Clinical and imaging features preoperative evaluation of histological grade and microvascular infiltration of hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: To predict the histological grade and microvascular invasion (MVI) in patients with HCC. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 175 patients who underwent MRI enhancement scanning (from September 2016.9 to October 2020). They were divided into MVI positive, MVI negative, Grade-high and Grade-low groups. RESULTS: The AFP of 175 HCC patients distributed in MVI positive and negative groups, Grade-low and Grade-high groups were statistically significant (P = 0.002 and 0.03, respectively). Multiple HCC lesions were more common in MVI positive and Grade-high groups. Correspondingly, more single lesions were found in MVI negative and Grade-low groups (P = 0.005 and 0.019, respectively). Capsule on MRI was more common in MVI negative and Grade-high groups, and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.02 and 0.011, respectively). There were statistical differences in the distribution of three MRI signs: artistic rim enhancement, artistic peripheral enhancement, and tumor margin between MVI positive and MVI negative groups (P = 0.001, < 0.001, and < 0.001, respectively). Tumor hypointensity on HBP was significantly different between MVI positive and negative groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our research shows that preoperative enhanced imaging can be used to predict MVI and tumor differentiation grade of HCC. The prognosis of MVI-negative group was better than that of MVI-positive group.

Obesity treatment effect in Danish children and adolescents carrying Melanocortin-4 Receptor mutations.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of Melanocortin-4 Receptor (MC4R) mutations in a cohort of children and adolescents with overweight or obesity and to determine whether treatment responses differed between carriers and noncarriers. METHODS: Using target region capture sequencing, an MC4R mutation screen was performed in 1261 Danish children and adolescents enrolled at a tertiary multidisciplinary childhood obesity treatment center. Measurements of anthropometrics, blood pressure, fasting blood biochemistry including lipid and hormone levels, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were performed at baseline and throughout treatment. RESULTS: Of 1209 children and adolescents that met all criteria to be included in the described analyses, 30 (2.5%) carried damaging or unresolved MC4R mutations. At baseline, mutation carriers exhibited higher concentrations of plasma thyroid-stimulating hormone (p = 0.003), and lower concentrations of plasma thyroxine (p = 0.010) compared to noncarriers. After a median of 1 year of treatment (range 0.5-4.0 years), body mass index (BMI) standard deviation score (SDS) was reduced in noncarriers but not in carriers, and this difference in treatment response was statistically significant (p = 0.005). Furthermore, HDL cholesterol was reduced in carriers, a response significantly different from that of noncarriers (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Among Danish children and adolescents with overweight or obesity entering a tertiary lifestyle intervention, 2.5% carried damaging or unresolved MC4R mutations. In contrast to noncarriers, carriers of damaging or unresolved MC4R mutations failed to reduce their BMI SDS during obesity treatment, indicating a need for personalized treatment based on the MC4R genotype.

Polydatin attenuates renal fibrosis in diabetic mice through regulating the Cx32-Nox4 signaling pathway.

We previously found that polydatin could attenuate renal oxidative stress in diabetic mice and improve renal fibrosis. Recent evidence shows that NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4)-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to inflammatory and fibrotic processes in diabetic kidneys. In this study we investigated whether polydatin attenuated renal fibrosis by regulating Nox4 in vitro and in vivo. In high glucose-treated rat glomerular mesangial cells, polydatin significantly decreased the protein levels of Nox4 by promoting its K48-linked polyubiquitination, thus inhibited the production of ROS, and eventually decreasing the expression of fibronectin (FN) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), the main factors that exacerbate diabetic renal fibrosis. Overexpression of Nox4 abolished the inhibitory effects of polydatin on FN and ICAM-1 expression. In addition, the expression of Connexin32 (Cx32) was significantly decreased, which was restored by polydatin treatment. Cx32 interacted with Nox4 and reduced its protein levels. Knockdown of Cx32 abolished the inhibitory effects of polydatin on the expression of FN and ICAM-1. In the kidneys of streptozocin-induced diabetic mice, administration of polydatin (100 mg·kg-1·d-1, ig, 6 days a week for 12 weeks) increased Cx32 expression and reduced Nox4 expression, decreased renal oxidative stress levels and the expression of fibrotic factors, eventually attenuating renal injury and fibrosis. In conclusion, polydatin promotes K48-linked polyubiquitination and degradation of Nox4 by restoring Cx32 expression, thereby decreasing renal oxidative stress levels and ultimately ameliorating the pathological progress of diabetic renal fibrosis. Thus, polydatin reduces renal oxidative stress levels and attenuates diabetic renal fibrosis through regulating the Cx32-Nox4 signaling pathway.

