Radiomics of Preoperative Multi-Sequence Magnetic Resonance Imaging Can Improve the Predictive Performance of Microvascular Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: The aim of the study is to demonstrate that radiomics of preoperative multi-sequence magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can indeed improve the predictive performance of microvascular invasion (MVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: A total of 206 patients with pathologically confirmed HCC who underwent preoperative enhanced MRI were retrospectively recruited. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the independent clinicoradiologic predictors of MVI present and constituted the clinicoradiologic model.

The Value of Amide Proton Transfer MRI in the Diagnosis of Malignant and Benign Urinary Bladder Lesions: Comparison With Diffusion-Weighted Imaging.

Background: Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has certain limitations in distinguishing between malignant and benign urinary bladder (UB) lesions. Amide proton transfer (APT) imaging may provide more diagnostic information than diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to distinguish between malignant and benign UB.

Purpose: To investigate the potential of APT imaging in the diagnosis of malignant and benign UB lesions and to compare its diagnostic efficacy with that of conventional DWI.

Evaluation of amide proton transfer imaging for bladder cancer histopathologic features: A comparative study with diffusion- weighted imaging.

Purpose: To assess the ability of amide proton transfer (APT) imaging, in comparison with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), to differentiate low-grade from high-grade bladder tumors and predict the aggressiveness of bladder cancer (BCa).

Methods: Forty-eight patients diagnosed with BCa confirmed by histopathological findings who underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, including APT imaging and DWI (b = 0, 1000 sec/mm), were enrolled in this study. The asymmetric magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) was defined as the magnetization transfer asymmetry at 3.

Brain hemodynamic changes in amnestic mild cognitive impairment measured by pulsed arterial spin labeling.

We used pulsed arterial spin labeling (PASL) to investigate differences in cerebral blood flow (CBF) between 26 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and 27 controls with normal cognition (NC). Hypoperfusion was observed in the right temporal pole of the middle temporal gyrus and the right inferior temporal gyrus in the aMCI compared with NC group. Interestingly, hyperperfusion was observed in the left temporal pole of the middle temporal gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus, bilateral precuneus, postcentral gyrus, right inferior parietal lobule, and right angular gyrus in the aMCI group, which likely resulted from a compensatory mechanism to maintain advanced neural activities.

Prognostic Value of Pre-Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation PET/CT in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: The Deauville Score Is Prognostically Superior to ΔSUVmax.

Objective: The predictive value of pre-autologous stem cell transplantation (pre-ASCT) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans according to different criteria remains elusive in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Methods: A total of 46 DLBCL patients treated with pre-ASCT were enrolled in the present study, and two methods, Deauville score and maximal standardized uptake value reduction (ΔSUVmax), were used to evaluate the PET/CT scans before transplantation.

Results: In patients with Deauville 1-3 and ≥4, the 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 82.

Prediction and prognosis of biologically aggressive breast cancers by the combination of DWI/DCE-MRI and immunohistochemical tumor markers.

Breast cancer (BC) research has been evolving tremendously on all fronts, whether it being for imaging, pathology, oncology, pharmacology, or genetics. Regarding medical imaging, dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) are now both universally recognized and widely used modalities in multiparametric MRI (mp-MRI) to diagnose and stage BC, to assess post-chemotherapy response, and to differentiate between scar tissue and recurrent tumor. Meanwhile, pathologists have provided evidence of BC being heterogeneous and having several subtypes, which in turn might affect its prognostic and therapeutic outcomes.

7.0 tesla high resolution MRI study on intracerebral migration of magnet-labeled neural stem cells in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Objective: To observe the migration characteristics of neural stem cells (NSCs) labeled with the MRI contrast agent superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) in the brain of APP/PS1 transgenic mice with Alzheimer's disease (AD) by 7.0 T high resolution MRI.

Methods: C57BL/6 mouse NSCs were cultured, amplified, labeled with Feridex and Poly-l-lysine (FE-PLL) and evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Polyethylene glycol-poly(ε-benzyloxycarbonyl-l-lysine)-conjugated VEGF siRNA for antiangiogenic gene therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma.

A polyethylene glycol-poly(ε-benzyloxycarbonyl-l-lysine) (PEG-SS-PLL) block copolymer based on a disulfide-linked, novel biodegradable catiomer bearing a PEG-sheddable shell was developed to avoid "PEG dilemma" in nanoparticle intracellular tracking of PEG-PLL where PEG was nondegradable. However, PEG-SS-PLL catiomers have not been used to deliver small interfering VEGF RNA (siVEGF) in antiangiogenesis gene therapy. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether this novel biodegradable catiomer can deliver siVEGF into cancer cells and at the same time have an antitumor effect in a xenograft mouse model.

