the epidemiology, the causes, the subtypes, and some aspects of treatment of HAGL.
    Cover page: Humeral Avulsion of the Glenohumeral Ligament in an Adolescent: A Case Report of a Relatively Rare but Clinically Relevant Orthopedic EntityCreative Commons 'BY' version 4.0 license
    • Article
    • Peer Reviewed
    UCLA Previously Published Works (2021)

    In the U.S., pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common cause of cardiovascular death. Right heart thrombus (RHT) occurs in approximately 4% of patients with PE, and when concurrent is associated with increased 30-day PE-related and all-cause mortality. The consensus on optimal management of acute massive or high-risk PE is unclear, and even less so for concurrent RHT. In this report, we review a successful multidisciplinary coordination of vacuum-assisted thrombectomy (VAT) of a complex pacemaker lead-associated RHT in a patient with concurrent acute PE and significant comorbidities, using the AngioVac system (Vortex Medical, Norwell, MA). VAT is a reasonable treatment option that should be considered particularly for patients who are poor surgical or thrombolytic candidates. Procedural success and patient outcomes can be further optimized through multidisciplinary collaboration such as with the Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) model.

      Cover page: AngioVac aspiration of right atrial cardiac pacemaker lead-associated thrombus with concurrent PE under fluoroscopic and transesophageal echocardiographic guidance: a multidisciplinary collaboration for improved patient outcome.
      • Article
      Fisher Center Working Papers (2010)

      This paper examines how successfully economic forecasts as covered in public media foreshadow major real estate and financial crises. Building from existing research on the accuracy of economic forecasts, we focus on real estate crises and the portrayal of forecasts in the press. We utilize textual analysis to identify articles on specific topics and to track coverage over time, both in the print media, as well as the larger internet-based news world; we also use the Google tool, “Insights for Search,” to gauge public “forecasting” and popular beliefs. We find that the use of real-time data limits the accuracy of forecasts, that there appears to be a reluctance in the press to forecast bad news, and that when bad news is forecast, the report is often cushioned with counterbalancing observations. Preliminary results based on review of specific sets of articles show that articles reporting on academic forecasts have tended to be more accurate in hindsight than those relying on other sources. Reviews of two periods of real estate crises, the mid-1980s and the 2007-2009 crisis show that many of the serious problems were described in the press as early as two years in advance, but that interest and concern tended to taper off before the crisis occurred, leading to a sense of surprise. Our results suggest while the recent past is not always a good predictor of future trends, it can be very useful to be familiar with long term history that spans several cycles.

        Cover page: The Past as Prologue? Business Cycles and Forecasting since the 1960s
        • Article
        • Peer Reviewed
        UCLA Previously Published Works (2024)

        Objectives

        To compare the quantitative background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) in women with different lifetime risks and BRCA mutation status of breast cancer using screening MRI.

        Materials and methods

        This study included screening MRI of 535 women divided into three groups based on lifetime risk: nonhigh-risk women, high-risk women without BRCA mutation, and BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. Six quantitative BPE measurements, including percent enhancement (PE) and signal enhancement ratio (SER), were calculated on DCE-MRI after segmentation of the whole breast and fibroglandular tissue (FGT). The associations between lifetime risk factors and BPE were analyzed via linear regression analysis. We adjusted for risk factors influencing BPE using propensity score matching (PSM) and compared the BPE between different groups. A two-sided Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare the BPE with a threshold of 0.1 for multiple testing issue-adjusted p values.

        Results

        Age, BMI, menopausal status, and FGT level were significantly correlated with quantitative BPE based on the univariate and multivariable linear regression analyses. After adjusting for age, BMI, menopausal status, hormonal treatment history, and FGT level using PSM, significant differences were observed between high-risk non-BRCA and BRCA groups in PEFGT (11.5 vs. 8.0%, adjusted p = 0.018) and SERFGT (7.2 vs. 9.3%, adjusted p = 0.066).

        Conclusion

        Quantitative BPE varies in women with different lifetime breast cancer risks and BRCA mutation status. These differences may be due to the influence of multiple lifetime risk factors. Quantitative BPE differences remained between groups with and without BRCA mutations after adjusting for known risk factors associated with BPE.

        Clinical relevance statement

        BRCA germline mutations may be associated with quantitative background parenchymal enhancement, excluding the effects of known confounding factors. This finding can provide potential insights into the cancer pathophysiological mechanisms behind lifetime risk models.

