Effect of WISP1 on paraquat-induced EMT.

Background: Paraquat (PQ) can induce pulmonary fibrosis (PF) by modulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of alveolar epithelial cells, but the molecular mechanism is unknown. In this paper, the role of Wnt-inducible signaling protein-1 (WISP1) in PQ-induced EMT was inspected.

Methods: The morphology, apoptosis, and mortality of A549 cells were observed through a microscope.

Gout of feet and ankles in different stages: The potentiality of a new semiquantitative DECT scoring system in monitoring urate deposition.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of a novel semi-quantitative dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) scoring system in monitoring urate deposition. This study included 287 patients with gout. All patients underwent ankle/foot DECT scans.

MRI characteristics and correlation with pathology of an unusual inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the bladder.

We report a case of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the bladder (IMTB) that arises from left posterior bladder wall. The IMTB usually demonstrates slight hypointensity on T1WI, heterogeneous bright hyperintensity on T2WI, hyperintensity on DWI, and no restricted diffusion on ADC map. IMTB exhibits irregular ring enhancement and scatters stripe-like enhancement in central area with progressive and persistent enhancement pattern on CE-MRI.

The role of transient receptor potential channels in metastasis.

Metastasis is the hallmark of failed tumor treatment and is typically associated with death due to cancer. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels affect changes in intracellular calcium concentrations and participate at every stage of metastasis. Further, they increase the migratory ability of tumor cells, promote angiogenesis, regulate immune function, and promote the growth of tumor cells through changes in gene expression and function.

CTU findings of duplex kidney in kidney: A rare duplicated renal malformation.

Duplex kidney is a common congenital malformation appeared as duplication of pelvis and ureter. However, renal duplication within sinus renalis is an extremely rare variation of the renal collecting system. In this study, we report a case of an asymptomatic kidney disease in a 33-year-old man, who demonstrates abnormal echo of renal sinus anomaly discovered incidentally in ultrasound examination.

DCE-MRI Quantitative Parameters as Predictors of Treatment Response in Patients With Locally Advanced Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma Underwent CCRT.

Purpose: To evaluate the predictive value of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) quantitative parameters in treatment response to concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma (LACSC).

Methods And Materials: LACSC patients underwent CCRT had DCE-MRI before (e0) and after 3 days of treatment (e3). Extended Tofts Linear model with a user arterial input function was adopted to generate quantitative measurements.

Potentialities of multi-b-values diffusion-weighted imaging for predicting efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy in cervical cancer patients.

Background: To testify whether multi-b-values diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) can be used to ultra-early predict treatment response of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in cervical cancer patients and to assess the predictive ability of concerning parameters.

Methods: Fifty-three patients with biopsy proved cervical cancer were retrospectively recruited in this study. All patients underwent pelvic multi-b-values DWI before and at the 3rd day during treatment.

Based on Histogram Analysis: ADC Derived from Ultra-high b-Value DWI could be a Non-invasive Specific Biomarker for Rectal Cancer Prognosis.

Aquaporins (AQP) are not only water channel protein, but also potential prognostic indicator and therapeutic target for rectal cancer. Some previous studies have demonstrated the AQP expression could be estimated by ADC value derived from ultra-high b-value diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). We aim to determine whether ADC could be a new and specific biomarker for indicating the AQP expression and prognostic factors of rectal cancer.

Computed tomography angiography findings predict the risk factors for preoperative acute ischaemic stroke in patients with acute type A aortic dissection.

Objectives: Acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) is a highly dreaded complication of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). Knowledge about independent predictors of preoperative AIS in patients with ATAAD remains unclear. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for preoperative AIS in patients with ATAAD by computed tomography angiography (CTA) findings.

