A preliminary study on the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms and methylation of dopamine system-related genes with psychotic symptoms in patients with methamphetamine use disorder.

Methamphetamine use disorder (MAUD) can substantially jeopardize public security due to its high-risk social psychology and behaviour. Given that the dopamine reward system is intimately correlated with MAUD, we investigated the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), as well as methylation status of dopamine receptor type 4 (DRD4), catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genes, and paranoid and motor-impulsive symptoms in MAUD patients. A total of 189 MAUD patients participated in our study. Peripheral blood samples were used to detect 3 SNPs and 35 CpG units of methylation in the DRD4 gene promoter region and 5 SNPs and 39 CpG units in the COMT gene. MAUD patients with the DRD4 rs1800955 C allele have a lower percentage of paranoid symptoms than those with the rs1800955 TT allele. Individuals with paranoid symptoms exhibited a reduced methylation degree at a particular DRD4 CpG2.3 unit. The interaction of the DRD4 rs1800955 C allele and the reduced DRD4CpG2.3 methylation degree were associated with a lower occurrence of paranoid symptoms. Meanwhile, those with the COMT rs4818 CC allele had lower motor-impulsivity scores in MAUD patients but greater COMT methylation levels in the promoter region and methylation degree at the COMT CpG 51.52 unit. Therefore, based only on the COMT rs4818 CC polymorphism, there was a negative correlation between COMT methylation and motor-impulsive scores. Our preliminary results provide a clue that the combination of SNP genotype and methylation status of the DRD4 and COMT genes serve as biological indicators for the prevalence of relatively high-risk psychotic symptoms in MAUD patients.

Aspirin inhibits rotavirus replication and alters rat gut microbial composition.

BACKGROUND: Aspirin is widely used to treat various clinical symptoms. Evidence suggests that aspirin has antiviral properties, but little is known about its specific effect against rotavirus. METHODS: MA104, Caco-2, and CV-1 cells were infected with rotavirus, and aspirin was added after 12 h. Viral mRNA and titer levels were measured by qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence assays. For in vivo validation, forty specific-pathogen-free SD rats were randomly divided into oral aspirin (ASP) groups and control (NC) groups. 16 S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to identify gut microbiota. After 6 months of continuous ASP/NC administration, the rats were infected with rotavirus. Fecal samples were collected over a 30-day time course, and viral levels were quantified. Proinflammatory cytokines/chemokine levels were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Aspirin inhibited rotavirus infection in cell lines and in rats. The effects of aspirin on viral replication were associated with the alteration of gut microbiota composition by aspirin, including increased abundance of Firmicutes and decreased abundance of Bacteroidetes after aspirin treatment. Mechanistically, aspirin reduced IL-2 and IL-10 levels, and increased IRF-1 and COX-2 levels. Aspirin blocked rotavirus replication in vitro and in vivo, which might be related to effects on IRF-1, COX-2, chemokines, and gut microbial composition. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that long-term oral aspirin administration reduces rotavirus infection. Intestinal virus infection may be suppressed in elderly patients who take aspirin for a long time. The change of their Gut microbiota may lead to functional disorder of the intestinal tract, which may provide some reference for clinical adjuvant probiotics treatment.

A new glance at autophagolysosomal-dependent or -independent function of transcriptional factor EB in human cancer.

Autophagy-lysosome system plays a variety of roles in human cancers. In addition to being implicated in metabolism, it is also involved in tumor immunity, remodeling the tumor microenvironment, vascular proliferation, and promoting tumor progression and metastasis. Transcriptional factor EB (TFEB) is a major regulator of the autophagy-lysosomal system. With the in-depth studies on TFEB, researchers have found that it promotes various cancer phenotypes by regulating the autophagolysosomal system, and even in an autophagy-independent way. In this review, we summarize the recent findings about TFEB in various types of cancer (melanoma, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer), and shed some light on the mechanisms by which it may serve as a potential target for cancer treatment.

[Evaluation of Lateral Pterygoid Muscle Contraction in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders Based on 3D-T2 Weighted Imaging].

