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ObjectiveTo investigate the stability of FibroTouch (FT) in the determination of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP). MethodsA total of 309 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), liver function abnormalities, or other diseases who underwent FT in the outpatient service of Department of Hepatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, were enrolled. FT was performed at three different measurement points for the same subject, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Bland-Altman method were used to evaluate the stability of measured values. The Kendall’s W test and pie charts were used to evaluate the stability of diagnostic results. ResultsLSM and CAP values of the three different measurement points for the same subject had an ICC of ＞0.75 in different disease groups (all P＜0.001), among which the chronic HBV infection group had the highest ICC of LSM of 0.905, the other disease group had the highest ICC of CAP of 0.805, the NAFLD group had the lowest ICC of LSM of 0.785 and the lowest ICC of CAP of 0.780. The Bland-Altman plots were generated for the three measurement points, and the dots within the limits of agreement accounted for about 95%. The diagnostic results of LSM and CAP staging of the three measurement points had a Kendall’s W coefficient of 0.825 and 0.858, respectively (all P＜0.001). The proportion of patients with consistency between the diagnostic results for F≥2 stage (LSM＞7.3 kPa) and mild (or more severe) fatty liver stage (CAP＞240 dB/m) based on mean value of measurement points and all three measurement points was ＞60%, while the proportion of patients with consistency between the diagnostic results based on mean value of measurement points and only one measurement point was ＜10%. ConclusionThe values and diagnostic results of FT measurement have good stability; however, in order to improve its stability in diagnosing F ≥2 stage and mild (or more severe) fatty liver, it is suggested to use the mean value of multiple measurement points for diagnosis.
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BACKGROUND: The sucrose is an ideal material for auxiliary support and mold fil ing that is suitable for application in the medical field with three-dimensional (3D) printing. In China, there are many studies about the 3D printing with sucrose, but the accuracy and porosity of the stent are stil unclear. OBJECTIVE: To explore the technological parameters of the sucrose scaffold by 3D printing technology. METHODS: From the perspective of physical and chemical properties, the sucrose viscosity and thermal decomposition with the change of temperature were analyzed. Based on the pneumatic controlled FDM technology, the mature sucrose scaffold was obtained by researching the match of temperature and pressure, layer setting, as wel as the match of speed and pressure. Then the scaffold was demarcated with microscope, and the porosity was measured by immersion in absolute ethyl alcohol. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The sucrose was completely melted at 180 oC, with the biggest liquidity. When the temperature was over 195 oC, the caramel reaction occurred. As the temperature increased, the sucrose viscosity decreased. The optimal molding parameters of the sucrose scaffold with pneumatic control-based 3D printing were 170 oC-0.2 MPa-12 mm/s (temperature-pressure-printing speed). The line width and mean porosity of the wel -shaped sucrose scaffold were 700 μm and 81.893%, respectively.
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Objective To study binocular rivalry (BR)objectively and the correlation between fusiform face area (FFA)and visual cortex.Methods Six subjects participated in this study,with one eye presented a normal face expres-sion picture flickered at 8.57 Hz,while the other presented a fearful face flickered at 12 Hz or 15 Hz,respectively.Electro-encephalogram(EEG)was recorded during this process.Steady state visual evoked potential(SSVEP)evoked by two flick-ering rates was analyzed by time-frequency analysis of short time fourier transformation(STFT).The time index of BR was estimated and the correlation coefficient between FFA and visual cortex compared.Results The total average time was (411.6 ±73.8)ms for the left eye and (547.6 ±126.7)ms for the right eye.The switch rate of the two groups was not different,but the left FFA was more sensitive than the right FFA in process of the fearful face.Neither side of FFA had any frequency preference to the flickered fearful face.Conclusion SSVEP can be used as a frequency tag of BR or as a tool to evaluate visual sensation under BR objectively.SSVEP combined with BR can be used in research of neural mechanisms of visual awareness.
