Predictive value of magnetic resonance imaging parameters combined with tumor markers for rectal cancer recurrence risk after surgery

BACKGROUND An increasing number of studies to date have found preoperative magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)features valuable in predicting the prognosis of rectal cancer(RC).However,research is still lacking on the correlation between preoperative MRI features and the risk of recurrence after radical resection of RC,urgently necessitating further in-depth exploration.AIM To investigate the correlation between preoperative MRI parameters and the risk of recurrence after radical resection of RC to provide an effective tool for predicting postoperative recurrence.METHODS The data of 90 patients who were diagnosed with RC by surgical pathology and underwent radical surgical resection at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University between May 2020 and December 2023 were collected through retrospective analysis.General demographic data,MRI data,and tumor markers levels were collected.According to the reviewed data of patients six months after surgery,the clinicians comprehensively assessed the recurrence risk and divided the patients into high recurrence risk(37 cases)and low recurrence risk(53 cases)groups.Independent sample t-test andχ2 test were used to analyze differences between the two groups.A logistic regression model was used to explore the risk factors of the high recurrence risk group,and a clinical prediction model was constructed.The clinical prediction model is presented in the form of a nomogram.The receiver operating characteristic curve,Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test,calibration curve,and decision curve analysis were used to evaluate the efficacy of the clinical prediction model.RESULTS The detection of positive extramural vascular invasion through preoperative MRI[odds ratio(OR)=4.29,P=0.045],along with elevated carcinoembryonic antigen(OR=1.08,P=0.041),carbohydrate antigen 125(OR=1.19,P=0.034),and carbohydrate antigen 199(OR=1.27,P<0.001)levels,are independent risk factors for increased postoperative recurrence risk in patients with RC.Furthermore,there was a correlation between magnetic resonance based T staging,magnetic resonance based N staging,and circumferential resection margin results determined by MRI and the postoperative recurrence risk.Additionally,when extramural vascular invasion was integrated with tumor markers,the resulting clinical prediction model more effectively identified patients at high risk for postoperative recurrence,thereby providing robust support for clinical decision-making.CONCLUSION The results of this study indicate that preoperative MRI detection is of great importance for predicting the risk of postoperative recurrence in patients with RC.Monitoring these markers helps clinicians identify patients at high risk,allowing for more aggressive treatment and monitoring strategies to improve patient outcomes.

Pre-operative enhanced magnetic resonance imaging combined with clinical features predict early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after radical resection

BACKGROUND Indentifying predictive factors for postoperative recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)has great significance for patient prognosis.AIM To explore the value of gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid(Gd-EOB-DTPA)enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)combined with clinical features in predicting early recurrence of HCC after resection.METHODS A total of 161 patients with pathologically confirmed HCC were enrolled.The patients were divided into early recurrence and non-early recurrence group based on the follow-up results.The clinical,laboratory,pathological results and Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI imaging features were analyzed.RESULTS Of 161 patients,73 had early recurrence and 88 were had non-early recurrence.Univariate analysis showed that patient age,gender,serum alpha-fetoprotein level,the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage,China liver cancer(CNLC)stage,microvascular invasion(MVI),pathological satellite focus,tumor size,tumor number,tumor boundary,tumor capsule,intratumoral necrosis,portal vein tumor thrombus,large vessel invasion,nonperipheral washout,peritumoral enhancement,hepatobiliary phase(HBP)/tumor signal intensity(SI)/peritumoral SI,HBP peritumoral low signal and peritumoral delay enhancement were significantly associated with early recurrence of HCC after operation.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that patient age,MVI,CNLC stage,tumor boundary and large vessel invasion were independent predictive factors.External data validation indicated that the area under the curve of the combined predictors was 0.861,suggesting that multivariate logistic regression was a reasonable predictive model for early recurrence of HCC.CONCLUSION Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI combined with clinical features would help predicting the early recurrence of HCC after operation.

