Department of Radiation Medicine & Applied Science

Department of Radiation Medicine & Applied Science - Open Access Policy Deposits

This series is automatically populated with publications deposited by UC San Diego School of Medicine Department of Radiation Medicine & Applied Science researchers in accordance with the University of California’s open access policies. For more information see Open Access Policy Deposits and the UC Publication Management System.

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Ufahamu, A Journal of African Studies

(2020)

Cancer-related Emergency Department Visits: Comparing Characteristics and Outcomes

(2021)

Introduction: There is increasing appreciation of the challenges of providing safe and appropriate care to cancer patients in the emergency department (ED). Our goal here was to assess which patient characteristics are associated with more frequent ED revisits.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of all ED visits in California during the 2016 calendar year using data from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. We defined revisits as a return visit to an ED within seven days of the index visit. For both index and return visits, we assessed various patient characteristics, including age, cancer type, medical comorbidities, and ED disposition.

Results: Among 12.9 million ED visits, we identified 73,465 adult cancer patients comprising 103,523 visits that met our inclusion criteria. Cancer patients had a 7-day revisit rate of 17.9% vs 13.2% for non-cancer patients. Cancer patients had a higher rate of admission upon 7-day revisit (36.7% vs 15.6%). Patients with cancers of the small intestine, stomach, and pancreas had the highest rate of 7-day revisits (22-24%). Cancer patients younger than 65 had a higher 7-day revisit rate than the elderly (20.0% vs 16.2%).

Conclusion: In a review of all cancer-related ED visits in the state of California, we found a variety of characteristics associated with a higher rate of 7-day ED revisits. Our goal in this study was to inform future research to identify interventions on the index visit that may improve patient outcomes.

2 supplemental ZIPs

Cover page of Discrimination Between Benign and Malignant Lesions With Restriction Spectrum Imaging MRI in an Enriched Breast Cancer Screening Cohort

Discrimination Between Benign and Malignant Lesions With Restriction Spectrum Imaging MRI in an Enriched Breast Cancer Screening Cohort

(2025)

Background

Breast cancer screening with dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) is recommended for high-risk women but has limitations, including variable specificity and difficulty in distinguishing cancerous (CL) and high-risk benign lesions (HRBL) from average-risk benign lesions (ARBL). Complementary non-invasive imaging techniques would be useful to improve specificity.

Purpose

To evaluate the performance of a previously-developed breast-specific diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) model (BS-RSI3C) to improve discrimination between CL, HRBL, and ARBL in an enriched screening population.

Study type

Prospective.

Subjects

Exactly 187 women, either with mammography screening recommending additional imaging (N = 49) or high-risk individuals undergoing routine breast MRI (N = 138), before the biopsy.

Field strength/sequence

Multishell DW-MRI echo planar imaging sequence with a reduced field of view at 3.0 T.

Assessment

A total of 72 women had at least one biopsied lesion, with 89 lesions categorized into ARBL, HRBL, CL, and combined CLs and HRBLs (CHRLs). DW-MRI data were processed to produce apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps, and estimate signal contributions (C₁, C₂, and C₃-restricted, hindered, and free diffusion, respectively) from the BS-RSI3C model. Lesion regions of interest (ROIs) were delineated on DW images based on suspicious DCE-MRI findings by two radiologists; control ROIs were drawn in the contralateral breast.

Statistical tests

One-way ANOVA and two-sided t-tests were used to assess differences in signal contributions and ADC values among groups. P-values were adjusted using the Bonferroni method for multiple testing, P = 0.05 was used for the significance level. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and intra-class correlations (ICC) were also evaluated.

Results

C₁, √C₁C₂, and logC1C2C3 were significantly different in HRBLs compared with ARBLs (P-values < 0.05). The logC1C2C3 had the highest AUC (0.821) in differentiating CHRLs from ARBLs, performing better than ADC (0.696), especially in non-mass enhancement (0.776 vs. 0.517).

Data conclusion

This study demonstrated the BS-RSI3C could differentiate HRBLs from ARBLs in a screening population, and separate CHRLs from ARBLs better than ADC.