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Objective To analyse appearances of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) of breast local adenosis,and to explore the value of CEUS in the diagnosis of the local adenosis of breast.Methods The data of conventional ultrasound and CEUS of local adenosis of breast in 110 cases confirmed by operation and pathology were analysed.The enhancement patterns,border of the lesion,time-intensity curve were evaluated respectively.Results Totally 151 lesions were detected by conventional ultrasound in 110 cases,61 lesions were diagnosed by conventional ultrasound for adenopathy or adenosis tumor,the diagnosis coincidence rate was 40.4％ (61/151).By CEUS,106 lesions were diagnosed as adenopathy or adenosis tumor,the diagnosis coincidence rate was 70.2 ％ (106/151),higher than that of conventional ultrasound.The features of CEUS include:In contrast perfusion time to peak,103 lesions inhomogeneously enhanced in whole or in part (68.2 ％).The enhancement degree of 121 lesions (80.1 ％) were moderate enhancement or slightly high enhancement,a few lesions (11.9％,18/151) showed significantly enhanced,and very few lesions (7.9 ％,12/151) for low enhancement.In contrast perfusion peak,107 (70.9 ％) lesions had less clear boundary,no envelope,and had a certain continuity with the surrounding background breast tissue,in which 5 lesions were showed significantly increased in size by CEUS comparison with conventional ultrasound,and the boundary of 4 lesions was shaped like the burr,no regularity after enhancing.The boundary of 29.1％ (44/151) of the lesion was clear.In the lesions with moderate enhancement or slightly high enhancement,the time-intensity curve mainly displayed same washin and same wash out (60/151,39.7 ％) and fast washin and fast wash-out (65/151,43.0％).Conclusions CEUS image of focal breast adenosis has certain characteristics.CEUS can provide more evidences in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of breast adenosis,which can help to improve diagnostic confidence.
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ObjectiveTo assess the diagnosis ability of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)between qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis in breast masses.Methods The contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imagings of 73 cases breast masses (41malignant cases,32 benign cases) were analysed retrospectively,including qualitative indexes(obtained by eyes-watching method) and quantitative indexes (obtained by time-intensity curve).The relationship between these CEUS signs and pathology were evaluated by single variety and multiple variety analysis.The two logistic models on the basis of CEUS signs were obtained.According to the logistic regression results to create new variants pre-1 and pre-2,the two receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were created to assess the performance of the logistic models.ResultsBy qualitative analysis,the lesion enhanced features,lesion diameter expanding or not and the grades of lesion enhancement at the peak time entered the logistic regression.And the prediction accuracy to differential diagnosis the breast masses was 91.8％ and the area under the ROC was 91.3％.However,by quantitative analysis,only the relative peak intensity entered the regression,the prediction accuracy was 61.5 ％ and the area under the ROC was 75.7 ％.According to Z test,the areas difference under the two ROCs had statistically significant ( P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions To differential diagnosis the breast masses by CEUS,the qualitative indexes have more useful than the quantitative indexes.
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Objective To study the effects of artesunate(ART)on estrogen receptor negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 and its mechanisms.Methods Treated with ART for 3 days,MDA-MB-231 cells proliferation was examined by MTT assay.The morphological and uhrastructural changes of MDA-MB-231 cells were observed under microscope and electronic microscope.Immunocytochemistry was used to detect the expression of Bax,mn23,Bcl-2,and P21 WAFl/CIPl.Results ART treatment led to a dose dependent inhibition of MDA-MB-231 cells.ART could change the morphology and ultrastructure of MDA-MB-231 cens.After treatment with ART(2μmol/L)for 72 hours,immunocytochemical staining showed that the expression of Bax,nm23,and P21WAF1/CIP1 was upregulated in comparison to the control group(P0.05).Conclusions ART shows an anti-proliferative effect on MDA-MB-231 cells.The mechanisms may be related to upregnlation of Bax,nm23 and P21WAF1/CIP1 expression.
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To investigate the protective effects of the n-butanol extract of Potentilla anserina L. (NP) on pituitrin-induced acute myocardial ischemic injury in mice.
