Exploration of anatomical distribution of brain metastasis from breast cancer at first diagnosis assisted by artificial intelligence.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the spatial distribution of brain metastases (BMs) from breast cancer (BC) and to identify the high-risk sub-structures in BMs that are involved at first diagnosis.

Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were retrospectively reviewed at our centre. The brain was divided into eight regions according to its anatomy and function, and the volume of each region was calculated.

Radiological distribution of brain metastases and its implication for the hippocampus avoidance in whole brain radiotherapy approach.

Objective: Hippocampus avoidance in whole brain radiotherapy (HA-WBRT) offers the feasibility of less-impaired cognitive function than conventional WBRT. The study aims to assess the radiological distribution of brain metastases (BMs) with relation to the hippocampus and peri-hippocampus region as defined by the RTOG 0933 for better understanding of margin definition in HA-WBRT treatment planning.

Methods: Consecutive patients with diagnosis of BM from enhanced MRI between March 2011 and July 2016 were analysed.

Three-dimensional Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound in Response Assessment for Breast Cancer: A Comparison with Dynamic Contrast-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Pathology.

To compare the capabilities of three-dimensional contrast enhanced ultrasound (3D-CEUS) and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (DCE-MRI) in predicting the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) among breast cancer patients, 48 patients with unilateral breast cancer were recruited for 3D-CEUS and DCE-MRI examinations both before and after NAC; pathology was used to validate the results. This study was approved by the institutional review board, and written informed consent was obtained from each patient. Imaging feature changes and pathological vascularity response, including microvessel density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), were calculated.

Molecular evaluation of thrombosis using X-ray phase contrast imaging with microbubbles targeted to P-selectin in mice.

Objectives: X-ray phase contrast imaging (PCI) provides excellent image contrast by utilizing the phase shift. The introduction of microbubbles into tissues can cause a phase shift to make microbubbles visibly identified on PCI. In this study, we assessed the feasibility of targeted microbubble-based PCI for the detection of thrombosis.

A novel imaging tool for hepatic portal system using phase contrast technique with hydrogen peroxide-generated O₂ gas.

The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of hydrogen peroxide-generated oxygen gas-based phase contrast imaging (PCI) for visualizing mouse hepatic portal veins. The O2 gas was made from the reaction between H2O2 and catalase. The gas production was imaged by PCI in real time.

Dual-Energy CT for Patients Suspected of Having Liver Iron Overload: Can Virtual Iron Content Imaging Accurately Quantify Liver Iron Content?

Purpose: To prospectively assess the feasibility of using virtual iron content (VIC) imaging at dual-energy computed tomography (CT) to evaluate the liver iron content (LIC) in patients suspected of having liver iron overload and to compare the LIC grading performance of VIC imaging and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by the institutional review board, and informed consent was obtained from all patients. Fifty-six patients suspected of having liver iron overload (serum ferritin concentrations >500 μg/L) underwent unenhanced dual-energy CT and MR imaging of the liver.

Virtual iron concentration imaging based on dual-energy CT for noninvasive quantification and grading of liver iron content: An iron overload rabbit model study.

Objectives: To assess the accuracy of liver iron content (LIC) quantification and grading ability associated with clinical LIC stratification using virtual iron concentration (VIC) imaging on dual-energy CT (DECT) in an iron overload rabbit model.

Methods: Fifty-one rabbits were prepared as iron-loaded models by intravenous injection of iron dextran. DECT was performed at 80 and 140 kVp.

Three-dimensional contrast enhanced ultrasound score and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging score in evaluating breast tumor angiogenesis: correlation with biological factors.

Objective: To explore the clinical value of three-dimensional contrast enhanced ultrasound (3D-CEUS) and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) score systems in evaluating breast tumor angiogenesis by comparing their diagnostic efficacy and correlation with biological factors.

Methods: 3D-CEUS was performed in 183 patients with breast tumors by Esaote Mylab90 with SonoVue (Bracco, Italy), DCE-MRI was performed on a dedicated breast magnetic resonance imaging (DBMRI) system (Aurora Dedicated Breast MRI Systems, USA) with a dedicated breast coil. 3D-CEUS and DCE-MRI score systems were created based on tumor perfusion and vascular characteristics.

Detection of small hepatocellular carcinoma using gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI: Is the addition of diffusion-weighted MRI at 3.0T beneficial?

Objective: To determine whether adding diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to gadoxetic acid-enhanced 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can improve the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), particularly for small lesions (≤2 cm) in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Methods: Data of patients diagnosed with focal liver lesions who had undergone gadoxetic acid-enhanced 3.

In-line phase contrast imaging of hepatic portal vein embolization with radiolucent embolic agents in mice: a preliminary study.

It is crucial to understand the distribution of embolic agents inside target liver during and after the hepatic portal vein embolization (PVE) procedure. For a long time, the problem has not been well solved due to the radiolucency of embolic agents and the resolution limitation of conventional radiography. In this study, we first reported use of fluorescent carboxyl microspheres (FCM) as radiolucent embolic agents for embolizing hepatic portal veins.

CO₂-based in-line phase contrast imaging of small intestine in mice.

