ABSTRACT
Objective:To prepare cisplatin-loaded anti-progastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP) monoclonal antibody targeted nanobubbles, and to explore the proliferation inhibition effect and anti-cancer molecular mechanism of them on small cell lung cancer (SCLC).Methods:The cisplatin targeted nanobubbles were prepared by thin film hydrating method, and the physicochemical property were explored. The subcutaneous xenograft tumor models of SCLC in 10 nude mice were established, and the ultrasound molecular targeting development effect of cisplatin targeted nanobubbles was analyzed by using blank nanobubbles as control. Another 24 tumor-bearing nude mouse models were established and randomly divided into four groups: blank nanobubbles group, cisplatin group, cisplatin nanobubbles group, cisplatin targeted nanobubbles group. The tumor inhibition rate was calculated. The effect on SCLC proliferation was detected by CCK8 method. RT-PCR and Western blotting methods were used to detect SCLC proliferation related genes the P53, Rb, c-myc protein and mRNA expression level of change, the molecular regulatory mechanism was analyzed.Results:The cisplatin targeted nanobubbles were successfully prepared. The particle size was (467.3±42.3)nm, the structure was stable. The cisplatin targeted nanobubbles had a good effect of ultrasonic molecular development in SCLC xenograft.Compared with the control group, the proliferation of SCLC cells was significantly inhibited by cisplatin targeted nanobubbles. The RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis showed that compared with the control group, the mRNA and protein levels of the proliferation-related gene P53 and Rb in the cisplatin targeted nanovesicles group were significantly up-regulated, and the mRNA and protein levels of c-myc were significantly down-regulated (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The cisplatin targeted nanobubbles can inhibit the proliferation of SCLC, and may be used as a new potential targeted drug for the treatment of SCLC.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in evaluating the severity of renal artery stenosis.Methods:Eighty six patients with suspected renal artery stenosis admitted to Shanxi Provincial People′s Hospital from January 2018 to July 2021 were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA), Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) and CEUS examinations. With DSA results as gold standard the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of CEUS and DUS in the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis were analyzed. The consistency between CEUS and DSA in the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis was evaluated. The accuracy of DUS and CEUS in diagnosis of renal artery stenosis was assessed by the area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) and compared between groups.Results:Among 153 renal arteries from 86 patients examined by DSA, 101 showed the stenosis ≥30% (49 left and 52 right renal arteries), and there were 31, 45, 20 and 5 renal arteries with grade I, II, III and IV stenosis. The sensitivity and specificity of DUS in the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis were 74.3% (75/101) and 76.9% (40/52),respectively. DUS showed 21, 42, 20 and 4 renal arteries with grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ stenosis, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of CEUS in the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis were 88.1% (89/101) and 86.5%(45/52), respectively. CEUS showed 26, 43, 23 and 4 renal arteries with grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ stenosis, respectively. There was a significant difference between DUS and DSA in grading of renal artery stenosis (χ2=4.447, P=0.03),and there was a moderate consistency between DUS and DSA ( Kappa=0.480). There was no significant difference between CEUS and DSA in grading renal artery stenosis (χ2=0.842, P=0.36) with a good consistency ( Kappa=0.730). The AUC of CEUS in diagnosis of renal artery stenosis was higher than that of DUS [0.873 (95% CI: 0.808-0.938) vs. 0.756 (95% CI:0.673-0.839); Z=4.361, P<0.01]. Conclusion:The study suggests that contrast-enhanced ultrasonography may be used as a diagnostic method for grading renal artery stenosis.
ABSTRACT
Objective To assess the diagnostic value of left ventricular angiography in patients with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.Methods A total of 32 consecutively recruited patients aged from 61 to 78 with suspected apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from inconclusive apex imaging on conventional echocardiography from June 2016 to December 2017 underwent left ventricular opacification.A diagnosis of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was made when the thickness of hypertrophied area of the apex was ＞ 1.5 cm,the ratio of the hypertrophied area to the non-hypertrophied area was ＞ 1.3,and no hypertrophy was found elsewhere.Results Twenty-four out of 32 patients (75.0％) were diagnosed with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,all of whom had pure apical hypertrophy.The other 8 patients were excluded,with normal thickness in the apex.Patients with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy had apical wall thicknesses ranging from 15 mm to 21 mm,reduced myocardial motion amplitude in the apex and uneven echo at certain areas of the ventricular wall.All cases showed clear images of the apex with left ventricular opacification,and the apex of the heart lost its normal morphology and showed a pointed end,with ventricular cavity obliteration or uneven wall thickness in the apex.Conclusions Left heart ventricular angiography can be complimentary to conventional echocardiography in the diagnosis of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by providing a clearer endocardial contour and more accurate estimates of apical wall thickness and therefore enhancing the diagnostic value of ultrasound for apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
ABSTRACT
Objective To prepare nanobubbles and analysis its application for enhanced ultrasound imaging of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Methods Nanobubbles were prepared using a thin-film hydration-sonication method. MTT assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the nanobubbles for SCLC H446 cell line. The contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of xenografted SCLC tumors in 10 nude mice was performed using nanobubbles and micro-scale microbubbles, and compared with livers. The time-intensity curve (TIC) was obtained using the Gamma variate and the following parameters were calculated, including area under the curve, time to peak, arrival time, peak intensity, and half-peak time. Results Nanobubbles with spherical shape distributed homogeneously, without obvious aggregation, the mean diameters was (392.1 ±48.6) nm and average zeta potential was (-16.8 ±2.9) mV. The MTT results indicated that the nanobubbles had no obvious cytotoxicity toward H446 cell line within the concentrations used for in vivo ultrasound imaging with nanobubbles (5 μg/ml). CEUS with the nanobubbles showed significantly higher peak intensity, and half-peak time [(18.14 ±0.62) s, (141.55 ±8.21) s] in comparison with the micro-scale microbubbles [(14.82 ±0.51) s, (120.43 ±8.73) s] (P= 0.033, 0.040). There was no significant difference in time to arrival, area under the curve and time to peak (all P>0.05). Compared with livers, the nanobubbles in xenografted SCLC tumors showed significantly shorter time to peak, lower peak intensity and area under the curve, and higher half-peak time (all P 0.05). Conclusion Nanobubbles ultrasound enhanced contrast agent shows good stability and contrast-enhancement effect in vitro, and provides an experimental basis for targeting ultrasound imaging and therapeutics of SCLC.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the value of color Doppler ultrasonography in assessing the severity of deep venous insufficiency of the lower extremities.Methods Forty-five patients (46 lower extremities) in patient group confirmed as venous insufficiency by descending phlebography and 20 volunteers (40 lower extremities) in control group were assessed by color Doppler ultrasonography. The results of 45 patients were compared with those of 20 volunteers.Results The diameters of superficial femoral vein measured by color Doppler ultrasonography were correlated with the severity of venous reflux showed in phlebography(r=(0.771),P(0.05)).Conclusions The reflux distance in superficial femoral vein is a useful parameter in assessing the degree of venous insufficiency.