Quantitative analysis for detection and grading of hepatocellular carcinoma: Comparison of diffusion kurtosis imaging, intravoxel incoherent motion and conventional diffusion-weighted imaging.

The aim of the present study was to compare the diagnostic performance of the main parameters derived from diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) regarding the detection and grading of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A total of 78 patients diagnosed with HCC by biopsy were prospectively enrolled in the present study, and underwent routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), DWI, IVIM, DKI and contrast-enhanced MRI prior to surgery. Measurements, including mean diffusivity (MD), mean diffusional kurtosis (MK), true diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), perfusion fraction (f) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), were compared with grading HCC using one-way ANOVA followed by the Student-Neuman-Keuls-q post-hoc test. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between each parameter and pathological grade, while the diagnostic efficiency was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The 78 patients enrolled in the present study were grouped into highly (n=22), moderately (n=41) or poorly (n=15) differentiated HCC groups according to the criteria of Pathology and Genetics Tumors of the Digestive System. MK values differed significantly between different grades and decreased gradually with the degree of tumor differentiation. The MD, D and ADC values in the highly differentiated HCC group were significantly higher than those in the moderately or poorly differentiated HCC groups (all P<0.001), whereas no significant differences were observed in D* or f (P=0.502 and P=0.853, respectively). A significant correlation was observed between MK, MD, D and ADC, and HCC grades (r=0.705, r=0.570, r=0.423 and r=0.687, respectively). The comparison of the ROC curves of MK, MD, D, ADC, D* and f values for predicting highly differentiated HCC suggested that MK and D were the best indicators for predicting highly differentiated HCC, as the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of MK and D was significantly higher than that of ADC (Z=2.247 and 2.428, P=0.025 and 0.016, respectively), whereas non-statistically significant differences were observed in the AUC values between MK and D (Z=0.072; P=0.942). The DKI-derived MK and IVIM-derived D values had a similar diagnostic performance and were superior to ADC in discriminating the histological grade of HCC. In addition, the combination of MK and D values exhibited an improved diagnostic performance.

Microwave ablation vs. cryoablation for treatment of primary and metastatic pulmonary malignant tumors.

At present, minimally invasive surgery is one of the primary strategies for the treatment of malignant pulmonary tumors. Although, there are some comparative studies between microwave ablation and radiofrequency for the treatment of malignant pulmonary tumors, there are few studies that have investigated the comparison between microwave ablation and cryoablation. The aim of the study was to retrospectively compare the efficacy and complications of microwave ablation (MWA) and cryoablation in the treatment of malignant pulmonary tumors. A retrospective analysis was performed on 48 patients with malignant lung tumors treated with MWA or cryoablation in The Third Hospital of Mianyang and The Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College between June 2014 and June 2018. Of these patients, 29 received MWA and 19 received cryoablation. Intraprocedural pain was evaluated by using the visual analog scale (VAS). The intraprocedural pain, response rates, overall survival (OS) and complications rates were compared between the MWA group and cryoablation group. The results showed that the patients in the MWA group experienced more pain than those in cryoablation group as the MWA group VAS scores were much higher than those in cryoablation group (P<0.001). The overall response rate of the MWA group [21/29 (72.41%)] was not significantly different from the cryoablation group [14/19 (73.68%)] (P=0.92). The 6-, 12-, 24- and 36-month OS rates in the MWA group and cryoablation group were 92.72, 81.28, 64.54 and 54.91%, and 94.07, 81.13, 57.33 and 43.04%, respectively. No significant differences were found in the OS rate between the two groups (P=0.79). The complication rates in the MWA and cryoablation groups were 34.48 and 36.84%, respectively; there was no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.59). No patients died during the perioperative period. Cryoablation had a similar therapeutic effect compared with MWA in the treatment of pulmonary malignant tumors, but was associated with less pain.

High resolution computed tomography for the diagnosis of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pneumonia: a study from multiple medical centers in western China.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the role of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in the diagnosis of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pneumonia and to provide experience in the early detection and diagnosis of 2019-nCoV pneumonia. METHODS: Seventy-two patients confirmed to be infected with 2019-nCoV from multiple medical centers in western China were retrospectively analyzed, including epidemiologic characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings and HRCT chest features. RESULTS: All patients had lung parenchymal abnormalities on HRCT scans, which were mostly multifocal in both lungs and asymmetric in all patients, and were mostly in the peripheral or subpleural lung regions in 52 patients (72.22%), in the central lung regions in 16 patients (22.22%), and in both lungs with "white lung" manifestations in 4 patients (5.56%). Subpleural multifocal consolidation was a predominant abnormality in 38 patients (52.78%). Ground-glass opacity was seen in 34 patients (47.22%). Interlobular septal thickening was found in 18 patients, 8 of whom had only generally mild thickening with no zonal predominance. Reticulation was seen in 8 patients (11.11%), and was mild and randomly distributed. In addition, both lungs of 28 patients had 2 or 3 CT imaging features. Out of these 72 patients, 36 were diagnosed as early stage, 32 patients as progressive stage, and 4 patient as severe stage pneumonia. Moreover, the diagnostic accuracy of HRCT features combined with epidemiological history was not significantly different from the detection of viral nucleic acid (all P >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The HRCT features of 2019-nCoV pneumonia are characteristic to a certain degree, which when combined with epidemiological history yield high clinical value in the early detection and diagnosis of 2019-nCoV pneumonia.

