Biodegradable and Excretable 2D W C i-MXene with Vacancy Ordering for Theory-Oriented Cancer Nanotheranostics in Near-Infrared Biowindow.

MXenes, a new class of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, have shown enormous potential for biological applications. Notably, the development of 2D MXenes in nanomedicine is still in its infancy. Herein, a distinct W C i-MXene with multiple theranostic functionalities, fast biodegradation, and satisfactory biocompatibility is explored.

Quantification of myocardial hemorrhage using T2* cardiovascular magnetic resonance at 1.5T with ex-vivo validation.

Background: T2* cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is commonly used in the diagnosis of intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH). For quantifying IMH with T2* CMR, despite the lack of consensus studies, two different methods [subject-specific T2* (ssT2*) and absolute T2* thresholding (aT2* < 20 ms)] are interchangeably used. We examined whether these approaches yield equivalent information.

Co-delivery of nanoparticle and molecular drug by hollow mesoporous organosilica for tumor-activated and photothermal-augmented chemotherapy of breast cancer.

Background: In comparison with traditional therapeutics, it is highly preferable to develop a combinatorial therapeutic modality for nanomedicine and photothermal hyperthermia to achieve safe, efficient, and localized delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs into tumor tissues and exert tumor-activated nanotherapy. Biocompatible organic-inorganic hybrid hollow mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (HMONs) have shown high performance in molecular imaging and drug delivery as compared to other inorganic nanosystems. Disulfiram (DSF), an alcohol-abuse drug, can act as a chemotherapeutic agent according to its recently reported effectiveness for cancer chemotherapy, whose activity strongly depends on copper ions.

Sono-Controllable and ROS-Sensitive CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Editing for Augmented/Synergistic Ultrasound Tumor Nanotherapy.

The potential of the cluster regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated protein 9 (Cas9)-based therapeutic genome editing is severely hampered by the difficulties in precise regulation of the in vivo activity of the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Herein, sono-controllable and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-sensitive sonosensitizer-integrated metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), denoted as P/M@CasMTH1, are developed for augmented sonodynamic therapy (SDT) efficacy using the genome-editing technology. P/M@CasMTH1 nanoparticles comprise singlet oxygen ( O )-generating MOF structures anchored with CRISPR-Cas9 systems via O -cleavable linkers, which serve not only as a delivery vector of CRISPR-Cas9 targeting MTH1, but also as a sonoregulator to spatiotemporally activate the genome editing.

Mitochondria-specific nanocatalysts for chemotherapy-augmented sequential chemoreactive tumor therapy.

Endogenic tumor chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is emerging as a tumor-therapeutic strategy featuring in situ treatments with high efficiency and specificity based on the Fenton reaction principle. Considering the limitation of monotherapy and relatively insufficient intracellular level of endogenous hydrogen peroxide (HO) in tumor tissues, a mitochondria-specific nanocatalyst composed of cisplatin prodrug and gallic acid-ferrous (GA-Fe(II)) nanocomposites is successfully fabricated to fulfill chemotherapy-augmented sequential chemoreactive tumor therapy. The bioactive cisplatin elevates the level of endogenous HO through the activation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX)-related cascaded reactions, and the GA-Fe(II) nanocomposites possessing sustainable Fenton catalytic activity subsequently catalyzes HO into highly reactive and toxic hydroxyl radicals to substantially inhibit tumor progression.

Assessment of Non-contrast-enhanced Dixon Water-fat Separation Compressed Sensing Whole-heart Coronary MR Angiography at 3.0 T: A Single-center Experience.

Rationale And Objectives: The clinical utility of Dixon water-fat separation coronary MR angiography (CMRA) with compressed sensing (CS) reconstruction has not been determined in a patient population. This study was designed to evaluate the performance of 3.0 T non-contrast-enhanced Dixon water-fat separation CS whole-heart CMRA sequence in vitro and in vivo.

Circumferential degree of carotid calcification is associated with new ischemic brain lesions after carotid artery stenting.

Background: The relationship between plaque calcification and new ischemic brain lesions after carotid artery stenting (CAS) remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine if the circumferential degree of carotid calcification is associated with new ischemic brain lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) after CAS.

Methods: A total of 96 patients with carotid stenosis of ≥50% who underwent CAS were enrolled in the study.

SOX18 enhances the proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cells induced by tumor necrosis factor-α via the regulation of Notch1 signaling.

