Super-resolution of diffusion-weighted images using space-customized learning model.

BACKGROUND: Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is a noninvasive method used for investigating the microstructural properties of the brain. However, a tradeoff exists between resolution and scanning time in clinical practice. Super-resolution has been employed to enhance spatial resolution in natural images, but its application on high-dimensional and non-Euclidean DWI remains challenging. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop an end-to-end deep learning network for enhancing the spatial resolution of DWI through post-processing. METHODS: We proposed a space-customized deep learning approach that leveraged convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for the grid structural domain (x-space) and graph CNNs (GCNNs) for the diffusion gradient domain (q-space). Moreover, we represented the output of CNN as a graph using correlations defined by a Gaussian kernel in q-space to bridge the gap between CNN and GCNN feature formats. RESULTS: Our model was evaluated on the Human Connectome Project, demonstrating the effective improvement of DWI quality using our proposed method. Extended experiments also highlighted its advantages in downstream tasks. CONCLUSION: The hybrid convolutional neural network exhibited distinct advantages in enhancing the spatial resolution of DWI scans for the feature learning of heterogeneous spatial data.

The value of a deep learning image reconstruction algorithm in whole-brain computed tomography perfusion in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Background: Computed tomography perfusion (CTP) and computed tomography angiography (CTA) are valuable tools for diagnosing acute ischemic stroke (AIS). It is essential to obtain high-quality CTP and CTA images in short time. This study aimed to evaluate the image quality and diagnostic performance of brain CTP and CTA images generated from CTP reconstructed by a deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) algorithm on patients with AIS. Methods: The study prospectively enrolled 54 patients with suspected AIS undergoing non-contrast CT and CTP within 24 hours. CTP datasets were reconstructed with three levels of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-Veo algorithm [ASIR-V 0% with filtered back projection (FBP), ASIR-V 40%, and ASIR-V 80%] and three levels of DLIR, including low (DLIR-L), medium (DLIR-M), and high (DLIR-H). CTA images were generated using the CTP datasets at the peak arterial phase. Objective parameters including signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and noise reduction rate. Subjective evaluation was assessed according to Abels scoring system. Perfusion parameters and detection accuracy for infarction core lesions were evaluated. The objective and subjective image quality of CTA images were also evaluated. Results: All reconstructions produced similar CT values (P>0.05). With the increase of ASIR-V and DLIR reconstruction strength, image noise decreased, while SNR and CNR increased for CTP images, especially in white matter. DLIR-H, DLIR-M, and ASIR-V80% yielded higher subjective scores than did ASIR-V40% and FBP. DLIR-H provided the highest noise reduction rate and detection accuracy. No significant difference was found in conventional parameters, the volume of infarct core, or ischemic penumbra among the 6 groups (P>0.05). The objective evaluation of reconstructed CTA images was comparable in DLIR-H, DLIR-M, and ASIR-V80% (P>0.05). The subjective scores of the DLIR-H and DLIR-M images were higher than those of the other groups, especially ASIR-V40% and FBP (P<0.05). Conclusions: Compared with FBP and ASIR-V40%, DLIR-H, DLIR-M, and ASIR-V80% improved the overall image quality of CTP and CTA images to varying degrees. Furthermore, DLIR-H and DLIR-M showed the best performance. DLIR-H is the best choice in diagnosing AIS with improved detection accuracy for cerebral infarction. Reconstructing CTA images using CTP datasets could reduce contrast agent and radiation dose.

Competing endogenous RNA network construction based on long non-coding RNAs, microRNAs, and mRNAs related to fat deposition in Songliao black swine.

