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Timo A Auer,1,2 Keitaro Sofue,3 Eisuke Ueshima,3 Nina Rauer,1 Takeru Yamaguchi,3 Bernhard Gebauer,1 Bernd Hamm,1 Takamichi Murakami,3 Christian E Althoff1 1Department of Radiology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany; 2Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany; 3Department of Radiology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, JapanCorrespondence: Timo A Auer, Department of Radiology, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, Berlin, 13353, Germany, Tel +49-30-450-557001, Fax +49-30-450-557901, Email timo-alexander.auer@charite.deObjective: The purpose of this study was to investigate outcomes of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) comparing the different approaches used in Germany and Japan.Methods: This binational IRB-approved retrospective dual-center study included a total of 94 HCC patients subdivided in a German and a Japanese cohort. For each patient, liver and tumor volumetry was performed using computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Furthermore, a comprehensive risk profile, including body constitution and liver and kidney function was established. Primary endpoints were progression-free and overall survival (PFS/OS).Results: PFS in the German cohort was 168 vs 224d in the Japanese cohort (p=0.640). When subdivided by BCLC stage, no significant differences were reported (p=0.160– 0.429). OS was significantly longer in the Japanese cohort with 856 vs. 303d (p< 0.001). OS for BCLC A was significantly longer in the Japanese cohort (1960 vs. 428d; p< 0.001), while survival rates did not differ significantly in BCLC B (785 vs 330d; p=0.067) and C-stages (208 vs 302d; p=0.186). Older age (p=0.034), poorer liver/kidney function (p=0.025-0-035), and a higher liver/tumor ratio (p< 0.001) were found to correlate with shorter survival. ECOG scores were significantly higher in the German cohort (p=0.002).Conclusion: While OS is longer in TACE-treated patients in the Japanese cohort compared to the German cohort, the two approaches seem to be equally effective as PFS does not differ significantly. The different survival rates may be caused by the different clinical performance status of the selected collectives. In very early and early stage HCC, TACE in Japan seems to be an effective treatment option while in Germany for patients in those stages TACE remains a second-line option for patients not available for surgery or ablation.Keywords: HCC, TACE, liver, hepatocellular carcinoma, interventional oncology

UnlabelledRadiographs and spinal bone mineral density (BMD) were evaluated from 342 elderly men regarding possible effects of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) on vertebral fractures and densitometry measurements. Prevalent vertebral fractures were more frequent among men with DISH compared to men with no DISH even after fracture prevalence was adjusted for BMD. Paravertebral calcifications should be considered in patients with DISH when interpreting BMD measurements because both dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative CT (QCT) densitometry may not be reliable.IntroductionThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of DISH in older men and its association with vertebral fractures and with BMD determined by DXA and QCT.MethodsLateral radiographs of the spine were analyzed in a sample of 342 men aged ≥ 65 years participating in the MrOS Study concerning the presence and grade of DISH and vertebral fractures. Lumbar BMD was measured by both DXA (areal, grams per square centimeter) and QCT (volumetric, grams per cubic centimeter). The association between DISH, BMD, and presence of fractures was studied using χ ( 2 ) and t tests.ResultsDISH was present in 52% (178/342) of the men. Men with DISH were older (mean, 75.1 vs 73.3, p < 0.05) and more likely to have prevalent fractures (28% vs 20%, p < p = 0.09). BMD assessed with DXA (1.08 vs 1.00 g/cm(2), p ≤ 0.0001), but not with QCT (0.11 vs 0.11 g/cm3, p = 0.65), was significantly higher in men with DISH compared to men without DISH. Significantly lower BMD of men with both DISH and fractures compared to men with DISH but without fractures was only detected by QCT (-25%, 0.09 vs 0.12, p < 0.05). Both DXA BMD and QCT BMD were significantly higher in severe lumbar DISH (+22% and +31%, p < 0.0001), respectively.ConclusionDISH was associated with a higher prevalence of vertebral fractures in elderly men. Lumbar ossifications related to DISH should be considered when interpreting BMD measurements to predict their fracture risk.

Susanne Wagner,1 Jörg Schnorr,1 Antje Ludwig,2 Verena Stangl,2 Monika Ebert,1 Bernd Hamm,1 Matthias Taupitz11Department of Radiology, Section of Experimental Radiology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, and Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany; 2Department of Cardiology, Section of Experimental Cardiology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, GermanyObjective: To evaluate the suitability of citrate-coated very small superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (VSOP) as a contrast agent for identifying inflammation in atherosclerotic lesions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods and results: VSOP, which have already been evaluated as a blood pool contrast agent for MR angiography in human clinical trials, were investigated in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits to determine to what extent their accumulation in atherosclerotic lesions is a function of macrophage density and other characteristics of progressive atherosclerotic plaques. In advanced atherosclerotic lesions, a significant MRI signal loss was found within 1 hour after intravenous administration of VSOP at the intended clinical dose of 0.05 mmol Fe/kg. Histological examinations confirmed correlations between the loss of MRI signal in the vessel wall and the presence of Prussian blue-stained iron colocalized with macrophages in the plaque cap, but surprisingly also with calcifying microvesicles at the intimomedial interface. Critical electrolyte magnesium chloride concentration in combination with Alcian blue stain indicates that highly sulfated glycosaminoglycans are a major constituent of these calcifying microvesicles, which may serve as the key molecules for binding VSOP due to their highly complexing properties.Conclusion: Calcifying microvesicles and macrophages are the targets for intravenously injected VSOP in atherosclerotic plaques, suggesting that VSOP-enhanced MRI may render clinically relevant information on the composition and inflammatory activity of progressive atherosclerotic lesions at risk of destabilization.Keywords: atherosclerosis, inflammation, magnetic resonance imaging, iron oxide nanoparticles, glycosaminoglycans, calcifying microvesicles