Level of evidence: 1

Technical efficacy stage

Cover page of Genetic and Regulatory Mechanisms of Comorbidity of Anxiety, Depression and ADHD: A GWAS Meta-Meta-Analysis Through the Lens of a System Biological and Pharmacogenomic Perspective in 18.5 M Subjects.

Genetic and Regulatory Mechanisms of Comorbidity of Anxiety, Depression and ADHD: A GWAS Meta-Meta-Analysis Through the Lens of a System Biological and Pharmacogenomic Perspective in 18.5 M Subjects.

(2025)

Background: In the United States, approximately 1 in 5 children experience comorbidities with mental illness, including depression and anxiety, which lead to poor general health outcomes. Adolescents with substance use disorders exhibit high rates of co-occurring mental illness, with over 60% meeting diagnostic criteria for another psychiatric condition in community-based treatment programs. Comorbidities are influenced by both genetic (DNA antecedents) and environmental (epigenetic) factors. Given the significant impact of psychiatric comorbidities on individuals lives, this study aims to uncover common mechanisms through a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) meta-meta-analysis. Methods: GWAS datasets were obtained for each comorbid phenotype, followed by a GWAS meta-meta-analysis using a significance threshold of p < 5E-8 to validate the rationale behind combining all GWAS phenotypes. The combined and refined dataset was subjected to bioinformatic analyses, including Protein-Protein Interactions and Systems Biology. Pharmacogenomics (PGx) annotations for all potential genes with at least one PGx were tested, and the genes identified were combined with the Genetic Addiction Risk Severity (GARS) test, which included 10 genes and eleven Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). The STRING-MODEL was employed to discover novel networks and Protein-Drug interactions. Results: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was identified as the top manifestation derived from the known comorbid interaction of anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The STRING-MODEL and Protein-Drug interaction analysis revealed a novel network associated with these psychiatric comorbidities. The findings suggest that these interactions are linked to the need to induce dopamine homeostasis as a therapeutic outcome. Conclusions: This study provides a reliable genetic and epigenetic map that could assist healthcare professionals in the therapeutic care of patients presenting with multiple psychiatric manifestations, including anxiety, depression, and ADHD. The results highlight the importance of targeting dopamine homeostasis in managing ASD linked to these comorbidities. These insights may guide future pharmacogenomic interventions to improve clinical outcomes in affected individuals.

A Mixed Methods Comparison of Oral Hygiene Behaviors by Gender Among Mexican-Origin Young Adults in California

(2025)

Objective

This mixed methods study explores gender differences in, and reasons for, toothbrushing and flossing among Mexican-origin adults.

Methods

Interviews and surveys about oral hygiene behaviors were collected from 72 adults (ages 21-40) living on the California-Mexico border. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed in their original language (English/Spanish), then coded. Survey responses were linked to coded transcripts in Dedoose. Qualitative reports were thematically analyzed for each behavior, stratified into four groups by gender and whether or not participants met American Dental Association (ADA) weekly guidelines (brushing ≥ 14/week; flossing ≥ 7/week). Self-reported weekly frequencies of brushing and flossing were collected continuously, and then dichotomized as meeting guidelines or not. Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests assessed differences in hygiene behavior frequency by gender. Negative binomial and logistic regressions were performed, accounting for socio-demographic characteristics.

Results

Overall, 76% and 40% of adults met ADA guidelines for brushing and flossing, respectively. There were no differences in meeting ADA guidelines by gender. When brushing was examined continuously, women brushed 1.24 (1.05-1.47; p = 0.0099) times the rate of weekly brushing than men in the full model; flossing frequency differences were not found. Men and women, whether ADA guidelines were met or not, identified similar brushing and flossing facilitators (health concerns, aesthetics), and barriers (lack of time, not being home). Some women (mothers) were motivated to brush to be role models for their children. Self-efficacy, or confidence in ability to brush or floss, was described differently by adults who met ADA guidelines (high self-efficacy) compared to the adults not meeting guidelines (low self-efficacy).

Conclusions

Integrating quantitative and qualitative data obtained from Mexican-origin adults identified few differences in both oral hygiene behaviors and the factors that influence their enactment.

Cover page of Correction: Roy et al. Metformin and ICG-001 Act Synergistically to Abrogate Cancer Stem Cells-Mediated Chemoresistance in Colorectal Cancer by Promoting Apoptosis and Autophagy. Cancers 2022, 14, 1281.