China has a long history of pig breeding and a number of local breeds. The Songliao Black pig, bred in China in 2009, shows high variation in backfat thickness and therefore is well-suited to fat deposition research. Fat deposition is a complex trait, and the underlying regulatory factors are not fully characterized. In this study, the molecular basis of fat deposition traits was evaluated by comparisons between three individuals with extremely high-backfat thickness and three with extremely low-backfat thickness selected from 53 gilts. Subcutaneous adipose tissues of the back were collected for strand-specific library RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and small RNA-seq. We identified 13 184 mRNAs, 2046 long non-coding (lnc)RNAs, and 494 micro (mi)RNAs by high-throughput sequencing. Furthermore, we detected 150 differentially expressed mRNAs, 66 differentially expressed lncRNAs, and eight differentially expressed miRNAs. A functional enrichment analysis indicated that these genes are involved in multiple fat metabolism-related pathways, including positive regulation of fat cell differentiation, and fat digestion and absorption. We used various algorithms (miRanda, TargetScan, and RNAhybrid) to predict targeting relationships and constructed a competing endogenous RNA network containing seven lncRNAs, three miRNAs, and six mRNAs. All these genes were differentially expressed between the extremely high and low backfat thickness groups or enriched in pathways related to fat metabolism. Our results provide insight into the regulatory mechanisms by which non-coding RNAs and their target genes influence backfat deposition in pigs. Furthermore, our newly constructed competing endogenous RNA (lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA) network provides a basis for further exploration of fat deposition traits and non-coding RNA functions.

Catalytic Effect of Ferrocenyl Energetic Catalysts for N-Guanylurea Dinitramide (GUDN or FOX-12) Decomposition.

Four N,N-dimethylaminomethylferrocene polynitrogen catalysts were applied to the thermal decomposition of FOX-12, and their catalytic effect on FOX-12 was investigated by TG-DSC. The kinetic parameters and kinetic model of the mixed system were revealed by the Kissinger method, Freidman method, and combined kinetic analysis. The results showed that MAFcTAZ is the catalyst with the strongest effect on FOX-12, the decomposition peak temperature of FOX-12 is reduced, and the decomposition weight loss is higher than those for other catalysts, which prove that the decomposition of FOX-12 is more thorough under the catalysis of MAFcTAZ. The introduction of the four catalysts reduced the thermal decomposition peak temperature of FOX-12. MAFcTAZ was the most active catalyst for the decomposition of FOX-12, and the maximum heat release of catalyzing the decomposition of FOX-12 can reach 1236.76 J·g-1. The activation energy (E a) of FOX-12 decomposition decreased from 217.91 to 128.19, 137.85, 157.65, and 151.91 kJ·mol-1 under the effect of MAFcNO3, MAFcPA, MAFcNTO, and MAFcTAZ. The Freidman analysis illustrated that MAFcTAZ reduced the activation energy during the entire decomposition process of FOX-12. The physical model of the decomposition reaction of FOX-12 transformed from the random nucleation and two-dimensional growth of nuclei model (A2) to the random scission model (L2) in the presence of MAFcNO3 and two-dimensional diffusion (D2) under the effect of MAFcPA, MAFcNTO, and MAFcTAZ. By analyzing the molecular structures, MAFcTAZ has a higher iron content and nitrogen content, which are the essence of its excellent catalytic performance. From the perspective of interaction energy, the strong catalytic effect of MAFcTAZ is attributed to its large interaction energy with FOX-12 by energy decomposition analysis.

Study on the effect of solvent on cocrystallization of CL-20 and HMX through theoretical calculations and experiments.

Cocrystallization is a helpful method for explosives design. However, lack of understanding of the cocrystallization mechanism leads to inefficiency in cocrystal preparation. Therefore, studying the effects of solvent on cocrystal is of great importance for the efficient application of 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20). In this paper, the effect of solvent on cocrystallization is investigated by the CL-20/HMX cocrystal/solvent cluster model, the CL-20/HMX/solvent mixture model, the CL-20/HMX cocrystal/solvent interface model combined with quantum chemistry and molecular dynamic methods. The authors find that the hydrogen bond between CL-20 and 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane (HMX) is the strongest and the binding energy of cocrystal and solvent molecules is the weakest in ethyl acetate (EA) solvent, indicating that CL-20 and HMX tend to be combined together and there is less hindrance by solvent molecules. Analysis of the CL-20/HMX/solvent mixture and mass density distribution studies show that the solvent effect has a great influence on the crystal faces and the cocrystallization rate of CL-20 and HMX is the highest in EA solvent. The XRD and SEM characterization results are consistent with the theoretical calculations. The present work on the effects of solvent on CL-20/HMX cocrystals is beneficial for understanding the mechanism of the growth of energetic cocrystal materials. It is helpful in selecting more suitable theoretical and experimental conditions and makes access to excellent cocrystals more efficient.

