Real-time ultrasound-guided external intracerebral hemorrhage drain placement.

We report a new minimally invasive technique utilizing interventional ultrasound for precise external intracerebral hemorrhage drain (EICHD) placement in pigs.

Identification of potential key genes associated with severe pneumonia using mRNA-seq.

This study aimed to identify the potential key genes associated with severe pneumonia using mRNA-seq. Nine peripheral blood samples from patients with severe pneumonia alone (SP group, n=3) and severe pneumonia accompanied with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; CSP group, n=3), as well as volunteers without pneumonia (control group, n=3) underwent mRNA-seq. Based on the sequencing data, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by Limma package. Following the pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs, the genes that were differentially expressed in the SP and CSP groups were selected for pathway enrichment analysis and coexpression analysis. In addition, potential genes related to pneumonia were identified based on the information in the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database. In total, 645 and 528 DEGs were identified in the SP and CSP groups, respectively, compared with the normal controls. Among these DEGs, 88 upregulated genes and 80 downregulated genes were common between the two groups. The functions of the common DEGs were similar to those of the DEGs in the SP group. In the coexpression network, the commonly downregulated genes (including ND1, ND3, ND4L, and ND6) and the commonly upregulated genes (including TSPY6P and CDY10P) exhibited a higher degree. In addition, 131 DEGs (including ND1, ND3, ND6, MIR449A and TAS2R43) were predicted to be potential pneumonia-related genes. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that the common DEGs may be associated with the progression of severe pneumonia.

Molecular Mechanisms of Mild and Severe Pneumonia: Insights from RNA Sequencing.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying mild and severe pneumonia by use of mRNA sequencing (RNA-seq). MATERIAL AND METHODS RNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of patients with mild pneumonia, severe pneumonia, and healthy controls. Sequencing was performed on the HiSeq4000 platform. After filtering, clean reads were mapped to the human reference genome hg19. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the control group and the mild or severe group. A transcription factor-gene network was constructed for each group. Biological process (BP) terms enriched by DEGs in the network were analyzed and these genes were also mapped to the Connectivity map to search for small-molecule drugs. RESULTS A total of 199 and 560 DEGs were identified from the mild group and severe group, respectively. A transcription factor-gene network consisting of 215 nodes and another network consisting of 451 nodes were constructed in the mild group and severe group, respectively, and 54 DEGs (e.g., S100A9 and S100A12) were found to be common, with consistent differential expression changes in the 2 groups. Genes in the transcription factor-gene network for the mild group were mainly enriched in 13 BP terms, especially defense and inflammatory response (e.g., S100A8) and spermatogenesis, while the top BP terms enriched by genes in the severe group include response to oxidative stress (CCL5), wound healing, and regulation of cell differentiation (CCL5), and of the cellular protein metabolic process. CONCLUSIONS S100A9 and S100A12 may have a role in the pathogenesis of pneumonia: S100A9 and CXCL1 may contribute solely in mild pneumonia, and CCL5 and CXCL11 may contribute in severe pneumonia.

Identification of miRNA biomarkers of pneumonia using RNA-sequencing and bioinformatics analysis.

