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Porcine circovirus-like virus (Po-Circo-like virus, PCLV), as a recently discovered virus, may be associated with diarrhea in pigs. To investigate the epidemic profile and genetic characteristics of the virus, one hundred and seventy-five clinical samples (141 intestinal samples, 17 blood samples and 17 fecal samples) were collected from diseased piglets during outbreaks of diarrhea on 33 pig farms in 19 cities of Henan and Shanxi Provinces of China between 2016 and 2021, and were screened by PCR for the presence of PCLV. The results showed that 32% (56/175) of diarrheal piglets were positive for PCLV, and 60.6% (20/33) of the pig farms and 57.9% (11/19) of the cities were positive for PCLV, which varied from 5.88–44.12% between 2016 and 2021. It was also found that PCLV might be co-infected with PRRSV, PCV2, PCV3, PCV4, and PEDV, but no nucleic acids were detected for TGEV, PDCoV and PRoV in piglets with diarrhea. Notably, only PCLV was detected in 13 diarrheal piglets from four of these farms, whereas other pathogens were negative. The findings suggest that PCLV has been circulating in piglets in Henan and Shanxi Provinces of China, and may be a diarrheal virus. The complete genomes of thirteen PCLV strains were sequenced, and these strains shared 35.4–91.0% genome nucleotide identity with those available in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the 13 PCLV strains in this study were clustered in Group 1, which closely related to 8 Chinese PCLV strains, Bo-Circo-like virus CH, two American strains 21 and 22, and two Hungary strains 288_4 and 302_4, but differed genetically from 7 other foreign PCLV strains. In addition, the whole genome and Rep gene of 13 PCLV strains in this study were 72.2% − 82% and 83.8% − 89.7% identity with those of Bo-Circo-like virus CH strain respectively, which provided further evidence for the hypothesis that PCLV is a novel virus in pigs that may be involved in cross-species transmission. Furthermore, a cross-recombination event was found in the genome and Rep region of the sequenced 13 PCLV strains. This research enriched the epidemiological data of PCLV infection in pigs in China and laid a foundation for further study on the pathogenesis of PCLV.

Background Micronodular thymic tumors with lymphoid stroma include micronodular thymoma with lymphoid stroma (MNT) and micronodular thymic carcinoma with lymphoid hyperplasia (MNC), whose micromorphological features are lymphoid stromal hyperplasia and nodular arrangement of tumor epithelial cells. This type of tumor is rare; therefore, the corresponding clinical guidelines, histopathological diagnostic criteria, prognostic factors, and therapeutic regimens have not been established. Case summary This study covers a novel presentation of MNC in a patient and summarizes the clinicopathological characteristics of this type of tumor by using pooled-analysis methods. Morphologically, this tumor type is a series of benign to malignant pedigrees. We establish the following criteria for the classification of micronodular thymic tumors with lymphoid stroma: (1) Tumor cells with moderate-to-severe dysplasia; (2) Tumor cell mitotic figures > 2/10 high-power fields; (3) Appearance of neoplastic necrosis; (4) No terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-positive immature T lymphocytes within the tumor; (5) Tumor cells with a Ki-67 index ≥ 10%; and (6) Tumor cells express CD5. Cases that fall into the borders of two categories in terms of morphology are attributed to atypical MNT. It is proposed that the diagnosis of MNT should be established on the diagnostic criteria mentioned above. Conclusion Our diagnostic algorithm can effectively distinguish malignant tumors from benign tumors and provides a potent basis for predicting a prognosis, which offers a practical reference for oncologists and pathologists.

Cisplatin is the most widely used anticancer drug, but its side effects limit the maximum systemic dose. To circumvent the side effects, a DNA tetrahedron–affibody nanoparticle was prepared by combination of a DNA chain with cisplatin via interstrand crosslinks or adducts. Each nanocarrier can bind ∼68 molecules of cisplatin. This cisplatin nanoparticle exhibited high selectivity and inhibition for breast cancer HER2 overexpressing cells BT474 and lower toxicity in MCF-7 cells with low HER2 expression. The nano-drug inhibited the growth of BT474 cells by 94.57% at 512 nM (containing 33.3 μM cisplatin), which was higher than that of cisplatin (82.9%, 33.3 μM).

