The recent work by Cotardo and Ravagnani (IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory, vol. 68, no. 5, pp. 2941-2950, May 2022) introduced a class of binary codes endowed with asymmetric discrepancy, which are referred to as Combinatorial Neural codes (CN codes), and are motivated by theoretical neuroscience. The applications in binary asymmetric memoryless channel and neuroscience have spurred interest in constructing binary codes and analyzing the error-correction capabilities under asymmetric discrepancy. In this paper, we first characterize equidistant CN codes and propose several constructions of (equidistant) CN codes based on the Hadamard codes and punctured Hadamard codes. For a binary linear code C subset of GF(2)(n), we then analyze the minimum asymmetric discrepancy of the nonzero subset C\ {0}, the coset u + C (u is an element of GF(2)(n)), and the union C boolean OR (1 + C), where 0 denotes the all-zero vector and 1 the all-one vector. Based on these results, we completely determine the exact parameters for several classes of CN codes by combining simplex codes or projective 2-weight codes.

Hepatobiliary surgery is a technically complex subspecialty within general surgery, which requires a comprehensive understanding of complex liver and liver tumour anatomy. The current body of literature highlights the use of three-dimensional-printed liver models (3DPLMs) reconstructed from medical imaging datasets may improve clinician comprehension of patient-specific liver anatomy thus creating a useful tool for hepatobiliary surgical planning and clinician training. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the clinical utility and feasibility of 3DPLMs in hepatobiliary surgical planning and clinical education and investigate whether these applications influence patient outcomes. Studies were retrieved from three electronic databases (ProQuest, PubMed and Scopus) according to predetermined eligibility criteria. In total, 25 eligible articles were identified, including 18 original research articles and seven case reports. An inductive content analysis approach suitable for heterogeneous bodies of literature was used to synthesise key concepts in this review. There are significant case report and descriptive evidence to support the use of 3DPLMs in clinical education, preoperative planning and intraoperative guidance of patient liver and tumour anatomy to improve hepatobiliary surgical decision making. The studies presented display a large variance in cost and times necessary for the production of 3DPLMs, as studies did not include the software, equipment and full expense of materials used. Additionally, studies concentrated on different aspects of the 3DPLMs production process making them not comparable. This review demonstrates the potential value of 3DPLMs in clinical education, preoperative planning and intraoperative guidance in hepatobiliary anatomy and surgery. Future studies, in particular, randomised controlled trials and experimental research are required to investigate the relationship between 3DPLMs and clinical education and surgical planning outcomes.

Hepatobiliary surgery is a technically complex subspecialty within general surgery, which requires a comprehensive understanding of complex liver and liver tumour anatomy. The current body of literature highlights the use of three-dimensional-printed liver models (3DPLMs) reconstructed from medical imaging datasets may improve clinician comprehension of patient-specific liver anatomy thus creating a useful tool for hepatobiliary surgical planning and clinician training. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the clinical utility and feasibility of 3DPLMs in hepatobiliary surgical planning and clinical education and investigate whether these applications influence patient outcomes. Studies were retrieved from three electronic databases (ProQuest, PubMed and Scopus) according to predetermined eligibility criteria. In total, 25 eligible articles were identified, including 18 original research articles and seven case reports. An inductive content analysis approach suitable for heterogeneous bodies of literature was used to synthesise key concepts in this review. There are significant case report and descriptive evidence to support the use of 3DPLMs in clinical education, preoperative planning and intraoperative guidance of patient liver and tumour anatomy to improve hepatobiliary surgical decision making. The studies presented display a large variance in cost and times necessary for the production of 3DPLMs, as studies did not include the software, equipment and full expense of materials used. Additionally, studies concentrated on different aspects of the 3DPLMs production process making them not comparable. This review demonstrates the potential value of 3DPLMs in clinical education, preoperative planning and intraoperative guidance in hepatobiliary anatomy and surgery. Future studies, in particular, randomised controlled trials and experimental research are required to investigate the relationship between 3DPLMs and clinical education and surgical planning outcomes.

