Covariation of preadult environmental exposures, adult brain imaging phenotypes, and adult personality traits.

Exposure to preadult environmental exposures may have long-lasting effects on mental health by affecting the maturation of the brain and personality, two traits that interact throughout the developmental process. However, environment-brain-personality covariation patterns and their mediation relationships remain unclear. In 4297 healthy participants (aged 18-30 years), we combined sparse multiple canonical correlation analysis with independent component analysis to identify the three-way covariation patterns of 59 preadult environmental exposures, 760 adult brain imaging phenotypes, and five personality traits, and found two robust environment-brain-personality covariation models with sex specificity. One model linked greater stress and less support to weaker functional connectivity and activity in the default mode network, stronger activity in subcortical nuclei, greater thickness and volume in the occipital, parietal and temporal cortices, and lower agreeableness, consciousness and extraversion as well as higher neuroticism. The other model linked higher urbanicity and better socioeconomic status to stronger functional connectivity and activity in the sensorimotor network, smaller volume and surface area and weaker functional connectivity and activity in the medial prefrontal cortex, lower white matter integrity, and higher openness to experience. We also conducted mediation analyses to explore the potential bidirectional mediation relationships between adult brain imaging phenotypes and personality traits with the influence of preadult environmental exposures and found both environment-brain-personality and environment-personality-brain pathways. We finally performed moderated mediation analyses to test the potential interactions between macro- and microenvironmental exposures and found that one category of exposure moderated the mediation pathways of another category of exposure. These results improve our understanding of the effects of preadult environmental exposures on the adult brain and personality traits and may facilitate the design of targeted interventions to improve mental health by reducing the impact of adverse environmental exposures.

Prediction of pathological complete response in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy using volumetric multisequence MRI histogram analysis.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop a multisequence MRI-based volumetric histogram metrics model for predicting pathological complete response (pCR) in advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy (NCIT) and compare its predictive performance with AJCC staging and RECIST 1.1 criteria. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with locally advanced HNSCC from a prospective phase II trial were enrolled for analysis. All patients underwent pre- and post-NCIT MRI examinations from which whole-tumor histogram features were extracted, including T1WI, T2WI, enhanced T1WI (T1Gd), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences, and their corresponding apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. The pathological results divided the patients into pathological complete response (pCR) and non-pCR (N-pCR) groups. Delta features were calculated as the percentage change in histogram features from pre- to post-treatment. After data reduction and feature selection, logistic regression was used to build prediction models. ROC analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic performance. RESULTS: Eleven of 24 patients achieved pCR. Pre_T2_original_firstorder_Minimum, Post_ADC_original_firstorder_MeanAbsoluteDeviation, and Delta_T1Gd_original_firstorder_Skewness were associated with achieving pCR after NCIT. The Combined_Model demonstrated the best predictive performance (AUC 0.95), outperforming AJCC staging (AUC 0.52) and RECIST 1.1 (AUC 0.72). The Pre_Model (AUC 0.83) or Post-Model (AUC 0.83) had a better predictive ability than AJCC staging. CONCLUSION: Multisequence MRI-based volumetric histogram analysis can non-invasively predict the pCR status of HNSCC patients undergoing NCIT. The use of histogram features extracted from pre- and post-treatment MRI exhibits promising predictive performance and offers a novel quantitative assessment method for evaluating pCR in HNSCC patients receiving NCIT.

