Histogram analysis based on unenhanced CT for identifying thymoma and lymphoma among prevascular mediastinal incidentalomas.

Objective: To determine whether histogram analysis based on unenhanced CT can play a role in the differential diagnosis of thymoma and lymphoma from thymic hyperplasia and cyst (mean CT attenuation > 10 HU).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included consecutive asymptomatic participants who have prevascular mediastinal lesions incidentally detected by unenhanced CT between December 2013 and August 2020, and with definitive diagnosis by pathology or additional radiologic work-ups. A total of thirteen histogram parameters on enhanced CT were calculated for each lesion, then were compared between tumor (thymoma + lymphoma) and non-tumor (hyperplasia + cyst).

Colorectal liver metastases: Correlations of contrast-enhanced ultrasound features with tumor clinicopathological factors and clinical outcomes following conversion therapy.

Objective: To explore the prognostic impact of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features for initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CLMs) in a clinical setting of conversion therapy.

Methods: Between March 2015 and November 2020, consecutive patients with CLMs who received conversion treatment were prospectively enrolled. All participants underwent liver CEUS at baseline.

Effect of iron-loaded sludge biochar amendments on phytoremediation potential of Cr-contaminated soils by Leersia hexandra swartz.

In this study, the effect of iron-loaded sludge biochar (ISBC) with different amendment dosages (mass ratio of biochar to soil equal to 0, 0.01, 0.025 and 0.

[Removal Performance and Mechanism of Potassium Permanganate Modified Coconut Shell Biochar for Cd(Ⅱ) and Ni(Ⅱ) in Aquatic Environment].

In this study, coconut shell biochar modified by KMnO (MCBC) was used as the adsorbent, and its removal performance and mechanism for Cd(Ⅱ) and Ni(Ⅱ) were discussed. When the initial pH and MCBC dosage were separately 5 and 3.0 g·L, respectively, the removal efficiencies of Cd(Ⅱ) and Ni(Ⅱ) were both higher than 99%.

Distinct radiological features of lymphoepithelioma-like intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: comparison with classical intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Lymphoepithelioma-like intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (LEICC) has been recently introduced as a genetically distinct of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). We aimed to investigate whether LEICC has distinct radiological characteristics in comparison with classical ICC, and to determine MRI features that can be used to differentiate LEICC from classical ICC.

Methods: Five hundred and sixty-seven consecutive patients who underwent surgical resection or liver transplantation for ICC between 2014 and 2021 were retrospectively identified.

Prognostic value of preoperative CT features for disease-free survival in patients with primary gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors after resection.

Purpose: Tumor size is an important prognostic factor without consideration of the necrotic and cystic components within tumor for patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). We aimed to extract the enhancing viable component from the tumor using computed tomography (CT) post-processing software and evaluate the value of preoperative CT features for predicting the disease-free survival (DFS) after curative resection for patients with primary gastric GISTs.

Methods: 132 Patients with primary gastric GISTs who underwent preoperative contrast-enhanced CT and curative resection were retrospectively analyzed.

Ultrashort time-to-echo T2* and T2* relaxometry for evaluation of lumbar disc degeneration: a comparative study.

Background: To compare potential of ultrashort time-to-echo (UTE) T2* mapping and T2* values from T2*-weighted imaging for assessing lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD),with Pfirrmann grading as a reference standard.

Methods: UTE-T2* and T2* values of 366 lumbar discs (L1/2-L5/S1) in 76 subjects were measured in 3 segmented regions: anterior annulus fibrosus, nucleus pulposus (NP), and posterior annulus fibrosus. Lumbar intervertebral discs were divided into 3 categories based on 5-level Pfirrmann grading: normal (Pfirrmann grade I),early disc degeneration (Pfirrmann grades II-III), and advanced disc degeneration (Pfirrmann grades IV-V).

Long noncoding RNA BCRP3 stimulates VPS34 and autophagy activities to promote protein homeostasis and cell survival.

Background: Autophagy plays important roles in cell homeostasis and protein quality control. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been revealed as an emerging class of autophagy regulators, but the majority of them function in regulating the expression of autophagy-related genes. LncRNAs that directly act on the core autophagic proteins remain to be explored.

Utility of preoperative computed tomography features in predicting the Ki-67 labeling index of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Purpose: To evaluate the value of preoperative computed tomography (CT) features including morphologic and quantitative features for predicting the Ki-67 labeling index (Ki-67LI) of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).

Methods: We retrospectively included 167 patients with gastric GISTs who underwent preoperative contrast-enhanced CT. We assessed the morphologic features of preoperative CT images and the quantitative features including the maximum diameter of tumor, total tumor volume, mean total tumor CT value, necrosis volume, necrosis volume ratio, enhanced tissue volume, and mean CT value of enhanced tissue.

Bifunctional mechanisms of autophagy and apoptosis regulations in melanoma from Bacillus subtilis natto fermentation extract.