Despite the theoretical and practical significance of BCH codes, the exact minimum distances and dimensions of many families remain undetermined. This paper determines these parameters for a family of narrow-sense BCH codes 𝒞_(q, m, λ , ℓ _0, ℓ _1) over the finite field GF(q) . The codes have length (q^m-1)/ λ and designed distance [(q-λℓ _0)q^m-1-ℓ _1-1]/λ , where m≥ 2 , λ| (q-1) , 0≤ℓ _0< (q-1)/λ , and 0≤ℓ _1≤ m-1 , subject to the designed distance being at least two. Our results resolve the two open problems posed by Li et al. [IEEE Trans Inf Theory 63(11):7219–7236, 2017]. Furthermore, our results extend and complement the earlier work of Ding [IEEE Trans Inf Theory 61(10):5322–5330, 2015].

PURPOSE:To investigate the clinical outcomes of acute Stanford type B intramural hematoma (TBIMH) without ulcer-like lesions following medical management and to identify predictors of disease progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS:A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with acute TBIMH without ulcer-like lesions who received medical management. Patients were categorized into progression and nonprogression groups based on 1-year follow-up computed tomography angiography (CTA). Disease progression was defined as aortic rupture, aortic dissection, aortic enlargement (≥5 mm), or hematoma thickening (≥3 mm), while nonprogression was defined as complete/partial resolution or retention of the hematoma. A multivariate analysis identified the predictors of disease progression, and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to compare survival outcomes. RESULTS:A total of 110 patients (mean age 55.9±10.5 y, 25 females) were included, with 21 patients (19.1%) showing disease progression. Multivariate analysis revealed that the maximum aortic diameter (MAD) (OR=7.6, P=0.003) and maximum CT value of the hematoma (CTmax) (OR=1.04, P=0.025) were independently associated with disease progression. The optimal cutoff values for MAD and CTmax were 40.0 mm (AUC: 0.69, sensitivity: 38.1%, specificity: 92.1%) and 71.9 HU (AUC: 0.68, sensitivity: 76.2%, specificity: 66.3%), respectively. When MAD and CTmax were combined, the AUC increased to 0.75 (sensitivity: 81.0%, specificity: 66.3%). CONCLUSION:A model based on MAD and CTmax effectively stratifies progression risk in TBIMH without ulcer-like lesions, facilitating early intervention in high-risk patients.

Background:Although a number of studies involving small-vessel de novo coronary disease have indicated that drug-coated balloons (DCBs) angioplasty, provides clinical benefits, the clinical value of DCB in large-vessel lesions remains unclear. We therefore conducted a real-world study to evaluate the midterm clinical outcomes of DCB treatment in patients with de novo coronary lesions >3.0 mm. Methods:We performed a retrospective study of 1,514 consecutive patients who received paclitaxel DCB angioplasty to treat de novo coronary lesions at Beijing Anzhen Hospital between June 2019 and November 2021. Lesions with a reference vessel diameter (RVD) ≥3.0 mm were defined as large-vessel disease (LVD), and lesions with an RVD ≤2.75 mm were defined as small-vessel disease (SVD). The LVD and SVD groups included 462 and 1,052 patients, respectively. The end points of the study were all-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and target vessel revascularization (TVR). Outcomes were compared between the LVD and SVD groups. The median follow-up was 34.2 months [interquartile range (IQR), 31.3 to 39.7 months] in the overall cohort. Results:Of the 1,514 patients, 43 (2.8%) died, 21 (1.4%) experienced MI, and 21 (1.4%) experienced stroke; 167 (11.0%) underwent TVR. No significant differences were observed in mortality rate (LVD: 2.4%; SVD: 3.0%; P=0.32), MI (LVD: 1.1%; SVD: 1.5%; P=0.37), stroke (LVD: 0.9%; SVD: 1.6%, P=0.19) and TVR (LVD: 11.9%; SVD: 10.6%, P=0.92). After multivariate adjustment, the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) [95% confidence interval (CI)] for LVD versus SVD were 1.092 (0.447-2.670; P=0.85) for death, 1.424 (0.464-4.369; P=0.54) for MI, 1.604 (0.529-4.864; P=0.40) for stroke, and 0.995 (0.719-1.378; P=0.98) for TVR, with no significant differences observed in any endpoints between the two groups. Conclusions:The findings from this study indicate that the prognosis of DCB for patients with de novo lesions in vessels exceeding 3.0 mm are not significantly different compared to those of DCB for patients with SVD.

