Coupled Effect of Nutritional Food Molecules and Surface Protein Interaction on the Bacterial Gastrointestinal Tolerance.

which is present in fermented foods, can produce LPxTG motif proteins (LMPs) to help the strain resist gastrointestinal fluid environmental stress and enhance the adherence and colonizing properties. Intestinal nutrient small molecules can interact with LMPs and cooperate with to exert probiotic effects in the host intestine. However, the mechanism of their correlation with gastrointestinal tolerance needs to be further studied.

Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI nomogram model to differentiate hepatocellular carcinoma and focal nodular hyperplasia both showing iso- or hyperintensity in the hepatobiliary phase.

Background: To develop and validate a nomogram model based on Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI for differentiation between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) showing iso- or hyperintensity in the hepatobiliary phase (HBP).

Methods: A total of 75 patients with 49 HCCs and 26 FNHs randomly divided into a training cohort (n = 52: 34 HCC; 18 FNH) and an internal validation cohort (n = 23: 15 HCC; 8 FNH). A total of 37 patients (n = 37: 25 HCC; 12 FNH) acted as an external test cohort.

Radiomics analysis of lesion-specific pericoronary adipose tissue to predict major adverse cardiovascular events in coronary artery disease.

Objective: To investigate the prognostic performance of radiomics analysis of lesion-specific pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) with the guidance of CT derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) in coronary artery disease (CAD).

Materials And Methods: The study retrospectively analyzed 608 CAD patients who underwent coronary CT angiography. Lesion-specific PCAT was determined by the lowest CT-FFR value and 1691 radiomic features were extracted.

Clinical‑imaging‑radiomic nomogram based on unenhanced CT effectively predicts adrenal metastases in patients with lung cancer with small hyperattenuating adrenal incidentalomas.

The aim of the present study was to develop and evaluate a clinical-imaging-radiomic nomogram based on pre-enhanced computed tomography (CT) for pre-operative differentiation lipid-poor adenomas (LPAs) from metastases in patients with lung cancer with small hyperattenuating adrenal incidentalomas (AIs). A total of 196 consecutive patients with lung cancer, who underwent initial chest or abdominal pre-enhanced CT scan with small hyperattenuating AIs, were included. The patients were randomly divided into a training cohort with 71 cases of LPAs and 66 cases of metastases, and a testing cohort with 31 cases of LPAs and 28 cases of metastases.

Arterial spin labeling combined with T1 mapping for assessment of kidney function and histopathology in patients with long-term renal transplant survival after kidney transplantation.

Background: The long-term survival of kidney transplants is often influenced by various factors, among which renal allograft rejection is the most notable factor. A noninvasive and reliable imaging biomarker correlating with kidney function and histopathology would facilitate longitudinal long-term follow-up of renal allografts. The aim of the study is to investigate the value of arterial spin labeling (ASL) combined with T1 mapping for assessing kidney function in patients with long-term renal transplant survival, and to establish radiological and histopathologic correlations between the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements and kidney allograft biopsy findings.

Quorum sensing effect of chiral d-glutamine on the modulation of the intestinal microbiota of mice by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum A3.

Background: Amino acids (AAs) are the building blocks of proteins, but they also serve as biological compounds in biochemical processes, and d-AA isomers are increasingly being recognized as important signaling molecules. As the main organic substrate used by cells in the intestinal tract, the role of the chiral specificity of glutamine is still largely ignored.

Results: In a previous study, we found that d-glutamine affected the quorum sensing of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum A3, promoted the release of signaling molecule AI-2 and up-regulated the expression of the LuxS gene.

Radiomics Analysis to Predict Lymphovascular Invasion of Gastric Cancer Based on Iodine-Based Material Decomposition Images and Virtual Monoenergetic Images.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the utility of virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) and iodine-based material decomposition images (IMDIs) in the assessment of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in gastric cancer (GC) patients.

Methods: A total of 103 GC patients who underwent dual-energy spectral computed tomography preoperatively were enrolled. The LVI status was confirmed by pathological analysis.

Assessment of Cerebral White Matter Involvement in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients With Disease Progression and Cognitive Impairment by Fixel-Based Analysis and Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging.

