An MRI-based radiomics nomogram to predict progression-free survival in patients with endometrial cancer.

Aim: This study aimed to explore the importance of an MRI-based radiomics nomogram in predicting the progression-free survival (PFS) of endometrial cancer.Methods: Based on clinicopathological and radiomic characteristics, we established three models (clinical, radiomics and combined model) and developed a nomogram for the combined model. The Kaplan-Meier method was utilized to evaluate the association between nomogram-based risk scores and PFS.Results: The nomogram had a strong predictive ability in calculating PFS with areas under the curve (ROC) of 0.905 and 0.901 at 1 and 3 years, respectively. The high-risk groups identified by the nomogram-based scores had shorter PFS compared with the low-risk groups.Conclusion: The radiomics nomogram has the potential to serve as a noninvasive imaging biomarker for predicting individual PFS of endometrial cancer.

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Novel post-translational modifications of protein by metabolites with immune responses and immune-related molecules in cancer immunotherapy.

Tumour immunotherapy is an effective and essential treatment for cancer. However, the heterogeneity of tumours and the complex and changeable tumour immune microenvironment (TME) creates many uncertainties in the clinical application of immunotherapy, such as different responses to tumour immunotherapy and significant differences in individual efficacy. It makes anti-tumour immunotherapy face many challenges. Immunometabolism is a critical determinant of immune cell response to specific immune effector molecules, significantly affecting the effects of tumour immunotherapy. It is attributed mainly to the fact that metabolites can regulate the function of immune cells and immune-related molecules through the protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) pathway. This study systematically summarizes a variety of novel protein PTMs including acetylation, propionylation, butyrylation, succinylation, crotonylation, malonylation, glutarylation, 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation, ß-hydroxybutyrylation, benzoylation, lactylation and isonicotinylation in the field of tumour immune regulation and immunotherapy. In particular, we elaborate on how different PTMs in the TME can affect the function of immune cells and lead to immune evasion in cancer. Lastly, we highlight the potential treatment with the combined application of target-inhibited protein modification and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for improved immunotherapeutic outcomes.

ERRα promotes glycolytic metabolism and targets the NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pathway to regulate pyroptosis in endometrial cancer.

BACKGROUND: Tumor cells can resist chemotherapy-induced pyroptosis through glycolytic reprogramming. Estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRα) is a central regulator of cellular energy metabolism associated with poor cancer prognosis. Herein, we refine the oncogenic role of ERRα in the pyroptosis pathway and glycolytic metabolism. METHODS: The interaction between ERRα and HIF-1α was verified using co-immunoprecipitation. The transcriptional binding sites of ERRα and NLRP3 were confirmed using dual-luciferase reporter assay and cleavage under targets and tagmentation (CUT&Tag). Flow cytometry, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, cell mito stress test, and extracellular acidification rate analysis were performed to investigate the effects of ERRα on the pyroptosis pathway and glycolytic metabolism. The results of these experiments were further confirmed in endometrial cancer (EC)-derived organoids and nude mice. In addition, the expression of ERRα-related pyroptosis genes was analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus database. RESULTS: Triggered by a hypoxic microenvironment, highly expressed ERRα could bind to the promoter of NLRP3 and inhibit caspase-1/GSDMD signaling, which reduced inflammasome activation and increased pyroptosis resistance, thereby resulting in the resistance of cancer cells to cisplatin. Moreover, ERRα activated glycolytic rate-limiting enzyme to bridge glycolytic metabolism and pyroptosis in EC. This phenomenon was further confirmed in EC-derived organoids and nude mice. CUT & Tag sequencing and The Cancer Genome Atlas database analysis showed that ERRα participated in glycolysis and programmed cell death, which resulted in EC progression. CONCLUSIONS: ERRα inhibits pyroptosis in an NLRP3-dependent manner and induces glycolytic metabolism, resulting in cisplatin resistance in EC cells.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes influence human papillomavirus infection and clearance: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: There is a close correlation between HPV infection and systemic immune status. The purpose of this study was to determine which lymphocytes in peripheral blood influence human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and to identify whether peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) subsets could be used as biomarkers to predict HPV clearance in the short term. METHODS: This study involved 716 women undergoing colposcopy from 2019 to 2021. Logistic and Cox regression were used to analyze the association of PBLs with HPV infection and clearance. Using Cox regression, bidirectional stepwise regression and the Akaike information criterion (AIC), lymphocyte prediction models were developed, with the C-index assessing performance. ROC analysis determined optimal cutoff values, and their accuracy for HPV clearance risk stratification was evaluated via Kaplan‒Meier and time-dependent ROC. Bootstrap resampling validated the model and cutoff values. RESULTS: Lower CD4 + T cells were associated with a higher risk of HPV, high-risk HPV, HPV18 and HPV52 infections, with corresponding ORs (95% CI) of 1.58 (1.16-2.15), 1.71 (1.23-2.36), 2.37 (1.12-5.02), and 3.67 (1.78-7.54), respectively. PBL subsets mainly affect the natural clearance of HPV, but their impact on postoperative HPV outcomes is not significant (P > 0.05). Lower T-cell and CD8 + T-cell counts, as well as a higher NK cell count, are unfavorable factors for natural HPV clearance (P < 0.05). The optimal cutoff values determined by the PBL prognostic model (T-cell percentage: 67.39%, NK cell percentage: 22.65%, CD8 + T-cell model risk score: 0.95) can effectively divide the population into high-risk and low-risk groups, accurately predicting the natural clearance of HPV. After internal validation with bootstrap resampling, the above conclusions still hold. CONCLUSIONS: CD4 + T cells were important determinants of HPV infection. T cells, NK cells, and CD8 + T cells can serve as potential biomarkers for predicting natural HPV clearance, which can aid in patient risk stratification, individualized treatment, and follow-up management.

