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Objective To investigate the characteristics of breast neoplasms on contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS) and its clinical value.Methods Two hundred and twenty-five patients with breast masses unable to be diagnosed by conventional ultrasonography were examined with CEUS.The characteristics of these masses on CEUS were analyzed and compared with the results of pathology examination.Results The typical features of breast cancers on CEUS were enlarged maximum diameter of the lesions on CEUS compared to pre-contrast ( P ＜0.05),irregular shapes,heterogeneous distribution of contrast enhancement with perfusion defect or local retention of contrast signals,tortuous,massive or penetrating vessels rapidly entering and exporting from the lesions.The sensitivity and specificity of perfusion defect for breast cancer on CEUS were 89.0％ and 91.8％,respectively; the sensitivity and specificity of local retention of contrast signals for breast cancer on CEUS were 93.4％ and 92.5％,respectively.Conclusions It is valuable for CEUS in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of breast neoplasms clinically.
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Objective To explore the association between the signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) gene polymorphism and Chinese Han systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Methods Pyrosequencing technique was used to genotype the 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the samples of patients and normal individuals. Results Not only these 3 SNPs, but also the haplotypes composed by them showed significant difference between the SLE patients and normal individuals[rs11889341:P=0.012 02, OR (95%CI)=1.22( 1.044～1.424); rs7574865:P=0.003 454, 0R(95%CI)=1.25(1.076～1.451 ); rs8179673: P=0.004 275, OR (95%CI)=1.274 (1.079～1.505)]. Conclusion rs11889341, rs7574865 and rs8179673 of STAT4 are associated with the pathogenesis of Chinese Han SLE, and the STAT4 gene is a susceptibile gene for SLE in a few racial cohorts.
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AIM: To examine the effect of external counterpulsation(ECP) on renin-angiotensin system(RAS) and hemodynamics in dogs with myocardial ischemia and their relationship. METHODS: Acute myocardial ischemia was induced by occluding the left anterior descending of the dogs. The local renin activity, angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ) level, angiotension-converting enzyme(ACE) activity were tested by biochemical methods and hemodynamics was recorded by a 8-channel physiological recorder. RESULTS: Ischemia could actiivate renin,ACE and AngⅡ in cardiovasculature and ECP reduced them except for renin in ischemic myocardium. Ischemia also could activate RAS in lung and kidney, which play an important role on circulating RAS, and ECP reduced them. Furthermore, ECP could improve hemodynamics and there existed a close relationship between local AngⅡlevel and hemodynamics. CONCLUSION: ECP can reduce local RAS and improve hemodynamics in dogs with myocardial ischemia, which might be one of mechanisms underlying the protective effect of ECP on ischemic myocardium.
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AIM: To examine the alteration of local renin-angiotensin system of dogs with myocardial ischemia and external counterpulsation treatment and its mechanism. METHODS: Acute myocardial ischemia was induced by occluding the LAD of ischemic and ECP groups. The tissue renin activity and angiotensin(AngⅡ) level in ischemic myocardium and aorta were measured. The expression of angiotensinogen and renin mRNA were detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Renin activity, AngⅡ level in ischemic myocardium and AngⅡ level in aorta of ECP group were lower than those of MI group. Except for renin in ischemic myocardium, angiotensinogen mRNA and renin in ischemic myocardium and angiotensinogen mRNA in aorta of ECP group were reduced to normal level. CONCLUSION: The inhibitory effect of ECP on cardiovascular renin activity and angiotensinogen gene expression could be one of the mechanisms by which ECP protects ischemic myocardium.