Background: This study was performed to investigate the imaging features of mDIXON-Quant sequence (Philips Healthcare) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) of thigh muscles in patients with stroke-related sarcopenia (SRS). Methods: This prospective case-control study was conducted in 40 patients with SRS, 40 patients without sarcopenia who had a stroke, and 40 healthy volunteers using mDIXON-Quant and 1H-MRS scanning. Skeletal muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and fat fraction (FF) were analyzed. Results: The skeletal muscle FF value was significantly higher (p<0.05) in patients with SRS and on the affected side. The extracellular fat content of the rectus femoris muscle in normal controls was 4× to 10× the intracellular fat content. A significant increase (p<0.05) in intra- and extracellular fat content was detected in the SRS group. The degree of fat content increase in the SRS group was significantly lower (p<0.05) for extracellular fat than intracellular fat, with a ratio of extracellular to intracellular fat content of <4. The intracellular fat content was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the SRS group. A moderate-to-strong positive correlation existed between intracellular fat content (area 1) and muscle fat percentage. The degree of decrease in CSA in the posterior muscle group was significantly greater (p<0.05). Conclusion Thigh muscle CSA significantly decreased in SRS, while FF increased. The intra- and extracellular fat content of the skeletal muscle was significantly increased, especially the intracellular fat content. SRS was confirmed when the ratio of extracellular fat content to intracellular fat content was <4.

This study was aimed to examine the expression and function of Slit/Robo family members in mouse ovary. Real-time PCR was used to assess the mRNA expression levels of Slit/Robo family members, and immunohistochemistry was used to examine the location of Slit2 and Robo1 in the ovary. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Slit2 and Robo1 in early-, middle- and late-phase corpus luteum (CL) were examined by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Blocking agent ROBO1/Fc chimera was used in the luteal cells in vitro to examine the function of Slit/Robo signaling pathway in mouse CL. The results showed that, among the Slit/Robo family members, the expression levels of ligand Slit2 and receptor Robo1 were the highest in mouse ovarian tissue. Moreover, both of them were specifically expressed in mouse luteal cells. Compared with proestrus ovaries, the expression levels of Slit2 and Robo1 mRNA in the ovaries during diestrus were significantly up-regulated (P < 0.01, P < 0.001). The mRNA expression levels of Slit2 and Robo1 in late-phase CL were significantly increased when compared with pregnant CL. Furthermore, blocking Slit/Robo signaling pathway with ROBO1/Fc chimera in the luteal cells in vitro significantly decreased the apoptotic rate of late luteal cells. These results suggest that Slit/Robo family members are mainly expressed in the late-phase CL of ovary and participate in luteal cells apoptosis.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Female ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; physiology ; Luteal Cells ; cytology ; Mice ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; physiology ; Pregnancy ; Receptors, Immunologic ; physiology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficiency of spectral computed tomography (CT) optimal monochromatic images in improving imaging quality of liver vessels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The imaging data of 35 patients with abdominal CT angiography were retrospectively analyzed. Hepatic arteries, portal veins, and hepatic veins were reconstructed with mixed energy (quality check, QC), 70 keV and optimal monochromatic mode. Comparative parameters were analyzed including CT value, image noise (IN), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and subjective qualitative analysis. RESULTS: The optimal monochromatic value for assessment of the common hepatic artery, portal vein, and hepatic vein ranged between 49 keV and 53 keV, with a mean of 51 keV. There were statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) among the optimal monochromatic, 70 keV and QC images with regards to the hepatic vascular CT value, IN, CNR, SNR, and subjective qualitative score. CNR of the common hepatic artery in the optimal monochromatic, 70 keV and QC groups was 24.6 ± 10.9, 18.1 ± 8.3, and 11.6 ± 4.6, respectively (p < 0.001) with subjective scores of 4.7 ± 0.2, 4.0 ± 0.3, and 3.6 ± 0.4, respectively (p < 0.001). CNR of the hepatic portal vein was 6.9 ± 2.7, 4.3 ± 1.9, and 3.0 ± 2.1, respectively (p < 0.001) with subjective scores of 4.5 ± 0.3, 3.9 ± 0.4, and 3.3 ± 0.3, respectively (p < 0.001). CNR of the hepatic vein was 5.7 ± 2.3, 4.2 ± 1.9, and 2.7 ± 1.4, respectively with subjective scores of 4.3 ± 0.3, 3.8 ± 0.4, and 3.2 ± 0.3, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Optimal monochromatic images can lead to improvement in the imaging parameters and optimization of the image quality of the common hepatic artery, hepatic portal vein and hepatic vein compared with conventional mixed kV and with 70 keV datasets.
Angiography ; Dataset ; Hepatic Artery ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Liver ; Noise ; Portal Vein ; Retrospective Studies ; Signal-To-Noise Ratio ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE: Tiny cerebral aneurysms are difficult to embolize because the aneurysm's sac is too small for a single small coil, and coils within the aneurysm may escape from the confinement of a stent. This study was performed to introduce the stent-assisted coil-jailing technique and to investigate its effect on the coil embolization of tiny intracranial aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients with tiny intracranial aneurysms treated with the stent-assisted coil-jailing technique between January 2011 and December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed and followed-up. RESULTS: All aneurysms were successfully treated with the coil-jailing technique, and at the end of embolization, complete occlusion of the aneurysm was achieved in 9 cases (56.3%), incomplete occlusion in 6 (37.5%), and partial occlusion in 1 (6.3%). Intraprocedural complications included acute thrombosis in one case (6.3%) and re-rupture in another (6.3%). Both complications were managed appropriately with no sequela. Follow-up was performed in all patients for 3-24 months (mean, 7.7 months) after embolization. Complete occlusion was sustained in the 9 aneurysms with initial complete occlusion, progressive thrombosis to complete occlusion occurred in the 6 aneurysms with initial near-complete occlusion, and one aneurysm resulted in progressive thrombosis to complete occlusion after initial partial occlusion. No migration of stents or coils occurred at follow-up as compared with their positions immediately after embolization. At follow-up, all patients had recovered with no sequela. CONCLUSION: The stent-assisted coil-jailing technique can be an efficient approach for tiny intracranial aneurysms, even though no definite conclusion regarding its safety can be drawn from the current data.
Adult ; Aged ; Cerebral Angiography ; Embolization, Therapeutic/*instrumentation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm/pathology/*therapy ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome

