ObjectivesNewly diagnosed focal epilepsy (NDfE) is rarely studied, particularly using advanced neuroimaging techniques. Many patients with NDfE experience cognitive impairments, particularly with respect to memory, sustained attention, mental flexibility, and executive functioning. Cognitive impairments have been related to alterations in resting‐state functional brain networks in patients with neurological disorders. In the present study, we investigated whether patients with NDfE had altered connectivity in large‐scale functional networks using resting‐state functional MRI.MethodsWe recruited 27 adults with NDfE and 36 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls. Resting‐state functional MRI was analyzed using the Functional Connectivity Toolbox (CONN). We investigate reproducibly determined large‐scale functional networks, including the default mode, salience, fronto‐parietal attention, sensorimotor, and language networks using a seed‐based approach. Network comparisons between patients and controls were thresholded using a FDR cluster‐level correction approach.ResultsWe found no significant differences in functional connectivity between seeds within the default mode, salience, sensorimotor, and language networks and other regions of the brain between patients and controls. However, patients with NDfE had significantly reduced connectivity between intraparietal seeds within the fronto‐parietal attention network and predominantly frontal and temporal cortical regions relative to controls; this finding was demonstrated including and excluding the patients with brain lesions. No common alteration in brain structure was observed in patients using voxel‐based morphometry. Findings were not influenced by treatment outcome at 1 year.ConclusionsPatients with focal epilepsy have brain functional connectivity alterations at diagnosis. Functional brain abnormalities are not necessarily a consequence of the chronicity of epilepsy and are present when seizures first emerge.

Robot-assisted ultrasound-guided breast biopsy combines ultrasound (US) imaging with a robotic system for medical interventions. This study was designed to provide a literature review of a robotic US-guided breast biopsy system to delineate its efficacious impact on current medical practice. In addition, the strengths and limitations of this approach were also addressed. Articles published in the English language between 2000 and 2016 were appraised in this review. A wide range of systems that bind robotics with US imaging and guided breast biopsy were examined in this article. The fundamental safety and real-time imaging capabilities of US, together with the accuracy and maneuverability of robotic devices, is clearly an effective association with unmatched capabilities. Numerous experimental systems have obvious benefits over old-fashioned techniques, and the future of robot-assisted US-guided breast biopsy will be characterized by increasing levels of automation, and they hold tremendous possibility to impact doctor achievement, patient recovery, and clinical management.

Highlights Patients showed showed widespread connectome alterations relative to controls. Relative to controls, patients /w seizure-freedom (SF) had increased diffusivity. Patients /w persistent seizures (PS) had increased diffusivity relative to controls. Subgroup-specific connectomes were found for both patient groups (SF vs PS). Patients with generalized seizures and those without had altered connectomes.

The aims of the present work were to quantify radiation doses arises from patients' exposure in mammographic X-ray imaging procedures and to estimate the radiation induced cancer risk. Sixty patients were evaluated using a calibrated digital mammography unit at King Khaled Hospital and Prince Sultan Center, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia. The average patient age (years) was 44.4 ± 10 (26–69). The average and range of exposure parameters were 29.1 ± 1.9 (24.0–33.0) and 78.4 ± 17.5 (28.0–173.0) for X-ray tube potential (kVp) and current multiplied by the exposure time (s) (mAs), respectively. The MGD (mGy) per single projection for craniocaudal (CC), Medio lateral oblique (MLO) and lateromedial (LM) was 1.02 ± 0.2 (0.4–1.8), 1.1 ± 0.3 (0.5–1.8), 1.1 ± 0.3 (0.5–1.9) per procedure, in that order. The average cancer risk per projection is 177 per million procedures. The cancer risk is significant during multiple image acquisition. The study revealed that 80% of the procedures with normal findings. However, precise justification is required especially for young patients.