Noninvasive assessment of liver disease severity in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of simple, noninvasive tests (NITs) in NAFLD patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS AND RESULTS: This was an individual patient data meta-analysis of 1780 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and T2D. The index tests of interest were FIB-4, NAFLD Fibrosis Score (NFS), aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index, liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by vibration-controlled transient elastography, and AGILE 3+. The target conditions were advanced fibrosis, NASH, and fibrotic NASH(NASH plus F2-F4 fibrosis). The diagnostic performance of noninvasive tests. individually or in sequential combination, was assessed by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and by decision curve analysis. Comparison with 2278 NAFLD patients without T2D was also made. In NAFLD with T2D LSM and AGILE 3+ outperformed, both NFS and FIB-4 for advanced fibrosis (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve:LSM 0.82, AGILE 3+ 0.82, NFS 0.72, FIB-4 0.75, aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index 0.68; p < 0.001 of LSM-based versus simple serum tests), with an uncertainty area of 12%-20%. The combination of serum-based with LSM-based tests for advanced fibrosis led to a reduction of 40%-60% in necessary LSM tests. Decision curve analysis showed that all scores had a modest net benefit for ruling out advanced fibrosis at the risk threshold of 5%-10% of missing advanced fibrosis. LSM and AGILE 3+ outperformed both NFS and FIB-4 for fibrotic NASH (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve:LSM 0.79, AGILE 3+ 0.77, NFS 0.71, FIB-4 0.71; p < 0.001 of LSM-based versus simple serum tests). All noninvasive scores were suboptimal for diagnosing NASH. CONCLUSIONS: LSM and AGILE 3+ individually or in low availability settings in sequential combination after FIB-4 or NFS have a similar good diagnostic accuracy for advanced fibrosis and an acceptable diagnostic accuracy for fibrotic NASH in NAFLD patients with T2D.

Diagnostic accuracy of non-invasive tests for advanced fibrosis in patients with NAFLD: an individual patient data meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Liver biopsy is still needed for fibrosis staging in many patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The aims of this study were to evaluate the individual diagnostic performance of liver stiffness measurement by vibration controlled transient elastography (LSM-VCTE), Fibrosis-4 Index (FIB-4) and NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) Fibrosis Score (NFS) and to derive diagnostic strategies that could reduce the need for liver biopsies. DESIGN: Individual patient data meta-analysis of studies evaluating LSM-VCTE against liver histology was conducted. FIB-4 and NFS were computed where possible. Sensitivity, specificity and area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) were calculated. Biomarkers were assessed individually and in sequential combinations. RESULTS: Data were included from 37 primary studies (n=5735; 45% women; median age: 54 years; median body mass index: 30 kg/m2; 33% had type 2 diabetes; 30% had advanced fibrosis). AUROCs of individual LSM-VCTE, FIB-4 and NFS for advanced fibrosis were 0.85, 0.76 and 0.73. Sequential combination of FIB-4 cut-offs (<1.3; ≥2.67) followed by LSM-VCTE cut-offs (<8.0; ≥10.0 kPa) to rule-in or rule-out advanced fibrosis had sensitivity and specificity (95% CI) of 66% (63-68) and 86% (84-87) with 33% needing a biopsy to establish a final diagnosis. FIB-4 cut-offs (<1.3; ≥3.48) followed by LSM cut-offs (<8.0; ≥20.0 kPa) to rule out advanced fibrosis or rule in cirrhosis had a sensitivity of 38% (37-39) and specificity of 90% (89-91) with 19% needing biopsy. CONCLUSION: Sequential combinations of markers with a lower cut-off to rule-out advanced fibrosis and a higher cut-off to rule-in cirrhosis can reduce the need for liver biopsies.