18F-FDGPET/CT in fever of unknown origin and inflammation of unknown origin: a Chinese multi-center study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical value of 18F-FDG-PET/CT for the diagnosis of fever of unknown origin (FUO) and inflammation of unknown origin (IUO) in Chinese population, as well as the characteristics of PET/CT in different category of etiological disease. METHODS: A total of 376 consecutive patients with FUO/IUO who underwent FDG-PET/CT at 12 hospitals were retrospectively studied. FDG uptake was quantitatively and visually evaluated, by using SUVmax and a 4-grade scale respectively. A questionnaire survey to the clinicians was used to evaluate the significance of PET/CT in diagnosing of FUO/IUO. Data analysis included the etiological distribution in the study population, image characteristics in different category of diseases, and clinical significance of PET/CT. RESULTS: In 376 studied patients, the infectious diseases accounted for 33.0% of patients, rheumatologic diseases for 32.4%, malignancies for 19.1%, miscellaneous causes for 6.6%, and cause unknown for 8.8%. However, the etiological distribution among hospitals was varied. In addition, the etiological disease composition ratio has changed over time in China. On PET/CT examinations, 358 (95.2%) of the patients had a positive finding. Within them, local high uptake lesion was found in 219 cases, and nonspecific abnormal uptake (NAU) was found in 187 cases. FDG uptake in malignant diseases was significantly higher than in other category diseases both on SUVmax and visual scores (t-value range from 4.098 to 5.612, all P value < 0.001). Based on a clinical questionnaire survey, PET/CT provided additional diagnostic information for 77.4% of patients, and 89.6% of patients benefited from PET/CT examination. CONCLUSIONS: FDG PET/CT is a valuable tool for clinical diagnosis of FUO/IUO, and it is of great significance in further investigating the usefulness of PET/CT in non-neoplastic diseases.

Genetic Variations in the Human G Protein-coupled Receptor Class C, Group 6, Member A (GPRC6A) Control Cell Surface Expression and Function.

GPRC6A is a G protein-coupled receptor activated by l-amino acids, which, based on analyses of knock-out mice, has been suggested to have physiological functions in metabolism and testicular function. The human ortholog is, however, mostly retained intracellularly in contrast to the cell surface-expressed murine and goldfish orthologs. The latter orthologs are Gq-coupled and lead to intracellular accumulation of inositol phosphates and calcium release. In the present study we cloned the bonobo chimpanzee GPRC6A receptor, which is 99% identical to the human receptor, and show that it is cell surface-expressed and functional. By analyses of chimeric human/mouse and human/bonobo receptors, bonobo receptor mutants, and the single nucleotide polymorphism database at NCBI, we identify an insertion/deletion variation in the third intracellular loop responsible for the intracellular retention and lack of function of the human ortholog. Genetic analyses of the 1000 genome database and the Inter99 cohort of 6,000 Danes establish the distribution of genotypes among ethnic groups, showing that the cell surface-expressed and functional variant is much more prevalent in the African population than in European and Asian populations and that this variant is partly linked with a stop codon early in the receptor sequence (rs6907580, amino acid position 57). In conclusion, our data solve a more than decade-old question of why the cloned human GPRC6A receptor is not cell surface-expressed and functional and provide a genetic framework to study human phenotypic traits in large genome sequencing projects linked with physiological measurement and biomarkers.

Imaging the expression of glypican-3 in hepatocellular carcinoma by PET.