Radiomics Study for Differentiating Focal Hepatic Lesions Based on Unenhanced CT Images.

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility of computer-aided discriminative diagnosis among hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hepatic metastasis, hepatic hemangioma, hepatic cysts, hepatic adenoma, and hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia, based on radiomics analysis of unenhanced CT images. Methods: 452 patients with 77 with HCC, 104 with hepatic metastases, 126 with hepatic hemangioma, 99 with hepatic cysts, 24 with FNH, 22 with HA, who underwent CT examination from 2016 to 2018, were included. Radcloud Platform was used to extract radiomics features from manual delineation on unenhanced CT images. Most relevant radiomic features were selected from 1409 via LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator). The whole dataset was divided into training and testing set with the ratio of 8:2 using computer-generated random numbers. Support Vector Machine (SVM) was used to establish the classifier. Results: The computer-aided diagnosis model was established based on radiomic features of unenhanced CT images. 27 optimal discriminative features were selected to distinguish the six different histopathological types of all lesions. The classifiers had good diagnostic performance, with the area under curve (AUC) values greater than 0.900 in training and validation groups. The overall accuracy of the training and testing set about differentiating the six different histopathological types of all lesions was 0.88 and 0.76 respectively. 34 optimal discriminative were selected to distinguish the benign and malignant tumors. The overall accuracy in the training and testing set was 0.89and 0.84 respectively. Conclusions: The computer-aided discriminative diagnosis model based on unenhanced CT images has good clinical potential in distinguishing focal hepatic lesions with noninvasive radiomic features.

Study on the Cocrystallization Mechanism of CL-20/HMX in a Propellant Aging Process through Theoretical Calculations and Experiments.

Energetic materials undergo physical and chemical aging due to environmental effects, resulting in the degradation of safety and detonation performances. Therefore, studying the aging performance of energetic materials is of great importance for the efficient application of 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20)-based solid propellants. In this paper, XRD and FTIR of the CL-20-based propellant and CL-20/1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane (HMX)-based propellant samples showed CL-20/HMX cocrystal formation according to appearance of new peaks. SEM and EDS analyses showed that pores and dehumidification in the propellant occurred with the cocrystallization of CL-20 and HMX during the aging process. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulation was used to predict the crystal transformation of the CL-20- and HMX-based propellant under a long-term storage process. The stability of ε-CL-20 was obtained by analyzing the crystal transformation rate. The binding energy, radial distribution function between CL-20 and HMX, as well as mechanical properties of the CL-20/HMX cocrystal and the mixture were calculated to reveal the stronger binding between CL-20 and HMX in the cocrystal. Meanwhile, the inducer effect of a nitrate ester during the cocrystallization process was analyzed. The theoretical calculation shows that during aging, ε-CL-20 tends to exist stably, while CL-20/HMX tends to form cocrystals because of the strong bond. The present work on the transformation and cocrystallization of CL-20 and HMX during long-term storage is beneficial for understanding the degradation mechanism of the propellant performances, facilitating safe storage and life evaluation of propellants.

[SUN's abdominal acupuncture for depression after methamphetamine withdrawal: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effect of SUN 's abdominal acupuncture and conventional acupuncture in the treatment of depression after methamphetamine withdrawal. METHODS: A total of 80 female patients with depression after methamphetamine withdrawal were randomly divided into an observation group (40 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a control group (40 cases, 2 cases dropped off). The control group was treated with conventional acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (GV 29), Taichong (LR 3), Shenmen (HT 7), Neiguan (PC 6), Danzhong (GV 17), and the observation group was treated with SUN 's abdominal acupuncture at area 1 of the abdomen and area 8 of the abdomen. Both groups were treated once a day, 30 min each time, 6 days as a course of treatment, 1 day rest between treatment courses, a total of 4 courses of treatment. The scores of withdrawal symptoms, Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) scale and serum serotonin (5-HT) level were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the scores of withdrawal symptoms, HAMD and the various scores and total score of PSQI scale in the two groups were all lower than before treatment (P<0.01), and the scores of withdrawal symptoms, HAMD and the sleep quality, time to fall asleep, sleep time scores and total score of PSQI in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). After treatment, the serum 5-HT level of the two groups was increased (P<0.01), and that in the observation group was higher than the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: SUN 's abdominal acupuncture can improve withdrawal symptom, depression and sleep quality, increase serum 5-HT content in treatment of depression after methamphetamine withdrawal, and has better effect than conventional acupuncture.

