Kinetic Resolution Polymerization Enabled Chemical Synthesis of Perfectly Isotactic Polythioesters.

Isotactic polythioesters (PTEs) that are thioester analogs to natural polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have attracted growing attention due to their distinct properties. However, the development of chemically synthetic methods for preparing isotactic PTEs has long been an intricate endeavour. Herein, we report the successful synthesis of perfectly isotactic PTEs via stereocontrolled ring-opening polymerization. This binaphthalene-salen aluminium (SalBinam-Al) catalyst promoted a robust polymerization of rac-α-substituted-ß-propiothiolactones (rac-BTL and rac-PTL) with highly kinetic resolution, affording perfectly isotactic P(BTL) and P(PTL) with Mn up to 276 kDa. Impressively, the isotactic P(BTL) formed a supramolecular stereocomplex with improved thermal property (Tm=204 °C). Ultimately, this kinetic resolution polymerization enabled the facile isolation of enantiopure (S)-BTL, which could efficiently convert to an important pharmaceutical building block (S)-2-benzyl-3-mercapto-propanoic acid. Isotactic P(PTL) served as a tough and ductile material comparable to the commercialized polyolefins. This synthetic system allowed to access of isotactic PTEs, establishing a powerful platform for the discovery of sustainable plastics.

Interictal dynamic network transitions in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE: To reveal the possible routine of brain network dynamic alterations in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) and to establish a predicted model of seizure recurrence during interictal periods. METHODS: Seventy-nine unilateral mTLE patients with hippocampal sclerosis and 97 healthy controls from two centers were retrospectively enrolled. Dynamic brain configuration analyses were performed with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data to quantify the functional stability over time and the dynamic interactions between brain regions. Relationships between seizure frequency and ipsilateral hippocampal module allegiance were evaluated using a machine learning predictive model. RESULTS: Compared to the healthy controls, patients with mTLE displayed an overall higher dynamic network, switching mainly in the epileptogenic regions (false discovery rate [FDR] corrected p-FDR < .05). Moreover, the dynamic network configuration in mTLE was characterized by decreased recruitment (intra-network communication), and increased integration (inter-network communication) among hippocampal systems and large-scale higher-order brain networks (p-FDR < .05). We further found that the dynamic interactions between the hippocampal system and the default-mode network (DMN) or control networks exhibited an opposite distribution pattern (p-FDR < .05). Strikingly, we showed that there was a robust association between predicted seizure frequency based on the ipsilateral hippocampal-DMN dynamics model and actual seizure frequency (p-perm < .001). SIGNIFICANCE: These findings suggest that the interictal brain of mTLE is characterized by dynamical shifts toward unstable state. Our study provides novel insights into the brain dynamic network alterations and supports the potential use of DMN dynamic parameters as candidate neuroimaging markers in monitoring the seizure frequency clinically during interictal periods.

Oxygen Challenge Imaging Reveals Differences in Metabolic Activity Between Kurtosis Lesion and Diffusion/Kurtosis Lesion Mismatch in a Rodent Model of Acute Stroke.

OBJECTIVE: Accurate identification of potentially salvageable tissues is critical for improving acute stroke treatment. A previous study showed that the kurtosis lesion exhibited insignificant response after prompt reperfusion treatment, while the diffusion/kurtosis lesion mismatch could recover after reperfusion. We hypothesized that these 2 regions are in different metabolic states. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transient oxygen challenge (OC) is a procedure that uses oxygen as a metabolic bio-tracer and has been performed to explore metabolic activity in tissues. We combined OC with multiparameter magnetic resonance imaging (including diffusion kurtosis imaging and T2* mapping sequences) to study metabolic activity in the ischemic brain of Sprague Dawley rats. RESULTS: Oxygen challenge image analysis revealed changes in T2* values, most significantly in the mean diffusivity (MD)/mean kurtosis (MK) lesion mismatch (22.3 ± 1.6%) and least significantly in the MK lesions (6.6 ± 0.6%). The MD images acquired within 138 ± 9 minutes after ischemia showed a larger ischemic lesion (45.5 ± 3.0% of the total area) than the MK images (33.2 ± 4.2% of the total area). The change rate of the MK value (53.0 ± 4.4%) was higher than that of the MD value (37.5 ± 3.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that MK lesion and MD/MK lesion mismatch exhibited different metabolic activity states. The MK lesion presented metabolic-related values close to the ischemic core, while at least part of the MD/MK mismatch area was comparable with ischemic penumbra metabolic activity. These findings are important to support image-guided individualized stroke therapies.

