We evaluated the newly developed whole-brain, isotropic, 3-dimensional turbo spin-echo imaging with variable flip angle echo train (SPACE) for contrast-enhanced T(1)-weighted imaging in detecting brain metastases at 3 tesla (T). Twenty-two patients with suspected brain metastases underwent postcontrast study with SPACE, magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo (MP-RAGE), and 2-dimensional T(1)-weighted spin echo (2D-SE) imaging at 3T. We quantitatively compared SPACE, MP-RAGE, and 2D-SE images by using signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) for gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) for GM-to-WM, lesion-to-GM, and lesion-to-WM. Two blinded radiologists evaluated the detection of brain metastases by segment-by-segment analysis and continuously-distributed test. The CNR between GM and WM was significantly higher on MP-RAGE images than on SPACE images (P<0.01). The CNRs for lesion-to-GM and lesion-to-WM were significantly higher on SPACE images than on MP-RAGE images (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in each sequence in detection of brain metastases by segment-by-segment analysis and the continuously-distributed test. However, in some cases, the lesions were easier to detect in SPACE images than in other sequences, and also the vascular signals, which sometimes mimic lesions in MP-RAGE and 2D-SE images, were suppressed in SPACE images. In detection of brain metastases at 3T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, SPACE imaging may provide an effective, alternative approach to MP-RAGE imaging for 3D T(1)-weighted imaging.

BackgroundDihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) is the key enzyme committed to anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin biosynthesis in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway. DFR proteins can catalyse mainly the three substrates (dihydrokaempferol, dihydroquercetin, and dihydromyricetin), and show different substrate preferences. Although relationships between the substrate preference and amino acids in the region responsible for substrate specificity have been investigated in several plant species, the molecular basis of the substrate preference of DFR is not yet fully understood.ResultsBy using degenerate primers in a PCR, we isolated two cDNA clones that encoded DFR in buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum). Based on sequence similarity, one cDNA clone (FeDFR1a) was identical to the FeDFR in DNA databases (DDBJ/Gen Bank/EMBL). The other cDNA clone, FeDFR2, had a similar sequence to FeDFR1a, but a different exon-intron structure. Linkage analysis in an F2 segregating population showed that the two loci were linked. Unlike common DFR proteins in other plant species, FeDFR2 contained a valine instead of the typical asparagine at the third position and an extra glycine between sites 6 and 7 in the region that determines substrate specificity, and showed less activity against dihydrokaempferol than did FeDFR1a with an asparagine at the third position. Our 3D model suggested that the third residue and its neighbouring residues contribute to substrate specificity. FeDFR1a was expressed in all organs that we investigated, whereas FeDFR2 was preferentially expressed in roots and seeds.ConclusionsWe isolated two buckwheat cDNA clones of DFR genes. FeDFR2 has unique structural and functional features that differ from those of previously reported DFRs in other plants. The 3D model suggested that not only the amino acid at the third position but also its neighbouring residues that are involved in the formation of the substrate-binding pocket play important roles in determining substrate preferences. The unique characteristics of FeDFR2 would provide a useful tool for future studies on the substrate specificity and organ-specific expression of DFRs.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12870-017-1200-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

We aimed to evaluate the radioprotective effect of hydrolyzed rice bran (HRB) on acute gastroenteritis due to chemoradiotherapy for treatment of cervical cancer. This placebo-controlled, double-blind study was conducted as an exploratory investigation of the colitis-inhibiting effects of HRB in alleviating acute-phase gastrointestinal side effects of chemoradiotherapy. The study involved 20 patients (10 in the HRB group, 10 in the control group). The patients in the control group underwent the same chemoradiotherapy regimen as those in the HRB group, but they received a placebo instead of HRB. The diarrheal side effect assessment score was lower in the HRB than control group, and a trend toward a reduction in diarrhea symptoms was observed with the oral intake of HRB. Additionally, no significant difference was observed in the administration of intestinal regulators and antidiarrheal agents, but again the assessment score was lower in the HRB than control group, and diarrhea symptoms were alleviated with the oral intake of HRB. A trend toward no need for strong antidiarrheal agents was seen. Although this study was an exploratory clinical trial, the results suggest that HRB may relieve diarrhea, an acute-phase gastrointestinal side effect of chemoradiotherapy.

The BLADE and PROPELLER (periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction) techniques have been proposed to reduce the effect of head motion. Preliminary results have shown that BLADE also reduces pulsation artifacts from venous sinuses. The purpose of this study was to compare T1-weighted FLAIR acquired with BLADE (T1W-FLAIR BLADE) and T1-weighted spin-echo (T1W-SE) for the detection of contrast enhancement in a phantom and in patients with suspected brain lesions and to compare the degree of flow-related artifacts in the patients. A phantom filled with diluted Gd-DTPA was scanned in addition to 27 patients. In the phantom study, the peak contrast-to-noise ratio of T1W-FLAIR BLADE was larger than that of T1W-SE, and the position of the peak was shifted to a lower concentration. In patients, the degree of flow-related artifacts was significantly higher in T1W-SE. Among the 27 patients, 9 had metastatic tumor, and 18 did not. On a patient-by-patient basis, the sensitivity and specificity for the detection of metastatic lesions on axial T1W-SE were 100% and 55.6% respectively, while on axial T1W-FLAIR BLADE they were 100% and 100%. T1W-FLAIR BLADE seems to be capable of replacing T1W-SE, at least for axial post-contrast imaging to detect brain metastases.

Our previous studies showed that mouse β4-galactosyltransferase 5 (β4GalT5) is a lactosylceramide (Lac-Cer) synthase, and that its gene expression increases by 2- to 3-fold upon malignant transformation of cells. In the present study, we examined whether or not the tumorigenic and metastatic potentials of B16-F10 mouse melanoma cells can be suppressed by reducing the expression of the β4GalT5 gene. We isolated a stable clone named E5 whose β4GalT5 gene expression level was reduced to 35% that of a control clone C1 by transfection of its antisense cDNA. Thin-layer chromatography analysis of glycosphingolipids showed that the amounts of Lac-Cer and ganglioside GM3 are significantly less in clone E5 than in clone C1. Clone C1 and E5 cells were each transplanted subcutaneously or injected intravenously into C57BL/6 mice, and the sizes of tumors and numbers of colonies formed in the lungs were determined. The average tumor size and average number of colonies formed with clone E5 were decreased to 44 and 49%, respectively, of those formed with clone C1. Furthermore, the numbers and sizes of colonies formed in the soft agarose gels, and the volumes of tumors formed in athymic mice with fibroblasts from wild type, heterozygous and homozygous β4GalT5-knockout mouse embryos upon transformation with the polyoma virus oncogene correlated with the β4GalT5 gene dosage. These results strongly indicate that the amounts of Lac-Cer synthesized by β4GalT5 correlate with the tumorigenic potentials of malignantly transformed cells.