Noninvasive Detection of Esophageal Cancer by the Combination of mSEPT9 and SNCG.

Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) is the second most common malignant tumor of the digestive system. There is currently no effective noninvasive method for early detection of EC. Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study involving 188 EC patients, 125 patients with benign esophageal diseases, and 270 normal subjects to examine the performance of methylated SEPT9 (mSEPT9) and synuclein gamma (SNCG) individually and in combination. Results: The sensitivity of mSEPT9 and SNCG for EC was 43.1% (AUC = 0.69) at 95.6% specificity and 41.8% (AUC = 0.79) at 92.6% specificity, respectively. The combined detection increased the sensitivity to 71.8% at 90.3% specificity. The combined detection sensitivity for stage I-IV EC was 66.7%, 58.3%, 75.0%, and 88.2%, respectively. No significant difference in combined sensitivity was found among patients with EC of the upper, middle, and lower esophagus, and no significant difference in sensitivity was found between adenocarcinoma and squamous carcinoma. The sensitivity of highly differentiated EC was found to be higher than that of moderately and poorly differentiated EC with SNCG and combined detection. The sensitivity of SNCG in female patients was significantly higher than that in male patients, leading to the same trend in combined detection. Patients aged 40-49 years showed higher combined sensitivity. The sensitivity of SNCG was much higher than that of existing protein markers for digestive cancers. Furthermore, mSEPT9 was capable of predicting the long-term survival of EC patients with a hazard ratio of 2.65. Conclusion: The combined sensitivity of mSEPT7 and SNGG provided significant improvement over any single biomarker for the early detection of EC. mSEPT7 may be useful as a prognostic marker for long-term survival.

A circular RNA derived from FAT atypical cadherin 3 promotes lung cancer progression via forming a regulatory loop with oncogenic ELAV like RNA binding protein 1.

Circular RNA (circRNA) is a covalently closed endogenous RNA that participates in disease progression. However, its role in lung cancer is largely undetermined. In the present study, we found an onctogenic circRNA in lung cancer, FAT atypical cadherin 3 (FAT3) circRNA (circ-FAT3) was remarkably upregulated in lung cancer in comparison to paired normal tissues. High circ-FAT3 was closely linked to larger tumour size, lymph node metastasis, later clinical stage, as well as dismal outcome. Stable knockdown of circ-FAT3 inhibited cell proliferation and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. RNA binding protein ELAV like RNA binding protein 1 (HuR) was found to bind to introns flanking circ-FAT3, promoting the cyclization and generation of circ-FAT3. Further, circ-FAT3 was able to sponge miR-136-5p by acting as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), alleviating the repressive effect of miR-136-5p on HuR mRNA at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Moreover, circ-FAT3 expression in lung cancer tissues was strongly positively and negatively correlated with HuR and miR-136-5p expression, respectively. Overall, our data reveal the previously uncharacterized regulatory loop of circ-FAT3/miR-136-5p/HuR in lung cancer and provide novel evidence for the importance of circRNA as a ceRNA in tumorigenesis.

Identification of Long Non-Coding RNAs Involved in Porcine Fat Deposition Using Two High-Throughput Sequencing Methods.

Adipose is an important body tissue in pigs, and fatty traits are critical in pig production. The function of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in fat deposition and metabolism has been found in previous studies. In this study, we collected the adipose tissue of six Landrace pigs with contrast backfat thickness (nhigh = 3, nlow = 3), after which we performed strand-specific RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) based on pooling and biological replicate methods. Biological replicate and pooling RNA-seq revealed 1870 and 1618 lncRNAs, respectively. Using edgeR, we determined that 1512 genes and 220 lncRNAs, 2240 genes and 127 lncRNAs were differentially expressed in biological replicate and pooling RNA-seq, respectively. After target gene prediction, we found that ACSL3 was cis-targeted by lncRNA TCONS-00052400 and could activate the conversion of long-chain fatty acids. In addition, lncRNA TCONS_00041740 cis-regulated gene ACACB regulated the rate-limiting enzyme in fatty acid oxidation. Since these genes have necessary functions in fat metabolism, the results imply that the lncRNAs detected in our study may affect backfat deposition in swine through regulation of their target genes. Our study explored the regulation of lncRNA and their target genes in porcine backfat deposition and provided new insights for further investigation of the biological functions of lncRNA.

