Effects of an intraoperative intravenous Bolus Dose of Dexmedetomidine on postoperative catheter-related bladder discomfort in male patients undergoing transurethral resection of bladder tumors: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether the effect of intravenous bolus doses of dexmedetomidine on postoperative catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD) was dose-dependent in male patients undergoing transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT). METHODS: The study protocol was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR 2,000,034,657, date of registration: July 14, 2020). Adult male patients were randomized to one of four groups: placebo (Group C); dexmedetomidine 0.2 µg/kg (Group D 0.2); dexmedetomidine 0.5 µg/kg (Group D 0.5); or dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg (Group D 1). The primary outcome was the incidence of moderate-to-severe CRBD at 0, 1, 6, 24, and 48 h postoperatively. RESULTS: The incidence of moderate-to-severe CRBD was significantly lower in Group D 0.5 and Group D 1 than in Group C at 0 h (13% vs. 40%, P = 0.006; 8% vs. 40%, P = 0.001), 1 h (15% vs. 53%, P < 0.001; 13% vs. 53%, P < 0.001), and 6 h (10% vs. 32%, P = 0.025; 8% vs. 32%, P = 0.009) postoperatively. Compared with baseline, both the MAP and HR were significantly lower in Group D 1 at 1 min ([94 ± 15] vs. [104 ± 13] mm Hg, P = 0.003; [64 ± 13] vs. [73 ± 13] bpm, P = 0.001) and 30 min ([93 ± 10] vs. [104 ± 13] mm Hg, P < 0.001; [58 ± 9] vs. [73 ± 13] bpm, P < 0.001) postextubation. CONCLUSION: The effect of intravenous bolus doses of dexmedetomidine on postoperative CRBD was dose-independent, whereas intravenous administration of 0.5 µg/kg dexmedetomidine reduced the early postoperative incidence of CRBD with minimal side effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trial number and registry URL: ChiCTR 2,000,034,657, http://www.chictr.org.cn , date of registration: July 14, 2020.

Exploring into the Unseen: Enhancing Language-Conditioned Policy Generalization with Behavioral Information.

Generalizing policies learned by agents in known environments to unseen domains is an essential challenge in advancing the development of reinforcement learning. Lately, language-conditioned policies have underscored the pivotal role of linguistic information in the context of cross-environments. Integrating both environmental and textual information into the observation space enables agents to accomplish similar tasks across different scenarios. However, for entities with varying forms of motion but the same name present in observations (e.g., immovable mage and fleeing mage), existing methods are unable to learn the motion information the entities possess well. They face the problem of ambiguity caused by motion. In order to tackle this challenge, we propose the entity mapper with multi-modal attention based on behavior prediction (EMMA-BBP) framework, comprising modules for predicting motion behavior and text matching. The behavioral prediction module is used to determine the motion information of the entities present in the environment to eliminate the semantic ambiguity of the motion information. The role of the text-matching module is to match the text given in the environment with the information about the entity's behavior under observation, thus eliminating false textual information. EMMA-BBP has been tested in the demanding environment of MESSENGER, doubling the generalization ability of EMMA.

Modified American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System and Modified Artificial Intelligence Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System for Thyroid Nodules: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background: Risk stratification systems for thyroid nodules are limited by low specificity. The fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy size thresholds and stratification criteria are based on evidence from the literature and expert consensus. Our aims were to investigate the optimal FNA biopsy size thresholds in the American College of Radiology (ACR) Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) and artificial intelligence (AI) TI-RADS and to revise the stratification criteria in AI TI-RADS. Methods: A total of 2596 thyroid nodules (in 2511 patients) on ultrasound examination with definite pathological diagnoses were retrospectively identified from January 2017 to September 2021 in 6 participating Chinese hospitals. The modified criteria for ACR TI-RADS were as follows: (1) no FNA for TR3; (2) FNA threshold for TR4 increased to 2.5 cm. The modified criteria for AI TI-RADS were as follows: (1) 6-point nodules upgraded to TR5; (2) no FNA for TR3; (3) FNA threshold for TR4 increased to 2.5 cm. The diagnostic performance and the unnecessary FNA rate (UFR) of modified versions were compared with the original ACR TI-RADS. Results: Compared with the original ACR TI-RADS, the modified ACR (mACR) TI-RADS yielded higher specificity (73% vs. 46%), accuracy (74% vs. 51%), area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC; 0.80 vs. 0.70), and lower UFR (25% vs. 48%; all p < 0.001), although the sensitivity was slightly decreased (87% vs. 93%, p = 0.057). Compared with the original ACR TI-RADS, the modified AI (mAI) TI-RADS yielded higher specificity (73% vs. 46%), accuracy (75% vs. 51%), AUC (0.81 vs. 0.70), and lower UFR (24% vs. 48%; all p < 0.001), although the sensitivity tended to be slightly decreased (89% vs. 93%, p = 0.13). There was no significant difference between the mACR TI-RADS and mAI TI-RADS in the diagnostic performance and UFR (all p > 0.05). Conclusions: The revised FNA thresholds and the stratification criteria of the mACR TI-RADS and mAI TI-RADS may be associated with improvements in specificity and accuracy, without significantly sacrificing sensitivity for malignancy detection.