The glypican-3 (GPC3) receptor is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target. GPC3-targeted molecular imaging will be helpful to differentiate diagnosis and guide therapy. In the present study, we will develop a novel PET probe for imaging the expression of GPC-3. L5 (sequence: RLNVGGTYFLTTRQ), a GPC3 targeting peptide, was labeled with 5-carboxyfluorescein (FAM) and 18F-fluoride. Cell binding tests were performed to identify the binding specificity of FAM-L5 and 18F radiolabeled peptide. MicroPET/CT imaging was used to determine the potential of a novel PET tracer for visualizing HCC tumors with a high expression of GPC3. In vitro binding tests showed that the uptake of FAM-L5 in HepG2 cells (high expression of GPC3) was significantly higher than that of HL-7702 cells (negative expression of GPC3) (mean fluorescent intensity: 14,094 ± 797 vs. 2765 ± 314 events, t = 32.363, P = 0.000). Confocal fluorescent imaging identified that FAM-L5 accumulated where the GPC3 receptor was located. A novel PET tracer (18F-AlF-NODA-MP-6-Aoc-L5) was successfully labeled by chelation chemistry. In vitro cell uptake studies showed that 18F-AlF-NODA-MP-6-Aoc-L5 can bind to HepG2 tumor cells and was stable in PBS and mouse serum stability tests. MicroPET/CT showed that HepG2 tumors could be clearly visualized with a tumor/muscle ratio of 2.46 ± 0.53. However, the tumor/liver ratio was low (0.93 ± 0.16) due to the high physiological uptake in the liver. This study demonstrates that FAM and the 18F-labeled L5 peptide can selectively target HCC with a high expression of GPC3 in vitro and in vivo. 18F-AlF-NODA-MP-C6-L5 has the potential to be a GPC3 target tracer but requires some chemical modifications to achieve a high enough tumor/liver ratio for detection of the tumor in the liver.

CKD-EPI creatinine-cystatin C glomerular filtration rate estimation equation seems more suitable for Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease than other equations.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify the optimal equation that accurately estimates the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and the chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage in the Chinese population. METHODS: A total of 1296 Chinese patients aged 18-65 years old were enrolled in this study. The estimated GFRs (eGFRs) calculated separately by three Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equations and three Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations were compared with the reference GFR (rGFR) measured by the 99Tcm-DTPA renal dynamic imaging method. RESULTS: By Bland-Altman analysis, eGFRcys and eGFRscr_cys performed similarly, showing the tightest limits of agreement among the six equations. They also achieved the first and second highest 30% and 50% accuracies. Using a combination of the serum creatinine and cystatin C levels (eGFRscr_cys) could improve the bias (-0.3 for eGFRscr_cys) of the equation and achieve the highest diagnostic accuracy for renal insufficiency (AUC60, 0.953; P < 0.05, except for eGFR_MDRD). All equations predicted stage 3 CKD with moderate accuracy (49.7-51.4%) and stage 5 CKD with good accuracy (90.2-96.4%). For stage 1 CKD, eGFRcys showed a higher percentage of misclassification than the other equations. All equations seemed to perform poorly at predicting stage 2 and 4 CKD, as compared to the other CKD stages. eGFRscr_cys was the best-performing equation in terms of accurate classification of the CKD stage based on the overall performance (kappa value, 0.423). CONCLUSION: For a Chinese population, the CKD-EPIscr_cys equation seems more suitable for estimating the GFR than the other equations. Each equation had its own advantages in predicting different CKD stages.

18F-FDG PET/CT in differentiating malignant from benign origins of obstructive jaundice.

BACKGROUND: The various origins of obstructive jaundice make the diagnosis of the disease difficult. This study was undertaken to evaluate the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in differentiating malignant from benign origins of obstructive jaundice and to quantify the added value of 18F-FDG PET/CT over conventional imaging (enhanced CT and/or MRI). METHODS: Eighty-five patients with obstructive jaundice who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT within 2 weeks after enhanced CT and/or MRI were reviewed retrospectively. All 18F-FDG PET/CT images were independently evaluated by 2 nuclear medicine physicians who were unaware of other imaging data; differences were resolved by consensus of the physicians. All conventional imaging interpretations, according to the medical records, were reviewed by 2 radiologists to determine the potential value. Final diagnoses were based on histological or surgical findings. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients were diagnosed with malignancies, and 19 patients with benign lesions. The maximum standardized uptake values for malignant and benign lesions causing biliary obstruction were 8.2+/-4.4 and 4.0+/-5.0, respectively (P<0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy for differentiating malignant from benign origins with 18F-FDG PET/CT were 86.4% (57/66), 73.7% (14/19), and 83.5% (71/85), respectively. 18F-FDG PET/CT in conjunction with conventional imaging changed the sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of conventional imaging alone from 75.8% (50/66) to 95.5% (63/66) (P<0.05), 68.4% (13/19) to 57.9% (11/19) (P>0.05), and 74.1% (63/85) to 87.1% (74/85) (P<0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: 18F-FDG PET/CT is of great value in differentiating malignant from benign origins of obstructive jaundice and is a useful adjuvant to conventional imaging. 18F-FDG PET/CT should be recommended for further etiological clarification.