Childhood asthma is a frequent chronic disease of pediatric populations. The excessive proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cells contribute to airway remodeling during asthma pathogenesis. Sex-determining region on the Y chromosome-related high mobility group box 18 (SOX18) has been reported to be over-expressed in asthma.

Whole-tumour evaluation with MRI and radiomics features to predict the efficacy of S-1 for adjuvant chemotherapy in postoperative pancreatic cancer patients: a pilot study.

Background: Multiple guidelines for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) suggest that all stages of patients need to receive postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. S-1 is a recently emerged oral antitumour agent recommended by the guidelines. However, which population would benefit from S-1 needs to be determined, and predictors of chemotherapy response are needed for personalized precision medicine.

Applying Nitroglycerin at Coronary MR Angiography at 1.5 T: Diagnostic Performance of Coronary Vasodilation in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of applying nitroglycerin (NTG) on detecting significant coronary artery disease (CAD) and NTG-induced coronary vasodilation using coronary MR angiography in patients suspected of having CAD.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective study conducted from November 2017 to September 2018, 70 consecutive participants suspected of having CAD were recruited. Of those, 57 patients successfully underwent pre- and post-NTG coronary MR angiography, both of which were performed during the end-systolic phase of the cardiac cycle.

Inorganic chemoreactive nanosonosensitzers with unique physiochemical properties and structural features for versatile sonodynamic nanotherapies.

The fast development of nanomedicine and nanobiotechnology has enabled the emerging of versatile therapeutic modalities with high therapeutic efficiency and biosafety, among which nanosonosensitizer-involved sonodynamic therapy (SDT) employs ultrasound (US) as the exogenous activation source for inducing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and disease therapy. The chemoreactive nanosonosensitizers are the critical components participating in the SDT process, which generally determine the SDT efficiency and therapeutic outcome. Compared to the traditional and mostly explored organic sonosensitizers, the recently developed inorganic chemoreactive nanosonosensitizers feature the distinct high stability, multifunctionality and significantly different SDT mechanism.

Detection of mural inflammation with low b-value diffusion-weighted imaging in patients with active Takayasu Arteritis.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of low b-value diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for detection of inflamed vessels in active Takayasu arteritis (TA).

Methods: Forty patients with active TA involving the thoracic aorta and its super-aortic branches underwent low b-value (50 s/mm) DWI, T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), and delayed enhancement T1-weighted imaging (DEI). Corresponding images on these 3 sequences at the same diseased level were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively using Friedman and Kruskal-Wallis test, and the agreement between them in detection of inflamed vessels was assessed using Cochran's Q test.

Role of free-breathing motion-corrected late gadolinium enhancement technique for image quality assessment and LGE quantification.

Objective: To compare the image quality and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) quantification between free-breathing motion-corrected and conventional breath-hold LGE method in a variety of cardiovascular diseases.

Materials And Methods: 149 consecutive patients underwent contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance examination employing both free-breathing motion-corrected LGE and conventional breath-hold LGE method. Scan time, contrast-to-noise ratio, overall image quality score and LGE mass were measured and analyzed statistically.

Identification of high-risk carotid plaque with MRI-based radiomics and machine learning.

Objectives: We sought to build a high-risk plaque MRI-based model (HRPMM) using radiomics features and machine learning for differentiating symptomatic from asymptomatic carotid plaques.

Materials And Methods: One hundred sixty-two patients with carotid stenosis were randomly divided into training and test cohorts. Multi-contrast MRI including time of flight (TOF), T1- and T2-weighted imaging, and contrast-enhanced imaging was done.

Magnetic resonance morphologic features predict progression of incidental pancreatic cystic lesions during follow-up.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate which morphologic features on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could predict the progression of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) that are suitable for follow-up.

Methods: A total of 2176 MRI findings of PCLs were retrospectively reviewed between January 2009 and December 2016. The study population was composed of 223 patients.

Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: The Utility of Myocardial Strain Based on Cardiac MR Tissue Tracking.

Background: Myocardial strain for assessment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is of importance and may play a role in identifying obstruction in HCM patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the utility of myocardial strain for detecting left ventricular (LV) outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction in HCM patients based on magnetic resonance tissue tracking.

Study Type: Retrospective.

