Case report of hepatic retiform hemangioendothelioma: A rare tumor treated with ultrasound-guided microwave ablation.

Retiform hemangioendothelioma (RH) is a type of low-grade malignant angiosarcoma. It commonly involves the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the lower extremities, but a few cases have been reported in the gut. However, hepatic RH has not been previously reported. This report presents the case of RH of the liver in a 61-year-old woman who was admitted to the hospital having presented with liver space-occupying lesions of 2 months evolution. The patient underwent an abdominal ultrasound examination, which indicated a hemangioma, but abdominal computed tomography diagnosed a liver abscess. In order to determine the nature of the lesion, an ultrasound-guided liver biopsy was performed, after which a pathological diagnosis confirmed the presence of RH in the liver. The patient underwent ultrasound-guided microwave ablation three times and has been followed up for 8 years with no tumor recurrence or metastasis. Surgical excision is still the first choice for the treatment of hepatic RH. As shown in this case, however, for patients who refuse to undergo surgery or have surgical contraindications, ultrasound-guided microwave ablation is an alternative treatment option. The report of this case expands the scope of liver tumors to a certain extent and provides a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

New ursolic acid derivatives bearing 1,2,3-triazole moieties: design, synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo.

In order to discover novel anti-inflammatory agents, three series of compounds obtained by appending 1,2,3-triazole moieties on ursolic acid were designed and synthesized. All compounds have been screened for their anti-inflammatory activity by using an ear edema model. The potent anti-inflammatory compound was subjected to in vitro cyclooxygenase COX-1/COX-2 inhibition assays. In general, the derivatives were found to be potent anti-inflammatory activity. Especially, the compound 11b exhibited the strongest activity of all of the compounds prepared, with 82.81% inhibition after intraperitoneal administration, which was better than celecoxib as a positive control. Molecular docking results unclose the rationale for the interaction of the compound 11b with COX-2 enzyme. Further studies revealed that compound 11b exhibited effective COX-2 inhibitory activity, with half-maximal inhibitor concentration (IC50) value of 1.16 µM and selectivity index (SI = 64.66) value close to that of celecoxib (IC50 = 0.93 µM, SI = 65.47). Taken together, these results could suggest a promising chemotype for development of new COX-2-targeting anti-inflammatory agent.

Effects of traditional Chinese medicine formula on ruminal fermentation, enzyme activities and nutrient digestibility of beef cattle.

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of traditional Chinese medicine formula (TCMF) combined with several herbs on ruminal fermentation, enzyme activities and nutrient digestibility. Twenty finishing bulls were assigned to control or different TCMFs (Yufeisan-1, -2, -3; 2.5% dry matter (DM) in concentrate). Results showed that DM intake was higher (P < 0.05) in the Yufeisan-3 group than others. Compared to control, apparent digestibility of crude protein and neutral detergent fiber were increased (P < 0.05) by Yufeisan-3. No changes were observed in ruminal pH, concentrations of ammonia-N, microbial crude protein and total volatile fatty acid, whereas ratio of acetate to propionate was lower (P < 0.05) and propionate proportion tended to be higher (P < 0.1) in three TCMFs than control. Ruminal xylanase (P = 0.061) and carboxymethylcellulase (P < 0.05) activities were higher in Yufeisan-3 than control. No changes were observed in abundance of total bacteria, fungi and protozoa, whereas Fibrobacter succinogenes (P = 0.062) and Ruminococcus flavefaciens (P < 0.05) were increased and total methanogens was reduced (P = 0.069) by Yufeisan-3 compared to control. Yufeisan-3 improved nutrient digestibility and ruminal enzyme activity, and modified fermentation and microbial community, maybe due to the presence of Herba agastaches, Cortex phellodendri and Gypsum fibrosum.

[Establishment of an animal model of blunt scrotal trauma and evaluation of the lesion by conventional and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography].

OBJECTIVE: To establish an animal model of acute blunt scrotal trauma (BST) and evaluate the types of lesion by conventional ultrasonography (CUS) and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS). METHODS: We made acute BST models in 21 healthy male New Zealand rabbits by striking 3 - 12 times the unilateral testes randomly selected with a 0. 5 kg iron ball falling freely from a 30 cm height. Then we evaluated the lesion types in the models by CUS and CEUS and verified our evaluation against pathological results. RESULTS: Acute BST models were successfully established in all the 21 animals, including contusion in 10, hematoma in 6, and rupture in 5, all confirmed by pathology. CUS clearly manifested the morphology, internal echoes, and blood flow of the testes, but had a low rate of accurate diagnosis in testicular contusion for over 6 hours as well as in complex lesions. CEUS revealed an earlier perfusion of the contrast agent and shorter arriving time (AT) and time to peak intensity ( TP) in testicular contusion than in the control testes (P <0.05) , but showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the half time of descending peak intensity (P>0.05). For testicular hematoma, contrast agent clearly presented its outline and a delayed low enhancement in the surrounding tissue, with significant differences from the control in AT and TTP. In severe testis rupture, occasional outflow but no perfusion of contrast agent was observed. CONCLUSION: BST models can be established in rabbits by repeated strikes of the unilateral testes lesion of contrast agent was observed. with a freely falling iron ball. Simple contusion injury can be induced by less than 6 strikes, while complex injuries can be inflicted by more than 10. Combined application of CUS and CEUS can improve the accuracy of diagnosis of different types of lesion.

[Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for detecting testicular perfusion in acute testis contusion in rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in detecting testicular perfusion in acute testis contusion. METHODS: We established the model of testis contusion in 11 healthy male New Zealand rabbits by randomly hitting one side of the scrotum under general anesthesia. We examined the bilateral scrotums of all the animals before, immediately after and at 2, 4 and 6 hours after modeling by color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and CEUS, and analyzed the time-intensity curve (TIC), arriving time (AT), time to peak intensity (TTP), peak intensity (PI), half time of descending peak intensity (HT) and area under the curve (AUC) in the healthy and injured testis, respectively. RESULTS: CEUS exhibited a higher sensitivity in detecting tissue perfusion than CDFI. The mode of contrast agent perfusion in testicular contusion was fast in and slow out. There were no evident differences between the contused and the healthy testis in AT, TTP and PI before modeling. The contused testis showed significantly earlier AT and TTP, higher PI and larger AUC (P < 0.05) than the healthy one at different time points after modeling, but no statistically significant difference was found in HT (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Accurate parameters of testicular perfusion in acute testis contusion can be quantitatively obtained by CEUS, which are of important value for the diagnosis of testis contusion.

[Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in the diagnosis of acute experimental incomplete testicular torsion].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the application value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the diagnosis of acute experimental incomplete testicular torsion. METHODS: Seven incomplete and 1 complete testicular torsion models were established in 8 healthy hybrid dogs by twisting unilateral spermatic cord. The twisted testes were included in the model group and the healthy ones in the control. All the dogs underwent CEUS before, immediately after, and/or 6 hours after the torsion, followed by time-intensity curve analysis. RESULTS: The arriving time (AT) and the time to peak (TTP) of the contrast agents in the bilateral testes were almost coincident, and the peak intensity (PI) and the area under the curve (AUC) in the bilateral testes basically the same before the torsion. The incompletely torsion testes showed delayed perfusion of contrast agents, prolonged AT and 'TP, and decreased PI and AUC as compared with the contralateral testes (P < 0.05), while the completely torsion one exhibited no perfusion all the time. CONCLUSION: CEUS has a very high application value in the diagnosis of acute incomplete testicular torsion.

A rapid and accurate 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide colorimetric assay for quantification of bacteriocins with nisin as an example.

The objective of this study is to propose a more accurate and faster MTT [3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] colorimetric assay (MCA) for quantitative measurement of polypeptide bacteriocins in solutions with nisin as an example. After an initial incubation of nisin and indicator bacterium Micrococcus luteus NCIB 8166 in tubes, MTT was added for another incubation period. After that, nisin was quantified by estimating the number of viable bacteria based on measuring the amount of purple formazan produced by cleavage of yellow tetrazolium salt MTT. Then MCA was compared to a standard agar diffusion assay (ADA). The results suggested a high correlation coefficient (r(2)=0.975+/-0.004) between optical density (OD) and the inhibitory effect of nisin on a bacterial strain Micrococcus luteus NCIB 8166 at a range of 0.125-32 IU/ml. The MCA described in this study was very quick. Quantification of nisin took only 7-8 h and the detection limit was at the level of 0.125 IU/ml when compared to 12 IU/ml and 24-28 h for ADA. The MCA provides an accurate and rapid method for quantification of nisin in solutions and is expected to be used for quantification of other antimicrobial substances.

[Ultrasonographic changes in the epididymis after long-term vasectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ultrasonographic changes in the epididymis after long-term vasectomy. METHODS: Sixty-four patients with a history of vasectomy for more than 10 years (vasectomy group) and another 60 without vasectomy (control group) were included in the study. The patients were referred to scrotal ultrasonography for epididymal indications. The shape, thickness and internal echoes of the head, body and tail of the epididymis were observed with high frequency ultrasonography (HFU), and the blood flow changes were observed with color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) or color Doppler power imaging (CDPI). RESULTS: Significantly higher rates were found in the vasectomy group than in the control: thickened body (64.1% vs 15.0%) and tail (78.1% vs 51.7%) of the epididymis, thickened head, body and tail (42.2% vs 8.3%) of the epididymis, and epididymal tubular ectasia (54.7% vs 8.3%). However, increased blood flow in the epididymis was seen at a significantly lower rate in the vasectomy group than in the control (15.6% vs 61.7%). CONCLUSION: The ultrasonographic changes in the epididymis after long-term vasectomy were mainly epididymis thickening and epididymal tubular ectasia, mostly with no or diminished blood flow in the epididymis.