The role of histogram analysis in diffusion-weighted imaging in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions.

BACKGROUND: The present study aims to investigate the role of histogram analysis of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions. METHODS: The magnetic resonance imaging and clinical data of 55 patients (63 lesions) were retrospectively analyzed. The multi-b-valued diffusion-weighted imaging image was processed using the MADC software to obtain the gray-scaled maps of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)-slow, ADC-fast and f. The MaZda software was used to extract the histogram metrics of these maps. Combined with the conventional sequence images, the region of interest (ROI) was manually drawn along the edge of the lesion at the maximum level of the gray-scale image, and the difference of the data was analyzed between the benign and malignant breast lesions. RESULTS: There were 29 patients with 37 benign lesions, which included 23 fibroadenomas, 6 adenosis, 1 breast cysts, 4 intraductal papillomas, and 3 inflammations of breast. Furthermore, 26 malignant lesions in 26 patients, which included 20 non-specific invasive ductal carcinomas, 5 intraductal carcinomas and 1 patient with squamous cell carcinoma. The ADC-slow (mean and the 50th percentile) and f (minimum, mean, kurtosis, the 10th percentile and 50th percentile) of these malignant breast lesions were significantly lower than those of benign lesions (P < 0.05), while ADC-fast (kurtosis) and f (variance, skewness) of these malignant breast lesions were significantly higher than those of benign lesions (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The histogram analysis of ADC-slow (mean and the 50th percentile), ADC-fast (kurtosis) and f (minimum, mean, kurtosis, the 10th percentile and 50th percentile. Variance, skewness) can provide a more objective and accurate basis for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions.

Monoexponential, Biexponential, and stretched-exponential models using diffusion-weighted imaging: A quantitative differentiation of breast lesions at 3.0T.

BACKGROUND: Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) plays an important role in the differentiation of malignant and benign breast lesions. PURPOSE: To investigate the utility of various diffusion parameters obtained from monoexponential, biexponential, and stretched-exponential DWI models in the differential diagnosis of breast lesions. STUDY TYPE: Prospective. POPULATION: Sixty-one patients (age range: 25-68 years old; mean age: 46 years old) with 31 malignant lesions, 42 benign lesions, and 28 normal breast tissues diagnosed initially by clinical palpation, ultrasonography, or conventional mammography were enrolled in the study from January to September 2016. FIELD STRENGTH: 3.0T MR scanner, T1 WI, T2 WI, DWI (conventional and multi-b values), dynamic contrast-enhanced. ASSESSMENT: The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was calculated by monoexponential analysis. The diffusion coefficient (ADCslow ), pseudodiffusion coefficient (ADCfast ), and perfusion fraction (f) were calculated using the biexponential model. The distributed diffusion coefficient (DDC) and water molecular diffusion heterogeneity index (α) were obtained using a stretched-exponential model. All parameters were compared for malignant tumors, benign tumors, and normal breast tissues. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to compare the ability of these parameters, in order to differentiate benign and malignant breast lesions. STATISTICAL TESTS: All statistical analyses were performed using statistical software (SPSS). RESULTS: ADC, ADCslow , f, DDC, and α values were significantly lower in malignant tumors when compared with normal breast tissues and benign tumors (P < 0.05). However, ADC and f had higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values (0.889 and 0.919, respectively). DATA CONCLUSION: The parameters derived from the biexponential and stretched-exponential DWI could provide additional information for differentiating between benign and malignant breast tumors when compared with conventional diffusion parameters. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Technical Efficacy: Stage 4 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:1461-1467.

Histogram Analysis Parameters ADC for Distinguishing Ventricular Neoplasms of Ependymoma, Choroid Plexus Papilloma, and Central Neurocytoma.