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is a novel swine enteropathogenic coronavirus that causes watery diarrhea and induces proinflammatory cytokine responses in piglets. Our previous research showed that the specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chicks exhibited mild diarrhea and low fecal viral shedding, along with cecum lesions after PDCoV infection. Disturbances in the homeostasis of the gut microbiota have been associated with various diseases. We aimed to explore the effects of PDCoV infection on chick gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acid (SCFAs) production, and inflammatory cytokine expression in chicks, and also to investigate the relationship between gut microbiota and SCFAs or inflammatory cytokine expression of the PDCoV-infected chicks. Results obtained using 16S rRNA sequencing showed that infection with PDCoV strain HNZK-02 significantly altered the composition of chick gut microbiota, with the reduced abundance of Eisenbergiella and Anaerotruncus genera at 5 days post-inoculation (dpi) (P < 0.05), and an increased abundance of Alistipes genus at 17 dpi (P < 0.05). The production of SCFAs in the cecum of PDCoV HNZK-02–infected chicks, including acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid, decreased in all cases. The expression of inflammatory cytokines (interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-10) was increased in the cecum tissue and serum of the PDCoV HNZK-02–infected chicks when detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Further analysis showed significant correlation between bacterial genera and SCFAs or inflammatory cytokines expression in cecum of the PDCoV infected chicks. These findings might provide new insight into the pathology and physiology of PDCoV in chicks.

Objective: To explore the effect of Atorvastatin Combined with trimetazidine on oxidative stress, hemorheology and NT-proBNP and hs-CRP in patients with coronary heart disease. Method: A total of 84 patients with coronary heart disease were admitted in our hospital from February 2015 to February 2017 were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group, each group with 42 cases. The two groups received routine treatment of coronary heart disease, while the control group was treated with atorvastatin and the observation group was treated with Atorvastatin Combined with trimetazidine. Both groups were treated continuously for one month. The levels of oxidative stress indexes (SOD), malondialdehyde, (MDA), blood rheology indexes (ESR, whole blood hyposhear viscosity, whole blood hypershear viscosity, plasma viscosity, Fibrinogen (Fib) and serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), hypersensitive C reaction protein (hs-CRP) index in two groups were compared analytically. Results: Before treatment, there was no significant difference between the observation group and the control group in terms of oxidative stress, blood rheology and NT-proBNP and hs-CRP index. Compared with before treatment, the level of SOD in observation group and the control group was significantly increased and MDA significantly decreased. While the level of SOD in observation group was significantly higher than the control group, and MDA level was significantly lower than the control group after treatment. Compared with before treatment, the levels of hemorheology indexes included ESR, whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity and Fib in observation group and control group were significantly decreased. After treatment, the levels of ESR, whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity and Fib in the observation group were significantly lower than the control group. Compared with before treatment, the levels of NT-proBNP and hs-CRP in the observation group and control group were significantly decreased. After treatment, the levels of NT-proBNP and hs-CRP in the observation group were significantly lower than the control group,there was significantly statistical difference. Conclusion: Atorvastatin combined with trimetazidine can significantly reduce oxidative stress, restore normal blood rheology, and improve levels of NT-proBNP and hs-CRP in patients with coronary heart disease. This treatment is worthy of clinical promotion.

