Texture analysis of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging predicts microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Microvascular invasion is one of the important risk factors of postoperative recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Texture analysis uses mathematical methods to analyze the gray's quantitative value and distribution of images, for quantifying the heterogeneity of tissues.

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of predicting MVI in HCC by analyzing the texture features of hepatic MR-enhanced images.

The clinical implications of serum ferritin in Kawasaki disease: a helpful biomarker for evaluating therapeutic responsiveness, coronary artery involvement and the tendency of macrophage activation syndrome.

Introduction: Serum ferritin (SF) is an acute-phase reactant in inflammatory diseases. Our aim was to analyze the clinical implications of SF in Kawasaki disease (KD).

Methods: 244 KD children were divided into 6 subgroups.

A new scoring system for coronary artery abnormalities in Kawasaki disease.

Background: In China, coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs) secondary to Kawasaki disease (KD) tend to have an increased occurrence. We hypothesize that Chinese children with KD may possess several unique CAA risks, and the predictive efficacy of multiple scoring systems in Chinese patients are still to be further studied.

Methods: Two hundred and three KD patients were recruited.

Streptococcal infection in childhood Henoch-Schönlein purpura: a 5-year retrospective study from a single tertiary medical center in China, 2015-2019.

Background: The present study focuses on the associations of streptococcal infection with the clinical phenotypes, relapse/recurrence and renal involvement in Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) children.

Methods: Two thousand seventy-four Chinese children with HSP were recruited from January 2015 to December 2019. Patients' histories associated with HSP onset were obtained by interviews and questionnaires.

Clinical implications of procalcitonin in Kawasaki disease: a useful candidate for differentiating from sepsis and evaluating IVIG responsiveness.

Objective: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis and suspected to be triggered by several potential infections in which procalcitonin (PCT) experiences an increase to some extent. However, whether PCT can serve as a useful candidate for differentiating KD from sepsis, and even for predicting incomplete KD, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) nonresponsiveness and coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs) remains unclear.

Methods: A total of 254 Chinese KD children were enrolled and divided into 6 subgroups, including complete KD, incomplete KD, IVIG-responsive KD, IVIG-nonresponsive KD, KD with CAAs and KD without CAAs.

The downstream RAF-1 signaling of fibroblast growth factor-23 participates in the osteogenetic effect caused by C-type natriuretic peptide in vitro.

Purpose: Several studies have demonstrated that C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) stimulates osteoblastic proliferation seemly via antagonizing the expression of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23 in vitro. The main aim of the present study is to probe whether the post-receptor pathways of FGF-23 participate in osteogenesis caused by CNP.

Methods: Osteoblasts were cultured in the absence or presence of CNP: 0, 10, and 100 ​pmol/L, for 24 ​h, 48 ​h and 72 ​h, respectively.

Assessment of coronary artery abnormalities and variability of Z-score calculation in the acute episode of Kawasaki disease-A retrospective study from China.

Background: Accurate classification of coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs) is essential for clinical decision-making and long-term management in Kawasaki disease (KD) patients. To date, there are several echocardiographic criteria of CAA assessment.

Materials And Methods: The Japanese Ministry of Health (JMH) criteria and the Z-score criteria from 2004 American Heart Association guidelines were adopted and their detective efficacies for CAAs were compared in 251 Chinese patients with KD Z scores were calculated by 6 published methods.

C-type natriuretic peptide stimulates osteoblastic proliferation and collagen-X expression but suppresses fibroblast growth factor-23 expression in vitro.

Background: The effects of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23 appear to oppose each other during the process of bone formation, whereas few studies exist on the interaction between CNP and FGF-23. The main objective of the present study is to probe whether CNP is directly responsible for the regulation of osteoblast or via antagonizing FGF-23.

Methods: Osteoblasts were cultured in the absence or presence of CNP (0, 10, and 100 pmol/L) for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, respectively.

Clinical observation of noncoronary cardiac abnormalities in Chinese children with Kawasaki disease.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute, self-limited vasculitis. Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) serves as a major contributor to the long-term prognosis of KD. In addition, acute KD usually also leads to several kinds of noncoronary cardiac abnormalities (NCA) involving the pericardium, myocardium and endocardium.

Hepatic dysfunction secondary to Kawasaki disease: characteristics, etiology and predictive role in coronary artery abnormalities.

Coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs) are prominent during the acute Kawasaki disease (KD) episode and represent the major contributors to the long-term prognosis. Several meta-analysis and published scoring systems have identified hepatic dysfunction as an independent predictor of CAA risks. The medical records of 210 KD children were reviewed.

The time option of IVIG treatment is associated with therapeutic responsiveness and coronary artery abnormalities but not with clinical classification in the acute episode of Kawasaki disease.

Background: In the last decade, incomplete Kawasaki disease (KD), intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) non-response and coronary artery abnormalities (CAA) have experienced the increasing trends in China. In addition, the enhancement of pediatricians' awareness may also raise the diagnostic rate of incomplete KD and stimulate more aggressive initial therapy in the acute episode of KD. Given this background, we hypothesize that the time option of IVIG treatment should be in parallel with peak time of systemic inflammation; either earlier or later IVIG treatment may affect the clinical classification, therapeutic responsiveness and CAA occurrence in KD patients.