BACKGROUND To determine if histograms of ADC can be used to differentiate ventricular ependymomas, choroid plexus papillomas (CPPs), and central neurocytomas (CNCs). MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed records from 185 patients from 1 January 2014 to 1 November 2018. We finally included a total of 60 patients: 36 (60.00%) had histologically confirmed ependymomas, 10 (16.67%) had CPPs, and 14 (23.33%) had CNCs, as determined by routine MRI scanning at 3.0T. The ADC histogram features were derived and then compared by Kruskal-Wallis test (they were not normally distributed). Bonferroni test was used to compare the 2 groups and then we determined the ROC. RESULTS Ependymomas had significantly higher mean, perc.01%, perc.10%, perc.50%, perc.90%, and perc.99% than CNCs. Ependymomas had significantly lower skewness than CNCs. Histogram metrics derived from mean, perc.01%, perc.10%, perc.50%, and perc.90% were significantly lower in the CNCs group than in the CPPs group. CPPs showed significantly lower skewness than CNCs. A threshold value of 86.50 for perc.50% to predict ependymomas from CNCs was estimated (AUC=0.97, sensitivity=97.20%, specificity=85.70%). Optimal diagnostic performance to predict CPPs from CNCs (AUC=0.96, sensitivity=100.00%, specificity=85.70%) was obtained when setting Perc.50%=84.00 as the threshold value. CONCLUSIONS The ADC histogram analysis may help to discriminate ependymomas, CPPs, and CNCs.

microRNA-590 suppresses the tumorigenesis and invasiveness of non-small cell lung cancer cells by targeting ADAM9.

microRNAs (miRNAs), a family of small non-coding RNA molecules, are implicated in cancer growth and progression. In the present study, we examined the expression and biological roles of miR-590 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Compared to normal lung tissues, miR-590 expression was downregulated in primary NSCLCs and, to a greater extent, in corresponding brain metastases. NSCLC cell lines with high metastatic potential had significantly (P < 0.05) lower levels of miR-590 than those with low metastatic potential. Re-expression of miR-590 suppressed NSCLC cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo. In contrast, inhibition of miR-590 enhanced the migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. Mechanistic studies revealed that a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 9 (ADAM9) was a direct target of miR-590. Delivery of miR-590 mimic was found to decrease endogenous ADAM9 expression in NSCLC cells. Enforced expression of a miRNA-resistant form of ADAM9 significantly restored the aggressive behaviors in miR-590-overexpressing NSCLC cells. Taken together, our data reveal miR-590 as a tumor suppressor in NSCLC, which is at least partially mediated through targeting of ADAM9. Restoration of miR-590 may provide a promising therapeutic strategy for NSCLC.

Whole-brain 320-detector row dynamic volume CT perfusion detected crossed cerebellar diaschisis after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of 320-detector row CT used to detect crossed cerebellar diaschisis (CCD) in patients with unilateral supratentorial spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH). METHODS: We investigated 62 of 156 patients with unilateral supratentorial SICH using 320-detector row CT scanning. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), cerebral blood volume (rCBV), mean transit time (rMTT), and time to peak (rTTP) levels were measured in different regions of interest (ROIs) that were manually outlined on computed tomography perfusion (CTP) for the cerebrum, including normal-appearing brain tissue that surrounded the perilesional low-density area (NA) and the perihematomal low-density area (PA) in all patients and the cerebellum (ipsilateral and contralateral) in CCD-positive patients. RESULTS: Of 62 cases, a total of 14 met the criteria for CCD due to cerebellar perfusion asymmetry on CTP maps. In the quantitative analysis, significant differences were found in the perfusion parameters between the contralateral and ipsilateral cerebellum in CCD-positive cases. No significant differences were found between the CCD-positive group and the CCD-negative group according to the hematoma volume, NIHSS scores, and cerebral perfusion abnormality (each P > 0.05). The correlation analysis of the degree of NA, PA perfusion abnormality, and the degree of CCD severity showed negative and significant linear correlations (R, -0.66∼-0.56; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: 320-detector row CT is a robust and practicable method for the comprehensive primary imaging work-up of CCD in unilateral supratentorial SICH patients.

Differentiation of confluent hepatic fibrosis and infiltrative hepatocellular carcinoma on MR imaging.