Association between white matter hyperintensities and altered cerebral blood flow in maintenance hemodialysis patients: a longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and white matter in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: Thirty-three hemodialysis patients who underwent two brain MRI at an interval of three years and 33 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) underwent structural and arterial spin-labeling MRI examinations. Intergroup differences in CBF in the gray matter, white matter, and whole matter, and regional white matter hyperintensities (WMH) were analyzed. Based on the changes in CBF between the baseline and follow-up groups, the hemodialysis patients were divided into two subgroups: an increased CBF group and a decreased CBF group. Differences in CBF and WMH between the subgroups and HC were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients undergoing hemodialysis exhibited increased cerebral watershed (CW) WMH, deep WMH, and periventricular WMH (P < 0.01). The CBF of patients with decreased CBF was higher than that of HC at baseline (,P < 0.01) and lower than that of HC at follow-up (P < 0.01). Compared with the increased CBF group, obvious development of deep WMH was found in the decreased CBF group for the gray matter, white matter, and whole matter (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: WMH in hemodialysis patients were distributed in the deep white matter, periventricular white matter and CW, and progressed with the extension of hemodialysis duration. CBF in hemodialysis patients could manifest as both increased and decreased, and WMH in patients with decreased CBF developed severely with prolongation of hemodialysis duration. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: These findings provide a basis for exploring neuropathological changes of hemodialysis patients.

Functional changes in fusional vergence-related brain areas and correlation with clinical features in intermittent exotropia using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

To explore the functional changes of the frontal eye field (FEF) and relevant brain regions and its role in the pathogenesis of intermittent exotropia (IXT) children via functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Twenty-four IXT children (mean age, 11.83 ± 1.93 years) and 28 normal control (NC) subjects (mean age, 11.11 ± 1.50 years) were recruited. During fMRI scans, the IXT children and NCs were provided with static visual stimuli (to evoke sensory fusion) and dynamic visual stimuli (to evoke motor fusion and vergence eye movements) with binocular disparity. Brain activation in the relevant brain regions and clinical characteristics were evaluated. Group differences of brain activation and brain-behavior correlations were investigated. For dynamic and static visual disparity relative to no visual disparity, reduced brain activation in the right FEF and right inferior occipital gyrus (IOG), and increased brain activation in the left middle temporal gyrus complex (MT+) were found in the IXT children compared with NCs. Significant positive correlations between the fusional vergence amplitude and the brain activation values were found in the right FEF, right IPL, and left cerebellum in the NC group. Positive correlations between brain activation values and Newcastle Control Scores (NCS) were found in the left MT+ in the IXT group. For dynamic visual disparity relative to static visual disparity, reduced brain activation in the right middle occipital gyrus, left cerebellum, and bilateral IPL was found in the IXT children compared with NCs. Significant positive correlations between brain activation values and the fusional vergence amplitude were found in the right FEF and right cerebellum in the NC group. Negative correlations between brain activation values and NCS were found in the right middle occipital gyrus, right cerebellum, left IPL, and right FEF in the IXT group. These results suggest that the reduced brain activation in the right FEF, left IPL, and cerebellum may play an important role in the pathogenesis of IXT by influencing fusional vergence function. While the increased brain activation in the left MT+ may compensate for this dysfunction in IXT children.

Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging of the Optic Nerve Can Improve the Detection of Post-Laminar Optic Nerve Invasion from Retinoblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Post-laminar optic nerve invasion (PLONI) is a high-risk factor for the metastasis of retinoblastoma (RB). Unlike conventional MRI, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) reflects histopathological features, and may aid the assessment of PLONI. PURPOSE: To determine the value of conventional MRI plus DWI in detecting PLONI in RB patients. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. POPULATION: Eighty-three RB patients, including 28 with histopathologically proven PLONI and 55 without PLONI. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3.0 T, precontrast axial T1-weighted and T2-weighted imaging, DWI, and postcontrast axial, coronal, and oblique-sagittal T1-weighted imaging. ASSESSMENT: PLONI was assessed using post-enucleation histology and preoperative MRI features (optic nerve signal intensity, enlargement, and enhancement on conventional MRI, and apparent diffusion coefficient [ADC] of the optic nerve on DWI) evaluated by three observers. STATISTICAL TESTS: MRI features suggesting the presence of PLONI were identified using univariable and multivariable analyses. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) were used to analyze diagnostic performance. RESULTS: Optic nerve enhancement and low ADC of the optic nerve were significant indicators of PLONI. ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC of the combination of these two features for detecting PLONI was 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78-0.93). The diagnostic performance of this model was significantly superior to that of optic nerve enhancement alone (0.76, 95% CI: 0.65-0.85) and marginally superior to that of the ADC of the affected optic nerve (0.78, 95% CI: 0.68-0.87, P = 0.051). DATA CONCLUSION: Conventional MRI combined with DWI can improve the detection of PLONI in RB patients over conventional MRI alone. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2.