Melanoma is one of the most dangerous malignant epidermal cancers. Natto freeze-drying extract (NFDE) and natto water extract (NWE) were isolated from natto, soybeans fermented by Bacillus subtilis natto, which were assessed as potential anti-melanoma agents. Cell cytotoxicity assays revealed significant anti-melanoma effects of NFDE and NWE in a dose-dependent manner, and exhibited low influences on normal skin cells, including Hs68, HaCaT and adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs), respectively.

Identifying response in colorectal liver metastases treated with bevacizumab: development of RECIST by combining contrast-enhanced and diffusion-weighted MRI.

Objectives: Response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) often fail to identify clinically meaningful response to bevacizumab-containing therapy in colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM). This study aimed to develop RECIST by combining contrast-enhanced and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: A total of 126 patients with CRLM who underwent hepatic resection after bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy were split into initial analyses cohort (N = 42, with 76 indexed liver metastases) and validation cohort (N = 84).

Impact of visceral adipose tissue on the accuracy of T-staging by CT in colon cancer.

Objective: Accuracy of preoperative T-staging for colon cancer remains disappointing and may potentially influenced by patients' individual characteristics including visceral adipose tissue (VAT). We sought to clarify the impact of VAT on the accuracy of T-staging by CT.

Methods: This study of 216 consecutive patients who underwent elective surgery was conducted in a single cancer center, to control other potentially confounding factors.

Imaging Strategies for Rectal Cancer Initial Staging: Does Pelvic Computed Tomography Provide Significantly Additional Findings when High-resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging has Been Performed?

Background: Initial staging of rectal cancer is done by high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), however, pelvic computed tomography (CT) is also frequently used. The aim of this study was to evaluate the added clinical benefit of pelvic CT or whether it can alter the initial staging or not.

Methods: The study was composed of 187 patients with rectal cancer.

Pre-treatment ADC image-based random forest classifier for identifying resistant rectal adenocarcinoma to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Objective: To develop a predicting model for tumor resistance to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) by using pre-treatment apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) image-derived radiomics features.

Method: A total of 89 patients with LARC were randomly assigned into training (N = 66) and testing cohorts (N = 23) at the ratio of 3:1. Radiomics features were derived from manually determined tumor region of pre-treatment ADC images.

Performance comparison between MRI and CT for local staging of sigmoid and descending colon cancer.

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic performance of MRI and CT for local staging of sigmoid and descending colon cancer, with pathological results as the reference standard.

Method: This retrospective study included 116 patients with sigmoid or descending colon cancer who underwent both MRI and CT before surgery. MRI and CT images were separately reviewed by two independent and blinded radiologists to assess the following features: T-stage, presence of extramural extension (T3-4 disease), lymph node metastases (N+), and extramural vascular invasion (EMVI+).

Silencing Stem Cell Factor Gene in Fibroblasts to Regulate Paracrine Factor Productions and Enhance c-Kit Expression in Melanocytes on Melanogenesis.

Melanogenesis is a complex physiological mechanism involving various paracrine factors. Skin cells such as keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and melanocytes communicate with one another through secreted regulators, thereby regulating the melanocytes' bio-functions. The stem cell factor (SCF) is a paracrine factor produced by fibroblasts, and its receptor, c-kit, is expressed on melanocytes.

Locally advanced rectal cancer: predicting non-responders to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy using apparent diffusion coefficient textures.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to evaluate whether apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) textures could identify patient with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) who would not respond to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT).

Method: Twenty-six patients who underwent MRI including diffusion-weighted imaging at a 3.0 T system before NCRT were enrolled.

CT findings of persistent pure ground glass opacity: can we predict the invasiveness?

Background: To investigate whether CT findings can predict the invasiveness of persistent cancerous pure ground glass opacity (pGGO) by correlating the CT imaging features of persistent pGGO with pathological changes.

Materials And Methods: Ninety five patients with persistent pGGOs were included. Three radiologists evaluated the morphologic features of these pGGOs at high resolution CT (HRCT).

Efficacy of permanent iodine-125 seed implants and gemcitabine chemotherapy in patients with platinum- resistant recurrent ovarian carcinoma.

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy and adverse reactions of CT-guided radioactive 125I-seed implantation treatment combined with chemotherapy for platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: From September 2010 to December 2012, 23 patients with platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian carcinoma were enrolled. All the patients refused, could not bear, or were not suitable for surgery.

3.0T MR-CAD: Clinical Value in Diagnosis of Breast Tumor Compared with Conventional MRI.

Purpose: to explore the clinical value of 3.0T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging compared with computer-aided MR diagnosis (MR-CAD) in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast tumors.

Materials And Methods: MRI method and MR-CAD method was used in the diagnosis of a total of 93 breast lesions of 78 patients, based on the morphological and time-intensity-curve (TIC) analysis.