HCC portal hypertension imaging score derived from CT predicts re-bleeding and mortality after acute variceal bleeding.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Risk factors for re-bleeding and death after acute variceal bleeding (AVB) in cirrhotic HCC patients are not fully understood.We aimed to (1) explore how the combination of high-risk esophageal varices, HCC status, and portal vein tumor thrombus (i.e., HCC Portal Hypertension Imaging Score [HCCPHTIS]) helps predict increased risk of variceal re-bleeding and mortality; (2) assess predictability and reproducibility of the identified variceal re-bleeding rules. METHODS: This prospective study included 195 HCC patients with first-time AVB and liver cirrhosis, and conducted multivariable Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was calculated to find the optimal sensitivity, specificity, and cutoff values of the variables. The reproducibility of the results obtained was verified in a different but related group of patients. RESULTS: 56 patients (28.7%) had re-bleeding within 6 weeks; HCCPHTIS was an independent risk factor for variceal re-bleeding after AVB (Odd ratio, 2.330; 95% confidence interval: 1.728-3.142, p < 0.001). The positive predictive value of HCCPHTIS cut off value > 3 was 66.2%, sensitivity 83.9%, and specificity 82.3%. HCCPHTIS area under the curve was higher than Child-Pugh score (89% vs. 75%, p < 0.001). 74(37.9%) death occurred within 6 weeks; HCCPHTIS > 4 was associated with increased risk of death within 6 weeks after AVB (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: HCCPHTIS > 3 is a strong predictor of variceal re-bleeding within the first 6 weeks. However, patients with HCCPHTIS > 4 were at increased risk of death within 6 weeks.

Reduction of oil uptake in vacuum fried Pleurotus eryngii chips via ultrasound assisted pretreatment.

The reduction of oil uptake in vacuum-fried Pleurotus eryngii chips by ultrasound assisted pretreatment was investigated regarding the pore structure changes. Pore structure of P. eryngii chips with four pretreatments, such as blanching, blanching + osmosis, blanching + ultrasound and blanching + ultrasound assisted osmosis was determined by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, the quality parameters of vacuum-fried P. eryngii chips such as hardness, rehydration ratio, reducing sugar, protein and oil content were also measured. The results showed that the oil absorption of vacuum fried P. eryngii chips was affected by the porous structure. The oil content of vacuum fried P. eryngii chips was significantly and positively correlated with the pores with diameters above 50, 5-50, and 0.5-5 µm in the samples both before and after vacuum frying, while negatively correlated with the pores with diameters below 0.5 µm. Ultrasound pretreatment changed the microporous structure of P. eryngii chips, effectively hindering the oil absorption of samples. In particular, ultrasound assisted osmosis pretreatment induced the formation of more micropores. It was concluded that blanching + ultrasound assisted osmosis pretreatment is a promising method to reduce oil absorption and improve the quality of vacuum fried foods.

A Pilot Study of Prognostic Value of Metastatic Lymph Node Count and Size in Patients with Different Stages of Gastric Carcinoma.

Background: The correlation between the preoperative lymph node count (LNC) on multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and the prognosis of gastric carcinoma (GC) remains to be defined. This research aims to evaluate the prognostic value of LNC on MDCT in GC patients based on tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging, using different size criteria for counting. Methods: The clinical data of 126 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma undergoing gastrectomy were retrospectively analyzed. Lymph nodes greater than 8mm and 5mm on MDCT were counted and recorded. The prognostic implications of LNC on MDCT for patient survival were analyzed according to different size criteria for counting and tumor TNM staging. Results: When 8mm was used as the counting criterion, LNC on MDCT had no significant effect on the overall survival (OS) of the entire cohort. In addition, the OS of T1-T2 GC patients with LNC on MDCT ≥1 was significantly worse than that of patients with LNC on MDCT <1. When 5mm was used as the counting criterion, LNC on MDCT was found to be significantly associated with the OS of the entire cohort. In the subgroup analysis, patients with relatively advanced (T3-T4, N+ and III) GC with LNC on MDCT >7 showed a significantly worse OS than those with LNC on MDCT ≤7. LNC on MDCT >7 with 5mm as the counting criterion and Stage III were independent risk factors for adverse prognosis. Conclusion: The prognostic value of LNC on MDCT based on different size criteria varies in patients with different stages of GC. LNC of a smaller size (5mm) on MDCT may be a prognostic factor for patients with relatively advanced GC.

[Diagnostic Significance of BAT in Anaphylaxis to Non-ionic Contrast Media].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic significance of basophil activation test (BAT) in anaphylaxis to non-ionic contrast media through testing the content of CD63, mast cell-carboxypeptidase A3 (MC-CPA3), and terminal complement complex SC5b-9 of the individuals by testing their levels in the normal immune group and the anaphylaxis groups to ß-lactam drugs and non -ionic contrast media. METHODS: The CD63 expression of basophilic granulocyte in blood was detected by flow cytometry. The levels of MC-CPA3 in blood serum and SC5b-9 in blood plasma were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: The CD63 expression of basophilic granulocyte in blood, the levels of MC-CPA3 and SC5b-9 of anaphylaxis to non-ionic contrast media and ß-lactam drugs were significantly higher than that in normal immune group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is activation of basophilic granulocytes, mast cells and complement system in anaphylaxis to non-ionic contrast media. BAT can be used to diagnose the anaphylaxis to non-ionic contrast media.

[Application of microcolumn gel immunoassay in screening the platelet antibody].

The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical value of the platelet antibody screening and typing in platelets transfusion by using microcolumn gel immunoassay (MGIA). The platelets antigen-antibody reactions including the antibody screen and blood crossmatch were detected by MGIA. The results indicated that the detection of platelet antibody showed positive in 30 cases of aplastic anemia (AA), 11 cases of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), 24 out of 25 cases of leukemia and 1 out of cases of other diseases, while detection of platelet antibody showed negative in 20 normal volunteer donors. The number of platelet antibody crossmatch coincidence in 112 specimens of AA, 42 specimens of MDS and 95 specimens of leukemia were 45, 20 and 40, the coincidence rates were 40.18%, 47.62% and 42.11%. The mean corrected count increment (CCI) in 20 patients received platelet transfusion many times was 18.2 after crossmatch and 4.7 before crossmatch. It is concluded that the positive rate of platelet antibody screening is very high in patients with hematologic malignancies, the coincidence rate of platelet antibody crossmatch in 249 blood samples is between 40% and 48%, and the efficiency of using crossmatched platelets in clinic is enhanced significantly.