Differentiating sinonasal malignant melanoma from squamous cell carcinoma using DWI combined with conventional MRI.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in combination with conventional MRI features to differentiate sinonasal malignant melanoma (SNMM) from sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC). METHODS: A total of 37 patients with SNMM and 44 patients with SNSCC were retrospectively reviewed. Conventional MRI features and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were evaluated independently by two experienced head and neck radiologists. ADCs were obtained from two different regions of interest (ROIs) including maximum slice (MS) and small solid sample (SSS). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify significant MR imaging features in discriminating between SNMM and SNSCC. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the diagnostic performance. RESULTS: SNMMs were more frequently located in the nasal cavity, with well-defined border, T1 Septate Pattern (T1-SP) and heterogeneous T1 hyperintensity, whereas SNSCCs were more frequently located in the paranasal sinus, with homogenous T1 isointensity, ill-defined border, reticular or linear T2 hyperintensity, and pterygopalatine fossa or orbital involvement (all p < 0.05). The mean ADCs of SNMM (MS ADC, 0.85 × 10-3mm2/s; SSS ADC, 0.69 × 10-3mm2/s) were significantly lower than those of SNSCC (MS ADC, 1.05 × 10-3mm2/s; SSS ADC, 0.82 × 10-3mm2/s) (p < 0.05). With a combination of location, T1 signal intensity, reticular or linear T2 hyperintensity, and a cut-off MS ADC of 0.87 × 10-3mm2/s, the sensitivity, specificity, and AUC were 97.3%, 68.2%, and 0.89, respectively. CONCLUSION: DWI combined with conventional MRI can effectively improve the diagnostic performance in differentiating SNMM from SNSCC.

Prognostic Value of the Radiomics-Based Model in the Disease-Free Survival of Pretreatment Uveal Melanoma: An Initial Result.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a pretreatment magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based radiomics model for disease-free survival (DFS) prediction in patients with uveal melanoma (UM). METHODS: We randomly assigned 85 patients with UM into 2 cohorts: training (n = 60) and validation (n = 25). The radiomics model was built from significant features that were selected from the training cohort by applying a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator to pretreatment MRI scans. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and the Cox proportional hazard model were used to construct a radiomics score (rad-score). Patients were divided into a low- or a high-risk group based on the median of the rad-score. The Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate the association between the rad-score and DFS. A nomogram incorporating the rad-score and MRI features was plotted to individually estimate DFS. The model's discrimination power was assessed using the concordance index. RESULTS: The radiomics model with 15 optimal radiomics features based on MRI performed well in stratifying patients into the high- or a low-risk group of DFS in both the training and validation cohorts (log-rank test, P = 0.009 and P = 0.02, respectively). Age, basal diameter, and height were selected as significant clinical and MRI features. The nomogram showed good predictive performance with concordance indices of 0.741 (95% confidence interval, 0.637-0.845) and 0.912 (95% confidence interval, 0.847-0.977) in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Calibration curves demonstrated good agreement. CONCLUSION: The developed clinical-radiomics model may be a powerful predictor of the DFS of patients with UM, thereby providing evidence for preoperative risk stratification.

