Postoperative lenvatinib + PD-1 blockade reduces early tumor recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma with microvascular invasion (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage 0 or A): a propensity score matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of postoperative adjuvant lenvatinib + PD-1 blockade for patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with microvascular invasion (MVI). METHODS: A total of 393 patients with HCC (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage 0 or A) who underwent curative hepatectomy with histopathologically proven MVI were enrolled according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and assigned to 2 groups: surgery alone (surgery-alone group) and surgery with lenvatinib and PD-1 blockade (surgery + lenvatinib + PD-1 group) to compare recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), recurrence type, and annual recurrence rate after the application of propensity score matching (PSM). The Cox proportional hazards model was used for univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Overall, 99 matched pairs were selected using PSM. Patients in the surgery + lenvatinib + PD-1 group had significantly higher 3-year RFS rates (76.8%, 65.7%, and 53.5%) than patients in the surgery-alone group (60.6%, 45.5%, and 37.4%) (P = .012). The 2 groups showed no significant difference in recurrence types and OS. Surgery alone, MVI-M2, and alpha-fetoprotein of ≥200 ng/mL were independent risk factors for RFS (P < .05), and history of alcohol use disorder was an independent risk factor for OS (P = .022). CONCLUSION: Postoperative lenvatinib + PD-1 blockade improved the RFS in patients with HCC with MVI and was particularly beneficial for specific individuals.

A combined pre- and intra-operative nomogram in evaluation of degrees of liver cirrhosis predicts post-hepatectomy liver failure: a multicenter prospective study.

Background: Adequate evaluation of degrees of liver cirrhosis is essential in surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. The impact of the degrees of cirrhosis on prediction of post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) remains poorly defined. This study aimed to construct and validate a combined pre- and intra-operative nomogram based on the degrees of cirrhosis in predicting PHLF in HCC patients using prospective multi-center's data. Methods: Consecutive HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy between May 18, 2019 and Dec 19, 2020 were enrolled at five tertiary hospitals. Preoperative cirrhotic severity scoring (CSS) and intra-operative direct liver stiffness measurement (DSM) were performed to correlate with the Laennec histopathological grading system. The performances of the pre-operative nomogram and combined pre- and intra-operative nomogram in predicting PHLF were compared with conventional predictive models of PHLF. Results: For 327 patients in this study, histopathological studies showed the rates of HCC patients with no, mild, moderate, and severe cirrhosis were 41.9%, 29.1%, 22.9%, and 6.1%, respectively. Either CSS or DSM was closely correlated with histopathological stages of cirrhosis. Thirty-three (10.1%) patients developed PHLF. The 30- and 90-day mortality rates were 0.9%. Multivariate regression analysis showed four pre-operative variables [HBV-DNA level, ICG-R15, prothrombin time (PT), and CSS], and one intra-operative variable (DSM) to be independent risk factors of PHLF. The pre-operative nomogram was constructed based on these four pre-operative variables together with total bilirubin. The combined pre- and intra-operative nomogram was constructed by adding the intra-operative DSM. The pre-operative nomogram was better than the conventional models in predicting PHLF. The prediction was further improved with the combined pre- and intra-operative nomogram. Conclusions: The combined pre- and intra-operative nomogram further improved prediction of PHLF when compared with the pre-operative nomogram. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT04076631.

Anatomical sectionectomy based on Takasaki's segmentation for solitary intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a propensity-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: Anatomical sectionectomy based on Takasaki's segmentation has shown advantages in hepatocellular carcinoma. However, whether this approach improves the survival of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) remains unknown. METHODS: A series of 248 consecutive patients with solitary ICCs who underwent hepatectomy were studied retrospectively. The patients were classified into the groups of anatomical sectionectomy based on Takasaki's segmentation (TS group) and non-Takasaki's hepatectomy (NTH group). The bias between the two groups was minimized using propensity score matching (PSM). Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated with Kaplan-Meier analysis. The Cox proportional hazards model was performed to determine the adverse risk factors associated with survival. RESULTS: After PSM, 67 pairs of patients were compared. Both the RFS and OS rates in the TS group were significantly better than those in the NTH group (23.2 % vs. 16.5 %, and 40.4 % vs. 27.3 %, P = 0.035 and 0.032, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that NTH was independently associated with worse RFS and OS than TS. The stratified analysis demonstrated that the RFS and OS rates in the TS group with tumor stage I and tumor size ≥3 cm were significantly better than those in the NTH group, while the survival rates for ICC with stage I and tumor size <3 cm or stage II-III showed no significant difference. CONCLUSION: TS was associated with improved RFS and OS in patients with solitary ICC even after PSM. TS may be preferred particularly in patients with tumor stage I and tumor size ≥3 cm.

