Objective To study the feasibility and effectiveness of liquid embolic agent HEMA-MMA in the arterial embolization therapy for the rabbit renal VX2 tumor models. Methods Renal VX2 tumor models were inoculated with the method of percutaneous CT-guided implantation of a small fragment of tumor into the inferior pole of the right kidney and were embolized when the max diameter was 1.5 cm. One model was embolized with the mixture of HEMA-MMA and carbonyl iron powder and was harvested immediately after embolization, the sample was fixed by paraformaldehyde for histopathological examination with methylene blue staining and HE staining to demonstrate the sizes of the vessels that the HEMA-MMA could reach. The remaining models were treated with pure HEMA-MMA by superselective or nonselective embolization (SSE or NSE). In SSE group, only the renal artery branch supplying the tumor was superselectively catheterized and embolized until the presence of“artery casting”change. In NSE group, the microcatheter was catheterized into the main renal artery then the whole renal artery branches and the renal capsular artery were embolized simultaneously until the presence of“artery casting”shape. Non-enhanced CT scans at immediate postoperation, on postoperative day 1 and day 3 were performed. The enhanced CT scans at the postoperative 1, 2 , 4 and 6 weeks were performed. Necrotic zone of the tumor was defined as non-enhancement in parenchyma phase, residual tumor was defined as delayed enhancement around the necrotic zone or obvious thickness and enhancement of the adjacent renal capsule. When detecting residual tumor, the model was followed up another 1 week and then harvested for histopathological examination. If there was no residual tumor and lung metastasis in 6 weeks follow-up after operation, we defined this as complete necrosis and then harvested the kidney for histopathological examination. Results Eleven of the 12 rabbits were successfully inoculated VX2 tumors. The mixture of HEMA-MMA and carbonyl iron powder deposited in the arterial vessels demonstrated mazarine in methylene blue staining and brownness in HE staining. The diameter of the tumor vessels which the agent could reach was 30—150 μm, there was no embolic agent detected in the venous blood vessels. 5 models were performed with superselective embolization and the other 5 were embolized with nonselective embolization. The embolic agent demonstrated high density and obviously deposited in the surrounding zone of the tumor on immediate postoperative CT images, density of the surrounding zone decreased accompanied by density increase in the central area of the tumor on the first day postoperative CT images. Density difference between the embolism zone and normal renal tissue disappeared on the third day postoperative CT images accompanied by swelling changes of the embolized area. Residual tumor was detected in all 5 superselectively treated cases (2 in 1 week, 3 in 2 weeks), which located in the area of junctional zone and subrenal capsule. The necrotic zone was demonstrated coagulative necrosis on histopathologic images, the boundary between the residual tumor and the necrotic zone was clearly showed both on histopathologic images and gross specimen. Renal capsular artery participating in the residual tumor blood supply was also shown on gross specimen. There was no residual tumor and lung metastasis detected in nonselective treated group during the period of 6 weeks follow-up. Atrophy of the whole tumor-burdened kidney was shown on gross specimen and complete coagulative necrosis of the total tumor and the renal capsule adjacent to the tumor was demonstrated on histopathologic images. Conclusions Liquid embolic agent HEMA-MMA can embolize tumor blood vessels with a diameter of 30—150 μm. The renal capsular artery participates in the blood supply of the VX2 kidney tumor, so only superselective embolization of the renal artery branch with this liquid embolic agent may not induce the whole necrosis of the tumor, but complete necrosis of the tumor can be obtained by embolizing of all the tumor vessels and the adjacent normal renal arteries with this liquid embolic agent.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of multi-parameter MRI in diagnosing ovarian endometrial cysts. Methods Pelvic MRI of 68 patients with confirmed pathological diagnosis were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into ovarian endometriosis (35 patients with 42 lesions, group A) and other cystic lesions (33 patients with 38 lesions , group B).The signal intensity value of T1WI, T2WI of cyst fluid and iliopsoas, ADC value, phase values and R2*values were obtained, cyst fluid/iliopsoas ratios (T1R and T2R) were calculated. The non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test was employed to compare parameter values between the two groups. The values of diagnostic performance were analyzed by using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Use the Logistics regression parameters of diagnostic efficacy to select the highest Youden index for the best parameter association after combining the parameters step by step. Results The median of T1R, T2R, ADC, phase, T1R and R2*values for group A were 3.39, 5.28, 1.20×10-3 mm2/s,2.19×10-2, 15.08 Hz respectively, and that of group B were 0.91, 10.85, 2.64×10-3mm2/s,2.67×10-2, 3.01 Hz, respectively. There were statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01).The AUC of T1R, T2R, ADC value, phase values and R*2 value were 0.930, 0.874, 0.891, 0.685 and 0.924 respectively, and there was no difference among them (P>0.05). When combining T1R, ADC value, R2*value together, the Youden index (0.849 7) was highest. Conclusion Combining T1R, ADC and R2* values can provide an effective way to discriminate endometrial ovarian cyst from other ovary cystic lesions.