Objective To evaluate lateral pterygoid muscle(LPM)contraction in the patients with temporomandibular disorders(TMD)based on 3D-T2 weighted imaging(3D-T2WI).Multiplanar reconstruction(MPR)was employed to measure the length of LPM in the images taken in closed-and open-mouth positions. Methods Seventeen TMD patients [age of(29.82±10.70)years,males/females=8/9] and 13 normal volunteers [control,age of(23.54±3.31)years,males/females=6/7] received 3D-T2WI of the temporomandibular joints in closed-and open-mouth positions from November 2019 to April 2020 in Department of Radiology,Hainan Hospital of Chinese PLA General Hospital.According to the position of the discs,the subjects were classified into the following groups:TMD with disc displacement without reduction(TMD-DDwoR),TMD with disc displacement with reduction(TMD-DDwR),TMD without disc displacement(TMDwoDD),and normal control without disc displacement(NCwoDD).MPR was employed to measure the maximal length of the superior belly of LPM.One-way analysis of variance,receiver operating characteristic curve,and permutation test were employed for the statistical analyses. Results The contraction of LPM was significantly shorter in TMD-DDwoR group [(3.36±1.96)mm] than in TMDwoDD group [(7.90±3.95)mm],NCwoDD group [(8.77±3.13)mm](F=12.891,P=0.000),and TMD-DDwR group[(7.12±3.69)mm](χ2=5.314,P=0.031). Conclusion This study confirmed that the contraction of LPM decreased in patients with TMD-DDwoR,which provided imaging evidence for the study of disc displacement mechanism in TMD patients.

[Reproducibility Analysis of Iodine Concentrations of Abdominal Parenchymal Organs Based on Spectral CT].

Objective To investigate the intra-and inter-observer reproducibility of iodine concentrations of abdominal parenchymal organs based on spectral CT.Methods The water-free iodine images of the venous phase were retrospectively obtained from 50 patients with abdominal dynamic spectral CT scans.The iodine concentrations were measured in the left,right and caudate lobes of liver,spleen,pancreas and bilateral kidneys.Intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC)and Bland-Altman plot were employed to analyze the intra-and inter-observer reproducibility.Results The intra-observer ICCs of the left,right and caudate lobes of liver,spleen,pancreas,and left and right kidneys were 0.938(0.894,0.965),0.932(0.884,0.961),0.939(0.895,0.965),0.947(0.909,0.970),0.912(0.851,0.949),0.946(0.906,0.969)and 0.907(0.842,0.946),which indicated good intra-observer reproducibility.The inter-observer ICCs of the left,right and caudate lobes of liver,spleen,pancreas,and left and right kidneys were 0.947(0.909,0.970),0.927(0.875,0.958),0.943(0.902,0.968),0.956(0.924,0.975),0.934(0.887,0.962),0.927(0.875,0.958)and 0.892(0.818,0.937),which indicated good inter-observer reproducibility.Bland-Altman plots presented that more than 95% points of the intra-observer differences located within 95% CI of limits of agreement for the caudate lobe of liver,spleen,pancreas and bilateral kidneys,which was same as inter-observer differences of the caudate lobe of liver,spleen and right kidney.Conclusion The iodine concentration measurement based on the spectral CT presented good intra-and inter-observer reproducibility for the caudate lobe of liver and spleen.

[Optimal Mono-energy in Mono-energetic Spectral Computed Tomography of Enhanced Renal Cortex in Cortical Phase Based on Iodine Concentration].