Intralymphatic immunotherapy with tyrosine-adsorbed allergens: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Most previous studies used aluminum hydroxide-absorbed allergen extracts in evaluating the potential therapeutic roles of intralymphatic allergen-specific immunotherapy (ILAIT). In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy and safety of ILAIT with L-tyrosine-adsorbed allergen extracts of Dermatophagoides farinae, D. pteronyssinus, cat, dog, or mixtures thereof, in patients with allergic rhinitis induced by these allergens. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, study subjects received three intralymphatic injections of L-tyrosine-adsorbed allergen extracts (active group) or saline (placebo group) at 4-week intervals. RESULTS: Although ILAIT reduced daily medication use and skin reactivity to HDM and cat allergens at 4 months after treatment, overall symptom score on a visual analog scale (VAS), sinonasal outcome test-20 (SNOT-20), rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ), daily symptom score (dSS), daily medication score (dMS), daily symptom medication score (dSMS), nasal reactivity to HDM allergen, and basophil activity to HDM, cat, and dog allergens at 4 months and 1 year after treatment were similar between the treatment and control groups. Intralymphatic injection was more painful than a venous puncture, and pain at the injection site was the most frequent local adverse event (12.8%); dyspnea and wheezing were the most common systemic adverse events (5.3%). CONCLUSIONS: ILAIT with L-tyrosine-adsorbed allergen extracts does not exhibit profound therapeutic efficacy in allergic rhinitis and can provoke moderate-to-severe systemic reactions and cause pain at the injection site. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02665754; date of registration: 28 January 2016.

Steatosis severity affects the diagnostic performances of noninvasive fibrosis tests in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) includes a wide spectrum of heterogeneous metabolic subtypes. This study compared the diagnostic performances of noninvasive fibrosis tests in predicting advanced fibrosis among patients with NAFLD and examined the effects of the subgroups on their diagnostic performances. METHODS: Three hundred fifteen patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD were prospectively enrolled. Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) was performed to obtain liver stiffness measurements (LSMs). The aspartate aminotransferase-to-alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR), aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), fibrosis 4 index (FIB-4), NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) and BARD score were calculated. The diagnostic performances of noninvasive fibrosis tests were evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). RESULTS: Fibrosis 4 index (FIB-4) showed the highest AUROC for advanced fibrosis (0.866; 95% CI, 0.811-0.922). AUROC subgroup analyses were performed to assess the effects of the subgroups on diagnostic performance. For patients with advanced fibrosis, the APRI, BARD, FIB-4 and NFS AUROCs were significantly different among the radiological steatosis grades. Additionally, the AUROC of ARFI tended to decrease with increasing radiological steatosis severity. FIB-4 and NFS showed significantly lower AUROCs for advanced fibrosis in obese NAFLD than in nonobese NAFLD (P = .002 and P < .001 respectively). However, only radiological steatosis severity was independently associated with advanced fibrosis in multivariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Steatosis severity may affect the diagnostic performances of noninvasive fibrosis tests in patients with NAFLD. The application of different tools should be tailored for various NAFLD subgroups to optimize noninvasive fibrosis assessments.

Correction to: Magnetic resonance with diffusion-weighted imaging improves assessment of focal liver lesions in patients with potentially resectable pancreatic cancer on CT.

The original version of this article, published on 19 January 2018, unfortunately contained a mistake.

Magnetic resonance with diffusion-weighted imaging improves assessment of focal liver lesions in patients with potentially resectable pancreatic cancer on CT.

PURPOSE: To investigate added value of MRI to preoperative staging MDCT for evaluation of focal liver lesions (FLLs) in potentially resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In patients with potentially resectable PDACs after staging MDCT (n=167), characteristics of FLLs were scored as benign, indeterminate or metastases on an MDCT set and combined MDCT and MRI set by two readers, independently. Size of hepatic lesions was measured and detection rate of hepatic metastasis unsuspected by MDCT and diagnostic yield of MRI for FLLs were assessed. RESULTS: Reader-averaged figure-of-merit (FOM) of the combined set was significantly higher than that of MDCT alone (0.94 vs. 0.86, p=.028). In the negative-on-CT group, the diagnostic yield of MRI was 1.5-2.3% (2/133 and 3/133 for readers 1 and 2, respectively). In the indeterminate-on-CT group, MRI yield was 10.5-13.6% (2/19 and 3/22) and in patients with suspicious-metastasis-on-CT, 8.3-26.7% (1/12 and 4/15). All lesions with false-positive and false-negative CT findings were ≤1 cm. CONCLUSION: In potentially resectable PDACs, addition of MRI with DWI can provide significantly better diagnostic performance in characterization of focal liver lesions, especially for small-sized (≤ 1 cm) MDCT-indeterminate or suspicious metastasis lesions, aiding in determination of appropriate operation candidates. KEY POINTS: • Addition of MRI provides better diagnostic performance in characterization of liver lesions. • Combined interpretation of MRI and MDCT provided less frequent indeterminate liver lesions. • Diagnostic yield of MRI was high in CT-indeterminate or suspicious metastatic lesions. • Operation candidates can be determined with greater confidence in potentially resectable PDACs.