Faecal calprotectin and magnetic resonance imaging in detecting Crohn's disease endoscopic postoperative recurrence

AIM To assess magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and faecal calprotectin to detect endoscopic postoperative recurrence in patients with Crohn's disease(CD).METHODS From two tertiary centers, all patients with CD who underwent ileocolonic resection were consecutively and prospectively included. All the patients underwent MRI and endoscopy within the first year after surgery or after the restoration of intestinal continuity [median = 6 mo(5.0-9.3)]. The stools were collected the day before the colonoscopy to evaluate faecal calprotectin level. Endoscopic postoperative recurrence(POR) was defined as Rutgeerts' index ≥ i2b. The MRI was analyzed independently by two radiologists blinded from clinical data.RESULTS Apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC) was lower in patients with endoscopic POR compared to those with no recurrence(2.03 ± 0.32 vs 2.27 ± 0.38 × 10^(-3) mm^2/s, P = 0.032). Clermont score(10.4 ± 5.8 vs 7.4 ± 4.5, P = 0.038) and relative contrast enhancement(RCE)(129.4% ± 62.8% vs 76.4% ± 32.6%, P = 0.007) were significantly associated with endoscopic POR contrary to the magnetic resonance index of activity(Ma RIA)(7.3 ± 4.5 vs 4.8 ± 3.7; P = 0.15) and MR scoring system(P = 0.056). ADC < 2.35 × 10^(-3) mm^2/s [sensitivity = 0.85, specificity = 0.65, positive predictive value(PPV) = 0.85, negative predictive value(NPV) = 0.65] and RCE > 100%(sensitivity = 0.75, specificity = 0.81, PPV = 0.75, NPV = 0.81) were the best cutoff values to identify endoscopic POR. Clermont score > 6.4(sensitivity = 0.61, specificity = 0.82, PPV = 0.73, NPV = 0.74), Ma RIA > 3.76(sensitivity = 0.61, specificity = 0.82, PPV = 0.73, NPV = 0.74) and a MR scoring system ≥ MR1(sensitivity = 0.54, specificity = 0.82, PPV = 0.70, and NPV = 0.70) demonstrated interesting performances to detect endoscopic POR. Faecal calprotectin values were significantly higher in patients with endoscopic POR(114 ± 54.5 μg/g vs 354.8 ± 432.5 μg/g; P = 0.0075). Faecal calprotectin > 100 μg/g demonstrated high performances to detect endoscopic POR(sensitivity = 0.67, specificity = 0.93, PPV = 0.89 and NPV = 0.77).CONCLUSION Faecal calprotectin and MRI are two reliable tools to detect endoscopic POR in patients with CD.

Medical imaging for the diagnosis,recurrence and metastasis evaluation of clear cell sarcoma

Clear cell sarcoma(CCS)of soft tissue is extremely rare,accounting for approximately 1%of all soft tissue tumours.It is very difficult to diagnose CCS based on clinical manifestations.Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)provides highresolution images of soft tissues and pathological features such as mucus,necrosis,bleeding,and fat through high and low signals on T1 weighted image(T1WI)and T2 weighted image(T2WI).On the other hand,the paramagnetism of melanin in CCS shortens the relaxation time of T1 and T2,and high signal intensity on T1WI and low signal intensity on T2WI can be found.This is different from most other soft tissue sarcomas.At present,the treatment method for CCS is surgical resection.MRI can effectively display the tumour edge,extent of surrounding oedema,and extent of fat involvement,which is highly important for guiding surgical resection and predicting postoperative recurrence.As an invasive sarcoma,CCS has a high risk of metastasis.Regardless of the pathological condition of the resected tumour,MRI or computed tomography(CT)should be performed every 1-2 years to assess recurrence at the primary site and to screen for metastasis in the lungs,liver,and bones.If necessary,PET-CT can be performed to evaluate the overall condition of the patient.

Temporal dynamics of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy injuries on magnetic resonance imaging