Effects of S-ketamine on Postoperative Recovery Quality and Inflammatory Response in Patients Undergoing Modified Radical Mastectomy.

INTRODUCTION: S-ketamine plays an important role in reducing postoperative pain, but its impact on the quality of recovery in breast cancer has not been clarified. We designed this trial to explore the effects of s-ketamine on the quality of postoperative recovery and inflammatory response in modified radical mastectomy. METHODS: A total of 138 patients were randomly assigned to group C (group control), group K1 (group of s-ketamine dose 1) and group K2 (group of s-ketamine dose 2). Groups K1 and K2 were given 0.1 mg/kg, 0.2 mg/kg s-ketamine intravenous (IV) after induction, followed by 0.1 mg/kg/h or 0.2 mg/kg/h continuous intravenous infusion, respectively. Group C received the same volume of saline. A 40-item Quality of Recovery Questionnaire (QoR-40) was used to assess the quality of recovery at 24 h postoperatively. Changes in inflammatory markers, nociceptive thresholds, and the occurrence of adverse events were recorded at 24 h postoperatively. RESULTS: The QoR-40 scores at 24 h postoperatively were higher in group K2 [182.00 (179.00-185.00)] compared to group K1 [174.00 (169.50-180.50)] and group C [169.00 (163.75-174.25)] (group K2 vs. group K1, P < 0.001; group K2 vs. group C, P < 0.001). At 24 h postoperatively, the neutrophil count, NLR (neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio), and CRP (C-creative protein) were all significantly lower in group K2 than group C(P < 0.05), no differences were observed between group K1 and C(P > 0.05), group K1 and K2(P > 0.05), respectively. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse effects among the three groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A high dose of s-ketamine improved the quality of recovery at 24 h after surgery, as well as alleviated the inflammatory response without increasing the incidence of adverse effects.

Association between driving pressure and postoperative pulmonary complications in patients undergoing lung resection surgery: A randomised clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: It is uncertain whether an association exists for decreases in driving pressure and the occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in patients undergoing selective lung resection surgery. Thus, we designed this study to determine whether the positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) titration to the lowest driving pressure compared with conventional low PEEP level during one-lung ventilation (OLV) in patients undergoing selective lung resection surgery decreases PPCs. METHODS: This single-centre, randomised trial approved by the Ethical Committee of the Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center involved patients who signed written consent. Patients were randomised to the PEEP titration to the lowest driving pressure group (n = 104), or to the conventional low level of PEEP group (n = 103), consisting a PEEP level of 4 cm H2O during OLV. All patients received volume-controlled ventilation with a tidal volume of 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight. The primary outcome was defined as positive if 4 or more of eight Melbourne Group Scale (MGS) variables developed within the first 3 days after surgery. The incidence of major PPCs occurring during postoperative 7 days was also recorded. RESULTS: Among 222 patients who were randomised, 207 (93%) completed the trial (109 men [53%]; mean age, 56.9 years). The primary outcome occurred in 4 of 104 patients (4%) in the PEEP titration to the lowest driving pressure group compared with 13 of 103 patients (13%) in the conventional low level of PEEP group (risk ratio, 0.32 [95% CI, 0.10-0.90]; P = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients undergoing selective lung surgery, intraoperative OLV with PEEP titration to the lowest driving pressure compared with conventional low PEEP level (4 cm H2O) significantly reduced PPCs within the first 3 postoperative days, however, did not significantly reduce PPCs within the first 7 postoperative days.