Objective To identify the optimal mono-energetic enhanced spectral CT for renal cortex in cortical phase based on the iodine concentration. Methods Fifty patients with normal renal function received the abdominal enhanced spectral CT examination.The iodine concentration and CT values of the multiple mono-energetic spectral images were measured on renal cortex in cortical phase,and the correlation between the iodine concentration and the CT values and the coefficient of variation(CV)were analyzed. Results The correlation analysis demonstrated that the correlation coefficient was 0.994,0.994,0.993,0.987,0.976,0.960,and 0.938 between mono-energetic spectral CT images(40-100 keV with interval 10 keV,respectively)and iodine concentration(all P <0.001).The correlation coefficients of 40 keV,50 keV(P=0.007)and 60 keV(P=0.030)were significantly higher compared with that of 70 keV,and the correlation coefficients were not significantly among 40 keV,50 keV and 60 keV(P =0.590).The CV of renal cortex in cortical phase was 0.21,0.20,and 0.19 for 40 keV,50 keV,and 60 keV,respectively. Conclusion 60 keV is the optimal mono-energy for the enhanced spectral CT of the renal cortex in cortical phase.

MRI Histogram Texture Feature Analysis of the Optic Nerve in the Patients with Optic Neuritis.

Objective To evaluate the optic nerve impairment using MRI histogram texture analysis in the patients with optic neuritis.Methods The study included 60 patients with optic neuritis and 20 normal controls. The coronal T2 weighted imaging (T2WI) with fat saturation and enhanced T1 weighted imaging (T1WI) were performed to evaluate the optic nerve. MRI histogram texture features of the involved optic nerve were measured on the corresponding coronal T2WI images. The normal optic nerve (NON) was measured in the posterior 1/3 parts of the optic nerve. Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA was used to compare the difference of texture features and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of texture features for the optic nerve impairment among the affected optic nerve with enhancement (ONwEN), affected optic nerve without enhancement (ONwoEN), contralateral normal appearing optic nerve (NAON) and NON.Results The histogram texture Energy and Entropy presented significant differences for ONwEN vs. ONwoEN (both P=0.000), ONwEN vs. NON (both P=0.000) and NAON vs. NON (both P<0.05). ROC analysis demonstrated that the area under the curve (AUC) of histogram texture Energy were 0.758, 0.795 and 0.701 for ONwEN vs. ONwoEN, ONwEN vs. NON and NAON vs. NON, AUC of Entropy were 0.758, 0.795 and 0.707 for ONwEN vs. ONwoEN, ONwEN vs. NON and NAON vs. NON.Conclusions The altered MRI histogram texture Energy and Entropy could be considered as a surrogate for MRI enhancement to evaluate the involved optic nerve and normal-appearing optic nerve in optic neuritis.

Value of Texture Analysis of Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Parameters in Differential Diagnosis of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor and Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

Objective To evaluate the value of texture features derived from intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) parameters for differentiating pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (pNET) from pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC).Methods Eighteen patients with pNET and 32 patients with PAC were retrospectively enrolled in this study. All patients underwent diffusion-weighted imaging with 10 b values used (from 0 to 800 s/mm 2). Based on IVIM model, perfusion-related parameters including perfusion fraction (f), fast component of diffusion (Dfast) and true diffusion parameter slow component of diffusion (Dslow) were calculated on a voxel-by-voxel basis and reorganized into gray-encoded parametric maps. The mean value of each IVIM parameter and texture features [Angular Second Moment (ASM), Inverse Difference Moment (IDM), Correlation, Contrast and Entropy] values of IVIM parameters were measured. Independent sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test were performed for the between-group comparison of quantitative data. Regression model was established by using binary logistic regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency.Results The mean f value of the pNET group were significantly higher than that of the PAC group (27.0% vs. 19.0%, P = 0.001), while the mean values of Dfast and Dslow showed no significant differences between the two groups. All texture features (ASM, IDM, Correlation, Contrast and Entropy) of each IVIM parameter showed significant differences between the pNET and PAC groups (P=0.000-0.043). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that texture ASM of Dfast and texture Correlation of Dslow were considered as the specific imaging variables for the differential diagnosis of pNET and PAC. ROC analysis revealed that multiple texture features presented better diagnostic performance than IVIM parameters (AUC 0.849-0.899 vs. 0.526-0.776), and texture ASM of Dfast combined with Correlation of Dslow in the model of logistic regression had largest area under ROC curve for distinguishing pNET from PAC (AUC 0.934, cutoff 0.378, sensitivity 0.889, specificity 0.854).Conclusions Texture analysis of IVIM parameters could be an effective and noninvasive tool to differentiate pNET from PAC.

