Size and PEG Length-Controlled PEGylated Monocrystalline Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanocomposite for MRI Contrast Agent.

Objective: PEGylated superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) is the most promising alternatives to gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) in MRI. This paper is to explore the imaging effects of PEGylated SPIO, which is influenced by particle sizes and surface polyethylene glycol (PEG) coating, using as MRI contrast agents at different magnetic field intensities.

Methods: Firstly, nine PEGylated monocrystalline SPIO nanoparticles with different nanocrystal sizes and different molecular weights PEG coating were prepared, and then physical and biological properties were analyzed.

Liver lobe-based magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging using multiple b values in patients with hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis: association with the liver disease severity according to the Child-Pugh class.

Objective: To determine the associations of liver lobe-based magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging findings using multiple b values with the presence and Child-Pugh class of cirrhosis in patients with hepatitis B.

Methods: Seventy-four cirrhotic patients with hepatitis B and 25 healthy volunteers underwent diffusion-weighted imaging using b values of 0, 500, 800 and 1000 sec/mm2. The apparent diffusion coefficients of individual liver lobes for b(0,500), b(0,800) and b(0,1000) were derived from the signal intensity averaged across images obtained using b values of 0 and 500 sec/mm2, 0 and 800 sec/mm2, or 0 and 1000 sec/mm2, respectively, and were statistically analyzed to evaluate cirrhosis.

Patterns of lymph node recurrence after radical surgery impacting on survival of patients with pT1-3N0M0 thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to investigate how patterns of lymph nodes recurrence after radical surgery impact on survival of patients with pT1-3N0M0 thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. One hundred eighty consecutive patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma underwent radical surgery, and the tumors were staged as pT1-3N0M0 by postoperative pathology. Lymph nodes recurrence was detected with computed tomography 3-120 months after the treatment.

[Illumination's effect on the growth and nitrate reductase activity of typical red-tide algae in the East China Sea].

Two typical red-tide algae, Skeletonema costatum and Prorocentrum donghaiense were selected as studied objects. The nitrate reductase activity (NRA) and the growth of the two algae under different illuminations through incubation experiment were studied. The illumination condition was consistent with in situ.

Liver dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI for staging liver fibrosis in a piglet model.

Purpose: To determine whether dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) could monitor progression of liver fibrosis in a piglet model, and which DCE-MRI parameter is most accurate for staging this disease.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen piglets were prospectively used to model liver fibrosis and underwent liver DCE-MRI followed by biopsy on the 0, 5th, 9th, 16th, and 21st weekends after modeling of fibrosis. Time of peak (TOP), time to peak (TTP), positive enhancement integral (PEI), maximum slope of increase (MSI), and maximum slope of decrease (MSD) were measured and statistically analyzed for the monitoring and staging.

Diameters of left gastric vein and its originating vein on magnetic resonance imaging in liver cirrhosis patients with hepatitis B: Association with endoscopic grades of esophageal varices.

Aim: To determine whether diameters of the left gastric vein (LGV) and its originating vein are associated with endoscopic grades of esophageal varices.

Methods: Ninety-eight liver cirrhotic patients with hepatitis B undergoing magnetic resonance (MR) portography, and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for grading esophageal varices were enrolled. Diameters of the LGV and its originating vein - the splenic vein (SV) or portal vein (PV) - were measured on MR imaging.

Tumor volume of resectable adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction at multidetector CT: association with regional lymph node metastasis and N stage.

Purpose: To determine whether the volume of resectable adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) measured at multidetector computed tomography (CT) is associated with regional lymph node metastasis and N stage.

Materials And Methods: The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee, and written informed consent was obtained from each participant. Two hundred sixteen patients with resectable AEG prospectively underwent contrast material-enhanced thoracoabdominal multidetector CT less than 2 weeks before curative resection.

Computed tomography scan as a tool to predict tumor T category in resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the degree of esophageal circumferential tumor involvement and tumor size of resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) assessed on computed tomography could predict T category.

Methods: One hundred eighty-five consecutive patients with ESCC underwent radical esophagectomy less than 3 weeks after contrast-enhanced computed tomography. The degree of esophageal circumferential tumor involvement and tumor size of ESCC expressed as tumor length, maximal thickness, and gross tumor volume were evaluated on computed tomography.

Spleen magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging for quantitative staging hepatic fibrosis in miniature pigs: An initial study.

Aim: To determine whether spleen diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) parameters might classify liver fibrosis stage.

Methods: Sixteen miniature pigs were prospectively used to model liver fibrosis, and underwent spleen DWI by using b = 300, 500 and 800 s/mm(2) on 0, 5th, 9th, 16th and 21st weekend after the beginning of modeling. Signal intensity ratio of spleen to paraspinous muscles (S/M), spleen exponential apparent diffusion coefficient (eADC) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) for each b-value were statistically analyzed.

Spleen size measured on enhanced MRI for quantitatively staging liver fibrosis in minipigs.

Purpose: To investigate whether and how spleen size measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could be used to stage liver fibrosis.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen minipigs were used to prospectively model liver fibrosis staged by biopsy. Abdominal gadolinium-enhanced MRI was performed on the 0, 5th, 9th, 16th, and 21st weekend after beginning of the modeling.

Magnetic resonance-based total liver volume and magnetic resonance-diffusion weighted imaging for staging liver fibrosis in mini-pigs.

Aim: To determine whether and how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based total liver volume (TLV) and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) could predict liver fibrosis.

Methods: Sixteen experimental mature mini-pigs (6 males, 10 females), weighing between 20.0 and 24.

[Seasonal variation and spatial distribution of nutrients and their relationships with harmful algal blooms in coastal area of the East China Sea].

Based on the data from four cruises that carried out in the Changjiang River estuary and its adjacent areas from 2002-04 to 2003-02, the seasonal variation and spatial distribution of nutrients were analyzed, and the relationship between nutrients condition and the harmful algal blooms (HABs) was also discussed. Results showed that the annual average concentration of nutrient was (17.93 +/- 2.