Moderate to severe perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy occurs in~1 to 3/1000 live births in high-income countries and is associated with a significant risk of death or neurodevelopmental disability.Detailed assessment is important to help identify highrisk infants,to help families,and to support appropriate interventions.A wide range of monitoring tools is available to assess changes over time,including urine and blood biomarkers,neurological examination,and electroencephalography.At present,magnetic resonance imaging is unique as although it is expensive and not suited to monitoring the early evolution of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy by a week of life it can provide direct insight into the anatomical changes in the brain after hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and so offers strong prognostic information on the long-term outcome after hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.This review investigated the temporal dynamics of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy injuries,with a particular emphasis on exploring the correlation between the prognostic implications of magnetic resonance imaging scans in the first week of life and their relationship to long-term outcome prediction,particularly for infants treated with therapeutic hypothermia.A comprehensive literature search,from 2016 to 2024,identified 20 pertinent articles.This review highlights that while the optimal timing of magnetic resonance imaging scans is not clear,overall,it suggests that magnetic resonance imaging within the first week of life provides strong prognostic accuracy.Many challenges limit the timing consistency,particularly the need for intensive care and clinical monitoring.Conversely,although most reports examined the prognostic value of scans taken between 4 and 10 days after birth,there is evidence from small numbers of cases that,at times,brain injury may continue to evolve for weeks after birth.This suggests that in the future it will be important to explore a wider range of times after hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy to fully understand the optimal timing for predicting long-term outcomes.

Imaging presentation and postoperative recurrence of peliosis hepatis: A case report

BACKGROUND Peliosis hepatis(PH)is a rare benign lesion of vascular origin with a pathological characteristic of multiple blood-filled cavities in the liver parenchyma.It is commonly misdiagnosed due to its lack of specificity in clinical presentation and laboratory test results.Herein,a case of a patient with PH who was misdiagnosed with hepatic echinococcosis before operation to remove the lesions was analyzed,with an emphasis on the computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of PH.CASE SUMMARY We outline the case of a 40-year-old Chinese female who was admitted with aggravated abdominal pain with fever for 1 wk.Ultrasound examination at the local hospital indicated hepatic echinococcosis.However,discordance between imaging diagnosis,clinical history and laboratory examinations in our hospital.Subsequently,the patient was pathologically confirmed as having PH-like changes,which recurred 1 year after operation removal of the lesion.CONCLUSION Our objective is to highlight the imaging diagnostic value of PH.

Intrahepatic distant recurrence following complete radiofrequency ablation of small hepatocellular carcinoma: risk factors and early MRI evaluation

BACKGROUND： Radiofrequency ablation （RFA） is related to a high intrahepatic distant recurrence （IDR） rate, and the associations between IDR and relevant imaging features have not yet been fully investigated. This study aimed to determine both clinical and imaging risk factors of IDR after complete RFA for HBV-related small hepatoceUular carcinoma （HCC） （〈3 cm）.

Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging of liver: Principles, clinical applications and recent updates

Diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI), a functional imaging technique exploiting the Brownian motion of water molecules, is increasingly shown to have value in various oncological and non-oncological applications. Factors such as the ease of acquisition and ability to obtain functional information in the absence of intravenous contrast, especially in patients with abnormal renal function, have contributed to the growing interest in exploring clinical applications of DWI. In the liver, DWI demonstrates a gamut of clinical applications ranging from detecting focal liver lesions to monitoring response in patients undergoing serial follow-up after loco-regional and systemic therapies. DWI is also being applied in the evaluation of diffuse liver diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. In this review, we intend to review the basic principles, technique, current clinical applications and future trends of DW-MRI in the liver.

Role of dynamic perfusion magnetic resonance imaging in patients with local advanced rectal cancer