Technique for Isolation and Culture of Rat Jaw Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) are a type of stem cell with multi-directional differentiation potential. Compared with BMMSCs derived from appendicular bones, BMMSCs derived from the jaw have greater proliferative and osteogenic differentiation ability, gradually becoming important seed cells for jaw defect repair. However, the mandible has a complex bony structure and less cancellous content than appendicular bones. It is difficult to acquire a large number of high-quality jaw-derived marrow mesenchymal stem cells using traditional methods. This study presents a 'niche-based approach on stemness' for isolating and culturing rat jaw bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (JBMMSCs). Primary rat JBMMSCs were isolated and cultured using the whole bone marrow adherent method combined with the bone slice digestion method. The isolated cells were identified as JBMMSCs through cell morphology observation, detection of cell surface markers, and multi-directional differentiation induction. The cells extracted by this method exhibit a 'fibroblast-like' spindle shape. The cells are long, spindle-shaped and fibroblast-like. The flow cytometry analysis shows these cells are positive for CD29, CD44, and CD90 but negative for CD11b/c, CD34, and CD45, which is congruent with BMMSCs characteristics. The cells show strong proliferation capacity and can undergo osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation. This study provides an effective and stable method for obtaining enough high-quality JBMMSCs with strong differentiation ability in a short time, which could facilitate further studies of the exploration of biological function, regenerative medicine, and related clinical applications.

Risk factors and survival analysis of haemodialysis complicated with infective endocarditis.

The clinical features and risk factors for survival time were analysed in haemodialysis patients complicated with infective endocarditis. A total of 101 infective endocarditis (IE) patients treated at Hangzhou First People's Hospital, from January 1, 2012, to April 1, 2022, were included in the present study. Baseline demographic data and laboratory data were collected for statistical analysis of risk factors and survival time in the IE with haemodialysis group (HD-IE group, n=15) and the IE without haemodialysis group (NHD-IE group, n=86). Haemoglobin, red blood cells, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, serum albumin, diabetes, invasive procedures, positive blood bacteria culture, heart valve calcification ratio, and left ventricular ejection fraction level were risk factors for infective endocarditis complicated with haemodialysis (P<0.05). Compared with the NHD-IE group, the HD-IE group had an obviously increased risk of mortality (χ2=6.323, P=0.012). The univariate Cox regression analysis showed that age, haemoglobin, red blood cells, serum albumin, left ventricular ejection score, longest vegetation diameter, combined hypotension and diabetes were risk factors for death; furthermore, multivariate Cox regression showed that age (HR=1.187, P=0.015), combined hypotension (HR=0.921, P=0.025) and the longest vegetation diameter (HR=9.191, P=0.004) were independent risk factors affecting the survival of patients. Collectively, the present study revealed that the mortality rate of HD-IE patients was higher than that of NHD-IE patients. Older age, hypotension, and the longest vegetation diameter were independent risk factors affecting the survival of patients. For HD-IE patients, active and effective antibiotic treatment or surgical treatment should be strongly recommended.

The role of tonifying kidney decoction and acupuncture in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: A network meta-analysis.