Is Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System Version 2 Sufficiently Discovering Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer? Per-Lesion Radiology-Pathology Correlation Study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to evaluate the performance of multiparametric MRI with Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2 (PI-RADSv2) for detecting prostate cancer (PCA) and clinically significant PCA through this per-lesion one-to-one correlation study between pathologically proven lesions and MRI-visible lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 93 PCA lesions from 44 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy were included in this retrospective study. Two radiologists scored every visible lesion with a PI-RADSv2 score of 3, 4, or 5 in each patient's multiparametric MRI examination using PI-RADSv2. A per-lesion one-to-one correlation between MRI-visible lesions and pathologically confirmed PCA lesions was conducted during regular radiology-pathology meetings at our center. The detection rates of clinically significant PCA and the proportions of clinically significant PCAs from MRI-visible and MRI-invisible PCAs were calculated. The performance of PI-RADSv2 for detecting clinically significant PCA was evaluated using the positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and area under the ROC curve (AUC) value. RESULTS: Using a PI-RADSv2 score of 3, 4, or 5 as an MRI-visible lesion, 46.88% of clinically significant PCA lesions were detected. The PPV, NPV, and AUC were 96.77%, 45.16%, and 0.72, respectively. Tumor volume and secondary Gleason grade showed a statistically significant difference between MRI-visible and MRI-invisible clinically significant PCAs. CONCLUSION: Multiparametric MRI with PI-RADSv2 missed a considerable number of clinically significant PCA lesions in this per-lesion analysis, causing a relatively low NPV and diagnostic performance compared with previous per-patient studies. However, the high PPV indicates that multiparametric MRI with PI-RADSv2 may be useful for follow-up of active surveillance and planning focal therapy.

Diagnostic value of integrated PET/MRI for detection and localization of prostate cancer: Comparative study of multiparametric MRI and PET/CT.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of integrated positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) compared with conventional multiparametric MRI and PET/computed tomography (CT) for the detailed and accurate segmental detection/localization of prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients who underwent integrated PET/MRI using 18 F-choline and 18 F-FDG with an integrated PET/MRI scanner followed by radical prostatectomy were included. The prostate was divided into six segments (sextants) according to anatomical landmarks. Three radiologists noted the presence and location of cancer in each sextant on four different image interpretation modalities in consensus (1, multiparametric MRI; 2, integrated 18 F-FDG PET/MRI; 3, integrated 18 F-choline PET/MRI; and 4, combined interpretation of 1 and 18 F-FDG PET/CT). Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values, likelihood ratios, and diagnostic performance based on the DOR (diagnostic odds ratio) and NNM (number needed to misdiagnose) were evaluated for each interpretation modality, using the pathologic result as the reference standard. Detection rates of seminal vesicle invasion and extracapsular invasion were also evaluated. RESULTS: Integrated 18 F-choline PET/MRI showed significantly higher sensitivity than did multiparametric MRI alone in high Gleason score patients (77.0% and 66.2%, P = 0.011), low Gleason score patients (66.7% and 47.4%, P = 0.007), and total patients (72.5% and 58.0%, P = 0.008) groups. Integrated 18 F-choline PET/MRI and 18 F-FDG PET/MRI showed similar sensitivity and specificity to combined interpretation of multiparametric MRI and 18 F-FDG PET/CT (for sensitivity, 58.0%, 63.4%, 72.5%, and 68.7%, respectively, and for specificity, 87.3%, 80.0%, 81.8%, 72.7%, respectively, in total patient group). However, integrated 18 F-choline PET/MRI showed the best diagnostic performance (as DOR, 11.875 in total patients, 27.941 in high Gleason score patients, 5.714 in low Gleason score groups) among the imaging modalities, regardless of Gleason score. Integrated 18 F-choline PET/MRI showed higher sensitivity and diagnostic performance than did integrated 18 F-FDG PET/MRI (as DOR, 6.917 in total patients, 15.143 in high Gleason score patients, 3.175 in low Gleason score groups) in all three patient groups. CONCLUSION: Integrated PET/MRI carried out using a dedicated integrated PET/MRI scanner provides better sensitivity, accuracy, and diagnostic value for detection/localization of prostate cancer compared to multiparametric MRI. Generally, integrated 18 F-choline PET/MRI shows better sensitivity, accuracy, and diagnostic performance than does integrated 18 F-FDG PET/MRI as well as combined interpretation of multiparametric MRI with 18 F-FDG PET/CT. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;45:597-609.