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0.05).Compared to OA group,the patients in the LA group had shorters periods of absolute diet and hospital stay(P=0.000,P=0.000).Conclusions LA has less influence on the humoral immunity and protein metabolism in children.Meanwhile the procedure is minimally invasive,patients recover quickly and are discharged earlier after the operation.
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Objective To summarize the value of laparoscopic operation using an ultrasonic scalpel for the radical treatment of Hischsprung’s disease (HD) in infants and children. Methods Laparoscopic operation was performed in 20 infants and children with HD under general anesthesia from February 2003 to January 2006. The CO_2 pressure of pneumoperitoneum was set at 10~12 mm Hg. By way of three abdominal ports, the diseased colon and rectum were mobilized by dissecting the supplying vessels and severing the peritoneal reflection in the pelvic floor. The modified Soave pull-through procedure was employed to incise and mobilize the rectal mucosa at 0.5 cm above the dentate line. The lateral ligament of rectum was severed and the intraabdominal cavity was reached through the peritoneal reflection. The diseased colon was pulled through the anus passing the level of the transition zone for resection. Then coloanal anastomosis was made between the proximal colon and the cutting edge of the anal canal above the dentate line. Results All the procedures were completed smoothly. The operation time was 120~210 min (mean, 132 min). The length of resected colon was 20~55 cm (mean, 35 cm). The intraoperative blood loss was 5~20 ml (mean, 14 ml), with no need of blood transfusion. Enterocolitis happened in 2 cases postoperatively. Follow-up observations in the 20 cases for 3~36 months (mean, 12.5 months) found no complications. The patients had 1~2 times of fecal discharge per day during follow-up. Conclusions Laparoscopic pull-through procedure using an ultrasonic surgical scalpel has advantages of minimal invasion, little hemorrhage, simple performance, quick recovery, and low complication rate.
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Objective To summarize the experience of l ap aroscopic pyloromyotomy for the treatment of infantile hypertrophic pyloric sten osis (IHPS). Methods Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy was employed i n 50 cases of IHPS from April 2001 to April 2004. The patients aged 12~90 days ( mean, 35 days). Three 3-mm-diameter trocars were introduced into the abdominal c avity via the left, right and upper abdominal wall, respectively. A non-traumati c grasping forceps was inserted through the left trocar to manipulate the gastri c wall near the pylorus. Through the right trocar, a retractable pyloromyotomy s calpel, a stripper and a dissecting forceps were in turn utilized to complete py loromyotomy. Results The operation was completed under laparos cope in 48 cases, while a conversion to open surgery was needed in 2 cases (1 c ase of prepyloric membrane and 1 case of pyloric mucosal injury, which were cure d by open repair). The operative time was 15~45 min (mean, 25 min). The nasogast ric tube was removed and oral feeding with milk was attempted 6 hours after the operation. The patients were discharged at 3~5 postoperative days. Follow-up for 3~6 months (mean, 4.5 months) in 42 cases showed that the patients were normall y developed. Conclusions Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy can be wel l performed in the presence of experience in open surgery, technical skills in l aparoscopy, effective anesthesia and proper surgical instruments.
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Objective To investigate the feasibility of two-port laparoscopy-assisted resection of the Meckel’s diverticulum in children. Methods Resection of the Meckel’s diverticulum was performed under a laparoscope in 13 children in our hospital from July 2002 to March 2006. Two 5-mm trocars were introduced at the infraumbilical ring and the right lower abdomen, respectively. When the Meckel’s diverticulum was found, the incision was prolonged to 2 cm long along the inferior border of the umbilicus, the diverticulum was removed externally and the intestine was anastomosed. Results The operation was completed successfully without conversion to open surgery. The mean operation time was 50 min (range, 40-70). The intestinal function of the patients recovered 24 hours after the operation, and then liquid food was given at 3 days postoperatively, and the patients was discharged from hospital within 5-7 days after the operation. The patients were followed up for 6-48 months (mean, 13), during which no one had recurrence, intestinal adhesion, or intestinal obstruction. Conclusions Two-port laparoscopy-assisted resection of Meckel’s diverticulum is safe and feasible for children. The recovery time and hospital stay are short after the procedure.