Revisiting the chaperonin T-complex protein-1 ring complex in human health and disease: A proteostasis modulator and beyond.

BACKGROUND: Disrupted protein homeostasis (proteostasis) has been demonstrated to facilitate the progression of various diseases. The cytosolic T-complex protein-1 ring complex (TRiC/CCT) was discovered to be a critical player in orchestrating proteostasis by folding eukaryotic proteins, guiding intracellular localisation and suppressing protein aggregation. Intensive investigations of TRiC/CCT in different fields have improved the understanding of its role and molecular mechanism in multiple physiological and pathological processes. MAIN BODY: In this review, we embark on a journey through the dynamic protein folding cycle of TRiC/CCT, unraveling the intricate mechanisms of its substrate selection, recognition, and intriguing folding and assembly processes. In addition to discussing the critical role of TRiC/CCT in maintaining proteostasis, we detail its involvement in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, autophagy, metabolic control, adaptive immunity and signal transduction processes. Furthermore, we meticulously catalogue a compendium of TRiC-associated diseases, such as neuropathies, cardiovascular diseases and various malignancies. Specifically, we report the roles and molecular mechanisms of TRiC/CCT in regulating cancer formation and progression. Finally, we discuss unresolved issues in TRiC/CCT research, highlighting the efforts required for translation to clinical applications, such as diagnosis and treatment. CONCLUSION: This review aims to provide a comprehensive view of TRiC/CCT for researchers to inspire further investigations and explorations of potential translational possibilities.

A deep learning model based on MRI for prediction of vessels encapsulating tumour clusters and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to build and evaluate a deep learning (DL) model to predict vessels encapsulating tumor clusters (VETC) and prognosis preoperatively in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: 320 pathologically confirmed HCC patients (58 women and 262 men) from two hospitals were included in this retrospective study. Institution 1 (n = 219) and Institution 2 (n = 101) served as the training and external test cohorts, respectively. Tumors were evaluated three-dimensionally and regions of interest were segmented manually in the arterial, portal venous, and delayed phases (AP, PP, and DP). Three ResNet-34 DL models were developed, consisting of three models based on a single sequence. The fusion model was developed by inputting the prediction probability of the output from the three single-sequence models into logistic regression. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to compare performance, and the Delong test was used to compare AUCs. Early recurrence (ER) was defined as recurrence within two years of surgery and early recurrence-free survival (ERFS) rate was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS: Among the 320 HCC patients, 227 were VETC- and 93 were VETC+ . In the external test cohort, the fusion model showed an AUC of 0.772, a sensitivity of 0.80, and a specificity of 0.61. The fusion model-based prediction of VETC high-risk and low-risk categories exhibits a significant difference in ERFS rates, akin to the outcomes observed in VETC + and VETC- confirmed through pathological analyses (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A DL framework based on ResNet-34 has demonstrated potential in facilitating non-invasive prediction of VETC as well as patient prognosis.

The Role of Nuclear Receptors in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global health burden closely linked to insulin resistance, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. The complex pathophysiology of NAFLD involves multiple cellular pathways and molecular factors. Nuclear receptors (NRs) have emerged as crucial regulators of lipid metabolism and inflammation in NAFLD, offering potential therapeutic targets for NAFLD. Targeting PPARs and FXRs has shown promise in ameliorating NAFLD symptoms and halting disease progression. However, further investigation is needed to address side effects and personalize therapy approaches. This review summarizes the current understanding of the involvement of NRs in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and explores their therapeutic potential. We discuss the role of several NRs in modulating lipid homeostasis in the liver, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), liver X receptors (LXRs), farnesoid X receptors (FXRs), REV-ERB, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α), constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR).The expanding knowledge of NRs in NAFLD offers new avenues for targeted therapies, necessitating exploration of novel treatment strategies and optimization of existing approaches to combat this increasingly prevalent disease.

