Application of T1-mapping combined with high-spatial-resolution T2-weighted imaging in discriminating mucinous from nonmucinous adenocarcinoma in rectal cancer.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of T1-mapping, high-spatial-resolution T2-weighted imaging (HR-T2WI), and their combined model in distinguishing between adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified (AC) and mucinous adenocarcinoma (MC) in rectal cancer.

Methods: A total of 55 patients with pathologically confirmed AC and 37 patients with MC were included in the study. Two radiologists independently reviewed the HR-T2WI and provided assessments of histopathological type.

Tailored different sizes of quantum dot nanobeads for sensitive and quantitative detection based on the competition fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assay platform.

Highly stable and multicolor photoluminescent (PL) quantum dots (QDs) have attracted widespread attention as ideal probe materials in the field of in vitro diagnostics (IVD), especially the fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assay (FLISA), due to their advantages of high-throughput, high stability, and high sensitivity. However, the size of QDs as fluorescent probes have significant effects on antigen-antibody performance. Therefore, it is critical to design suitable QDs for obtain excellent quantitative detection-based biosensors.

Value of orthogonal axial MR images in preoperative T staging of gastric cancer.

Purpose: To assess the value of orthogonal axial images (OAI) of MRI in gastric cancer T staging.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 133 patients (median age, 63 [range, 24-85] years) with gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent both CT and MRI followed by surgery. MRI lacking or incorporating OAI and CT images were evaluated, respectively.

Higher perfusion of rectum carcinoma relative to tumor-free rectal wall: quantification by a new imaging biomarker diffusion-derived vessel density (DDVD).

Background: Diffusion-derived vessel density (DDVD) is a physiological surrogate of the area of micro-vessels per unit tissue area. DDVD is calculated according to: DDVD(b0b5) = Sb0/ROIarea0 - Sb5/ROIarea5, where Sb0 and Sb5 refer to the tissue signal when is 0 or 5 s/mm. This study applied DDVD to assess the perfusion of rectal carcinoma (RC).

Tailored three-color quantum dots nanobeads for multiplexed detection with tunable detection range and multilevel sensitivity of signal-amplified immunosensor.

The excellent optical properties of quantum dots (QDs) make them as an ideal fluorescent probe for multiplexed detection, however, the interference between different emission spectra, the dependence of excitation wavelengths, and the sharp decrease of quantum yield (QY) during surface modification are issues that cannot be ignored. Herein, a dual protection scheme of polymer and silica was proposed to prepare high-quality three-color QDs nanobeads using QDs with different ligands. In comparison with single-core QDs, the fluorescence signal of the prepared QD nanobeads (QBs) is increased by more than 1,000 times and has better stability.

MRI-detected tumor deposits in cT3 and cT4 rectal cancer following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Objectives: To evaluate the identification of tumor deposits (TDs) and the prognostic significance of an MRI tumor regression grade for TDs in patients with rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT).

Methods: Ninety-one patients with cT3 or cT4 rectal cancer who underwent surgery following nCRT between August 2014 and June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Changes in pre-nCRT MRI-detected TDs (mrTDs) were described as mrTD regression grade.

Role of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in predicting severe acute radiation-induced rectal injury in patients with rectal cancer.

Objectives: To explore the potential of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) quantitative parameters in predicting severe acute radiation-induced rectal injury (RRI) in rectal cancer.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 49 patients with rectal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and rectal MRI including a DCE-MRI sequence from November 2014 to March 2021. Two radiologists independently measured DCE-MRI quantitative parameters, including the forward volume transfer constant (K), rate constant (k), fractional extravascular extracellular space volume (v), and the thickness of the rectal wall farthest away from the tumor.

MRI for nodal restaging after neoadjuvant therapy in rectal cancer with histopathologic comparison.

Background: After neoadjuvant therapy, most of the lymph nodes (LNs) will shrink and disappear in patients with rectal cancer. However, LNs that are still detectable on MRI carry a risk of metastasis. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR) criterion (short-axis diameter ≥ 5 mm) in diagnosing malignant LNs in patients with rectal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy, and whether nodal morphological characteristics (including shape, border, signal homogeneity, and enhancement homogeneity) could improve the diagnostic efficiency for LNs ≥ 5 mm.