BACKGROUND The management of rectal cancer patients is mainly based on the use of the magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)technique as a diagnostic tool for both staging and restaging.After treatment,to date,the evaluation of complete response is based on the histopathology assessment by using different tumor regression grade(TRG)features(e.g.,Dworak or Mandard classifications).While from the radiological point of view,the main attention for the prediction of a complete response after chemotherapy treatment focuses on MRI and the potential role of diffusion-weighted images and perfusion imaging represented by dynamiccontrast enhanced MRI.The main aim is to find a reliable tool to predict tumor response in comparison to histopathologic findings.AIM To investigate the value of dynamic contrast-enhanced perfusion-MRI parameters in the evaluation of the healthy rectal wall and tumor response to chemo-radiation therapy in patients with local advanced rectal cancer with histopathologic correlation.METHODS Twenty-eight patients with biopsy-proven rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent a dynamic contrast-enhanced MR study performed on a 1.5 T MRI system(Achieva,Philips),before(MR1)and after chemoradiation therapy(MR2),were enrolled in this study.The protocol included T1 gadolinium enhanced THRIVE sequences acquired on axial planes.A dedicated workstation was used to generate color permeability maps.Region of interest was manually drawn on tumor tissue and normal rectal wall,hence the following parameters were calculated and statistically analyzed:Relative arterial enhancement(RAE),relative venous enhancement(RVE),relative late enhancement(RLE),maximum enhancement(ME),time to peak and area under the curve(AUC).Perfusion parameters were related to pathologic TRG(Mandard’s criteria;TRG1=complete regression,TRG5=no regression).RESULTS Ten tumors(36%)showed complete or subtotal regression(TRG1-2)at histology and classified as responders;18 tumors(64%)were classified as non-responders(TRG3-5).Perfusion MRI parameters were significantly higher in the tumor tissue than in the healthy tissue in MR1(P<0.05).At baseline(MR1),no significant difference in perfusion parameters was found between responders and nonresponders.After chemo-radiation therapy,at MR2,responders showed significantly(P<0.05)lower perfusion values[RAE(%)54±20;RVE(%)73±24;RLE(%):82±29;ME(%):904±429]compared to non-responders[RAE(%):129±45;RVE(%):154±39;RLE(%):164±35;ME(%):1714±427].Moreover,in responders group perfusion values decreased significantly at MR2[RAE(%):54±20;RVE(%):73±24;RLE(%):82±29;ME(%):904±429]compared to the corresponding perfusion values at MR1[RAE(%):115±21;RVE(%):119±21;RLE(%):111±74;ME(%):1060±325];(P<0.05).Concerning the time-intensity curves,the AUC at MR2 showed significant difference(P=0.03)between responders and non-responders[AUC(mm2×10-3)121±50 vs 258±86],with lower AUC values of the tumor tissue in responders compared to nonresponders.In non-responders,there were no significant differences between perfusion values at MR1 and MR2.CONCLUSION Dynamic contrast perfusion-MRI analysis represents a complementary diagnostic tool for identifying vascularity characteristics of tumor tissue in local advanced rectal cancer,useful in the assessment of treatment response.

Engineered magnetic core shell nanoprobes:Synthesis and applications to cancer imaging and therapeutics

Magnetic core shell nanoparticles are composed of a highly magnetic core material surrounded by a thin shell of desired drug, polymer or metal oxide. These magnetic core shell nanoparticles have a wide range of applications in biomedical research, more specifically in tissue imaging, drug delivery and therapeutics. The present review discusses the up-to-date knowledge on the various procedures for synthesis of magnetic core shell nanoparticles along with their applications in cancer imaging, drug delivery and hyperthermia or cancer therapeutics. Literature in this area shows that magnetic core shell nanoparticle-based imaging, drug targeting and therapy through hyperthermia can potentially be a powerful tool for the advanced diagnosis and treatment of various cancers.

Gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acidenhanced magnetic resonance imaging for evaluating fibrosis regression in chronic hepatitis C patients after direct-acting antiviral