Exophytic renal angiomyolipoma and perirenal liposarcoma: revisiting the role of CT for differential diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Exophytic renal angiomyolipoma and liposarcoma are two representative tumors in the retroperitoneum with fatty components that have potential to be misdiagnosed with each other. PURPOSE: To compare the computed tomography (CT) findings of exophytic renal angiomyolipoma and perirenal liposarcoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fourteen and 16 cases with histologically-proven exophytic renal angiomyolipoma and perirenal liposarcoma, respectively, with preoperative CT from January 2000 to December 2013 were reviewed by two radiologists blinded to the clinical and pathological findings for an array of CT findings. These findings were compared between exophytic renal angiomyolipoma and perirenal liposarcoma using the Student t-test and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Patients with exophytic renal angiomyolipoma were younger (P = 0.001) without differences in sex (P = 1.000). Exophytic renal angiomyolipomas were smaller (P = 0.004) and more commonly showed the following findings: renal parenchymal defect (P < 0.001), multiple linear vessels (P = 0.026), aneurysmal dilatation of intratumoral vessels (P = 0.024), renal parenchymal vascular pedicle (P < 0.001), hemorrhage (P = 0.037), encapsulated margin (P = 0.001), and other intrarenal fatty lesions (P = 0.037). No significant difference was seen in laterality, renal hilar vascular pedicle, non-fatty soft tissue nodule, calcification, or kidney displacement (P = 0.236-1.000). CONCLUSION: Several CT findings were significantly different between exophytic renal angiomyolipoma and perirenal liposarcoma and may be helpful for differentiating between the two entities when confronting a fatty mass in the perirenal space.

MDCT findings of renal cell carcinoma associated with Xp11.2 translocation and TFE3 gene fusion and papillary renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to compare the MDCT features of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) associated with Xp11.2 translocation and TFE3 gene fusion (Xp11 RCC) and papillary RCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study included 19 and 39 patients with histologically proven Xp11 RCC and papillary RCC, respectively, who underwent multiphase renal MDCT before nephrectomy. CT findings were compared between Xp11 RCC and papillary RCC using the Student t test and chi-square test. Subgroup analyses of small (< 4 cm) renal masses for these features were performed. RESULTS. Patients with Xp11 RCC were younger (p < 0.001), and it was more prevalent in women (p = 0.007). Tumor size was greater in Xp11 RCC (p = 0.004) and more common in cystic change (p < 0.001). Calcification and unenhanced high-attenuating areas were more frequent in Xp11 RCC (p = 0.001 and 0.026, respectively). Xp11 RCCs were more prevalent in lymph node and distant metastasis (p < 0.001 and p = 0.031, respectively). Xp11 RCC and papillary RCC showed no significant difference in epicenter, margin, and venous and collecting duct invasion (p = 0.403-1.000). Although Xp11 RCC and papillary RCC had lower attenuation than the renal cortex on corticomedullary and early excretory phases (p < 0.001), only Xp11 RCCs were hyperattenuating to the cortex on the unenhanced phase (p < 0.001). Xp11 RCCs had significantly higher attenuation compared with papillary RCCs on all phases (p ≤ 0.02). Regarding small masses, cystic change, calcification, and lymph node metastasis were still more frequent in Xp11 RCCs (p ≤ 0.016). CONCLUSION. Greater size, more cystic change, calcification, high-attenuating areas on unenhanced imaging, and lymph node and distant metastasis were helpful for differentiating Xp11 RCC from papillary RCC.

