The correlation between tumor radiological features and spread through air spaces in peripheral stage IA lung adenocarcinoma: a propensity score-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: The consolidation tumor ratio (CTR) is a predictor of invasiveness in peripheral T1N0M0 lung adenocarcinoma. However, its association with spread through air spaces (STAS) remains largely unexplored. We aimed to explore the correlation between the CTR of primary tumors and STAS in peripheral T1N0M0 lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS: We collected data from patients who underwent surgery for malignant lung neoplasms between January and November 2022. Univariate and multivariate analyses following propensity-score matching with sex, age, BMI, were performed to identify the independent risk factors for STAS. The incidence of STAS was compared based on pulmonary nodule type. A smooth fitting curve between CTR and STAS was produced by the generalized additive model (GAM) and a multiple regression model was established using CTR and STAS to determine the dose-response relationship and calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: 17 (14.5%) were diagnosed with STAS. The univariate analysis demonstrated that the history of the diabetes, size of solid components, spiculation, pleural indentation, pulmonary nodule type, consolidation/tumor ratio of the primary tumor were statistically significant between the STAS-positive and STAS-negative groups following propensity-score matching(p = 0.047, 0.049, 0.030, 0.006, 0.026, and < 0.001, respectively), and multivariate analysis showed that the pleural indentation was independent risk factors for STAS (with p-value and 95% CI of 0.043, (8.543-68.222)). Moreover, the incidence of STAS in the partially solid nodule was significantly different from that in the solid nodule and ground-glass nodule (Pearson Chi-Square = 7.49, p = 0.024). Finally, the smooth fitting curve showed that CTR tended to be linearly associated with STAS by GAM, and the multivariate regression model based on CTR showed an OR value of 1.24 and a p-value of 0.015. CONCLUSIONS: In peripheral stage IA lung adenocarcinoma, the risk of STAS was increased with the solid component of the primary tumor. The pleural indentation of the primary tumor could be used as a predictor in evaluating the risk of the STAS.

Incremental value of PET primary lesion-based radiomics signature to conventional metabolic parameters and traditional risk factors for preoperative prediction of lymph node metastases in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Precise preoperative prediction of lymph node metastasis (LNM) is crucial for optimal diagnosis and treatment in patients with gastric cancer (GC), in which existing imaging methods have certain limitations. We hypothesized that PET primary lesion-based radiomics signature could provide incremental value to conventional metabolic parameters and traditional risk indicators in predicting LNM in patients with GC. METHODS: This retrospective study was performed in 127 patients with GC who underwent preoperative PET/CT. Basic clinical data and PET conventional metabolic parameters were collected. Radiomics signature was constructed by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm (LASSO) logistic regression. Based on the postoperative histological results, the patients were divided into LNM group and non-lymph node metastasis (NLNM) group. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) was used to evaluate the discriminatory ability of Radiomics score (Rad-score) for predicting LNM and determine whether adding Rad-score to PET conventional metabolic parameters and traditional risk factors could improve the predictive value in LNM. The Integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and net reclassification improvement (NRI) were calculated to further confirm the incremental value of Rad-score for predicting LNM in GC. RESULTS: The LNM group had higher Rad-score than NLNM group [(0.35 (-0.13-0.85) vs. -0.61 (-1.92-0.18), P < 0 .001)]. After adjusted for gender, age, BMI, and FBG, multivariable logistic regression analysis illustrated that Rad-score (OR: 6.38, 95% CI: 2.73-14.91, P < 0.0001) was independent risk factors for LNM in GC. Adding PET conventional parameters to traditional risk factors increased the predictive value of LNM in GC (AUC 0.751 vs 0.651, P = 0.02). Additional inclusion of Rad-score to conventional metabolic parameters and traditional risk indicators significantly improved the AUC (0.882 vs 0.751; P = 0.006). Bootstrap resampling (times = 500) was used for internal verification, 95% confidence interval (CI) was 0.802-0.948, with the sensitivity equaled to 89.5%, and positive predictive value (PPV) was 93.5%. When Rad-score was added to conventional metabolic parameters and traditional risk indicators, net reclassification improvement (NRI) was 0.293 (P = 0.0040) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) was 0.293 (P = 0.0045). CONCLUSION: In GC patients, PET Radiomics signature of the primary lesion-based was significantly associated with LNM and could improve the prediction of LNM above PET conventional metabolic parameters and traditional risk factors, which could provide incremental value for individual diagnosis and treatment of GC.