Correction: Roy et al. Metformin and ICG-001 Act Synergistically to Abrogate Cancer Stem Cells-Mediated Chemoresistance in Colorectal Cancer by Promoting Apoptosis and Autophagy. Cancers 2022, 14, 1281.

(2025)

In the original publication [...].

Barriers and facilitators to telemedicine contraception among patients that speak Spanish: a qualitative study.

(2025)

BACKGROUND: Telemedicine contraception services have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. There may be unique equity implications and language barriers for patients who speak Spanish. OBJECTIVE: To identify the barriers and facilitators of telemedicine for contraception care among patients who speak Spanish using a community-based participatory research approach. STUDY DESIGN: The study was designed and conducted in consultation with a community advisory board. We interviewed 20 patients after telemedicine and in-person contraception visits conducted in Spanish at Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest in Southern California between April 2022 and May 2023. Telemedicine visits were conducted by audio only. Two coders analyzed the data using thematic analysis. RESULTS: The average age of the participants was 32.5 years old (range 19-45). Most participants had some college education (13/20, 65.0%) and public insurance (18/20, 90.0%). Most chose a short-acting contraceptive method (11/20, 55.0%). Five key themes were identified. (1) Participants reported less comfort with video technology and a preference to not be seen during the appointment, therefore preferring audio-only for telemedicine visits. (2) Participants did not report difficulty with Spanish interpreters using telemedicine. (3) Telemedicine has conveniences related to time, work, childcare, and transportation but may have inconveniences related to method receipt. (4) Preference for physical exam and preventative care and familiarity with the in-clinic model motivated people who sought in-person care rather than technology barriers with telemedicine. (5) There is trust in the privacy and confidentiality of the visits, but privacy at home for the individual may impact choice for in-person care. CONCLUSION: Among patients who speak Spanish, telemedicine contraception care was acceptable and had many conveniences. Many patients who speak Spanish preferred audio-only for telemedicine contraception visits. Use of interpreters and technology were not perceived barriers to care.

Guided Self-Help vs Group Treatment for Children With Obesity: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

(2025)

Background and objectives

Family-based behavioral treatment (FBT) for children with obesity is provided in weekly parent and child groups over 6 months. A guided self-help FBT program (gshFBT) is provided to the dyad in short meetings. Both interventions provide the same content; however, gshFBT provides this content in less time (FBT = 23 hours, gshFBT = 5.3 hours). This study aimed to evaluate whether gshFBT is noninferior to FBT on child weight loss and cost-effectiveness.

Methods

150 children aged between 7.0 and 12.9 years with a BMI between the 85th and 99.9th percentile and their parent were recruited and randomized to a 6-month program of gshFBT (n = 75) or FBT (n = 75) and were followed 12 months post-treatment.

Results

A total of 150 children (mean age = 10.1 years, 49% female, mean BMIz = 2.09) and their parent (mean age = 41.5 years, 87% female, 45% Hispanic, 37% White non-Hispanic, 9.7% Asian, 4.8% Black, 7.3% other) were recruited from the San Diego Metropolitan area. Joint LME models showed that gshFBT was noninferior to FBT on child weight loss (ΔBMIz = -0.02 [90% credible interval [CI] -0.08-0.05, P = .65]; ΔBMIp95% = -1.57 [90% CI -4.46-1.31, P = .28]) and cost less (cost/dyad gshFBT = $1498; FBT = $2775).

Conclusion

The gshFBT program provided similar weight losses for children with less contact hours and with lower cost than FBT. The reduced time and ease of scheduling for the family in gshFBT will allow for an increased reach of treatment to a greater proportion of families in need.

Characteristics and Outcomes of T1a Renal Cell Carcinoma Presenting with Metastasis.

