A radiomics-based study for differentiating parasellar cavernous hemangiomas from meningiomas.

To investigate the value of the radiomic models for differentiating parasellar cavernous hemangiomas from meningiomas and to compare the classification performance with different MR sequences and classifiers. A total of 96 patients with parasellar tumors (40 cavernous hemangiomas and 56 meningiomas) were enrolled in this retrospective multiple-center study. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the clinical factors and semantic features of MRI scans. Radiomics features were extracted from five MRI sequences using radiomics software. Three feature selection methods and six classifiers were evaluated in the training cohort to construct favorable radiomic machine-learning classifiers. The performance of different classifiers was evaluated using the AUC and compared to neuroradiologists. The detection rates of T1WI, T2WI, and CE-T1WI for parasellar cavernous hemangiomas and meningiomas were approximately 100%. In contrast, the ADC maps had the detection rate of 18/22 and 19/25, respectively, (AUC, 0.881) with 2.25 cm as the critical value diameter. Radiomics models with the SVM and KNN classifiers based on T2WI and ADC maps had favorable predictive performances (AUC > 0.90 and F-score value > 0.80). These models outperformed MRI model (AUC 0.805) and neuroradiologists (AUC, 0.756 and 0.545, respectively). Radiomic models based on T2WI and ADC and combined with SVM and KNN classifiers have the potential to be a viable method for differentiating parasellar hemangiomas from meningiomas. T2WI is more universally applicable than ADC values due to its higher detection rate for parasellar tumors.

Family-wide Characterization of Methylated DNA Binding Ability of Arabidopsis MBDs.

13 MBD-containing genes (AtMBD1-13) have been identified in Arabidopsis thaliana so far, however, their DNA binding ability is still controversial. Here, we systematically measured the DNA binding affinities of these MBDs by ITC and EMSA binding assays, except for those of pseudogenes AtMBD3 and AtMBD13, and found that only AtMBD6 and AtMBD7 function as methylated DNA readers. We also found that the MBD of AtMBD5 exhibits very weak binding to methylated DNA compared to that of AtMBD6. To further investigate the structural basis of AtMBDs in binding to methylated DNA, we determined the complex structure of the AtMBD6 MBD with a 12mer mCG DNA and the apo structure of the AtMBD5 MBD. Structural analysis coupled with mutagenesis studies indicated that, in addition to the conserved arginine fingers contributing to the DNA binding specificity, the residues located in the loop1 and α1 are also essential for the methylated DNA binding of these MBDs in Arabidopsis thaliana, which explains why AtMBD5 MBD and the other AtMBDs display very weak or no binding to methylated DNA. Thus, our study here systematically demonstrates the DNA binding ability of the MBDs in Arabidopsis thaliana, which also provides a general guideline in understanding the DNA binding ability of the MBDs in other plants as a whole.

Efficacy and safety of chimeric antigen receptor-T cells in the treatment of B cell lymphoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Conventional treatment has limited efficacy in relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma. Since chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) technology has shown high safety and results in high remission rates, we investigated its efficacy and safety in B-cell lymphoma treatment and analyzed potential affecting factors to provide evidence for therapeutic strategies and applications. METHODS: We searched databases including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane up to July 2019. Meta-analysis 1 was conducted to study the efficacy of CAR-T cell for treating B-cell lymphoma, measuring the response rate and complete remission rate as outcomes. Sub-group analysis was performed for age, pathological type, target antigen, co-stimulatory molecule, and conditioning chemotherapy. Meta-analysis 2 was undertaken on the safety of the treatment with the incidence rate of toxicity (cytokine-releasing syndrome [CRS], neurotoxicity) as an outcome. RESULTS: Seventeen studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. It was found that CAR-T cells had good therapeutic effects in the following cases: B-cell lymphoma (patients ≥65 years old); diffuse large B-cell lymphoma pathological type; patients with treatment target antigen other than CD19; patients treated with co-stimulatory molecules other than CD28, including 4-1BB+CD28 or 4-1BB; and patients treated with cyclophosphamide/fludarabine pre-treatment protocol conditioning chemotherapy. Although the CRS and neurotoxicity incidences were high, most were reversible with minimal risk of death. CONCLUSION: CAR-T cell treatment is safe for clinical application; however, toxicity effects should be monitored.