18F-FDG PET/CT-based radiomics nomogram for the preoperative prediction of lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer.

Objective: Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is not only one of the important factors affecting the prognosis of gastric cancer but also an important basis for treatment decisions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of the radiomics nomogram based on preoperative 18F-deoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT primary lesions and clinical risk factors for predicting LNM in gastric cancer (GC). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed radiomics features of preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT images in 224 gastric cancer patients from two centers. The prediction model was developed in the training cohort (n = 134) and validated in the internal (n = 59) and external validation cohorts (n = 31). The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to select features and build radiomics signatures. The radiomics feature score (Rad-score) was calculated and established a radiomics signature. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to screen independent risk factors for LNM. The minimum Akaike's information criterion (AIC) was used to select the optimal model parameters to construct a radiomics nomogram. The performance of the nomogram was assessed with calibration, discrimination, and clinical usefulness. Results: There was no significant difference between the internal verification and external verification of the clinical data of patients (all p > 0.05). The areas under the curve (AUCs) (95% CI) for predicting LNM based on the 18F-FDG PET/CT radiomics signature in the training cohort, internal validation cohort, and external validation cohort were 0.792 (95% CI: 0.712-0.870), 0.803 (95% CI: 0.681-0.924), and 0.762 (95% CI: 0.579-0.945), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression showed that carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 [OR (95% CI): 10.180 (1.267-81.831)], PET/CT diagnosis of LNM [OR (95% CI): 6.370 (2.256-17.984)], PET/CT Rad-score [OR (95% CI): 16.536 (5.506-49.660)] were independent influencing factors of LNM (all p < 0.05), and a radiomics nomogram was established based on those factors. The AUCs (95% CI) for predicting LNM were 0.861 (95% CI: 0.799-0.924), 0.889 (95% CI: 0.800-0.976), and 0.897 (95% CI: 0.683-0.948) in the training cohort, the internal validation cohort, and the external validation cohort, respectively. Decision curve analysis (DCA) indicated that the 18F-FDG PET/CT-based radiomics nomogram has good clinical utility. Conclusions: Radiomics nomogram based on the primary tumor of 18F-FDG PET/CT could facilitate the preoperative individualized prediction of LNM, which is helpful for risk stratification in GC patients.

Relationship between total lesion glycolysis of primary lesions based on 18F-FDG PET/CT and lymph node metastasis in gastric adenocarcinoma: a cross-sectional preliminary study.

OBJECTIVES: We explored the relationship between lymph node metastasis (LNM) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) of primary lesions determined by 18fluoro-2-deoxyglucose PET/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, and evaluated the independent effect of this association. METHODS: This retrospective study included 106 gastric adenocarcinoma patients who were examined by preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging between April 2016 and April 2020. We measured TLG of primary gastric lesions and evaluated its association with LNM. Multivariate logistic regression and a two-piece-wise linear regression were performed to evaluate the relationship between TLG of primary lesions and LNM. RESULTS: Of the 106 patients, 75 cases (71%) had LNM and 31 cases (29%) did not have LNM. Univariate analyses revealed that a per-SD increase in TLG was independently associated with LNM [odds ratio (OR) = 2.37; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.42-3.98; P = 0.0010]. After full adjustment of confounding factors, multivariate analyses exhibited that TLG of primary lesions was still significantly associated with LNM (OR per-SD: 2.20; 95% CI, 1.16-4.19; P = 0.0164). Generalized additive model indicated a nonlinear relationship and saturation effect between TLG of primary lesions and LNM. When TLG of primary lesions was <23.2, TLG was significantly correlated with LNM (OR = 1.26; 95% CI, 1.07-1.48; P = 0.0053), whereas when TLG of primary lesions was ≥ 23.2, the probability of LNM was greater than 60%, gradually reached saturation effect, as high as 80% or more. CONCLUSIONS: In this preliminary study, there were saturation and segmentation effects between TLG of primary lesions determined by preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT and LNM. When TLG of primary lesions was ≥ 23.2, the probability of LNM was greater than 60%, gradually reached saturation effect, as high as 80% or more. TLG of primary lesions is helpful in the preoperative diagnosis of LNM in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.