Pneumonia is a lower respiratory tract infection that causes dramatic mortality worldwide. The present study aimed to investigate the pathogenesis of pneumonia and identify microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers as candidates for targeted therapy. RNA from the peripheral blood plasma of participants with pneumonia (severe, n=9; non-severe, n=9) and controls (n=9) was isolated and paired-end sequencing was performed on an Illumina HiSeq4000 system. Following the processing of raw reads, the sequences were aligned against the Genome Reference Consortium human genome assembly 38 reference genome using Bowtie2 software. Reads per kilobase of transcript per million mapped read values were obtained and the limma software package was used to identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRs). Then, DE-miR targets were predicted and subjected to enrichment analysis. In addition, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the predicted targets was constructed. This analysis identified 11 key DE-miRs in pneumonia samples, including 6 upregulated miRNAs (including hsa-miR-34a and hsa-miR-455) and 5 downregulated miRNAs (including hsa-let-7f-1). All DE-miRs kept their upregulation/downregulation pattern in the control, non-severe pneumonia and severe pneumonia samples. Predicted target genes of DE-miRs in the subjects with non-severe pneumonia vs. the control and the subjects with severe pneumonia vs. the non-severe pneumonia group were markedly enriched in the adherens junction and Wnt signaling pathways. KALRN, Ras homolog family member A (RHOA), ß-catenin (CTNNB1), RNA polymerase II subunit K (POLR2K) and amyloid precursor protein (APP) were determined to encode crucial proteins in the PPI network constructed. KALRN was predicted to be a target of hsa-mir-200b, while RHOA, CTNNB1, POLR2K and APP were predicted targets of hsa-let-7f-1. The results of the present study demonstrated that hsa-let-7f-1 may serve a role in the development of cancer and the Notch signaling pathway. Conversely, hsa-miR-455 may be an inhibitor of pneumonia pathogenesis. Furthermore, hsa-miR-200b might promote pneumonia via targeting KALRN.

Identification of Potential Key Long Non-Coding RNAs and Target Genes Associated with Pneumonia Using Long Non-Coding RNA Sequencing (lncRNA-Seq): A Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to identify the potential key long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and target genes associated with pneumonia using lncRNA sequencing (lncRNA-seq). MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 9 peripheral blood samples from patients with mild pneumonia (n=3) and severe pneumonia (n=3), as well as volunteers without pneumonia (n=3), were received for lncRNA-seq. Based on the sequencing data, differentially expressed lncRNAs (DE-lncRNAs) were identified by the limma package. After the functional enrichment analysis, target genes of DE-lncRNAs were predicted, and the regulatory network was constructed. RESULTS In total, 99 DE-lncRNAs (14 upregulated and 85 downregulated ones) were identified in the mild pneumonia group and 85 (72 upregulated and 13 downregulated ones) in the severe pneumonia group, compared with the control group. Among these DE-lncRNAs, 9 lncRNAs were upregulated in both the mild and severe pneumonia groups. A set of 868 genes were predicted to be targeted by these 9 DE-lncRNAs. In the network, RP11-248E9.5 and RP11-456D7.1 targeted the majority of genes. RP11-248E9.5 regulated several genes together with CTD-2300H10.2, such as QRFP and EPS8. Both upregulated RP11-456D7.1 and RP11-96C23.9 regulated several genes, such as PDK2. RP11-456D7.1 also positively regulated CCL21. CONCLUSIONS These novel lncRNAs and their target genes may be closely associated with the progression of pneumonia.

Effect of peritoneal lavage with ulinastatin on the expression of NF-κB and TNF-α in multiple organs of rats with severe acute pancreatitis.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of peritoneal lavage with ulinastatin on the expression levels of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in multiple organs of rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the following groups: Sham-operated (C), SAP model (SAP), saline lavage (SL), intravenous ulinastatin (IU) and peritoneal lavage with ulinastatin (UL). The SAP model was induced by the retrograde infusion of 5% sodium taurocholate into the biliopancreatic ducts of the rats. Intraperitoneal lavage or injection was performed immediately following the establishment of the SAP model in groups SL, IU and UL. Intraperitoneal lavage with or without ulinastatin was performed for 3 h. The survival time of half of the rats in each group was recorded over a 12-h period. At 3 h after the induction of SAP, inflammatory mediators and the expression levels of NF-κB and TNF-α in multiple organs of the rats in each group were also detected. The survival rates of the rats in group UL at 6 h and 9 h were increased compared with those in group SAP, and were also higher than that in groups SL and IU. The levels of serum inflammatory mediators were effectively reduced in groups SL, IU and UL, the greatest effects were observed in group UL. The expression levels of NF-κB and TNF-α in multiple organs were significantly lower in group UL compared with other groups. Intraperitoneal lavage with ulinastatin significantly ameliorated the inflammatory reaction and inhibited NF-κB and TNF-α expression in multiple organs of SAP model rats.

