Visualization of therapeutic intervention for acute liver injury using low-intensity pulsed ultrasound-responsive phase variant nanoparticles.

Acute liver injury (ALI) is a highly fatal condition characterized by sudden massive necrosis of liver cells, inflammation, and impaired coagulation function. Currently, the primary clinical approach for managing ALI involves symptom management based on the underlying causes. The association between excessive reactive oxygen species originating from macrophages and acute liver injury is noteworthy. Therefore, we designed a novel nanoscale phase variant contrast agent, denoted as PFP@CeO2@Lips, which effectively scavenges reactive oxygen species, and enables visualization through low intensity pulsed ultrasound activation. The efficacy of the nanoparticles in scavenging excess reactive oxygen species from RAW264.7 and protective AML12 cells has been demonstrated through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Additionally, these nanoparticles have shown a protective effect against LPS/D-GalN attack in C57BL/6J mice. Furthermore, when exposed to LIPUS irritation, the nanoparticles undergo liquid-gas phase transition and enable ultrasound imaging.

Giant renal schwannoma with obvious hemorrhage and cystic degeneration: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Renal schwannomas are very rare and are usually benign. Its clinical symptoms and imaging features are nonspecific, and the diagnosis is usually confirmed by pathology after surgical resection. CASE PRESENTATION: A 46-year-old Chinese female was admitted to the hospital with right flank pain that had persisted for the six months prior to admission. This pain had worsened for 10 days before admission, and dyspnea occurred when she was supine and agitated. A right abdominal mass could be palpated on physical examination. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging examinations revealed a large, nonenhanced, cystic and solid mass in the right kidney. The patient received radical nephrectomy for the right kidney. The diagnosis of schwannoma was confirmed by pathological examination. CONCLUSIONS: We report a case of a large renal schwannoma with obvious hemorrhage and cystic degeneration, which can be used as a reference for further study.

Small (≤ 20 mm) ground-glass opacity pulmonary lesions: which factors influence the diagnostic accuracy of CT-guided percutaneous core needle biopsy?

BACKGROUND: The diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous core needle biopsy (CNB) for small (≤ 20 mm) ground-glass opacity (GGO) lesions has not been reported in detail. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate factors that affect the diagnostic accuracy of CT-guided percutaneous CNB for small (≤ 20 mm) GGO pulmonary lesions. METHODS: From January 2014 to February 2018, 156 patients with a small (≤ 20 mm) GGO pulmonary lesion who underwent CT-guided CNB were enrolled in this study. Factors affecting diagnostic accuracy were evaluated by analyzing patient and lesion characteristics and technical factors. Significant factors were identified by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The diagnostic accuracy of CT-guided percutaneous CNB was 90.4% for small (≤ 20 mm) GGO pulmonary lesions. The diagnostic accuracy was higher for larger lesions (72.5% for lesions ≤ 10 mm, 96.6% for lesions between 11 and 20 mm [P < 0.001]). The diagnostic accuracy of CT-guided percutaneous CNB was 74.5% for lesions with > 90% GGO components and 97.2% for lesions with 50-90% GGO components (P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, the significant factors influencing diagnostic accuracy were lesion size (P = 0.022; odds ratio [OR] for a lesion between 11 and 20 mm in size was approximately 5 times higher than that for a lesion ≤ 10 mm; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3 to 18.5), and GGO component (P = 0.015; OR for a lesion with 50-90% GGO components was approximately 6 times higher than that for a lesion with > 90% GGO components; 95% CI: 1.4 to 25.7). CONCLUSIONS: Lesion size and GGO component are factors affecting diagnostic accuracy. The diagnostic accuracy was higher for larger lesions and lesions with 50-90% GGO components.

Asialoglycoprotein Receptor-Targeted Superparamagnetic Perfluorooctylbromide Nanoparticles.

Background: The decrease in asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) levels is observed in patients with chronic liver disease and liver tumor. The aim of our study was to develop ASGPR-targeted superparamagnetic perfluorooctylbromide nanoparticles (M-PFONP) and wonder whether this composite agent could target buffalo rat liver (BRL) cells in vitro and could improve R2 ∗ value of the rat liver parenchyma after its injection in vivo. Methods: GalPLL, a ligand of ASGPR, was synthesized by reductive amination. ASGPR-targeted M-PFOBNP was prepared by a film hydration method coupled with sonication. Several analytical methods were used to investigate the characterization and safety of the contrast agent in vitro. The in vivo MR T2 ∗ mapping was performed to evaluate the enhancement effect in rat liver. Results: The optimum concentration of Fe3O4 nanoparticles inclusion in GalPLL/M-PFOBNP was about 52.79 µg/mL, and the mean size was 285.6 ± 4.6 nm. The specificity of GalPLL/M-PFOBNP for ASGPR was confirmed by incubation experiment with fluorescence microscopy. The methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) test showed that there was no significant difference in the optical density (OD) of cells incubated with all GalPLL/M-PFOBNP concentrations. Compared with M-PFOBNP, the increase in R2 ∗ value of the rat liver parenchyma after GalPLL/M-PFOBNP injection was higher. Conclusions: GalPLL/M-PFOBNP may potentially serve as a liver-targeted contrast agent for MR receptor imaging.

[The change rules and correlation between specific leaf weight and dry weight of rhizoma of Atractylodes macrocephala].

OBJECTIVE: To study the change rules of specific leaf weight, dry weight of rhizoma and the drying rate of annual and biennial Atractylodes macrocephala. METHODS: We measured the specific leaf weight and dry weight of rhizoma, and accounted the drying rate and correlation by dugging the annual and biennial plants each 15 days. There were 3 rhizoma types of biennial Atractylodes macrocephala with Drumstick/Frog type, Er-cha type and Wu-zi type. RESULTS: It showed the curve of specific leaf weight of annual plant was "N" style, which of biennial plant was linear. The dry weight and the drying rate of all rhizoma types increased point-blank during the whole growth period. CONCLUSION: The correlation between specific leaf weight and dry weight of rhizoma is obvious in biennial Atractylodes macrocephala but is contrary in annual Atractylodes macrocephala.

[Study on the soft-wood cutting of Atractylodes macrocephala].

OBJECTIVE: The research analyzed the effect of different elements on soft-wood cutting of Atractylodes macrocephala. METHODS: The experiment was studied by L9 (3(4)) orthogonal design with 3 factors and 3 levels. The research confirmed the best project of soft-wood cutting of Atractylodes macrocephala by using variance analysis and line grading law. RESULTS: The maximum livability and rooting rate were both 86.67% when it was treated with GuoGuangShengGen of 2,000 mg/L, 20 s, the ratio of turf to perlite was 1:3 and the matrix was the most favourable rate of soft-wood cutting of Atractylodes macrocephala. CONCLUSION: This method can improve Atractylodes macrocephala cutting suruival rate and provide the theoretical basis for cutting.