Negative regulation of CD44st by miR-138-5p affects the invasive ability of breast cancer cells and patient prognosis after breast cancer surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how the negative regulation of CD44st by miR-138-5p affects the invasive ability of breast cancer cell lines and prognosis in postoperative breast cancer patients. METHODS: RT-PCR, qRT-PCR, and western blot assays were used to detect the expression of CD44s, CD44v6, and CD44st at both mRNA and protein levels. The expression of miR-138-5p in breast cancer cell lines was also evaluated. The binding ability of miR-138-5p to CD44st was determined via a dual-luciferase assay. The CD44 protein expression in breast cancer tissues was detected using immunohistochemistry. A Transwell assay was used to detect the invasive ability of tumor cells. The correlation between CD44st and miR-138-5p mRNA expression in breast cancer tissues was evaluated using qRT-PCR, and the relationship between clinicopathological features was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: CD44s and CD44v6 were highly expressed in MDAMB-231 cell line, while CD44st was highly expressed in MCF-7/Adr and Skbr-3 cells. None of the CD44 isoforms were expressed in MCF-7 cells. The miR-138-5p was highly expressed in MCF-7 cells, but not in MCF-7/Adr, Skbr-3, and MDAMB-231 cells. The dual-luciferase assay suggested that miR-138-5p could bind to wild-type CD44st 3'-UTR, miR-138-5p overexpression significantly inhibited the expression level of CD44 protein in MCF-7/Adr cells, and miR-138-5p + CD44st (3'-UTR)-treated MCF-7/Adr and Skbr-3 cells were significantly less invasive than those in the control group (P < 0.05). RT-PCR results for 80 postoperative breast cancer patients showed that the mRNA expression rate for CD44st was higher in cancer tissues than in paracancerous tissues, and the expression rate of miR-138-5p was higher in paracancerous tissues than in cancerous tissues (P < 0.01). In cancer tissues, CD44st was negatively correlated with miR-138-5p expression, with correlation coefficient r = -0.76 (Pearson's correlation), coefficient of determination R2 = 0.573, F = 106.89, and P < 0.001. The median overall survival value for patients in the low miR-138-5p expression group was 40.39 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 35.59-45.18 months] and 56.30 months (95% CI: 54.38-58.21 months) for patients in the high-expression group, with a log rank (Mantel-Cox) of 13.120, one degree of freedom, and P < 0.001. CONCLUSION: In breast cancer cell lines, miR-138-5p negatively regulated expression of CD44st and affected the invasive ability of tumor cells and patient prognosis after breast cancer surgery.

[Discrimination of Tea Varieties by Using Infrared Spectroscopy with a Novel Generalized Noise Clustering].

The discrimination of tea varieties plays very important role in the production and sale of tea. It is of great significance for the study of a fast, easy and simple method for the identification of tea varieties. The combination of infrared spectroscopy detection technology and fuzzy clustering algorithm is one of the most effective and practical techniques in the detection of tea varieties. To realize the rapid discrimination of tea varieties, a novel generalized noise clustering (NGNC) was proposed based on fast generalized noise clustering (FGNC). Euclidean distance in the objective function of FGNC was replaced with the pth power of Euclidean distance and clustering accuracy was being improved. Emeishan Maofeng; high quality Leshan trimeresurus and low quality Leshan trimeresurus were prepared as the research object and the infrared reflectance (IR) spectra of tea samples were collected with FTIR-7600 infrared spectrometer. Firstly, the high-dimensional IR spectra of tea samples were reduced by principal component analysis (PCA). Secondly, linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was used to extract the discriminant information from the low-dimensional data. Finally, FGNC and NGNC were performed to identify tea varieties. The experimental results showed that in comparision with FGNC, NGNC has higher clustering accuracy, better cluster centers and faster convergence speed. Infrared spectroscopy coupled with NGNC, PCA and LDA could cluster IR spectra of tea samples quickly and correctly, which provided a new method and new idea for identifying tea varieties based on infrared spectroscopy and fuzzy clustering.

Evaluation of image quality and radiation dose at prospective ECG-triggered axial 256-slice multi-detector CT in infants with congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUND: There are a limited number of reports on the technical and clinical feasibility of prospective electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate image quality and radiation dose at weight-based low-dose prospectively gated 256-slice MDCT angiography in infants with CHD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From November 2009 to February 2010, 64 consecutive infants with CHD referred for pre-operative or post-operative CT were included. All were scanned on a 256-slice MDCT system utilizing a low-dose protocol (80 kVp and 60-120 mAs depending on weight: 60 mAs for ≤ 3 kg, 80 mAs for 3.1-6 kg, 100 mAs for 6.1-10 kg, 120 mAs for 10.1-15 kg). RESULTS: No serious adverse events were recorded. A total of 174 cardiac deformities, confirmed by surgery or heart catheterization, were studied. The sensitivity of MDCT for cardiac deformities was 97.1%; specificity, 99.4%; accuracy, 95.9%. The mean heart rate during scan was 136.7 ± 14.9/min (range, 91-160) with a corresponding heart rate variability of 2.8 ± 2.2/min (range, 0-8). Mean scan length was 115.3 ± 11.7 mm (range, 93.6-143.3). Mean volume CT dose index, mean dose-length product and effective dose were 2.1 ± 0.4 mGy (range, 1.5-2.8), 24.7 ± 5.9 mGy·cm (range, 14.7-35.8) and 1.6 ± 0.3 mSv (range, 1.1-2.5), respectively. Diagnostic-quality images were achieved in all cases. Satisfactory diagnostic quality for visualization of all/proximal/distal coronary artery segments was achieved in 88.4/98.8/80.0% of the scans. CONCLUSION: Low-dose prospectively gated axial 256-slice CT angiography is a valuable tool in the routine clinical evaluation of infants with CHD, providing a comprehensive three-dimensional evaluation of the cardiac anatomy, including the coronary arteries.