Magnetic resonance imaging findings of mucinous borderline ovarian tumors: comparison of intestinal and endocervical subtypes.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the MRI features of intestinal and endocervical mucinous borderline ovarian tumors (MBOT). METHODS: Fifty seven and 17 patients with histologically proven intestinal (n = 62) and endocervical (n = 22) MBOT, respectively, underwent preoperative MRI which were reviewed by two radiologists blinded to histology. An array of MRI features and clinical factors (age, cancer antigen 125 [CA-125]) were compared between intestinal and endocervical subtypes using the t test and Chi-square test. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate for significant predictors of subtype. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in patient age of intestinal and endocervical MBOT (P = 0.423). CA-125 levels were higher in endocervical MBOT (P = 0.022). Regarding MR features, intestinal MBOT was larger, had more septations, more frequently demonstrated honeycomb loculi, and signal intensity discrepancy while endocervical MBOT was more frequently bilateral with papillary projections (P < 0.05). At multivariate analysis, higher CA-125 (odds ratio [OR] 1.015, P = 0.034) and the presence of papillary projections (OR 11.441, P = 0.024) were the only independent predictive factors of endocervical MBOT. CONCLUSION: Intestinal and endocervical subtypes of MBOT demonstrated significantly different features on MRI. The presence of papillary projection was the only independent MRI feature predictive of endocervical MBOT.

MR imaging findings of ovarian lymphoma: differentiation from other solid ovarian tumors.

PURPOSE: To evaluate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings for distinguishing ovarian lymphomas from other solid ovarian tumors. METHODS: This retrospective multicenter study included 14 women (median age, 46.5 years; range, 26-81 years) with surgically proven ovarian lymphoma and 28 women with solid ovarian tumors other than lymphoma. We conducted a subjective image analysis of factors including laterality, shape, composition, T2 signal intensity (SI), heterogeneity, diffusion restriction, enhancement, and presence of peripheral follicles. A generalized estimating equation was used to identify MRI findings that could be used to distinguish ovarian lymphomas from other solid ovarian tumors. Diagnostic performance of the identified MRI findings was assessed using the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC). RESULTS: Ovarian lymphoma more frequently showed homogeneous high SI on T2-weighted imaging (81.8% vs. 19.4%, P < 0.001) and peripheral ovarian follicles (40.9% vs. 8.3%, P = 0.01) than other ovarian solid tumors did. Bilaterality, shape, size, diffusion restriction, and enhancement did not differ between the two groups (P > 0.05 for all). Homogeneous high SI on T2-weighted imaging was the only independent MRI finding (OR = 15.19; 95% CI 3.15-73.33; P = 0.001) in the multivariable analysis. Homogeneous high SI on T2-weighted imaging yielded an AUC of 0.82 with a sensitivity of 81.8% and specificity of 80.6% in distinguishing ovarian lymphomas from other solid ovarian tumors. CONCLUSION: Homogeneous high signal intensity on T2-weighted imaging was helpful in distinguishing ovarian lymphomas from other solid ovarian tumors. Peripheral ovarian follicles might be an additional clue that suggests a diagnosis of ovarian lymphoma.