Investigation of the Value of T 2 Mapping in the Prediction of Eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (eosCRSwNP) usually have more extensive sinus disease, severe symptoms, and poorer disease control compared with patients with non-eosCRSwNP. Separating these entities will be crucial for patient management. The purpose of this study is to investigate T 1, T 2 , and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the nasal polyps in patients with CRSwNP and evaluate the usefulness of these parameters for differentiating these diseases. METHODS: Sinonasal magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 36 patients with eosCRSwNP and 20 patients with non-eosCRSwNP (including T 1 mapping, T 2 mapping, and diffusion-weighted imaging) before surgery. The T 1 , T 2 , and ADC values were calculated and correlated with pathologically assessed inflammatory cells of nasal polyps. RESULTS: Significant higher T 2 value, higher eosinophil count, and lower lymphocyte count of the nasal polyps were observed in eosCRSwNP than those in non-eosCRSwNP. There was no significant difference in T 1 or ADC values between the 2 groups. T 2 value was correlated with eosinophil count and lymphocyte count in CRSwNP. The area under the curve of T 2 value for predicting eosCRSwNP was 0.78 with 89.9% sensitivity and 60.0% specificity. CONCLUSION: T 2 value is a promising imaging biomarker for predicting eosCRSwNP. It can help to distinguish eosCRSwNP from non-eosCRSwNP.

Diagnostic performance of MRI for the assessment of extraocular muscle invasion in malignant sinonasal tumors.

PURPOSE: Preoperative assessment of extraocular muscle invasion is essential for therapeutic strategies and prognostic evaluation. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of MRI for evaluation of extraocular muscle (EM) invasion by malignant sinonasal tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutively, 76 patients of sinonasal malignant tumors with orbital invasion were included in the present study. Preoperative MRI imaging features were analyzed by two radiologists independently. The diagnostic performances of MR imaging features for detecting EM involvement were evaluated by comparing imaging findings to histopathology data. RESULTS: A total of 31 extraocular muscles were involved by sinonasal malignant tumors in 22 patients, including 10 medial rectus muscles (32.2%), 10 inferior rectus muscles (32.2%), 9 superior oblique muscles (29.1%), and 2 external rectus muscles (6.5%). The EM involved by sinonasal malignant tumors usually showed relatively high signal intensity on T2-weighted images, indistinguishable from the tumor, nodular enlargement and abnormal enhancement (p = 0.001, < 0.001, < 0.001 and < 0.001, respectively). Using a combination of EM abnormal enhancement and indistinguishable from the tumor in multivariate logistic regression analysis, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy for detecting orbital EM invasion by sinonasal tumors were 93.5, 85.2, 76.3, 96.3 and 88%, respectively. CONCLUSION: MRI imaging features show high diagnostic performance for the diagnosis of extraocular muscle invasion by malignant sinonasal tumors.

Quantitative parameters derived from 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging can accurately estimate the histologic grade of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma preoperatively.

PURPOSE: Among head and neck cancers, hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC) shows the highest malignancy, which is associated with histologic grading. This study was designed to investigate whether quantitative parameters derived from 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (18F-FDG PET/MRI) can preoperatively estimate the histologic grade of HSCC. METHODS: 18F-FDG PET/MRI of neck was successfully performed in 21 patients with histologically proven HSCC including poorly differentiated group (ten patients) and well-moderately differentiated group (eleven patients). Quantitative parameters derived from FDG-PET, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and dynamic contrast enhanced-magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) were calculated based on volume of interest drawn on the tumor and compared between two groups. The efficacy of quantitative parameters for the estimation of histologic grades of HSCC was evaluated. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in mean value of standard uptake value (SUV), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and Ktrans derived from 18F-FDG PET/MRI of HSCC between two groups (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in other quantitative parameters derived from 18F-FDG PET/MRI of HSCC between two groups. The area under the curve (AUC) of the combination of SUVmean, ADCmean, and Ktrans in the estimation of histologic grade of HSCC was 0.936 with sensitivity of 90.0% and specificity of 81.8%. CONCLUSION: The combination of SUVmean, ADCmean, and Ktrans derived from 18F-FDG PET/MRI can accurately predict the histologic grade of HSCC preoperatively.