Objective To investigate the image features of congenital pyriform sinus fistula (CPSF). Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical features and preoperative images of 80 patients with confirmed diagnosis of CPSF by surgical and pathological outcome in Guangdong general hospital from January 2007 to December 2014. At least one of the following imaging examinations were performed for all the patients, including Barium swallow X-ray (BSX), CT and MRI. Among them, 63 patients were examined with BSX, while 42 patients underwent plain and enhanced CT scans, wherein 40 of them were exanimated shortly after BSX. Thirty-two patients underwent plain and enhanced MRI scans. Patients were divided into two groups according to their age, young age group (≤14 years old) and older age group (>14 years old). Furthermore, they were also grouped based on inflammatory or quiescent stage clinically. The images of BSX, CT, and MRI from the patients were analyzed and the positive diagnostic rates (PDR) between groups were compared by using χ2 tests. Results For the patients examined with BSX, sinuses in 35 of 63 were depicted from pyriform and fistulas in 9 of 63 were depicted from the pyriform. The overall PDR of BSX was 74.6%(47/63),wherein 46.2%(12/26)in young age group , 94.6%(35/37)in older age group, 52.9%(9/17) in inflammatory stage group ,and 82.6%(38/46)in quiescent stage group. The inter-group differences were statistically significant (χ2 were 18.911 and 5.766,both P<0.05). The PDR of CPSF with CT was 85.7%(36/42), MRI was 84.4%(27/32), BSX+CT was 87.5%(35/40). The courses of fistula or sinus were showed on CT and MRI. The presence of air bubbles at the inferomedial edge of cricothyroid joints or around the upper lobe of the thyroid gland, the changes of the morphology of thyroid grand as well as the inflammatory change along the fistula region were detected much clearly on CT and MRI. There was no statistical difference between CT and MRI groups(P>0.05).Conclusions BSX could be a screening method for suspected cases of CPSF in quiescent stage. However, the PDR could be affected by many factors (age and inflammation). CT and MRI could provide valuable information for diagnosis. An examination combined BSX and CT is preferred to improve the positive detective rate of CPSF.

Objective To investigate the effect of image registration on quantitative measurements of free breathing diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) in normal human kidney. Methods Twenty healthy volunteers were prospectively enrolled to undergo DKI imaging with a 3.0 T MR scanner. Three b values (0, 500, and 1 000 s/mm2) were adopted,with image registration performed after image acquisition. Acquired images were fitted using the DKI fitting model to generate the DKI metric maps,which were performed on both the pre-registration images and post-registration images. Image quality of the derived metric maps (before and after image registration,respectively) was assessed by two radiologists. Measurements of fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), radial diffusivity (D|), axial diffusivity (D⊥), mean kurtosis (MK), radial kurtosis (K|) and axial kurtosis (K⊥) were conducted. The inter-observer reproducibility of the image quality assessment was analyzed using intra-class correlation coefficient(ICC). Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to evaluate the difference in the subjective scores of the metric maps between those obtained before registration and those after registration. While paired t test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed to analyze the difference in the quantitative measurements of DKI metrics of the renal cortex and medulla between those obtained before registration and those after registration.Results For the inter-observer reproducibility, satisfactory ICCs were obtained for the quantitative metric measurements (pre-registration:0.784 to 0.821;post-registration:0.836 to 0.934). Significant difference was notice between subjective scores for the quality of metric maps (P<0.05 for each comparison). In both the renal cortex and medulla, significant difference was noticed between each metric value obtained with pre-registration images and that with post-registration images (P<0.05 for each comparison). Conclusion Image registration can not only offer higher quality DKI metric maps,but also has effect on the quantitative measurements of obtained metric maps.