BACKGROUND: To identify reliable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features that can differentiate confluent fibrosis (CF) from infiltrative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on Twenty CF patients and 28 infiltrative HCC patients who underwent upper abdomen MRI scans. The imaging features of lesions were analyzed, and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of lesions were measured. Accuracy, sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of CF were calculated for each category individually and combined. RESULTS: Compared to infiltrative HCC, hepatic capsular retraction at the site of lesion, hepatic volume loss at the site of lesion and "nodular surround sign" were more common in patients with CF (all P < 0.001). Hepatic volume loss at the site of lesion, no or mild enhancement in arterial phase, and hyper-enhancing in delayed phase to the background parenchyma showed superior diagnostic accuracy (83.3%, 85.4%, 97.9%, respectively). When the lesion exhibited hepatic volume loss at the site of lesion or no or mild enhancement in arterial phase or hyper-enhancing in delayed phase, a sensitivity of 100.0% for the diagnosis of CF was achieved. When the lesion was positive for any two of three categories, or positive for all three categories, a specificity of 100.0% was achieved. The ADC values of CF were higher than those of infiltrative HCC (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The combination of the hepatic volume loss at the site of lesion, no or mild enhancement in arterial phase, and hyper-enhancing in delayed phase to the background parenchyma can be considered reliable MR features for the diagnosis of CF, as they allow differentiation from infiltrative HCC.

Enhanced image quality and lesion detection in FLAIR MRI of white matter hyperintensity through deep learning-based reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To delve deeper into the study of degenerative diseases, it becomes imperative to investigate whether deep-learning reconstruction (DLR) can improve the evaluation of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) on 3.0T scanners, and compare its lesion detection capabilities with conventional reconstruction (CR). METHODS: A total of 131 participants (mean age, 46 years ±17; 46 men) were included in the study. The images of these participants were evaluated by readers blinded to clinical data. Two readers independently assessed subjective image indicators on a 4-point scale. The severity of WMH was assessed by four raters using the Fazekas scale. To evaluate the relative detection capabilities of each method, we employed the Wilcoxon signed rank test to compare scores between the DLR and the CR group. Additionally, we assessed interrater reliability using weighted k statistics and intraclass correlation coefficient to test consistency among the raters. RESULTS: In terms of subjective image scoring, the DLR group exhibited significantly better scores compared to the CR group (P < 0.001). Regarding the severity of WMH, the DL group demonstrated superior performance in detecting lesions. Majority readers agreed that the DL group provided clearer visualization of the lesions compared to the conventional group. CONCLUSION: DLR exhibits notable advantages over CR, including subjective image quality, lesion detection sensitivity, and inter reader reliability.

Diagnostic value of 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT for predicting the pathological grade of prostate cancer.

This study was designed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of relevant parameters of 18F-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-1007 PET/CT in predicting the pathological grade of primary prostate cancer. Briefly, a prospective analysis was performed on 53 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer by systematic puncture biopsy, followed by 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT examination prior to treatment within 10 d. The patients were grouped in accordance with the Gleason grading system revised by the International Association of Urology Pathology (ISUP). They were divided into high-grade group (ISUP 4-5 group) and low-grade group (ISUP 1-3 group). The differences in maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), tumor-to-background ratio (TBR), intraprostatic PSMA-derived tumor volume (iPSMA-TV), and intraprostatic total lesion PSMA (iTL-PSMA) between the high- and low-grade group were statistically significant (p < .001). No significant difference was found for mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) between the high- and low-grade groups (Z = -1.131, p = .258). Besides, binary multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only iPSMA-TV and iTL-PSMA were independent predictors of the pathological grading, for which the odds ratios were 18.821 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.040-173.614, p = .010] and 0.758 (95% CI: 0.613-0.938, p = .011), respectively. The area under the ROC of this regression model was 0.983 (95% CI: 0.958-1.00, p < .001). Only iTL-PSMA was a significant parameter for distinguishing ISUP-4 and ISUP-5 groups (Z = -2.043, p = .041). In a nutshell, 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT has good application value in predicting the histopathological grade of primary prostate cancer. Three-dimensional volume metabolism parameters iPSMA-TV and iTL-PSMA were found to be independent predictors for pathological grade.