Radiomics model based on preoperative 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET predicts N2-3b lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to construct and validate 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET-based radiomics nomogram and use it to predict N2-3b lymph node metastasis in Chinese patients with gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: A total of 127 patients with pathologically confirmed GC who underwent preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging between January 2014 and September 2020 were enrolled as subjects in this study. We use the LIFEx software to extract PET radiomic features. A radiomics signature (Rad-score) was developed with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm. Then a prediction model, which incorporated the Rad-score and independent clinical risk factors, was constructed and presented with a radiomics nomogram. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess the performance of Rad-score and the nomogram. Finally, decision curve analysis (DCA) was applied to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the nomogram. RESULTS: The PET Rad-score, which includes four selected features, was significantly related to pN2-3b (all P < 0.05). The prediction model, which comprised the Rad-score and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, showed good calibration and discrimination [area under the ROC curve: 0.81(95% confidence interval: 0.74-0.89), P < 0.001)]. The DCA also indicated that the prediction model was clinically useful. CONCLUSION: This study presents a radiomics nomogram consisting of a radiomics signature based on PET images and CEA level that can be conveniently used for personalized prediction of high-risk N2-3b metastasis in Chinese GC patients.

Preoperative 18F-FDG SUVmax >6.3 or Size >2.3 cm of primary lesions predict lymph nodes metastasis with higher negative predictive value in peripheral cT1 non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Sublobar resection is suitable for peripheral cT1N0M0 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The traditional PET-CT criterion (lymph node size ≥1.0 cm or SUVmax ≥2.5) for predicting lymph nodes metastasis (LNM) has unsatisfactory performance. OBJECTIVE: We explore the clinical role of preoperative SUVmax and the size of the primary lesions for predicting peripheral cT1 NSCLC LNM. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 174 peripheral cT1 NSCLC patients underwent preoperative 18F-FDG PET-CT and divided into the LNM and non-LNM group by pathology. We compared the differences of primary lesions' baseline characteristics between the two groups. The risk factors of LNM were determined by univariate and multivariate analysis, and we assessed the diagnostic efficacy with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value (NPV). RESULTS: Of the enrolled cases, the incidence of LNM was 24.7%. The preoperative SUVmax >6.3 or size >2.3 cm of the primary lesions were independent risk factors of peripheral cT1 NSCLC LNM (ORs, 95% CIs were 6.18 (2.40-15.92) and 3.03 (1.35-6.81). The sensitivity, NPV of SUVmax >6.3 or size >2.3 cm of the primary lesions were higher than the traditional PET-CT criterion for predicting LNM (100.0 vs. 86.0%, 100.0 vs. 89.7%). A Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed a goodness-of-fit (P = 0.479). CONCLUSIONS: The excellent sensitivity and NPV of preoperative of the SUVmax >6.3 or size >2.3 cm of the primary lesions based on 18F-FDG PET-CT might identify the patients at low-risk LNM in peripheral cT1 NSCLC.

Desertibacter xinjiangensis sp. nov., isolated from the soil of a Euphrates poplar forest, and emended description of the genus Desertibacter.

