Background. Amide proton transfer (APT) imaging is a novel molecular MRI technique to detect endogenous mobile proteins and peptides through chemical exchange saturation transfer. We prospectively assessed the usefulness of APT imaging in predicting the histological grade of adult diffuse gliomas. Methods. Thirty-six consecutive patients with histopathologically proven diffuse glioma (48.1+14.7 y old, 16 males and 20 females) were included in the study. APT MRI was conducted on a 3T clinical scanner and was obtained with 2 s saturation at 25 saturation frequency offsets v ¼ 26 to +6 ppm (step 0.5 ppm). dB 0 maps were acquired separately for a point-by-point dB 0 correction. APT signal intensity (SI) was defined as magnetization transfer asymmetry at 3.5 ppm: magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) asym ¼ (S [23.5 ppm] 2 S [+3.5 ppm])/S 0. Regions of interest were carefully placed by 2 neuroradiologists in solid parts within brain tumors. The APT SI was compared with World Health Organization grade, Ki-67 labeling index (LI), and cell density. Results. The mean APT SI values were 2.1+0.4% in grade II gliomas (n ¼ 8), 3.2+0.9% in grade III gliomas (n ¼ 10), and 4.1+1.0% in grade IV gliomas (n ¼ 18). Significant differences in APT intensity were observed between grades II and III (P , .05) and grades III and IV (P , .05), as well as between grades II and IV (P , .001). There were positive correlations between APT SI and Ki-67 LI (P ¼ .01, R ¼ 0.43) and between APT SI and cell density (P , .05, R ¼ 0.38). The gliomas with microscopic necrosis showed higher APT SI than those without necrosis (P , .001). Conclusions. APT imaging can predict the histopathological grades of adult diffuse gliomas.

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Optical coherence tomography is a feasible imaging modality in patients with AMI and allows us to identify not only plaque rupture, but also fibrous cap erosion, intracoronary thrombus, and TCFA in vivo more frequently compared with conventional imaging techniques.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:We investigated the relationship between tumor blood-flow measurement based on perfusion imaging by arterial spin-labeling (ASL-PI) and histopathologic findings in brain tumors.

\s=b\In an attempt to devise a screening test for aldosterone\x=req-\ producing adenoma (APA) among hypertensive patients, the serum sodium and potassium levels, plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone concentration, and aldosterone-PRA ratio were measured in 348 patients with hypertension. Nine patients with a substantially elevated aldosterone-PRA ratio were selected and hospitalized for further investigations. All

The mammalian clock genes, Period and Cryptochrome (Cry), regulate circadian rhythm. We show that circadian rhythmicity and rhythmic expression of Period in the nuclei of inflammatory synovial cells and spleen cells are disturbed in mouse models of experimental arthritis. Expressions of other clock genes, Bmal1 and Dbp, are also disturbed in spleen cells by arthritis induction. Deletion of Cry1 and Cry2 results in an increase in the number of activated CD3+ CD69+ T cells and a higher production of TNF-α from spleen cells. When arthritis is induced, Cry1−/−Cry2−/− mice develop maximal exacerbation of joint swelling, and upregulation of essential mediators of arthritis, including TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, and matrix metalloproteinase-3. Wee-1 kinase is solely upregulated in Cry1−/−Cry2−/− mice, in line with upregulation of c-Fos and Wee-1 kinase in human rheumatoid arthritis. The treatment with anti–TNF-α Ab significantly reduced the severity and halted the progression of the arthritis of Cry1−/−Cry2−/− mice and vice versa, ectopic expression of Cry1 in the mouse embryonic fibroblast from Cry1−/−Cry2−/− mice significantly reduced the trans activation of TNF-α gene. Thus, the biological clock and arthritis influence each other, and this interplay can influence human health and disease.

Atorvastatin therapy at 20 mg/day provided a greater increase in fibrous cap thickness in coronary plaques compared with 5 mg/day of atorvastatin. The increase of fibrous cap was associated with the decrease in serum atherogenic lipoproteins and inflammatory biomarkers during atorvastatin therapy. (Effect of Atorvastatin Therapy on Fibrous Cap Thickness in Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaque as Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography: The EASY-FIT Study; NCT00700037).