ABSTRACT
Objective@#To assess the efficacy and safety of ultrasound (US)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). @*Materials and Methods@#This prospective study enrolled 39 participants (14 male, 25 female; mean age, 59.5 ± 15.3 [range, 18–87] years) between September 1, 2018, and January 31, 2021. All participants had parathyroid lesions causing PHPT, proven biochemically and through imaging. The imaging features of the PHPT nodules, including the shape, margin, size, composition, and location, were evaluated before treatment. Serum intact parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphorus levels; parathyroid nodule volume; and PHPT-related symptoms were recorded before and after treatment. We calculated the technical success, biochemical cure, and clinical cure rates for these patients. Complications were evaluated during and after the ablation. @*Results@#Complete ablation was achieved in 38 of the 39 nodules in the 39 enrolled participants. All the patients were treated in one session. The technical success rate was 97.4% (38/39). The mean follow-up duration was 13.2 ± 4.6 (range, 6.0–24.9) months. At 6 and 12 months post-RFA, the biochemical cure rates were 82.1% (32/39) and 84.4% (27/32), respectively, and the clinical cure rates were 100% (39/39) and 96.9% (31/32), respectively. Only 2.6% (1/39) of the patients had recurrent PHPT. At 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after technically successful RFA, 44.7% (17/38), 34.3% (12/35), 15.8% (6/38), and 12.5% (4/32) of participants, respectively, had elevated eucalcemic parathyroid hormone levels. Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis occurred in 5.1% (2/39) of the patients, who recovered spontaneously within 1–3 months. @*Conclusion@#US-guided RFA was effective and safe for PHPT patients. RFA may be an alternative treatment tool for patients who cannot tolerate or refuse to undergo surgery.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the clinical value of double contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (DCUS) in the macroscopic classification of rectal carcinoma. Methods Seventy-one patients with rectal carcinoma were examined by ultrasound after intrarectal infusion and intravenous bolus injection of SonoVue preoperatively. And three types were divided according to the shape of the tumor:protruding type, ulcerative type and invasive type. After surgery, DCUS and perfusion contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (PCUS) were compared with final pathologic results respectively, and the relationship between general tumor type and TN staging were analyzed.Results The accuracy of DCUS [88.7%(63/71) ] in macroscopic classification of rectal carcinoma was significantly higher than that of PCUS [73.2%(52/71) ](χ2=5.534,P<0.05). For the invasion depth into the intestinal wall, the protruding type was mainly in T1, T2 and T3 stages while ulcerative and invasive type in T2, T3 and T4 stages (χ2=12.322, P<0.05 ). For the stage of lymph node, the protruding type was mainly in N0 and N1 while ulcerative and invasive type in N1 and N2(χ2=6.733,P < 0.05 ). Conclusions DCUS, with its high accuracy, is a new valuable method for macroscopic classification of rectal carcinoma.In the aspect of intestinal wall invasion and the lymph node, protruding type is less severe than ulcerative type and invasive type.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To detect the concentrations of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and prostaglandin E2(PGE2) in synovial fluid (SF), and to determine the role of IL-18 and PGE2 in osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis.@*METHODS@#IL-18 and PGE2 were measured concurrently in synovial fluid samples from 54 patients with knee OA (OA group) and from 9 controls (control group). Quantitative determination of IL-18 was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). PGE2 was examined by inhibitory enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A linear regression between IL-18 and PGE2 was analysed.@*RESULTS@#The concentrations of IL-18 and PGE2 in SF from the OA group were significantly higher than those from the control group (P<0.01). The average value of IL-18 in the control group was (28.768+/-13.575) x 10(-9)ng/L, and (72.303+/-40.130) x 10(-9)ng/L in the OA group (P<0.01); the average value of PGE2 in the control group was (24.697+/-7.814) x 10(-9)ng/L, and (42.302+/-23.818) x 10(-9)ng/L in the OA group (P<0.01). IL-18 was related with PGE2 in a linear curve fashion (the control group: r=0.76, P<0.001; the OA group: r=0.94, P<0.001).@*CONCLUSION@#IL-18 and PGE2 are significantly higher in the OA group than those in the control group, and they might take part in the cartilage degradation in OA pathogenesis. The increase of IL-18 might induce the increase of PGE2, and that might play an important role in OA pathogenesis.