C-type natriuretic peptide attenuates renal osteodystrophy through inhibition of FGF-23/MAPK signaling.

Renal osteodystrophy (ROD) occurs as early as chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 2 and seems ubiquitous in almost all pediatric patients with CKD stage 5. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23, a bone-derived endocrine regulator of phosphate homeostasis, is overexpressed in CKD and disturbs osteoblast differentiation and matrix mineralization. In contrast, C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) acts as a potent positive regulator of bone growth.

Interleukin-6 is prone to be a candidate biomarker for predicting incomplete and IVIG nonresponsive Kawasaki disease rather than coronary artery aneurysm.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute, systemic vasculitis and occurs mainly in childhood. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine synthesized predominantly by neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages and plays an important role in systemic inflammatory disease. However, a little information is currently available on the relationship of serum IL-6 with conventional inflammatory mediators, clinical classification, IVIG response and coronary artery aneurysm (CAA).

Differentiation of mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma from poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma: based on the multivariate analysis of contrast-enhanced computed tomography findings.

Purpose: We aim to gain further insight into identifying differential radiological features of mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (mICC) from poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (pHCC) on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT).

Materials And Methods: 107 patients with pathologically confirmed mICC (n = 48) and pHCC (n = 59) who had undergone preoperative contrast-enhanced CT were enrolled. Qualitative analysis of CT images were evaluated for tumor demarcation, shape, presence of satellite nodules, capsular retraction, biliary involvement, intratumoral arteries, tortuous tumoral vessels, vascular invasion, portal vein tumor thrombus, arterial enhancement pattern, portal venous phase enhancement, and washout pattern.

Splenic lymphangioma that manifested as a solid-cystic mass: a case report.

Lymphangioma, a congenital malformation of the lymphatic system, is usually found in children, and generally occurs in the neck and mediastinum. It is rarely found in the spleen. The clinical features of splenic lymphangioma typically include abdominal pain, nausea, and abdominal distention.

Characteristic MR and CT imaging findings of hepatobiliary paragonimiasis and their pathologic correlations.

Background: Hepatobiliary paragonimiasis (HP) is not commonly encountered and may be confused with hepatobiliary tumors; however, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of HP allow this entity to be distinguished from other diseases.

Purpose: To present the CT and MRI findings in patients with HP and to describe some specific imaging findings along with their pathological correlations.

Material And Methods: Imaging and clinical findings of 21 patients (9 boys/men and 12 girls/women; age range 3-67 years; mean age 40 years) who were diagnosed with HP were retrospectively evaluated.

[Superior attachment of renal fascia: a study with multidetector computed tomography and three dimensional reconstruction].

Objective: To observe the superior attachment of renal fascia (RF) and the perirenal space (PS) in order to identify the spreading pathway of inflammatory and malignant tumors.

Methods: Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), with double phase enhancement scanning and three dimensional reconstruction of images were performed on 121 healthy adults. The RF attachments upward were observed and their connections with the PS were evaluated.

Pancreaticobiliary duct changes of periampullary carcinomas: quantitative analysis at MR imaging.

Purpose: To quantitatively analyse the pancreaticobiliary duct changes of periampullary carcinomas with volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) and true fast imaging with steady-state precession (true FISP) sequence, and investigate the value of these findings in differentiation and preoperative evaluation.

Materials And Methods: Magnetic resonance (MR) images of 71 cases of periampullary carcinomas (34 cases of pancreatic head carcinoma, 16 cases of intrapancreatic bile duct carcinoma and 21 cases of ampullary carcinoma) confirmed histopathologically were analysed. The maximum diameter of the common bile duct (CBD) and main pancreatic duct (MPD), dilated pancreaticobiliary duct angle and the distance from the end of the proximal dilated pancreaticobiliary duct to the major papilla were measured.

[Whole-liver perfusion scans with 64-slice spiral CT in patients with liver cirrhosis].

Objective: To test the value of whole-liver perfusion in demonstrating liver angiography and assessing the degree of liver cirrhosis.

Methods: Forty patients with confirmed liver cirrhosis (patient group) and twenty patients without any liver abnormalities (control group) were prospectively enrolled in this study. All patients underwent whole-liver perfusion CT scans.

Retroperitoneal neoplasms within the perirenal space in infants and children: differentiation of renal and non-renal origin in enhanced CT images.

Purpose: To retrospectively demonstrate the specific CT findings of retroperitoneal neoplasms to diagnosis and differential diagnosis renal and non-renal tumors within the perirenal space in infants and children.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data and CT images of 42 consecutive patients with surgically and pathologically proven retroperitoneal neoplasms within the perirenal space. The patients were divided into renal tumors group (n=16) and non-renal tumors group (n=26).

[Renal and non-renal tumors within the perirenal space in infants and children: multi-detector row CT characteristics].

Objective: To determine the characteristics of Multi-detector Row CT (MDCT) image in distinguishing renal tumors from non-renal tumors within the perirenal space in infants and children.

Methods: Data from 40 patients with surgically and pathologically proved retroperitoneal neoplasms within the perirenal space were collected. Based on the pathological findings, the patients were divided into renal tumor group (n=14) and non-renal tumor group (n=26).