[Study of functional magnetic resonance imaging repeatability of linguistic-functional cortex].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the reproducibility and stability of brain functional area in the response of language tasks during Chinese word processing with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) by follow-up scanning so as to provide rationales for clinical preoperative localization and the mechanisms of recovery from aphasia. METHODS: The fMRI data were collected by scanning semantic and phonologic judgments in 15 healthy volunteers. Each subject was scanned twice by the same fMRI procedure of both language tasks with an interval of 1 month. By analyzing the effective overlapping average activation maps, the reproducibility of inter-subject imaging result for two language tasks were estimated by selecting the main language areas, such as Broca's area and Wernicke's area as the region of interest (ROI). By individually calculating the spatial distance of ROI centroid coordinates in the same activating range before and after test, the inter-subject stability in between-session was calculated quantitatively. RESULTS: Both language tasks activated more than one language-related brain areas in cerebral hemispheres. Both language tasks induced significant BOLD response in Broca's and Wernicke's areas with a tendency of left lateralization. The number of subjects in terms of the activation of both language tasks in Broca's and Wernicke's areas accounted over a half of the total subjects. As compared with the phonologic judgment task, the semantic judgment task showed better reproducibility in Broca's area. In the same spatial distance of ROI centroid coordinates, the stability of Broca's area was higher than that of Wernicke's area while the stability of semantic judgment in Broca's area higher than that of phonologic judgment. CONCLUSION: Such main language domains as Broca's and Wernicke's areas can be effectively activated by both semantic and phonologic judgments. By comparison, semantic judgment in Broca's area shows a higher level of reproducibility and stability. Thus it is applicable for clinical preoperative localization and the mechanisms of recovery from aphasia.

Comparison of volumetric methods for tumor measurements on two and three dimensional MRI in adult glioblastoma.

INTRODUCTION: Change in tumor size is a frequent endpoint in cancer clinical trials, but whether change in size should be measured using volume on two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) images is not certain. We compared volumetric measurements on post-contrast 2D and high-resolution 3D T1-weighted MR images (T1WI) in evaluating tumor response in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). METHODS: Tumor volume measurements were performed on 86 MRI studies from 37 adult patients with GBM on post-contrast 5 mm 2D T1WI and isotropic high-resolution T1WI. The means of the two volumes were compared and their association was analyzed. RESULTS: There is no significant difference between volumes measured on 2D and 3D in 86 scans (Z = 0.63, p = 0.53), and a high correlation was revealed between them (r = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.93-0.97, p < 0.001). When the percentage changes were categorized into traditional tumor response criteria (complete response/partial response/stable disease/progressive disease), the kappa coefficient between the volume on 2D and volume on 3D was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.57-1.03, p < 0.05) with an overall agreement of 84%. CONCLUSIONS: Volume on post-contrast 2D T1WI appears comparable to volume on 3D T1WI and should be a practical alternative to volume on 3D in evaluating tumor response.

An MRI Image Analysis of Primary Cardiac Neoplasms.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of primary cardiac neoplastic lesions. METHODS: A retrospective investigation was conducted on 24 cases of primary cardiac neoplastic lesions as confirmed by surgery and pathology results. All the cases in this study received MRI multi-sequence and multi-dimension scanning, including the cardiac long-axis and short-axis cine sequences, parameter sequences of the cardiac long axis and short axis (T1WI, T2WI), first-pass perfusion sequence, and delayed enhancement sequence of the cardiac long axis and short axis. The age and gender of the patients and the location, size, signal characteristics, and relationship with the neighboring tissues of all the lesions were examined. RESULTS: Twenty-four cases of primary neoplastic lesions were examined in this study, the onset age was 11-72 years old, the median age was 53 years old, and the mean age was 46 years old. Among these cases, there were 8 cases including males and 16 cases including females, 19 cases were benign lesions; including 11 cases of myxoma, 4 cases of hemangioma, 1 case of paraganglioma, 1 case of PEcoma, 1 case of hamartoma, and 1 case of lipoma. The malignant lesions included 3 sarcomas and 2 lymphomas in 5 patients. CONCLUSION: MRI imaging provides a great value in the preoperative classification of primary cardiac neoplastic lesions.

The Value of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Histograms in the Preoperative Differential Diagnosis of Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma and Degenerative Hysteromyoma.