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) Is Associated with Cervical Stromal Involvement in Endometrial Cancer Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study in South China.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a significant health issue closely associated with multiple extrahepatic cancers. The association between MAFLD and clinical outcomes of endometrial cancer (EC) remains unknown. METHODS: We retrospectively included 725 EC patients between January 2012 and December 2020. The odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using logistic regression analyses. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used for survival analysis. RESULTS: Among EC patients, the prevalence of MAFLD was 27.7% (201/725, 95% confidence interval (Cl) = 0.245-0.311). MAFLD was significantly associated with cervical stromal involvement (CSI) (OR = 1.974, 95% confidence interval (Cl) = 1.065-3.659, p = 0.031). There was a significant correlation between overall survival (OS) and CSI (HR = 0.31; 95%CI: 0.12-0.83; p = 0.020), while patients with MAFLD had a similar OS to those without MAFLD (p = 0.952). Moreover, MAFLD was significantly associated with CSI in the type I EC subgroup (OR = 2.092, 95% confidence interval (Cl) = 1.060-4.129, p = 0.033), but not in the type II EC subgroup (p = 0.838). Further logistic regression analysis suggested that the hepatic steatosis index (HSI) was significantly associated with CSI among type I EC patients without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (OR = 1.079, 95% confidence interval (Cl) = 1.020-1.139, p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: About one-quarter of our cohort had MAFLD. MAFLD was associated with the risk of CSI in EC patients, and this association existed in type I EC patients but not in type II EC patients. Furthermore, the HSI can help predict CSI in type I EC patients without T2DM.

Integrated Assessment of Water Environmental Health Risk through Drinking Water Ingestion in Lhasa River Basin: Quantitative Analysis and Environmental Significance.

An integrated assessment of water environmental health risk through drinking water ingestion in Lhasa River has been implemented. The health risks caused by different pollutants in different age groups (children, juvenile and adult groups) are in the order of 10-8 ~ 10-7, 10-7 ~ 10-5 and 10-13 ~ 10-8 a-1, respectively. The total health risks for all age groups are lower than the International Commission on Radiation Protection recommended value and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommended value at all points except LS4, LS12 and LS13. The total health risk levels in different age groups at most points are class III or II, which means that there are low or negligible negative effect in these points and age groups. It is more important to monitor the arsenic concentration. The water environment quality protecting in Lhasa River Basin must be consistent with the clear water and blue sky protecting in Tibet Autonomous Region and the national ecological security barrier construction on the Tibetan Plateau.

ADCY7 mRNA Is a Novel Biomarker in HPV Infection and Cervical High-Grade Squamous Lesions or Higher.