Comprehensive ultrasonographic evaluation of normal and fibrotic kidneys in a mouse model with an ultra-highfrequency transducer.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to establish baseline morphological and functional data for normal mouse kidneys via a clinical 33 MHz ultra-high-frequency (UHF) transducer, compare the data with the findings from fibrotic mice, and assess correlations between ultrasonography (US) parameters and fibrosis-related markers. METHODS: This retrospective study aggregated data from three separate experiments (obstructive nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy, and acute-to-chronic kidney injury models). Morphological parameters (kidney size, parenchymal thickness [PT]) and functional (shear-wave speed [SWS], stiffness, resistive index [RI], and microvascular imaging-derived vascular index [VI]) were assessed and compared between normal and fibrotic mouse kidneys. Semi-quantitative histopathologic scores were calculated and molecular markers (epithelial cadherin), Collagen 1A1 [Col1A1], transforming growth factor-ß, and α-smooth muscle actin [α-SMA]) were evaluated using western blots. Correlations with US parameters were explored. RESULTS: Clinical UHF US successfully imaged the kidneys of the experimental mice. A three-layer configuration was prevalent in the normal mouse kidney parenchyma (34/35) but was blurred in most fibrotic mouse kidneys (33/40). US parameters, including size (11.14 vs. 10.70 mm), PT (2.07 vs. 1.24 mm), RI (0.64 vs. 0.77), VI (22.55% vs. 11.47%, only for non-obstructive kidneys), SWS (1.67 vs. 2.06 m/s), and stiffness (8.23 vs. 12.92 kPa), showed significant differences between normal and fibrotic kidneys (P<0.001). These parameters also demonstrated strong discriminative ability in receiver operating characteristic curve analysis (area under the curve, 0.76 to 0.95; P<0.001). PT, VI, and RI were significantly correlated with histological fibrosis markers (ρ=-0.64 to -0.68 for PT and VI, ρ=0.71-0.76 for RI, P<0.001). VI exhibited strong negative correlations with Col1A1 (ρ=-0.76, P=0.006) and α-SMA (ρ=-0.75, P=0.009). CONCLUSION: Clinical UHF US effectively distinguished normal and fibrotic mouse kidneys, indicating the potential of US parameters, notably VI, as noninvasive markers for tracking fibrosis initiation and progression in mouse kidney fibrosis models.

Contrast-Enhanced MRI in Women with Endometrial Cancer: Dynamic Versus Single-Phase Acquisitions.

Background: The 2019 European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) guidelines for endometrial cancer recommend performing either dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE MRI) or single-phase CE MRI. However, no study has directly compared these options. Therefore, this study compared dynamic versus single-phase CE MRI for the evaluation of myometrial invasion in women with endometrial cancer. Methods: This retrospective, single-institution comparative study was conducted among women with surgically proven endometrial cancer, including 30 consecutive women with single-phase CE MRI and 30 age- and pathologic stage-matched women with dynamic CE MRI. Three readers independently compared dynamic and single-phase CE MRI in terms of the tumor-myometrium signal intensity (SI) difference ratio, depth of myometrial invasion, image quality, and image number. Pathologic findings served as a reference standard for the depth of myometrial invasion. Results: The estimated mean SI difference ratios of dynamic CE MRI and single-phase CE MRI fell within an equivalence margin of 0.05 (90% confidence intervals [CIs] = [-0.0497 to -0.0165], [-0.0226 to -0.0403], and [-0.0429 to -0.0433], respectively, for readers A, B, and C). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the detection of deep myometrial invasion was not significantly different between the acquisitions (P = .3315, P = .3345, and P = .8593, respectively). Single-phase CE MRI showed significantly better image quality than dynamic CE MRI (P = .0143, P = .0042, and P = .0066, respectively), while the median number of images for dynamic CE MRI was 2.4 times higher than that for single-phase CE MRI. Conclusion: Single-phase acquisition may be a better option for CE MRI in women with endometrial cancer than dynamic acquisition.

Transitional zone prostate cancer: Performance of texture-based machine learning and image-based deep learning.

This study is aimed to explore the performance of texture-based machine learning and image-based deep-learning for enhancing detection of Transitional-zone prostate cancer (TZPCa) in the background of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), using a one-to-one correlation between prostatectomy-based pathologically proven lesion and MRI. Seventy patients confirmed as TZPCa and twenty-nine patients confirmed as BPH without TZPCa by radical prostatectomy. For texture analysis, a radiologist drew the region of interest (ROI) for the pathologically correlated TZPCa and the surrounding BPH on T2WI. Significant features were selected using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), trained by 3 types of machine learning algorithms (logistic regression [LR], support vector machine [SVM], and random forest [RF]) and validated by the leave-one-out method. For image-based machine learning, both TZPCa and BPH without TZPCa images were trained using convolutional neural network (CNN) and underwent 10-fold cross validation. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were presented for each method. The diagnostic performances presented and compared using an ROC curve and AUC value. All the 3 Texture-based machine learning algorithms showed similar AUC (0.854-0.861)among them with generally high specificity (0.710-0.775). The Image-based deep learning showed high sensitivity (0.946) with good AUC (0.802) and moderate specificity (0.643). Texture -based machine learning can be expected to serve as a support tool for diagnosis of human-suspected TZ lesions with high AUC values. Image-based deep learning could serve as a screening tool for detecting suspicious TZ lesions in the context of clinically suspected TZPCa, on the basis of the high sensitivity.