IMPORTANCE: As one of the chronic neurological degenerative diseases with the highest incidence of amnesia and dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD) carried out the clinical treatment based on the 2 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) of Chinese herbal compound and acupuncture (AP). With the vigorous development of TCM, doctors are facing the problem of choosing TCM or western medicine in clinical work. Hence there is an urge to make pairwise comparisons among these interventions to provide evidence for clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: The used efficacy of the 2 TCM methods and combined with donepeziline were compared to compile the best treatment through network meta-analysis. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with AD were included in the randomized clinical trial, who were treated with tonifying kidney decoction (TKD) or AP combined with donepezil hydrochloride (DH) as an intervention measure, while the control group was treated with DH. The total effective rate was the primary outcome, and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score and activities of daily living (ADCS-ADL) scores were the secondary indicators. RESULTS: Eventually 30 studies reporting 2236 patients underwent TKD or AP combined with DH were enrolled. In terms of total efficiency, compared with TKD and DH, TKD + DH was significantly preferable. In addition, TKD were classified into 2 categories, namely tonifying kidney with reducing phlegm formulas (TKRP) and tonifying kidney with filling lean marrow (TKFLM). Regarding to MMSE score of TKD, of the 3 interventions, only TKRP + DH (standard mean difference [SMD] = 4.84, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.86-8.82) and TKFLM + DH (SMD = 3.93, 95% CI: 1.06-6.80) had significant efficacy over TKFLM (SMD = 4.25, 95%CI: -2.58 to 11.08). Although no difference between TKRP and other groups, its effectiveness was higher than TKFLM + DH and TKFLM (surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) = 61.5%). For the ADL score, compared with TKFLM + DH and DH, TKRP + DH had more effective (SUCRA = 70.2%). Regarding to the total effective rates, AP + DH was more statistically better than AP, and AP was statistically better than DH. CONCLUSION: TKD or AP in combination with DH are significantly superior in treating AD.

Efficacy and safety of hypoglycemic drugs in improving cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of oral hypoglycaemic drugs (HDs) on cognitive function and biomarkers of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) through a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: We conducted systematic searches for English- and Chinese-language articles in the PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar databases, with no date restrictions. We performed a network meta-analysis, which we report here according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The 16 studies included a total of 3,081 patients. We selected the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive section (ADAS-Cog), the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study Activities of Daily Living section (ADCS-ADL) and amyloid beta (Aß) 42 as the outcome measures for analysis and comparison. Result: We selected seven treatments and assessed the clinical trials in which they were tested against a placebo control. Of these treatments, intranasal insulin 20 IU (ITSN20), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor (DPP-4) were associated with significantly improved MMSE scores (7 RCTs, 333 patients, 30≥MMSE score≥20: mild) compared with placebo [standardized mean difference (SMD) 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.87, 1.35); SMD 0.75, 95% CI (0.04, 1.41); and SMD 4.08, 95% CI (3.39, 4.77), respectively]. Rosiglitazone 4 mg (RLZ4), rosiglitazone 10 mg (RLZ10), intranasal insulin 40 IU (ITSN40), and ITSN20 significantly decreased ADAS-Cog scores (11 RCTs, 4044 patients, 10 ≤ ADAS-Cog scores ≤ 30: mild and moderate) compared with placebo [SMD -1.40, 95% CI (-2.57, -0.23), SMD -3.02, 95% CI (-4.17, -1.86), SMD -0.92, 95% CI (-1.77, -0.08), SMD -1.88, 95% CI (-3.09, -0.66)]. Additionally, ITSN20 and ITSN40 significantly improved ADCS-ADL scores (2 RCTs, 208 patients, ADCS-ADL scale score ≤ 10: mild) compared with placebo [SMD 0.02, 95% CI (0.01, 0.03), and SMD 0.04, 95% CI (0.03, 0.05), respectively]. In the 16 included studies, the degree of AD was classified as mild or moderate. For mild cognitive impairment, DPP-4 performed best, but for mild to moderate impairment, ITSN40 had excellent performance. Conclusion: Various HDs can improve the cognitive function of MCI and AD patients. Different drug regimens brought different degrees of improvement, which may be related to their dosage, duration, and mechanism of action. Systematic review registration: www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero.

Characterization of electrospun poly(p-dioxanone) and poly(p-dioxanone)/clay nanocomposite fibers.

PPDO was successfully electrospun into continuous, ultrafine fibers by using DMSO as solvent for the first time. The concentration of PPDO in DMSO and the electrospinning temperature were optimized. PPDO/LAP nanocomposites were also electrospun in DMSO. At 70 degrees C, ultrafine PPDO fibers were obtained from 35 wt% solution and the PPDO/LAP nanocomposite fibers were yielded from 55 wt% solution. Electrospun fibers of the PPDO/LAP nanocomposites showed higher degree of crystallinity due to the presence of embedded nanoparticles.

