[en] In this study, we investigated whether the GLP-1RA, liraglutide, affected differentiation of C3H10T1/2 mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to mature brown adipocytes and involvement of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in this process.

[en] Hibernomas, especially located in the mediastinum, are extremely rare benign tumors, which are important to consider in the differential diagnosis of a heterogeneously enhancing mass with areas of fat attenuation on imaging of an often incidentally discovered mass. Other common possibilities in the differential include malignant tumors, such as lipo sarcoma, hence histopathology is usually required to confirm the diagnosis. Hibernomas often follow the distribution of sites of persistence of brown fat in adults, and intrathoracic locations are unusual. We present a very rare case of a mediastinal hibernoma in a 53-year-old woman. She presented to the emergency department with severe, progressive right neck and shoulder pain with radiation down her arm and was found to have a right apical posterior mediastinal mass on imaging. Initial radiographs of the shoulder showed a soft tissue mass within the apical right hemi thorax. Further imaging with CT revealed a well circumscribed, heterogeneously enhancing mass with areas of fat attenuation. Pathology confirmed the diagnosis of mediastinal hibernoma, and the mass was completely excised. Fourteen months after surgery, the patient had a normal chest radiograph, and thirty-two months after surgery, she remains asymptomatic.

[en] The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical and morphological effects of radiotherapy in the treatment of myxoid/round cell liposarcoma (MLS/RCLS). Thirty-three primary and metastatic MLS/RCLS tumours in 15 patients were treated with radiation therapy. Twenty-seven of the 33 tumours were surgically removed after preoperative radiation (34-46 Gy) while six tumours were treated with radiotherapy alone (44-60 Gy). The pretreatment diagnosis was established in all 15 patients based on fine needle aspirates or histological findings. Tumour size was measured by CT or MRI before and after radiotherapy in 30 tumours. Thirteen tumours from 11 patients were genetically characterised before and/or after radiation therapy. Twenty-three of 30 irradiated tumours showed a median reduction in tumour volume of 52% and seven lesions a median progression of 36%. All 27 surgically removed tumours revealed histological features of radiation response. The most striking morphological changes were lipoma-like appearance, paucicellularity and hyalinisation. Twelve of 13 tumours analysed before and/or after radiation therapy showed the FUS-DDIT3 translocation. Radiation therapy of MLS/RCLS induces histopathologic accumulation of mature lipoma-like areas and tumour volume reduction that may facilitate resectability

[en] Fat necrosis is a well-recognised complication of trauma to the breast. It has also been described following breast surgery. In this report, we describe four patients who developed a small tender nodule following excision and radiotherapy for early breast cancer. These were in or near the excision scar. Histology of the resected nodules revealed fat necrosis with no evidence of recurrence. It is recommended that in all cases when a tender, inflamed nodule in or adjacent to the excision scar is found, a biopsy should be carried out to distinguish between this condition and recurrence. (author)

[en] Preoperative diagnoses of lipomas have been based on their relative radiolucency, CT-determined density values, and sharp interface with neighboring soft tissues. However, these criteria may be deceiving. CT has significant shortcomings, particularly as regards recognition of benign and malignant variants and accurate boundary definition. The latter is particularly important, since benign as well as malignant lipomas may undergo extensive resection due to their invariably infiltrative nature. MR images of various fatty tumors were analyzed with respect to their accuracy in (1) demonstrating tumor margins and extension into neighboring tissues and (2) characterizing internal architecture and matrices. Results were compared with surgical and histologic findings

[en] Highlights: • A new derivative of indanedione diminished oxidative stress and restored function of liver and fat cells. • IDD-24 reduced serum glycotoxins and improved glucose metabolism in diabetic mice. • Indanedione derivative improved hypoadiponectinemia, and insulin resistance in diabetic mice. Accumulating evidence indicates that a number of tissues are damaged due to build-up of abnormal amount of Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs) in several diseases including diabetes. Currently AGE inhibitors are scarce in clinical use indicating a need for development of new anti-AGE agents. The aim of the current study is to identify the new AGE inhibitors and to decipher their mechanism of action for alleviating symptoms of diabetes in mice. Among several derivatives, one of the derivatives of indanedione, IDD-24 demonstrated highest inhibition of AGE formation and AGE mediated reactive oxygen species production in HepG-2 and mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In mice treated with IDD-24, reduction in serum AGE formation and expression of Receptor for AGEs (RAGE) was seen in IDD-24 treated db/db mice. In vivo, glycogen synthesis was also increased in muscle tissue. In adipocytes, anti-AGE agent restored AGEs' induced diminished glucose uptake in fat cells. Mice treated with IDD-24 exhibited increased glucose tolerance, increaed serum adiponectin levels and decreased insulin resistance. Deciphering mechanism of IDD-24 in diabetic mice, it was observed that nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and serine phosphorylation of Insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) declined, while diminished activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) appears to be partly responsible for restoration of insulin signaling. We conclude that IDD-24 can be a possible treatment target to address symptoms of diabetes.