A novel thermosensitive in-situ gel of gabexate mesilate for treatment of traumatic pancreatitis: An experimental study.

Gabexate mesilate (GM) is a trypsin inhibitor, and mainly used for treatment of various acute pancreatitis, including traumatic pancreatitis (TP), edematous pancreatitis, and acute necrotizing pancreatitis. However, due to the characteristics of pharmacokinetics, the clinical application of GM still needs frequently intravenous administration to keep the blood drug concentration, which is difficult to manage. Specially, when the blood supply of pancreas is directly damaged, intravenous administration is difficult to exert the optimum therapy effect. To address it, a novel thermosensitive in-situ gel of gabexate mesilate (GMTI) was developed, and the optimum formulation of GMTI containing 20.6% (w/w) P-407 and 5.79% (w/w) P188 with different concentrations of GM was used as a gelling solvent. The effective drug concentration on trypsin inhibition was examined after treatment with different concentrations of GMTI in vitro, and GM served as a positive control. The security of GMTI was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and its curative effect on grade II pancreas injury was also evaluated by testing amylase (AMS), C-reactive protein (CRP) and trypsinogen activation peptide (TAP), and pathological analysis of the pancreas. The trypsin activity was slightly inhibited at 1.0 and 5.0 mg/mL in GM group and GMTI group, respectively (P<0.05 vs. P-407), and completely inhibited at 10.0 and 20.0 mg/mL (P<0.01 vs. P-407). After local injection of 10 mg/mL GMTI to rat leg muscular tissue, muscle fiber texture was normal, and there were no obvious red blood cells and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Furthermore, the expression of AMS, CRP and TAP was significantly increased in TP group as compared with control group (P<0.01), and significantly decreased in GM group as compared with TP group (P<0.01), and also slightly inhibited after 1.0 and 5.0 mg/mL GMTI treatment as compared with TP group (P<0.05), and significantly inhibited after 10.0 and 20.0 mg/mL GMTI treatment as compared with TP group (P<0.01). HE staining results demonstrated that pancreas cells were uniformly distributed in control group, and they were loosely arranged, partially dissolved, with deeply stained nuclei in TP group. Expectedly, after gradient GMTI treatment, pancreas cells were gradually restored to tight distribution, with slightly stained nuclei. This preliminary study indicated that GMTI could effectively inhibit pancreatic enzymes, and alleviate the severity of trauma-induced pancreatitis, and had a potential drug developing and clinic application value.

Ulinastatin enhances the therapeutic effect of intraperitoneal lavage on severe acute pancreatitis in rats.

The present study investigated the therapeutic effect of peritoneal lavage with ulinastatin on the outcome of rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). A total of 110 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the following groups: Control (C), SAP model (SAP), saline lavage (SL), intravenous ulinastatin (IU) and low-dose (LUL), medium-dose (MUL), high-dose (HUL) and ultrahigh-dose (UHUL) ulinastatin lavage. The treatments were performed immediately subsequent to the establishment of the SAP model. Intraperitoneal lavage with or without ulinastatin was performed for 3 h. Survival time was recorded for 12 h and the median survival time was calculated. Histopathological analyses, and measurements of plasma amylase and lipase levels were performed. Blood pH, lactic acid and base excess were also detected. The LUL, MUL, HUL, UHUL and IU groups showed an increase in the median survival time compared with the SAP group, with the maximal effect observed in the MUL group (P<0.01). The SL, MUL and IU groups showed a reduced activity of amylase and lipase compared with the SAP group. The SL (P<0.01) and the MUL groups (P<0.01) additionally showed a reduction in the lactic acid in arterial blood relative to the SAP group but the IU group did not. The MUL group showed greater improvements in pH (P<0.01) and base excess (P<0.01) versus the SAP group than the SL and IU groups. Furthermore the MUL group demonstrated a more marked reduction in the histological changes in necrosis, edema and inflammation compared with the SL and IU groups. Intraperitoneal lavage with ulinastatin significantly improves the prognosis of SAP in rats.

