The Role of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Plus Color Parametric Imaging in the Differential Diagnosis of Subpleural Pulmonary Lesions.

OBJECTIVES: To distinguish benign and malignant subpleural pulmonary lesions (SPLs) with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and color parametric imaging (CPI), and evaluate the role of CEUS plus CPI in the differential diagnosis of pathological types of SPLs. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-six patients underwent CEUS with a Logiq E9 XD Clear ultrasonic machine equipped with a 3.5- to 5.0-MHz C5-1 transducer in our center were enrolled in our study, including 27 cases of benign lesions and 109 cases of malignant lesions. The ultrasound contrast agent used in this study was SonoVue. CEUS images and CPI of all cases were reviewed and analyzed by the resident and staff radiologist groups separately. RESULTS: With CEUS alone, by both the two groups, the main enhancement pattern of benign SPLs was arborization (P < .001), while centripetal enhancement pattern occurred more frequently in malignant SPLs (P < .001). With CEUS plus CPI, by both the two groups, the main enhancement pattern of benign SPLs was arborization (P < .001), while those of malignant SPLs were centripetal (P < .001) and eccentric (P < .05). The diagnosis performance of CEUS plus CPI was significantly higher than that of CEUS alone in both the resident (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.857 vs 0.677, P < .001) and staff (AUC = 0.866 vs 0.681, P < .001) groups. Moreover, CPI offered remarkable inter-consistency improvements in the enhancement pattern determination between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The CEUS enhancement patterns would provide information of blood perfusion patterns in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant SPLs. The diagnosis performance could be significantly improved by CEUS plus CPI compared with CEUS alone.

Effect of low-level laser therapy on orthodontic dental alignment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of this study is to systematically summarize the available evidence regarding low-level laser therapy (LLLT) speed-up effect on dental alignment in comprehensive orthodontic treatment. An extensive electronic search was conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Scopus up to February 20, 2023. The Cochrane risk of bias tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Form were used by two authors independently to assess the risk of bias (RoB). Statistical analysis was performed by Review Manager 5.3. The eight eligible trials were reviewed and included in qualitative synthesis. Four studies reported the overall time of leveling and alignment (OLAT, days), enabling a synthesizing of the data. The meta-analysis results showed that LLLT significantly reduced the overall time of leveling and alignment compared to control group (MD=-30.36, 95% CI range -41.50 to -19.22, P<0.0001), with moderate heterogeneity (χ2=4.10, P=0.25, I2=27%). Based on the data available, statistically significant evidence with moderate risk of bias suggests that LLLT may have a positive effect on accelerating dental alignment. However, due to the differences in intervention strategy and evaluating method, the conclusions should be interpreted with caution.

Quercetin and its derivatives for wound healing in rats/mice: Evidence from animal studies and insight into molecular mechanisms.

Aimed to clarify the effect of quercetin and its derivatives on wound healing in animal experiments. PubMed, Embase, Science Direct, Web of Science, SinoMed, Vip Journal Integration Platform, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and WanFang databases were searched for animal experiments investigating the effect of quercetin and its derivatives on wound healing to April 2023. The Review Manager 5.4 software was used to conduct meta-analysis. Eighteen studies were enrolled in this article. According to the SYRCLE's RoB tool assessment, these studies exposed relatively low methodological quality. It was shown that animals with cutaneous wound receiving quercetin had faster wound healing in wound closure (%) than the control group. Moreover, the difference in efficacy gradually emerged after third day (WMD = 7.13 [5.52, 8.74]), with a peak reached on the tenth day after wounding (WMD = 19.78 [17.82, 21.74]). Subgroup analysis revealed that quercetin for wound closure (%) was independent of the types of rats and mice, wound area and with or without diabetes. Clear conclusion was also shown regarding the external application of quercetin for wound healing (WMD = 17.77 [11.11, 24.43]). A significant reduction in the distribution of inflammatory cells occurred in the quercetin group. Quercetin could increase blood vessel density (WMD = 1.85 [0.68, -3.02]), fibroblast distribution and collagen fraction. Biochemical indicators, including IL-1ß, IL-10, TNF-α, TGF-ß, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hydroxyproline and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), had the consistent results. Quercetin and its derivatives could promote the recovery of cutaneous wound in animals, through inhibiting inflammatory response and accelerating angiogenesis, proliferation of fibroblast and collagen deposition.

Percutaneous ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation for patients with liver metastasis from pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the survival outcomes and prognostic factors of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for pancreatic adenocarcinoma liver metastasis (PALM). METHODS: Between January 2010 and July 2021, 20 patients (13 males) with an average age of 58.9 ± 11.7 years who underwent RFA for PALM were included. The mean maximum diameter of PALMs was 2.6 ± 1.1 cm (1.0-6.0 cm). Survival curves were built using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test. Multivariable analyses were performed by using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Twenty patients with 29 PALMs underwent 23 RFA sessions. Technical efficacy was achieved in 28 PALMs (28/29, 96.6%). The mean overall survival (OS) after RFA was 14.6 months and the 1-, 2-year survival rates were 39.5%, 18.1%, respectively. With multivariate analysis, abnormal serum levels of CA199 (p = 0.023) and extrahepatic metastasis before RFA (p = 0.038) were identified as independent prognostic factors for OS in patients with PALM. Additionally, the mean progression-free survival (PFS) after RFA was 11.5 months and 1-, 2- year survival rates were 26.0%, 17.3%, respectively. With multivariate analysis, abnormal serum levels of CA199 (p = 0.016) and extrahepatic metastasis before RFA (p = 0.043) were also identified as independent prognostic factors for PFS in patients with PALM. CONCLUSION: RFA is a safe and effective treatment for patients with PALM, especially in patients with normal serum level of CA199 or the patients without extrahepatic metastases before RFA.