BACKGROUND Direct acting antiviral(DAA)therapy has enabled hepatitis C virus infection to become curable,while histological changes remain uncontained.Few valid noninvasive methods can be confirmed for use in surveillance.Gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid(Gd-EOB-DTPA)is a liver-specific magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)contrast,related to liver function in the hepatobiliary phase(HBP).Whether Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI can be used in the diagnosis and follow up of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C(CHC)has not been investigated.AIM To investigate the diagnostic and follow-up values of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI for hepatic histology in patients with CHC.METHODS Patients with CHC were invited to undergo Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI and liver biopsy before treatment,and those with paired qualified MRI and liver biopsy specimens were included.Transient elastography(TE)and blood tests were also arranged.Patients treated with DAAs who achieved 24-wk sustained virological response(SVR)underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI and liver biopsy again.The signal intensity(SI)of the liver and muscle were measured in the unenhanced phase(UEP)(SI_(UEP-liver),SI_(UEP-muscle))and HBP(SI_(HBP-liver),SI_(HBP-muscle))via MRI.The contrast enhancement index(CEI)was calculated as[(SI_(HBP-liver)/SI_(HBP-muscle))]/[(SI_(UEP-liver)/SI_(UEP-muscle))].Liver stiffness measurement(LSM)was confirmed with TE.Serologic markers,aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index(APRI)and Fibrosis-4(FIB-4),were also calculated according to blood tests.The grade of inflammation and stage of fibrosis were evaluated with the modified histology activity index(mHAI)and Ishak fibrosis score,respectively.Fibrosis regression was defined as a≥1-point decrease in the Ishak fibrosis score.The correlation between the CEI and liver pathology was evaluated.The diagnostic and follow-up values of the CEI,LSM,and serologic markers were compared.RESULTS Thirty-nine patients with CHC were enrolled[average age,42.3±14.4 years;20/39(51.3%)male].Twenty-one enrolled patients had eligible paired Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI and liver tissues after achieving SVR.The mHAI median significantly decreased after SVR[baseline 6.0(4.5-13.5)vs SVR 2.0(1.5-5.5),Z=3.322,P=0.017],but the median stage of fibrosis did not notably change(P>0.05).Sixty pairs of qualified MRI and liver tissue samples were available for use to analyze the relationship between the CEI and hepatic pathology.The CEI was negatively correlated with the mHAI(r=-0.56,P<0.001)and Ishak score(r=-0.69,P<0.001).Further stratified analysis showed that the value of the CEI decreased with the progression of the stage of fibrosis rather than with the grade of necroinflammation.For patients with Ishak score≥5,the areas under receiver operating characteristics curve of the CEI,LSM,APRI,and FIB-4 were approximately at baseline,0.87–0.93,and after achieving SVR,0.83–0.91.The CEI cut-off value was stable(baseline 1.58 and SVR 1.59),but those of the APRI(from 1.05 to 0.24),FIB-4(from 1.78 to 1.28),and LSM(from 10.8 kpa to 7.1 kpa)decreased dramatically.The APRI and FIB-4 cannot be used as diagnostic means for SVR in patients with Ishak score≥3(P>0.05).Seven patients achieved fibrosis regression after achieving SVR.In these patients,the CEI median increased(from 1.71 to 1.83,Z=-1.981,P=0.048)and those of the APRI(from 1.71 to 1.83,Z=-2.878,P=0.004)and LSM(from 6.6 to 4.8,Z=-2.366,P=0.018)decreased.However,in patients without fibrosis regression,the medians of the APRI,FIB-4,and LSM also changed significantly(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI has good diagnostic value for staging fibrosis in patients with CHC.It can be used for fibrotic-change monitoring post SVR in patients with CHC treated with DAAs.

Head-to-head comparison of PSMA PET/CT and mpMRI for detecting biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the performance of prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography(PSMA PET/CT)in comparison to multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging(mpMRI)for detecting biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer(PCa).Materials and methods We conducted a comprehensive search for articles published in PubMed,Web of Science,Embase,and the Cochrane Library,spanning the inception of the database until October 26,2022,which included head-to-head comparisons of PSMA PET/CT and mpMRI for assessing the biochemical recurrence of PCa.Results A total of 5 studies including 228 patients were analyzed.The overall positivity rates of PSMA PET/CT and mpMRI for detecting biochemical recurrence of PCa after final treatment were 0.68(95%confidence interval[CI],0.52–0.89)and 0.56(95%CI,0.36–0.88),respectively.The positivity rates of PSMA PET/CT and mpMRI for detecting local recurrence,lymph node metastasis,and bone metastases were 0.37(95%CI,0.30–0.47)and 0.38(95%CI,0.22–0.67),0.44(95%CI,0.35–0.56)and 0.25(95%CI,0.17–0.35),and 0.19(95%CI,0.11–0.31)and 0.12(95%CI,0.05–0.25),respectively.Compared with mpMRI,PSMA PET/CT exhibited a higher positivity rate for detecting biochemical recurrence and lymph node metastases,and no significant difference in the positivity rate of local recurrence was observed between these 2 imaging modalities.Conclusions Compared with mpMRI,PSMA PET/CT appears to have a higher positivity rate for detecting biochemical recurrence of PCa.Although both imaging methods showed similar positivity rates of detecting local recurrence,PSMA PET/CT outperformed PSMA PET/CT in detecting lymph node involvement and overall recurrence.

