Correlation of ultrasound features with Bcl-2 protein expression in basal cell carcinomas (BCCs).

BACKGROUND: The expression of the Bcl-2 protein is frequently observed in basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), making it a significant biological marker and potential therapeutic target. Skin ultrasonography offers a noninvasive means of obtaining anatomical information about cutaneous tumors. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between ultrasound features and Bcl-2 expression in BCCs, to provide a reference for developing pharmacological treatment plans. METHODS: According to the Bcl-2 protein expression, 74 BCCs confirmed by surgical pathology were divided into high Bcl-2 expression BCCs (HB-BCCs) and low Bcl-2 expression BCCs (LB-BCCs). Preoperative lesion ultrasound features were analyzed retrospectively based on Liang's criteria, which included the following features: shape, surface, keratinization, base, infiltration level, internal echogenicity, distribution of hyperechoic spots, posterior echogenic changes, internal Doppler signal, and lesion size (maximum diameter and infiltration depth). The differences of two groups were compared using a chi-square test or a paired t-test. RESULTS: Based on ultrasound features, cystic areas were more frequent in LB-BCCs (χ2 = 7.015, P = .008). Furthermore, LB-BCCs exhibited greater infiltration depth than HB-BCCs (4.86 ± 2.12 mm vs. 2.72 ± 1.40 mm, P = .000), had a higher propensity to infiltrate the subcutaneous tissue (χ2 = 12.422, P = .002), and displayed a more abundant internal Doppler signal within the lesions (χ2 = 24.696, P = .000). Conversely, maximum diameter of the lesions, shape, surface, keratinization, base, hyperechoic spots distribution, and posterior echogenic changes of the lesions did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound features are correlated with Bcl-2 protein expression level in BCCs. LB-BCCs show greater infiltration depth, subcutaneous infiltration, more cystic changes and more abundant internal Doppler signal than HB-BCCs, which may suggest a potential basis for drug selection in BCC chemotherapy.

Temporal and spatial evolution and influencing factors of urban ecological total factor productivity in the Yellow River basin under strong sustainable development.

A growing consensus worldwide has indicated the need to protect the ecological environment and achieve sustainable development. Ensuring ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin have become China's major national strategy. We reviewed extant literature, summarised government reports and guidance documents on the Yellow River basin, and proposed introducing a strong sustainable development theory into the study of total factor productivity (TFP). The spatial-temporal evolution and influencing factors of urban ecological TFP in the Yellow River basin are of great practical significance. We proposed a new ecological TFP indicator: the modified input-oriented Luenberger productivity indicator (MIL). Using panel data from 78 cities in the Yellow River basin during 2003-2019, we measured the urban ecological TFP. We adopted the geographic information system tool and kernel density estimation to analyse the temporal and spatial evolution of the indicator, as well as its spatial effects and influencing factors, using the global Moran's I index and dynamic spatial Durbin model (SDM). Our results show that, during the sample period, our indicator increased in cities in the region with an average annual growth rate of 0.627%, driven by technological progress. The average annual growth rate in urban areas showed a decreasing distribution of 'downstream-midstream-upstream'. Fiscal decentralisation (FD), industrial structure (IND), financial development (FIN), urbanisation level (URB) and research and development (RD) investment improved growth rates in this and the adjacent regions through direct and indirect effects. However, environmental regulation (ER), opening level (OPEN) of cities and population density (POP) were obstacles to TFP growth.

Comparison of Sonographic Characteristics Between Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma and Non-Superficial Basal Cell Carcinomas.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the sonographic characteristics of superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC) and non-superficial basal cell carcinomas (nsBCC). METHODS: The ultrasound characteristics of 73 basal cell carcinoma (BCC) confirmed by surgical pathology were retrospectively analyzed, and the cases were divided into 11 cases of sBCC and 62 cases of nsBCC according to pathological subtypes. Ultrasound characteristics between groups were compared. RESULTS: Among all the ultrasound characteristics, lesion thickness (P = .000), shape (χ2  = 39.293, P = .000), basal changes (χ2  = 8.473, P = .037), infiltration level (χ2  = 46.140, P = .000), and distribution of intralesional hyperechogenic spots (χ2  = 15.699, P = .000) of the lesions had statistically significant correlation with pathological diagnosis of sBCC. While no significant differences were shown in surface morphology, keratinization, maximum diameter, intralesional echogenicity, posterior echogenic changes, and intralesional color Doppler flow of the lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Small lesion thickness, oblate shape, superficial dermal local infiltration, and <3 internal hyperechogenic spots distribution of BCC determined by high frequency ultrasound may positively correlate with pathological diagnosis of sBCC. This is beneficial for treatment planning.

