Machine Learning-Based Radiomics for Prediction of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutations in Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Identifying an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation is important because EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors are the first-line treatment of choice for patients with EGFR mutation-positive lung adenocarcinomas (LUAC). This study is aimed at developing and validating a radiomics-based machine learning (ML) approach to identify EGFR mutations in patients with LUAC. We retrospectively collected data from 201 patients with positive EGFR mutation LUAC (140 in the training cohort and 61 in the validation cohort).

Stimulation of DC-CIK with PADI4 Protein Can Significantly Elevate the Therapeutic Efficiency in Esophageal Cancer.

Background: PADI4 has extensive expression in many tumors. This study applied PADI4 as a tumor marker to stimulate DC- (dendritic cell-) CIK (cytokine-induced killer), an immunotherapy approach.

Methods: A PADI4 expression plasmid was transfected into EC-originating ECA-109 cells.

ARHGEF10L contributes to liver tumorigenesis through RhoA-ROCK1 signaling and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Aberrant activity of Rho small G-proteins and their regulators plays an important role in tumorigenesis. Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 10-Like (ARHGEF10L) is a member of the RhoGEF family that promotes the active GTP-bound state of Rho GTPases. This study used the Illumina GoldenGate microassay, Sequenom MassARRAY and TaqMan to analyze possible correlations between tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (tag SNPs) in the ARHGEF10L locus and various tumor risks.

A retrospective case series of segmental zoster paresis of limbs: clinical, electrophysiological and imaging characteristics.

Background: Segmental zoster paresis (SZP) of limbs, characterized by focal weakness of extremity, is recognized as a rare complication of herpes zoster (HZ). The following study analyzes the clinical characteristics and data from electromyography and MRI scans in patients with motor weakness after zoster infection.

Methods: One thousand three hundred ninety-three patients from our database (Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital) suffering from HZ were retrospectively reviewed from June 2015 to July 2017.

Evaluation of optimized magnetic resonance perfusion imaging scanning time window after contrast agent injection for differentiating benign and malignant breast lesions.

The aim of the study was evaluate the 3.0 T magnetic resonance (MR) perfusion imaging scanning time window following contrast injection for differentiating benign and malignant breast lesions and to determine the optimum scanning time window for increased scanner usage efficiency and reduced diagnostic adverse risk factors. A total of 52 women with breast abnormalities were selected for conventional MR imaging and T1 dynamic-enhanced imaging.

Robust Retinal Blood Vessel Segmentation Based on Reinforcement Local Descriptions.

Retinal blood vessels segmentation plays an important role for retinal image analysis. In this paper, we propose robust retinal blood vessel segmentation method based on reinforcement local descriptions. A novel line set based feature is firstly developed to capture local shape information of vessels by employing the length prior of vessels, which is robust to intensity variety.

Pure Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Approach for Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas in the Elderly: Surgical Outcomes and Complications in 158 Patients.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach (EETA) for nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) in the elderly population.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of operative cases over a 7-year period, in which 158 elderly patients (age 65 years and older) who underwent a pure EETA to remove a pituitary adenoma were identified and compared with a series of 155 younger patients (age 40-55 years) who underwent the same procedure during the same period. The medical charts of the patients were reviewed to collect demographic information, such as age, sex, clinical symptoms, tumor size, the extent of tumor resection, clinical outcome, and complications.

Quantitative analysis of 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging in the differential diagnosis of breast lesions.

The aim of this study was to investigate the value of quantitative 3-Tesla (3T) magnetic resonance (MR) assessment in the diagnosis of breast lesions. A total of 44 patients with breast lesions were selected. All the patients underwent MR plain scanning and T1 dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging.

Quantitative emphysema assessment of pulmonary function impairment by computed tomography in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the capability of quantitative emphysema by computed tomography (CT) to assess pulmonary function impairment in a population of current smokers with and without airflow limitation.

Methods: Seventy-six subjects (30 normal smokers; 8 with mild obstruction; 17 with moderate obstruction; 13 with severe obstruction; 8 with very severe obstruction) underwent CT examinations and pulmonary function tests. For the quantitative assessment, percentages of low attenuation volume (%LAVs) of whole lung, right lung, left lung, and each lobe were obtained.