No systematic review has previously examined the application of large language models (LLMs) for generating impressions from radiology report findings. This study systematically reviews the performance of LLMs on this task and their associated evaluation methodologies. A search of seven electronic databases on 7 August 2025 identified 15 eligible papers (average quality score: 71.4%). These articles evaluated 35 LLMs, including 21 base models. The reported performance ranges were as follows: Recall-Oriented Understudy for Gisting Evaluation (ROUGE)-1, 35.9% (Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (GPT)-4) to 69.7% (Baichuan2-13B); ROUGE-2, 13.4% (Large Language Model Meta AI (Llama)) to 52.4% (Baichuan2-13B); and ROUGE-L, 16.5% (Chat General Language Model–Medical (ChatGLM-Med)) to 63.8% (finetuned Text-to-Text Transfer Transformer (T5)). The finetuned T5 consistently demonstrated high performance, based on Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers Score (BERTScore): 89.2%; BiLingual Evaluation Understudy (BLEU)-1: 65.2%; BLEU-2: 57.9%; BLEU-3: 52.5%; BLEU-4: 48.3%; Metric for Evaluation of Translation with Explicit ORdering (METEOR): 38.1%; ROUGE-1: 59.9%; ROUGE-2: 50.9%; ROUGE-L: 63.8%; and subjective metrics (clinical usability: 4.5/5.0; completeness: 4.3/5.0; conciseness: 4.3/5.0; fluency: 4.4/5.0). These results, based on 132,043 computed tomography, echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and X-ray reports, indicate its strong clinical potential for assisting radiologists in impression generation through supervised finetuning rather than prompting techniques used in closed-source LLMs.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of mortality worldwide [...]

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and accurate coronary imaging is essential for early diagnosis, risk stratification, treatment planning, and longitudinal follow-up. Non-contrast coronary magnetic resonance angiography (CMRA) is a non-invasive, radiation-free imaging technique that enables visualization of the coronary arteries without the use of exogenous contrast agents. Compared with coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and invasive coronary angiography, non-contrast CMRA offers potential advantages in patients requiring repeated examinations, those with contraindications to iodinated contrast agents, and individuals with severe coronary calcification. However, its broader clinical adoption has been limited by relatively low spatial resolution, prolonged acquisition time, complex scan planning, and sensitivity to cardiac and respiratory motion. Recent advances in magnetic field strength, sequence design, motion compensation, accelerated acquisition, and deep learning-based reconstruction have substantially improved the image quality, acquisition efficiency, and clinical feasibility of non-contrast CMRA. This review summarizes recent progress in non-contrast CMRA, focusing on magnetic field strength, commonly used imaging sequences, nitrate administration, acquisition and reconstruction strategies, clinical applications, and field strength–dependent sequence implementation. Current limitations and future directions are also discussed, with the aim of providing insights for technical optimization, standardized protocols, and broader clinical translation.