Early peritoneal lavage with ulinastatin improves outcome and enhances multi-organ protection in a model of severe acute pancreatitis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of early peritoneal lavage with ulinastatin on the outcome of a rat model of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). A total of 80 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the following groups: Sham-operated (C), SAP model (M), saline lavage (SL), intravenous ulinastatin (IU), early ulinastatin lavage (EUL) and late ulinastatin lavage (LUL). Intraperitoneal lavage or injection were performed immediately subsequent to the establishment of the SAP model in groups SL, IU and EUL and 3 h later in group LUL. Intraperitoneal lavage with or without ulinastatin was performed for 3 h. The survival time of the rats in groups C, M, EUL and LUL was recorded over a 12-h period and the median survival time was calculated. At 3 h after the induction of SAP, histopathological analyses were performed and the biochemical parameters of groups C, M, SL, IU and EUL were assessed. Groups EUL and LUL exhibited an increased median survival time compared with Group M, with the survival time of the rats in group EUL markedly longer than that in the group LUL rats. Group SL, IU and EUL rats were found to have reduced plasma activities of amylase, lipase, aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase, with the biggest change observed in the group EUL rats. Furthermore, the intervention in groups SL and EUL was more effective at reducing creatinine and urea levels than that in group IU. Rats in group EUL exhibited a greater inhibition of the SAP-induced increase in troponin T levels than rats in groups SL and IU. The pathological severity scores of the pancreas, liver, kidney and lung in group EUL were significantly lower than those in groups M and better than those in groups SL and IU. In conclusion, early intraperitoneal lavage with ulinastatin significantly improves the median survival time and protects multi-organ function in an SAP model.

Transrectal real-time tissue elastography - an effective way to distinguish benign and malignant prostate tumors.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the relationship between extracellular matrix parameters and texture of prostatic lesions evaluated by transrectal real-time tissue elastography (TRTE). METHODS: 120 patients suspicious for prostate cancer underwent TRTE. Targeted biopsies were carried out after 12-core systematic biopsy. Epithelia were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and Victoria blue and Ponceau S were used to stain elastic-collagen fibers, and picric acid-sirius red for visualization of collagen type I (Col1) and III (Col3). Smooth muscles were visualized by immunohistochemistry. All image analyses were performed in a blind manner using Image Pro Plus 6.0, and the area ratios of epithelium, elastic fibers, collagen fibers and Col1/Col3 were determined. RESULTS: 42 patients with typical elastograms were included in the final data analysis. Significant differences were detected between the benign and malignant groups in the area ratios of epithelium (P = 0.01), smooth muscles and Col1/Col3 (P = 0.04, P = 0.02, respectively). There were no significant differences in the area ratios of epithelium, smooth muscle and elastic fibers between the stiff and soft lesion groups. The area ratio of Col1 was (0.05 ± 0.03) in the stiff group, and (0.02 ± 0.01) in the soft group (P= 0.00). However, the area ratio of Col3 was (0.03 ± 0.02) in the stiff group, and (0.05 ± 0.04) in the soft group (P = 0.16). Col1/Col3 in the stiff group (1.99 ± 1.59) was greater than in the soft group (0.71 ± 0.64) (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Tissue hardness of prostatic tumors was mainly dependent on the Col1 content, Col1/Col3 being higher in malignant than in benign lesions, so the prostate tissue texture can be used as a target for distinguishing between the two with TRTE.

