Multiphase MRI-Based Radiomics for Predicting Histological Grade of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly heterogeneous cancer. Accurate preoperative prediction of histological grade holds potential for improving clinical management and disease prognostication. PURPOSE: To evaluate the performance of a radiomics signature based on multiphase MRI in assessing histological grade in solitary HCC. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. SUBJECTS: A total of 405 patients with histopathologically confirmed solitary HCC and with liver gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MRI within 1 month of surgery. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted spoiled gradient echo sequence (LAVA) at 1.5 or 3.0 T. ASSESSMENT: Tumors were graded (low/high) according to results of histopathology. Basic clinical characteristics (including age, gender, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, history of hepatitis B, and cirrhosis) were collected and tumor size measured. Radiomics features were extracted from Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI data. Three feature selection strategies were employed sequentially to identify the optimal features: SelectFromModel (SFM), SelectPercentile (SP), and recursive feature elimination with cross-validation (RFECV). Probabilities of five single-phase radiomics-based models were averaged to generate a radiomics signature. A combined model was built by combining the radiomics signature and clinical predictors. STATISTICAL TESTS: Pearson χ2 test/Fisher exact test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, interclass correlation coefficient (ICC), univariable/multivariable logistic regression analysis, area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), DeLong test, calibration curve, Brier score, decision curve, Kaplan-Meier curve, and log-rank test. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: High-grade HCCs were present in 33.8% of cases. AFP levels (odds ratio [OR] 1.89) and tumor size (>5 cm; OR 2.33) were significantly associated with HCC grade. The combined model had excellent performance in assessing HCC grade in the test dataset (AUC: 0.801), and demonstrated satisfactory calibration and clinical utility. DATA CONCLUSION: A model that combined a radiomics signature derived from preoperative multiphase Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI and clinical predictors showed good performance in assessing HCC grade. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 5.

E-cadherin (CDH1) gene -160C/A polymorphism and the risk of colorectal cancer: A meta-analysis involving 17,291 subjects.

BACKGROUND: The E-cadherin (CDH1) polymorphism has been implicated in the susceptibility to colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the results remain inconclusive. The present meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between the CDH1-160C/A polymorphism and CRC risk. METHODS: Relevant studies were retrieved by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI and Wanfang databases up to 11 March 2021. Pooled odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were calculated using either the fixed- or random-effects model. Quality evaluation was carried out using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). A trial sequential analysis (TSA) was conducted to reduce the risk of type I error. RESULTS: In total, 16 studies from 14 articles with 8699 patients and 8592 controls were included. In general, all studies were of high quality (NOS score higher than 6). Overall, no significant associations between the CDH1 -160C/A polymorphism and CRC risk were detected. In subgroup analysis by ethnicity, source of control, genotyping method and location, significant associations were found between the CDH1-160C/A polymorphism and the risk of CRC in the Caucasians and the hospital-based subgroup. Furthermore, 10 studies with 8019 subjects reported the association between the polymorphism and clinical characteristics in CRC patients, and we found that the CDH1-160C/A polymorphism might show a protective role in the distal CRC subgroup. By TSA, the findings in the present study were based on sufficient evidence in Caucasians, but not in Asians. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggests that the CDH1-160C/A polymorphism may be an important protective factor for CRC in Caucasians and a hospital-based subgroup. Moreover, the polymorphism show a protective role in the distal CRC group. However, large and well-designed studies are warranted to validate our findings, especially for Asians.

Increased Circulating Osteoprotegerin Levels in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Based on Observational Studies.

