Differentiating the grades of thymic epithelial tumor malignancy using textural features of intratumoral heterogeneity via (18)F-FDG PET/CT.

Objective: We aimed to explore the ability of textural heterogeneity indices determined by (18)F-FDG PET/CT for grading the malignancy of thymic epithelial tumors (TETs).

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 47 patients with pathologically proven TETs who underwent pre-treatment (18)F-FDG PET/CT. TETs were classified by pathological results into three subgroups with increasing grades of malignancy: low-risk thymoma (LRT; WHO classification A, AB and B1), high-risk thymoma (B2 and B3), and thymic carcinoma (TC).

PET/CT fusion viewing software for use with picture archiving and communication systems.

We developed positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) viewing software (PETviewer) that can display co-registered PET and CT images obtained by PET/CT and stored on picture archiving and communication systems (PACS). PETviewer has tools for presetting windows for CT display; control bars for PET window level; zoom, pan, and pseudo-color functions; and allows the user to draw a rectangular region of interest (ROI) for standardized uptake value (SUV) measurement. SUV was calculated using PET DICOM header information and the pixel intensity in PETviewer.

A treatment planning study on glioblastoma with different techniques using boron neutron capture therapy, 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, and intensity modulated radiotherapy.

To propose adequate indices predicting efficacy of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for glioblastoma, a comparative treatment planning study between BNCT, 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) was performed, and dose-volume histograms (DVHs) on planning target volume (PTV) and normal brain were calculated. Therapeutic benefit of BNCT was quantitatively evaluated using conformity indices, which have been previously suggested by radiation therapy oncology group (RTOG) and Saint-Anne, Lariboisière, Tenon (SALT). Although dose homogeneities from the BNCT plans were poor than the other modalities due to simple irradiation fields, lesion coverage factor, CVF, from the BNCT plans were comparable to those from the 3D-CRT and IMRT plans (median values, 0.

Characterization and expression analysis of mesenchymal stem cells from human bone marrow and adipose tissue.

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), that have been reported to be present in bone marrow, adipose tissues, dermis, muscles and peripheral blood, have the potential to differentiate along different lineages including those forming bone, cartilage, fat, muscle and neuron. This differentiation potential makes MSC excellent candidates for cell-based tissue engineering. In this study, we have examined phenotypes and gene expression profile of the human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ATSC) in the undifferentiated states, and compared with that of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC).