PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) and plasma cytokines and angiogenic factors (CAFs) as pharmacodynamic and prognostic biomarkers of bevacizumab monotherapy in colorectal cancer with liver metastasis (CRCLM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 2011 to March 2012, 28 patients with histologically confirmed CRCLM received bevacizumab monotherapy followed by combined FOLFOX therapy. The mean age of the patients was 57 years (range, 30 to 77 years). DCE-MRI (K(trans) and IAUC₆₀) was performed at baseline, first follow-up (3 days after bevacizumab monotherapy), and second follow-up (3 days after combined therapy). CAF levels (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], placental growth factor [PlGF], and interleukin-8) were assessed on the same days. Progression-free survival (PFS) time distributions were summarized using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using log-rank tests. RESULTS: The median PFS period was 11.2 months. K(trans), IAUC₆₀, VEGF, and PlGF values on the first follow-up day were significantly different compared with baseline values. No differences were observed on the second follow-up day. A > 40% decrease in K(trans) from baseline to first follow-up was associated with a longer PFS (hazard ratio, 0.349; 95% confidence interval, 0.133 to 0.912; p=0.032). Changes in CAFs did not show correlation with PFS time. CONCLUSION: DCE-MRI parameters and CAFs are pharmacodynamic biomarkers of bevacizumab for CRCLM. In our study, change in K(trans) at 3 days after bevacizumab monotherapy was a favorable prognostic factor; however, the value of CAFs as a prognostic biomarker was not found.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Bevacizumab* ; Biomarkers ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Cytokines ; Disease-Free Survival ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Methods ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Plasma ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Macrophages play essential roles in innate immune responses by producing various immune mediators. Therefore, modulating macrophage function is an attractive strategy to treat immune disorders. Aralia cordata var. continentalis (AC), known as “Dokwhal” in Korea, possesses various biological and medicinal functions, including immunomodulation. The present study investigated the effect of the hot water extract of AC (HAC) on RAW264.7 murine macrophages. When these cells were treated with HAC, nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression was induced dose-dependently. In addition, HAC treatment triggered the secretion of innate immune cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-6. Phagocytosis, measured by FITC-dextran internalization showed that HAC stimulated the phagocytic activity of macrophages. Furthermore, HAC promoted the production of reactive oxygen species in RAW264.7 cells, determined by CM-H2DCFDA. In addition, the immunoblot analysis of intracellular signaling proteins revealed that NF-kB and MAPK signaling pathways, which are important signaling mediators of inflammation, are upregulated by HAC. In conclusion, these findings suggested that HAC can stimulate macrophage activity, and NF-kB and MAPK signaling pathways might be involved in the immunostimulatory effects of HAC.
Aralia ; Cytokines ; Immune System Diseases ; Immunity, Innate ; Immunomodulation ; Inflammation Mediators ; Interleukin-6 ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Korea ; Macrophages ; NF-kappa B ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Phagocytosis ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Water

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) is a noninvasive imaging technique used to evaluate tissue vascularity/permeability features through consecutive imaging acquisitions after gadolinium-based contrast agent administration. Over the past several decades, techniques and protocols for DCE-MRI have evolved, leading to growing applications of DCE-MRI for different neurological disorders. Although most established applications of DCE-MRI are for studying tumors, an increasing number of studies have been evaluating the use of this technique for neurodegenerative and other miscellaneous diseases. The purpose of this article was to provide an overview of DCE-MRI and its clinical applications in various neurological diseases.

Purpose: Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) gene fusion is a potentially actionable oncogenic driver. The oncoprotein binds to ERBB3-ERBB2 heterodimers and activates downstream signaling, supporting a therapeutic approach for inhibiting ERBB3/ERBB2. However, the frequency and clinicopathological features of solid tumors harboring NRG1 fusions in Korean patients remain largely unknown. Materials and Methods: We reviewed archival data from next-generation sequencing panel tests conducted at a single institution, specifically selecting patients with in-frame fusions that preserved the functional domain. The clinicopathological characteristics of patients harboring NRG1 fusions were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Out of 8,148 patients, NRG1 fusions were identified in 22 patients (0.27%). The average age of the patients was 59 years (range, 32 to 78 years), and the male-to-female ratio was 1:1.2. The lung was the most frequently observed primary site (n=13), followed by the pancreaticobiliary tract (n=3), gastrointestinal tract (n=2, stomach and rectum each), ovary (n=2), breast (n=1), and soft tissue (n=1). Histologically, all tumors demonstrated adenocarcinoma histology, with the exception of one case of sarcoma. CD74 (n=8) and SLC3A2 (n=4) were the most frequently identified fusion partners. Dominant features included the presence of fewer than three co-occurring genetic alterations, a low tumor mutation burden, and low programmed death-ligand 1 expression. Various clinical responses were observed in patients with NRG1 fusions. Conclusion Despite the rarity of NRG1 fusions in Korean patients with solid tumors, identification through next-generation sequencing enables the possibility of new targeted therapies.

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is an emerging magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique capable of quantitatively evaluating the biomechanical properties of tissue. MRE has been widely used in the evaluation of chronic parenchymal liver diseases.However, numerous studies have suggested its applicability in evaluating other organs.The MRE data acquisition process consists of three main steps: 1) generation of mechanical waves in soft tissues; 2) adoption of a modified phase-contrast MRI sequence to capture tissue displacements produced by the propagation of applied waves; and 3) application of an inversion algorithm to transform the wave image into maps of viscoelastic properties. As efforts are made to standardize MRE terminology and protocols, more extensive clinical investigations using MRE are expected in the future.

Objective: The quantitative assessment of spinal cord volume is still in the early stages of development. Recently, normative morphometric values of the cervical spinal cord have been reported. This study aimed to establish normative values for spinal cord morphometry, extending beyond the cervical region to include the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord, and to examine the influence of sex and ethnicity on these measurements. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 28 young, healthy, East Asian volunteers (14 males and 14 females;mean age, 30.14 ± 4.07 years) who underwent spinal cord MRI using a 3T scanner. The cross-sectional areas (CSAs), anteroposterior (AP) and transverse diameters, and compression ratios of the entire spinal cord were calculated. Additionally, the effects of sex and ethnicity on spinal cord volumetry were evaluated, with the influence of ethnicity assessed by comparing the findings with a Caucasian dataset from the PAM50 study. Results: The CSAs demonstrated two enlargements at the cervical and lumbar levels. The cervical enlargement at C4–5 exhibited an elliptical shape, while the lumbar enlargement at T12 appeared more circular. The CSAs and AP and transverse diameters of the spinal cords in males were significantly larger than that of females (P < 0.001). The spinal cord compression ratios in East Asians were significantly lower than those in Caucasians (P < 0.001). Conclusion This study revealed that the two spinal cord enlargements exhibit different patterns and suggest significant differences in spinal cord morphometric values according to sex and ethnicity.

The spinal cord is a complex and densely packed structure of nerve tissue, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an excellent imaging modality for evaluating its pathologies. Among the distinct functional zones of the spinal cord, the dorsal (or posterior) column is a crucial white matter region responsible for transmitting sensory information and is located in the posterior aspect of the spinal cord. Myelopathies of the dorsal column typically appear as high signal intensity in this region on T2-weighted images. They may arise from several pathological processes, including degenerative, metabolic, inflammatory, infectious, and traumatic conditions. Identifying the specific etiology through characteristic MRI features, along with the patient’s clinical presentation, is crucial for developing an effective treatment plan and understanding the prognosis of sensory abnormalities. This study reviews myelopathies that specifically affect the dorsal column and outlines the MRI findings that aid in the differential diagnosis of these dorsal column lesions.