Differentially expressed genes in early gestational chorionic villi after administration of mifepristone.

To investigate the effect of mifepristone on gene expression of human chorionic villi in early pregnancy, nine women were recruited into a randomised controlled trial. All subjects were healthy women who had regular menstrual cycles and sought termination of pregnancy up to 40 days gestational age. In the test group, gestational sacs were taken by vacuum aspiration of the uterus 24 h after a single dose of 150 mg mifepristone was administered. Chorionic villi were collected and frozen in liquid nitrogen. The control samples were collected using the same method from the women without administration of mifepristone. The gene expressions of villus were monitored by human cDNA microarrays. It is found that the expressions of 262 transcripts were significantly altered in the test group. Gene ontology and pathways analyses were conducted to further analyse these genes. Many of these genes are known to play potentially an important role in the placentation and the molecular regulation of maternal-fetal interface. Therefore, it is suggested that the placental development and microenvironment of the maternal-fetal interface were interfered by administration of mifepristone. These data provide insight into the molecular mechanism about medical abortion induced by mifepristone.

18F-FDG PET/CT evaluation of lymphoma with renal involvement: comparison with renal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Lymphoma can arise at any anatomic site, but it is rare to find kidney involvement. The aim of this study was to assess the role of F-flourodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in detecting lymphoma with renal involvement. Reports of such use of F-FDG PET/CT are limited. METHODS: Twelve lymphoma patients with renal involvement and 12 renal carcinoma patients were studied with F-FDG PET/CT. Intense F-FDG uptake, suggestive of positivity, was measured in mean standardized uptake values (standardized uptake values [SUV] mean). RESULTS: The results of PET/CT were validated by bone marrow, biopsy tissue and/or surgery. F-FDG PET/CT detected lymphoma with renal involvement lesions or renal carcinoma lesions in at least one site in the 24 patients. F-FDG uptake by the lymphoma lesions was much higher than the F-FDG uptake by the renal clear cell carcinomas (SUV mean 6.37 +/- 2.28 vs 2.58 +/- 0.62), and similar to that of renal cell carcinoma and renal collecting duct carcinoma (SUV mean 6.37 +/- 2.28 vs 6.27 +/- 1.15). There were dissimilar morphological changes in the homologous CT. Differing from renal cancer, lymphoma in the spleen, uterus, and bone marrow can easily be diagnosed by F-FDG PET/CT. CONCLUSION: The lesions of lymphoma with renal involvement, and especially those of primary renal lymphoma, are F-FDG avid. PET/CT appears to be useful in comparing these lesions with those of renal carcinoma, especially for primary renal lymphoma.

[Potential of renewable energy development on abandoned mine areas: A case study in Liao-ning Province, Norheast China]. / 在矿山废弃地上发展可再生能源的潜力­­ä»¥è¾½å®çœä¸ºä¾‹.

Under the background of domestic and international pressure of carbon emission reduction and the requirement of energy structure adjustment, renewable energy development is under great pressure in China. Renewable energy development on abandoned mine areas has great potential due to its large area. It has great significance to develop renewable energy on abandoned mine areas for China's energy strategy. This study proposed the development scenarios of biomass energy and solar energy and estimated the development potential of renewable energy on abandoned mine areas in Liaoning Province. The results showed that the area of abandoned mine areas in Liaoning Pro-vince is 1227.6 km2, the potential of renewable energy development is large, and the potential of renewable energy in each scenario is quite different. In scenario 1, with the goal mode of maximizing the generation of photovoltaic power, the total generating capacity is 79.4 TWh, the total coal discount is 32.1 Mt standard coal, and the carbon reduction is 79.1 Mt CO2. In scenario 2, with the goal mode of maximizing biomass energy utilization, the total power generation from photovoltaic and biomass energy is 31.2-33.1 TWh, the total coal discount is 12.7-13.4 Mt standard coal, and the carbon emission reduction is 31.1-33.0 Mt CO2. In scenario 3, with the goal mode of maximizing comprehensive utilization of mine energy and consideration of ecological restoration, the total gene-rating capacity from photovoltaic and biomass energy is 62.3-63.7 TWh, the total coal discount is 25.1-25.7 Mt standard coal, and the carbon emission reduction is 62.1-63.5 Mt CO2. Under the three scenarios, the generation capacity range of is 31.2-79.4 TWh, accounting for 15.3%-38.9% of the total power consumption in Liaoning Province in 2016, which could be converted into 12.7-32.1 Mt standard coal, and contribute to a reduction of 31.1-79.1 Mt CO2 emission. The calculations of new energy development potential on abandoned mine areas and quantification of its capacity of alternatives to fossil energy will be helpful for carbon emission reduction, energy structure adjustment, and the recovery of the mining ecosystem.

