The value of MRI in predicting hepatocellular carcinoma with cytokeratin 19 expression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: To evaluate the overall diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), different image features, and different image analysis methods in predicting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with cytokeratin 19 (CK19) expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed to identify studies using MRI to predict HCC with CK19 expression between 2012 and 2023. Data were extracted to calculate the pooled sensitivity and specificity. Overall diagnostic performance was assessed using areas under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Subgroup analyses were conducted for specific image features and according to image analysis methods (traditional image feature, radiomics, and combined methods). Z-test statistics was used to analyse the differences in diagnostic performance between combined and individual methods. RESULTS: Eleven studies with 14 datasets (1,278 lesions from 1,264 patients) were included. The overall pooled sensitivity, specificity, and AUC with corresponding 95% confidence intervals were estimated to be 0.72 (0.55, 0.85), 0.88 (0.80, 0.93), and 0.89 (0.86, 0.91) for MRI in predicting HCC with CK19 expression. Combined methods had higher sensitivity than image feature methods (0.86 versus 0.54, p=0.001), with no difference in specificity (0.85 versus 0.87, p=0.641). There were no significant differences between radiomics and combined methods regarding sensitivity (p=0.796) and specificity (p=0.535), respectively. CONCLUSION: MRI shows moderate sensitivity and high specificity in identifying HCC with CK19 expression. The application of radiomics can improve the sensitivity of MRI in identifying HCC with CK19 expression.

[Epidemiological survey of hepatitis B and analysis of hepatitis B vaccine coverage rate among children aged 1-14 years in Lhasa in 2006, 2014 and 2020].

In 2006, 2014 and 2020, the positive rates of HBsAg in 560, 384 and 402 children aged 1 to 14 years were 4.5%, 2.6% and 2.5%, respectively, with no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). The positive rate of anti-HBs was highest in 2014 (57.8%) and lowest in 2006 (34.1%) (P<0.05). The positive rate of anti-HBc was highest in 2006 (15.7%), and decreased in 2014 (7.8%) and 2020 (5.7%) (P<0.001). The timely rate of the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine for children in Lhasa in 2006, 2014 and 2020 was 7.7% (43/560), 50.3% (193/384) and 94.8% (381/402), respectively. The overall vaccination rates were 15.4% (86/560), 35.2% (135/384) and 96.0% (386/402), respectively, showing a trend of gradual increases (χtrend values were 718.63 and 589.59, both P values<0.001).

Stature Estimation of Sichuan Han Females Based on X-ray Photography of Total Lower Limbs.

OBJECTIVES: To establish a mathematical model of stature estimation for Sichuan Han females on the basis of the relationship between lower limbs and individual height, thus to provide evidence for forensic identification. METHODS: Samples were collected from 171 Sichuan Han females. Large flat panel multi-function digital photography system was used to take the full-body X-ray films of the lower limbs. Indexes of long bones and stature of the subjects were measured, respectively. A linear regression analysis was carried out on the correlation between them, and a mathematical model of the stature calculation was established. Then the mathematical model was used to calculate the stature of another 29 Sichuan Han females to test its accuracy. RESULTS: The maximum length of femur （x1） had the highest correlation with stature. A total of 13 linear regression equations were established （P<0.05）, with the correlation coefficient （R） 0.821-0.897 and the standard error of the estimation （SEE） 2.994-3.812 cm. The backtesting showed that the equation y=41.604+1.205 x1+1.318 x6+2.444 x12+1.852 x13-2.388 x14 had the smallest mean absolute deviation （2.485 years old） and the highest accuracy of ±2SEE （92.9%）, and that the equation y=48.783+2.568 x1 had the highest accuracy of ±1SEE （60.7%）. CONCLUSIONS: The stature estimation is high by using the long bones of the lower limbs has high accuracy.

A comparison of two techniques for induction of anaesthesia with target-controlled infusion of propofol.

Induction of anaesthesia with target-controlled infusion of propofol may be achieved by stepwise increases in effect-site concentration until the patient loses consciousness (titration method), or by setting a high effect-site concentration target and observing the calculated effect-site concentration at loss of consciousness (standard method). When the estimated effect-site concentration at loss of consciousness is accurate, the difference between effect-site concentration at loss of consciousness and at recovery of consciousness should be small. This prospective, randomised, controlled trial was designed to compare this difference (effect-site concentration at loss of consciousness - effect-site concentration at recovery of consciousness) associated with the two techniques. Sixty-seven healthy patients undergoing elective hemithyroidectomy were recruited. Induction of anaesthesia was achieved using effect-site target-controlled infusion with the modified Marsh model and ke0 of 1.2 min-1 . The median (IQR [range]) difference between effect-site concentration at loss of consciousness and recovery of consciousness was significantly lower in patients in the titration group at 1.2 (0.8-1.5 [0.1-2.9]) µg.ml-1 compared with the standard group 2.1 (1.9-2.6 [0.2-3.6] µg.ml-1 ; p < 0.0001). There was a positive correlation between effect-site concentration at loss of, and recovery of, consciousness (R = 0.41, p = 0.016) in the titration group, which was not seen in the standard group (R = -0.15, p = 0.44). In conclusion, using the modified Marsh pharmacokinetic model, the titration method for target-controlled infusion propofol at induction of anaesthesia allows closer matching of propofol concentration to depth of anaesthesia than the standard method.

[Stature Estimation for Sichuan Han Female Based on Whole-spine X-ray Photo- graphy].