S100A4 overexpression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: imaging biomarkers from whole-tumor evaluation with MRI and texture analysis.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between imaging findings and S100A4 overexpression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and to determine imaging biomarkers of S100A4 overexpression from whole-tumor evaluation with MRI and texture analysis.

Methods: A total of 60 patients with pathologically confirmed PDAC were included in the study. All patients underwent preoperative abdominal contrast-enhanced MRI examination with Magnetom Aera (Siemens Healthcare, Germany, 1.

Comparison of malignancy-prediction efficiency between contrast and non-contract CT-based radiomics features in gastrointestinal stromal tumors: A multicenter study.

This work seeks the development and validation of radiomics signatures from nonenhanced computed tomography (CT, NE-RS) to preoperatively predict the malignancy degree of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and the comparison of these signatures with those from contrast-enhanced CT. A dataset for 370 GIST patients was collected from four centers. This dataset was divided into cohorts for training, as well as internal and external validation.

Free-breathing BLADE acquisition method improves T2-weighted cardiac MR image quality compared with conventional breath-hold turbo spin-echo cartesian acquisition.

Background: Cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) has become an essential diagnostic imaging modality in cardiovascular disease. However, the insufficient image quality of traditional breath-hold (BH) T2-weighted (T2W) imaging may compromise its diagnostic accuracy.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of the BLADE technique to reduce motion artifacts and improve the image quality.

Serum STIP1, a Novel Indicator for Microvascular Invasion, Predicts Outcomes and Treatment Response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Previous studies reported that stress-induced phosphoprotein 1 (STIP1) can be secreted by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and is increased in the serum of HCC patients. However, the therapy-monitoring and prognostic value of serum STIP1 in HCC remains unclear. Here, we aimed to systemically explore the prognostic significance of serum STIP1 in HCC.

High RPS11 level in hepatocellular carcinoma associates with poor prognosis after curative resection.

Background: Ribosomal protein S11 (RPS11), a member of ribosomal protein family, is reported to overexpress in diverse malignancies and correlates with tumor recurrence. However, our current knowledge on RPS11 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains limited. In this study, we are going to explore the potential prognostic value of RPS11 in HCC patients after curative resection.

A self-assembled carrier-free nanosonosensitizer for photoacoustic imaging-guided synergistic chemo-sonodynamic cancer therapy.

As one of the most promising noninvasive therapeutic modalities, sonodynamic therapy (SDT) can focus the ultrasound energy on tumor sites located in deep tissue and locally activate the preloaded sonosensitizer to kill tumor cells. However, exploring sonosensitizers with high SDT efficacy and desirable biosafety is still a significant challenge. Herein, we utilized the hydrophilic-hydrophobic self-assembly technology to assemble the hydrophobic organic dye Ce6 and broad spectral anti-cancer agent Paclitaxel with hydrophilic organic dye IR783 to generate a nanoscale sonosensitizer, Ce6-PTX@IR783, without the introduction of extra nanomaterials into the fabrication to guarantee high therapeutic biosafety and further potential clinical translation.

Personalized CT-based radiomics nomogram preoperative predicting Ki-67 expression in gastrointestinal stromal tumors: a multicenter development and validation cohort.

Background And Aim: To develop and validate radiomic prediction models using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) to preoperatively predict Ki-67 expression in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).

Method: A total of 339 GIST patients from four centers were categorized into the training, internal validation, and external validation cohort. By filtering unstable features, minimum redundancy, maximum relevance, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) algorithm, a radiomic signature was built to predict the malignant potential of GISTs.

Effect of Pulsed Focused Ultrasound on the Native Pancreas.

Pulsed focused ultrasound (pFUS) utilizes short cycles of sound waves to mechanically shake cells within tissues which, in turn, causes transient local increases in cytokines, growth factors and cell adhesion molecules. Although the effect of pFUS has been investigated in several different organs including the kidney, muscle and heart, its effect on the pancreas has not been investigated. In the present work, we applied pFUS to the rodent pancreas with the following parameters: 1.

Improving the Function and Engraftment of Transplanted Pancreatic Islets Using Pulsed Focused Ultrasound Therapy.

This study demonstrates that pulsed focused ultrasound (pFUS) therapy can non-invasively enhance the function and engraftment of pancreatic islets following transplantation. In vitro, we show that islets treated with pFUS at low (peak negative pressure (PNP): 106kPa, spatial peak temporal peak intensity (I): 0.71 W/cm), medium (PNP: 150kPa, I: 1.