The application of magnetic resonance imaging-guided microwave ablation for lung cancer.

CONTEXT: It is necessary to explore a minimally invasive, effective, and efficient treatment for those lung cancer patients who are poor candidates for surgery. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the application of microwave ablation (MWA) in the treatment of lung cancer. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A total of 43 patients with 44 pulmonary lesions were examined following identical procedures before being randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group consists of 17 patients with a total of 18 pulmonary lesions, while the control group consists of 26 patients with a total of 26 pulmonary lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experimental group was treated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided MWA while the control group was treated using computer tomography (CT)-guided MWA. A transverse relaxation time-turbo spin echo (T2-TSE) sequence was used for signal collection in the experimental group to determine puncture location and microwave needle position while T2-TSE, T1-turbo field echo, and diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) sequences were used for timely efficacy evaluation. Whereas in the control group, CT axial scanning was performed to serve similar purposes. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: A nonparametric Wilcoxon test, median (M [25%, 75%]). RESULTS: All of the 44 lesions were successfully located on the first attempt. The mean time for scanning and locating lung lesions under MRI and CT guidance were 64.53 and 42.96 min, the mean times of positioning were 12 and 18 min, and the mean durations of MWA were 12.48 and 15.06 min, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: As a minimally invasive method for treating lung tumors, MRI-guided MWA requires fewer localization scans, a shorter MWA duration, no radiation, real-time observation of the curative effect, and it prevents overtreatment.

Two weeks post-operative ultrasound examination of radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistulae to predict maturity in a Chinese population.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of post-operative ultrasound examination for predicting wrist radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistula maturity. METHODS: All radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistulas performed in our hospital between October 2015 and December 2017 were included in this study. Ultrasound examination of radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistulas was performed 2 weeks post-surgery. Radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistula maturation was defined as successful cannulation of a fistula with two needles, delivery of blood via the access route at a flow rate ⩾200 mL/min for 4 h, and dialysis via fistulae in at least six consecutive sessions. RESULTS: Eighty-two wrist radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistulas were analyzed, of which 13 failed. Cephalic vein diameter >4.285 mm and brachial artery peak systolic velocity >134.75 cm/s were the best post-operative ultrasound predictors of radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistula maturity (p < 0.001 and p = 0.011, respectively). Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the sensitivity and specificity of predicting radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistula maturation were 88.4% and 92.3% for cephalic vein diameter (area under the curve = 0.939), respectively, and 82.9% and 76.9% for brachial artery peak systolic velocity (area under the curve = 0.830), respectively. All assessments predicted radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistula maturity (post-operative positive predictive values: cephalic vein diameter = 98.4%, brachial artery peak systolic velocity = 95%) much better than radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistula failure (post-operative negative predictive values: cephalic vein diameter = 60%, brachial artery peak systolic velocity = 45.5%). CONCLUSION: Two weeks after surgery, a new wrist radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistula with a cephalic vein diameter >4.285 mm was considered suitable for dialysis. A high-risk arteriovenous fistula failure would benefit from early intervention.

A Recombinant HAV Expressing a Neutralization Epitope of HEV Induces Immune Response against HAV and HEV in Mice.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) are causative agents of acute viral hepatitis transmitted via the fecal-oral route. Both viruses place a heavy burden on the public health and economy of developing countries. To test the possibility that HAV could be used as an expression vector for the development of a combination vaccine against hepatitis A and E infections, recombinant HAV-HEp148 was created as a vector to express an HEV neutralization epitope (HEp148) located at aa 459-606 of the HEV capsid protein. The recombinant virus expressed the HEp148 protein in a partially dimerized state in HAV-susceptible cells. Immunization with the HAV-HEp148 virus induced a strong HAV- and HEV-specific immune response in mice. Thus, the present study demonstrates a novel approach to the development of a combined hepatitis A and E vaccine.

Analgesic effects and structural elucidation of two new flavone C-glycosides from Artemisa sacrorum.

The present study was designed to isolate and characterize the analgesic compounds of Artemisa sacrorum Ledeb. The EtOAc crude extracts from the aerial parts of Artemisa sacrorum Ledeb were separated by chromatography and the structures of new compounds were elucidated based on spectral analyses. Analgesic activities of the isolated compounds were assessed in rats with hot plate test and paw pressure assay. Two new flavone C-glycosides, named as Sacroroside A and B (Compounds 1 and 2) were isolated from the EtOAc crude extract of the aerial parts ofArtemisa sacrorum Ledeb. They showed significant analgesic effects. In conclusion, Compounds 1 and 2 are new natural products, which show significant analgesic effects in a dose-dependent manner.

[Study on Chemical Constituents of Panzeria alaschanica].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of the ethyl acetate extract from Panzeria alaschanica. METHODS: The chemical constituents of ethyl acetate extract from Panzeria alaschanica were isolated and purified by silica gel. Their structures were i- dentified by means of spectra. RESULTS: Nine compounds were obtained and identified as 7-Methoxy coumarin (1), Isorhamnetin (2), Caf- feic acid (3), 5-Hydroxy-7,3',4'-trimethoxyflavone (4), 5-Hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone (5),Kaempferol (6), Isorhamnetin-3-O-ß-D- glucoside (7) Kaempferol-3-O-ß-D-glucoside (8), and Isorhamnetin-7-O-ß-D-glucuronyl-(1-->6)-O-α-L-rhamnoside (9). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1-4,6,7 and 9 are isolated from this plant for the first time.

Electrochemical determination of purine and pyrimidine DNA bases based on the recognition properties of azocalix[4]arene.

The azocalix[4]arene film modified glassy carbon electrode was established for the convenient and sensitive detection of four DNA bases (guanine, adenine, thymine and cytosine). Field emission scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflectance-FTIR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the film. The azocalix[4]arene film exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of all bases. Well-separated voltammetric peaks were obtained among guanine, adenine, thymine and cytosine, which lead to the feasibility for the simultaneous determination of all of them in a mixture without separation or pretreatment. Linear calibration curves were obtained from 0.125 to 200.0 µM for adenine, 0.125 to 175.0 µM for guanine, 2.50 to 650.0 µM for thymine, and 2.50 to 650.0 µM for cytosine. This sensor also exhibits good stability, reproducibility and long lifetime.

[Study on chemical constituents of Ixeris chinensis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Ixeris chinensis. METHODS: The chemical constituents of Ixeris chinensia were isolated and purified by silica gel. LH-20 column chromatography and preparation HPLC etc. Their structures were identified b) means of spectra, in same cases by direct comparison with authentic samples. RESULTS: Ten compounds were obtained and identified as luteolin (1), luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), apigenin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyrano side (3), luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside acatate (4), 3beta-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy) -8beta- (p-hydroxyphenylacetyloxy) -guaia-4 (15), 10 (14), 11 (13) -trien-1alpha, 5beta, 6beta, 7alphaH-12, 6-olide (5), beta- (beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy) -8beta- (2-hydroxy-3-methylbutanoyloxy) -guaia-4 (15),10 (14), 11 (13) -trien-1alpha, 5beta, 6beta,7alphaH-12,6-olide (6), 5, 3', 4'-trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone (7), apigenin (8), 5-hydroxy-7,4'- dimethoxyflavone (9), 5, 7, 4'- trimethoxyflavone (10). CONCLUSION: Compounds (5, 6, 7, 9, 10) are isolated from this plant for the first time.