Four-phase computed tomography helps differentiation of renal oncocytoma with central hypodense areas from clear cell renal cell carcinoma

PURPOSE: To explore the utility of four-phase computed tomography (CT) in distinguishing renal oncocytoma with central hypodense areas from clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). METHODS: Eighteen patients with oncocytoma and 63 patients with ccRCC presenting with central hypodense areas were included in this study. All patients underwent four-phase CT imaging including the excretory phases later than 20 min after contrast injection. Two blinded experienced radiologists visually reviewed the enhancement features of the central hypodense areas in the excretory phase images and selected the area demonstrating the greatest degree of enhancement of the tumor in the corticomedullary phase images. Regions of interest (ROIs) were placed in the same location in each of the three contrast-enhanced imaging phases. Additionally, ROIs were placed in the adjacent normal renal cortex for normalization. The ratio of the lesion to cortex attenuation (L/C) for the three contrast-enhanced imaging phases and absolute de-enhancement were calculated. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to obtain the cut-off values. RESULTS: Complete enhancement inversion of the central areas was observed in 12 oncocytomas (66.67%) and 16 ccRCCs (25.40%) (P = 0.003). Complete enhancement inversion combined with L/C in the corticomedullary phase lower than 1.0 (P < 0.001) or absolute de-enhancement lower than 42.5 HU (P < 0.001) provided 86.42% and 85.19% accuracy, 61.11% and 55.56% sensitivity, 93.65% and 93.65% specificity, 73.33% and 71.43% positive predictive value (PPV), and 89.39% and 88.06% negative predictive value (NPV), respectively, for the diagnosis of oncocytomas. Combined with complete enhancement inversion, L/C in the corticomedullary phase lower than 1.0 and absolute de-enhancement lower than 42.5 HU provided 87.65%, 55.56%, 96.83%, 83.33%, and 88.41% of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV, respectively, for the diagnosis of oncocytomas. CONCLUSION: The combination of enhancement features of the central hypodense areas and the peripheral tumor parenchyma can help distinguish oncocytoma with central hypodense areas from ccRCC.

By-Product of the Red Ginseng Manufacturing Process as Potential Material for Use as Cosmetics: Chemical Profiling and In Vitro Antioxidant and Whitening Activities.

Red ginseng (RG), which is obtained from heated Panax ginseng and is produced by steaming followed by drying, is a valuable herb in Asian countries. Steamed ginseng dew (SGD) is a by-product produced in processing red ginseng. In the present study, phytochemical profiling of extracts of red ginseng and steamed ginseng dew was carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and rapid resolution liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (RRLC-Q-TOF-MS) analysis. Additionally, antioxidant activities (DPPH, ·OH, and ABTS scavenging ability) and whitening activities (tyrosinase and elastase inhibitory activity) were analyzed. Phytochemical profiling revealed the presence of 66 and 28 compounds that were non-saponin components in chloroform extracts of red ginseng and steamed ginseng dew (RG-CE and SGD-CE), respectively. Meanwhile, there were 20 ginsenosides identified in n-butanol extracts of red ginseng and steamed ginseng dew (RG-NBE and SGD-NBE). By comparing the different polar extracts of red ginseng and steamed ginseng dew, it was found that the ethyl acetate extract of red ginseng (RG-EAE) had the best antioxidant capacity and whitening effect, the water extract of steamed ginseng dew (SGD-WE) had stronger antioxidant capacity, and the SGD-NBE and SGD-CE had a better whitening effect. This study shows that RG and SGD have tremendous potential to be used in the cosmetic industries.

Use of specific contrast-enhanced CT regions of interest to differentiate renal oncocytomas from small clear cell and chromophobe renal cell carcinomas.