Dual-energy CT-based radiomics nomogram in predicting histological differentiation of head and neck squamous carcinoma: a multicenter study.

PURPOSE: To develop and validate a dual-energy CT (DECT)-based radiomics nomogram from multicenter trials for predicting the histological differentiation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS: A total of 178 patients (112 in the training and 66 in the validation cohorts) from eight institutions with histologically proven HNSCCs were included in this retrospective study. Radiomics-signature models were constructed from features extracted from virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) and iodine-based material decomposition images (IMDI), reconstructed from venous-phase DECT images. Clinical factors were also assessed to build a clinical model. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to develop a nomogram combining the radiomics signature models and clinical model for predicting poorly differentiated HNSCC and moderately well-differentiated HNSCC. The predictive performance of the clinical model, radiomics signature models, and nomogram was compared. The calibration degree of the nomogram was also assessed. RESULTS: The tumor location, VMI-signature, and IMDI-signature were associated with the degree of HNSCC differentiation, and areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) were 0.729, 0.890, and 0.833 in the training cohort and 0.627, 0.859, and 0.843 in the validation cohort, respectively. The nomogram incorporating tumor location and two radiomics-signature models yielded the best performance in training (AUC = 0.987) and validation (AUC = 0.968) cohorts with a good calibration degree. CONCLUSION: The nomogram that integrated the DECT-based radiomics-signature models and tumor location showed good performance in predicting histological differentiation degree of HNSCC, providing a novel combination for predicting HNSCC differentiation.

Prognostic Value of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose-Positron Emission Tomography/Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to investigate the value of pretreatment integrated positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) in predicting the prognosis of patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC). METHODS: Twenty-one untreated patients with HSCC who underwent PET/MRI before treatment were enrolled. We analyzed the value of PET/MRI parameters in predicting the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of HSCC patients. Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test were used to perform univariate survival analysis, whereas Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to perform multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Of the 21 patients with a median follow-up time of 20.3 months (range, 4.2-37.6 months), 2 (9.5%) had local recurrence, 2 (9.5%) had distant metastases, and 8 (38.1%) died because of cancer. Univariate analysis showed that T stage, clinical stage, total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and metabolic tumor volume (MTV) were significant prognostic factors for PFS (P < 0.05). T stage, clinical stage, TLG, MTV, the mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCmean), and the minimal apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCmin) were significant prognostic factors for OS (P < 0.05). The Cox proportional hazard regression model revealed that MTV was an independent prognostic factor for PFS, and TLG was an independent prognostic factor for OS (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic tumor volume was an independent predictor of PFS in patients with HSCC, while TLG was an independent predictor of OS. T stage, clinical stage, ADCmean, and ADCmin are potential prognostic indicators for HSCC. Positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging can provide effective information for predicting the prognosis for HSCC patients.

Orbital Volume and Axial Length Development in Individuals Ages 12 to 60 Years With Congenital Microphthalmia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the stimulating effect of axial length development on orbital volume development in patients (ages 12-60 years) with congenital microphthalmia. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 43 patients (86 eyes) with congenital microphthalmia. Three-dimensional images of the orbit were generated from past computed tomography scans, and digital orbital volume and axial length measurements were taken. The patients were divided into four age groups for analyses. Paired t tests and one-way analysis of variance tests were used to compare orbital volume and axial length between the affected and unaffected eyes. Pearson correlation analyses and scatter plots were used to investigate the correlations between age, orbital volume, and axial length in the affected and unaffected eyes. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the association between orbital volume and axial length. RESULTS: The mean orbital volume in the affected and unaffected eyes was 17.08 ±â€Š2.88 and 20.80 ±â€Š2.55 cm3, respectively. The mean axis length in the affected and the unaffected groups was 12.73 ±â€Š3.54 and 23.84 ±â€Š1.43 mm, respectively. Significant differences were observed among orbital (t = 13.538, P < 0.001) volume and axial length (t = 21.339, P < 0.001) in the affected and the unaffected groups. There were no significant differences in affected orbital volume (F = 0.527, P > 0.05), unaffected orbital volume (F = 1.628, P > 0.05), affected axial length (F = 0.946, P > 0.05), and unaffected axial length (F = 2.217, P > 0.05) among the four age groups. According to the Pearson correlations, there were no significant correlations between age and affected volume, unaffected volume, affected axis, and unaffected axis (r = 0.095, 0.097, 0.084, and 0.022, respectively; all P > 0.05). Orbital volume was moderately correlated with axial length in the affected and unaffected groups (r = 0.470 and 0.410, respectively; both P < 0.01). Linear regression analysis revealed that a 1 mm change in axis length was associated with a 0.38 cm3 and 0.73 cm3 change in orbital volume in the affected and unaffected groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In individuals ages 12 to 60 years old with congenital microphthalmia, the effect of axis length on the orbital volume growth of the affected eye is only half that of the unaffected eye. The eyeball, orbital tissue, and craniofacial development all play an important role in the growth of orbital volume.