A series of mesostructured SBA-16 materials with different morphologies were prepared by templating method using triblock copolymer pluronic F127 (EO 106 PO 70 EO 106 ) as surfactant and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as silicon source. The influences of inorganic salt KCl and the synthesis temperature (temperature of the synthesis process before hydrothermal treatment) from 25 to 55 °C on the morphologies of SBA-16 materials were also investigated. The obtained materials were characterized by various techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N 2 adsorption–desorption, UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectrum (UV–vis DRS), H 2 temperature-programmed reduction (H 2 -TPR), Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) measurements. The SAXS, SEM and TEM results demonstrated that the SBA-16 materials possessed a body-centred cubic Im3m mesostructure. Five kinds of morphologies were found for the as-prepared SBA-16 materials, while sphere SBA-16 particles were obtained at the synthesis temperatures of 25 °C and 30 °C; mixed states of decahedral together with sphere were obtained at 38 °C; decahedral together with dodecahedral was obtained at 45 °C; hexagonal prisms was obtained at 50 °C; and tetrakaidecahedron was obtained at 55 °C. Moreover, aluminium isopropoxide was incorporated into the SBA-16 materials with a Si/Al molar ratio of 20 through the post-synthesized method, and the corresponding hydrodesulfurization (HDS) activities of NiMo supported catalysts on dibenzothiophene (DBT) were also performed in a micro reactor at T =340 °C and P =4 MPa with different weight hourly space velocities (WHSV). These NiMo catalysts were denoted as NiMo/S-x. S referred to Al modified SBA-16 supports, and x signified the synthesis temperatures from 25 to 55 °C. The synthesis mechanism of SBA-16 exhibiting different morphologies was proposed. Meanwhile, the DBT (500 ppm) HDS performance over NiMo/S-50 catalyst exhibited the highest conversion of 95.2% at the WHSV of 20 h −1 .

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a major cause of Japanese encephalitisis, is an arbovirus that belongs to the genus Flavivirus of the family Flaviviridae. Currently, there is no effective drugs available for the treatment of JEV infection. Therefore, it is important to establish efficient antiviral screening system for the development of antiviral drugs. In this study, we constructed a full-length infectious clone of eGFP-JEV reporter virus by inserting the eGFP gene into the capsid-coding region of the viral genome. The reporter virus RNA transfected-BHK-21 cells generated robust eGFP fluorescence signals that were correlated well with viral replication. The reporter virus displayed growth kinetics similar to wild type (WT) virus although replicated a little slower. Using a known JEV inhibitor, NITD008, we demonstrated that the reporter virus could be used to identify inhibitors against JEV. Furthermore, an eGFP-JEV-based high throughput screening (HTS) assay was established in a 96-well format and used for screening of 1,443 FDA-approved drugs. Sixteen hit drugs were identified to be active against JEV. Among them, five compounds which are lonafarnib, cetylpyridinium chlorid, cetrimonium bromide, nitroxoline and hexachlorophene, are newly discovered inhibitors of JEV, providing potential new therapies for treatment of JEV infection., Highlights • The eGFP-JEV reporter virus was established. • The eGFP-JEV -based high throughput screening (HTS) assay was developed with a calculated Z′ factor of >0.5. • A library of 1,443 FDA-approved drugs was screened to determine their ability to inhibit JEV infection using this HTS assay. • 5 novel hit drugs were identified to be active against JEV infection.

Here, we describe a cell culture-based procedure for isolating the infectious ZIKV (GenBank KU963796) from a human serum sample (ca. 50 μL) with an extremely low viral load (Ct value = 32).

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that causes epidemics of encephalitis and viscerotropic disease worldwide. This virus has spread rapidly and has posed a significant public health threat since the outbreak in New York City in 1999. The interferon (IFN)-mediated antiviral response represents an important component of virus-host interactions and plays an essential role in regulating viral replication. Previous studies have suggested that multifunctional nonstructural proteins encoded by flaviviruses antagonize the host IFN response via various means in order to establish efficient viral replication. In this study, we demonstrated that the nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) of WNV antagonizes IFN-β production, most likely through suppression of retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-like receptor (RLR) activation. In a dual-luciferase reporter assay, WNV NS1 significantly inhibited the activation of the IFN-β promoter after Sendai virus infection or poly(I·C) treatment. NS1 also suppressed the activation of the IFN-β promoter when it was stimulated by interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3)/5D or its upstream molecules in the RLR signaling pathway. Furthermore, NS1 blocked the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of IRF3 upon stimulation by various inducers. Mechanistically, WNV NS1 targets RIG-I and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) by interacting with them and subsequently causing their degradation by the proteasome. Furthermore, WNV NS1 inhibits the K63-linked polyubiquitination of RIG-I, thereby inhibiting the activation of downstream sensors in the RLR signaling pathway. Taken together, our results reveal a novel mechanism by which WNV NS1 interferes with the host antiviral response. IMPORTANCE WNV Nile virus (WNV) has received increased attention since its introduction to the United States. However, the pathogenesis of this virus is poorly understood. This study demonstrated that the nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) of WNV antagonizes the induction of interferon beta (IFN-β) by interacting with and degrading retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5), which are crucial viral sensors in the host innate immune system. Further experiments suggested that NS1-mediated inhibition of the RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) signaling pathway involves inhibition of RIG-I K63-linked polyubiquitination and that the proteasome plays a role in RIG-I degradation. This study provides new insights into the regulation of WNV NS1 in the RLR signaling pathway and reveals a novel mechanism by which WNV evades the host innate immune response. The novel findings may guide us to discover new therapeutic targets and develop effective vaccines for WNV infections.