Objective To assess the value of arterial spin labeling(ASL) MRI in the staging of early renal allograft function. Methods Sixty two renal allograft recipients (2 to 4 weeks after kidney transplantation) and 20 age match volunteers were included in this study. All subjects underwent conventional MRI and ASL MRI which was performed in the oblique-sagittal plane. Recipients were divided into two groups according to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), recipients with good allograft function (eGFR≥60 ml · min-1 · 1.73 m-2,n=37) and recipients with impaired allograft function (eGFR<60 ml · min - 1 · 1.73 m - 2,n=25). Renal blood flow (RBF) was measured and an intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to confirm the reproducibility of the measured results from two doctors. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni were used to compare the different cortical RBF among three groups. Correlation of RBF with eGFR was evaluated using Pearson correlation coefficients. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to assess the diagnostic efficacy of using cortical RBF to discriminate allografts with impaired function from good function. Results RBF values showed good reproducibility between doctors with an ICC larger than 0.90 in different group. Mean cortical RBF were (390 ± 61),(290 ± 69),(201 ± 86) ml · 100 g-1 · min-1 for healthy controls, recipients with good and impaired allograft function, respectively(F=37.313,P<0.01). RBF exhibited a significant correlation with renal function as determined by eGFR for recipients (r=0.60,P<0.01). Mean cortical RBF showed a high area under the ROC curve (0.773) to discriminate renal allografts with different function, with a sensitivity of 56.0% (14/25) and a specificity of 89.2% (33/37). Conclusion ASL MRI can assess the early renal allografts perfusion, and provide valuable information in the staging of renal function. It could be a useful method for evaluating renal function noninvasively.

Objective To explore the biological activities and the MR imaging signal intensities (SIs) characteristics of differentiations of neural-like cells induced by superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)
and green fluorescent protein (GFP) double-labeled bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in vitro. Methods GFP-BMSCs were labeled with different concentrations of SPIO in vitro (the concentration of the A, B, C and D group was 25, 50, 75 and 100 ug/ml, respectively;the E group without labels of SPIO served as the control group). The Prussian blue stainings were used to detect the labeling rates of SPIO. The iron contents of cells were measured by atomic absorption spectrometer. The CCK8 experiments were used to detect the cell proliferation rates. The cell cycles were detect by PCR. Each of the A-E groups had a test tube with 1 × 108 cells. All test tubes underwent T2* weighted imaging (T2*WI) and susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) in a MR imaging scanner. The optimal group was defined by comparing the measurements of SIs between T2*WI and SWI. The optimal group and the E group together induced the differentiations of osteogenesis and neural-like cells. The stainings of alizarin red, osteocalcin and Nissl, NeuN, and NF-200 were performed at 72 hours. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression levels of RNA in tub3, nestin, NSE, MAP-2 and Syt1. The positive staining rates and the expression levels of RNA were compared between the two groups. Finally, SWI was used to analyse the changes of SIs. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to the multi-group comparison. Using least significant difference (LSD) test to analyse the comparisons between the multi-groups. Results The labeling rates of the A-D groups were 100%. The iron contents of cells in the A-E groups were (14.36 ± 7.61), (21.73±3.42), (30.54±8.73), (33.65±9.62), and (2.31±0.32) pg/cell, respectively. The iron contents of cells in the A-D groups were significantly higher than those in the E group ( F=3.852, P=0.003). There was no significant difference between the C and D groups (P=0.267). In all groups, the D group had the lowest OD value in the CCK-8 experiments (3.18 ± 0.46). In the A-E groups, the changes of SIs in SWI were significantly lower than those in T*2 WI. There was no significant difference in SIs of SWI between the C group (145.89±14.31) and the D group (127.37±12.21). Except the comparison between the group C and D, the comparisons between all the groups had significant differences (P<0.001). The percentages of SI attenuations in SWI and T*2 WI were 48.15% and 69.34%, respectively. The proportions of non-neurons cells and the positive rates of Nissl's stainings in group C and E had no significant differences (P>0.05). The expression levels of tub3, nestin and NSE were significantly higher before than after induced differentiations (P<0.01). SIs of SWI had no significant difference between before and after induced differentiations in the C group (t=1.26, P=0.236). Conclusions SPIO and GFP double-labeled BMSCs can induce neural-like cells without influencing biologic activities. MR SIs are decreased by the increase of SPIO concentrations in cells. SWI was the most sensitive sequence. The SIs of SWI has no differnce between before and after induced differentiations.