Quantitative assessment of the microstructure of the mesorectum with different prognostic statuses by intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighed magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: The mesorectum surrounding the rectum provides an ideal substrate for tumour spread. However, preoperative risk assessment is still an issue. This study aimed to investigate the microstructural features of mesorectum with different prognostic statuses by intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM DWI).

Metastatic lymph node calcification in rectal cancer: comparison of CT and high-resolution MRI.

Calcification causes mixed signal intensity in the lymph node (LN) on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which is a strong indicator of regional LN metastasis in rectal cancer. Calcified metastatic LNs in rectal cancer commonly display scattered fine punctate calcifications to varying degrees on computed tomography (CT). On high-resolution MRI, the calcifications manifest a patchy area of signal loss in corresponding calcified area that is larger than on CT.

Evaluation of Mesorectal Microcirculation With Quantitative Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI.

The purpose of this study was to use quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) to evaluate mesorectal microcirculation in patients with rectal cancer. A total of 53 patients with semicircular rectal tumors underwent DCE-MRI with a 3-T MRI system before surgery. ROIs were manually delineated in the mesorectum that surrounded the tumor and the mesorectum that surrounded the normal rectal wall.

Value of High-resolution MRI in Detecting Lymph Node Calcifications in Patients with Rectal Cancer.

Rationale And Objectives: To analyze CT and high-resolution MRI findings of nodal metastasis calcifications and determine the value of high-resolution MRI in detecting nodal calcifications in rectal cancer patients.

Materials And Methods: In total, 229 rectal cancer patients were included. The CT was reviewed for the presence of nodal calcifications by two radiologists.

Non-invasive MR assessment of the microstructure and microcirculation in regional lymph nodes for rectal cancer: a study of intravoxel incoherent motion imaging.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the microstructure and microcirculation of regional lymph nodes (LNs) in rectal cancer by using non-invasive intravoxel incoherent motion MRI (IVIM-MRI), and to distinguish metastatic from non-metastatic LNs by quantitative parameters.

Methods: All recruited patients underwent IVIM-MRI (b = 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, 100, 150, 200, 400, 600, 1000, 1500 and 2000 s/mm) on a 3.0 T MRI system.

Lymph node metastasis in rectal cancer: comparison of MDCT and MR imaging for diagnostic accuracy.

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic accuracies of MDCT and high-resolution MRI (HR-MRI) for regional nodal metastases with different short-axis diameter ranges in rectal cancer patients.

Methods: Rectal adenocarcinoma patients who underwent both MDCT and HR-MRI before surgery were included. The maximum short-axis diameters of the nodes were measured, and were classified as benign or malignant on imaging findings.

Association between high-resolution MRI-detected extramural vascular invasion and tumour microcirculation estimated by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in rectal cancer: preliminary results.

Background: To determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-detected extramural vascular invasion (mrEMVI) status is associated with quantitative perfusion parameters derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in rectal cancer.

Methods: Seventy-two patients with rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent curative surgery alone within 2 weeks following rectal MRI were enrolled in this retrospective study. mrEMVI status was determined based on high-resolution MRI.

Application of magnetic resonance diffusion kurtosis imaging for distinguishing histopathologic subtypes and grades of rectal carcinoma.

Background: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) for distinguishing different histopathological subtypes and grades of rectal carcinoma and to compare DKI with conventional diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).

Methods: This prospective study involved 132 patients with rectal carcinoma, comprising 116 with adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified (AC) and 16 with mucinous carcinoma (MC). High spatial resolution magnetic resonance (MR) and DKI sequences (b values of 0, 600, 1000, 1500 and 2000 s/mm) were performed for pretreatment evaluation.

Role of Quantitative Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI in Evaluating Regional Lymph Nodes With a Short-Axis Diameter of Less Than 5 mm in Rectal Cancer.

Objective: The aim of this study was to discriminate metastatic from nonmetastatic regional lymph nodes (LNs) with short-axis diameters of less than 5 mm in rectal cancer using quantitative parameters derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI.