PURPOSE We aimed to examine the usefulness of utilizing a specific contrast-enhanced computed tomog raphy (CT) region of interest (ROI) to differentiate renal oncocytoma (RO) from small clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (chRCC). METHODS A retrospective analysis of pre-contrast phase (PCP), corticomedullary phase (CMP), and nephro graphic phase (NP) contrast-enhanced CT images of the histopathologically confirmed initial cohort (27 ROs, 74 ccRCCs, and 36 chRCCs) was conducted. Small, medium, large, and whole ROIs (S-ROI, M-ROI, L-ROI, and W-ROI, respectively) were utilized for CT attenuation value of tumor (AVT), lesion-to-cortex attenuation (L/C), and heterogeneous degree of tumor (HDT) calcula tions. Differences in these parameters were then compared between RO and ccRCC/chRCC, with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves being utilized to gauge the diagnostic utility of the statistically significant parameters. Logistic regression analyses were employed to identify key factors capable of differentiating RO and ccRCC/chRCC, with predictive models further being established. A validation cohort (6 ROs, 30 ccRCCs, and 12 chRCCs) was then employed to vali date the performance of the predictive models. RESULTS Of the parameters evaluated using different ROIs, L/C-CMP (S-ROI) (0.88 ± 0.15 vs. 1.13 ± 0.25, P < .001) and HDT-CMP (W-ROI) (23.02 (12.00-51.21) vs. 37.81 (16.09-89.45), P < .001) were best suited to differentiating RO and ccRCC, yielding respective area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.803 and 0.834. AVT-NP (S-ROI) (122.85 ± 18.87 vs. 86.50 ± 18.65, P < .001) and AVT-NP (M-ROI) (119 (86-167) vs. 81.5 (53-142), P < .001) were better able to differentiate RO and chRCC, yielding respective AUC values of 0.918 and 0.906. Logistic regression analyses revealed that L/C-CMP (S-ROI) and HDT-PCP, as well as AVT-NP (S-ROI) and HDT-CMP, were the primary factors capable of differentiating RO from ccRCC and chRCC, respectively. The predictive model developed to dif ferentiate between RO and ccRCC exhibited a sensitivity of 66.67% and 55.14% in the initial and validation cohorts, respectively, with corresponding specificity of 94.59% and 93.55%, accuracy of 87.13% and 86.84%, and AUC of 0.908 and 0.876. The predictive model developed to differ entiate between RO and chRCC exhibited a sensitivity of 85.19% and 100.00% in the initial and validation cohorts, respectively, with corresponding specificity of 94.59% and 92.86%, accuracy of 87.30% and 95.24%, and AUC of 0.944 and 0.959. CONCLUSION These data demonstrate that a combination of quantitative parameters measured with particu lar ROIs can enable the efficient and reliable differentiation of RO from ccRCC and chRCC for use in routine patient differential diagnosis.

[Path analysis of lifestyle habits to the metabolic syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between lifestyle habits and the components of metabolic syndrome (MS). METHODS: Based on the routine health check-up system in a certain Center for Health Management of Shandong Province, a longitudinal surveillance health check-up cohort from 2005 to 2010 was set up. There were 13 225 urban workers in Jinan included in the analysis. The content of the survey included demographic information, medical history, lifestyle habits, body mass index (BMI) and the level of blood pressure, fasting blood-glucose, and blood lipid, etc. The distribution of BMI, blood pressure, fasting blood-glucose, blood lipid and lifestyle habits between MS patients and non-MS population was compared, latent variables were extracted by exploratory factor analysis to determine the structure model, and then a partial least squares path model was constructed between lifestyle habits and the components of MS. RESULTS: Participants'age was (46.62 ± 12.16) years old. The overall prevalence of the MS was 22.43% (2967/13 225), 26.49% (2535/9570) in males and 11.82% (432/3655) in females. The prevalence of the MS was statistically different between males and females (χ(2) = 327.08, P < 0.01). Between MS patients and non-MS population, the difference of dietary habits was statistically significant (χ(2) = 166.31, P < 0.01) in MS patients, the rate of vegetarian, mixed and animal food was 23.39% (694/2967), 42.50% (1261/2967) and 34.11% (1012/2967) respectively, while in non-MS population was 30.80% (3159/10 258), 46.37% (4757/10 258), 22.83% (2342/10 258) respectively. Their alcohol consumption has statistical difference (χ(2) = 374.22, P < 0.01) in MS patients, the rate of never or past, occasional and regular drinking was 27.37% (812/2967), 24.71% (733/2967), 47.93% (1422/2967) respectively, and in non-MS population was 39.60% (4062/10 258), 31.36% (3217/10 258), 29.04% (2979/10 258) respectively. The difference of their smoking status was statistically significant (χ(2) = 115.86, P < 0.01) in MS patients, the rate of never or past, occasional and regular smoking was 59.72% (1772/2967), 6.24% (185/2967), 34.04% (1010/2967) respectively, while in non-MS population was 70.03% (7184/10 258), 5.35% (549/10 258), 24.61% (2525/10 258) respectively. Both lifestyle habits and the components of MS were attributable to only one latent variable. After adjustment for age and gender, the path coefficient between the latent component of lifestyle habits and the latent component of MS was 0.22 with statistical significance (t = 6.46, P < 0.01) through bootstrap test. Reliability and validity of the model:the lifestyle latent variable: average variance extracted was 0.53, composite reliability was 0.77 and Cronbach's a was 0.57. The MS latent variable: average variance extracted was 0.45, composite reliability was 0.76 and Cronbach's a was 0.59. CONCLUSION: Unhealthy lifestyle habits are closely related to MS. Meat diet, excessive drinking and smoking are risk factors for MS.