Flavivirus nonstructural protein 2B (NS2B) is a transmembrane protein that functions as a cofactor for viral NS3 protease. The cytoplasmic region (amino acids 51 to 95) alone of NS2B is sufficient for NS3 protease activity, whereas the role of transmembrane domains (TMDs) remains obscure. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that flavivirus NS2B plays a critical role in virion assembly. Using Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) as a model, we performed a systematic mutagenesis at the flavivirus conserved residues within the TMDs of NS2B. As expected, some mutations severely attenuated (L38A and R101A) or completely destroyed (G12L) viral RNA synthesis. Interestingly, two mutations (G37L and P112A) reduced viral RNA synthesis and blocked virion assembly. None of the mutations affected NS2B-NS3 protease activity. Because mutations G37L and P112A affected virion assembly, we selected revertant viruses for these two mutants. For mutant G37L, replacement with G37F, G37H, G37T, or G37S restored virion assembly. For mutant P112A, insertion of K at position K127 (leading to K127KK) of NS2B rescued virion assembly. A biomolecular fluorescent complementation (BiFC) analysis demonstrated that (i) mutation P112A selectively weakened NS2B-NS2A interaction and (ii) the adaptive mutation K127KK restored NS2B-NS2A interaction. Collectively, our results demonstrate that, in addition to being a cofactor for NS3 protease, flavivirus NS2B also functions in viral RNA replication, as well as virion assembly. IMPORTANCE Many flaviviruses are important human pathogens. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of the viral infection cycle is essential for vaccine and antiviral development. In this study, we demonstrate that the TMDs of JEV NS2B participate in both viral RNA replication and virion assembly. A viral genetic study and a BiFC assay demonstrated that interaction between NS2B and NS2A may participate in modulating viral assembly in the flavivirus life cycle. Compensatory-mutation analysis confirmed that there was a correlation between viral assembly and NS2B-NS2A interaction. TMDs of NS2B may serve as novel antiviral targets to prevent flavivirus infection, and the structure determination of NS2B will help us to understand the functional mechanism of NS2B in viral RNA replication and assembly. The results have uncovered a new function of flavivirus NS2B in virion assembly, possibly through interaction with the NS2A protein.

Discovery of an association between gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) has led to less use of GBCA-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in dialysis patients and patients with severe renal failure at risk of NSF, and the virtual elimination of new cases of NSF. But shifting patients with renal failure to alternative imaging methods may subject patients to other risks (e.g., ionizing radiation or iodinated contrast). This review paper examines 370 NSF cases reported in 98 articles to analyze NSF risk factors. Eliminating multiple risk factors by limiting GBCA dose to a maximum of 0.1 mmol/kg, dialyzing patients undergoing dialysis quickly following GBCA administration, delaying GBCA in acute renal failure until after renal function returns or dialysis is initiated, and avoiding nonionic linear GBCA in patients with renal failure especially when there are proinflammatory conditions may substantially reduce the risk of NSF.