Recent technological advancements have significantly transformed the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease. Traditional reliance on two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) imaging has been enhanced by emerging 3D visualization technologies, particularly 3D printing and extended reality (XR). 3D printing enables the creation of patient-specific physical models that accurately replicate cardiovascular anatomy and pathology. These models play a crucial role in surgical plan-ning, simulation of interventional procedures, medical education, and patient commu-nication, offering tangible insights into complex cardiovascular structures. XR, on the other hand, provides an immersive 3D environment for exploring volumetric imaging data with interaction with the physical world. This enhances the understanding of in-tricate cardiovascular anatomy and pathology, supporting more informed clinical deci-sion-making and pre-surgical planning. This review explores the current applications of 3D printing and XR in cardiovascular surgery planning and intervention, emphasizing their potential to address challenges in planning complex procedures. Limitations and future directions for research and clinical integration are also discussed.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, posing a substantial burden on global health systems. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has emerged as a first-line, noninvasive imaging modality for the evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD). Beyond anatomical stenosis assessment, contemporary CCTA enables comprehensive, one-stop evaluation of coronary atherosclerosis by integrating morphological, functional, and biological information. It allows detailed characterization of high-risk plaque features, quantitative assessment of plaque burden and composition, evaluation of perivascular inflammation through fat attenuation index (FAI) and radiomics, as well as functional assessment using CT-derived fractional flow reserve. These multidimensional imaging biomarkers provide incremental value for risk stratification and improve prediction of future adverse cardiovascular events. This review summarizes the current evidence on CCTA-based risk assessment and highlights its role in advancing personalized management and precision prevention strategies in patients with CAD. However, current approaches remain limited by technical heterogeneity, lack of standardization, and the need for prospective validation across diverse populations. Future research should focus on harmonizing methodologies and integrating multiparametric CCTA biomarkers into clinically actionable, outcome-driven decision pathways.

The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of Australian educators on using augmented reality (AR) as a method for learning human anatomy in the undergraduate health sciences. This will determine the current value of AR and guide future research and development. This prospective qualitative study used a mixed-methods approach to gain detailed feedback from 10 anatomy educators at Curtin University. Educators interacted with mobile AR using an iPad and the Complete Anatomy application. A survey measured perceived usability through the System Usability Scale (SUS) and used Likert-scale responses and short-answer questions to determine educators' perspectives of AR. The SUS measured a mean usability score of 58.25, SD ± 15.41 (95% CI: 47.22, 69.28), translating to a 'D' grade. Educators demonstrated positive perspectives of new technology but found that AR presented more challenges than benefits. Recommendations focused on overcoming hardware difficulties and ensuring in-depth educational content with reference to the cadaveric study. Mobile AR does not currently hold substantial value for anatomy education; however, the benefits of AR may be optimized using a head-mounted display. Future research must consult all potential stakeholders to critically define how AR will provide measurable value for anatomy education.

This study aimed to 3D print a patient-specific chest phantom simulating multiple lung nodules to optimise low-dose Computed Tomography (CT) protocols for lung cancer screening. The chest phantom, which was developed from a single patient’s chest CT images, was fabricated using a variety of materials, including polylactic acid (PLA), Glow-PLA, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and polyurethane resin. The phantom was scanned under different low-dose (LDCT) and ultra-low-dose CT (ULDCT) protocols by varying the kilovoltage peak (kVp) and milliampere-seconds (mAs). Subjective image quality of each scan (656 images) was evaluated by three radiologists using a five-point Likert scale, while objective image quality was assessed using signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). Anatomical conformance was assessed by comparing tissue diameters of the phantom and patient scans using Bland–Altman analysis. The phantom’s lung tissue, lung nodules, and diaphragm demonstrated radiation attenuation comparable to patient tissue, as measured in Hounsfield Units (HU). However, significant variations in HU were observed for the skin, subcutaneous fat, muscle, bone, heart, lung vessels, and blood vessels compared to patient tissues, with values ranging from 93.9 HU to −196 HU (p < 0.05). Both SNR and CNR decreased as the effective dose was reduced, with a strong positive linear correlation (r = 0.927 and r = 0.931, respectively, p < 0.001, Jamovi, version 2.3.28). The median subjective image quality score from radiologists was 4, indicating good diagnostic confidence across all CT protocols (κ = −0.398, 95% CI [−0.644 to −0.152], p < 0.002, SPSS Statistics, version 30). An optimal protocol of 80 kVp and 30 mAs was identified for lung nodule detection, delivering a dose of only 0.23 mSv, which represents a 96% reduction compared to standard CT protocols. The measurement error between patient and phantom scans was −0.03 ± 0.14 cm. These findings highlight the potential for significant dose reductions in lung cancer screening programs. Further studies are recommended to improve the phantom by selecting more tissue-equivalent materials.