[A multiple regression formula for the prediction of thyroid microcarcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a quantitative analysis formula for the prediction of thyroid microcarcinoma and decide the cut-off values for the recommendation of ultrasound-guided biopsy. METHODS: The ultrasound characteristics of 830 subcentimeter thyroid nodules were retrospectively analyzed based on pathological results in this study. A diagnostic formula was developed using multivariate binary Logistic regression with the cut-off values for the recommendation of biopsy. The diagnostic values of each feature and the formula were evaluated. RESULTS: The most suspicious ultrasound characteristics for subcentimeter thyroid nodules were solid echostructure (OR=41.97), microlobulated margin (OR=25.89), hypoechoic echogenicity(OR=10.36), no halo (OR=8.38), irregular margin (OR=4.26), taller than wide (OR=2.71), microcalcification (OR=1.92), and macrocalcification (OR=1.28). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the formula were 90.9%, 54.0%, and 72.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This multiple regression formula is an objective tool for the evaluation of thyroid microcarcinoma, which can provide the cutoff values for the ultrasound guided biopsy.

Accuracy of 16/18G core needle biopsy for ultrasound-visible breast lesions.

BACKGROUND: To assess the accuracy of ultrasound-guided 16G or 18G core needle biopsy (CNB) for ultrasound-visible breast lesions, and to analyze the effects of lesion features. METHODS: Between July 2005 and July 2012, 4,453 ultrasound-detected breast lesions underwent ultrasound-guided CNB and were retrospectively reviewed. Surgical excision was performed for 955 lesions (566 with 16G CNB and 389 with 18G CNB) which constitute the basis of the study. Histological findings were compared between the ultrasound-guided CNB and the surgical excision to determine sensitivity, false-negative rate, agreement rate, and underestimation rate, according to different lesion features. RESULTS: Final pathological results were malignant in 84.1% (invasive carcinoma, ductal carcinoma in situ, lymphoma, and metastases), high-risk in 8.4% (atypical lesions, papillary lesions, and phyllodes tumors), and benign in 7.5%. False-negative rates were 1.4% for 16G and 18G CNB. Agreement rates between histological findings of CNB and surgery were 92.4% for 16G and 92.8% for 18G CNB. Overall underestimate rates (high-risk CNB becoming malignant on surgery and ductal carcinoma in situ becoming invasive carcinoma) were 47.4% for 16G and 48.9% for 18G CNB. Agreements were better for mass lesions (16G: 92.7%; 18G: 93.7%) than for non-mass lesions (16G, 85.7%; 18G, 78.3%) (P <0.01). For mass lesions with a diameter ≤10 mm, the agreement rates (16G, 83.3%; 18G, 86.7%) were lower (P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided 16G and 18G CNB are accurate for evaluating ultrasound-visible breast mass lesions with a diameter >10 mm.

Evaluation of blunt pancreatic injury with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in comparison with contrast-enhanced computed tomography.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate acute blunt pancreatic injury using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in comparison with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT). Superficial and deep lesions were established by blunt pancreatic injury in 40 Chinese Guangxi Bama miniature pigs. Conventional ultrasound (US), CEUS and CECT were performed to detect traumatic lesions in the pancreas. A total of 40 lesions were established, including 20 deep lesions and 20 superficial lesions. US identified 21 of the 40 lesions, including 7 of the 20 superficial and 14 of the 20 deep lesions. CEUS identified 34 of the 40 lesions, including 14 of the 20 superficial and 20 of the 20 deep lesions. CECT identified 33 of the 40 lesions, including 13 of the 20 superficial and 20 of the 20 deep lesions. The detection rate of acute blunt pancreatic injury using CEUS was significantly higher compared with that using US (85 vs. 52.5%, P<0.05), however there was no significant difference in the detection rate of pancreatic lesions between CEUS and CECT (85 vs. 82.5%, P>0.05). CEUS improves the diagnostic levels of conventional US and is comparable with CECT scans in the diagnosis of blunt pancreatic injury.

A novel hemostatic sealant composed of gelatin, transglutaminase and thrombin effectively controls liver trauma-induced bleeding in dogs.