Objective: To observe the accuracy of computer-assisted navigation (CAN) in cervical pedicle screw installation and to analyze the reasons for screw malposition. Methods: From October 2004 to December 2009, 144 cervical pedicle screws were installed in 25 patients with cervical spinal diseases using CAN. Screw position and direction were measured on sagittal and transection images from intraoperative navigation and postoperative CTs. Results: Among 144 screws inserted from C3 to C7, two perforated the upper pedicle wall and three deviated from the lateral pedicle wall. The rate of accurate cervical pedicle screw placement with CAN was 96.5% (139/144) in our group. There was no statistical difference in the position and direction of the pedicle screws according to navigation images and CT scans. Conclusion: CAN can result in high accuracy of cervical pedicle installation. The excursion phenomenon is responsible for malposition of pedicle screws. Only by understanding the navigational principles of CAN and the characteristics of cervical spinal surgery, together with personal experience, can good use be made of CAN.

Purpose To identify changes in vascular morphology on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with cirrhosis and to compare these findings to liver donors. Materials and Methods Patients undergoing liver transplantation with biopsy-proven cirrhosis (n = 74) and liver donor candidates (n = 85) underwent dynamic gadolinium-enhanced 3D MR at 1.5T. Vessel diameters were measured independently by three radiologists and features of cirrhosis were identified and correlated with cirrhosis. Results Hepatic veins were smaller in patients with cirrhosis (4.9, 4.5, and 5.0 mm for right, middle, and left vs. 9.9, 7.6, and 8.9 mm in donors, P ≪ 0.001) and were negatively correlated with cirrhosis (P < 0.001). Right hepatic vein (RHV)

Flavivirus NS4A and NS4B are important membrane proteins for viral replication that are assumed to serve as the scaffold for the formation of replication complexes. We previously demonstrated that a single Lys-to-Arg mutation at position 79 in NS4A (NS4A-K79R) significantly impaired Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) replication. In this study, the mutant virus was subject to genetic selection to search for the potential interaction between NS4A and other viral components. Sequencing of the recovered viruses revealed that, in addition to an A97E change in NS4A itself, a Y3N compensatory mutation located in NS4B had emerged from independent selections. Mutagenesis analysis, using a genome-length RNA and a replicon of JEV, demonstrated that both adaptive mutations greatly restored the replication defect caused by NS4A-K79R. Our results, for the first time to our knowledge, clearly showed the genetic interaction between NS4A and NS4B, although the mechanism underlying their interaction is unknown.

Purpose To evaluate visualization inside platinum stents with three-dimensional contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA). Materials and Methods Breath-hold three-dimensional gadolinium (Gd) MRA was performed on 18 patients with 22 platinum stents in the renal (n = 18), celiac (n = 1), superior mesenteric (n = 1), and iliac (n = 2) arteries. Electronic calibers were used to measure the lumen diameter within the stent and just distal to the stent to calculate percent stenosis. MRA accuracy was determined from the difference between percent stenosis measured on MRA and digital subtracted angiography (DSA). The patients were imaged at flip angles of 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°, and 150°. Results MRA demonstrated the stent lumen in all of the patients, with a mean difference between MRA and DSA of 21%. For stents oriented parallel to B0 (iliac arteries) the difference was only 10%, as compared to 22% for stents perpendicular to B0. The flip angle with the best agreement between MRA and DSA was 75° (16%). Conclusion The lumen of a platinum stent can be imaged with three-dimensional CE-MRA, although grading of restenosis has limited accuracy. The best results were obtained with a flip angle of 75° and for stents in the iliac arteries parallel to B0. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2004;20:975–980. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