Preparation, Characterization and Application of Nano-Graphene-Based Energetic Materials.

Nano-graphene-based energetic materials, as a new type of composite energetic materials such as desensitizer and combustion catalyst, have attracted extensive attention from energetic researchers. In this paper, the preparation of nano-graphene-based energetic materials, the desensitization effect of nano-graphene-based on energetic compounds, the thermal decomposition and combustion behavior of the materials are reviewed. Meanwhile, the existing problems and future development of nano-graphene-based energetic compounds are discussed.

Localization of subcentimeter pulmonary nodules using an indocyanine green near-infrared imaging system during uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the feasibility of indocyanine green (ICG) use in localizing subcentimeter pulmonary nodules during uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of 32 patients who underwent surgery due to pulmonary nodules using ICG localization from September 2019 to March 2020 in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University. Laser positioning and large-aperture spiral CT simulation were performed preoperatively. ICG was injected into the lung (2.5 mg/ml). The clinical characteristics and postoperative indicators were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 33 subcentimeter pulmonary nodules were successfully localized in 32 patients. Twenty-three patients underwent lobectomy, with an average surgical time of 45.3 min and an average tube retention time of 2 days. Non-small cell lung cancer was confirmed intraoperatively in 9 patients, among whom the longest surgical time was 120 min, and the shortest hospital stay was 7 days. No patient was converted to thoracotomy or developed serious complications. CONCLUSIONS: ICG imaging is a safe and effective technique for localization of pulmonary nodules. Due to the widespread application of near-infrared devices, fluorescent localization and imaging technology will be more widely used in thoracic surgery.

The feasibility and advantages of immediate removal of urinary catheter after lobectomy: A prospective randomized trial.

AIM: This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and advantages of immediate urinary catheter removal compared with prolonged indwelling catheterization in lung cancer lobectomy. DESIGN: This study was designed as a prospective, single-centre, randomized and open-label clinical study. METHODS: People with lung cancer undergoing lobectomy/pneumonectomy were recruited and randomly allocated to two groups. One group had their urinary catheter removed immediately while the other group had it removed 48 hr after surgery. RESULTS: No significant difference in the incidence of postoperative urinary retention (POUR) was observed between the two groups. However, the incidence of postoperative catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) in the immediate removal group (6.7%) was lower than the control group (17.2%) (p = .030). Furthermore, the incidence of catheter-associated emergence agitation (CAEA) in the control group (25.3%) was higher than the immediate removal group (8.9%) (p = .007). The average length of hospital stay of the immediate removal group [6.51(4-11) days] was shorter than the control group [7.20(5-12) days] (p = .002). Immediate removal of urinary catheter appeared to have fewer complications and shorter hospital stay than delayed removal.

Effects of eye-acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training for poststroke dyskinesia: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Poststroke dyskinesia is the most common clinical symptom after stroke, which greatly affects the patients' daily life. Eye-acupuncture is an effective method for stroke. And the rehabilitation training has been widely used for patients suffer from stroke. However, whether eye-acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training has greater clinical efficacy for poststroke dyskinesia is still unknown. Our aim in this systematic review was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of eye-acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training (EACRT) as a treatment for dyskinesia after stroke. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will search the following 4 databases of registered trials and 7 electronic databases from inception to March 2021:Cochrane Stroke Group, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled, the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry; PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, CNKI, VIP, WanFang, and CBM. All relevant randomized controlled trials focus on EACRT will be included. The primary outcome will be the Fugl-Meyer Assessment. The Secondary outcomes will include Activity of Daily Living, clinical effective rate and the Visual Analogue Score. Two reviewers will independently conduct the Study selection and data extraction. The data synthesis and assessment of risk of bias will be performed by RevMan5.2. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The ethical approval is unnecessary that systematic review is based on published articles other than patients. The results of this meta-analysis will be published in an open access (OA) journal according to the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA). PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020168278.