Objective: The quantitative assessment of spinal cord volume is still in the early stages of development. Recently, normative morphometric values of the cervical spinal cord have been reported. This study aimed to establish normative values for spinal cord morphometry, extending beyond the cervical region to include the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord, and to examine the influence of sex and ethnicity on these measurements. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 28 young, healthy, East Asian volunteers (14 males and 14 females;mean age, 30.14 ± 4.07 years) who underwent spinal cord MRI using a 3T scanner. The cross-sectional areas (CSAs), anteroposterior (AP) and transverse diameters, and compression ratios of the entire spinal cord were calculated. Additionally, the effects of sex and ethnicity on spinal cord volumetry were evaluated, with the influence of ethnicity assessed by comparing the findings with a Caucasian dataset from the PAM50 study. Results: The CSAs demonstrated two enlargements at the cervical and lumbar levels. The cervical enlargement at C4–5 exhibited an elliptical shape, while the lumbar enlargement at T12 appeared more circular. The CSAs and AP and transverse diameters of the spinal cords in males were significantly larger than that of females (P < 0.001). The spinal cord compression ratios in East Asians were significantly lower than those in Caucasians (P < 0.001). Conclusion This study revealed that the two spinal cord enlargements exhibit different patterns and suggest significant differences in spinal cord morphometric values according to sex and ethnicity.

Objective: The quantitative assessment of spinal cord volume is still in the early stages of development. Recently, normative morphometric values of the cervical spinal cord have been reported. This study aimed to establish normative values for spinal cord morphometry, extending beyond the cervical region to include the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord, and to examine the influence of sex and ethnicity on these measurements. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 28 young, healthy, East Asian volunteers (14 males and 14 females;mean age, 30.14 ± 4.07 years) who underwent spinal cord MRI using a 3T scanner. The cross-sectional areas (CSAs), anteroposterior (AP) and transverse diameters, and compression ratios of the entire spinal cord were calculated. Additionally, the effects of sex and ethnicity on spinal cord volumetry were evaluated, with the influence of ethnicity assessed by comparing the findings with a Caucasian dataset from the PAM50 study. Results: The CSAs demonstrated two enlargements at the cervical and lumbar levels. The cervical enlargement at C4–5 exhibited an elliptical shape, while the lumbar enlargement at T12 appeared more circular. The CSAs and AP and transverse diameters of the spinal cords in males were significantly larger than that of females (P < 0.001). The spinal cord compression ratios in East Asians were significantly lower than those in Caucasians (P < 0.001). Conclusion This study revealed that the two spinal cord enlargements exhibit different patterns and suggest significant differences in spinal cord morphometric values according to sex and ethnicity.

Objective: The quantitative assessment of spinal cord volume is still in the early stages of development. Recently, normative morphometric values of the cervical spinal cord have been reported. This study aimed to establish normative values for spinal cord morphometry, extending beyond the cervical region to include the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord, and to examine the influence of sex and ethnicity on these measurements. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 28 young, healthy, East Asian volunteers (14 males and 14 females;mean age, 30.14 ± 4.07 years) who underwent spinal cord MRI using a 3T scanner. The cross-sectional areas (CSAs), anteroposterior (AP) and transverse diameters, and compression ratios of the entire spinal cord were calculated. Additionally, the effects of sex and ethnicity on spinal cord volumetry were evaluated, with the influence of ethnicity assessed by comparing the findings with a Caucasian dataset from the PAM50 study. Results: The CSAs demonstrated two enlargements at the cervical and lumbar levels. The cervical enlargement at C4–5 exhibited an elliptical shape, while the lumbar enlargement at T12 appeared more circular. The CSAs and AP and transverse diameters of the spinal cords in males were significantly larger than that of females (P < 0.001). The spinal cord compression ratios in East Asians were significantly lower than those in Caucasians (P < 0.001). Conclusion This study revealed that the two spinal cord enlargements exhibit different patterns and suggest significant differences in spinal cord morphometric values according to sex and ethnicity.