Differentiating between adrenocortical carcinoma and pheochromocytoma by a CT-based radiomics model: a multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), a rare and highly malignant adrenal gland tumor, exhibits computed tomography (CT) characteristics that resemble those of the less malignant pheochromocytoma (PHEO). While biochemical evaluation is widely accepted for differentiating between ACC and PHEO, non-functioning tumors remain a diagnostic challenge. The similarity in CT imaging and atypical hormone levels can lead to suboptimal accuracy in diagnosis, leading to inappropriate clinical interventions.

Isolation, purification, characterization and stability analysis of melanin pigment from Mesona chinensis.

In this study, the isolation and purification of melanin pigment from Mesona chinensis (MCM) were conducted, and the structural characterization and stability evaluation of MCM were performed. The results indicate that MCM is consistent with the spectral features of catechins and polyphenols, identified the stretching vibrations of functional groups such as OH, CH, CO, and CO. It is inferred that the structure of MCM is consistent with that of theophylline and it is mainly composed of phenolic acids, terpenoids, and organic acids.

ITGB6 modulates resistance to anti-CD276 therapy in head and neck cancer by promoting PF4 macrophage infiltration.

Enoblituzumab, an immunotherapeutic agent targeting CD276, shows both safety and efficacy in activating T cells and oligodendrocyte-like cells against various cancers. Preclinical studies and mouse models suggest that therapies targeting CD276 may outperform PD1/PD-L1 blockade. However, data from mouse models indicate a significant non-responsive population to anti-CD276 treatment, with the mechanisms of resistance still unclear.

Quantitative assessment of extraocular muscles in Graves' ophthalmopathy using T1 mapping.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of T1 mapping in the characterization of extraocular muscles (EOMs) of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) patients and investigate its feasibility in assessing the response to glucocorticoid therapy in active GO patients.

Methods: A total of 133 participants (78 active GO, 23 inactive GO, 18 Graves' disease (GD) patients, and 14 healthy volunteers) were consecutively enrolled from July 2018 to December 2020. Native T1 (nT1) and postcontrast T1 (cT1) values of EOMs were measured and compared.

Generalizable Pancreas Segmentation via a Dual Self-Supervised Learning Framework.

Recently, numerous pancreas segmentation methods have achieved promising performance on local single-source datasets. However, these methods don't adequately account for generalizability issues, and hence typically show limited performance and low stability on test data from other sources. Considering the limited availability of distinct data sources, we seek to improve the generalization performance of a pancreas segmentation model trained with a single-source dataset, i.

Ferritin Nanocaged Doxorubicin Potentiates Chemo-Immunotherapy against Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Immunogenic Cell Death.

Although immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma using immune checkpoint inhibitors has achieved certain success, only a subset of patients benefits from this therapeutic strategy. The combination of immunostimulatory chemotherapeutics represents a promising strategy to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy. However, it is hampered by the poor delivery of conventional chemotherapeutics.

Transplanting neurofibromatosis-1 gene knockout neural stem cells improve functional recovery in rats with spinal cord injury by enhancing the mTORC2 pathway.

The poor survival and low efficiency of neuronal differentiation limits the therapeutic effects of transplanted neural stem cells in the treatment of spinal cord injury. Neurofibromatosis-1 (NF-1) is a tumor suppressor gene that restricts the rapid and abnormal growth and differentiation of neural cells. In the present study, lentiviral vectors were used to knock out NF-1, Ricotr (the core member of mTORC2) or NF-1+Ricotr in neural stem cells in vitro, and the NF-1, Ricotr or NF-1+Ricotr knockout neural stem cells were transplanted at the lesion site in a rat model of spinal cord injury (SCI).

Subtraction coronary CT angiography in patients with high heart rate.

All the previous subtraction coronary CT angiography (CCTA) had strict heart rate (HR) inclusion criteria. In this study, a new subtraction method was applied to patients with various HR. The post-contrast scan time was respectively 3.

Multiparametric quantitative MRI for the evaluation of dysthyroid optic neuropathy.