As yet, no study has investigated the use of a research magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner to support undergraduate medical radiation science (MRS) students in developing their MRI knowledge and practical skills (competences). The purpose of this study was to test an innovative program for a total of 10 second- and third-year students of a MRS course to enhance their MRI competences. The study involved an experimental, two-week MRI learning program which focused on practical MRI scanning of phantoms and healthy volunteers. Pre- and post-program questionnaires and tests were used to evaluate the competence development of these participants as well as the program’s educational quality. Descriptive statistics, along with Wilcoxon signed-rank and paired t-tests, were used for statistical analysis. The program improved the participants’ self-perceived and actual MRI competences significantly (from an average of 2.80 to 3.20 out of 5.00, p = 0.046; and from an average of 34.87% to 62.72%, Cohen’s d effect size: 2.53, p < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, they rated all aspects of the program’s educational quality highly (mean: 3.90–4.80 out of 5.00) and indicated that the program was extremely valuable, very effective, and practical. Nonetheless, further evaluation should be conducted in a broader setting with a larger sample size to validate the findings of this feasibility study, given the study’s small sample size and participant selection bias.

Assessment of the placental cord insertion (PCI) is a vital component of antenatal ultrasound examinations. PCI can be complex, particularly in cases of abnormal PCI, and requires proficient sonographer spatial perception. The current literature describes the increasing potential of three-dimensional (3D) modelling to enhance spatial awareness and understanding of complex anatomical structures. This study aimed to evaluate sonographers’ confidence in ultrasound assessment of the PCI and the potential benefit of novel 3D-printed models (3DPMs) of the PCI in ultrasound education. Sonographers employed at a large private medical imaging practice in Western Australia were invited to participate in a face-to-face presentation of two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound images, ultrasound videos, and 3DPMs of normal cord insertion (NCI), marginal cord insertion (MCI), and velamentous cord insertion (VCI). Our objective was to determine the benefit of 3DPMs in improving sonographers’ confidence and ability to spatially visualise the PCI. Thirty-three participants completed questionnaires designed to compare their confidence in assessing the PCI and their ability to spatially visualise the anatomical relationship between the placenta and PCI, before and after the presentation. There was a significant association between a participant’s year of experience and their confidence levels and spatial awareness of the PCI prior to the demonstration. The results showed the 3DPMs increased participant confidence and their spatial awareness of the PCI, with no significant association with years of experience. Additionally, participating sonographers were asked to rate the 3DPMs as an educational device. The 3DPMs were ranked as being a more useful educational tool for spatially visualising the NCI, MCI, and VCI than 2D ultrasound images and videos. Most participants responded favourably when asked whether the 3DPMs would be useful in ultrasound education, with 75.8%, 84.8%, and 97% indicating the models of NCI, MCI, and VCI, respectively, would be extremely useful. Our study has demonstrated a potential role for 3DPMs of the PCI in ultrasound education, supplementing traditional 2D educational resources.