Comparison of esketamine versus dexmedetomidine for attenuation of cardiovascular stress response to double-lumen tracheal tube intubation: a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: The insertion of a double-lumen tracheal tube may cause a transient but more intense sympathetic response. We examined the effects of esketamine vs. dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to anesthesia induction to blunt double lumen tracheal (DLT) intubation induced cardiovascular stress response. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind trial, 78 adult patients scheduled for elective thoracotomy under general anesthesia requiring DLT intubation were enrolled. The patients were randomly divided into three groups: each group received one of the following drugs prior to induction of anesthesia: dexmedetomidine 0.8 µg/kg (Group A), esketamine 0.5 mg/kg (Group B), or normal saline (group C). The primary outcome was the incidence of a DLT intubation-related cardiovascular stress response, defined as an increase in mean arterial pressure or heart rate of >30% above the baseline values. The secondary outcomes were changes in hemodynamic and cardiac function. Results: The incidence of the response to cardiovascular stress was 23.1%, 30.8%, and 65.4% in groups A, B, and C, respectively. There was a significant decrease in intubation response in groups A and B in comparison with group C (P < 0.01); however, there was no significant difference between group A and group B (P > 0.05). Following the drug infusion and the induction of anesthesia, there was a significant decrease in HR and cardiac output in group A compared with group B. In contrast, no significant differences were observed in the left ventricular ejection fraction or in stroke volume between the three groups during induction of anesthesia. Discussion: Esketamine 0.5 mg/kg and dexmedetomidine 0.8 µg/kg attenuate cardiovascular stress responses related to DLT intubation. As adjuvants to etomidate induction, they do not impair cardiac function (ChiCTR1900028030).

Peroxiredoxin 6 mediates the protective function of curcumin pretreatment in acute lung injury induced by serum from patients undergoing one-lung ventilation in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Curcumin has attracted much attention due to its wide range of therapeutic effects. In this study, we used serum collected from patients undergoing one-lung ventilation (OLV) to establish an in vitro acute lung injury (ALI) model to explore the potential protective mechanism of curcumin on ALI. Our study provides a new reference for the prevention and treatment of ALI induced by OLV. METHODS: A549 cells were treated with 20% serum from patients undergoing OLV to establish an in vitro ALI model. Curcumin, at a dose of 40 µg/ml, was administered two hours prior to this model. The levels of inflammation and oxidative stress markers were observed by Western blot, qRT-PCR, ELISA and reactive oxygen species assay. Additionally, the expression of peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6) and proteins involved in the NF-κB signaling pathway was evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty percent of serum collected from patients undergoing OLV downregulated the expression of Prdx6, leading to the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, which was associated with the subsequent overproduction of inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species. Pretreatment with curcumin restored Prdx6 downregulation and inhibited NF-κB pathway activation by suppressing the nuclear translocation of P65, eventually reducing inflammation and oxidative stress damage in A549 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Prdx6 mediated the protective function of curcumin by inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB pathway in ALI in vitro.

Effects of Etco2 on the Minimum Alveolar Concentration of Sevoflurane that Blunts the Adrenergic Response to Surgical Incision: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blinded Trial.

BACKGROUND: CO2 has anesthetic potency and effectively influences the circulatory system. We investigated the effects of Etco2 on the minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane that blunts the adrenergic response to surgical incision (MAC-BAR) in patients undergoing radical surgery for gastric carcinoma. METHODS: Ninety patients undergoing radical gastric-carcinoma surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled and randomly assigned into 3 groups. After intubation, the Etco2 in group L (n = 30), group N (n = 30), and group H (n = 30) was adjusted to 25 mm Hg ≤ Etco2 <30 mm Hg, 30 mm Hg ≤ Etco2 < 40 mm Hg, and 40 mm Hg ≤ Etco2 < 45 mm Hg, respectively, by changes in controlled ventilation. Hemodynamics and depth of anesthesia were observed before and after skin incision. The MAC-BAR of sevoflurane for each group was determined using an up-and-down sequential-allocation technique. RESULTS: To obtain 7 crossovers, 25, 26, and 26 patients were used in group L, group N, and group H, respectively. The MAC-BAR of sevoflurane using the up-and-down method for group H was significantly lower than that for group L (2.3% [95% confidence interval {CI}, 2.2-2.4] vs 2.9% [95% CI, 2.7-3.0]; difference, -0.6% [95% CI, -0.7 to -0.4], P < .001) and group N (2.3% [95% CI, 2.2-2.4] vs 2.8% [95% CI, 2.8-2.9]; difference, -0.5% [95% CI, -0.7 to -0.4], P < .001), while no significant difference was found between group L and group N (P = 1.000). CONCLUSIONS: Higher Etco2 levels (Etco2 values equal to 40 mm Hg or higher) can effectively decrease the MAC-BAR of sevoflurane in patients undergoing radical surgery for gastric carcinoma.