A 12-week-old baby with a vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VGAM) was successfully treated with performing transarterial microcatheter-directed embolization with Berenstein Liquid Coils and n-butyl cyanoacrylate in the feeding arteries. Post-procedure angiography showed a marked decrease of the blood flow into the dilated vein of Galen. Three months later, follow-up angiography showed that the vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation had totally disappeared, and the baby recovered very well without any sequelae. We report here on this interesting case along with a review of the relevant literature, and we aim to enhance physicians' awareness of the treatment for VGAMs.
Catheterization/*instrumentation ; Cerebral Angiography ; *Cerebral Veins ; Cyanoacrylates/*administration & dosage ; Embolization, Therapeutic/*instrumentation/methods ; Humans ; Infant ; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations/diagnosis/*therapy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of detachable balloons,detachable coils and intracranial covered stents in management of intracranial giant aneurysms.Methods From April 1998 to March 2006,20 patients with a giant or very large aneurysm were treated by parent artery occlusion(PAO), coils embolization and covered stent,in which 9 aneurysms were treated by PAO,8 by coils embolization and 3 by covered stent at initial management.Two recurrent aneurysms treated by coils embolization were performed by covered stent.Follow-up 9-83 months,mean 41.1?25.3 months.Immediate postprocedural angiographic outcomes were categorized as complete occlusion(100%),subtotal occlusion(95%-99%),and incomplete occlusion(＜95%)of the aneurysms;and follow-up angiographic outcomes were categorized as stable, thrombosis,and recanalization.Clinical outcomes were graded according to a modified Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS).Results Endovascular treatment was technically feasible in all aneurysms without procedural-related complications.Immediate postprocedural angiograms showed complete occlusion was achieved in 11 aneurysms, subtotal occlusion in 7 and incomplete occlusion in 2.One patient with incomplete occlusion died on the seventh day with a rebleeding.The final angiographic findings in nineteen survival patients confirmed a complete occlusion in 15 aneurysms,subtotal occlusion in 3 and incomplete occlusion in 1,in which 10 parent arteries were successfully preserved.No rebleeding occurred during the follow-up period.The clinical evaluation performed at final follow-up in 19 patients revealed that the symptoms disappeared in 11 patients and improved in 8 in the modified GOS.Conclusions Treatment of giant intracranial aneurysms with coiling was associated with a low complete occlusion rate and a high recanalization rate.Treatment with endovascular parent artery occlusion remains practical,but this technique may result in damage to the parent artery and cause cerebral ischemic events.The use of an intracranial covered stent proved to be a relatively simple and safe procedure and maintained the pateney of the parent artery.

Objective To investigate the flexibility of both the covered stents specially designed for use in intracranial vasculature and the delivering system in passing through the bone tube and the physiological curves of the cranial internal carotid artery(CICA)to reach the targeted area,the performance (adherence)of the covered stents in occluding vascular wall diseases and the impact on the vascular branches of the covered segment.Methods The covered stents specially designed for use in intracranial vaseulature were used to treat 13 patients with CICA diseases using endovascular techniques.There were 4 huge pseudoaneurysms,4 giant aneurysms,3 small wide-necked aneurysms,1 giant pseudoaneurysm with concurrent internal carotid cavernous fistula(CCF),and 1 CCF.Prior to the detachment of the covered stents,balloon occlusion test(BOT)of the internal carotid artery on the diseased side and whole-brain digital subtraction angiography(DSA)were performed in all the patients.Three to 16 months following procedure,DSA and clinical follow-ups were performed.Results Thirteen patients all tolerated the BOT well with the DSA demonstrating well-opened anterior and posterior communicating arteries.The covered stents and the delivering systems all successfully passed CICA to reach the targeted diseased area,with the diseased segments of the internal carotid artery including C3—C4 in 4 cases,C4—C5 in 4 and C6—C7 in 5.Immediately following the detachment of the covered stents,DSA demonstrated that 7 aneurysms were completely occluded,4 aneurysms had slight endoleak,and 1 CCF had markedly-decreased blood flow through the fistula.In the patient with concurrent pseudoaneurysm and CCF,the pseudoaneurysm disappeared and the blood flow through the fistula was markedly-reduced immediately following the stenting procedure.Apart from one patient with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage who died due to extensive vascular spasm on the 9th day following the stenting procedure,all the other 12 patients had unobstructed stented vessels on the follow-up DSA images,with 2 demonstrating slight stenosis.In the 6 patients with post-procedure endoleak,DSA showed that the endoleak in 4 patients had disappeared,one endoleak disappeared following the second stenting,and one CCF remained low-flow fistula.There was no sequela related to the occlusion of branches in the covered arterial segment.Conclusion The covered stents specially designed for use in the intracranial vasculature and the delivering system are both flexible enough to pass the tortuous CICA to reach the intracranial diseased artery,and are effective in managing CICA diseases.Further follow-up is still needed to determine the long-term effect of the covered stents,and the adherence of the covered stents needs further investigation.