The effect of cervical cancer immunotherapy is limited. Combination therapy will be a new direction for cervical cancer. Thus, it is essential to discover a novel and available predictive biomarker to stratify patients who may benefit from immunotherapy for cervical cancer. In this study, 563 participants were enrolled. Adenylate cyclase 7 (ADCY7) mRNA was detected by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) with cervical cytology specimens. The relationship between ADCY7 and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in grade 2 and higher (CIN2+) was analyzed, and the optimal cut-off values of the relative expression of ADCY7 mRNA to predict CIN2+ were calculated. In addition, the clinical significance of ADCY7 in cervical cancer was determined by the Kaplan-Meier Cox regression based on the TCGA database. The mean ADCY7 mRNA expression increased significantly with cervical lesion development, especially compared with CIN2+ (p < 0.05). Moreover, the expression of ADCY7 increased significantly in high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection but not in HPV-A5/6 species. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of ADCY7 was 0.897, and an optimal cut-off was 0.435. Furthermore, ADCY7 had the highest OR (OR= 8.589; 95% CI (2.281-22.339)) for detecting CIN 2+, followed by HPV genotyping, TCT, and age (OR = 4.487, OR = 2.071, and OR = 1.345; 95% CI (1.156-10.518), (0.370-8.137), and (0.171-4.694), respectively). Moreover, this study indicated that higher ADCY7 levels could be a suitable predictor for poor prognosis in cervical cancer due to immune cell infiltration. A new auxiliary predictor of CIN2+ in cervical cytology specimens is ADCY7 ≥ 0.435. Furthermore, it may be a promising prognosis predictor and potential immunotherapy target for the combined treatment of cervical cancer and possibly further block HR-HPV persistent infection.

Follow-Up Infarct Volume Prediction by CTP-Based Hypoperfusion Index, and the Discrepancy between Small Follow-Up Infarct Volume and Poor Functional Outcome-A Multicenter Study.

(1) Background: Follow-up infarct volume (FIV) may have implications for prognostication in acute ischemic stroke patients. Factors predicting the discrepancy between FIV and 90-day outcomes are poorly understood. We aimed to develop a comprehensive predictive model of FIV and explore factors associated with the discrepancy. (2) Methods: Patients with acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusion were included. Baseline clinical and CT features were extracted and analyzed, including the CTP-based hypoperfusion index (HI) and the NCCT-based e-ASPECT, measured by automated software. FIV was assessed on follow-up NCCT at 3−7 days. Multiple linear regression was used to construct the predictive model. Subgroup analysis was performed to explore factors associated with poor outcomes (90-mRS scores 3−6) in small FIV (<70 mL). (3) Results: There were 170 patients included. Baseline e-ASPECT, infarct core volume, hypoperfusion volume, HI, baseline international normalized ratio, and successful recanalization were associated with FIV and included in constructing the predictive model. Baseline NIHSS, baseline hypertension, stroke history, and current tobacco use were associated with poor outcomes in small FIV. (4) Conclusions: A comprehensive predictive model (including HI) of FIV was constructed. We also emphasized the importance of hypertension and smoking status at baseline for the functional outcomes in patients with a small FIV.

Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte Subsets as a Risk Predictor of Patients with Endometrioid Endometrial Cancer.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore lymphocyte subsets for the personalized prediction of endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) risk and evaluated the correlation between immune cells and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging in patients with EEC. Patients and Methods: A case-control study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 421 patients admitted to Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital from October 2017 to December 2021. t-tests or Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to analyze the percentages and absolute counts of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in patients with EEC and patients without cancer. The independent risk factors for ECC and FIGO stage were analyzed via multivariate binary logistic regression. The receiver operating characteristic curve was calculated to evaluate the prediction efficacy of risk factors on ECC. Results: The CD4+ T% in the 121 patients with EEC was lower than in the 300 patients without cancer (P = 0.013). The absolute counts of peripheral CD4+ T (P = 0.002) and T cells (P = 0.007) in 37 patients with EEC were lower than in 51 patients without cancer. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that CD4+ T% and natural killer cell (NK)% were independent risk factors for FIGO staging in patients with EEC. NK% was significantly higher in patients with advanced stage (FIGO III and IV) than those with early EEC (FIGO I and II) (P = 0.004). To determine the early and advance FIGO stage of EEC, the cutoff value of NK% was calculated as 19.94%. Conclusion: With the decrease of CD4+ T counts, the immune status of patients with EEC is impaired. NK cells may help in the evaluation of the prognosis of patients with EEC and are likely to be an independent risk factor for FIGO staging in patients with EEC.