Objective: The present study aimed to explore the application value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) histograms with multiple sequences in the preoperative differential diagnosis of endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) and degenerative hysteromyoma (DH). Methods: The clinical and preoperative MRI data of 20 patients with pathologically confirmed ESS and 24 patients with pathologically confirmed DH were retrospectively analyzed, forming the two study groups. Mazda software was used to select the MRI layer with the largest tumor diameter in T2WI, the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and enhanced T1WI (T1CE) images. The region of interest (ROI) was outlined for gray-scale histogram analysis. Nine parameters-the mean, variance, kurtosis, skewness, 1st percentile, 10th percentile, 50th percentile, 90th percentile, and 99th percentile-were obtained for intergroup analysis, and the receiver operating curves (ROCs) were plotted to analyze the differential diagnostic efficacy for each parameter. Results: In the T2WI histogram, the differences between the two groups in seven of the parameters (mean, skewness, 1st percentile, 10th percentile, 50th percentile, 90th percentile, and 99th percentile) were statistically significant (P < 0.05). In the ADC histogram, the differences between the two groups in three of the parameters (skewness, 10th percentile, and 50th percentile) were statistically significant (P < 0.05). In the T1CE histogram, no significant differences were found between the two groups in any of the parameters (all P > 0.05). Of the nine parameters, the 50th percentile was found to have the best diagnostic efficacy. In the T2WI histogram, ROC curve analysis of the 50th percentile yielded the best area under the ROC curve (AUC; 0.742), sensitivity of 70%, and specificity of 83.3%. In the ADC histogram, ROC curve analysis of the 50th percentile yielded the best area under the ROC curve (AUC; 0.783), sensitivity of 81%, and specificity of 76.9%. Conclusion: The parameters of the mean, 10th percentile and 50th percentile in the T2WI histogram have good diagnostic efficacy, providing new methods and ideas for clinical diagnosis.

Giant Cell Tumors of Bone in Patients Aged 18 Years Old or Younger: Imaging Features and Tumor Characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: The majority of giant cell tumors of bone (GCTB) occur in adult patients, especially between the ages of 20 and 40. This study aims to investigate the imaging features of GCTBs in pediatric patients and compare their characteristics with adult cases. METHODS: Fifty-seven cases of patients aged 18 years old or younger were retrospectively analyzed, accounting for 12.8% of GCTBs in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from 2001 to 2019. One hundred twenty-six adult patients (19 years of age and older) with GCTB occurring in long tubular bones were also included in this study. The following clinical information was identified from the medical records: age, sex, and follow-up data. Imaging features were reviewed by two musculoskeletal radiologists. Patient characteristics and imaging features between the two groups were compared. RESULTS: A total of 57 patients (32 females, 25 males) were included in the study. The patients' ages ranged from 9 to 18 (median = 17 y). The majority of tumors occurred in tubular bones (n = 38, 66.7%) and the pelvis (n = 8, 14.0%). Imaging features were identified in GCTB cases occurring in the long tubular bones. Compared with adult GCTB patients, pediatric GCTB patients had a larger superior-inferior (SI) diameter (P = 0.005) and smaller left-to-right diameter/SI diameter ratio (P = 0.001). Epiphyseal involvement was relatively less common in pediatric patients with GCTBs than in adult patients (P = 0.009). The median age of patients without epiphyseal involvement was lower than the median age of patients with epiphyseal involvement (11 vs 17 y). CONCLUSION: GCTB in the pediatric age group is rare. This study has found that, in pediatric patients with GCTBs, the epiphysis is relatively less involved, and the tumor is more likely to grow longitudinally. These findings are helpful in the diagnosis of GCTBs in the pediatric population.

Characteristic analysis on susceptibility weighted imaging of intravitreous foreign body of autologous eyelashes in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristics of susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) of the intravitreous foreign body of autologous eyelashes in rabbits. METHODS: A total of 12 New Zealand white rabbits, either sex, weighing 2.5-3.5 kg, and provided by the Experimental Animal Center of Henan Province were employed in this study. For each rabbit, 5 autologous eyelashes (1 cm in length and 0.2-0.3 mm in diameter) were implanted into the right ocular vitreum, while the left control ocular vitreum received sham operation but nothing was implanted. SWI sequential test was made 2 hours postoperatively. Then the rabbits were killed and the specimens of the vitreous bodies of the rabbits were obtained. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and histological examinations were performed. RESULTS: The autologous eyelashes in 8 ocular vitreums of rabbits showed linear low signal intensity on the magnitude images and susceptibility weighted images, but linear high signal intensity on the phase images. Among the 12 experimental rabbits, 5 eyelashes in the right vitreum were completely shown in 3 rabbits, partly shown in 5 rabbits (2 eyelashes shown in 3 rabbits and 3 eyelashes shown in 2 rabbits), and not shown in 4 rabbits. CONCLUSIONS: SWI of the foreign body of intravitreous autologous eyelashes in rabbits has its own characteristics. The combined application of SWI sequential magnitude images, susceptibility weighted images and phase images is helpful to the detection and diagnosis of intravitreous autologous eyelashes in rabbits.