Effect of Gut Microbiota-Derived Metabolites on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy: Enemy or Friend?

The human gut is inhabited by hundreds of billions of commensal microbiota that collectively produce thousands of small molecules and metabolites with local and systemic effects on the physiology of the host. Much evidence from preclinical to clinical studies has gradually confirmed that the gut microbiota can regulate anti-tumor immunity and affect the efficacy of cancer immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy. In particular, one of the main modes of gut microbiota regulating anti-tumor immunity is through metabolites, which are small molecules that can be transported in the body and act on local and systemic anti-tumor immune responses to promote ICIs immunotherapy efficacy. We discuss the functions of microbial metabolites in humans, focusing on the effects and mechanisms of microbial metabolites on immunotherapy, and analyze their potential applications as immune adjuvants and therapeutic targets to regulate immunity and enhance ICIs. In summary, this review provides the basis for the rational design of microbiota and microbial metabolite-based strategies of enhancing ICIs.

Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI Can Quantitatively Discriminate the Original Site From Peripheral Portion of Sinonasal Inverted Papillomas.

BACKGROUND: Identification of the original site of sinonasal inverted papillomas (SIPs) is difficult but essential for reducing the recurrence rate. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) may provide information about tissue perfusion and permeability to solve this problem. PURPOSE: To investigate the accuracy of DCE-MRI parameters in discriminating between regions of interest (ROIs) in the original site and peripheral portion. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. POPULATION: Ninety consecutive patients with pathologically proven SIP. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3.0T/DCE-MRI using fast-spoiled gradient recalled (FSPGR) T1 -weighted images with fat saturation. ASSESSMENT: ROIs were placed in the original site and the peripheral portion of SIP by two radiologists according to surgical records. Maximum slope of increase (MaxSlope), contrast-enhancement ratio (CER), bolus arrival time (BAT), initial area under the signal intensity-time curve (IAUGC), volume transfer constant (Ktrans ), volume of the extravascular extracellular space (ve ), and rate constant (Kep ) were calculated and repeated again with a month interval by a radiologist. STATISTICAL TESTS: Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to determine the best diagnostic parameters, and their performances in discrimination were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Reproducibility was estimated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: MaxSlope, CER, IAUGC, Ktrans , and ve were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the original site than the peripheral portion of SIPs. CER (odds ratio [OR] = 0.227, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.073-0.704) and ve (OR = 0.048, 95% CI = 0.004-0.527) were the best indicators for identifying the original ROIs. The combination of CER and ve had the best diagnostic performance in the discrimination between the ROIs (the area under the curve [AUC]: 0.937; 95% CI: 0.896-0.974). DATA CONCLUSION: DCE-MRI derived parameter values differed between the original site and the peripheral portion of SIPs. The model combining CER and ve appears to be able to accurately distinguish the original from peripheral ROIs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 2.