A Rare Case of Neutrophil-Rich, ALK-Negative Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma in the Lung Mimicking a Pulmonary Abscess on 18F-FDG PET/CT.

A 21-year-old man complained of cough, fever, and hemoptysis for 15 days. Peripheral neutrophil cell (33.8 × 10/L) was markedly increased, and a mass in the left lung was detected by chest radiography. F-FDG PET/CT was referred for characterizing the lesion and found a large mass with multiple cavities in the left lung, which had markedly high uptake of F-FDG, mimicking pulmonary abscess. Surprisingly, the lesion was eventually proved to be neutrophil-rich anaplastic large cell lymphoma. After 4 cycles' chemotherapy, the lesion shrank significantly.

Positron-emission tomography for hepatocellular carcinoma: Current status and future prospects.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality worldwide. Various imaging modalities provide important information about HCC for its clinical management. Since positron-emission tomography (PET) or PET-computed tomography was introduced to the oncologic setting, it has played crucial roles in detecting, distinguishing, accurately staging, and evaluating local, residual, and recurrent HCC. PET imaging visualizes tissue metabolic information that is closely associated with treatment. Dynamic PET imaging and dual-tracer have emerged as complementary techniques that aid in various aspects of HCC diagnosis. The advent of new radiotracers and the development of immuno-PET and PET-magnetic resonance imaging have improved the ability to detect lesions and have made great progress in treatment surveillance. The current PET diagnostic capabilities for HCC and the supplementary techniques are reviewed herein.

Gummatous Syphilis Mimicking Malignant Bone Tumor on FDG PET/CT.

A 47-year-old woman suffered worsening pain in the waist and numbness in the right thigh for 1 month. MRI was performed to determine the cause, which detected an osteolytic lesion in the T12 vertebral body, suggestive of possible bone metastasis. FDG PET/CT scan was undertaken to detect the primary tumor, which only showed the same isolated lesion in the T12 without any other abnormal hypermetabolic lesion. The pathology following vertebrectomy revealed granulomatous infection. The diagnosis of osseous syphilis was eventually made following a subsequent positive Treponema pallidum serological test.

Pharmacokinetic Profiling of Butylidenephthalide and Alisol B in Danggui-Shaoyao-San in Rats.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Danggui-Shaoyao-San (DSS), a famous Chinese formula, has been widely used to treat gynecological disorders since ancient times and has recently showed efficacy in treating Alzheimer's disease. Butylidenephthalide (BDPH) and alisol B (ALI) are recognized as the primary active ingredients of DSS. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the pharmacokinetic comparative study of BDPH and ALI in herbal extracts and their purified forms. METHOD: A sensitive and specific high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) methodology was developed to determine the concentration level of BDPH and ALI in rat plasma. This approach enables a real-time pharmacokinetics profiling of BDPH and ALI in DSS extracts as well as their purified forms in rats after oral administration. RESULTS: The validated method showed an evident linearity over a wide range of dosages (r > 0.99) with sensitivity down to 1.0 ng/mL for each analyte. The extraction recovery of the analyte ranged from 80.8 to 99.1%. The pharmacokinetic parameters were significantly different in herbal extracts and their purified forms. The results showed that the absorption of both BDPH and ALI from DSS extracts was significantly greater compared with their purified forms. CONCLUSIONS: A highly specific, sensitive and rapid HPLC-MS/MS method was developed and applied for the determination of BDPH and ALI in rat plasma. It was found that BDPH and ALI had higher bioavailability in the DSS extract compared with their purified forms.