A simple rapid detection method of DNA based on ligation-mediated real-time fluorescence PCR.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been widely used for detecting long chain DNA or RNA of viruses, bacteria and cytokines, but it is difficult to detect DNA or RNA with short length sequences. In this work, we developed a simple and rapid detection method for short length DNA sequences in complicated matrices based on ligation-mediated PCR. Two probes, both designed as 52 bases and respectively partly complementary to the half-sequence of target DNA, could simultaneously hybridize to the target DNA, then to be ligated by T4 DNA ligase to form a long chain as PCR template for amplification. With the specific hybridization of the two probes and target DNA, and the PCR going on, a target with 16 bases was selectively detected with content as low as 200 fM, and the linear range spanned over five orders of magnitude. This method was successfully applied to the detection of target DNA in complicated biological samples such as cell lysate with satisfactory results.

[Effect of different orthodontic forces on the expression of T helper cell 17 cell-related cytokines in the pressure side of periodontal tissue in rats].

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the changes in the expression of the characteristic transcription factor retinoid related orphan receptor γt (RORγt) and the cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17) of T helper cell 17 (Th17) in the pressure side of the periodontal tissue of rats under different orthodontic forces. Their effects on the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and the quantity of osteoclast (OC) were also explored. The role of Th17 cell in alveolar bone remodeling under different forces was preliminarily investigated. METHODS: A total of 108 rats were chosen and randomly divided into three groups. Mesial forces of 0, 50, and 100 g were loaded on the maxillary first molar in the three groups. The rats were executed at 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 days. The expression of RORγt mRNA was quantified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The expression of IL-17 protein was quantified by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The expression levels of RORγt and OPG proteins were quantified, and the quantity of OC was counted via immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The expression levels of RORγt and IL-17 and the quantity of OC increased first and then decreased in the 50 and 100 g groups, and the peak values of the two groups were on days 5 and 7, respectively. The expression levels in the 50 g group basically recovered to normal level on day 14, while that in the 100 g group remained at a high level. The expression levels in the 50 g group were higher than those in the 0 g group and lower than those in the 100 g group. The expression of OPG in the 50 g group decreased first, then increased, and finally decreased. It basically recovered to normal level on day 14. The expression of OPG in the 100 g group decreased first and then increased. It remained at a high level on day 14. The expression in the 50 g group was significantly higher than that in the 0 g group on day 7, while the expression in the 100 g group was significantly higher than that in the 0 g group on day 14. CONCLUSIONS: RORγt, IL-17, and OPG were expressed regularly over time under different orthodontic forces, indicating that Th17 participated in the process of bone resorption on the pressure side of periodontal tissue by secreting IL-17.

Hydrophilic Cu2-xSe/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites with tunable plasmonic properties and their applications in cellular dark-field microscopic imaging.

A facile aqueous chemical approach is developed for one-pot synthesis of the nanocomposites of heavily doped semiconductor nanoparticles (Cu2-xSe NPs) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) at room temperature, wherein the reduction of GO and the in situ growth of Cu2-xSe NPs on rGO sheets occur simultaneously. The as-prepared Cu2-xSe/rGO nanocomposites exhibit a well-defined near-infrared (NIR) localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), which arises from free carriers (holes) and could be tuned from 1360 to 1050 nm by varying the reaction time, owing to the increase of the free carrier density in the valence band of Cu2-xSe NPs. This approach not only offers an efficient strategy to synthesize the self-doped Cu2-xSe/rGO nanocomposites with strong and tunable NIR absorption, but also develops new light scattering nanoprobes with good biocompatibility as well as unique optical properties for in vitro cellular dark-field microscopic imaging (iDFM).

[Embolization of high flow arteriovenous malformations with HepaSphere microspheres].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect, safety, and feasibility of embolization of high flow arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) with HepaSphere microspheres. METHODS: HepaSphere particles swell by absorbing fluids and become soft and deformable with a precisely calibrated diameter. 13 patients with AVMs were treated by transarterial embolization with HepaSphere particles. 3 cases underwent a following AVMs resection surgery. The follow-up period was 3 months to 3 years. Symptoms improvement and image examination were studied. RESULTS: 28 transarterial embolizations were performed in 13 cases. The resection operation was performed in 3 cases after transarterial embolizations. The symptoms in diffused AVMs improved after several transarterial embolizations. Histologically, HepaSphere particles penetrated into the intralesional vessels and conformed to the vessel lumen, resulting in vessel occlusion. Minimal perivascular reaction was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Embolization of high flow AVMs with HepaSphere microspheres is safe and effective. Combined treatment is necessary for diffuse AVMs.