Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Imaging as a Prognostic Tool in Early Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer: Correlation with PSA and Clinical Stage.

Background And Purpose: Although several methods have been developed to predict the outcome of patients with prostate cancer, early diagnosis of individual patient remains challenging. The aim of the present study was to correlate tumor perfusion parameters derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) and clinical prognostic factors and further to explore the diagnostic value of DCE-MRI parameters in early stage prostate cancer.

Patients And Methods: Sixty-two newly diagnosed patients with histologically proven prostate adenocarcinoma were enrolled in our prospective study.

Diffusion-weighted MRI Provides a Useful Biomarker for Evaluation of Radiotherapy Efficacy in Patients with Prostate Cancer.

Background: Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with measurement of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) allows for assessment of tumor aggressiveness. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes of ADC value in prostate cancer after volumetric-modulated arc radiotherapy (VMAT) and to identify magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers for monitoring tissue changes after radiotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-seven patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer treated with VMAT underwent serial MRI examinations including DWI before radiotherapy, and at 3 and 12 months after radiotherapy.

Glycoprotein YKL-40 Levels in Plasma Are Associated with Fibrotic Changes on HRCT in Asbestos-Exposed Subjects.

YKL-40 is a chitinase-like glycoprotein produced by alternatively activated macrophages that are associated with wound healing and fibrosis. Asbestosis is a chronic asbestos-induced lung disease, in which injury of epithelial cells and activation of alveolar macrophages lead to enhanced collagen production and fibrosis. We studied if YKL-40 is related to inflammation, fibrosis, and/or lung function in subjects exposed to asbestosis.

Adipokine adipsin is associated with the degree of lung fibrosis in asbestos-exposed workers.

Objectives: Asbestos-exposure causes an inflammatory response driven by alveolar macrophages that can lead to pulmonary fibrosis. In addition to classical inflammatory cytokines, macrophages produce adipokines which regulate the inflammatory response. We studied if adipokines are related to the degree of parenchymal fibrosis, impaired lung function and inflammation in asbestos-exposed subjects.

Pulmonary inflammation in asbestos-exposed subjects with borderline parenchymal changes on HRCT.

Many asbestos-exposed subjects have minor parenchymal changes on high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) that do not fulfil the diagnostic criteria for pulmonary fibrosis and asbestosis. We investigated if these borderline parenchymal changes in asbestos-exposed subjects are related to pulmonary inflammatory activity. Exhaled nitric oxide was measured, exhaled breath condensate collected and HRCT scanned in 104 subjects with moderate to high occupational asbestos exposure.

Clinical and HRCT screening of heavily asbestos-exposed workers.

Purpose: To characterize asbestosis today and to clarify the indications for high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in the surveillance of heavily exposed workers.

Methods: Six hundred and twenty-seven workers were screened and HRCT findings were classified and divided in two groups: pulmonary fibrosis (n = 86) and no fibrosis (n = 541).

Results: Most (65/86 = 76%) of the detected fibrosis cases were mild.

Psychological impact of computed tomography screening for lung cancer and occupational pulmonary disease among asbestos-exposed workers.

The objective of this study was to investigate the psychological impact of screening for lung cancer and occupational pulmonary disease among asbestos-exposed workers. Altogether, 633 workers were screened with chest computed tomography (627 men, 6 women, mean age 64.5 years).

The effects of secondhand smoke exposure on HRCT findings among asbestos-exposed workers.

Objectives: There is evidence suggesting that secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is causally linked to adverse respiratory effects. We examined the relations between the exposure to SHS and radiological signs in chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT).

Methods: Asbestos-exposed workers (n=633) were imaged with HRCT, primarily to investigate potential occupational lung disease.