Dynamic changes in the radiologic manifestation of a recurrent checkpoint inhibitor related pneumonitis in a non-small cell lung cancer patient: A case report.

BACKGROUND: As immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become widely used in lung cancer treatment, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) warrant sufficient attention. Checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis (CIP) is one of the most concerning adverse events as it is uncommon but life threatening. CASE SUMMARY: The patient whose case is reported here experienced three episodes of CIP in a span of 4 mon. Interestingly, the three episodes of CIP involved different regions of the lung separately. Taking these pneumonitis areas together makes nearly a whole lung area. CONCLUSION: This case showed that recurrent CIPs may occur repeatedly until the whole lung is involved, suggesting that the follow-up period of CIP should be long enough, and the rechallenge of ICI should be done with due caution.

Mediastinal hemangiomas: Spectrum of CT and MRI findings - retrospective case series study and systematic review of the literature.

PURPOSE: To analyze the imaging manifestations of mediastinal hemangioma (MH) by CT and MRI to aid in its successful diagnosis and preoperative evaluation. METHODS: Seventeen cases of MH diagnosed by histopathology combined with CT and MRI were retrospectively collected; and their CT and MRI features, including the lesions' site and range, shape, size, margin, density or signal, enhancement pattern, mass-cardiovascular interface, mass-pulmonary interface, and other characteristics were evaluated. RESULTS: The anterior, middle, and posterior mediastinum were involved in 13, 13, and 8 cases, respectively. The masses size varied from 20 to 233 mm. Irregular, dumbbell-like, and oval masses were found in 13, 2, and 2 cases, respectively, while with pampiniform growth in 16 cases and expansive growth in 1 case. Mixed density, homogeneous density solid masses, and heterogeneous density masses with dominant fat were found in 9, 5, and 3 cases, respectively, showing mild or significant enhancement in aortic phase while no or mild enhancement in pulmonary artery phase. Draining veins were found in 16 cases and feeding arteries in 10 cases. Phleboliths were detected in 10 cases, splenic hemangiomas in 6 cases, and left lateral-chest-wall hemangioma in 1 case. In MRI sequences, mixed signal was found on T1WI and heterogeneous hypersignal with nodular or linear hyposignal on T2WI in 5 cases, mild or significant enhancement in 4 cases, draining veins in 2 cases, and no feeding arteries or phleboliths were seen. CONCLUSION: Presence of phleboliths, pampiniform growth pattern, and aberrant draining veins are relatively specific characteristics in diagnosing MH.

Individualized reduction of radiation dose with a chest circumference-adapted technique and iterative reconstructions in 256-slice retrospective and prospective ECG-triggered computed tomography coronary angiography.

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of chest circumference (CC)-adjusted tube current and iterative reconstructions (iDose) on individualized radiation dose reduction and image quality (IQ) in ECG-triggered computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 102 patients underwent retrospectively ECG-triggered CTCA utilizing CC-adapted tube current [mAs=1000×(0.051×CC-23.765)/900] and filtered back projection (FBP) reconstruction (group A). On the basis of the CC-adjusted tube current technique, 54 patients (group B) underwent retrospective ECG-triggered CTCA with a 20% mAs reduction compared with group A and 90 patients (group C) underwent prospective ECG-triggered CTCA with an 80% mAs reduction compared with group A; both groups B and C were reconstructed with FBP and iDose. Subjective IQ was assessed, and image noise, signal-to-noise, and contrast-to-noise ratios (SNR and CNR) were quantified. RESULTS: Patients in group A had the highest radiation dose, followed by group B and group C. iDose provided decreased image noise and increased SNR and CNR, as did subjective IQ. The image noise was higher and SNR and CNR in group B were obviously lower than those in group A with FBP, but in group B, iDose4 increased the mean objective IQ. There was no difference between group B with iDose and group A with FBP, as was the case with subjective IQ. CONCLUSION: The combination of a CC-adapted technique, prospective triggering, and partial iterative reconstruction techniques reduces the radiation dose significantly, without significant degradation of IQ.