Subjects And Methods: Sixty-five LNs from 122 patients were evaluated, including malignant LNs (n = 27) and benign LNs (n = 38). The following parameters were assessed: the forward volume transfer constant (K), reverse volume transfer constant (k), fractional extravascular extracellular space volume (Ve), short-axis diameter, long-axis diameter, and short- to long-axis diameter ratio.

Perfusion-sensitive parameters of intravoxel incoherent motion MRI in rectal cancer: evaluation of reproducibility and correlation with dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.

Background: Intravoxel incoherent motion magnetic resonance imaging (IVIM-MRI) acquires tumor perfusion information without injection of contrast medium, which is promising in tumor assessment. However, its consistency with dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI), a more widely used method for tumor perfusion evaluation, is not revealed in rectal cancer.

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation of perfusion-sensitive parameters derived from IVIM-MRI with DCE-MRI and measurement reproducibility of IVIM-MRI parameters in rectal cancer.

[Diagnostic accuracy of 3.0T high-resolution MRI for assessment mesorectal lymph node metastases in patients with rectal cancer].

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of 3.0T high-resolution MRI in mesorectal lymph node metastasis of rectal cancer.

Methods: The images and postoperative pathological data of patients with pathologically diagnosed rectal cancer who underwent prospective 3.

Fat-suppressed gadolinium-enhanced isotropic high-resolution 3D-GRE-T1WI for predicting small node metastases in patients with rectal cancer.

Background: To investigate the application value of fat-suppressed gadolinium-enhanced isotropic high-resolution 3D-GRE-T1WI in regional nodes with different short-axis diameter ranges in rectal cancer, especially in nodes ≤5 mm.

Methods: Patients with rectal adenocarcinoma confirmed by postoperative histopathology were included, and all the patients underwent preoperative 3.0 T rectal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and total mesorectal excision (TME) within 2 weeks after an MR scan.

Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Diffusion-Weighted Imaging of Primary Rectal Carcinoma: Correlation with Histopathology.

BACKGROUND Comprehensive and precise assessment of rectal carcinoma is crucial before surgery to plan an individual treatment strategy. New functional techniques, such as intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM), have emerged and could lead to more detailed information. The aim of this study was to evaluate the difference between the rectal tumor parenchyma and normal wall by IVIM and to explore the correlations of IVIM parameters and histopathology.

Clopidogrel and Aspirin versus Aspirin Alone for Stroke Prevention: A Meta-Analysis.

Background And Purpose: Antiplatelet therapy is widely used for the primary or secondary prevention of stroke. Drugs like clopidogrel have emerged as alternatives for traditional antiplatelet therapy, and dual therapy with clopidogrel and aspirin is of particular interest. We conducted this meta-analysis to systematically review studies about dual therapy comparing monotherapy with aspirin alone.

Expression of cortactin in human gliomas and its effect on migration and invasion of glioma cells.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of cortactin in the infiltrative behavior of glioma cells and the potential mechanism of cortactin in promoting the migration and invasion of glioma cells. The expression of cortactin was detected by immunohistochemistry in 40 human glioma specimens and 8 non-tumor brain specimens. U251, LN229 and SNB19 glioma cells were employed for the in vitro study and assigned into the siRNA-cortactin (transfected with siRNA specific to cortactin), siRNA-NC (transfected with negative control RNA sequence) and siRNA-N (transfected with empty vector) groups.

[Diagnosis value of 3.0 T diffusion-weighted imaging with background suppression magnetic resonance for metastatic lymph nodes in rectal cancer].

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of 3.0 T diffusion-weighted imaging with background suppression (DWIBS) magnetic resonance (MR) for lymph node metastasis in rectal cancer.

Methods: Thirty-five patients with rectal cancer who underwent preoperative routine MRI+DWI examination were enrolled in the study and were treated by rectal cancer resection plus lymph node dissection.

Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma: MR imaging findings in 19 patients.

Background: Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) is a rare and special type of astrocytoma which occurs in childhood and adolescence, and usually with a favorable prognosis. Since its initial description, PXA cases have been reported infrequently in the literature, mostly as single cases or small series.

Purpose: To review the imaging characteristics of PXA.