The objective of this study was to explore the potential of CO₂ single contrast in-line phase contrast imaging (PCI) for pre-clinical small intestine investigation. The absorption and phase contrast images of CO₂ gas production were attained and compared. A further increase in image contrast was observed in PCI.

[MRI outstands mammogram in sensitivity of breast ductal carcinoma in situ:an analysis of 122 cases].

Objectives: To compare the sensitivity of mammogram and breast dedicated MRI in detecting ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvaion (DCIS-MI) and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) lesions, and to further investigate the independent predictive factors of mammogram and MRI sensitivity.

Methods: From August 2009 to November 2011, 122 consecutive confirmed breast cancer patients who had received operations were recruited for this clinical research. These patients were divided into two groups including DCIS (72 cases) and DCIS-MI (50 cases) based on pathologic reports.

X-ray phase contrast imaging of cell isolation with super-paramagnetic microbeads.

Super-paramagnetic microbeads are widely used for cell isolation. Evaluation of the binding affinity of microbeads to cells using optical microscopy has been limited by its small scope. Here, magnetic property of microbeads was first investigated by using synchrotron radiation (SR) in-line x-ray phase contrast imaging (PCI).

Accuracy of physical examination, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging in predicting response to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Background: Accurate evaluation of response following chemotherapy treatment is essential for surgical decision making in patients with breast cancer. Modalities that have been used to monitor response to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) include physical examination (PE), ultrasound (US), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of PE, US, and MRI in predicting the response to NAC in patients with breast cancer.

Anti-VEGFR2-conjugated PLGA microspheres as an x-ray phase contrast agent for assessing the VEGFR2 expression.

The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using anti-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2)-conjugated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres as an x-ray phase contrast agent to assess the VEGFR2 expression in cell cultures. The cell lines, mouse LLC (Lewis lung carcinoma) and HUVEC (human umbilical vein endothelial cell), were selected for cell adhesion studies. The bound PLGA microspheres were found to better adhere to LLC cells or HUVECs than unbound ones.

Microbubble-based synchrotron radiation phase contrast imaging: basic study and angiography applications.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of microbubbles as phase contrast imaging (PCI) agents for angiography applications. The hypothesis was that the introduction of microbubbles into tissue produces a significant change in the refractive index and highlights the lumen of the vessel in PCI. The absorption and phase contrast images of commercially available microbubbles were obtained and compared in vitro.

MR Imaging of activated hepatic stellate cells in liver injured by CCl4 of rats with integrin-targeted ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide.

Objective: To demonstrate the feasibility of the ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) modified by cyclo (Arg-Gly-Asp-Try-Cys) peptide (c(RGDyC)-USPIO) for targeting hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

Materials And Methods: A c(RGDyC)-USPIO probe was prepared by conjugating c(RGDyC) with USPIO through a thiol-maleinide interaction. The specificity of c(RGDyC)-USPIO for HSCs was investigated in vitro.

Hepatitis B virus-induced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis: the value of liver and spleen volumetry with multi-detector spiral computed tomography.

Objective: To study the correlation of liver and spleen volume with the degree of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis induced by hepatitis B virus infection.

Methods: 128 participants who had undergone liver and spleen volumetry were enrolled. The control group consisted of 41 participants who were potential living liver donors.

Correlation of iron in the hippocampus with MMSE in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Purpose: To investigate the brain iron deposits in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and healthy age-matched controls using phase imaging.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-six AD patients and 24 healthy controls were recruited. A three-dimensional high-resolution, gradient-echo sequence was used to acquire phase data in the coronal plane.

Imaging features of solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas on multi-detector row computed tomography.

Aim: To retrospectively analyze the imaging features of solid-pseudopapillary tumors (SPTs) of the pancreas on multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) and define the imaging findings suggestive of malignant potential.

Methods: A total of 24 consecutive cases with surgically and pathologically confirmed SPTs of the pancreas underwent preoperative abdominal MDCT studies in our hospital. All axial CT images, CT angiographic images, and coronally and sagittally reformed images were obtained.

Feasibility of diagnosing and staging liver fibrosis with diffusion weighted imaging.

Objective: To assess the clinical feasibility of diagnosing and staging liver fibrosis by apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC).

Methods: Totally, 43 patients (mean age 29.3 years) with chronic hepatitis by liver biopsy and 7 healthy controls (mean age 39.

Diffusion tensor imaging correlates with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in posterior cingulate region of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Background/aims: To compare proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) findings in the posterior cingulate regions in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: 17 patients with mild AD, 20 with moderate to severe AD and 20 cognitively normal aging subjects (CN) underwent single-voxel MRS and DTI examinations. A region of interest was positioned in the posterior cingulate regions.

Prevalence and risk factors of knee osteoarthritis in Huang-Pu District, Shanghai, China.

Objectives: A community-based survey on the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis (OA) and associated factors was carried out in Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

Methods: Of 2,305 registered residents >or=40 years of age, 2,093 were examined by interview and questionnaire. One hundred ninety knee pain-positive and 510 knee pain-negative subjects received radiography.