In vivo tracing of superparamagnetic iron oxide-labeled bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells transplanted for traumatic brain injury by susceptibility weighted imaging in a rat model.

OBJECTIVE: To label rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) in vitro, and to monitor the survival and location of these labeled BMSCs in a rat model of traumatic brain injury (TBI) by susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) sequence. METHODS: BMSCs were cultured in vitro and then labeled with SPIO. Totally 24 male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats weighing 200-250 g were randomly divided into 4 groups: Groups A-D (n equal to 6 for each group). Moderate TBI models of all the rats were developed in the left hemisphere following Feeney's method. Group A was the experimental group and stereotaxic transplantation of BMSCs labeled with SPIO into the region nearby the contusion was conducted in this group 24 hours after TBI modeling. The other three groups were control groups with transplantation of SPIO, unlabeled BMSCs and injection of nutrient solution respectively conducted in Groups B, C and D at the same time. Monitoring of these SPIO-labeled BMSCs by SWI was performed one day, one week and three weeks after implantation. RESULTS: Numerous BMSCs were successfully labeled with SPIO. They were positive for Prussian blue staining and intracytoplasm positive blue stained particles were found under a microscope (200). Scattered little iron particles were observed in the vesicles by electron microscopy (5000). MRI of the transplantation sites of the left hemisphere demonstrated a low signal intensity on magnitude images, phase images and SWI images for all the test rats in Group A, and the lesion in the left parietal cortex demonstrated a semicircular low intensity on SWI images, which clearly showed the distribution and migration of BMSCs in the first and third weeks. For Group B, a low signal intensity by MRI was only observed on the first day but undetected during the following examination. No signals were observed in Groups C and D at any time points. CONCLUSION: SWI sequence in vivo can consecutively and noninvasively trace and demonstrate the status and distribution of BMSCs labeled with SPIO in the brain of TBI model rats.

[Hard nut to crack in diagnosis of pituitary hyperplasia secondary to primary hypothyroidism and reasons of misdiagnosis].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the difficulty in diagnosis of pituitary hyperplasia secondary to primary hypothyroidism and reasons of misdiagnosis. METHODS: Ten patients with clinical manifestations of primary hypothyroidism, 3 males and 7 females, aged 7 - 26, underwent MR imaging and serum hormone examination before and after thyroid hormone replacement therapy. T1-weighted images without and with contrast material enhancement in sagittal and coronal planes were obtained. Serum free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, thyrotropic-stimulating hormone and prolactin (PRL) levels were measured. RESULTS: Obvious symmetrical enlargement of the pituitary gland with homogeneous signal intensity was revealed by MRI in all the patients. The height of the pituitary ranged 1.2 - 2.2 cm. The pituitary glands appeared homogeneously enhanced after Gd-DTPA administration. After 3 - 6 months of L-thyroxin replacement therapy, follow-up MRI showed that the pituitary glands reduced in size markedly in 9 cases, and the plasma thyroxine, TSH, and PRL levels of these 9 cases turned normal. One patient was misdiagnosed as with macroadenoma and was treated with gamma knife, resulting in permanence hypothyroidism. CONCLUSION: Symmetrical enlargement of pituitary gland with homogeneously enhancement on MRI has great diagnostic value in pituitary hyperplasia with primary hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormone replacement therapy can cause regression of the enlarged pituitary, thus avoiding unnecessary surgery.

[Formation and suppression technique for motion and flow artifacts on magnetic resonance imaging].

During magnetic resonance imaging, motion and flow artifacts often severely decrease image quality. The mechanisms of these kinds of artifacts are very complex. This article reviewed the pre-handling techniques of motion and flow artifacts, such as changing magnetic resonance imaging parameters, using spatial pre-saturation pulse sequences, gating and triggering techniques of suppressing respiratory motion artifact, as well as the progress of magnetic resonance pulse sequences in suppressing motion and flow artifacts, The paper briefly introduced post-processing techniques of suppressing motion and flow artifacts.