Riccardo Monti

Imaging for acute pelvic pain in pregnancy

AbstractAcute pelvic pain in pregnancy presents diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Standard imaging techniques need to be adapted to reduce harm to the foetus from X-rays because of their teratogenic and carcinogenic potential. Ultrasound remains the primary imaging investigation of the pregnant abdomen. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been shown to be useful in the diagnosis of gynaecological and obstetric problems during pregnancy and in the setting of acute abdomen during pregnancy. MRI overcomes some of the limitations of ultrasound, mainly the size of the gravid uterus. MRI poses theoretical risks to the foetus and care must be taken to minimise these with the avoidance of contrast agents. Teaching Points • Ultrasound and MRI are the preferred investigations for acute pelvic pain during pregnancy.• Ultrasound remains the primary imaging investigation because of availability and portability.• MRI helps differentiate causes of acute pelvic pain when ultrasound is inconclusive.

Stone disease in pregnancy: imaging-guided therapy

AbstractRenal colic is the most frequent nonobstetric cause for abdominal pain and subsequent hospitalization during pregnancy. The physio-anatomical changes in the urinary tract and the presence of the fetus may complicate the clinical presentation and management of nephrolithiasis. Ultrasound (US) is the primary radiological investigation of choice. Magnetic resonance urography (MRU) and low-dose computed tomography (CT) have to be considered as a second- and third-line test, respectively. If a study that uses ionizing radiation has to be performed, the radiation dose to the fetus should be as low as possible. The initial management of symptomatic ureteric stones is conservative during pregnancy. Intervention will be necessary in patients who do not respond to conservative measures. Therefore, it is crucial to obtain a prompt and accurate diagnosis to optimize the management of these patients. Teaching Points • In pregnancy, renal colic is the most frequent nonobstetric cause for abdominal pain and hospitalization. • Magnetic resonance urography should be considered when ultrasound is nondiagnostic. • Low-dose CT should be considered as a last-line test during pregnancy.

Noninflammatory Conditions of the Small Bowel

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has been playing an evolving role in evaluating noninflammatory small-bowel conditions, such as tumors and malabsorption syndrome. MR imaging has shown to be superior to other diagnostic methods in identifying tumors of the small bowel. MR enterography and MR enteroclysis are both valid for studying noninflammatory conditions of the small intestine, although MR enteroclysis may be considered the modality of choice because of its accuracy in the diagnosis of small-bowel neoplasms. Intraluminal and extraluminal MR findings, combined with contrast-agent enhancement and functional information, help to make an accurate diagnosis and consequently to characterize small-bowel diseases.

A novel technology for thermal control for ISP module for space applications

Thermal control is one of the most important themes in space package technology such as Integrated Sub-system Package technology. At present the technical solutions reducing heat stagnation are thermal dissipation and thermal cooling. In this paper a novel approach to increase thermal dissipation, based on the use of the pyroelectric materials, is proposed. The pyroelectric materials are able to convert the thermal energy into electric energy spontaneously. This characteristic is employed to increase thermal flux inside the microelectronic units and to reduce the thermal overstocking. In order to evaluate the temperature distribution inside the component a numerical evaluation of the transient thermal problem inside a multi-layered wall electronic device is performed and a preliminary design of an adaptive dissipation device based on pyroelectric material is presented.

Intramyocardial hemorrhage: an enigma for cardiac MRI?

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is a useful noninvasive technique for determining the presence of microvascular obstruction (MVO) and intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH), frequently occurring in patients after reperfused myocardial infarction (MI). MVO, or the so-called no-reflow phenomenon, is associated with adverse ventricular remodeling and a poor prognosis during follow-up. Similarly, IMH is considered a severe damage after revascularization by percutaneous primary coronary intervention (PPCI) or fibrinolysis, which represents a worse prognosis. However, the pathophysiology of IMH is not fully understood and imaging modalities might help to better understand that phenomenon. While, during the past decade, several studies examined the distribution patterns of late gadolinium enhancement with different CMR sequences, the standardized CMR protocol for assessment of IMH is not yet well established. The aim of this review is to evaluate the available literature on this issue, with particular regard to CMR sequences. New techniques, such as positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI), could be useful tools to explore molecular mechanisms of the myocardial infarction healing process.

An experimental testbed to simulate space manipulators GNC

The space environment is very demanding and every mission requires careful assessment and preparation. This is especially true when operations are rather challenging as in the case of a multibody spacecraft and grasping mission. Therefore, the design and set-up of specific ground simulation techniques is mandatory in order to define and study the control law strategies to be later applied in orbit. The paper depicts the experimental activities carried out at the University of Rome “La Sapienza” to experimentally simulate planar, controlled operations of orbiting manipulators. The architecture of the set-up, including the choice for limiting the friction, is discussed. Hardware selection and assembly issues, with reference to performance expected by simulation set-up, are detailed. Special attention is devoted to the kinematic state determination and trajectory reconstruction, to be obtained by sensors and devices located onboard the manipulators and validated by external means like webcams, which become a part of the simulation testbed itself. Relevant performance of each subsystem is described, and verified in robust closed loop grasping maneuvers. A second application of the same set-up, which is also helpful and currently used in formation flying studies, is introduced.

Giant Schmorl's Node may Cause High Uptake and Mimic a Bone Metastasis on (18)F-Choline Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography.

Bone metastasis in prostate cancer are detected by choline positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with high sensitivity and specificity. We report the case of a patient with previous prostatectomy for prostate cancer who underwent F-choline PET/CT for a recent increased of prostate-specific antigen value and showed focal vertebral uptake suggestive for skeletal metastasis; magnetic resonance imaging revealed unexpectedly a Schmorl′s node (SN). False positives on choline PET-CT caused by SN has not be reported in the literature and the present case highlights that this possibility should be considered in case of choline vertebral increased uptake in the patient with prostate cancer.

A two-level procedure based on genetic algorithms to optimize an aeronautical composite structure

Optimal design of complex engineering systems, such as aircraft composite structures, can often be accomplished only by applying decomposition techniques. In this paper, the optimal design of a composite wing-box is addressed by using a two-level scheme based on the Genetic Algorithm meta-heuristic. The two-level optimization strategy was evaluated for variations both in the angular step of the composite layers and in the strength of material.