Objective: To evaluate the ability of quantitative MRI parameters for predicting dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON).

Methods: We retrospectively collected and analyzed the clinical features and 3.0 T MRI data of 59 patients with Graves orbitopathy (GO), with (n = 26) and without DON (n = 33).

Utility of multi-parametric quantitative magnetic resonance imaging of the lacrimal gland for diagnosing and staging Graves' ophthalmopathy.

Purpose: To explore radiological changes of the lacrimal gland (LG) in Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) based on multi-parametric quantitative MRI and its clinical utility in LG diagnosis and activity in GO.

Methods: We enrolled 99 consecutive patients with GO (198 eyes) and 12 Graves' Disease (GD) patients (24 eyes) from July 2018 to June 2020. Clinical, laboratory, and MRI data were collected at the first visit.

A versatile UCST-type composite microsphere for image-guided chemoembolization and photothermal therapy against liver cancer.

The development of novel chemoembolization agents to improve the treatment efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) against liver cancer remains an urgent need in clinical practice. Herein, a versatile composite microsphere with upper critical solution temperature (UCST) properties was prepared to encapsulate polydopamine coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION@PDA) and doxorubicin for simultaneous chemoembolization and photothermal therapy. The microspheres were spherical with an average diameter of 100-300 μm and exhibited favorable drug loading capability as well as strong photothermal effect.

Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging-aided Diagnosis of Primary Essential Cutis Verticis Gyrata: A Case Report with 5-year Follow-up and Review of the Literature.

Background: Cutis Verticis Gyrata (CVG) is a rare skin disease caused by overgrowth of the scalp, presenting as cerebriform folds and wrinkles. CVG can be classified into two forms: primary (essential and non-essential) and secondary. The primary non-essential form is often associated with neurological and ophthalmological abnormalities, while the primary essential form occurs without associated comorbidities.

Revisiting the Blood Supply of the Rectus Femoris: A Case Report and Computed Tomography Angiography Study.

Background: Rectus femoris necrosis is a rare but severe complication after anterolateral thigh flap (ALTF) harvesting. It has been previously reported that the blood supply of the rectus femoris (RF) often arises from the same source artery as the ALTF; however, precise descriptions of the relationship remain limited. This article revisits the blood supply of the RF based on computed tomography angiography (CTA) and analyzes the possible influence of the blood supply on the RF during ALTF harvesting.

Saphenous Artery Perforator Flaps in Minipigs: Anatomical Study and a New Experimental Model.

This study describes the anatomy of the saphenous artery (SA) perforators in minipigs and the development of a new animal model. First, the anatomic characteristics of the SA and perforators in minipigs were examined after latex-lead oxide perfusion. Subsequently, the right hind limbs of 10 minipigs were used to generate capillary perforator flaps (group A; utilizing the SA and 5.

Pitavastatin attenuates atherosclerosis by suppressing NF-κB signaling in a high-cholesterol diet plus balloon catheter injury rabbit model.

Atherosclerosis (AS) induced by endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction significantly contributes to the onset and development of cardiovascular disease. Pitavastatin is a member of the lipid-lowering drugs, statins that are widely used in clinics. In the current study, we evaluated the effect of pitavastatin on AS and nuclear factor-kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signaling in abdominal aortic ECs.

An Individually Optimized Protocol of Contrast Medium Injection in Enhanced CT Scan for Liver Imaging.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of a new individualized contrast medium injection protocol for enhanced liver CT scan.

Methods: 324 patients who underwent plain and dual phase enhanced liver CT were randomly assigned to 2 groups: G1 ( = 224, individualized contrast medium injection protocol); G2 ( = 100, standard contrast medium injection with a dose of 1.5 ml/kg).

The performance of transrectal ultrasound in the diagnosis of seminal vesicle defects: a comparison with magnetic resonance imaging.

Obstructive azoospermia (OA) is one of the most common causes of male infertility. Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) has been used to diagnose OA for many years. From 2009 to 2013, we evaluated a prospective cohort of 1249 patients with suspected OA using TRUS.