Role of Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Parameters in the Evaluation of Treatment Response in Malignant Tumors

Objective： To elaborate the role of quantitative magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） parameters in the evaluation of treatment response in malignant tumors. Data Sources： Data cited in this review were obtained mainly from PubMed in English from 1999 to 2014, with keywords ＂dynamic contrast-enhanced （DCE）-MRI,＂ ＂diffusion-weighted imaging （DWI）,＂ ＂microcirculation,＂ ＂apparent diffusion coefficient （ADC）,＂ ＂treatment response＂ and ＂oncology.＂ Study Selection： Articles regarding principles of DCE-MRI, principles of DWI, clinical applications as well as opportunity and aspiration were identified, retrieved and reviewed. Results： A significant correlation between ADC values and treatment response was reported in most DWI studies. Most quantitative DCE-MRI studies showed a significant correlation between Kt values and treatment response. However, in different tumors and studies, both high and low pretreatment ADC or K trans values were found to be associated with response rate. Both DCE-MRI and DWI demonstrated changes in their parameters hours to days after treatment, showing a decrease in K trans or an increase in ADC associated with response in most cases. Conclusions： Combinations of quantitative MRI play an important role in the evaluation of treatment response of malignant tumors and hold promise for use as a cancer treatment response biomarker. However, validation is hampered by the lack of reproducibility and standardization. MRI acquisition protocols and quantitative image analysis approaches should be properly addressed prior to further testing the clinical use of quantitative MRI parameters in the assessment of treatments.

Temporally shifted hemodynamic response model helps to extract acupuncture-induced functional magnetic resonance imaging blood oxygenation-level dependent activities

Background The onsets of needling sensation introduced by acupuncture stimulus can vary widely from subject to subject. This should be explicitly accounted for by the model blood oxygenation-level dependent （BOLD） time course used in general linear model （GLM） analysis to obtain more consistent across-subject group results. However, in standard GLM analysis, the model BOLD time course obtained by convolving a canonical hemodynamic response function with an experimental paradigm time course is assumed identical across subjects. Although some added-on properties to the model BOLD time course, such as temporal and dispersion derivatives, may be used to account for different BOLD response onsets, they can only account for the BOLD onset deviations to the extent of less than one repetition time （TR）. Methods In this study, we explicitly manipulated the onsets of model BOLD time course by shifting it with -2, -1, or 1 TR and used these temporally shifted BOLD model to analyze the functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） data obtained from three acupuncture fMRI experiments with GLM analysis. One involved acupuncture stimulus on left ST42 acupoint and the other two on left GB40 and left BL64 acupoints. Results The model BOLD time course with temporal shifts, in addition to temporal and dispersion derivatives, could result in better statistical power of the data analysis in terms of the average correlation coefficients between the used BOLD models and extracted BOLD responses from individual subject data and the T-values of the activation clusters in the grouped random effects. Conclusions The GLM analysis with ordinary BOLD model failed to catch the large variability of the onsets of the BOLD responses associated with the acupuncture needling sensation. Shifts in time with more than a TR on model BOLD time course might be required to better extract the acupuncture stimulus-induced BOLD activities from individual fMRI data.

A novel nomogram provides improved accuracy for predicting biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy

Background:Various prediction tools have been developed to predict biochemical recurrence(BCR)after radical prostatectomy(RP);however,few of the previous prediction tools used serum prostate-specific antigen(PSA)nadir after RP and maximum tumor diameter(MTD)at the same time.In this study,a nomogram incorporating MTD and PSA nadir was developed to predict BCR-free survival(BCRFS).Methods:A total of 337 patients who underwent RP between January 2010 and March 2017 were retrospectively enrolled in this study.The maximum diameter of the index lesion was measured on magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate independent predictors of BCR.A nomogram was subsequently developed for the prediction of BCRFS at 3 and 5 years after RP.Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and decision curve analyses were performed to identify the advantage of the new nomogram in comparison with the cancer of the prostate risk assessment post-surgical(CAPRA-S)score.Results:A novel nomogram was developed to predict BCR by including PSA nadir,MTD,Gleason score,surgical margin(SM),and seminal vesicle invasion(SVI),considering these variables were significantly associated with BCR in both univariate and multivariate analyses(P<0.05).In addition,a basic model including Gleason score,SM,and SVI was developed and used as a control to assess the incremental predictive power of the new model.The concordance index of our model was slightly higher than CAPRA-S model(0.76 vs.0.70,P=0.02)and it was significantly higher than that of the basic model(0.76 vs.0.66,P=0.001).Time-dependent ROC curve and decision curve analyses also demonstrated the advantages of the new nomogram.Conclusions:PSA nadir after RP and MTD based on MRI before surgery are independent predictors of BCR.By incorporating PSA nadir and MTD into the conventional predictive model,our newly developed nomogram significantly improved the accuracy in predicting BCRFS after RP.