Effects of an Intraoperative Intravenous Bolus Dose of Dexmedetomidine on Remifentanil-Induced Postinfusion Hyperalgesia in Patients Undergoing Thyroidectomy: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Consecutive exposure to high-dose remifentanil during anesthesia may induce remifentanil-induced postinfusion hyperalgesia (RPH). Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective α2-adrenergic receptor agonist, may have synergistic effects with opioids and aid in perioperative pain management. In this study, we hypothesized that an intraoperative bolus dose of intravenous dexmedetomidine could alleviate RPH in patients undergoing thyroidectomy under general anesthesia. METHODS: Ninety patients undergoing thyroidectomy were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: placebo, normal saline (group P); low-dose dexmedetomidine 0.2 µg·kg-1 (group LD); or high-dose dexmedetomidine 0.5 µg·kg-1 (group HD). Remifentanil was infused at a rate of 0.30 µg·kg-1·minute-1. Mechanical pain thresholds were measured using an Electronic von Frey device preoperatively and at 30 minutes, 6 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours after surgery and were analyzed with 2-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Bonferroni post hoc comparison. We also recorded postoperative pain scores, the incidence of receiving rescue analgesics, and side effects up to 48 hours after surgery. RESULTS: The mechanical pain thresholds around the skin incision were significantly higher in group LD compared to group P 30 minutes and 6 hours after surgery (mean ± standard deviation: [65.0 ± 25.2] vs [49.6 ± 24.4] g, mean difference [95% confidence interval]: 15.4 [0.3-30.5] g, P = .045 at 30 minutes; [65.9 ± 24.5] vs [49.3 ± 26.1] g, 16.6 [1.1-32.1] g, P = .032 at 6 hours). The pain thresholds around the skin incision were significantly higher in group HD compared to group P 30 minutes and 6 hours after surgery ([67.8 ± 21.7] vs [49.6 ± 24.4] g, 18.2 [3.1-33.3] g, P = .013 at 30 minutes; [68.3 ± 22.5] vs [49.3 ± 26.1] g, 19.0 [3.5-34.5] g, P = .011 at 6 hours). The incidence of hyperalgesia around the skin incision was lower in group HD than in group P 30 minutes and 6 hours after surgery (4 [13%] vs 14 [48%], P = .012 at 30 minutes, 4 [13%] vs 12 [41%], P = .045 at 6 hours), although no significant difference was observed between group LD and group P. Postoperative pain scores, the incidence of rescue analgesic demand, and postoperative side effects were not significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: An intraoperative intravenous bolus dose of dexmedetomidine 0.5 µg·kg-1 alleviates remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia in patients undergoing thyroidectomy without a significant difference in side effects.