Value of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Texture Analysis in the Differential Diagnosis of Benign and Malignant Breast Tumors.

Objective To investigate the difference in texture features on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) images between breast benign and malignant tumors.Methods Patients including 56 with mass-like breast cancer, 16 with breast fibroadenoma, and 4 with intraductal papilloma of breast treated in the Hainan Hospital of Chinese PLA General Hospital were retrospectively enrolled in this study, and allocated to the benign group (20 patients) and the malignant group (56 patients) according to the post-surgically pathological results. Texture analysis was performed on axial DWI images, and five characteristic parameters including Angular Second Moment (ASM), Contrast, Correlation, Inverse Difference Moment (IDM), and Entropy were calculated. Independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were performed for intergroup comparison. Regression model was established by using Binary Logistic regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was carried out to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency.Results The texture features ASM, Contrast, Correlation and Entropy showed significant differences between the benign and malignant breast tumor groups (PASM=0.014, Pcontrast=0.019, Pcorrelation=0.010, Pentropy=0.007). The area under the ROC curve was 0.685, 0.681, 0.754, and 0.683 respectively for the positive texture variables mentioned above, and that for the combined variables (ASM, Contrast, and Entropy) was 0.802 in the model of Logistic regression. Binary Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that ASM, Contrast and Entropy were considered as the specific imaging variables for the differential diagnosis of breast benign and malignant tumors.Conclusions The texture analysis of DWI may be a simple and effective tool in the differential diagnosis between breast benign and malignant tumors.

[Ependymoma in Sellar Region:Report of One Case].

Ependymoma arises from the ependymal cells of the ventricles and the ependymal cell nest in the white matter of the extra-ventricles. It may be located inside or outside ventricle and can be anatomically classified into supra- and infratentorial ependymomas. Supratentorial ependymoma can be found both inside and outside ventricle but is rarely seen in the sellar regio. This article reports a pathologically confirmed ependymoma case featured by plastic growth,nodular calcification,and flow-void signal.

Multi-parametric MRI Diagnoses Cerebellar Hemangioblastoma: A Case Report.

We performed contrast-enhanced T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (T2-FLAIR) and dynamic contrast enhanced MRI to illustrate the imaging characteristics of one case of hemangioblastoma. T2-FLAIR showed a large cyst located in the right cerebellum with mural nodule. The intensely enhancing cyst wall was observed on enhanced T2-FLAIR images acquired from 5.6 to 23 minutes after contrast administration, and quantitative dynamic contrast enhanced-MRI demonstrated that both the cyst wall and mural nodule presented high Ktrans, Kep and Ve values compared with the contralateral normal cerebellar tissues. The cyst showed gradual enhancement and reached the highest signal intensity at 67 minutes after contrast administration on enhanced T2-FLAIR images. In conclusion, early enhancement of cyst wall on T2-FLAIR might be the characteristic imaging findings for cystic hemangioblastoma, which may assist in the diagnosis of hemangioblastoma preoperatively.

Gray Matter Volume Changes over the Whole Brain in the Bulbar- and Spinal-onset Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: a Voxel-based Morphometry Study.