Morphology of the anterior mesorectum:a new predictor for local recurrence in patients with rectal cancer

Background:Pre-operative assessment with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)is useful for assessing the risk of local recurrence(LR)and survival in rectal cancer.However,few studies have explored the clinical importance of the morphology of the anterior mesorectum,especially in patients with anterior cancer.Hence,the study aimed to investigate the impact of the morphology of the anterior mesorectum on LR in patients with primary rectal cancer.Methods:A retrospective study was performed on 176 patients who underwent neoadjuvant treatment and curative-intent surgery.Patients were divided into two groups according to the morphology of the anterior mesorectum on sagittal MRI:(1)linear type:the anterior mesorectum was thin and linear;and(2)triangular type:the anterior mesorectum was thick and had a unique triangular shape.Clinicopathological and LR data were compared between patients with linear type anterior mesorectal morphology and patients with triangular type anterior mesorectal morphology.Results:Morphometric analysis showed that 90(51.1%)patients had linear type anterior mesorectal morphology,while 86(48.9%)had triangular type anterior mesorectal morphology.Compared to triangular type anterior mesorectal morphology,linear type anterior mesorectal morphology was more common in females and was associated with a higher risk of circumferential resection margin involvement measured by MRI(35.6%[32/90]vs.16.3%[14/86],P=0.004)and a higher 5-year LR rate(12.2%vs.3.5%,P=0.030).In addition,the combination of linear type anterior mesorectal morphology and anterior tumors was confirmed as an independent risk factor for LR(odds ratio=4.283,P=0.014).Conclusions:The classification established in this study was a simple way to describe morphological characteristics of the anterior mesorectum.The combination of linear type anterior mesorectal morphology and anterior tumors was an independent risk factor for LR and may act as a tool to assist with LR risk stratification and treatment selection.

Preliminary single-arm study of brain effects during transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation treatment of recurrent depression by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVE:To examine the brain effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation(ta VNS)treatment of recurrent depression based on the functional brain network by using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(f MRI).METHODS:Twenty-five patients with recurrent depression were enrolled in a single-arm trial of ta VNS treatment for eight weeks.Clinical results were assessed by 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HAMD-17),Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA),Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS),Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS),and Ruminative Response Scale(RRS)scales.Resting-state f MRI was conducted to explore the brain effects before and after treatment.For the functional connectivity(FC)analysis,the bilateral nucleus accumbens,globus pallidus,caudate,and putamen were selected as seeds.Finally,the correlations between FC and the clinical scale scores were calculated.RESULTS:After treatment,the patients’scores of HAMD-17,HAMA,SDS,SAS,and RRS were significantly decreased(P<0.05).FC was considerably decreased between the following areas:the left globus pallidus and the right postcentral gyrus,inferior parietal gyrus,the right globus pallidus and the left superior marginal gyrus,postcentral gyrus,superior parietal gyrus,inferior parietal gyrus,precuneus,right postcentral gyrus,superior marginal gyrus,and inferior parietal gyrus,between the right caudate and the right lingual gyrus,calcarine gyrus,and cerebellum.Changes in FC between the right globus pallidus and the left inferior parietal gyrus,between the left globus pallidus and the right postcentral gyrus were negatively correlated with HAMD-17 scores change before and after treatment(before,P=0.003,r=-0.6;after,P=0.009,r=-0.54).The change of FC between the right globus pallidus and the right postcentral gyrus was negatively correlated with the change in SDS(P=0.026,r=-0.474).The difference in FC between the right globus pallidus and the right postcentral gyrus was negatively correlated with the change in SAS(P=0.016,r=-0.513).CONCLUSIONS:Recurrent depression could be effectively treated with ta VNS.The changes in brain FC involving the basal ganglia,default mode,and sensorimotor networks provide insight into the effects of ta VNS treatment on recurrent depression.