The added value of intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion weighted imaging parameters in differentiating high-grade pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential significance of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM)-diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in differentiating high-grade pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNENs) from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). A total of 50 patients, including 37 patients with PDAC and 13 patients with high-grade pNENs, underwent pancreatic multiple b-values DWI with 15 b-values including 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 150, 200, 400, 800, 1,000, 1,200, 1,500 and 2,000 sec/mm. Standard apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and IVIM parameter [slow apparent diffusion coefficient (D), fast apparent diffusion coefficient (D), fraction of fast apparent diffusion coefficient (ƒ)] values of PDAC and pNENs were compared.

Changes in magnetic resonance T2-weighted imaging signal intensity correlate with concurrent chemoradiotherapy response in cervical cancer.

Purpose: This study is aimed to compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters and clinical pathological factors (CPF) of residual tumor group with non-residual tumor group in cervical cancer (CC) patients during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), and thus to establish a biomarker for individualized treatment strategy.

Material And Methods: From May 2014 to November 2015, 164 CC patients were included in this retrospective study. T2-weighted MRI was performed at pre-treatment (week-0), the completion of external radiotherapy (RT) (week-4), and one month after the completion of CCRT, using 3.

Quantitative parameters of intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI): potential application in predicting pathological grades of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) parameters such as standard apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), pure diffusion coefficient (D), pseudodiffusion coefficient (D) and perfusion fraction (ƒ) for differentiating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) with different pathological grades.

Methods: Institutional Review Board of our hospital approved this study protocol. Subjects comprised 38 PDACs confirmed by pathology.

Comparison of non-Gaussian and Gaussian diffusion models of diffusion weighted imaging of rectal cancer at 3.0 T MRI.

Water molecular diffusion in vivo tissue is much more complicated. We aimed to compare non-Gaussian diffusion models of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) including intra-voxel incoherent motion (IVIM), stretched-exponential model (SEM) and Gaussian diffusion model at 3.0 T MRI in patients with rectal cancer, and to determine the optimal model for investigating the water diffusion properties and characterization of rectal carcinoma.

Apparent Diffusion Coefficient and Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Pancreatic Cancer: Characteristics and Correlation With Histopathologic Parameters.

Objective: To clarify diffusion and perfusion abnormalities and evaluate correlation between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), MR perfusion and histopathologic parameters of pancreatic cancer (PC).

Methods: Eighteen patients with PC underwent diffusion-weighted imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI). Parameters of DCE-MRI and ADC of cancer and non-cancerous tissue were compared.

DWI as a Quantitative Biomarker in Predicting Chemotherapeutic Efficacy at Multitime Points on Gastric Cancer Lymph Nodes Metastases.

The purpose of the hypothesis testing is to determine that apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) as an early biomarker can predict the metastatic lymph nodes' (LNs) response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer (GC) in early stage. From March 2011 to June 2015, 106 patients with advanced GC were enrolled in the study. Patients underwent conventional magnetic resonance imaging and functional diffusion weighted imaging before and 3 days, 7 days, 30 days, and 60 days following the standard chemotherapy.

Determination of an optimal standardized uptake value of fluorodeoxyglucose for positron emission tomography imaging to assess pathological volumes of cervical cancer: a prospective study.

Purpose: To determine the optimal standardized uptake value (SUV) of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, at which the PET-defined gross tumor volume (GTVPET) best matches with the pathological volume (GTVPATH) in the cervical cancer.

Materials And Methods: Ten patients with the cervical cancer who underwent surgery were enrolled in this study. The excised specimens were processed for whole-mount serial sections and H-E staining.

Comparison of imaging-based gross tumor volume and pathological volume determined by whole-mount serial sections in primary cervical cancer.

Objective: To investigate the accuracy of imaging-based gross tumor volume (GTV) compared with pathological volume in cervical cancer.

Methods: Ten patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I-II cervical cancer were eligible for investigation and underwent surgery in this study. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG PET)/computed tomography (CT) scans were taken the day before surgery.

Primary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma in the clival region: a case report and literature review.

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare and low-grade vascular tumor, which usually occurs in the soft tissue, liver, breast, lung and skeleton. Here we submit a case with EHE of the clival region. A 58-year-old woman was admitted with a medical history of 3 months headache and 1 month visual deterioration.