Renal Doppler ultrasonography for predicting non-diabetic kidney disease in patients with diabetes.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to assess the role of renal Doppler ultrasonography (US) in predicting non-diabetic kidney disease (NDKD) in patients with diabetes, using histologic findings as the reference standard. METHODS: Fifty-nine consecutive patients with diabetes who underwent renal Doppler US and native kidney biopsy were included in this retrospective, single-institutional study. Based on histologic findings, patients were classified as having diabetic nephropathy (DN) or NDKD. Renal Doppler US findings, including cortical echogenicity, corticomedullary differentiation, and the resistive index (RI), were compared between DN and NDKD. A subgroup analysis according to chronic kidney disease (CKD) status was also performed. RESULTS: Cortical echogenicity and corticomedullary differentiation showed no significant differences between DN and NDKD (P=0.887 and P>0.99, respectively), whereas the RI was significantly higher in patients with DN than in those with NDKD (P=0.032). The subgroup analysis revealed a significant difference in the RI between DN and NDKD in patients with diabetes and CKD (P=0.010), but a significant difference was not found in those without CKD (P=0.713). When limited to patients with diabetes and CKD, the RI had an area under the curve value of 0.759, sensitivity of 57.1%, specificity of 81.0%, positive likelihood ratio of 3.0, and negative LR of 0.5 for predicting NDKD, using a cutoff value of ≤0.69. CONCLUSION: Renal Doppler US may be useful in predicting NDKD in patients with diabetes and CKD.

Periostin deficiency attenuates kidney fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy by improving pancreatic ß-cell dysfunction and reducing kidney EMT.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is associated with kidney fibrosis. A previous study revealed that periostin (POSTN) contributes to kidney fibrosis. This study examined the role of POSTN in DN. The urinary concentrations of POSTN and TNC increased according to the severity of DN in human samples. Streptozotocin (STZ) was administered after unilateral nephrectomy (UNXSTZ) to induce DN in wild-type and Postn-null mice. Four experimental groups were generated: wild-typeham (WT Sham), wild-type UNXSTZ (WT STZ), Postn-null Sham (KO Sham), and Postn-null UNXSTZ (KO STZ). After 20 weeks, the KO STZ group had lower levels of urine albumin excretion, glomerular sclerosis, and interstitial fibrosis than those of the WT STZ group. Additionally, the KO STZ group had lower expression of fibrosis markers, including TNC. The KO STZ group showed better glucose regulation than the WT STZ model. Furthermore, the KO STZ group exhibited significantly preserved pancreatic islet integrity and insulin expression. HK-2 cells were used to observe the aggravation of fibrosis caused by POSTN under TGF-ß conditions. We stimulated INS-1 cells with streptozotocin and evaluated the viability of these cells. The anti-POSTN antibody treatment of INS-1 cells with streptozotocin resulted in higher cell viability than that with treatment with streptozotocin alone. The absence of POSTN in DN contributes to renal fibrosis alleviation by improving pancreatic ß-cell function. Additionally, there is an association between POSTN and TNC.