Objectives: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) has been disclosed to be associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), as well as increased risks of losing bone mass and progression of osteoporosis (OP). Osteoprotegerin (OPG), as a decoy receptor, has been demonstrated to play a critical role in bone metabolism homeostasis and vascular atherosclerotic diseases. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the associations between OPG levels and T1D. Methods: Related literatures were searched and identified from the database of the Cochrane Library database, PubMed and EMbase inception to August 3, 2019 in English. The pooled standard mean difference (SMD) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated in using random-effect model analysis. Chi-square Q statistic and I2 test were performed to evaluate and quantified the presence of heterogeneity. Results: Twelve studies with 1288 subjects (794 T1D patients and 494 healthy controls) were finally included. The incorporated results indicated that T1D patients have higher plasma/serum OPG levels than in healthy individuals (SMD = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.06, 1.22). Subgroup analyses suggested that Caucasian and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) <8.5% groups showed higher OPG levels, however, there was no significant differences of OPG levels regarding subgroups of BMI ≥ or <25, children-adolescents or adults and HbA1c ≥8.5%. Conclusions: The current evidence suggested that circulating OPG levels are significantly higher in T1D than in healthy controls, and the increase of OPG levels are influenced by factors of race and HbA1c.

Association of circulating cystatin C levels with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to systemically summarize the present literature about circulating cystatin C (Cys C) levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and provide a more precise evaluation of Cys C levels in T2DM. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Relevant studies about Cys C concentrations in T2DM were searched in PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library database (up to Oct 31 2018). We computed the pooled standard mean difference (SMD) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) of Cys C levels through a random-effect model. The Q test and the I2 statistic were used to assess and quantify between-study heterogeneity; publication bias was evaluated through a funnel plot and Egger's linear regression test. RESULTS: After the literature search and screening process, 14 studies with 723 T2DM patients and 473 healthy controls were finally included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that T2DM patients had significantly higher Cys C levels compared to healthy controls (SMD = 1.39, 95% CI: 0.92-1.86, p < 0.001). Publication bias was not detected based on the symmetrical shape of the funnel plot and the results of Egger's test (p = 0.452). Subgroup analyses suggested that variables of human race, age, gender, study sample size and disease duration have a relationship with Cys C level in T2DM patients. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our study suggests that patients with T2DM have an elevated circulating Cys C level compared to healthy controls, and it is associated with race, age, gender, study sample size and disease duration. Further investigations are still needed to explore the causal relationship of aberrant Cys C concentrations in T2DM.

A preparation of ß-glucans and anthocyanins (LoGiCarb™) lowers the in vitro digestibility and in vivo glycemic index of white rice.

The effect of a proprietary blend of ß-glucan, anthocyanins and resistant dextrin (LoGICarb™) on the (1) in vitro digestibility and (2) in vivo glycemic response of humans to white rice, were carried out. The amounts of glucose released, rapidly digestible starch, and predicted glycemic index of white rice were significantly reduced, with addition of LoGICarb™. The mean glycemic index (GI) value of white rice, were also reduced from 72 to 55.0 ± 4.52, in 14 test subjects. These effects were due to the combination of anthocyanins and ß-glucans in one sachet of LoGICarb™. The anthocyanins could bind α-amylase, reducing the amount of available enzymes for starch digestion, thus slowing down starch digestion in white rice. In addition, ß-glucans helped increase the viscosity of meal bolus. This is the first study that demonstrated addition of plant-based extracts could significantly decrease the digestibility and GI value of cooked white rice.

Temporal variability and climatology of hydrodynamic, water property and water quality parameters in the West Johor Strait of Singapore.

The study presents a baseline variability and climatology study of measured hydrodynamic, water properties and some water quality parameters of West Johor Strait, Singapore at hourly-to-seasonal scales to uncover their dependency and correlation to one or more drivers. The considered parameters include, but not limited by sea surface elevation, current magnitude and direction, solar radiation and air temperature, water temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a and turbidity. FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) analysis is carried out for the parameters to delineate relative effect of tidal and weather drivers. The group and individual correlations between the parameters are obtained by principal component analysis (PCA) and cross-correlation (CC) technique, respectively. The CC technique also identifies the dependency and time lag between driving natural forces and dependent water property and water quality parameters. The temporal variability and climatology of the driving forces and the dependent parameters are established at the hourly, daily, fortnightly and seasonal scales.