Chemotherapy response evaluation in a mouse model of gastric cancer using intravoxel incoherent motion diffusionweighted MRI and histopathology

AIM To determine the role of intravoxel incoherent motion(IVIM) diffusion-weighted(DW) magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) using a bi-exponential model in chemotherapy response evaluation in a gastric cancer mouse model.METHODS Mice bearing MKN-45 human gastric adenocarcinoma xenografts were divided into four treated groups(TG1, 2, 3 and 4, n = 5 in each group) which received Fluorouracil and Calcium Folinate and a control group(CG, n = 7). DW-MRI scans with 14 b-values(0-1500 s/mm2) were performed before and after treatment on days 3, 7, 14 and 21. Fast diffusion component(presumably pseudo-perfusion) parameters including the fast diffusion coefficient(D*) and fraction volume(f p), slow diffusion coefficient(D) and the conventional apparent diffusion coefficients(ADC) were calculated by fitting the IVIM model to the measured DW signals. The median changes from the baseline to each posttreatment time point for each measurement(ΔADC, ΔD* and Δf p) were calculated. The differences in the median changes between the two groups were compared using the mixed linear regression model by the restricted maximum likelihood method shown as z values. Histopathological analyses including Ki-67, CD31, TUNEL and H&E were conducted in conjunction with the MRI scans. The median percentage changes were compared with the histopathological analyses between the pre-and post-treatment for each measurement.RESULTS Compared with the control group, D* in the treated group decreased significantly(ΔD*treated% =-30%,-34% and-20%, with z =-5.40,-4.18 and-1.95. P = 0.0001, 0.0001 and 0.0244) and f p increased significantly(Δfptreated% = 93%, 113% and 181%, with z = 4.63, 5.52, and 2.12, P = 0.001, 0.0001 and 0.0336) on day 3, 7 and 14, respectively. Increases in ADC in the treated group were higher than those in the control group on days 3 and 14(z = 2.44 and 2.40, P = 0.0147 and P = 0.0164). CONCLUSION Fast diffusion measurements derived from the biexponential IVIM model may be more sensitive imaging biomarkers than ADC to assess chemotherapy response in gastric adenocarcinoma.

Comments on"Neonatal infratentorial subdural hematoma contributing to obstructive hydrocephalus in the setting of therapeutic cooling:A case report"

Although therapeutic hypothermia(TH)contributes significantly in the treatment of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy(HIE),it could result in devastating complications such as intracranial hemorrhages.Laboratory examinations for possible coagulation disorders and early brain imaging can detect all these cases that are amenable to aggravation of HIE after the initiation of TH.

Image-based brachytherapy for cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women worldwide; definitive radiation therapy and concurrent chemotherapy is the accepted standard of care for patients with node positive or locally advanced tumors > 4 cm. Brachytherapy is an important part of definitive radiotherapy shown to improve overall survival. While results for two-dimensional X-ray based brachytherapy have been good in terms of local control especially for early stage disease, unexplained toxicities and treatment failures remain. Improvements in brachytherapy planning have more recently paved the way for three-dimensional image-based brachytherapy with volumetric optimization which increases tumor control, reduces toxicity, and helps predict outcomes.Advantages of image-based brachytherapy include:improved tumor coverage(especially for large volume disease), decreased dose to critical organs(especially for small cervix), confirmation of applicator placement, and accounting for sigmoid colon dose. A number of modalities for image-based brachytherapy have emerged including: magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),computed tomography(CT), CT-MRI hybrid, and ultrasound with respective benefits and outcomes data. Forpractical application of image-based brachytherapy the Groupe Europeen de Curietherapie-European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology Working Group and American Brachytherapy Society working group guideline serve as invaluable tools, additionally here-in we outline our institutional clinical integration of these guidelines. While the body of literature supporting image-based brachytherapy continues to evolve a number of uncertainties and challenges remain including: applicator reconstruction, increasing resource/cost demands, mobile four-dimensional targets and organs-at-risk, and accurate contouring of "grey zones" to avoid marginal miss. Ongoing studies, including the prospective EMBRACE(an international study of MRI-guided brachytherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer) trial, along with continued improvements in imaging, contouring, quality assurance, physics, and brachytherapy delivery promise to perpetuate the advancement of image-based brachytherapy to optimize outcomes for cervical cancer patients.