Shear-Wave Elastography of the Breast: Added Value of a Quality Map in Diagnosis and Prediction of the Biological Characteristics of Breast Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the added value of a shear-wave elastography (SWE) quality map (QM) in the diagnosis of breast lesions and in predicting the biological characteristics of invasive breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2016 and February 2019, this study included 368 women with 368 pathologically proven breast lesions, which appeared as poor-quality regions in the QM of SWE. To measure shear-wave velocity (SWV), seven regions of interest were placed in each lesion with and without QM guidance. Under QM guidance, poor-quality areas were avoided. Diagnostic performance was calculated for mean SWV (SWVmean), max SWV (SWVmax), and standard deviation (SD) with QM guidance (SWVmean + QM, SWVmax + QM, and SD + QM, respectively) and without QM guidance (SWVmean - QM, SWVmax - QM, and SD - QM, respectively). For invasive cancers, the relationship between SWV findings and biological characteristics was investigated with and without QM guidance. RESULTS: Of the 368 women (mean age, 47 years; SD, 10.8 years) enrolled, 159 had benign breast lesions and 209 had malignant breast lesions. SWVmean + QM (3.6 ± 1.39 m/s) and SD + QM (1.02 ± 0.84) were significantly different from SWVmean - QM (3.29 ± 1.22 m/s) and SD - QM (1.46 ± 1.06), respectively (all p < 0.001). For differential diagnosis of breast lesions, the sensitivity and areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of SWVmean + QM (sensitivity: 89%; AUC: 0.932) were better than those of SWVmean - QM (sensitivity, 84.2%; AUC, 0.912) (all p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in sensitivity and specificity between SD + QM and SD - QM (all p = 1.000). Among the biological characteristics of invasive cancers, lymphovascular involvement, axillary lymph node metastasis, negative estrogen receptor status, negative progesterone receptor status, positive human epidermal growth factor receptor status, and aggressive molecular subtypes showed higher SWVmean + QM (all p < 0.05), while only lymphovascular involvement showed higher SWVmean - QM (p = 0.036). CONCLUSION: The use of QM in SWE might improve the diagnostic performance for breast lesions and facilitate prediction of the biological characteristics of invasive breast cancers.

Added Value of Different Types of Elastography in Evaluating Ultrasonography Detected Breast Lesions: A Compared Study With Mammography.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of ultrasonography (US) and mammography in the differential diagnosis of breast lesions after adding different types of elastography to US. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This institutional review board-approved study included 316 breast lesions in 289 women between July 2016 and July 2018. All these lesions were evaluated with conventional US, elastography, and mammography before biopsy or surgery. Elastography, including elasticity imaging (EI), virtual touch tissue imaging (VTI), and virtual touch imaging quantification (VTIQ), were used to downgrade US Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System category 4A lesions. Diagnostic performances were calculated for mammography, US elastography, and the combination of US and elastography. RESULTS: The sensitivity of US (100%) was significantly higher than that of mammography (84.6%; P < .001), but the specificity of US (14.5%) was significantly lower than that of mammography (59.1%; P < .001). After adding EI, VTI, and VTIQ to US, the specificity was significantly increased from 14.5% to 69.4%, 72.6%, and 78.0%, respectively (P < .001), and were significantly higher than that of mammography (P = .043, P = .006, and P < .001, respectively). The sensitivity of US + EI (96.2%) and US + VTI (96.2%) was lower than that of US alone, although not significantly (100%; P = .063 and P = .063, respectively). CONCLUSION: The addition of different types of elastography to US improved the diagnostic performance in the differential diagnosis of breast lesions when compared with mammography.

Distinguishing intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma from hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with and without risks: the evaluation of the LR-M criteria of contrast-enhanced ultrasound liver imaging reporting and data system version 2017.

PURPOSE: To assess the diagnostic performance of the LR-M criteria of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2017 in differentiating intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with and without risk factors for HCC. METHODS: Fifty-four ICC in patients with risks and 55 ICC in patients without risks and matched control cases of HCC with and without risks (n = 59 and n = 55, respectively) were enrolled. The enhanced features of the lesions were retrospectively analyzed according to LR-M criteria. The diagnostic performances including the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity of LR-M criteria were assessed. RESULT: Peripheral rim-like hyperenhancement, early washout (< 45 or 60s), and marked washout did not differ between ICCs with and without risks, while all of these features were more common in ICCs than in HCCs (p < 0.05) no matter if patients were with and without risk factors. Using the LR-M criteria to differentiate ICC from HCC, the AUC, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 0.92, 97.25%, 87.72%, and 92.38%, respectively. If early washout onset was adjusted to < 45 s, the specificity was significantly increased to 95.61% (p = 0.004) without losing sensitivity (96.33%, p = 0.945). The rate of HCCs misdiagnosed as ICCs would decrease from 12.3 to 4.4%. CONCLUSION: Although the LR-M criteria showed high sensitivity in distinguishing ICCs from HCCs in patients with and without risks, the specificity would be significantly increased after adjustments to current criteria. KEY POINTS: • The LR-M criteria of CEUS-LI-RADS v2017 could be used for distinguishing ICC from HCC not only in patients with risk factors for HCC but also in those without risk factors. • The diagnostic performance of differentiating ICC from HCC by using the LR-M criteria showed high AUC (0.92), high sensitivity (97.25%), intermediate specificity (87.72%), and high accuracy (92.38%). • If the onset of early washout was adjusted to < 45 s, the specificity was significantly increased from 87.72 to 95.61% (p = 0.004) without losing sensitivity (p = 0.945), and the rate of HCCs misdiagnosed as ICCs would decrease from 12.3 to 4.4%.