Lactate-Lactylation Hands between Metabolic Reprogramming and Immunosuppression.

Immune evasion and metabolic reprogramming are two fundamental hallmarks of cancer. Interestingly, lactate closely links them together. However, lactate has long been recognized as a metabolic waste product. Lactate and the acidification of the tumor microenvironment (TME) promote key carcinogenesis processes, including angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, and immune escape. Notably, histone lysine lactylation (Kla) was identified as a novel post-modification (PTM), providing a new perspective on the mechanism by which lactate functions and providing a promising and potential therapy for tumors target. Further studies have confirmed that protein lactylation is essential for lactate to function; it involves important life activities such as glycolysis-related cell functions and macrophage polarization. This review systematically elucidates the role of lactate as an immunosuppressive molecule from the aspects of lactate metabolism and the effects of histone lysine or non-histone lactylation on immune cells; it provides new ideas for further understanding protein lactylation in elucidating lactate regulation of cell metabolism and immune function. We explored the possibility of targeting potential targets in lactate metabolism for cancer treatment. Finally, it is promising to propose a combined strategy inhibiting the glycolytic pathway and immunotherapy.

Prediction of Early Treatment Response in Multiple Myeloma Using MY-RADS Total Burden Score, ADC, and Fat Fraction From Whole-Body MRI: Impact of Anemia on Predictive Performance.

BACKGROUND. The recently released Myeloma Response Assessment and Diagnosis System (MY-RADS) for multiple myeloma (MM) evaluation using whole-body MRI (WB-MRI) describes the total burden score. However, assessment is confounded by red bone marrow hyperplasia in anemia. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to assess the utility of the MY-RADS total burden score, ADC, and fat fraction (FF) from WB-MRI in predicting early treatment response in patients with newly diagnosed MM and to compare the utility of these measures between patients with and without anemia. METHODS. This retrospective study included 56 patients (40 men, 16 women; mean age, 57.4 ± 9.6 [SD] years) with newly diagnosed MM who underwent baseline WB-MRI including DWI and modified Dixon sequences. Two radiologists recorded total burden score using MY-RADS and measured the ADC and FF of diffuse and focal disease sites. Mean values across sites were derived. Interobserver agreement was evaluated, and the mean assessments of the readers were used for further analyses. Presence of deep response after four cycles of induction chemotherapy was recorded. Patients were classified as having anemia if their hemoglobin level was less than 100 g/L. The utility of WBMRI parameters in predicting deep response was assessed. RESULTS. A total of 24 of 56 patients showed deep response, and 25 of 56 patients had anemia. Interobserver agreement, which was expressed using intraclass correlation coefficients, ranged from 0.95 to 0.99. Among patients without anemia, those with deep response compared with those without deep response had a lower total burden score (9.0 vs 18.0), a lower ADC (0.79 × 10-3 mm2/s vs 1.08 × 10-3 mm2/s), and a higher FF (0.21 vs 0.10) (all p < .001). The combination of these three parameters (optimal cutoffs: ≤ 15 for total burden score, ≤ 0.84 × 10-3 mm2/s for ADC, and > 0.16 for FF) achieved sensitivity of 93.8%, specificity of 93.3%, and accuracy of 93.5% for predicting deep response. In patients with anemia, none of the three parameters were significantly different between patients with and without deep response (all p > .05), and the combination of parameters achieved sensitivity of 56.3%, specificity of 100.0%, and accuracy of 72.0%. CONCLUSION. Low total burden score, low ADC, and high FF from WB-MRI may predict deep response in patients with MM, although only among those without anemia. CLINICAL IMPACT. WB-MRI findings may help guide determination of prognosis and initial treatment selection in MM.

Neuromarkers from Whole-Brain Functional Connectivity Reveal the Cognitive Recovery Scheme for Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy after Liver Transplantation.