Background: Previous studies using emerging diffusion MRI techniques have revealed damage to the white matter (WM) microstructure in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), particularly the influence of crossed fibers, but there is a lack of subgroup analyses.

Purpose: To detect WM microstructural changes in ALS patients using fixel-based analysis (FBA) and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) MRI.

Study Type: Prospective.

The Use of Diffusion Tensor Imaging in the Identification of Acute Rejection and Chronic Allograft Nephropathy After Renal Transplantation.

Background: Identifying the cause of renal allograft dysfunction is important for the clinical management of kidney transplant recipients.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for identifying allografts with acute rejection (AR) and chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN).

Study Type: Prospective.

An Assessment of the Pathological Classification and Postoperative Outcome of Focal Cortical Dysplasia by Simultaneous Hybrid PET/MRI.

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to investigate whether MRI and Simultaneous Hybrid PET/MRI images were consistent in the histological classification of patients with focal cortical dysplasia. Additionally, this research aimed to evaluate the postoperative outcomes with the MRI and Simultaneous Hybrid PET/MRI images of focal cortical dysplasia.

Methods: A total of 69 cases in this research were evaluated preoperatively for drug-resistant seizures, and then surgical resection procedures of the epileptogenic foci were performed.

Dual-energy CT in assessment of thrombus perviousness and its application in predicting outcomes after intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of using iodine overlay maps reconstructed from dual-energy CT (DECT) to assess thrombus perviousness and investigate its value in predicting outcomes after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Method: 86 patients with proximal intracranial occlusions of the anterior circulation who underwent intravenous thrombolysis were included in this study. Thrombus iodine concentrations (IC) and normalized iodine concentrations (NIC) were compared to conventional perviousness parameters (thrombus attenuation increase, TAI; void fraction, ε and CTA-index).

The added value of radiomics from dual-energy spectral CT derived iodine-based material decomposition images in predicting histological grade of gastric cancer.

Background: The histological differentiation grades of gastric cancer (GC) are closely related to treatment choices and prognostic evaluation. Radiomics from dual-energy spectral CT (DESCT) derived iodine-based material decomposition (IMD) images may have the potential to reflect histological grades.

Methods: A total of 103 patients with pathologically proven GC (low-grade in 40 patients and high-grade in 63 patients) who underwent preoperative DESCT were enrolled in our study.

Preoperative Diagnosis of Dual-Phenotype Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Enhanced MRI Radiomics Models.

Background: Dual-phenotype hepatocellular carcinoma (DPHCC) is highly aggressive and difficult to distinguish from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Purpose: To develop and validate clinical and radiomics models based on contrast-enhanced MRI for the preoperative diagnosis of DPHCC.

Study Type: Retrospective.

Application of mammography-based radiomics signature for preoperative prediction of triple-negative breast cancer.

Objective: This study is aimed to explore the value of mammography-based radiomics signature for preoperative prediction of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Materials And Methods: Initially, the clinical and X-ray data of patients (n = 319, age of 54 ± 14) with breast cancer (triple-negative-65, non-triple-negative-254) from the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (n = 211, as a training set) and Suzhou Municipal Hospital (n = 108, as a verification set) from January 2018 to February 2021 are retrospectively analyzed. Comparing the mediolateral oblique (MLO) and cranial cauda (CC) mammography images, the mammography images with larger lesion areas are selected, and the image segmentation and radiomics feature extraction are then performed by the MaZda software.

Preliminary Findings on the Potential Use of Magnetic Resonance Elastography to Diagnose Lacunar Infarction.

Purpose: Lacunar infarction is usually diagnosed by conventional technologies, such as CT and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). To improve the accuracy of diagnosis, neurocognitive screening is still needed. Therefore, additional imaging methods that can assist and provide more accurate and rapid diagnostics are urgently needed.

Amino Acid-Derived Quorum Sensing Molecule Alanine on the Gastrointestinal Tract Tolerance of the Strains in the Cocultured Fermentation Model.