A randomised comparison of the efficacy of a Coopdech bronchial blocker and a double-lumen endotracheal tube for minimally invasive esophagectomy.

BACKGROUND: Both a bronchial blocker (BB) and a double-lumen endotracheal tube (DLT) can achieve lung collapse and one-lung ventilation (OLV) during thoracic surgery. The purpose of this study was to compare these two airway devices in terms of efficacy in video-assisted thoraco-laparoscopic esophagectomy for cancer. METHODS: A total of 55 patients underwent combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy for cancer were enrolled and divided into a Coopdech bronchial blocker group (CBB group, n=27) or a DLT group (DLT group, n=28). The primary outcome was the lung collapse scores at 1, 5, 10 minutes after the opening of the pleural and assessed using a verbal analogue scale via a real-time video view. Secondary outcomes including time for tube localization, incidence of tube displacement, postoperative sore throats, and surgeons' satisfaction with surgical manipulations were collected. RESULTS: The patients in the CBB group achieved better lung collapse scores at 5 minutes (7.4±1.3 vs. 6.4±0.9 minutes, P<0.01) and 10 minutes (8.9±0.8 vs. 7.1±0.9 minutes, P<0.01) after opening the pleura, and they had lower incidence of postoperative sore throats [5 (18%) vs. 16 (57%), P<0.01] when compared with patients in DLT group. However, the time for tube localization were significantly longer in CBB group than in DLT group (210±120 vs. 125±60 s, P<0.05). There were no significant difference in tube displacement, hypoxemia (SpO2 <90%) during OLV, and in surgeons' satisfaction with surgical manipulations. CONCLUSIONS: CBB technique can be a potential alternative to the conventional DLT strategy for lung collapse and OLV during esophagectomy.

Effect of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning in Patients Undergoing Hepatectomy With Portal Triad Clamping: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) is reported to reduce liver injury in patients undergoing hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastasis, but its role is unclear in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal triad clamping during hepatectomy. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized trial, 140 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing liver resection requiring portal triad clamping were randomized to a RIPC group or a control group. Patients in the RIPC group received RIPC (3 cycles of 5-minute ischemia and 5-minute reperfusion in right upper limb with cuff pressure at 30 kPa [225 mm Hg]) approximately 10 minutes after induction of anesthesia. In the control group, patients received sham RIPC (the cuff was not inflated). The primary outcome was the postoperative peak level of total bilirubin (TBIL) and was analyzed with the independent t test. Secondary outcomes were liver function test at postoperative days 1, 3, and 5; postoperative morbidity and mortality during the first month; and the length of postoperative hospital stay. RESULTS: Data from 136 patients (69 in the RIPC group and 67 in the control group) were analyzed. The RIPC group had on average a 5.9 µmol lower peak level of TBIL than the control group; the mean difference is -5.9, and the 95% confidence interval (CI) reverses to -17.9 to 6.1. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in liver function test at postoperative days 1, 3, and 5; postoperative morbidity and mortality during the first month; and the length of postoperative hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence that RIPC can reduce postoperative liver injury after hepatectomy.

Early differentiating between the chemotherapy responders and nonresponders: preliminary results with ultrasonic spectrum analysis of the RF time series in preclinical breast cancer models.