(2025)

OBJECTIVES: The incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has been rising, largely due to increased incidental detection from widespread imaging. Although synchronous distant metastasis (SM) with a primary renal tumor measuring <4 cm (cT1a) is uncommon, its presence may influence survival outcomes and the utility of cytoreductive nephrectomy. We sought to investigate clinical characteristics, metastatic patterns, treatments, and survival outcomes of patients with T1a RCC. METHODS: All patients aged ≥18 years diagnosed with RCC between 2004 and 2019 were extracted from the National Cancer Database. The Cochran-Armitage test was used for trend analysis, while multivariable analyses were conducted to identify variables associated with SM and to assess the impact of cytoreductive surgery on mortality across isolated metastatic sites. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to compare survival outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 263,911 individuals diagnosed with T1a RCC were analyzed in the study. Among them, 114,661 patients (43.4%) were classified as having cT1a tumor stage, and of these patients with cT1a RCC, 2275 (2.0%) exhibited SM. The proportion of SM cT1a was 3.39% in 2004 and 2.08% in 2019, with an Average Annual Percent Change (AAPC) of -0.037% (p = 0.830). The most common sites of metastasis were bone (59%), followed by lung (35%), liver (16%), and brain (12%). Resection of the primary tumor and receipt of systemic therapy were significantly associated with reduced mortality among all metastatic sites, especially in individuals with lung-only metastases (HR = 0.02, p = 0.013). Metastasectomy was associated with improved survival in patients with brain-only metastases (HR = 0.26, p = 0.006) but did not demonstrate the same benefit in patients with bone-, lung- or liver-only metastases. The worst 5-year OS rate was observed in cases with metastasis to multiple sites, whereas isolated metastases had similar survival rates (p < 0.0001). Our findings are limited by retrospective study design. CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive analysis of T1a RCC patients reveals that while synchronous metastasis is relatively uncommon (2.0%), it presents significant clinical challenges, with bone as the most common metastatic site, contrasting with the typical lung predominance in larger tumors. Primary tumor resection showed survival benefit in patients with isolated metastases, especially for lung-only metastasis. These findings highlight the heterogeneous nature of tumor biology in small renal masses and underscore the importance of tailored, multimodal treatment strategies for the effective management of SM T1a RCC.

Cover page of Advanced Restriction Imaging and Reconstruction Technology for Prostate Magnetic Resonance Imaging (ART-Pro): A Study Protocol for a Multicenter, Multinational Trial Evaluating Biparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Advanced, Quantitative Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging for the Detection of Prostate Cancer.

Advanced Restriction Imaging and Reconstruction Technology for Prostate Magnetic Resonance Imaging (ART-Pro): A Study Protocol for a Multicenter, Multinational Trial Evaluating Biparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Advanced, Quantitative Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging for the Detection of Prostate Cancer.

(2025)

Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is strongly recommended by current clinical guidelines for improved detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). However, the major limitations are the need for intravenous (IV) contrast and dependence on reader expertise. Efforts to address these issues include use of biparametric magnetic resonance imaging (bpMRI) and advanced, quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. One such advanced technique is the Restriction Spectrum Imaging restriction score (RSIrs), an imaging biomarker that has been shown to improve quantitative accuracy of patient-level csPCa detection. Advanced Restriction imaging and reconstruction Technology for Prostate MRI (ART-Pro) is a multisite, multinational trial that aims to evaluate whether IV contrast can be avoided in the setting of standardized, state-of-the-art image acquisition, with or without addition of RSIrs. Additionally, RSIrs will be evaluated as a stand-alone, quantitative, objective biomarker. ART-Pro will be conducted in two stages and will include a total of 500 patients referred for multiparametric prostate MRI with a clinical suspicion of prostate cancer at the participating sites. ART-Pro-1 will evaluate bpMRI, mpMRI, and RSIrs on the accuracy of expert radiologists detection of csPCa and will evaluate RSIrs as a stand-alone, quantitative, objective biomarker. ART-Pro-2 will evaluate the same MRI techniques on the accuracy of nonexpert radiologists detection of csPCa, and findings will be evaluated against the expertly created dataset from ART-Pro-1. The primary endpoint is to evaluate whether bpMRI is noninferior to mpMRI among expert (ART-Pro-1) and nonexpert (ART-Pro-2) radiologists for the detection of grade group ≥2 csPCa. This trial is registered in the US National Library of Medicine Trial Registry (NCT number: NCT06579417) at ClinicalTrials.gov. Patient accrual at the first site (UC San Diego) began in December 2023. Initial results are anticipated by the end of 2026.