To investigate the effect of auricular stimulation in cavum conchae on the glycemic control for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Seventy-one cases were treated with auricular electrical stimulator in the cavum choncha for 30 min, once daily for consecutive 3 months. The changes on the fasting plasma glucose (FBG), 2-h postprandial blood glucose after a 75 g oral glucose load (P2BG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), total cholesterol (TC) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were compared before and after the treatment.The level of the HbA1c was significantly decreased (P0.05), and there were also statistically significant decreases in BUN, SCr, TC and AST after the treatment (P0.05). A few patients (n=7) reduced the dose of the hypoglycemic agents in response to repeated hypoglycemia during the treatment.The stimulation in the cavum conchae of patients with types 2 diabetes mellitus may help decrease HbA1c, BUN, SCr, TC and AST, and may be an effective treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Magnetic resonance (MR) angiography has revolutionized imaging of pediatric vascular and congenital heart diseases by allowing repeated vascular imaging without the need for ionizing radiation ([1,2][1]). Gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography overcame many limitations of the noncontrast techniques ([3

Discovery of an association between gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) has led to less use of GBCA-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in dialysis patients and patients with severe renal failure at risk of NSF, and the virtual elimination of new cases of NSF. But shifting patients with renal failure to alternative imaging methods may subject patients to other risks (e.g., ionizing radiation or iodinated contrast). This review paper examines 370 NSF cases reported in 98 articles to analyze NSF risk factors. Eliminating multiple risk factors by limiting GBCA dose to a maximum of 0.1 mmol/kg, dialyzing patients undergoing dialysis quickly following GBCA administration, delaying GBCA in acute renal failure until after renal function returns or dialysis is initiated, and avoiding nonionic linear GBCA in patients with renal failure especially when there are proinflammatory conditions may substantially reduce the risk of NSF.

Emerging evidence linking gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) to nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) has changed medical practice patterns toward forgoing GBCA-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or substituting other imaging methods, which are potentially less accurate and often radiation-based. This shift has been based on reports of high NSF incidence at sites where a confluence of risk factors occurred in patients with severe renal dysfunction. This review article explores the factors that affect NSF risk, compares risks of alternative imaging procedures, and demonstrates how risk can be managed by careful selection of GBCA dose, timing of injection with respect to dialysis, and other factors. Nearly half of NSF cases are a milder form that does not cause contractures or reduce mobility. It appears that eliminating even a single risk factor can reduce NSF incidence/risk at least 10-fold. Elimination of multiple risk factors by using single-dose GBCA, dialyzing dialysis patients quickly following GBCA administration, avoiding GBCA in acute renal failure while serum creatinine is rising, and avoiding nonionic linear GBCA in renal failure patients may reduce NSF risk more than a thousand-fold, thereby allowing safe GBCA-enhanced MRI in virtually all patients. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:1298-1308. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Purpose To determine how dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI at 3T correlates with rectal carcinoma angiogenesis. Materials and Methods Three-dimensional (3D) DCE MRI was performed in 38 patients (23 males, 15 females, mean age 60 years) with histologically-confirmed rectal carcinoma at 3T. Time-intensity curves (TICs) were used to measure peak enhancement ratio (ERpeak), time to peak enhancement (Tpeak), first enhancement time (Tfirst-enhance), and uptake rate for rectal tumor, normal rectal wall, and gluteal muscle. After tumor resection, microvascular density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression were determined using immunohistochemistry (IHC) stains on available specimens (N = 24) to correlate with DCE MRI. Results Rectal carcinoma showed higher ERpeak (3.0 ± 0.9 vs. 1.9 ± 0.9, P < 0.001), higher uptake rate (2.8 ± 1.5/minute vs. 1.2 ± 0.9/minute, P < 0.001), earlier Tpeak (88 ± 56 seconds vs. 124 ± 72 seconds, P = 0.027), and earlier Tfirst-enhance (34 ± 6 seconds vs. 40 ± 7 seconds, P = 0.008) than normal rectal wall. Adenocarcinoma had shorter Tpeak compared to signet cell carcinoma (77 ± 48 seconds vs. 160 ± 62 seconds, P = 0.004). Tpeak was negatively correlated with MVD (r = –0.516, P = 0.01) and the mean Tpeak was significantly earlier for the VEGF-positive group compared to the VEGF-negative group (57 ± 17 seconds vs. 107 ± 64 seconds, P = 0.021). Conclusion DCE MRI parameters help predict rectal tumor angiogenesis measured by MVD and VEGF expression and discriminate malignant from normal tissue. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;27:1309–1316. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.