A pale pink and strictly aerobic bacterium, designated strain M71(T), was isolated from the soil of a Euphrates poplar forest in Xingjiang, PR China. Cells of the strain were Gram-reaction-negative, rod-shaped and motile by means of a single polar flagellum. Growth occurred at 10-37 °C (optimum 30 °C), at pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum pH 7.0-8.0) and with 0-2.0% NaCl (w/v, optimum 0%). Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, indicated that strain M71(T) belongs to the genus Desertibacter in the family Rhodospirillaceae. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of this strain showed 96.2% sequence similarity with the type strain of Desertibacter roseus 2262(T). The respiratory quinone was Q-10 and the predominant cellular fatty acids were C(18:1)ω7c (53.2%), C(16:1)ω5c (11.0%), summed feature 3 (C(16:1)ω7c and/or C(16:1)ω6c, 10.2%) and C(16:0) (8.5%). The DNA G+C content was 71.2 mol% (HPLC). The strain contained phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine as the predominant polar lipids. On the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain M71(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Desertibacter, for which the name Desertibacter xinjiangensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is M71(T) ( =CCTCC AB 209291(T) =CIP 110127(T)).

[Changes and effects of significant membrane molecules on thymic T cell of aging mice induced by D-galactose].

AIM: To establish subacute aging mice model by D-galactose and to explore the changes and effects of significant membrane molecules on thymic T cell. METHODS: Female Kunming mice of 8 weeks old were injected with D-galactose of 12.5 mL/(kg.d) by subcutaneous in scruff for 42 days. The animals' living conditions and biological behaviors were observed everyday.SOD activities and MDA content of serum were measured to determine whether the aging model was successfully established.On the basis of successfully establishing aging model, detect the significant membrane molecules of thymic T cell by Immunofluorescence technique and Flow Cytometer. RESULTS: During the 42 days, gradually, the model mice showed bending body, loose skin, slow action and so on.The activities of SOD in the serum were significantly decreased(P<0.01), and the content of MDA in the serum was significantly increased(P<0.01). The thymic naive T cell significant molecule, CD45RA was decreased(P<0.05). T cell activation-related molecules, CD28 and CD25 were both decreased(P<0.05), and PD-1 was significantly increased(P<0.01). The memory T cell significant molecule, CD196 was increased, but was not significantly compared to the control mice. CONCLUSION: The D-galactose subacute aging mice model was successfully established.The naive and active T cell were decreased and the memory T cell was increased in the thymic of the aging.

[The changes of spleen B cells of D-galactose-induced aging mice].

AIM: This paper is to analyze the changes of important membrane type molecules of the spleen B cells and their significance on the basis of biology identification by establishing subacute aging mice model with D-galactose. METHODS: Health Kunming mice are injected with 100 ng/L D-galactose, 0.25 mL/20 g, once per day, for 42 days consecutively, into their back necks. The animals' living conditions and biological behaviors are observed everyday and the dynamic changes of their weight are measured regularly. The biology identification of aging model mice is conducted by means of measuring the SOD viability and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in serum; the analysis of the activation- and memory-related important membrane type molecules of spleen cells is carried out with immune fluorescence and flow cytometry; the analysis of the concentration of IL-4 in serum is conducted by ELISA. RESULTS: Building a successful subactue aging mice model.The results of immune fluorescence and flow cytometry showed that CD20(+); was 56.8%, CD40(+); was 43.6%, CD20(+);CD45RA(+);B was 14.04%, CD40(+);CD45RA(+);B was 35.4%, CD20(+);CD86(+);B was 2.25%, CD40(+);CD86(+);B was 4.38%, CD20(+);CD196(+);B was 10.68%, and CD40(+);CD196(+);B was 10.98%. The results of ELISA showed that the average level of IL-4 in serum was 7.93 ng/L. The statistical analysis showed that the expressions of CD20, CD40, CD45RA, and CD86 of the spleen cells of the model control group and the average level of IL-4 in serum were lower than the normal control group(P<0.05)while CD196 was higher than the normal control group(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: In the body's aging process, the expressions of the activation- and memory-related important membrane type molecules of spleen cells change, activated cells reduce, memory cells increase, and the expression of IL-4 in serum drop, resulting in the immune system function disorder.

