Overexpression of the aldo-keto reductase family protein AKR1B10 is highly correlated with smokers' non-small cell lung carcinomas.

PURPOSE: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma of the lung are currently subject to similar treatment regimens despite distinct differences in histology and epidemiology. The aim of this study is to identify a molecular target with diagnostic and therapeutic values for SCC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Genes specifically up-regulated in SCC were explored through microarray analysis of 5 SCCs, 5 adenocarcinomas, 10 small cell lung carcinomas, 27 normal tissues, and 40 cancer cell lines. Clinical usefulness of these genes was subsequently examined mainly by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: Seven genes, including aldo-keto reductase family 1, member B10 (AKR1B10), were identified as SCC-specific genes. AKR1B10 was further examined by immunohistochemical analysis of 101 non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) and its overexpression was observed in 27 of 32 (84.4%) SCCs and 19 of 65 (29.2%) adenocarcinomas. Multiple regression analysis showed that smoking was an independent variable responsible for AKR1B10 overexpression in NSCLCs (P < 0.01) and adenocarcinomas (P < 0.01). AKR1B10 staining was occasionally observed even in squamous metaplasia, a precancerous lesion of SCC. CONCLUSION: AKR1B10 was overexpressed in most cases with SCC, which is closely associated with smoking, and many adenocarcinoma cases of smokers. These results suggest that AKR1B10 is a potential diagnostic marker specific to smokers' NSCLCs and might be involved in tobacco-related carcinogenesis.     

Non-invasive MR thermography using the water proton chemical shift.

Among various proton magnetic resonance (MR) parameters, such as longitudinal relaxation time, transverse relaxation time, diffusion coefficient and chemical shift, the chemical shift of water protons is recognized as the most reliable indicator of temperature. The chemical shift is the only frequency-based parameter and is independent of the other parameters, which are measured based on the intensity of the MR signal. In this paper, the basic principle and the recent progress in imaging temperature by spectroscopic techniques using the water proton chemical shift are discussed. The advantages of spectroscopic imaging over phase mapping for measuring temperature are that the former can distinguish water resonance from other resonances, and that another resonance can be used as an internal reference to reduce the effects of external magnetic field instability, tissue susceptibility and inter-scan tissue movement or deformation. Methods utilizing various magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) techniques, such as single voxel spectroscopy, conventional magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI), echo planar spectroscopic imaging (EPSI) and line scan echo planar spectroscopic imaging (LSEPSI) are discussed.     

The B-Mode Image-Guided Ultrasound Attenuation Parameter Accurately Detects Hepatic Steatosis in Chronic Liver Disease

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the ultrasound-guided attenuation parameter (UGAP) for the detection of hepatic steatosis in comparison with the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), using histopathology as the reference standard. We prospectively analyzed 163 consecutive chronic liver disease patients who underwent UGAP, CAP, computed tomography and a liver biopsy on the same day between April 2016 and July 2017. Radiofrequency signals corresponding to the images were compensated by the reference signal previously measured from the uniform phantom with known attenuation (0.44 dB/cm/MHz). The attenuation coefficient was calculated from the signals’ decay slope. The median attenuation coefficient values in patients with S0 (n?=?62), S1 (n?=?63), S2 (n?=?23) and S3 grade (n?=?15) were 0.485, 0.560, 0.660 and 0.720, respectively. Significant correlations were found between attenuation coefficient and percentage steatosis, CAP values and liver-to-spleen computed tomography attenuation ratio (p < 0.001). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of UGAP for identifying ≥S1, ≥S2 and ≥S3 were 0.900, 0.953 and 0.959, respectively, which were significantly better than the results obtained with CAP for identifying ≥S2 and ≥S3. In conclusion, UGAP had high diagnostic accuracy for detecting hepatic steatosis in patients with chronic liver disease