[en] We aimed to investigate the effects of mammary gland density and average glandular dose (AGD) on contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of breast-equivalent phantoms with different mammary gland/fat tissue ratios. Full-field digital-mammography breast X-rays were performed on breast-equivalent phantoms with three different mammary gland/fat tissue ratios (Phantom A [30/70], Phantom B [50/50], and Phantom C [70/30]) and seven thicknesses ranging from 10 mm to 70 mm. The prediction formula for the CNR was calculated by multivariate analysis and the effects of the various parameters on CNR were evaluated using a multiple regression analysis model. Higher CNR values were obtained with lower mammary gland/fat tissue ratios and lower phantom thicknesses. Variation in CNR among the three breast models was low (coefficient of variation, 3.4-8.7%) at lower phantom thicknesses (10-30 mm) and high (coefficient of variation, 10.5-16.8%) at higher phantom thickness (50-70 mm). CNR showed a strong negative correlation (r = -0.8989) with AGD across all three mammary gland ratios. A predictive formula for CNR using AGD and mammary gland density was developed. CNR can be predicted with high precision using AGD and mammary gland density. The predicted CNR could be used to measure the diagnostic reliability of mammography in breast cancer

[en] We have previously reported the establishment of preadipocyte cell lines, termed dedifferentiated fat (DFAT) cells, from mature adipocytes of various animals. DFAT cells possess long-term viability and can redifferentiate into adipocytes both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, DFAT cells can transdifferentiate into osteoblasts and chondrocytes under appropriate culture conditions. However, it is unclear whether DFAT cells are capable of transdifferentiating into skeletal myocytes, which is common in the mesodermal lineage. Here, we show that DFAT cells can be induced to transdifferentiate into skeletal myocytes in vitro. Myogenic induction of DFAT cells resulted in the expression of MyoD and myogenin, followed by cell fusion and formation of multinucleated cells expressing sarcomeric myosin heavy chain. These results indicate that DFAT cells derived from mature adipocytes can transdifferentiate into skeletal myocytes in vitro.

[en] Background: T1-weighted gradient-echo in-phase and out-of-phase imaging is an essential component of comprehensive abdominal MR exams. It is useful for the study of fat-containing lesions and to identify various disease states related to the presence of fat in the liver. Purpose: To compare three T1-weighted in-phase and out-of-phase (IP/OP) gradient-echo imaging sequences in an intra-individual fashion, and to determine whether advantages exist for each of these sequences for various patient types. Material and Methods: One hundred and eighteen consecutive subjects (74 men, 44 women; mean age 53.9 ± 13.8 years) who had MRI examinations containing all three different IP/OP sequences (two-dimensional spoiled gradient-echo [2D-GRE], three-dimensional gradient-echo [3D-GRE], and magnetization-prepared gradient-recall echo [MP-GRE]) were included. Two different reviewers independently and blindly qualitatively evaluated IP/OP sequences to determine image quality, extent of artifacts, lesion detectability and conspicuity, and subjective grading of liver steatosis for the various sequences. Quantitative analysis was also performed. Qualitative and quantitative data were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: Respiratory ghosting, parallel imaging, and truncation artifacts as well as shading and blurring were more pronounced with 3D-GRE IP/OP imaging. Overall image quality was higher with 2D-GRE (P < 0.05). Detectability of low-fluid content lesions was lower with IP/OP MP-GRE sequences. MP-GRE sequences had the lowest SNRs (P < 0.001). Liver-to-spleen and liver-to-lesion CNRs were significantly lower with 3D-GRE and MP-GR, respectively (P < 0.001). Fat liver indexes showed strongly positive correlation between all sequences. Conclusion: Currently, 2D-GRE remains the best approach for clinical IP/OP imaging. The good image quality of MP-GRE sequences acquired in a free-breathing manner should recommend its use in patients unable to suspend breathing

[en] The aim of this study was to describe the MR appearance of multifocal nodular fatty infiltration of the liver (MNFIL) using T1-weighted in-phase (IP) and opposed-phase (OP) gradient-echo as well as T2-weighted turbo-spin-echo sequences with fat suppression (FSTSE) and without (HASTE). Magnetic resonance imaging examinations at 1.5 T using T1-weighted IP and OP-GRE with fast low angle shot (FLASH) technique, and T2-weighted FSTSE, T2-weighted HASTE of 137 patients undergoing evaluation for focal liver lesions were reviewed. Five patients were identified in whom CT indicated metastatic disease; however, no liver malignancy was finally proven. Diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy (n=3), additional wedge resection (n = 1) or follow-up MRI 6-12 months later (n=5). Regarding the identified five patients, the number of focal liver lesions was 2 (n=2) and more than 20 (n=3). The MR imaging characteristics were as follows: OP-image: markedly hypointense (n=5); IP image: isointense (n=2) or slightly hyperintense (n=3); T2-weighted FSTSE-image: isointense (n=5); T2-weighted HASTE image isointense (n=1); slightly hyperintense (n=4). On OP images all lesions were sharply demarcated and of almost spherical configuration (n=5). Further evaluation by histology or follow-up MR imaging did not give evidence of malignancy in any case. Histology revealed fatty infiltration of the liver parenchyma in three patients. Magnetic resonance follow-up showed complete resolution in two patients and no change in three patients. Multifocal nodular fatty infiltration can simulate metastatic disease on both CT and MR imaging. The combination of in-phase (IP) and opposed-phase (OP) gradient-echo imaging can reliably differentiate MNFIL from metastatic disease. (orig.)