Imaging Features of the Whole Uterus Volume CT Perfusion and Influence Factors of Blood Supply: A Primary Study in Patients with Cervical Squamous Carcinoma.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To explore the imaging features of whole uterus volume CT perfusion (vCTP) and the influence factors of blood supply in cervical squamous carcinoma (CSC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: vCTP was performed on a 640-slice computed tomography system in 43 patients with CSC diagnosed by biopsy, and 24 cases of them underwent magnetic resonance imaging. The size of the tumor was measured on vCTP and magnetic resonance (MR) images. Perfusion parameters, including arterial blood flow (AF), blood volume, and permeability surface (PS), were measured by two radiologists, using interclass correlation coefficient to evaluate the interobserver reliability. The difference of tumor size and perfusion data was analyzed by paired t test and rank sum test. The correlation of perfusion parameters with some factors was analyzed by Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS: Tumor sizes were not significantly different between vCTP and MR images. The interclass correlation coefficient of each parameter was 0.818-0.945. The AF value of CSC was significantly higher than normal uterine body, and the blood volume and PS values of CSC were not statistically different compared with those of normal uterine body. There was no significant difference in AF value of CSC among different FIGO stages and pathological grades. The AF and PS values of CSC were negatively correlated with the age of the patients. CONCLUSION: The vCTP could accurately shows the size of the CSC with use of MR as the reference standard, and its perfusion parameters have good measurement stability; the CSC was hypervascular, but this trend was less pronounced in older women.

Reduction of metal artifacts from unilateral hip arthroplasty on dual-energy CT with metal artifact reduction software.

Background The evaluation of hip arthroplasty is a challenge in computed tomography (CT). The virtual monochromatic spectral (VMS) images with metal artifact reduction software (MARs) in spectral CT can reduce the artifacts and improve the image quality. Purpose To evaluate the effects of VMS images and MARs for metal artifact reduction in patients with unilateral hip arthroplasty. Material and Methods Thirty-five patients underwent dual-energy CT. Four sets of VMS images without MARs and four sets of VMS images with MARs were obtained. Artifact index (AI), CT number, and SD value were assessed at the periprosthetic region and the pelvic organs. The scores of two observers for different images and the inter-observer agreement were evaluated. Results The AIs in 120 and 140 keV images were significantly lower than those in 80 and 100 keV images. The AIs of the periprosthetic region in VMS images with MARs were significantly lower than those in VMS images without MARs, while the AIs of pelvic organs were not significantly different. VMS images with MARs improved the accuracy of CT numbers for the periprosthetic region. The inter-observer agreements were good for all the images. VMS images with MARs at 120 and 140 keV had higher subjective scores and could improve the image quality, leading to reliable diagnosis of prosthesis-related problems. Conclusion VMS images with MARs at 120 and 140 keV could significantly reduce the artifacts from hip arthroplasty and improve the image quality at the periprosthetic region but had no obvious advantage for pelvic organs.

Virtual monochromatic spectral imaging for the evaluation of vertebral inconspicuous osteoblastic metastases from lung.

Background The diagnosis of inconspicuous osteoblastic metastases (OBMs) is a challenge in computed tomography (CT) images. The virtual monochromatic spectral (VMS) image of spectral CT is useful for the detection of the low-contrast lesions. Purpose To select the optimal monochromatic level for VMS images of spectral CT for detecting and diagnosing inconspicuous OBMs of the vertebra from lung cancer. Material and Methods Thirty-five patients underwent spectral CT for chest or abdomen. The CT number and standard deviation (SD) of lesions and adjacent normal bone and the SD value of subcutaneous fat were measured on the conventional polychromatic image (140 kVp) and 40-140 keV VMS images. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was compared among the 11 VMS images and 140 kVp images. The scores of two observers for different images and the inter-observer agreement were evaluated. The diameter and CNR of the detected and missed lesions were assessed. Results The lowest image noise was distributed in 70 and 140 keV images and the highest CNR was noted in 70 keV images. Good and moderate inter-observer agreement were identified for the evaluation of diagnostic ability, and the subjective scores of two observers for 60 and 70 keV images were increased compared with 140 kVp images ( P < 0.05). The diameter had no significant difference between the detected and missed lesions. The CNR of the missed lesions was reduced compared with detected lesions. Conclusion VMS images at 70 keV may be optimal for detecting and diagnosing inconspicuous OBMs from lung cancer.

Molecular mechanism of chemosensitization to paclitaxel in human melanoma cells induced by targeting the EGFR signaling pathway / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the molecular mechanism of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway in mediating paclitaxel-resistance and improving paclitaxel sensitivity in human melanoma A375 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human melanoma cell line A375 cells were treated with different concentrations of paclitaxel with or without 20 µmol/L AG1478 (EGFR inhibitor), 40 µmol/L PD98059 (extracellular signal conditioning kinase (ERK) 1/2 blockers) or 10 µmol/L LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor). MTT method was used to measure the proliferation of A375 cells. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell cycle and apoptosis in the A375 cells. The expressions of P-EGFR, P-ERK and P-AKT proteins were determined by Western blot analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Paclitaxel (0.001 µmol/L to 0.1 µmol/L) inhibited the growth of A375 cells (P < 0.01) and induced apoptosis (P < 0.05) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. AG1478 (20 µmol/L) increased the 0.01 µmol/L paclitaxel-induced inhibition rate from 38.5% to 62.6% at 72 h. Different doses of paclitaxel induced apoptosis in A375 cells by different ways, in which G0/G1 phase cells were decreased and mitotic phase was prolonged at 0.01 µmol/L, and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase by 0.1 µmol/L paclitaxel. When DNA damage occurred in A375 cells exposed to paclitaxel, expression of P-EGFR, P-ERK and P-AKT proteins was increased. When EGFR signaling pathway was blocked, paclitaxel did not activate MAPK signaling pathway or PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and did not change its effect on cell cycle in vitro. When EGFR was inhibited by 20 µmol/L tyrophostin AG1478, the 0.001 and 0.01 µmol/L paclitaxel-induced early apoptosis rate in A375 cells was increased by 1.73- and 1.80-fold, respectively. When the ERK signaling was blocked by 40 µmol/L PD98059, the 0.001 and 0.01 µmol/L paclitaxel-induced early apoptosis rate in A375 cells was increased by 2.73- and 2.25-fold, respectively. When the AKT signaling was blocked by 10 µmol/L LY294002, the 0.001 and 0.01 µmol/L paclitaxel-induced early apoptosis rate in A375 cells was increased by 2.02- and 1.46-fold, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Human melanoma A375 cells produce resistance to paclitaxel (0.001 to 0.1 µmol/L) by activating MAPK signaling and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. Targeting EGFR, ERK and AKT signaling pathways significantly enhances the cytotoxic effect of paclitaxel on human melanoma cells.</p>