OBJECTIVES: To establish regression models of stature estimation for Sichuan Han female by the measurement of total vertebral column length in the frontal and lateral X-ray films of whole-spine. METHODS: The frontal and lateral X-ray films of whole-spine were collected from 200 Sichuan Han females by large flat-panel multi-functional universal radiography and fluoroscopy system. The data and mean values of frontal and lateral total vertebral column length were measured and calculated in all the samples, respectively. The relationship of combined multi-markers and stature were analysed by linear regression analysis, and the mathematical models of stature estimation were established. The data of 30 new samples were selected and inputted for verifying the accuracy of the mathematical models. RESULTS: The total vertebral column length showed a good correlation with stature, and the mean values of the frontal and lateral X-ray films of total vertebral column length had the highest correlation coefficients. Three established linear regression equation models were statistically significant （P<0.05）, and the equation established with lateral total vertebral column length showed the highest accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: The stature estimation by the measurement of total vertebral column length has high accuracy.

[Clinicpathological features and survival of patients with AIDS related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics, pathological features and survival of patients with AIDS related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (ARL) . Methods: The clinical data of 53 ARL cases diagnosed and received care at Zhongnan hospital of Wuhan University were retrospectively studied, and 106 controls were enrolled as control group according to 1∶2 for paired cases and control. SPSS 13.0 package was used for statistical analysis. Kaplan-Meier was applied to assess the survival probability. Results: The mean age of patients with ARL was 43 (11-67) years. Male versus female was approximately 4∶1. The median CD4(+) T cell count was (146±20) /ml. The Ann Arbor clinical classification showed that 52.8% of the cases were of stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ. Approximately 54.7% of the patients had elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) . According to international prognosis index score, 64.2% of the patients were in high risk group. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) was the predominant histological subtype. Among 53 cases, 33 cases (62.3%) received combination of anti-HIV therapy and anti-NHL (CHOP) chemotherapy regimen, 8 cases (15.1%) only received anti-HIV therapy, and 12 cases (22.6%) asked for alleviative treatment. Median survival time was (6.0±1.3) months for ARL cases versus (48.0±10.0) months for controls (P<0.05) . After eliminating cases who did not receive anti-lymphoma treatment, ARL cases showed a lower 1-year OS rates than control group (60.6% versus 83.0%) , but no difference about 2-, 3- and 5-year OS rates (53.5% versus 60.5%, 48.1% versus 45.9%, and 39.1% versus 27.5%, respectively) . Conclusions: ARL is more common in young adults; one-year mortality rate is high. Anti-HIV therapy combined with anti-NHL therapy could significantly improve the prognosis of ARL patients. CHOP regimen may be more suitable for ARL patients.

Cantharidin as an antitumor agent: a retrospective review.

This review summarizes the progress that has been made recently in the medicinal chemistry of cantharidin, a potent antitumor agent from traditional Chinese medicine. Thousands of analogs have been synthesized on the basis of cantharidin, a part of which shows excellent properties, in particular, norcantharidin and norcantharimide. Despite the enormous efforts made, the intriguing bioactivities, mechanism, indications, and their interplay are still ill-defined. This review provides our up-to-date understanding in connection with the therapeutic use, mechanism, structure-activity relationship (SAR) and interesting properties of cantharidin analogs. Considerable development in the design of cantharidin analogs, in combination with mechanistic studies, has laid a foundation for transforming novel antitumor drugs into the clinic.

[Determination of Pb, Zn, Fe and Cd in the crude zinc produced from the imperial smelting furnace by XRF].

This paper covers the determination of Pb, Zn Fe and Cd in the crude zinc produced from the imperial smelting furnace by XRF. Samples of crude zinc are taken on site and cast into ingots of definite shape. The analysed surface of the sample is polished and analysed directly without chemical treatment. The experience coefficient method is used to calibrate the matrix effect. Standard samples are prepared by artificial simulation. The linear relation coefficient between the concentration and the strength of X-ray is above 0.98. The standard deviation is less than 0.0056. The relative standard deviation is less than 2.41%. The results by XRF are the same as that by chemical analysis method.

Structure-function studies of human cholesteryl ester transfer protein by linker insertion scanning mutagenesis.

Human plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) enhances transfer and exchange of cholesteryl ester (CE) and triglyceride (TG) between high-density lipoprotein and other lipoproteins. To define regions responsible for the neutral lipid transfer activities at the molecular level, a total of 27 linker insertion mutants at 18 different sites along the CETP molecule were prepared and transiently expressed in a mammalian cell line (COS). The inserted linkers were small (usually 6 bp) and did not interrupt the translational reading frame of the CETP cDNA. Although secretion of each mutant protein was less than that of wild-type CETP, the majority of the mutants had normal cholesteryl ester transfer activity (transfer activity per nanogram of CETP in media). However, insertional alterations in three regions severely impaired CE transfer activity: (1) in the region of amino acids 48-53; (2) at amino acid 165; and (3) in the region of amino acids 373-379. Although the impaired activities could also be a result of globally incorrect folding of these CETP mutants, hydrophobicity analysis and secondary structure predictions tended to exclude this possibility for most of the insertion sites at which insertions resulted in inactivation. The insertion at amino acid 379 occurs immediately after a triplet of lysine residues, suggesting that this region might be involved in an essential step in the mechanism of CE and TG transfer, such as the binding of CETP to phosphatidylcholine molecules in the lipoprotein surface. Effects on TG transfer activity were generally similar to those on CE transfer activity, suggesting a similar structural requirement for both neutral lipid transfer activities.