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed to assess whether ultrasonic spectrum analysis of radiofrequency (RF) time series using a clinical ultrasound system allows for early differentiating between the chemotherapy responders and nonresponders in human breast cancer xenografts that imitate clinical responding and nonresponding tumors. METHODS: Clinically responding (n = 20; MCF-7) and nonresponding (n = 20; MBA-MD-231) breast cancer xenografts were established in 40 nude mice. Ten mice from each group received either chemotherapy (adriamycin, 4 mg/kg) or saline as controls. Each tumor was imaged longitudinally with a clinical ultrasound scanner at baseline (day 0) and subsequently on days 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 following treatment, and the corresponding RF time-series data were collected. Changes in six RF time-series parameters (slope, intercept, S1, S2, S3 and S4) were compared with the measurement of the tumor cell density, and their differential performances of the treatment response were analyzed. RESULTS: Adriamycin significantly inhibited tumor growth and decreased the cancer cell density in responders (P < 0.001) but not in nonresponders (P > 0.05). Fold changes of slope were significantly increased in responders two days after adriamycin treatment (P = 0.002), but not in nonresponders (P > 0.05). Early changes in slope on day 2 could differentiate the treatment response in 100% of both responders (95% CI, 62.9-100.0%) and nonresponders (95% CI, 88.4-100%). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonic RF time series allowed for the monitoring of the tumor response to chemotherapy and could further serve as biomarkers for early differentiating between the treatment responders and nonresponders.

Reducing Unnecessary Biopsy of Breast Lesions: Preliminary Results with Combination of Strain and Shear-Wave Elastography.

The aim of our study was to compare strain elastography (SE), acoustic radiation force impulse-inducing Virtual Touch Imaging ([VTI] Siemens Medical Solutions, Mountain View, CA, USA), Virtual Touch Imaging Quantification ([VTIQ] Siemens Medical Solutions) and combined methods in the evaluation of ultrasound (US) Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 4 lesions to explore an applicable way to reduce unnecessary biopsy by reducing false positives of conventional US without yielding false-negative cases. A total of 267 patients with 278 BI-RADS category 4 lesions (151 benign and 127 malignant) were evaluated with conventional B-mode US, SE, VTI and VTIQ implemented on a Siemens Acuson S2000 US system. Diagnostic performance, including area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were evaluated. Overall, VTI alone exhibited the highest NPV (91.74%), although combined elastic methods exhibited higher NPV than single methods, with the highest NPV at 100% when the VTI, SE and VTIQ methods were combined. Compared with conventional US, PPV increased from 45.7% (127 of 278) to 63.18% (127 of 201) when adding combined elastography (VTI + SE +VTIQ). In addition, 52.5% (63/120) and 50.8% (61/120) of BI-RADS 4 A lesions were downgraded when using combined methods (VTI + SE and VTI + SE + VTIQ, respectively) without missing any cancer. However, 2 intraductal papillomas and 1 phyllodes tumor were not identified. In conclusion, the combination of different elastic methods have the potential to downgrade BI-RADS 4A lesions to reduce false-positive biopsies without increasing the risk of missing cancers.

Shear Wave Elastography of Breast Lesions: Quantitative Analysis of Elastic Heterogeneity Improves Diagnostic Performance.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether quantitative analysis of elastic heterogeneity (EH) could improve the diagnostic performance of shear wave elastography (SWE) in breast lesions. From August 2016 to August 2017, 280 patients were enrolled in this prospective study. All lesions were evaluated with the ultrasound Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) and SWE with Virtual Touch tissue imaging quantification. The shear wave velocity (SWV) of the three areas of highest stiffness and lowest stiffness within the lesions were measured to calculate the maximum SWV (SWVmax), mean SWV (SWVmean) and EH. The EH was determined as the difference between the averaged highest SWV and lowest SWV. The diagnostic performance-including the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and the sensitivity and specificity of BI-RADS, EH, SWVmax and SWVmean-were analyzed. The AUC of EH, SWVmax and SWVmean were 0.963, 0.949 and 0.937, respectively. The sensitivity of EH was 93.75%, which was significantly higher than that of SWVmax (84.37%) and SWVmean (84.37%) (p < 0.001); there was no significant difference in the specificity among EH, SWVmax and SWVmean (p > 0.05). For category 4A lesions, EH predicted all the malignant lesions, while two cancers were misdiagnosed by SWVmax and SWVmean, respectively. Quantitative analysis of EH can improve the sensitivity of SWE for the differential diagnosis of breast lesions without loss of specificity.