CHIMGEN: a Chinese imaging genetics cohort to enhance cross-ethnic and cross-geographic brain research.

The Chinese Imaging Genetics (CHIMGEN) study establishes the largest Chinese neuroimaging genetics cohort and aims to identify genetic and environmental factors and their interactions that are associated with neuroimaging and behavioral phenotypes. This study prospectively collected genomic, neuroimaging, environmental, and behavioral data from more than 7000 healthy Chinese Han participants aged 18-30 years. As a pioneer of large-sample neuroimaging genetics cohorts of non-Caucasian populations, this cohort can provide new insights into ethnic differences in genetic-neuroimaging associations by being compared with Caucasian cohorts. In addition to micro-environmental measurements, this study also collects hundreds of quantitative macro-environmental measurements from remote sensing and national survey databases based on the locations of each participant from birth to present, which will facilitate discoveries of new environmental factors associated with neuroimaging phenotypes. With lifespan environmental measurements, this study can also provide insights on the macro-environmental exposures that affect the human brain as well as their timing and mechanisms of action.

Value of MRI-based radiomics analysis for differentiation of benign and malignant epithelial neoplasms in the lacrimal gland: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: It is essential to distinguish malignant from benign epithelial neoplasms in the lacrimal gland for different treatment options and prognosis. PURPOSE: To retrospectively assess the performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based radiomics features in the differentiation of benign and malignant epithelial neoplasms in the lacrimal gland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-six consecutive patients with histopathology-proven epithelial neoplasms of the lacrimal gland were enrolled in the study, including 41 benign and 35 malignant neoplasms. Radiomics features were extracted from T2-weighted and post-contrast T1-weighted imaging. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method was used to select imaging features and reduce data dimension to discriminate malignant from benign neoplasms in the lacrimal gland. Diagnostic performance of the radiomics model was assessed by receive operation characteristic (ROC) curve and compared with that of radiologists. RESULTS: Four quantitative image features including inverse difference moment normalized (IDMN), mean deviation (MD), standard deviation (SD), and long-run emphasis (LRE) were selected to distinguish malignant from benign epithelial neoplasms in the lacrimal gland. Area under the curve (AUC) of these four features were 0.88, 086, 0.88, and 0.86, respectively, with 0.93 for the combination model. The model identified malignant epithelial neoplasms from benign group with 89% sensitivity, 93% specificity, and 89% accuracy. There was a significant difference in the diagnostic performance of radiomics model and the radiologists, with AUC of 0.70 for radiologists. The diagnostic performance of radiomics is superior to that of radiologists. CONCLUSION: MRI-based radiomics analysis has potential for differentiation of benign and malignant epithelial neoplasms in the lacrimal gland.

Upper airway lengthening caused by weight increase in obstructive sleep apnea patients.

BACKGROUND: The longer upper airway is more collapsible during sleep. This study aims to reveal relationships among upper airway length, weight, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), particularly to answer why the upper airway of OSA patients is longer than that of healthy people and why some obese people suffer from OSA while others do not. METHODS: We perform head and neck MRI on male patients and controls, and measure > 20 morphological parameters, including several never before investigated, to quantify the effect of weight change on upper airway length. RESULTS: The upper airway length is longer in patients and correlates strongly to body weight. Weight increase leads to significant fat infiltration in the tongue, causing the hyoid to move downward and lengthen the airway in patients. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) strongly correlates to airway length and tongue size. Surprisingly, a distance parameter h and angle ß near the occipital bone both show significant differences between healthy males and patients due to their different head backward tilt angle, and strongly correlates with AHI. The contributions of downward hyoid movement and head tilt on airway lengthening are 67.4-80.5% and19.5-32.6%, respectively, in patients. The parapharyngeal fat pad also correlates strongly with AHI. CONCLUSIONS: The findings in this study reveal that the amount of body weight and distribution of deposited fat both affect airway length, and therefore OSA. Fat distribution plays a larger impact than the amount of weight, and is a better predictor of who among obese people are more prone to OSA.