Objective To investigate the reasons and the methods of prevention and cure for serious complications of radiofrequency ablations in the treatments of hepatocellular carcinomas. Methods A total of 410 patients with BCLC at A or B stage of hepatocellular carcinomas in our hospital were enrolled between November 2014 and June 2009. These patients underwent a total of 504 times radiofrequency ablations for the treatments of liver lesions. This retrospective study analysed the reasons and the strategies of prevention and cure for the serious complications. Results In the patients with a total of 504 times radiofrequency ablations, 2 patients had massive hemorrhage caused by puncture injuries, 2 patients had the tumors which were close to the liver capsules and 1 patient had bile peritonitis caused by the injury of thermal ablation on the gallbladder. The maximum diameter of tumor was 5 cm. That tumor was close to the gallbladder. 2 patients had needle tract metastases caused by incompletely needle path ablations. 1 of the 2 patients had a tumor near the liver capsule, and the other patient had un-enough temperature for needle path ablation. Tumor outbreaks were happened in 2 patients. 1 of the 2 patients had a tumor which was located in the liver capsule and close to the portal vein. The other patient had a 12 cm diameter tumor with rich blood supplement. 2 patients had liver abscesses. 1 of the 2 patients had a tumor near the ascending colon, and the other patient had diabetes. 1 patient had colonic perforation caused by thermal ablation. The tumor in that patient was located in the right hepatic lobe segment and adjacent to the ascending colon. The incidence of serious complications was 1.98% (10/504). Conclusions The incidence of the serious complications of radiofrequency ablations for the treatments of hepatocellular carcinomas is relatively low. The main reasons for the serious complications were direct injuries caused by punctures, heat radiation injuries, tumors adjacent to large blood vessels, gallbladders and intestines, tumors with abundant blood supplement, needle paths fail to cross normal liver tissues, low scores of liver function, weak immune system and diabetes. The key points for avoiding and reducing the serious complications are preoperative evaluations of patients' basic situations, choices of appropriate puncture channels and control ranges of ablations when tumors are close to important blood vessels, intestines and gallbladders.

Objective To explore the utility of cone-beam CT in the evaluation of prostatic arterial embolization (PAE). Methods In a retrospective study, images of DSA and cone-beam CT for PAE in 81 patients with moderate to severe grade benign prostatic hyperplasia were evaluated. In 162 cases of internal iliac arteries (ⅡAs) in 81 patients, images of 6 ⅡAs were excluded due to the technical problems. Therefore, images of 156ⅡAs were included for evaluation. We aim to evaluate the utility of cone-beam CT versus DSA in differentiating PAs and their origins, and demonstrating anastomoses with adjacent arteries. Statistical analyses were performed with Chi-square test to compare the rate of demonstrating vessels between cone-beam CT and DSA. Results One hundred and sixty-one PAs were demonstrated in 156ⅡAs by selective DSA and Cone-beam CT. Cone-beam CT and DSA images demonstrated 158 (98.1%, 158/161) and 130 (80.8%, 130/161) PAs, respectively. The statistical difference was significant (χ2=25.78, P<0.05). PAs were demonstrated by cone-beam CT images alone in 27ⅡAs (17.3%, 27/156) and were demonstrated by DSA images alone in 3ⅡAs (1.9%, 3/161).The statistical difference was significant (χ2=22.31, P<0.05). In 137 PAs that were initially defined by DSA alone, 7 of those (5.1%, 7/137) were eventually proven not to be PAs by further selective cone-beam CT acquisitions. Origins of PAs were shown by Cone-beam CT images alone in 11 ⅡAs. In the remaining 145 ⅡAs (92.9%, 145/156), origins of PAs were shown by both
cone-beam CT and DSA images. The percentage of PA anastomoses demonstrated by cone-beam CT was 42.3%(66/156), which was higher than DSA (31.4%, 49/156). The statistical difference was significant (χ2=3.98, P<0.05). Conclusions Cone-beam CT is useful in demonstrating PAs and their origins fromⅡAs, as well as anastomoses with adjacent arteries.