Objective To investigate cerebral structural signatures of the bulbar- and spinal-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using voxel-based morphometry on magnetic resonance imaging. Methods The MR structural images of the brain were obtained from 65 ALS patients (15 bulbar-onset, 50 spinal-onset) and 65 normal controls (NC) on a 3.0T MRI system. Gray matter (GM) volume changes were investigated by voxel-based morphometry, and the distribution of the brain regions with volume changes was compared between ALS and normal controls, as well as between bulbar-onset and spinal-onset ALS based on Neuromorphometrics atlas. Result On voxel-level the decreased volume of brain regions in ALS patients was located in the right precentral gyrus (rPrcGy) and right middle frontal gyrus compared with that in NC. The bulbar-onset ALS presented extra-motor cortex atrophy (fronto-temporal pattern), including left medial orbital gyrus, left inferior temporal gyrus and right middle temporal gyrus; the spinal-onset ALS suffered from motor cortex atrophy (rPrcGy dominance) and extra-motor cortex atrophy (fronto-temporal and extra-fronto-temporal pattern) compared with NC. The spinal-onset ALS featured by GM volume loss of left postcentral gyrus and bulbar-onset ALS featured by GM volume loss of left middle temporal gyrus compared with each other. Conclusions The asymmetric GM atrophy of the motor cortex and extra-motor cortex represents the common MRI structural signatures of spinal-onset ALS, and sole extra-motor cortex atrophy represents the structural signatures of bulbar-onset ALS. The present study also demonstrated that the pattern of GM damage is likely to distribute wider in spinal-onset ALS than in bulbar-onset ALS.

Reliability of Three Dimentional Pseudo-continuous Arterial Spin Labeling: A Volumetric Cerebral Perfusion Imaging with Different Post-labeling Time and Functional State in Health Adults.

Objective To evaluate the reliability of three dimensional spiral fast spin echo pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (3D pc-ASL) in measuring cerebral blood flow (CBF) with different post-labeling delay time (PLD) in the resting state and the right finger taping state. Methods 3D pc-ASL and three dimensional T1-weighted fast spoiled gradient recalled echo (3D T1-FSPGR) sequence were applied to eight healthy subjects twice at the same time each day for one week interval. ASL data acquisition was performed with post-labeling delay time (PLD) 1.5 seconds and 2.0 seconds in the resting state and the right finger taping state respectively. CBF mapping was calculated and CBF value of both the gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) was automatically extracted. The reliability was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland and Altman plot. Results ICC of the GM (0.84) and WM (0.92) was lower at PLD 1.5 seconds than that (GM, 0.88; WM, 0.94) at PLD 2.0 seconds in the resting state, and ICC of GM (0.88) was higher in the right finger taping state than that in the resting state at PLD 1.5 seconds. ICC of the GM and WM was 0.71 and 0.78 for PLD 1.5 seconds and PLD 2.0 seconds in the resting state at the first scan, and ICC of the GM and WM was 0.83 and 0.79 at the second scan, respectively. Conclusion This work demonstrated that 3D pc-ASL might be a reliable imaging technique to measure CBF over the whole brain at different PLD in the resting state or controlled state.

Cortical Thinning Pattern of Bulbar- and Spinal-onset Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: a Surface-based Morphometry Study.

Objective The precise cortical thinning pattern has not been elucidated for onset subtypes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The current study aimed to investigate the altered cortical thickness signatures of the bulbar-onset and spinal-onset ALS using surface-based morphometry, and the correlation between the cortical thickness of positive brain regions and clinical variables of the patients.Methods MR structural images were obtained from 65 ALS patients (15 bulbar-onset, 50 spinal-onset) and 65 normal controls (NCs) on a 3.0T MRI system. The structural images were segmented into gray matter and white matter based on DARTEL method and the central cortical surfaces were reconstructed using projection-based thickness method. The surface-based morphometry was performed to identify the alteration of cortical thickness in overall ALS patients, bulbar-onset ALS patients and spinal-onset ALS patients comparing to the NCs. The correlation analysis was applied between the clinical variables and the mean cortical thickness of the abnormal brain regions with age and sex as covariates.Results The cortex thinning of ALS patients was located in the left precentral gyrus, left postcentral gyrus, right gyrus rectus and right medial precentral gyrus. The bulbar-onset ALS (ALS-bulbar) presented motor cortex thinning of left precentral gyrus and right supplementary motor cortex, and the spinal-onset ALS (ALS-spinal) suffered from extra-motor cortex thinning of left posterior insula and right gyrus rectus. In ALS patients, the thickness of right gyrus rectus was negatively correlated to disease duration (r=-0.311, P=0.013), the thickness of right precentral gyrus was positively correlated to the score of ALS functional rating score-revise (ALSFRS-R) (r=0.271, P=0.032). The thickness of motor cortices in ALS-bulbar were not correlated to disease duration and ALSFRS-R score; the thickness of extra-motor cortices in ALS-spinal were negatively correlated to the disease duration (left insula, r=-0.409, P=0.004; right gyrus rectus, r=-0.351, P=0.014).Conclusion The findings suggested that bilateral motor cortex thinning presented in bulbar-onset ALS and extra-motor cortex thinning presented in spinal-onset ALS. The motor cortex thinning may be the intrinsic pathophysiological change that associated to the disease disability, and extra-motor cortex thinning may be secondary pathophysiological change that associated to disease duration.

