Background: This study investigated the performance of simultaneous ¹⁸F-FDG PET/MRI of the breast as a platform for comprehensive radiomics analysis for breast cancer subtype analysis, hormone receptor status, proliferation rate and lymphonodular and distant metastatic spread. Methods: One hundred and twenty-four patients underwent simultaneous ¹⁸F-FDG PET/MRI. Breast tumors were segmented and radiomic features were extracted utilizing CERR software following the IBSI guidelines. LASSO regression was employed to select the most important radiomics features prior to model development. Five-fold cross validation was then utilized alongside support vector machines, resulting in predictive models for various combinations of imaging data series. Results: The highest AUC and accuracy for differentiation between luminal A and B was achieved by all MR sequences (AUC 0.98; accuracy 97.3). The best results in AUC for prediction of hormone receptor status and proliferation rate were found based on all MR and PET data (ER AUC 0.87, PR AUC 0.88, Ki-67 AUC 0.997). PET provided the best determination of grading (AUC 0.71), while all MR and PET analyses yielded the best results for lymphonodular and distant metastatic spread (0.81 and 0.99, respectively). Conclusion: ¹⁸F-FDG PET/MRI enables comprehensive high-quality radiomics analysis for breast cancer phenotyping and tumor decoding, utilizing the perks of simultaneously acquired morphologic, functional and metabolic data.

Stroke is a leading cause of disability and death worldwide. There is increasing evidence that occurrence of ischemic stroke is affected by circadian system and sex. However, little is known about the effect of these factors on structural recovery after ischemic stroke. Therefore, we studied infarction in cerebral neocortex of male and female mice with deletion of the clock gene Bmal1 (Bmal1^−/−) after focal ischemia induced by photothrombosis (PT). The infarct core size was significantly smaller 14 days (d) as compared to seven days after PT, consistent with structural recovery during the sub-acute phase. However, when sexes were analyzed separately 14 days after PT, infarct core was significantly larger in wild-type (Bmal1^+/+) female as compared to male Bmal1^+/+ mice, and in female Bmal1^+/+, as compared to female Bmal1^−/− mice. Volumes of reactive astrogliosis and densely packed microglia closely mirrored the size of infarct core in respective groups. Estradiol levels were significantly higher in female Bmal1^−/− as compared to Bmal1^+/+ mice. Our data suggests a sex-dependent effect and an interaction between sex and genotype on infarct size, the recruitment of astrocytes and microglia, and a relationship of these cells with structural recovery probably due to positive effects of estradiol during the subacute phase.

The astroglial connexins Cx30 and Cx43 contribute to many important CNS functions including cognitive behaviour, motoric capacity and regulation of the sleep-wake cycle. The sleep wake cycle, is controlled by the circadian system. The central circadian rhythm generator resides in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). SCN neurons are tightly coupled in order to generate a coherent circadian rhythm. The SCN receives excitatory glutamatergic input from the retina which mediates entrainment of the circadian system to the environmental light-dark cycle. Connexins play an important role in electric coupling of SCN neurons and astrocytic-neuronal signalling that regulates rhythmic SCN neuronal activity. However, little is known about the regulation of Cx30 and Cx43 expression in the SCN, and the role of these connexins in light entrainment of the circadian system and in circadian rhythm generation. We analysed time-of-day dependent as well as circadian expression of Cx30 and Cx43 mRNA and protein in the mouse SCN by means of qPCR and immunohistochemistry. Moreover, we analysed rhythmic spontaneous locomotor activity in mice with a targeted deletion of Cx30 and astrocyte specific deletion of Cx43 (DKO) in different light regimes by means of on-cage infrared detectors. Fluctuation of Cx30 protein expression is strongly dependent on the light-dark cycle whereas fluctuation of Cx43 protein expression persisted in constant darkness. DKO mice entrained to the light-dark cycle. However, re-entrainment after a phase delay was slightly impaired in DKO mice. Surprisingly, DKO mice were more resilient to chronodisruption. Circadian fluctuation of Cx30 and Cx43 protein expression in the SCN is differently regulated. Cx30 and astroglial Cx43 play a role in rhythm stability and re-entrainment under challenging conditions.

The circadian rhythms of body functions in mammals are controlled by the circadian system. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus orchestrates subordinate oscillators. Time information is conveyed from the retina to the SCN to coordinate an organism’s physiology and behavior with the light/dark cycle. At the cellular level, molecular clockwork composed of interlocked transcriptional/translational feedback loops of clock genes drives rhythmic gene expression. Mice with targeted deletion of the essential clock gene Bmal1 (Bmal1−/−) have an impaired light input pathway into the circadian system and show a loss of circadian rhythms. The red house (RH) is an animal welfare measure widely used for rodents as a hiding place. Red plastic provides light at a low irradiance and long wavelength—conditions which affect the circadian system. It is not known yet whether the RH affects rhythmic behavior in mice with a corrupted circadian system. Here, we analyzed whether the RH affects spontaneous locomotor activity in Bmal1−/− mice under standard laboratory light conditions. In addition, mPER1- and p-ERK-immunoreactions, as markers for rhythmic SCN neuronal activity, and day/night plasma corticosterone levels were evaluated. Our findings indicate that application of the RH to Bmal1−/− abolishes rhythmic locomotor behavior and dampens rhythmic SCN neuronal activity. However, RH had no effect on the day/night difference in corticosterone levels.

Background/Objectives: Head and neck paragangliomas are rare, but hypervascular tumors for which preoperative embolization is often required to mitigate intraoperative blood loss. This study compares intraoperative and histopathological outcomes of paragangliomas following preoperative embolization using particles, EVOH, or nBCA. Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing preoperative embolization for paragangliomas at a tertiary care center from 2010 to 2025. Outcomes included post-embolization angiographic devascularization, intraoperative blood loss, histopathological tumor necrosis, inflammatory response, and surgical resection. Results: Twenty-four patients (17 female; median age 51.5 years) were included. The median interval between embolization and surgery was 1.5 days. Liquid embolic agents (EVOH: 54.2%, nBCA: 25.0%) were used in 79.2% of cases, with particles in the rest. Liquid embolics demonstrated superior angiographic tumor devascularization (median 90% vs. 50%, p = 0.036) and histopathological necrosis (30% vs. 0%, p = 0.019) compared to particles. However, no significant differences were observed in intraoperative blood loss (hemoglobin loss 1.4 g/dL for liquid embolics vs. 0.5 g/dL, p = 0.634), or intervention duration (137 min vs. 96 min, p = 0.053). Complete tumor resection (R0) was achieved in 74% of liquid embolic cases versus 100% with particles. EVOH and nBCA showed comparable embolization efficacy. Conclusions: Liquid embolic agents achieved greater tumor devascularization and necrosis than particles, though surgical outcomes (blood loss, operative time, complete resection rates) were comparable.