Non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensor based on platinum nanoflowers supported on graphene oxide.

A non-enzymatic electrochemical method was developed for glucose detection using a glassy carbon electrode modified with platinum nanoflowers supported on graphene oxide (PtNFs-GO). PtNFs-GO was synthesized using a nontoxic, rapid, one-pot and template-free method. Low-cost, green solvent ethanol acted as the reductant, and the advanced and effective 2D carbon material-GO nanosheet acted as the stabilizing material. Their morphologies were characterized using transmission electron microscopy. Cyclic voltammetry and amperometric methods were used to evaluate the electrocatalytic activity towards glucose in neutral media. The modified electrode exhibited strong and sensitive amperometric responses to glucose even in the presence of a high concentration of chloride ions. The response time was within 5s. The interference effects from ascorbic acid and uric acid were comparatively small when operated at suitable potential. Under optimal detection potential (0.47 V with a saturated calomel reference electrode) the PtNFs-GO modified electrode performed a current response towards glucose at a broad concentration range from 2 µM to 20.3mM. Two linear regions could be observed at 2 µM to 10.3mM with a sensitivity of 1.26 µA mM(-1)cm(-2) (correlation coefficient 0.9968), and at 10.3mM to 20.3mM with a sensitivity of 0.64 µA mM(-1)cm(-2)(correlation coefficient 0.9969). The LOD of 2 µM was lower than many non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensors. The modified electrode was also applied to the determination of glucose in glucose injection solutions, and the satisfactory results obtained indicated that it was promising for the development of a novel non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensor.

Distribution of serum prostate-specific antigen in Chinese healthy men: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: The morbidity and mortality of prostate cancer have been increasing rapidly in recent China. There were few studies investigating prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values ranges in the healthy Chinese population. We performed this study to determine the distribution of serum PSA in a large healthy Chinese population. METHODS: From January 2001 to May 2008, 11 150 healthy Chinese men aged 30 - 79 years came to our hospital for routine health check-up. All subjects without a previous diagnosis of prostate cancer, a history of prostate surgery, or urogenital tract infection were proposed to undergo systematic serum PSA measurement and digital rectal examination (DRE). Men with normal DRE and PSA ≤ 4.0 ng/ml and those PSA > 4.0 ng/ml or abnormal DRE but without adverse findings on prostate biopsy were included (n = 9358). Age and serum PSA concentration were recorded and correlated through Logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The 95th percentile serum PSA concentration was 1.89 ng/ml for men aged 30 to 39 years, 2.19 ng/ml for men aged 40 to 49 years, 2.88 ng/ml for men aged 50 to 59 years, 4.42 ng/ml for men aged 60 to 69 years, and 6.52 ng/ml for men aged 70 to 79 years. The serum PSA concentration correlated with age (P < 0.0001) with an annual increase of 0.97% for men in 40 years, 1.58% for men in 50 years, 3.04% for men in 60 years, and 3.99% for men in 70 years. CONCLUSIONS: The serum PSA level correlates directly with age in Chinese men older than 40 years, not in Chinese men younger than 40 years old. Chinese men have lower PSA level compared with white men above 60 years of age, not in those under 60 years of age.

Preparation of reversible colorimetric temperature nanosensors and their application in quantitative two-dimensional thermo-imaging.

Reversible colorimetric temperature nanosensors were prepared using a very simple precipitation method to encapsulate two color luminescent dyes. These nanosensors presented obvious reversible temperature response and enabled both rapid colorimetric temperature estimation using the eyes and quantitative two-dimensional thermo-imaging. Heat-exchange induced fluid motion was, for the first time, rapidly, precisely, and quantitatively imaged by just taking color pictures, and this presented good temporal and spatial resolution for studying heat-driven hydrodynamics. These nanosensors should have great application in micro/nanoscale research and also fabrication into films for macroscopic study.