SOCS3 Is Upregulated and Targeted by miR30a-5p in Allergic Rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) and SOCS3 play important roles in T helper cell differentiation, which is involved with the pathologic mechanisms of allergic rhinitis (AR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of SOCS1 and SOCS3 in AR and find their regulatory microRNAs (miRNAs) to provide a basis for the treatment of AR. METHODS: The expression of SOCS1 and SOCS3 were analyzed by real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot. The correlative regulatory miRNAs were detected by real-time PCR. Luciferase assays and AR mouse model experiments were applied to identify correlative miRNAs that target SOCS3. RESULTS: SOCS1 and SOCS3 mRNA were upregulated in the nasal mucosa and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of AR compared with controls. The expression of SOCS3 protein was significantly increased in the nasal mucosa of AR. The immunohistochemical staining results showed that SOCS3 was similarly localized in the superficial epithelium, submucosal glands, and vascular endothelium in the nasal mucosa of AR subjects and controls. However, SOCS3 protein was especially localized in the inflammatory cells, such as eosinophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS: SOCS3 was targeted by miR30a- 5p in AR. Further study should be performed to identify the regulatory effect of miR30a-5p in AR, which may provide insights into a new therapeutic strategy.

[Experimental investigation of effects of adenovirus transduced tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 gene on growth of laryngeal squamous carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inhibitory effects of adenovirus transduced TFPI-2 gene on the growth of laryngeal squamous carcinoma. METHODS: Recombinant adenoviruses carrying human TFPI-2 gene were amplified and identified. The nude mouse model of laryngeal squamous carcinoma was established by intracutaneous injection of Hep-2 cells. Mice in the treated group were injected with recombinant adenoviruses with Ad-TFPI-2 (adenoviruses-TFPI-2) in peritumor tissue while mice in control group were injected with equivalent null plasmids. After treatment, the tumor weight and volume of tumor in each mouse were measured respectively. The morphological changes of tumor cells were observed using transmission electron microscope and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression was examined using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The Ad-TFPI-2 virus titer was 2.8 x 10(12) PFU/ml after amplification. The average tumor weight and volume in Ad-TFPI-2 treated group were (1.20 +/- 0.34) cm3 and the volume (1.52 +/- 0.39) g, which were significantly lower than the tumor weight (2. 08 +/- 0.52) cm3 and (2.67 +/- 0.47) g in the control group (P < 0. 01). Apoptosis was observed in the tumors of Ad-TFPI-2 treated group. The PCNA index in Ad-TFPI-2 group was (54.9% +/- 12.4%), which was obviously lower than that (75.8% +/- 11.2%)in control group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Peritumor injection of Ad-TFPI-2 can inhibit the growth of laryngeal squamous carcinoma in nude mouse model.

[Endostatin in the treatment of the transplantable model of human laryngeal squamous carcinoma in nude mice].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the inhibitory effect of endostatin on tumor growth of human laryngeal squamous carcinoma in nude mice and to explore the possible mechanism of the inhibition and the possible way of biological therapy. METHODS: Nude mice model bearing laryngocarcinoma was established by using human laryngeal squamous carcinoma cell line ( Hep-II). The animals were given endostatin (20 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) or PBS, for 21 consecutive days. The volumes of the subcutaneous tumor were observed. The microstructure in which the general 2-step immuohistochemical examination was adopted and ultra-microstructural changes of carcinoma after administration of endostatin were observed under light and electron microscopes for pathology examination. RESULTS: The differences were statistically significant for the net mice weight, tumor weight, and tumor volume and weight/net mice weight between the treatment group and the control group. The restrained percentage of tumor was 45.9%. The necrosis and apoptosis of the tumor cell and the angiogenesis reduction were found under light and electron microscope in the treatment group. The expression of MVD, PCNA and VEGF of the treatment group is lower than that of the control group, and T test showed that P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.05 respectively, the differences were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: These studies showed that endostatin could significantly restrain the development of laryngocarcinoma. The mechanism may be due to the effect of antiangiogesis.