Neurocognitive impairment is present in cirrhosis and may be more severe in cirrhosis with overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE). Liver transplantation (LT) can restore liver function, but how it reverses the impaired brain function is still unclear. MRI of resting-state functional connectivity can help reveal the underlying mechanisms that lead to these cognitive deficits and cognitive recovery. In this study, 64 patients with cirrhosis (28 with OHE; 36 without OHE) and 32 healthy control subjects were recruited for resting-state fMRI. The patients were scanned before and after LT. We evaluated presurgical and postsurgical neurocognitive performance in cirrhosis patients using psychomotor tests. Network-based statistics found significant disrupted connectivity in both groups of cirrhotic patients, with OHE and without OHE, compared with control subjects. However, the presurgical connectivity disruption in patients with OHE affected a greater number of connections than those without OHE. The decrease in functional connectivity for both OHE and non-OHE patient groups was reversed after LT to the level of control subjects. An additional hyperconnected network (i.e., higher connected than control subjects) was observed in OHE patients after LT. Regarding the neural-behavior relationship, the functional network that predicted cognitive performance in healthy individuals showed no correlation in presurgical cirrhotic patients. The impaired neural-behavior relationship was re-established after LT for non-OHE patients, but not for OHE patients. OHE patients displayed abnormal hyperconnectivity and a persistently impaired neural-behavior relationship after LT. Our results suggest that patients with OHE may undergo a different trajectory of postsurgical neurofunctional recovery compared with those without, which needs further clarification in future studies.

Nomogram to Assess the Risk of Central Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients With Clinical N0 Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate an individualized risk prediction model for the need for central cervical lymph node dissection in patients with clinical N0 papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) diagnosed using ultrasound. METHODS: Upon retrospective review, derivation and internal validation cohorts comprised 1585 consecutive patients with PTC treated from January 2017 to December 2019 at hospital A. The external validation cohort consisted of 406 consecutive patients treated at hospital B from January 2016 to June 2020. Independent risk factors for central cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) were determined through univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis. An individualized risk prediction model was constructed and illustrated as a nomogram, which was internally and externally validated. RESULTS: The following risk factors of CLNM were established: a solitary primary thyroid nodule's diameter, shape, calcification, and capsular abutment-to-lesion perimeter ratio. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of the risk prediction model for the internal and external validation cohorts were 0.921 and 0.923, respectively. The calibration curve showed good agreement between the nomogram-estimated probability of CLNM and the actual CLNM rates in the 3 cohorts. The decision curve analysis confirmed the clinical usefulness of the nomogram. CONCLUSION: This study developed and validated a model for predicting the risk of CLNM in individual patients with clinical N0 PTC, which should be an efficient tool for guiding clinical treatment.

Dual-energy computed tomography could reliably differentiate metastatic from non-metastatic lymph nodes of less than 0.5 cm in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) has been widely applied to detect lymph node (LN) and lymph node metastasis (LNM) in various cancers, including papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate metastatic cervical lymph nodes (LNs) <0.5 cm in patients with PTC using DECT, which has not been done in previous studies. METHODS: Preoperative DECT data of patients with pathologically confirmed PTC were retrospectively collected and analyzed between May 2016 and June 2018. A total of 359 LNs from 52 patients were included. Diameter, iodine concentration (IC), normalized iodine concentration (NIC), and the slope of the energy spectrum curve (λHU) of LNs in the arterial and the venous phases were compared between metastatic and non-metastatic LNs. The optimal parameters were obtained from the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The generalized estimation equation (GEE) model was used to evaluate independent diagnostic factors for LNM. RESULTS: A total of 139 metastatic and 220 non-metastatic LNs were analyzed. There were statistical differences of quantitative parameters between the two groups (P value 0.000-0.007). The optimal parameter for diagnosing LNM was IC in the arterial phase, and its area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity were 0.775, 71.9%, and 73.6%, respectively. When the three parameters of diameter, IC in the arterial phase, and NIC in the venous phase were combined, the prediction efficiency was better, and the AUC was 0.819. The GEE results showed that LNs located in level VIa [odds ratio (OR) 2.030, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.134-3.634, P=0.017], VIb (OR 2.836, 95% CI: 1.597-5.038, P=0.000), diameter (OR 2.023, 95% CI: 1.158-3.532, P=0.013), IC in the arterial phase (OR 4.444, 95% CI: 2.808-7.035, P=0.000), and IC in the venous phase (OR 5.387, 95% CI: 3.449-8.413, P=0.000) were independent risk factors for LNM in patients with PTC. CONCLUSIONS: DECT had good diagnostic performance in the differentiation of cervical metastatic LNs <0.5 cm in patients with PTC.