More and more people are aware of the importance of intestinal flora to human health, and people are interested in the regulation of intestinal flora and its interaction with the host. The survival status of the probiotics in the gastrointestinal environment and the microbial interactions between the lactic acid bacteria have also received considerable attention. In this study, the gastrointestinal environment tolerance, adhesion ability, and biofilm formation of the strain in the coculture system were explored through the real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR, UPLC-MS/MS metabolic profiling analysis, and Live/Dead BacLight cell staining methods.

Adhesion properties of cell surface proteins in Lactobacillus strains in the GIT environment.

As a broadly defined member of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), the Lactobacillus strain is well characterized in food fermentation and specific strains can enhance the intestinal barrier function and be recognized as the probiotic strain. In recent years, many molecules of the cell surface are thought to be related to the adhesion property in the gastrointestinal mucosa. Mucus layer-related proteins, extracellular matrix proteins, and immunoglobulins also exhibit immunity regulation and protection of the intestinal epithelial barrier function.

Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI radiomics to predict vessels encapsulating tumor clusters (VETC) and patient prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objectives: The study was to develop a Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI radiomics model for preoperative prediction of VETC and patient prognosis in hepatocellular cancer (HCC).

Methods: The study included 182 (training cohort: 128; validation cohort: 54) HCC patients who underwent preoperative Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI. Volumes of interest including intratumoral and peritumoral regions were manually delineated in the hepatobiliary phase images, from which 1316 radiomics features were extracted.

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis in an AMA-M2 positive patient: A case report.

Background: Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is hard to diagnose because of nonspecific symptoms and signs. It is a general consensus that EPS is classified as primary and secondary. There have been several studies discovering some high-risk factors such as liver cirrhosis, of which AMA-M2 is a biomarker, and intra-abdominal surgery such as laparoscopic surgery.

Differentiation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma from Hepatic Hemangioma and Focal Nodular Hyperplasia using Computed Tomographic Spectral Imaging.

Background And Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary hepatic malignancy. This study was designed to investigate the value of computed tomography (CT) spectral imaging in differentiating HCC from hepatic hemangioma (HH) and focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH).

Methods: This was a retrospective study of 51 patients who underwent spectral multiple-phase CT at 40-140 keV during the arterial phase (AP) and portal venous phase (PP).

Radiomic analysis of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI predicts Ki-67 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Nuclear protein Ki-67 indicates the status of cell proliferation and has been regarded as an attractive biomarker for the prognosis of HCC. The aim of this study is to investigate which radiomics model derived from different sequences and phases of gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MRI was superior to predict Ki-67 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), then further to validate the optimal model for preoperative prediction of Ki-67 expression in HCC.

Methods: This retrospective study included 151 (training cohort: n = 103; validation cohort: n = 48) pathologically confirmed HCC patients.

Texture Analysis Based on Gd-EOB-DTPA-Enhanced MRI for Identifying Vessels Encapsulating Tumor Clusters (VETC)-Positive Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: To determine the potential findings associated with vessels encapsulating tumor clusters (VETC)-positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with particular emphasis on texture analysis based on gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MRI.

Methods: Eighty-one patients with VETC-negative HCC and 52 patients with VETC-positive HCC who underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI before curative partial hepatectomy were retrospectively evaluated in our institution. MRI texture analysis was performed on arterial phase (AP) and hepatobiliary phase (HBP) images.

Imaging features based on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI for predicting vessels encapsulating tumor clusters (VETC) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: To investigate the non-invasive prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with vessels encapsulating tumor clusters (VETC) based on qualitative and quantitative imaging features of gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MRI.

Methods: 109 patients with pathologically confirmed HCC who underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI and immunochemical staining for CD34 were retrospectively evaluated in our institution (the first affiliated hospital of Soochow university). Pre-operative imaging features of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI were qualitatively and quantitatively reviewed by radiologists.

Nomogram to identify severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) based on initial clinical and CT characteristics: a multi-center study.

Background: To develop and validate a nomogram for early identification of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) based on initial clinical and CT characteristics.

Methods: The initial clinical and CT imaging data of 217 patients with COVID-19 were analyzed retrospectively from January to March 2020. Two hundred seventeen patients with 146 mild cases and 71 severe cases were randomly divided into training and validation cohorts.