        Key points

        Expanding understanding of breast cancer pathophysiology allows for improved risk stratification and optimized screening protocols. Quantitative BPE is significantly associated with lifetime risk factors and differs between BRCA mutation carriers and noncarriers. This research offers a possible understanding of the physiological mechanisms underlying quantitative BPE and BRCA germline mutations.
          Cover page: Quantitative assessment of background parenchymal enhancement is associated with lifetime breast cancer risk in screening MRI
          • Article
          • Peer Reviewed
          ICTS Publications (2010)
            Cover page: Increased rat neonatal activity influences adult cytokine levels and relative muscle mass.Creative Commons 'BY' version 4.0 license
            • Article
            • Peer Reviewed
            UCLA Previously Published Works (2022)
            Vascular imaging can be challenging because of the wide variability of contrast dynamics in different vascular territories and potential safety concerns in patients with renal insufficiency or allergies. Off-label diagnostic use of ferumoxytol, a superparamagnetic iron nanoparticle approved for therapy, is a promising alternative to gadolinium-based contrast agents for MR angiography (MRA). Ferumoxytol has exhibited a reassuring safety profile when used within the dose range recommended for diagnostic imaging. Because of its prolonged and stable intravascular residence, ferumoxytol can be used in its steady-state distribution for a wide variety of imaging indications, including some where conventional MRA is unreliable. In this article, authors discuss some of the major vascular applications of ferumoxytol and highlight how it may be used to provide highly diagnostic images and improve the quality, workflow, and reliability of vascular imaging. Keywords: MR Angiography, MRI Contrast Agent, Cardiac, Vascular © RSNA, 2022.
              Cover page: Contrast-enhanced MR Angiography without Gadolinium-based Contrast Material: Clinical Applications Using Ferumoxytol
              • Article
              Research Publications, 2023-2024 (2024)
              The goal of this literature review is to analyze different herbal medicine treatment options for Glioblastoma, a highly malignant cancer that starts as a growth of cells in the brain or spinal cord. The four different herbal medicine treatments that are studied in the paper are Curcumin, Flavonoids, Quercetin, and Terpenoids. Curcumin is used as a key inhibitor in various pathways in the cell proliferation and apoptosis of GBM cells. Flavonoids regulate tumor cell glucose metabolism by preventing cancer cells from uptaking glucose and cannot harness energy in the form of ATP. Quercetin is targeted at glioma cancer growth without negatively impacting normal CNS cells. Terpenoids are used to inhibit the transfer of P-glycoprotein, which can inhibit glioblastoma formation. All four herbal treatments have been shown to slow the progression of Glioblastoma by inhibiting the proliferation of Glioblastoma cells. This can be seen through the decrease in the tumor size of Glioblastoma patients.
                Cover page: The Effects of Natural Medicine as Possible Treatment for Glioblastoma
                • Article
                • Peer Reviewed
                UCLA Previously Published Works (2023)

                Background

                Background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) is an established breast cancer risk factor. However, the relationship between BPE levels and breast cancer risk stratification remains unclear.

                Purpose

                To evaluate the clinical relationship between BPE levels and breast cancer risk with covariate adjustments for age, ethnicity, and hormonal status.

                Study type

                Retrospective.

                Population

                954 screening breast MRI datasets representing 721 women divided into four cohorts: women with pathogenic germline breast cancer (BRCA) mutations (Group 1, N = 211), women with non-BRCA germline mutations (Group 2, N = 60), women without high-risk germline mutations but with a lifetime breast cancer risk of ≥20% using the Tyrer-Cuzick model (Group 3, N = 362), and women with <20% lifetime risk (Group 4, N = 88).

                Field strength/sequence

                3 T/axial non-fat-saturated T1, short tau inversion recovery, fat-saturated pre-contrast, and post-contrast T1-weighted images.

                Assessment

                Data on age, body mass index, ethnicity, menopausal status, genetic predisposition, and hormonal therapy use were collected. BPE levels were evaluated by two breast fellowship-trained radiologists independently in accordance with BI-RADS, with a third breast fellowship-trained radiologist resolving any discordance.

                Statistical tests

                Propensity score matching (PSM) was utilized to adjust covariates, including age, ethnicity, menopausal status, hormonal treatments, and prior bilateral oophorectomy. The Mann-Whitney U test, chi-squared test, and univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed, with an odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval. Weighted Kappa statistic was used to assess inter-reader variation. A P value <0.05 indicated a significant result.

                Results

                In the assessment of BPE, there was substantial agreement between the two interpreting radiologists (κ = 0.74). Patient demographics were not significantly different between patient groups after PSM. The BPE of Group 1 was significantly lower than that of Group 4 and Group 3 among premenopausal women. In estimating the BPE level, the OR of gene mutations was 0.35.

                Data conclusion

                Adjusting for potential confounders, the BPE level of premenopausal women with BRCA mutations was significantly lower than that of non-high-risk women.

                Level of evidence

                3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.
                  Cover page: Clinical Significance of Background Parenchymal Enhancement in Breast Cancer Risk Stratification
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