An Intracranial Gliosis Mimicking Neoplasm: A Dilemma.

Intracranial gliosis has no typical clinical signals or imaging characteristics. Therefore, it can be easily misdiagnosed as neoplasm. Hereby, we report a unique case of gliosis that grew outward from the surface of the brain.

Prenatal exposure to ultrasound affects learning and memory in young rats.

Prenatal exposure to ultrasound may cause cognitive impairments in experimental animals; however, the exact mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we exposed pregnant rats (or sham-exposed controls) to different intensities of ultrasound repeatedly on days 6, 12 and 18 of pregnancy for 4 min (3.5 MHz, spatial peak time average intensity = 7.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of skeletal muscles for type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with microvascular complications.

Purpose: To explore the applicability of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) as a new method to detect impaired microcirculation in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with microvascular complications (DM+MC).

Methods: Ultrasound contrast agent was injected into peripheral vein of 28 patients with DM+MC, 30 uncomplicated type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients, and 30 control subjects. Its appearance in the calf muscle was detected by contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

[Effects of neural stem cells transplanted into an animal model of Alzheimer disease on Aβ plaques].

Objective: To explore the effects on Aβ plaques of neural stem cells transplanted into an Alzheimer disease mouse model.

Methods: A total of twenty 12-months-old APP+PS1 double transgenic AD mice were randomly divided into two groups.One group received neural stem cells transplantation, that was NSC group, another mice received an equal quantity 0.

Neural stem cell transplants improve cognitive function without altering amyloid pathology in an APP/PS1 double transgenic model of Alzheimer's disease.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are capable of self-renewal and are multipotent. Transplantation of NSCs may represent a promising approach for treating neurodegenerative disorders associated with cognitive decline, such as Alzheimer disease (AD) characterized by extensive loss of neurons. In this study, we investigated the effect of NSC transplantation on cognitive function in the amyloid precursor protein/presenilin-1 (APP/PS1) transgenic mouse, an AD mouse model with age-dependent cognitive deficits.

Effects of resveratrol on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells in vitro.

Purpose: Resveratrol has been reported to exhibit anti-cancer activity. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of resveratrol on the adhesion, migration, and invasion of the oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell line KB cell in vitro.

Methods: The effect of resveratrol on KB cell adhesion was evaluated by a MTT colorimetric assay, whereas its effects on cell migration and invasion were assessed by a Transwell assay.

Abnormal intrinsic brain activity in amnestic mild cognitive impairment revealed by amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Background: Previous studies have shown that brain functional activity in the resting state is impaired in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. However, alterations in intrinsic brain activity patterns in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients are poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the differences in regional intrinsic activities throughout the whole brain between aMCI patients and controls.

[In vivo labeling of rat neural progenitor cells in subventricular zone with superparamagnetic iron oxide for tracking of magnetic resonance imaging].

Objective: To explore the feasibility of in vivo labeling of adult rat neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in subventricular zone (SVZ) with superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (SPIOs) for tracking of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: A total of 7 SD rats were stereotactically injected with 3 µl SPIOs (7 mg Fe/ml) into anterior horn of right lateral ventricle and then 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) was injected intraperitoneally once daily for 1 week. MRI was performed at 1, 3, 7 and 14 days post-injection.

[Values of ocular hemodynamics and serum endothelin-1 in the early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy].

Objective: To evaluate the values of ocular hemodynamics and serum endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy (DRP).

Methods: A total of 85 DRP patients were examined by ophthalmoscope and fluorescein angiography and divided into 3 groups: no obvious retinopathy (n = 20), non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (n = 35) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (n = 30). Control group included 15 healthy volunteers.

[Effects of RNA interference targeting P2X7 receptor on microglial phagocytosis of amyloid-β protein].

Objective: To investigate the effect of silencing P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) by RNA interference on microglial phagocytosis of amyloid-β (Aβ) protein and to explore its possible mechanism.

Methods: The small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting the P2X7R gene was identified. The microglial cells activated by Aβ1-42 were infected with the Lipofectamine-siP2X7R and it was designated as siP2X7R group.

1H-MRS assessment of the therapeutic effect of bilateral intraventricular BDNF infusion into APP/PS1 double transgenic mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by extracellular accumulation of amyloid deposits. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophic factor whose levels have been shown to be decreased in AD brains. BDNF supplementation can offer improvement in the course of AD.

[Small-worldness of functional networks in Alzheimer's disease].

Objective: To construct the functional networks of human brains by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and examine whether or not the small-world property of functional brain networks changes in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD).

Methods: A total of 33 AD patients and 20 healthy old volunteers were recruited. Their cognitive functions were evaluated by the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Mattis dementia rating scale (DRS).