Low-quality muscle mass rather than normal-quality muscle mass determines fibrosis progression in biopsy-proven NAFLD.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Sarcopaenia is associated with advanced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the impact of the muscle mass categorised by muscle quality on fibrosis progression remains unclear. METHODS: A total of 292 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD who underwent serial vibration-controlled transient elastography assessments at least 1 year from baseline were selected. The skeletal muscle area (SMA) was determined on abdominal computed tomography (CT) at the third lumbar vertebra level and categorised to normal-attenuation muscle area (NAMA), low-attenuation muscle area (LAMA) and intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) using a muscle quality map. These SMAs were normalised by the height squared to obtain the skeletal muscle index (SMI). RESULTS: At baseline, as the histological fibrosis stage increased, SMINAMA decreased and SMILAMA increased (p for trend = 0.014 and p for trend <0.001, respectively), which was not significant after adjustment for age, sex and obesity. During a median follow-up of 41 months, fibrosis progression was detected in 48 out of 292 patients, and higher SMILAMA quartiles independently increased the risk of fibrosis progression in a dose-dependent manner (hazard ratio [HR] per quartile: 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.91). The highest quartile of SMILAMA increased the risk of fibrosis progression by 3.25 times compared to the lowest quartile of SMILAMA (95% CI, 1.18-8.90). SMINAMA quartiles were not associated with the risk of fibrosis progression. CONCLUSION: Increased low-quality muscle mass, but not decreased normal-quality muscle mass, as assessed by a muscle quality map in CT, predicts fibrosis progression in patients with NAFLD.

Preoperative risk stratification in women with endometrial cancer: A comparison of contrast-enhanced MR imaging and diffusion-weighted MR imaging.

PURPOSE: To compare CE MRI and DWI in the risk stratification of women with endometrial cancer for lymph node metastasis. METHOD: Two readers independently assessed the degree of myometrial invasion on two separate occasions in a retrospective cohort of 84 women with endometrial cancers: once with CE MRI and standard anatomic sequences and another time with DWI and standard anatomic sequences. Participants were stratified according to their risk of lymph node metastasis following the European Society for Medical Oncology guidelines. The rate of lymph node metastasis was compared between the risk stratification groups obtained using CE MRI or DWI by generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: In the low-risk group, the rate of lymph node metastasis was 1.9% (1/53) when using CE MRI and 1.9% (1/54) when using DWI for reader 1, and 3.8% (2/52) when using CE MRI and 1.9% (1/52) when using DWI for reader 2. The rate of lymph node metastasis in the high-risk group was 25.8% (8/31) when using CE MRI and 26.7% (8/30) when using DWI for reader 1, and 21.9% (7/32) when using CE MRI and 25.0% (8/32) when using DWI for reader 2. There was no significant difference between CE MRI and DWI in the rate of lymph node metastasis according to the risk stratification (p > .05 in both low- and high-risk groups for both readers). CONCLUSION: DWI might be a comparable alternative to CE MRI in the preoperative risk stratification of women with endometrial cancer for lymph node metastasis.

Gadoxetic acid disodium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for biliary and vascular evaluations in preoperative living liver donors: comparison with gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI.

PURPOSE: To compare gadoxetic acid disodium (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA)-enhanced MRI in preoperative living liver donors for the evaluation of vascular and biliary variations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two living liver donors who underwent preoperative MRI were included in this study. Thirty-one patients underwent MRI with Gd-EOB-DTPA enhancement, and the other 31 underwent MRI with Gd-BOPTA enhancement. Two abdominal radiologists retrospectively reviewed dynamic T1-weighted and T1-weighted MR cholangiography images and ranked overall image qualities for the depiction of the hepatic artery, portal vein, hepatic vein, and bile duct on a 5-point scale and determined the presence and types of normal variations in each dynamic phase. Semiquantitative analysis for bile duct visualization was also conducted by calculating bile duct-to-liver contrast ratios. RESULTS: No statistical differences were found between the two contrast media in terms of hepatic artery or bile duct image quality by the two reviewers, or in terms of portal vein image quality by one reviewer (P > 0.05). Gd-BOPTA provided better image qualities than Gd-EOB-DTPA for the depiction of hepatic veins by both reviewers, and for the depiction of portal veins by one reviewer (P < 0.01). The two contrast media-enhanced images had similar bile duct-to-liver contrast ratios (P > 0.05). Regarding diagnostic accuracies with hepatic vascular/biliary branching types, no significant differences were observed between the two contrast media (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Gd-EOB-DTPA could be as useful as Gd-BOPTA for the preoperative evaluation of living liver donors, and has the advantage of early hepatobiliary phase image acquisition.