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Zhang W, Tao Y, Huang Z, Li Y, Chen Y, Song T, Ma X, Zhang Y. Multi-phase features interaction transformer network for liver tumor segmentation and microvascular invasion assessment in contrast-enhanced CT. MATHEMATICAL BIOSCIENCES AND ENGINEERING : MBE 2024; 21:5735-5761. [PMID: 38872556 DOI: 10.3934/mbe.2024253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Precise segmentation of liver tumors from computed tomography (CT) scans is a prerequisite step in various clinical applications. Multi-phase CT imaging enhances tumor characterization, thereby assisting radiologists in accurate identification. However, existing automatic liver tumor segmentation models did not fully exploit multi-phase information and lacked the capability to capture global information. In this study, we developed a pioneering multi-phase feature interaction Transformer network (MI-TransSeg) for accurate liver tumor segmentation and a subsequent microvascular invasion (MVI) assessment in contrast-enhanced CT images. In the proposed network, an efficient multi-phase features interaction module was introduced to enable bi-directional feature interaction among multiple phases, thus maximally exploiting the available multi-phase information. To enhance the model's capability to extract global information, a hierarchical transformer-based encoder and decoder architecture was designed. Importantly, we devised a multi-resolution scales feature aggregation strategy (MSFA) to optimize the parameters and performance of the proposed model. Subsequent to segmentation, the liver tumor masks generated by MI-TransSeg were applied to extract radiomic features for the clinical applications of the MVI assessment. With Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, a clinical multi-phase contrast-enhanced CT abdominal dataset was collected that included 164 patients with liver tumors. The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed MI-TransSeg was superior to various state-of-the-art methods. Additionally, we found that the tumor mask predicted by our method showed promising potential in the assessment of microvascular invasion. In conclusion, MI-TransSeg presents an innovative paradigm for the segmentation of complex liver tumors, thus underscoring the significance of multi-phase CT data exploitation. The proposed MI-TransSeg network has the potential to assist radiologists in diagnosing liver tumors and assessing microvascular invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wencong Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yuxi Tao
- Department of Radiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Zhanyao Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou, China
| | - Yue Li
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingjia Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou, China
| | - Tengfei Song
- Department of Radiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Xiangyuan Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou, China
| | - Yaqin Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou, China
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Meher MK, Unnikrishnan BS, Tripathi DK, Packirisamy G, Poluri KM. Baicalin functionalized PEI-heparin carbon dots as cancer theranostic agent. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:126846. [PMID: 37717866 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
The worldwide prevalence of cancer and its significantly rising risks with age have garnered the attention of nanotechnology for prompt detection and effective therapy with minimal or no adverse effects. In the current study, heparin (HP) polymer derived heteroatom (N, S-) co-doped CDs were synthesized using hydrothermal synthesis method to efficiently deliver natural anticancer compound baicalin (BA). Heparin carbon dots (HCDs) were passivated with polyethylenimine (PEI) to improve its fluorescence quantum yield. The surface passivation of CDs by polycationic PEI polymer not only facilitated loading of BA, but also played a crucial role in the pH-responsive drug delivery. The sustained release of BA (up to 80 %) in mildly acidic pH (5.5 and 6.5) conditions endorsed its drug delivery potential for cancer-specific microenvironments. BA-loaded PHCDs exhibited enhanced anticancer activity as compared to BA/PHCDs indicating the effectiveness of the nanoformulation, Furthermore, the flow cytometry analysis confirmed that BA-PHCDs treated cells were arrested in the G2/M phase of cell cycle and had a higher potential for apoptosis. Bioimaging study demonstrated the excellent cell penetration efficiency of PHCDs with complete cytoplasmic localization. All this evidence comprehensively demonstrates the potency of BA-loaded PHCDs as a nanotheranostic agent for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukesh Kumar Meher
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - B S Unnikrishnan
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Deepak Kumar Tripathi
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Gopinath Packirisamy
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, Uttarakhand, India; Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Krishna Mohan Poluri
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, Uttarakhand, India; Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, Uttarakhand, India.