Combination of different types of elastography in downgrading ultrasound Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System category 4a breast lesions.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a combination of different types of elastography could improve the accuracy of elastography-aided downgrading ultrasound (US) Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 4a lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2016 to May 2018, 458 consecutive women with 494 US BI-RADS category 4a breast lesions were enrolled in the prospective study. These lesions were subject to conventional US supplemented with strain elastography of elasticity imaging (EI), virtual touch tissue imaging (VTI), and shear wave elastography of virtual touch imaging quantification (VTIQ). Diagnostic performances were calculated for BI-RADS, EI, VTI, and VTIQ as well as the combination of EI, VTI, and VTIQ (combination of EI and VTI [EI + VTI], combination of EI and VTIQ [EI + VTIQ], and combination of VTI and VTIQ [VTI + VTIQ]). RESULTS: Pathologically, 445 lesions (90.1%) were benign, and 49 (9.9%) were malignant. The specificities of EI, VTI, and VTIQ were significantly higher than those of BI-RADS (69.9%, 83.8%, 75.5% vs. 0, respectively, P < 0.001), while their sensitivities were significantly lower than those of BI-RADS (83.7%, 73.5%, 65.3% vs. 100%, respectively, P < 0.05). Among the combinations, EI + VTI and EI + VTIQ showed similar sensitivity to BI-RADS (98% vs 100%, P = 1.000; 93.9% vs 100%, P = 0.25), while the specificity of EI + VTI was significantly higher than that of EI + VTIQ and BI-RADS (P < 0.001). When using EI + VTI to downgrade lesions, 58.7% of these lesions were downgraded, among those 99.7% were benign. CONCLUSIONS: Combinations of EI and VTI to downgrade BI-RADS category 4a lesions may reduce the misdiagnosis of breast cancers and the number of unnecessary biopsies.

Intranasal Oxytocin Attenuates Reactive and Ongoing, Chronic Pain in a Model of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 1.7 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year and chronic pain is a common complication. OBJECTIVE: We studied the effects of intranasally administered oxytocin as a potential treatment for chronic pain in an animal model of mild TBI. METHODS: The lateral fluid percussion model of mild TBI was chosen for this purpose and after exposure to mild TBI the rats (n = 12) developed hind paw and facial allodynia compared to sham animals (n = 6). Oxytocin or a vehicle was afterwards administered intranasally and reactive pain was assessed by hind paw and facial von Frey testing. Some animals received the oxytocin receptor antagonist, atosiban, in addition to oxytocin/vehicle treatment (n = 12). The effect of oxytocin on ongoing and spontaneous pain was examined through conditioned place preference testing. To determine whether the effects of intranasal oxytocin could be attributed to delivery via the peripheral blood stream, some TBI animals received an intravenous injection of the same oxytocin dose that was given intranasally. ELISA immunoassays were carried out (n = 6) to measure concentrations of oxytocin in the trigeminal ganglia, pons, spinal cord, and olfactory bulb after intranasal administration and evaluate the most likely route of entry. RESULTS: These studies confirmed that the fluid percussion model can be used to study post-TBI facial allodynia. Oxytocin attenuated both reactive and spontaneous, ongoing non-reactive pain following mild TBI for at least 3-4 hours after intranasal administration by binding to OT or VA1-receptors most likely by a peri-trigeminal nerve mediated uptake. CONCLUSIONS: Intranasal oxytocin attenuates measures of reactive and non-reactive pain in a model of mild TBI and may represent a novel treatment for chronic pain in TBI patients.

[Anesthesia management in robotic-assisted esophagectomy with triple incisions: analysis of 53 cases].

Between March, 2016 and January, 2017, 53 patients underwent robotic-assisted esophagectomy with triple incisions. All the patients were intubated with Double lumen endotracheal tub with one-lung ventilation and CO2 pneumoperitoneum, and CO2 pneumothorax was used in 7 cases. Most of the patients could tolerate OLV and CO2 pneumoperitoneum, and 4 patients with CO2 pneumothorax had hypoxemia and required double-lung ventilation or high frequency ventilation; 15 patients developed postoperative pulmonary complications and were transferred to ICU. These results suggest that CO2 pneumothorax during robotic-assisted esophagectomy with triple incision seriously disturbs pulmonary function, and careful anesthesia management is essential for preventing complications.