Deep Learning Radiomics Model of Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI for Evaluating Vessels Encapsulating Tumor Clusters and Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Vessels encapsulating tumor cluster (VETC) is a critical prognostic factor and therapeutic predictor of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, noninvasive evaluation of VETC remains challenging. PURPOSE: To develop and validate a deep learning radiomic (DLR) model of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) for the preoperative discrimination of VETC and prognosis of HCC. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. POPULATION: A total of 221 patients with histologically confirmed HCC and stratified this cohort into training set (n = 154) and time-independent validation set (n = 67). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: A 1.5 T and 3.0 T; DCE imaging with T1-weighted three-dimensional fast spoiled gradient echo. ASSESSMENT: Histological specimens were used to evaluate VETC status. VETC+ cases had a visible pattern (≥5% tumor area), while cases without any pattern were VETC-. The regions of intratumor and peritumor were segmented manually in the arterial, portal-venous and delayed phase (AP, PP, and DP, respectively) of DCE-MRI and reproducibility of segmentation was evaluated. Deep neural network and machine learning (ML) classifiers (logistic regression, decision tree, random forest, SVM, KNN, and Bayes) were used to develop nine DLR, 54 ML and clinical-radiological (CR) models based on AP, PP, and DP of DCE-MRI for evaluating VETC status and association with recurrence. STATISTICAL TESTS: The Fleiss kappa, intraclass correlation coefficient, receiver operating characteristic curve, area under the curve (AUC), Delong test and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. P value <0.05 was considered as statistical significance. RESULTS: Pathological VETC+ were confirmed in 68 patients (training set: 46, validation set: 22). In the validation set, DLR model based on peritumor PP (peri-PP) phase had the best performance (AUC: 0.844) in comparison to CR (AUC: 0.591) and ML (AUC: 0.672) models. Significant differences in recurrence rates between peri-PP DLR model-predicted VETC+ and VETC- status were found. DATA CONCLUSIONS: The DLR model provides a noninvasive method to discriminate VETC status and prognosis of HCC patients preoperatively. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 4. TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

Does inclusion of bioactive n-3 PUFAs in parenteral nutrition benefit postoperative patients undergoing liver surgery? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised control trials.

OBJECTIVES: This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) as a part of parenteral nutrition in patients undergoing liver surgery. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Springer link, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and VIP Database. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and evaluated the outcomes of liver function, inflammatory reaction, the influence of certain markers of the immune system, and specific clinical indexes for patients undergoing liver surgery and receiving parenteral nutrition with n-3 PUFAs. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: The Cochrane Collaboration's tool was used to assess the risk of bias for each study. Findings were summarised in Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation evidence profiles and synthesised qualitatively. RESULTS: Eight RCTs, including 748 patients (trial: 374; control: 374), were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with patients in the control group, the patients in the n-3 PUFA group who underwent liver surgery had significantly lower aspartate aminotransferase (mean difference, MD -42.72 (95% CI -71.91 to -13.52); p=0.004), alanine aminotransferase (MD -38.90 (95% CI -65.44 to -12.37); p=0.004), white cell count (MD -0.93 (95% CI -1.60 to -0.26); p=0.007) and IL-6 (MD -11.37 (95% CI -14.62 to -8.13); p<0.00001) levels and a higher albumin level (MD 0.42 (95% CI 0.26 to 0.57); p<0.00001). They also had fewer infection complications (OR 0.44 (95% CI 0.28 to 0.68); p=0.0003) and a shorter duration of hospital stay (MD -2.17 (95% CI -3.04 to -1.3); p<0.00001) than the controls. However, there were no significant differences in terms of total bilirubin, TNF-α, IL-2, IgA, IgG, IgM and CD3, biliary leakage and mortality between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: We found that n-3 PUFAs can benefit patients undergoing liver surgery by improving liver function and certain clinical indexes and decreasing related inflammation factors. However, there are limited RCTs on the application of n-3 PUFAs for patients undergoing liver surgery. Further evidence of the benefit of n-3 PUFAs in these patients warrants further exploration.