Objective To investigate the radiological and clinical features of osteoarthrosis in congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA).Methods The clinical and radiological features in 8 cases of CIPA diseases were retrospectively analyzed. There were five males and three females,age ranged from 11 to 18 years with a median age of (14±3) years. X-ray plain film findings in eight cases were analyzed for the location, extent and contour of the lesions, surrounding bony sclerosis, as well as joint and soft tissue changes. Results The main clinical presentations were insensitivity to pain, anhydrosis, fever, mental retardation and infection. In these eight cases, a total of 166 pieces of bone were involved, including the plantar and phalanges (n=115),phalanx (n=29).The radiological findings include dissolution of the entire bone or most of the bone (n=113), dissolution of a few small areas of the bone (n=40), dissolution of the bone with only residual punctate areas (n=7), the“pushpin sign”and“pencil tip sign”and“flat cut sign”of the finger osteolysis (n=6), sclerosis of peripheral bone (n=12), pathological fractures (n=2). Joint dislocation (n=3),joint deformity (n=3), and Charcot joint (n=3) were observed.Necrosis of soft tissue(n=4), complete absence of soft tissue in the finger or toe (n=4), dot-like calcification of the soft tissue(n=3) were also observed. Conclusion Osteoarthrosis in patients with CIPA had certain X-ray and clinical characteristic findings, which could facilitate its diagnosis.

Objective To explore a new index for reflecting the topological information of brain functional networks in patients at high risk of Alzheimer disease using characteristics of resting-state functional connectivity strengths(FCS) in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment(aMCI). Methods Thirty-one aMCI patients and 42 age, gender and years of education matched normal controls were enrolled between September 2009 and April 2011 in this study. The resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) data of all participants were acquired and preprocessed. Then the whole-brain functional connectivities were constructed for exploring the distribution characteristics of hub regions which had higher FCS values. Using two-sample t test to compare group differences in age, years of education and each neuropsychological assessment. In addition, using Chi-squared test to compare group differences in gender. Group differences in FCS values were analyzed by general linear model. Finally, correlation analyses were used to evaluate the relationships between the FCS values of the brain regions with group differences and behavioral scores in aMCI patients. Results The hub regions of the functional networks in the aMCI patients were mainly located in the association cortices such as the precuneuses, posterior cingulate cortices, medial prefrontal cortices, angular gyri, superior occipital gyri, fusiform gyri and lingual gyri. The distribution models in the aMCI patients were consistent with those in the normal controls. However, the FCS values of these brain regions were significantly lower in the aMCI patients than those in the normal controls. In comparison to the normal controls, the aMCI patients had significantly decreased FCS values in the bilateral fusiform gyri, lingual gyri, superior occipital gyri, left middle occipital gyrus and postcentral gyrus (the cluster was 389, 230, 187 and 107 voxels, respectively;P<0.05, respectively), and they had decreased trends of FCS values in the bilateral posterior cingulate cortices and right insulas. The correlation analysis with uncorrected conditions showed that the FCS values of the left postcentral gyri were correlatid with the clock drawing test (CDT) scores (r=0.436, P=0.026). Conclusions aMCI mainly attacks the hub regions of brain functional networks. The changes of functional connectivities in aMCI may reflect the early pathophysiologic alterations of AD.