Intra-individual comparison of therapeutic responses to vascular disrupting agent CA4P between rodent primary and secondary liver cancers.

Aim: To compare therapeutic responses of a vascular-disrupting-agent, combretastatin-A4-phosphate (CA4P), among hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and implanted rhabdomyosarcoma (R1) in the same rats by magnetic-resonance-imaging (MRI), microangiography and histopathology.

Methods: Thirty-six HCCs were created by diethylnitrosamine gavage in 14 rats that were also intrahepatically implanted with one R1 per rat as monitored by T2-/T1-weighted images (T2WI/T1WI) on a 3.0T clinical MRI-scanner.

Novel F-Labeled 1-Hydroxyanthraquinone Derivatives for Necrotic Myocardium Imaging.

Rapid detection and precise evaluation of myocardial viability is necessary to aid in clinical decision making whether to recommend revascularization for patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Three novel F-labeled 1-hydroxyanthraquinone derivatives were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated as potential necrosis avid imaging agents for assessment of myocardial viability. Among these tracers, [F]FA3OP emerged as the most promising compound with best stability and highest targetability.

Differential diagnosis of gallstones by using hypericin as a fluorescent optical imaging agent.

Aim: To explore the feasibility of using hypericin as an optical imaging probe with affinity for cholesterol for differential fluorescent detection of human gallstones.

Methods: Cholesterol, mixed and pigment stones from cholecystectomy patients were incubated with hypericin or solvent. After 72 h, the stones were analysed for fluorescence (365 nm) and treated with 2-propanol/dimethyl sulfoxide for high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis.

Separate calculation of DW-MRI in assessing therapeutic effect in liver tumors in rats.

Aim: To explore whether the antitumor effect of a vascular disrupting agent (VDA) would be enhanced by combining with an antiangiogenic agent, and whether such synergistic effects can be effectively evaluated with separate calculation of diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI).

Methods: Thirty-seven rats with implanted liver tumors were randomized into the following three groups: (1) ZD6126, a kind of VDA; (2) ZDTHA, ZD6126 in combination with an antiangiogenic, thalidomide; and (3) control. Morphological DW-MRI were performed and quantified before, 4 h and 2 d after treatment.

[Magnetic resonance characteristics of endometriosis rat model].

Objective: To establish a non-invasive, repeatable and dynamic study method in endometriosis rat model using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in order to explore the magnetic resonance characteristics of the model.

Method: Endometrium tissues were transplanted into left abdominal walls of unmated adult female SD rats. After surgery, pathological changes were observed and MRI scanning was made for the ectopic lesions.

Magnetic resonance diffusion-perfusion mismatch in acute ischemic stroke: An update.

The concept of magnetic resonance perfusion-diffusion mismatch (PDM) provides a practical and approximate measure of the tissue at risk and has been increasingly applied for the evaluation of hyperacute and acute stroke in animals and patients. Recent studies demonstrated that PDM does not optimally define the ischemic penumbra; because early abnormality on diffusion-weighted imaging overestimates the infarct core by including part of the penumbra, and the abnormality on perfusion weighted imaging overestimates the penumbra by including regions of benign oligemia. To overcome these limitations, many efforts have been made to optimize conventional PDM.

Spiral CT in gastric carcinoma: comparison with barium study, fiberoptic gastroscopy and histopathology.

Aim: To evaluate spiral computed tomography (CT) including virtual gastroscopy for diagnosis of gastric carcinoma in comparison with upper gastrointestinal series (UGI), fiberoptic gastroscopy (FG) and histopathology.

Methods: Sixty patients with histologically proven gastric carcinoma (54 advanced and 6 early) were included in this study. The results of spiral CT were compared with those of UGI and FG.