The state of female hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgeons in China: see us in operation theater with great prospects.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the proportion and distribution of female HPB surgeons in China, describe their current status, and analyze the possible barriers and challenges in their careers. METHOD: Tertiary hospitals with the division of HPB in mainland China in 2021 were enrolled and surgeon demographic information was collected through the review of official websites and/or telephone interviews. RESULTS: The majority of female HPB surgeons (72.92%) were located in the first or second-tier cities in mainland China, with an increasing number of new female HPB surgeons entering the field annually, particularly after 2005 (from 27 to 52 per 5 years). Despite no significant difference in academic backgrounds, female HPB surgeons initiated their careers at an earlier age and took a longer time to obtain chief titles (P < 0.05). Interestingly, female HPB surgeons performed laparoscopic complex HPB cases at a similar rate (95.42%) to their male counterparts and were more likely to specialize in endoscopic surgery (P = 0.021), with a similar ratio of obtaining administrative positions. CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive surgery may provide females with unprecedented opportunities in the HPB surgery field. However, despite the increasing numbers of female HPB surgeons, the proportion remains low in China.

Preoperative MRI features for characterization of vessels encapsulating tumor clusters and microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze imaging features based on preoperative dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) for the identification of vessels encapsulating tumor clusters (VETC)-microvascular invasion (MVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), VM-HCC pattern. METHODS: Patients who underwent hepatectomy and preoperative DCE-MRI between January 2015 and March 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical and imaging features related to VM-HCC (VETC + /MVI-, VETC-/MVI +, VETC + /MVI +) and Non-VM-HCC (VETC-/MVI-) were determined by multivariable logistic regression analyses. Early and overall recurrence were determined using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Indicators of early and overall recurrence were identified using the Cox proportional hazard regression model. RESULTS: In total, 221 patients (177 men, 44 women; median age, 60 years; interquartile range, 52-66 years) were evaluated. The multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed fetoprotein > 400 ng/mL (odds ratio [OR] = 2.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07, 4.41, p = 0.033), intratumor vascularity (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.07, 4.31, p = 0.031), and enhancement pattern (OR 2.71, 95% CI 1.17, 6.03, p = 0.019) as independent predictors of VM-HCC. In Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, intratumor vascularity was associated with early and overall recurrence (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on DCE-MRI, intratumor vascularity can be used to characterize VM-HCC and is of prognostic significance for recurrence in patients with HCC.

Is spinal sagittal alignment of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis relevant to thoracolumbar pain? A controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: The extension of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) from the low thoracic spine to the lumbar spine result in adjustment of spinal sagittal alignment in surgical patients. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in sagittal alignment and back pain in the thoracolumbar spine in nonsurgical DISH and control participants selected from a radiological database. METHODS: Participants in the DISH and the control group were selected by searching for "DISH or degenerative changes in the thoracic spine" in the radiology database of Taizhou Hospital between 2018 and 2021 using Resnick and Niwayama's criteria. The subjects with spinal tumors, previous spinal surgery, vertebral fractures, inflammatory diseases, poor-quality radiographs, or loss of follow-up were excluded. Demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded retrospectively via the hospital information system and telephone follow-up. Segmental disc angles (SDAs), lumbar lordosis (LL), and bridge scores were analyzed using images of three-dimensional CT. RESULTS: The final participants consisted of 51 individuals with DISH (DISH group) and 102 individuals without DISH (control group). Depending on the presence of thoracolumbar pain, the DISH group was divided into the DISH group with thoracolumbar pain (DISH+Pain) and the DISH group without thoracolumbar pain (DISH-Pain). The LL and SDAs of T11-T12 and T12-L1 were significantly greater in the DISH group than in the control group. In addition, the SDA of L1-L2 was significantly smaller in the DISH+Pain group than in the DISH-Pain group, whereas there was no significant difference in lumbar lordosis between the DISH+Pain group and the DISH-Pain group. The bridge scores in DISH+Pain group was larger in T10-T11 (p = 0.01) and L1-L2 (p < 0.01) spine segments than those in DISH-Pain group. CONCLUSION: The extension of DISH from thoracic to lumbar spine may increase lumbar lordosis and SDAs in the thoracolumbar spine. The DISH patients with more bony bridging and small L1-L2 SDA may be more likely have thoracolumbar pain. Adjustment of sagittal alignment of the spine in the development of DISH may be of clinical importance.

