[Based on CT radiomics model for predicting the response to first-line chemotherapy of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma].

Objective: To investigate the potential value of CT Radiomics model in predicting the response to first-line chemotherapy in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Methods: Pre-treatment CT images and clinical data of DLBCL patients treated at Shanxi Cancer Hospital from January 2013 to May 2018 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into refractory patients (73 cases) and non-refractory patients (57 cases) according to the Lugano 2014 efficacy evaluation criteria. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression algorithm, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to screen out clinical factors and CT radiomics features associated with efficacy response, followed by radiomics model and nomogram model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve and clinical decision curve were used to evaluate the models in terms of the diagnostic efficacy, calibration and clinical value in predicting chemotherapy response. Results: Based on pre-chemotherapy CT images, 850 CT texture features were extracted from each patient, and 6 features highly correlated with the first-line chemotherapy effect of DLBCL were selected, including 1 first order feature, 1 gray level co-occurence matrix, 3 grey level dependence matrix, 1 neighboring grey tone difference matrix. Then, the corresponding radiomics model was established, whose ROC curves showed AUC values of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.76-0.89) and 0.73 (95% CI: 0.60-0.86) in the training and validation groups, respectively. The nomogram model, built by combining validated clinical factors (Ann Arbor stage, serum LDH level) and CT radiomics features, showed an AUC of 0.95 (95% CI: 0.90-0.99) and 0.91 (95% CI: 0.82-1.00) in the training group and the validation group, respectively, with significantly better diagnostic efficacy than that of the radiomics model. In addition, the calibration curve and clinical decision curve showed that the nomogram model had good consistency and high clinical value in the assessment of DLBCL efficacy. Conclusion: The nomogram model based on clinical factors and radiomics features shows potential clinical value in predicting the response to first-line chemotherapy of DLBCL patients.

Altered exosomal miR-181d and miR-30a related to the pathogenesis of CVB3 induced myocarditis by targeting SOCS3.

OBJECTIVE: MicroRNAs are a group of gene expression regulators and some of which have been confirmed to be associated with acute viral myocarditis (VM). This study aims to find new biomarkers for VM diagnosis and explore the roles of miRNAs during the pathogenesis of VM. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 23 patients with acute myocarditis and 12 controls were included in this research. The expression of 10 candidate miRNAs in the serum exosome was examined by qRT-PCR. The direct targets were predicted using bioinformatics tools and then confirmed by dual luciferase assay and immunoblotting. Levels IL-6 of cell culture supernatants were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Six weeks old male mice were injected intraperitoneally with Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) and then treated by miRNA inhibitors through tail vein injection. RESULTS: Five miRNAs were found to have disturbed expression in the exosome and may have the potential to be used as biomarker for VM diagnosis. Meanwhile, the expression of miR-30a and -181d was also altered in the cells after CVB3 infection. We identified SOCS3 as a direct target of miR-30a and -181d. Furthermore, during CVB3 infection, up-regulated miR-30a and -181d are related to enhanced IL-6 level via modulating SOCS3 expression. miRNA inhibitors injection increased mice survival rate after CVB3 infection. CONCLUSIONS: miR-30a and -181d contribute to the over-activated inflammatory response to viral infection of the heart during coxsackievirus infection.

[Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of gallbladder: a clinicopathologic study].

Objective: To study the clinicopathologic features of invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) of the gallbladder. Methods: Among 160 resected cases of gallbladder adenocarcinomas, the clinical and histological features of gallbladder adenocarcinomas with invasive micropapillary components (IMPC≥5%) were studied. Results: The detection rate of IPMC among gallbladder adenocarcinomas was 19.4% (31/160). Among these 31 cases, the patients' age ranged from 42 to 84 years (mean 64.8 years). The male-to-female ratio was 1∶4.Histologically, 19 cases were characterized by small papillary tufts lacking central fibrovascular cores, lying freely within the clefts of fibrous tissue, resembling IMPC of the breast; in five cases, the micropapillary tufts floated within cystic spaces lined by tumor cells, resembling IMPC of the lung; in four cases, slender, delicate filiform processes on the tumor surface with classic IMPC in the depth of gallbladder was observed; and in three cases mixed features were seen. Small cluster invasion (SCI) was seen adjacent to the IMPC. The lymph node metastatic rate, the lymphovascular invasion rate, and the SCI detection rate were significantly higher in the IMPC group (P=0.000). The IMPC detection rate was related to poorer histological differentiation and increased T stage (P=0.012, C=0.67; P=0.011, C=0.68). The two-year survival rate of IMPC (4/18) was significantly lower than usual gallbladder carcinoma (54.8%, 23/42). Conclusions: Compared to conventional adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder, IMPC has a more advanced tumor status and is prone to lymphovascular invasion and lymph node metastasis, which thus leads to short-term survival. Moreover, SCI may play an important role in the invasion of the IMPC of the gallbladder.