Potentially optimal body size to adjust tube current for individualized radiation dose control in retrospective ECG-triggered 256-slice CT coronary angiography.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to determine a potentially optimal body size index for adjusting the tube current in retrospective ECG-triggered helical 256-slice CT coronary angiography (CTCA) for individualized radiation dose control. METHODS: Consecutive patients (n=102) with suspected coronary artery disease underwent retrospective ECG-triggered CTCA with a 256-slice CT scanner. Body mass index (BMI), nipple level (NL) bust and six anthropometric body size indexes, including thoracic anteroposterior diameter at NL, chest circumference (CC) at NL, left main (LM) and right coronary artery (RCA) origin level, chest area (CAr) and chest attenuation (CAt) at RCA origin level were measured, and their correlation with image noise in the aorta was evaluated using linear regression. Pearson correlation analysis was performed respectively to determine the body size index that correlated best with the other body size indexes. An equation was derived to use the best correlated body size index for adjusting tube current. RESULTS: Linear regression demonstrated that CCRCA had the best correlation with image noise. Pearson correlation analysis showed that CCNL, CCLM and CArRCA had the closest linear relationship with CCRCA. The equations connecting CCRCA and tube current for males and females were XmA = 662 × (0.055 × CCRCA - 28.594) / 302 and XmA = 662 × (0.049 × CCRCA - 21.584) / 302, respectively, for a fixed image noise value of 30 HU. CONCLUSIONS: Tube current selection is different for males and females, particularly in patients with a small chest circumference. CCRCA is an ideal body index for appropriately adjusting tube current in CTCA for individualized radiation dose control.

Individualized radiation dose control in 256-slice CT coronary angiography (CTCA) in retrospective ECG-triggered helical scans: using a measure of body size to adjust tube current selection.

PURPOSE: To reduce radiation dose for retrospective ECG-triggered helical 256-slice CTCA by determining an optimal body size index to prospectively adjust tube current. METHODS: 102 consecutive patients with suspected CAD underwent retrospective ECG-triggered CTCA using 256-slice CT scanner. Six body size indexes including BMI, nipple level (NL) bust, thoracic anteroposterior diameter at NL, chest circumference (CC) at NL, left main and right coronary artery (RCA) origin level were measured and their correlation with noise was evaluated using linear regression. An equation was developed to use this index to adjust tube current. Additional 102 consecutive patients were scanned with the index-based mAs adjustment. A t-test for independent samples was used to compare radiation dose levels with and without the index-based mAs selection method. RESULTS: Linear regression indicated that CC RCA had the best correlation with noise (R2=0.603). Effective radiation dose was reduced from 16.6±0.9 to 9.8±2.7 mSv (p<0.01), i.e. 40.9% lower dose with the CC RCA-adapted tube current method. The image quality scores indicated no significant difference with and without the size-based mAs selection method. CONCLUSION: An accessible measure of body size, such as CC RCA, can be used to adapt tube current for individualized radiation dose control.

Effects of contrast agent on water suppression and shimming of kidney single-volume proton MR spectroscopy at 3.0T.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether the administration of gadolinium diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (Gd-DTPA) significantly affects shimming and water suppression on kidney magnetic resonance spectroscopic prescanning and whether the impact of shimming and water suppression is changed with time after intravenous administration on a 3.0-T system. METHODS: Forty patients (two patients were excluded from analysis because of motion) were examined before and after the administration of Gd-DTPA (the interval between the right and left kidneys was approximately 40 seconds). Regions of interest were carefully positioned in the region of the corresponding location of both kidneys separately. Line widths (full width at half maximum) and water suppression were obtained. A paired t test for comparison of means was used. In addition, repeat measurements with a shorter time interval (obtained 120-130 seconds after the injection) and a longer time interval (obtained 150-160 seconds after the injection) were performed in five patients in the same regions of interest of the right kidney. Sequential ¹H magnetic resonance spectroscopic prescanning in the same region of interest was performed in one patient. RESULTS: The left kidney had slightly better shimming and water suppression effects than the right kidney after contrast agent administration (all P values < .01). The limiting resolution of both shimming and water suppression effects was decreased on enhanced images in both kidneys (all P values < .01). The longer time interval group had better shimming and water suppression effects than the shorter time interval group (all P values < .01). After the administration of Gd-DTPA in one patient, sequential values of shimming and water suppression in the right and left kidneys, respectively, were 13 Hz and 97% and 12 Hz and 97% prior to the examination, 34 Hz and 86% and 30 Hz and 88% at 5 minutes, 32 Hz and 89% and 27 Hz and 90% at 10 minutes, 28 Hz and 91% and 24 Hz and 91% at 15 minutes, and 24 Hz and 92% and 20 Hz and 92% at 25 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Gd-DTPA exerts adverse effects on water suppression and shimming, both of which show a trend of becoming well gradually with time extension after the injection of Gd-DTPA. This phenomenon limits the diagnostic use of kidney magnetic resonance spectroscopy performed immediately after contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.