Anatomical Resection Improved the Outcome of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis of a Retrospective Cohort.

Background: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common liver malignancy after hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with a dismal prognosis and high heterogeneity. The oncological advantages of anatomical resection (AR) and nonanatomical resection (NAR) in HCC have been studied, but surgical strategies for ICC remain controversial with insufficient investigations. Materials and Methods: From Jan 2013 to Dec 2016, 3880 consecutive patients were retrospectively reviewed from a single center. Patients with ICC undergoing AR or NAR have been enrolled according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed between two groups with a 1 : 1 ratio. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), and the secondary endpoints included disease-free survival (DFS), intraoperative patterns, postoperative morbidity, mortality, complications and recurrence. A prognostic nomogram was developed by a multivariate Cox proportion hazard model. Results: After PSM, 99 paired cases were selected from 276 patients enrolled in this study. Patients in the AR group achieved better 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS (70%, 46%, and 34%, respectively) and DFS (61%, 21%, and 10%, respectively) than patients in the NAR group with statistical significance after PSM analysis. The postoperative complications and recurrence patterns were comparable between the two groups. Multivariate analysis identified NAR, tumor size >5 cm, multiple tumors, and poor differentiation as independent risk factors for OS (p < 0.05). Selected patients can benefit most from AR, according to subgroup analysis. A prognostic nomogram based on six independent risk factors for OS and factors with clinical significance was constructed to predict OS in ICC patients. Conclusion: AR improved the long-term survival of ICC with comparable postoperative complications and similar recurrence patterns. AR is suggested in ICC patients with sufficient remnant liver volume. In addition to surgery strategy, malignant characteristics of tumors are risk factors for ICC prognosis.

Venous gas caused by emphysematous pyelonephritis: a case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a potentially life-threatening disease caused by a gas-producing necrotizing bacterial infection that involves the renal parenchyma, collecting system, and/or perinephric tissue. EPN is often complicated by a previous diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, and venous air bubbles are an uncommon complication of it. We describe a 52-year-old woman who was admitted in coma, with a history of vomiting, and was found to have EPN with air bubbles in the uterine veins. We discuss the presentation, diagnosis, and pathogenesis of this uncommon but clinically significant event, and briefly review other case reports of venous gas or thrombosis caused by EPN. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 52-year-old woman with past history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, presenting with loss of consciousness after vomiting for half a day. Abdominal computed tomography scan revealed unilateral EPN with air bubbles in the uterine veins. The blood, pus, and urine cultures were positive for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli. The patient's condition improved well after conservative management comprising supportive measures, broad-spectrum antibiotics, percutaneous drainage therapy, and an open operation. CONCLUSIONS: Venous air bubbles are rare but fatal complication of EPN. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to ensure good results.

Development and Validation of a Clinical-Image Model for Quantitatively Distinguishing Uncertain Lipid-Poor Adrenal Adenomas From Nonadenomas.

Background: There remains a demand for a practical method of identifying lipid-poor adrenal lesions. Purpose: To explore the predictive value of computed tomography (CT) features combined with demographic characteristics for lipid-poor adrenal adenomas and nonadenomas. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively recruited patients with lipid-poor adrenal lesions between January 2015 and August 2021 from two independent institutions as follows: Institution 1 for the training set and the internal validation set and Institution 2 for the external validation set. Two radiologists reviewed CT images for the three sets. We performed a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm to select variables; subsequently, multivariate analysis was used to develop a generalized linear model. The probability threshold of the model was set to 0.5 in the external validation set. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for the model and radiologists. The model was validated and tested in the internal validation and external validation sets; moreover, the accuracy between the model and both radiologists were compared using the McNemar test in the external validation set. Results: In total, 253 patients (median age, 55 years [interquartile range, 47-64 years]; 135 men) with 121 lipid-poor adrenal adenomas and 132 nonadenomas were included in Institution 1, whereas another 55 patients were included in Institution 2. The multivariable analysis showed that age, male, lesion size, necrosis, unenhanced attenuation, and portal venous phase attenuation were independently associated with adrenal adenomas. The clinical-image model showed AUCs of 0.96 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.91, 0.98), 0.93 (95% CI: 0.84, 0.97), and 0.86 (95% CI: 0.74, 0.94) in the training set, internal validation set, and external validation set, respectively. In the external validation set, the model showed a significantly and non-significantly higher accuracy than reader 1 (84% vs. 65%, P = 0.031) and reader 2 (84% vs. 69%, P = 0.057), respectively. Conclusions: Our clinical-image model displayed good utility in differentiating lipid-poor adrenal adenomas. Further, it showed better diagnostic ability than experienced radiologists in the external validation set.