AIM: novel hemostatic sealant based on the in situ gel formation of gelatin catalyzed by thrombin and crosslinked by transglutaminase was designed. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of the hemostatic sealant in control of bleeding caused by liver trauma in dogs. METHODS: Hepatic trauma that mimicked the grade III-IV rupture of liver was made in 20 dogs. The traumatic lesion was topically administered the hemostatic sealant (treatment group, n=10), or a thrombin solution (control group, n=10). The time to achieve hemostasis and the blood loss were measured. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) examination was performed in each animal on d 3, d 7, and d 10 d postoperatively to study the healing of the lesions. RESULTS: The mean time to achieve hemostasis in the treatment group was significantly shorter than that in the control group (1.20±0.33 vs 6.70±0.64 min, P<0.05). The mean blood loss in the treatment group was significantly less than that in the control group (47.22±8.61 vs 79.29±11.97 mL, P<0.05). In CEUS examination, the traumatic lesions in the treatment group became significantly smaller on d 3, and disappeared on d 7, whereas the lesions in the control group still existed on d 10. Ascites were never found during 10 d follow-up in the treatment group but were observed on d 3 and d 7 in the control group. CONCLUSION: Compared with thrombin, the novel hemostatic sealant shows much better efficacy in hemostasis and may promote wound healing in dog liver trauma.

[Liver stiffness measured by acoustic radiation force impulse imaging in assessing hepatic functional reserve in patients with space-occupying lesions in the liver].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of liver stiffness measured by acoustic radiation force impulse imaging(ARFI) in assessing hepatic functional reserve in patients with space-occupying lesions in the liver. METHODS: Sixty-three patients with space-occupying lesions in the liver were enrolled. Liver stiffness (LS) measurements with ARFI and indocyanine green(ICG) retention test were performed in the same day, and plasma clearance rate of indocyanine green(ICG-K), ICG retention at 15 minutes(ICGR15) as well as 10 effective values of LS were recorded. The correlation between Child-Pugh score, ICGR15, ICG-K, and LS were evaluated. RESULTS: The LS measurements with ARFI failed in one patient. A strong correlation between LS and ICGR15(r=0.789, P<0.01) and an inverse correlation between LS and ICG-K(r=-0.738, P<0.01) were observed. Besides, there was a significant correlation between LS measurements and Child-Pugh score(r=0.929, P<0.01) . The LS significantly differed among patients with Child-Pugh class A, B, and C(P<0.01) . CONCLUSION: ARFI is a simple, feasible and non-invasive method for assessing hepatic functional reserve in patients with space-occupying lesions in the liver.

Efficacy of homemade hemostatics of injected gelatin matrix for immediately treating blunt hepatic trauma in canine model without additional pressure.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy of homemade hemostatics of injected gelatin matrix (HIGM) for immediately treating blunt hepatic trauma in canine model without additional pressure. METHODS: A total of 27 commercial hybrid dogs underwent celiotomy to establish hepatic trauma model after general anesthesia. The dogs were prospectively randomized into 3 groups: the treatment group (n=9, with the direct application of homemade hemostat), the positive control group (n=9, with thrombin solution), and the negative control group (n=9, with 0.9% normal saline). Time to hemostasis and intra-abdominal blood loss were recorded, and heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and hematological parameters were compared among these three groups. Gross examinations were performed 30 minutes after surgery. RESULTS: Significantly shorter time to hemostasis [(1.20±0.33) min] and less blood loss [(47.22±8.61) ml] were observed in the treatment group than in control groups (P 0.05). No cases of bleeding occurred in any animals in the treatment group, and no signs of infection and adhesion formation were evident due to exposure to HIGM. Two cases in the positive control group (22.22%) were found to have rebleeding. All animals in the negative control group experienced visible bleeding. CONCLUSION: HIGM is effective for controlling bleeding after hepatic trauma without the additional compression, and therefore may be valuable in field surgery.