[Spinal Schwannoma with Entering-and-exiting-nerve Sign:Report of One Case].

Peripheral neurogenic tumors can be featured by entering-and-exiting-nerve sign,which,however,is rarely seen in patients with spinal schwannoma. In this article we report a spinal schwannoma case with entering-and-exiting-nerve sign.

[Altered Brainstem Volume in Medication-overuse Headache: A Pilot Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation].

Objective To investigate the altered brainstem volume in patients with medication-overuse headache(MOH). Methods The high-resolution structural images were obtained from 36 MOH patients and 32 normal controls(NC).The brainstem was segmented into midbrain,pons,and medulla,whose volume were measured respectively.Results There was a significantly smaller midbrain volume in MOH patients [(5.80±0.53) ml] than that in NC [(6.14±0.67)ml](t=2.36,P=0.02).The volumes of pons,medulla,and whole brainstem showed no significant difference in MOH patients [(13.13±1.42)ml,(4.55±0.51)ml,and(23.48±2.23)ml,respectively] compared with those in NC [(13.67±1.61) ml,(4.66±0.44) ml,and(24.47±2.56) ml,respectively](tpons=1.47,Ppons=0.15;tmedulla=0.93,Pmedulla=0.35;and tbrainstem=1.71,Pbrainstem=0.09,respectively).Conclusion A smaller midbrain volume may be one of the specific features of pain pathway in MOH,and the automated brainstem subfield segmentation and volumetry may be useful tools for evaluating brainstem alternation in MOH patients.

[Value of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Texture Feature Analysis in the Differential Diagnosis between Pancreatic Serous Cystadenoma and Mucinous Cystadenoma].

Objective To investigate the difference of tumor textures presented on T1-weighted image(T1WI) and T2-weighted image(T2WI) between pancreatic serous cystadenoma and mucinous cystadenoma. Methods Subjects including 24 patients with serous cystadenoma and 20 patients with mucinous cystadenoma who were treated in Hainan Branch of Chinese PLA General Hospital were enrolled in this study.The texture analysis was performed on T1WI and T2WI,and the texture parameters included angular second moment,contrast,correlation,inverse difference moment(IDM),and entropy.Independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were performed for the between-group comparison,the regression model was established by Binary Logistic regression analysis,and receiver operating characteristics curve(ROC) was drawn.Results The contrast and IDM of T1WI and the contrast,correlation,and IDM of T2WI showed significant differences between serous cystadenoma and mucinous cystadenoma(T1WI:Pangular second momont=0.714,Pcontrast=0.003,Pcorrelation=0.069,PIDM=0.004,Pentropy=0.818;T2WI:Pangular second momont=0.122,Pcontrast=0.000,Pcorrelation=0.000,PIDM=0.024,and Pentropy=0.081).The area under the ROC curve was 0.736-0.846 for the positive texture variables,and the area under the ROC curve was 0.879 for the variables in the model of Logistic regression.Binary Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the contrast was a specific imaging variable for the differential diagnosis between serous cystadenoma and mucinous cystadenoma.Conclusion The texture analysis of T1WI and T2WI may be a simple and effective tool in the differential diagnosis between pancreatic serous cystadenoma and mucinous cystadenoma.

Surface-Based Morphometry of Human Brain: Intra-Individual Comparison Between 3T and 7T High Resolution Structural MR Imaging.