Diagnostic value of the relative enhancement ratio of the portal venous phase to unenhanced CT in the identification of lipid-poor adrenal tumors.

PURPOSE: Adrenal incidentalomas are common lesions found on abdominal imaging, most of which are lipid-rich adrenal adenomas. Imaging diagnoses differentiating lipid-poor adrenal adenomas (LPA) from non-adenomas (NA) are presently challenging to perform. The aim of the study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of the relative enhancement ratio parameter in identifying LPA from NA. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated consecutively presenting patients with lipid-poor adrenal lesions (January 2015 to August 2021). Lesions were divided into LPA and NA (including hyperenhancing and hypoenhancing NA). Kruskal-Wallis and Bonferroni tests were used to determine the differences in feature parameters between these three groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine the sensitivity for diagnosing LPA and NA at 95% specificity; the parameters were compared using the McNemar test. RESULTS: A total of 253 patients (mean age, 55 ± 12 years; 135 men), 121 with LPA and 132 with NA, were analyzed herein. The sensitivity (achieved at 95% specificity) of the relative enhancement ratio was higher than that of unenhanced attenuation in differentiating LPA from NA (60% vs. 52%, p = 0.064). The relative enhancement ratio yielded a higher sensitivity than unenhanced attenuation (79% vs. 59%, p < 0.001) in differentiating LPA from hypoenhancing NA, and a lower sensitivity (26% vs. 69%, p < 0.001) in differentiating LPA from hyperenhancing NA. CONCLUSION: The relative enhancement ratio showed better diagnostic performance than unenhanced attenuation in differentiating LPA from hypoenhancing NA, while simultaneously showing poor diagnostic performance in identifying LPA from all NA.

Can Radiomics Provide Additional Diagnostic Value for Identifying Adrenal Lipid-Poor Adenomas From Non-Adenomas on Unenhanced CT?

Background: It is difficult for radiologists to differentiate adrenal lipid-poor adenomas from non-adenomas; nevertheless, this differentiation is important as the clinical interventions required are different for adrenal lipid-poor adenomas and non-adenomas. Purpose: To develop an unenhanced computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics model for identifying adrenal lipid-poor adenomas to assist in clinical decision-making. Materials and methods: Patients with adrenal lesions who underwent CT between January 2015 and August 2021 were retrospectively recruited from two independent institutions. Patients from institution 1 were randomly divided into training and test sets, while those from institution 2 were used as the external validation set. The unenhanced attenuation and tumor diameter were measured to build a conventional model. Radiomics features were extracted from unenhanced CT images, and selected features were used to build a radiomics model. A nomogram model combining the conventional and radiomic features was also constructed. All the models were developed in the training set and validated in the test and external validation sets. The diagnostic performance of the models for identifying adrenal lipid-poor adenomas was compared. Results: A total of 292 patients with 141 adrenal lipid-poor adenomas and 151 non-adenomas were analyzed. Patients with adrenal lipid-poor adenomas tend to have lower unenhanced attenuation and smoother image textures. In the training set, the areas under the curve of the conventional, radiomic, and nomogram models were 0.94, 0.93, and 0.96, respectively. There was no difference in diagnostic performance between the conventional and nomogram models in all datasets (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our unenhanced CT-based nomogram model could effectively distinguish adrenal lipid-poor adenomas. The diagnostic power of conventional unenhanced CT imaging features may be underestimated, and further exploration is worthy.

A novel approach for monitoring TGF-ß signaling in vivo in colon cancer.