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Qi Y, Li W, Fang J, Xiang Y, Zhu M, Zhang X, Ma X, Wang Q, Zhan J, Yu D. Application and mechanism of manganese-coated caramelization nanospheres for active targeting in hepatobiliary tumors. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2019; 14:2973-2985. [PMID: 31793384 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2018-0272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To elucidate the MRI mechanisms of manganese oxide-coated carbohydration nanosphere (Mn@CNS) for active targeting in hepatobiliary tumors. Materials & methods: The cytotoxicity, internalization pathway, metabolism and excretion pathway of Mn@CNS were assessed by several cell types. The MRI of Mn@CNS was verified via rat models bearing hepatobiliary tumors. Results: Mn@CNS showed no obvious cytotoxicity. Mice macrophage and hepatocellular Mn content significantly differed between pre- and post-uptake levels (p < 0.01). The animal experiment revealed fine T1 imaging of hepatobiliary tumors with peak enhancement at 3 h. Mn@CNS was metabolized within the cells and excreted mainly via feces. Conclusion: Mn@CNS is safe, biodegradable, and may serve as a new strategy for active target imaging and treatment applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafei Qi
- Department of Radiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Wenqin Li
- Department of Radiology, Taian Rongjun Hospital of Shandong Province, Taian 271000, PR China
| | - Jiayang Fang
- Department of Radiology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital & Chongqing Cancer Institute & Chongqing Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, 400030, PR China
| | - Ying Xiang
- Department of Radiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Mingquan Zhu
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, PR China
| | - Xiaoming Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Xiangxing Ma
- Department of Radiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Qing Wang
- Department of Radiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Jinhua Zhan
- National Engineering Research Center for Colloidal Materials, Key Laboratory for Colloid & Interface Chemistry of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, PR China
| | - Dexin Yu
- Department of Radiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
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Ding Y, Fang A, Yan J, Duan J, Wang N, Yi Y, Shen C. Selective downregulation of distinct circRNAs in the tissues and plasma of patients with primary hepatic carcinoma. Oncol Lett 2019; 18:5255-5268. [PMID: 31612035 PMCID: PMC6781726 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2019.10908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple studies have indicated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are closely associated with malignant tumor development and metastasis. However, the significance of circRNAs in primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC), particularly in the plasma, remains largely undetermined. In the current study, circRNA expression profiles in three pairs of tumor and adjacent normal samples from patients with PHC, were examined using circRNA chip screening. A total of 80 circRNAs were upregulated, while 75 circRNAs were downregulated in PHC tissues, relative to para-tumor tissues (fold change, ≥1.5). A total of two upregulated circRNAs and three downregulated circRNAs were selected as candidates for further validation of their differential expression. This was performed using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR with 11 pairs of PHC tissues and para-tumor tissues. The results indicated that hsa_circ_0003056 exhibited reduced expression in PHC tissues. Moreover, hsa_circ_0003056 and hsa_circ_0067127 were quantified in the plasma samples of 35 PHC patients and 32 healthy donors. The results revealed that hsa_circ_0067127 was significantly downregulated in the patients' plasma. Finally, a competing endogenous RNA network was constructed, which consisted of one circRNA (hsa_circ_0003056 or has_circ_0067127), five miRNAs and miRNA-targeted genes (mRNAs). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis indicated that differentially expressed (DE) genes were significantly enriched in the pathway associated with ‘regulation of the pluripotency of stem cells’ for hsa_circ_0003056, and ‘ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis’ and ‘prostate cancer’ for hsa_circ_0067127. Gene ontology analysis revealed that DE genes were primarily associated with the ‘modulation of kinase activity’ and ‘intracellular and transmembrane-ephrin receptor activity’ for hsa_circ_0003056, ‘artery morphogenesis activity’, ‘HOPS complex and transferase activity’ and in ‘transferring acyl groups’ for hsa_circ_0067127. This approach indicated that hsa_circ_0003056 in PHC tissue, and hsa_circ_0067127 in PHC plasma, are downregulated and may be implicated in the tumorigenesis of PHC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Ding
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210003, P.R. China.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, P.R. China
| | - Anning Fang
- Department of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical College, Hefei, Anhui 230601, P.R. China
| | - Jialai Yan
- Department of Medical Technology, Anhui Medical College, Hefei, Anhui 230601, P.R. China
| | - Jie Duan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210003, P.R. China
| | - Nianyue Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210003, P.R. China
| | - Yongxiang Yi
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210003, P.R. China
| | - Chuanlai Shen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, P.R. China
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