ObjectiveHigh resolution structural MR imaging can reveal structural characteristics of cerebral cortex and provide an insight into normal brain development and neuropsychological diseases. The aim of this study was to compare cortical structural characteristics of normal human brain between 3T and 7T MRI systems using surface-based morphometry based on high resolution structural MR imaging. Methods Twelve healthy volunteers were scanned by both 3T with 3D T1-weighted fast spoiled gradient recalled echo (3D T1-FSPGR) sequence and 7T with 3D T1-weighted magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo (3D T1-MPRAGE) sequence. MRI data were processed with FreeSurfer. The cortical thickness, white and gray matter surface area, convexity, and curvature from data of 3T and 7T were measured and compared by paired t-test. Results Measurements of mean cortical thickness, total white matter surface area and gray matter surface area of 3T were larger than those of 7T (left hemisphere: P=0.000, 0.006, 0.020 respectively; right hemisphere: P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000 respectively). Surface-based morphometry over the whole brain demonstrated both reduced and increased measurements of cortical thickness, white and gray surface area, convexity, and curvature at 7T compared to 3T. Conclusions Inconsistency of brain structural attribute between 3T and 7T was confirmed, and researchers should be cautious about data when using ultrahigh field MR system to investigate brain structural changes.

[Transcriptome analysis reveals genes involved in biosynthesis of secondary metabolism in Cornus officinalis].

In order to explore genetic basis for the biosynthesis of secondary metabolism,the transcriptome of Cornus officinalis was sequenced by the new generation of high-throughput sequencing technology,A total of 96 032 unigenes were assembled with an average length of 590.53 bp. Among them, 35 478 unigenes were annotated in the public databases NR,Swissprot,COG,GO,KOG,Pfam and KEGG. Based on the assignment of KEGG pathway, 84 involved in ridoid biosynthesis and 487 unigenes involved in others secondary metabolites biosynthesis were found. Additionally,53 unigenes and 72 unigenes were predicted to have potential functions of cytochome P450 and UDP- glycosyltransferases based on the annotation result, which may encode responsible for secondary metabolites modification. This study was the first comprehensive transcriptome analysis for C. officinalis, and the candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites were obtained. The transcriptome data constitutes a much more abundant genetic resource that can be utilized to benefit further molecular biology studies on C. officinalis.

Pelvic retroperitoneal pleomorphic hyalinizing angiectatic tumor (PHAT) of soft tissue: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Pleomorphic hyalinizing angiectatic tumor (PHAT) is a rare soft tissue tumor of low malignant potential, which most often arises in the lower extremities. Lesions occurred in other anatomic locations have been rarely reported. Moreover, their imaging features have not been well discussed. Here we report a case of PHAT arising primarily in the pelvic retroperitoneum. To our knowledge, this is the first radiological description for retroperitoneum PHAT. CASE PRESENTATION: A 26-year-old female was referred to our hospital for evaluation of a pelvic mass incidentally noted in routine pre-pregnancy ultrasonography examination. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an irregular mass with clear boundary in the pelvic retroperitoneum. Its signal intensity or density was inhomogeneous. On MRI images, it mainly showed isointense and slight hypointense on T1 weighted image and isointense and hyperintense on T2 weighted image. On contrast-enhanced images, it showed marked but heterogenous enhancement. With the delay time increasing, the enhanced area in the lesion increased but the CT value decreased. Dilated vessels and hemorrhage were detected in the tumor. With patience and careful separation, it was completely excised with great amount of bleeding during operation. Pathological and immunohistochemistry analysis confirmed the diagnosis of PHAT of the soft parts. We found no evidence of recurrence 18 months after operation. CONCLUSION: We present an extremely rare case of PHAT arising primarily in the pelvic retroperitoneum. To our knowledge, this is the first radiological description for retroperitoneum PHAT. The provided information is useful for summarizing the characteristics of this kind of tumor. It should be included in the differential diagnosis of a well-defined, inhomogenously enhanced hypervascular soft-tissue mass in pelvic cavity.