Cohnella arctica sp. nov., isolated from Arctic tundra soil.

A psychrotolerant Gram-reaction-negative, rod-shaped and orange-pigmented bacterium, designated strain M9-62T, which was motile by means of peritrichous flagella, was isolated from tundra soil sampled near Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard Islands, Norway (78° N). Growth occurred at 4-30 °C (optimum, 25 °C) and pH 5.0-8.0 (optimum, pH 6.0-7.0). Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain M9-62T placed it in the genus Cohnella; sequence similarities of the isolate with type strains of members of related genera ranged from 92.0 to 96.3 %. Strain M9-62T contained anteiso-C15:0 (51.1 %), iso-C16:0 (7.5 %) and C16:0 (6.1 %) as the major cellular fatty acids and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol as the main polar lipids. The major respiratory quinone was MK-7 and the DNA G+C content was 50.3 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain M9-62T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Cohnella, for which the name Cohnella arctica sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is M9-62T (=CCTCC AB 2010228T=NRRL B-59459T).

Altererythrobacter xinjiangensis sp. nov., isolated from desert sand, and emended description of the genus Altererythrobacter.

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, strictly aerobic bacterium, strain S3-63(T), was isolated from desert sand of Xinjiang, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain S3-63(T) had highest similarity to type strains of the genus Altererythrobacter, i.e. Altererythrobacter marinus H32(T) (97.2% similarity), Altererythrobacter marensis MSW-14(T) (95.9%), Altererythrobacter aestuarii KCTC 22735(T) (95.5%), Altererythrobacter epoxidivorans JCS350(T) (95.1%), Altererythrobacter namhicola KCTC 22736(T) (95.1%), Altererythrobacter luteolus SW-109(T) (95.0%) and Altererythrobacter indicus LMG 23789(T) (93.5%). Growth occurred at 20-37 °C (optimum 30 °C), at pH 7.0-9.0 (optimum pH 8.0) and in 0-3% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1%). The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10 and the predominant cellular fatty acids were C(18:1)ω7c (50.8%), summed feature 3 (C(16:1)ω7c and/or C(16:1)ω6c; 12.6%), C(16:0) (12.3%), C(14:0) 2-OH (7.3%) and C(17:1)ω6c (4.5%). The DNA G+C content was 64.6 mol%. Therefore, the phylogenetic, physiological and chemotaxonomic data demonstrated that strain S3-63(T) represents a novel species of the genus Altererythrobacter, for which the name Altererythrobacter xinjiangensis sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is S3-63(T) (=CCTCC AB 207166(T)=CIP 110125(T)). An emended description of the genus Altererythrobacter is provided.

Mucilaginibacter soli sp. nov., isolated from Arctic tundra soil.

A novel pale-pink-coloured strain, designated R9-65(T), was isolated from a tundra soil near Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway (78° N). The cells were facultatively anaerobic, Gram-staining-negative, non-motile and rod-shaped. Growth occurred at 4-32 °C (optimum, 25-28 °C), at pH 5.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 6.0-7.0) and with 0-1.0% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, no NaCl). Flexirubin-type pigments were absent. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain R9-65(T) belonged to the genus Mucilaginibacter in the family Sphingobacteriaceae. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain R9-65(T) and type strains of related species ranged from 93.4 to 96.6%. Strain R9-65(T) contained summed feature 3 (C(16:1)ω7c and/or C(16:1)ω6c, 34.3%) and iso-C(15:0) (20.3%) as major cellular fatty acids, MK-7 as the major respiratory quinone, and phosphatidylethanolamine as the main polar lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain R9-65(T) was 47.2 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic, physiological and chemotaxonomic data, strain R9-65(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Mucilaginibacter, for which the name Mucilaginibacter soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R9-65(T) (=CCTCC AB 2010331(T)=NRRL B-59458(T)).