Differentiation of prostate cancer from benign lesions using strain index of transrectal real-time tissue elastography.

OBJECTIVE: This study was to assess the diagnostic value of strain index (SI) for transrectal real-time tissue elastography (TRTE) on differentiating malignant from benign lesions in the prostate peripheral zone. METHODS: 83 patients suspected of having prostate cancer (PCa) underwent transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and TRTE examinations. The lesions in the prostate peripheral zone detected by TRTE were set as the regions of interest (ROI) for strain ratio (SR) measurement (SRA). The moderate texture tissues without lesion were set as the reference ROI for SR measurement (SRB). Then, SI (SRB/SRA) of total lesions (ASI) and local lesion (PSI) were calculated, and the diagnostic values of ASI and PSI on differentiating benign from malignant lesions were assessed respectively. RESULTS: The range of PSI was 2.23-67.21 (29.97 ± 15.58) in malignant tumors and 0. 4-43.6 (7.79 ± 8.75) in benign lesions (AUC=0.90), while the range of ASI was 2.84-47.9 (8.38 ± 12.20) in malignant tumors and 0.4 -2.79 (5.85 ± 7.29) in benign lesions (AUC=0.62). There was significant difference of PSI values between the benign and malignant lesions (P<0.01). At the cutoff value of 17.44, PSI yielded the highest sensitivity (74.5%) and specificity (83.3%) for discriminating PCa from benign lesions. The capability of PSI in the diagnosis of PCa improved with the increase of Gleason scores. CONCLUSION: PSI is one of the elasticity parameters obtained easily by TRTE, it can provide more information in the differentiation of prostate peripheral zone lesions.

"Tardus and parvus" phenomenon in upper limb arteries for identifying subclavian arterial stenosis.

BACKGROUND: The detection of subclavian artery (SCA) stenosis or occlusion is important, and an easy and accurate noninvasive screening method is needed. METHODS: Pulsed Doppler spectra of bilateral SCA, vertebral arteries, axillary arteries, and brachial arteries were recorded and analyzed both in patients with SCA stenosis and healthy subjects. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients showed SCA stenosis less than 80% (mean: 72 +/- 14%; Vmax: 450.1 +/- 101.5 cm/sec) and seven patients demonstrated one-side SCA occlusion. The Vmax, systolic acceleration (SA) and resistance index (RI) were much lower (parvus) while the acceleration time (AT) was much longer (tardus) in axillary and brachial arteries on the ipsilateral than those both on the contralateral and the control group (Axillary artery: Vmax: 31.3 +/- 11.8 vs. 62.0 +/- 24.1 and 85.8 +/- 14.3 cm/sec, P < 0.01; SA: 2.0 +/- 1.0 vs. 6.8 +/- 4.9 and 9.6 +/- 2.0 m/sec(2), P < 0.05; RI: 0.8 +/- 0.1 vs. 1.1 +/- 0.4 and 1.1 +/- 0.3, P < 0.01; AT: 141 +/- 34 vs. 86 +/- 26 and 76 +/- 9 ms, P < 0.01. Brachial artery: Vmax: 47.5 +/- 25.2 vs. 76.7 +/- 37.6 and 84.6 +/- 14.2 cm/sec, P < 0.05; SA: 3.1 +/- 2.1 vs. 9.1 +/- 5.2 and 10.1 +/- 3.5 m/sec(2), P < 0.01; RI: 1.0 +/- 0.1 vs. 1.2 +/- 0.1 and 1.2 +/- 0.1, P < 0.01; AT: 155 +/- 31 vs. 86 +/- 19 and 78 +/- 12ms, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The "tardus and parvus" phenomenon in ipsilateral axillary and brachial arteries could be employed as an alternative method and a shortcut for detection of the SCA stenosis or occlusion.