Objective Fibrosing mediastinitis (FM) is a rare and benign disease affecting the mediastinum and often causes pulmonary hypertension (PH). Timely diagnosis of PH caused by FM is clinically important to mitigate complications such as right heart failure in affected individuals. This retrospective study aimed to analyze the CT imaging characteristics of tuberculosis (TB) related FM in patients with (TB). Additionally, the study investigates the underlying reasons contributing to the manifestation of symptoms.Methods From April 2007 to October 2020, high-resolution CT (HRCT) and dual-phase CT pulmonary angiography images of 64 patients with suspected FM diagnosed with PH at a tertiary hospital were examined. The imaging characteristics of these CT scans were analyzed, with a specific focus on the TB-FM involvement of the pulmonary veins, pulmonary arteries, and bronchi (down to the segment level).Results HRCT imaging revealed that fibrous tissue inside the mediastinum exhibited minimal or negligible reinforcement in TB-FM and diffuse fibrous infiltration in the mediastinum and hilar areas. Notably, segmental bronchial and pulmonary artery stenosis are more pronounced and frequently co-occurring than lobe-level stenosis. Pulmonary venous stenosis developed outside the pericardium, whereas pulmonary artery stenosis occurred outside the mediastinal pleura. Furthermore, no isolated FM involvement in pulmonary veins was noticed in this cohort.Conclusion HRCT imaging of TB-related FM presents unique features in certain regions of the bronchi, pulmonary veins, and pulmonary arteries. Thus, it is imperative to accurately identify fibrous tissue involvement in mediastinal lesions for proper diagnosis and management of TB-FM.

BACKGROUND:Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common postoperative complication in patients with aortic dissection (AD). Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) quantitatively evaluates kidney microvascular perfusion, but its significance in patients undergoing AD surgery remains unclear. This study examined the correlation between preoperative CEUS parameters and postoperative AKI in patients with AD. METHODS:This observational cohort study included 90 patients with AD who underwent kidney CEUS and AD surgery. CEUS was performed before surgery, with peak intensity, time-to-peak (TTP), and mean transit time (MTT) derived from the time-intensity curve. The occurrence of postoperative AKI was assessed using the criteria of improving global outcomes in kidney disease. Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted to determine the predicting value of CEUS parameters for postoperative AKI. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify potential risk factors for postoperative AKI in AD patients. RESULTS:The CEUS parameters TTP (P = 0.001) and MTT (P = 0.010) were significantly longer in the AKI group (n = 30) than in the non-AKI group (n = 60). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for TTP and MTT was 0.717 and 0.667 in predicting postoperative AKI, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that TTP >5.75 sec and MTT >21.35 sec were independent risk factors for postoperative AKI in AD patients. CONCLUSION:The CEUS parameters TTP and MTT are independent risk factors for predicting postoperative AKI in patients with AD. CEUS could be used as a valuable tool for identifying patients with AD at risk of developing postoperative AKI and for monitoring the renal perfusion.

Three-dimensional (3D)-printed models have been extensively applied in operative planning and medical education to directly visualize anatomical structures and gain tactile experiences. Although studies are available on the use of 3D printing technology in the gastrointestinal tract, there is a lack of detailed analyses of its current applications, particularly in the context of 3D-printed gastrointestinal tract models for surgical planning and education. Therefore, this systematic review aims to analyze the current application of 3D printing technology in gastrointestinal tract diseases, focusing on the techniques, materials, anatomical structures, and the impact of its use. A systematic search was conducted across the PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Embase databases adhering to the PRISMA 2020 protocols. A total of 25 articles were identified as eligible for review. The findings revealed that 3D-printed gastrointestinal tract models can enhance technical skills, knowledge, and confidence in performing gastrointestinal surgery or other procedures in a risk-free environment. However, most studies (76%) were limited by their small sample size, with only 1–3 models printed, and lacked comparative analysis. The influence of this procedure on actual patients was not followed up; hence, the impact of this simulator on clinical practice outcomes remains unknown. Most of the 3D-printed models were designed for a single procedure, limiting their widespread application. Future research should focus on developing more realistic printed materials to accurately simulate real organs, including large sample sizes; comparing 3D-printed models with other simulators or other visualization modalities such as virtual reality and mixed reality; and investigating their impact on actual gastrointestinal procedures.