Diagnosis of Postlaminar Optic Nerve Invasion in Retinoblastoma With MRI Features.

BACKGROUND: Retinoblastomas (RBs) with postlaminar optic nerve invasion (PLONI) increases the risk of local recurrence or systemic metastasis. Most MRI studies on PLONI focused on optic nerve enhancement and tumor size, with reported relatively high specificity (84-98%) but low sensitivity (37-78%), which shows room for improvement, especially with regard to sensitivity. PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic performance for detecting PLONI with RB using MRI features. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. POPULATION: Fifty patients with histopathologic PLONI and 70 patients without PLONI of RB. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 1.5T and 3.0T, precontrast axial T1 -weighted and T2 -weighted, postcontrast axial, coronal and oblique-sagittal T1 -weighted. ASSESSMENT: The eyes were histopathologically analyzed and the preoperative MRI features of the eyes were independently evaluated by three observers. STATISTICAL TESTS: MRI features suggesting the presence of PLONI were identified by univariate and multivariable analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to analyze diagnostic performance. RESULTS: Significant independent diagnostic factors for PLONI include: 1: Bilateral tumor (odds ratio [OR], 15.32; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.63-143.51); 2: Tumor with total coverage of the optic disk (OR, 6.43; 95% CI: 1.04-39.79); and 3: Optic nerve enhancement (OR, 8.43; 95% CI: 3.50-20.31). On the other hand, isointense signal of tumor on T2 WI (OR, 0.30; 95% CI: 0.12-0.75) was an independent diagnostic factor in excluding PLONI. ROC analysis showed AUC of 0.84 (95% CI: 0.77-0.91, P < 0.0001) for PLONI. Based on the cutoff of maximum Youden index, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 82%, 73%, and 77%, respectively. DATA CONCLUSION: MRI features of RB showed a strong association with PLONI. The model of MRI features demonstrated promising diagnostic performance in detecting PLONI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:1045-1052.

Chronic invasive fungal rhinosinusitis vs sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma: the differentiating value of MRI.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate MRI features in discriminating chronic invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (CIFRS) from sinonasal squamous cell carcinomas (SNSCC). METHODS: MRI findings of 33 patients with CIFRS and 47 patients with SNSCC were retrospectively reviewed and compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify significant imaging features in distinguishing between CIFRS and SNSCC. The ROC curves and the AUC were used to evaluate diagnostic performance. RESULTS: There were significant differences in cavernous sinus involvement (p < 0.001), sphenoid sinus involvement (p < 0.001), meningeal involvement (p = 0.024), T2 signal intensity (p = 0.006), and enhancement pattern (p < 0.001) between CIFRS and SNSCC. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified cavernous sinus involvement (odds ratio [OR] = 0.06, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.02-0.20) and sphenoid sinus involvement (OR = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.05-0.45) as significant indicators for CIFRS and T2 isointensity to gray matter (OR = 4.44, 95% CI = 1.22-16.22) was a significant indicator for SNSCC. ROC curve analysis showed the AUC from a combination of three imaging features was 0.95 in differentiating CIFRS and SNSCC. CONCLUSIONS: MRI showed significant differences between CIFRS and SNSCC features. In immunocompromised patients, a sinonasal hypointense mass on T2WI with septal enhancement or loss of contrast enhancement, and involvement of cavernous sinus, sphenoid sinus, and meninges strongly suggest CIFRS. KEY POINTS: • Chronic invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (CIFRS) is often difficult to distinguish from sinonasal squamous cell carcinomas (SNSCC) in clinical practice. • Cavernous sinus and sphenoid sinus involvement appear to be significant indicators for CIFRS. T2 isointensity to gray matter appears to be a significant indicator for SNSCC. • Loss of contrast enhancement and septal enhancement can be used to distinguish CIFRS from SNSCC with a high degree of specificity.