Doppler superior vena cava flow evolution and respiratory variation in superior vena cava syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is a clinical expression of obstruction of blood flow through the superior vena cava. The patterns of the Doppler flow changes of superior vena cava (SVC), especially the respiratory effects on them have not yet been fully elucidated. This study was to examine SVC Doppler flow patterns and the respiratory effects on them in healthy subjects and patients with SVCS. METHODS: The SVC Doppler flow patterns of 18 normal human subjects and 22 patients with SVCS were analyzed at initial diagnosis and were followed up every 2 months for at least 11 months. RESULTS: Among the 22 patients, 5 patients with the tumor near the right atrium oppressing the inferior segment of the SVC had clear VR- and AR-waves, while in the other 17 patients the VR- and AR-waves disappeared or their outlines were vague. The respiratory variations of the S- and D-waves as a percentage change in inspiration compared to expiration in patient group were much lower than those in control group (S-wave: 1.67 +/- 3.32% vs. 15.65 +/- 16.15%, P = 0.0003; D-wave: 1.80 +/- 1.12% vs. 23.55 +/- 37%, P = 0.0087), which gradually became larger with treatment and showed no significant difference with those in control group after 7 months. CONCLUSIONS: The Doppler flows of the patients with SVCS correlate well with the images of CT scan of them. The respiratory variation of the S- and D-velocities could be used to evaluate the severity of SVC obstruction and its therapeutic effect.

Application of ultrasonography in the diagnosis and treatment tracing of hepatocellular carcinoma-associated arteriovenous fistulas.

OBJECTIVE: Hepatic arteriovenous fistula (HAVF) can be caused by trauma, hepatic biopsy, bile duct radiology, etc. Small intrahepatic HAVF can be found in lesions of carcinoma and hepatocirrhosis. Accurate detection of HAVF was magnitude in the process to take appropriate treatment in clinic. The aim of this article is to evaluate the imaging diagnostic value on HAVF and to study the imaging character of HAVF in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to evaluate the role of ultrasonographic and radiological techniques in the diagnosis and management of developmental intrahepatic shunts so as to assess the imaging diagnostic evaluation in a follow-up study. METHODS: Seventy-eight patients diagnosed with HCC were enrolled in this study, and retrospective analysis of ultrasonographic and radiological data was carried out on all 78 patients, and 25 patients suspected of having HAVF were selected. The results from ultrasonography were compared with that from digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as a gold standard. The portal and hepatic veins, hepatic arteries and vessels around and inside the tumour patients were detected and the haemodynamic indices were recorded with ultrasonography. Ten patients with HAVF were followed up after the therapy of arterial embolization and the reversal effect of the therapy was observed. Associations of HAVF with clinical and ultrasonographic features were evaluated by stepwise logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-five of 78 HAVF patients were detected by ultrasonography and other imaging methods. Ultrasonographic parameters made excellent predictions for the patients with HAVF; sensitivity (SE) 83.3%, specificity (SP) 90.7%, positive predictive value (pPV, 80.0%), negative predictive value (nPV) 92.5% and accuracy 88.5%. Among the 25 HAVF patients, 16 were central hepatic artery-portal vein fistulae, seven were peri-hepatic artery-portal vein fistulae and two were hepatic artery-vein shunts. Characteristic ultrasonographic methods of hepatic artery-portal vein fistulae were as follows: 10 patients with hepatic artery-portal vein fistula were followed up after embolization. Compared with that of preembolization, seven cases returned to normal and in three patients abnormalities were still detected. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonographic evaluation of HAVF is easy to perform, reproducible and, when present, gives a high degree of certainty for the diagnosis of HAVF. Ultrasonography is a valuable method for the diagnoses HAVF; it can offer imaging evidence after the treatment of hepatic cell cancer. HAVF in patients with HCC can be detected by ultrasonographic methods, which are characterized by changes of hepatic arteries and veins involved in fistulas. These can be used for diagnosing HAVF and evaluating its arterial embolization effect in patients with HCC.