The TGF-ß receptor kinase inhibitors (TRKI) have been reported to inhibit tumorigenicity in colon cancer. However, there is no direct evidence showing that these inhibitors function through inhibiting the TGF-ß- mediated tumor-promoting effects in vivo. We established a TGF-ß inducible reporter system by inserting a luciferase reporter gene to the vector downstream of TGF-ß-inducible promoter elements, and transfected it into colon cancer cell lines. TRKIs SB431542 and LY2109761 were used to treat TGF-ß inducible cells in vitro and in vivo. The luciferase activity was induced 5.24-fold by TGF-ß in CT26 inducible cells, while it was marginally changed in MC38 inducible cells lacking Smad4 expression. Temporary treatment of mice with SB431542 inhibited the TGF-ß pathway and TGF-ß induced bioluminescence activity in vivo. Long-term treatment with LY2109761 inhibited tumorigenicity and liver metastasis in vivo in concomitant with reduced luciferase activity in the tumor. In this study, we established a model to monitor the TGF-ß pathway in vivo and to compare the antitumor effects of TRKIs. Based on this novel experimental tool, we provided direct evidences that LY2109761 inhibits tumorigenicity and liver metastasis by blocking the pro-oncogenic functions of TGF-ß in vivo.

Association of liver abnormalities with in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The evolution and clinical significance of abnormal liver chemistries and the impact of hepatitis B infection on outcome in patients with COVID-19 is not well characterized. This study aimed to explore these issues. METHODS: This large retrospective cohort study included 2,073 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and definite outcomes in Wuhan, China. Longitudinal liver function tests were conducted, with associated factors and risk of death determined by multivariate regression analyses. A prognostic nomogram was formulated to predict the survival of patients with COVID-19. The characteristics of liver abnormalities and outcomes of patients with COVID-19, with and without hepatitis B, were compared after 1:3 propensity score matching. RESULTS: Of the 2,073 patients, 1,282 (61.8%) had abnormal liver chemistries during hospitalization, and 297 (14.3%) had a liver injury. The mean levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and direct bilirubin (D-Bil) increased early after symptom onset in deceased patients and showed disparity compared to levels in discharged patients throughout the clinical course of the disease. Abnormal AST (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.39; 95% CI 1.04-1.86, p = 0.027) and D-Bil (adjusted HR 1.66; 95% CI 1.22-2.26; p = 0.001) levels at admission were independent risk factors for mortality due to COVID-19. A nomogram was established based on the results of multivariate analysis and showed sufficient discriminatory power and good consistency between the prediction and the observation. HBV infection in patients did not increase the risk of poor COVID-19-associated outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal AST and D-Bil levels at admission were independent predictors of COVID-19-related mortality. Therefore, monitoring liver chemistries, especially AST and D-Bil levels, is necessary in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. LAY SUMMARY: Liver test abnormalities (in particular elevations in the levels of aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and direct bilirubin [D-Bil]) were observed after symptom onset in patients who went on to die of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Abnormal levels of AST and D-Bil at admission were independent predictors of COVID-19-related mortality. HBV infection in patients did not increase the risk of poor COVID-19-associated outcomes.

Preoperative Contrast-Enhanced MRI in Differentiating Glioblastoma From Low-Grade Gliomas in The Cancer Imaging Archive Database: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop a repeatable MRI-based machine learning model to differentiate between low-grade gliomas (LGGs) and glioblastoma (GBM) and provide more clinical information to improve treatment decision-making. METHODS: Preoperative MRIs of gliomas from The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA)-GBM/LGG database were selected. The tumor on contrast-enhanced MRI was segmented. Quantitative image features were extracted from the segmentations. A random forest classification algorithm was used to establish a model in the training set. In the test phase, a random forest model was tested using an external test set. Three radiologists reviewed the images for the external test set. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated. The AUCs of the radiomics model and radiologists were compared. RESULTS: The random forest model was fitted using a training set consisting of 142 patients [mean age, 52 years ± 16 (standard deviation); 78 men] comprising 88 cases of GBM. The external test set included 25 patients (14 with GBM). Random forest analysis yielded an AUC of 1.00 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.86-1.00]. The AUCs for the three readers were 0.92 (95% CI 0.74-0.99), 0.70 (95% CI 0.49-0.87), and 0.59 (95% CI 0.38-0.78). Statistical differences were only found between AUC and Reader 1 (1.00 vs. 0.92, respectively; p = 0.16). CONCLUSION: An MRI radiomics-based random forest model was proven useful in differentiating GBM from LGG and showed better diagnostic performance than that of two inexperienced radiologists.