Lignocellulosic-Based Nanoparticles with Photoluminescent Properties for Bioimaging.

Natural and renewable resources from plants or animals are an important source of biomaterials due to their biocompatibility and high availability. Lignin is a biopolymer present in the biomass of plants, where it is intertwined and cross-linked with other polymers and macromolecules in the cell walls, generating a lignocellulosic material with potential applications. We have prepared lignocellulosic-based nanoparticles with an average size of 156 nm that exhibit a high photoluminescence signal when excited at 500 nm with emission in the near-infrared (NIR) region at 800 nm. The advantage of these lignocellulosic-based nanoparticles is their natural luminescent properties and their origin from rose biomass waste, which eliminates the need for encapsulation or functionalization of imaging agents. Moreover, the in vitro cell growth inhibition (IC50) of lignocellulosic-based nanoparticles is about 3 mg/mL, and no in vivo toxicity was registered up to 57 mg/kg, which suggests that they are suitable for bioimaging applications. In addition, these nanoparticles can circulate in the blood and are excreted in urine. The combined high luminescence signal in NIR, small size, low in vitro toxicity, low in vivo toxicity, and blood circulation support the potential of lignin-based nanoparticles as a novel bioimaging agent.

Safety and efficacy of common endoscopic treatments in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

INTRODUCTION: The safety and efficacy have always been a concern, when patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis (DLC) receive endoscopic treatments. METHODS: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of common endoscopic treatments including endoscopic resection (ER) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) applying to patients with DLC, we performed a retrospective study finally including 81 patients receiving ER (43 endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and 38 endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)) and 131 patients treated by ERCP. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the rate of degeneration and invariability of Child-Pugh (CP) class and the overall rate of adverse events between two groups (93.8%/8.6% ER vs. 96.2%/15.3% ERCP). Both the degeneration rate of CP class (35.4%) and the rate of adverse events (27.1%) in subgroup CP class C of ERCP group were significantly higher (P=0). The rate of poor outcomes was higher in ERCP group (12.2%) than that in ER group (2.5%) (P=0.02). And subgroup CP class C of ERCP group had a higher poor outcome rate (27.1%) (P=0). CONCLUSION: ER and ERCP could remove focal lesions or relieve symptoms induced by targeted diseases without significant changes of CP class. Significant benefits and risks coexisted in CP class C patients with DLC when receiving ERCP.

Sonographic Findings of the Bifid Median Nerve and Persistent Median Artery in Carpal Tunnel: A Preliminary Study in Chinese Individuals.

OBJECTIVE:: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anatomic variations of the bifid median nerve, persistent median artery and persistent median vein in Chinese individuals and their relationship with carpal tunnel syndrome. METHODS:: One hundred and sixty median nerves were examined using ultrasonography and colour Doppler ultrasonography. The location, shape, and size of the bifid median nerve, persistent median artery and persistent median vein were recorded. The cross-sectional area of the bifid median nerve (two trunks) was measured at the level of the pisiform. RESULTS:: Among the 160 wrists examined, a bifid median nerve was observed in 15 (9.4%) wrists, and a persistent median artery was observed in 12 (7.5%) wrists. These two variations either coexisted or were observed independently, and the probability of coexistence (6.3%) was higher than the probability of existing independently (bifid median nerve only 3.1%, persistent median artery only 1.3%). The cross-sectional area of the radial trunk was greater than (13 in 15, 86.7%) the cross-sectional area of the ulnaris trunk. Persistent median vein was observed in 9 wrists (5.6%). CONCLUSIONS:: The persistent median artery and bifid median nerve tend to coexist, and the persistent median vein sometimes runs parallel to the persistent median artery. Their positional relationship in carpal tunnel is uncertain, and thus, preoperative ultrasound is necessary. These three variations do not present any additional risk for the development of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Sonographic Findings of the Bifid Median Nerve and Persistent Median Artery in Carpal Tunnel: A Preliminary Study in Chinese Individuals

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anatomic variations of the bifid median nerve, persistent median artery and persistent median vein in Chinese individuals and their relationship with carpal tunnel syndrome. METHODS: One hundred and sixty median nerves were examined using ultrasonography and colour Doppler ultrasonography. The location, shape, and size of the bifid median nerve, persistent median artery and persistent median vein were recorded. The cross-sectional area of the bifid median nerve (two trunks) was measured at the level of the pisiform. RESULTS: Among the 160 wrists examined, a bifid median nerve was observed in 15 (9.4%) wrists, and a persistent median artery was observed in 12 (7.5%) wrists. These two variations either coexisted or were observed independently, and the probability of coexistence (6.3%) was higher than the probability of existing independently (bifid median nerve only 3.1%, persistent median artery only 1.3%). The cross-sectional area of the radial trunk was greater than (13 in 15, 86.7%) the cross-sectional area of the ulnaris trunk. Persistent median vein was observed in 9 wrists (5.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The persistent median artery and bifid median nerve tend to coexist, and the persistent median vein sometimes runs parallel to the persistent median artery. Their positional relationship in carpal tunnel is uncertain, and thus, preoperative ultrasound is necessary. These three variations do not present any additional risk for the development of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Ultrasound of Biliary Cast Syndrome and Its Mimics.

Biliary cast syndrome (BCS) consists of mass-like hardened collections of inspissated bile and sloughed biliary mucosa filling the intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic bile ducts, which show an alternating pattern of dilatation and stricture. It is a rare but serious complication of liver transplantation frequently necessitating repeated percutaneous, endoscopic or surgical stent placements, and cast retrieval. Although not typically considered as the modality of choice for BCS compared with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, ultrasound can be quite useful for this diagnosis. This article reviews the sonographic appearance of BCS in postliver transplant patients and correlates with other imaging modalities including computed tomography, MRCP, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Also reviewed are other intrahepatic pathologies that mimic the appearance of BCS on ultrasound.