Usefulness of Shear Wave Elastography in Determining the Tumor Extent of Basal Cell Carcinomas.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of shear wave elastography (SWE) in determining tumor extent of basal cell carcinomas (BCC), and thereby determine the optimal surgical margins (OSM). METHODS: 10 patients (40 surgical margins) with BCC were collected, the visual observation boundaries (VOB) were marked, and the SWE parameters of soft tissues were measured 1 mm intervals in "3, 6, 9, 12" clock directions, starting from VOB. Then tumors were resected with a 5 mm surgical margin outward expansion of VOB. All specimens were examined pathologically 1 mm intervals from VOB in four clock directions. With the positive margins furthest from the tumor as the real tumor boundaries (RTB) and the negative margins closest to the tumor as the optimal surgical margins (OSM). The SWE parameters were compared between these two groups. RESULTS: The elasticity ratio (Eratio ) of average young's modulus between region of interest and adjacent normal soft tissue had statistically significant differences between groups (P = .000), while other parameters show no difference. The Eratio of RTB and OSM were 1.22 ± 0.14 and 0.99 ± 0.07. The area under the ROC curve was .947. Taking 1.075 as the threshold of Eratio for the diagnosis of tumor extent, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 87.5%, 90.0% and 90.0%. The surgical margins designed according to OSM were better than those designed according to VOB + 5 mm (P = .000). CONCLUSIONS: The Eratio of SWE is helpful in determining tumor extent of BCC. This is beneficial for surgical margin designing.

High-Frequency Ultrasound and Shear Wave Elastography in Quantitative Differential Diagnosis of High-Risk and Low-Risk Basal Cell Carcinomas.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of high-frequency ultrasound and shear wave elastography (SWE) in quantitative differential diagnosis of high-risk and low-risk basal cell carcinomas (BCCs). METHODS: A total of 52 BCCs confirmed by surgical pathology were studied. Taking pathologic subtypes as reference, all the cases were classified as high-risk BCCs or low-risk BCCs. High-frequency ultrasound parameters and SWE parameters recorded preoperatively were retrospectively analyzed. The differences of two groups were compared. RESULTS: There were 12 high-risk BCCs and 40 low-risk BCCs. The maximum infiltration depth (MID) and average Young's modulus (Eave ) of high-risk BCCs were 5.76 ± 2.56 mm and 31.61 ± 12.36 kPa, whereas of low-risk BCCs were 4.29 ± 1.77 mm and 20.04 ± 4.74 kPa, respectively, P < .05. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of MID and Eave were 0.714 and 0.811, P > .05. Taking 5.5 mm of MID and 24.45 kPa of Eave as the threshold for the diagnosis of high-risk BCCs, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 58.3%, 82.5%, 76.9% and 75.0%, 82.5%, 80.8%, P > .05. CONCLUSIONS: The MID and Eave of the lesion can be used to determine the recurrence risk of BCCs and provide a reference for the development of individualized treatment plans.

[Effect of overdose fluoride on the expression of TGF-ß3 in rat incisor].

PURPOSE: To observe the effect of overdose fluoride on the expression of TGF-ß3 in rat incisor and to explore the possible mechanism of dental fluorosis． METHODS: Twenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups. The animals were maintained in standard environmental conditions with free access to food and water (control group) or water added with 100mg/L F (experimental group). The rats were killed at the end of 8th week. The expression of TGF-ß3 was detected by immunohistochemical staining. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS12.0 software package. RESULTS: The expression of TGF-ß3 in ameloblasts was significantly inhibited in the experimental of group II（P<0.01）. The gray value of the control group and the fluorine group were 85.89±7.90, 116.76±8.04, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Fluoride might disturb the signal transduction between the epithelia and mesenchyma by inhibiting the expression of TGF-ß3 in ameloblasts, which in turn may inhibit the differentiation and function of the tooth-forming cells.

[Effect of fluorosis on the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor in rat incisors].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of overdose fluoride on the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in rat incisors. METHODS: Twenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: group I (control group) distilled water was given; group II (experimental group) 100 mg/L NaF was given. The rats were killed at the end of 8 th week. Immunohistochemical staining was used to study the expression of bFGF in rat incisors. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical results demonstrated the presence of bFGF in ameloblasts, odontoblasts of rat incisors. The expression of bFGF was reduced in group II (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Overdose fluoride inhibits the expression of bFGF and affects the interaction between dental epithelium and dental mesenchyme, which leads to the enamel demineralization.