Deep learning for automated cerebral aneurysm detection on computed tomography images.

PURPOSE: Cerebrovascular aneurysms are being observed with rapidly increasing incidence. Therefore, tools are needed for accurate and efficient detection of aneurysms. We used deep learning techniques with CT angiography acquired from multiple medical centers and different machines to develop and evaluate an automatic detection model. METHODS: In this study, we have introduced a deep learning model, the faster RCNN model, in order to develop a tool for automatic detection of aneurysms from medical images. The inputs of the model were 2D nearby projection (NP) images from 3D CTA, which were made by the NP method proposed in this study. This method made aneurysms clearly visible on images and improved the model's performance. The study included 311 patients with 352 aneurysms, selected from three hospitals, and 208 and 103 of these patients, respectively, were randomly selected to train and test the models. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the trained model was 91.8%. For aneurysm sizes larger than 3 mm, the sensitivity of successful aneurysm detection was 96.7%. We achieved state-of-the-art sensitivity for > 3 mm aneurysms. The sensitivities also indicated that there was no significant difference among aneurysms at different locations in the body. Computing time for the detection process was less than 25 s per case. CONCLUSIONS: We successfully developed a deep learning model that can automatically detect aneurysms. The model performed well for aneurysms of different sizes or in different locations. This finding indicates that the deep learning model has the potential to vastly improve clinician performance by providing automated aneurysm detection.

One-stop-shop preoperative evaluation for living liver donors with gadoxetic acid disodium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging: efficiency and additional benefit.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficiency, cost, and time for examination of one-stop-shop gadoxetic acid disodium (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in preoperative evaluation for parent donors by comparing with multidetector computer tomography combined with conventional MR cholangiopancreatography (MDCT-MRCP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty parent donors were evaluated with MDCT-MRCP, and the other 40 sex-, age-, and weight-matched donors with Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI. Anatomical variations and graft volume determined by pre- and intra-operative findings, costs and time for imaging were recorded. Image quality was ranked on a 4-point scale and compared between both groups. RESULTS: Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI provided better image quality than MDCT-MRCP for the depiction of portal veins and bile ducts by both reviewers (p < 0.05), hepatic veins by one reviewer (p < 0.05), rather hepatic arteries by both reviewers (p < 0.01). Sixty-nine living donors proceeded to liver donation with all anatomical findings accurately confirmed by intra-operative findings. The "in-room" time of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI was 12 min longer than MDCT-MRCP. Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI was cheaper than MDCT-MRCP (US$519.72 vs. US$631.85). CONCLUSION: One-stop-shop Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI has similar diagnostic accuracy as MDCT-MRCP and can provide additional benefit in terms of costs and convenience in preoperative evaluation for parent donors.

Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging Characteristics of Prostate Tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance of prostate tuberculosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six patients with prostate tuberculosis were analyzed retrospectively. The mean age of the patients was 60.5 years (range, 48-67 years). The mean prostate specific antigen concentration was 6.62 ng/mL (range, 0.54-14.57 ng/mL). All patients underwent a multiparametric MRI examination. RESULTS: The histopathological results were obtained from biopsies in four men and from transurethral resection of the prostate in two men after the MRI examination. Nodular (33%, 2/6 patients) and diffuse lesions (67%, 4/6 patients) were seen on MRI. The nodular lesions were featured by extremely low signal intensity (similar to that of muscle) on T2-weighted imaging (T2WI). The T2WI signal intensity of the diffuse lesions was low but higher than that of muscle, which showed high signal intensity on diffusion weighted imaging and low signal intensity on an apparent diffusion coefficient map. MR spectroscopic imaging of this type showed a normal-like spectrum. Abscesses were found in one patient with the nodular type and in one with the diffuse type. CONCLUSION: The appearance of prostate tuberculosis on MRI can be separated into multiple nodular and diffuse types. Multiparametric MRI may offer useful information for diagnosing prostate tuberculosis.