The Application of Uniportal Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Anatomical Segmentectomy for Lung Resection: A Retrospective Clinical Study.

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a new area of exploration and evolution in thoracic minimal invasive surgery. The uniportal VATS approach has become popular during lung resection for small nodules and ground glass lesions. Our objective is to investigate the efficacy, availability and safety of uniportal VATS anatomical segmentectomy compared with conventional VATS in patients for lung resection. METHODS: Surgical patients of perioperative period who admitted and underwent uniportal, two-port and conventional three-port VATS segmentectomy were analyzed and compared retrospectively during the year 2017 to 2018. RESULTS: During the research period, of 111 patients who had VATS anatomical segmentectomy, 38 underwent uniportal, 43 underwent two-port, and 30 underwent three-port VATS. Four patients underwent conversion to thoracotomy. There were no postoperative mortalities, and there were no significant differences among the three groups in surgical outcomes, including operative time, blood loss, conversions to thoracotomy, drainage time and volume, lymph node dissection, postoperative complications and hospital stay. The pain scores of visual analog scale (VAS) significantly decreased in uniportal group when operation is finished (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that uniportal VATS anatomical segmentectomy is a quite safe surgical technology, as well as feasible, which can cause reduced postoperative pain and less surgical trauma compared to conventional VATS. More experiences and observations of large samples are on the way.

Identification of Potential Candidate Genes From Co-Expression Module Analysis During Preadipocyte Differentiation in Landrace Pig.

Preadipocyte differentiation plays an important role in lipid deposition and affects fattening efficiency in pigs. In the present study, preadipocytes isolated from the subcutaneous adipose tissue of three Landrace piglets were induced into mature adipocytes in vitro. Gene clusters associated with fat deposition were investigated using RNA sequencing data at four time points during preadipocyte differentiation. Twenty-seven co-expression modules were subsequently constructed using weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses revealed three modules (blue, magenta, and brown) as being the most critical during preadipocyte differentiation. Based on these data and our previous differentially expressed gene analysis, angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) was identified as a key regulator of preadipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism. After inhibition of ANGPTL4, the expression of adipogenesis-related genes was reduced, except for that of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), which was negatively regulated by ANGPTL4 during preadipocyte differentiation. Our findings provide a new perspective to understand the mechanism of fat deposition.

Computed Tomography Features and Clinicopathological Characteristics of Gastric Sarcomatoid Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Gastric sarcomatoid carcinoma (GSC) is a very rare malignant tumor. The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical, computed tomography (CT), and pathologic features of GSC to increase awareness of this entity. METHODS: The CT features and clinical data of five patients with pathologically documented GSC were retrospectively analyzed and compared with the corresponding data of gastric adenocarcinoma and lymphoma. RESULTS: Among the 5 patients, 4 were male, and 1 was female. The median age was 59 years. Of the 5 cases of GSC, 3 were in the gastric fundus and cardia, 1 was in the gastric body, and 1 was in the gastric fundus. The gastric wall had local thickening in 4 cases and mass formation in 1 case, with stenosis and deformation of the adjacent gastric cavity. The long-axis diameter of the lesions ranged from 1.4 to 10.2 cm (mean, 4.97 cm) and was <10 cm in 4 cases and >10 cm in 1 case. The tumor showed predominantly inhomogeneous density, with radiodensity values ranging from 30 to 53 HU. In addition, ulcers with an irregular base and slightly raised borders were observed in 4 of 5 cases. After an injection of contrast material, heterogeneous (n = 4) or homogeneous (n = 1) enhancement was observed. After contrast medium injection, obvious enhancement was seen in 2 cases, and moderate enhancement was seen in 3 cases; the peak tumor signal was observed in the portal phase. Two of the patients demonstrated evidence of lymph node involvement, and in one patient, the boundary between the lesion and the left lobe of the liver was unclear, with low attenuation in the right lobe of the liver with circular enhancement. The remaining two patients showed no evidence of metastasis. CONCLUSION: Although GSC is extremely rare, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma and lymphoma. CT findings, combined with patient age and sex, can provide support for the diagnosis of GSC. However, the final diagnosis must be confirmed with histopathology.