Qualitative evaluation of thyroid nodules with gray-scale contrast-enhanced ultrasound / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the feasibility of gray-scale contrast-enhanced ultrasound for characterizing thyroid nodules.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty thyroid nodules from 35 patients were studied both by conventional techniques and gray-scale contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Of the nodules examined, 15 were benign and 25 malignant. The enhancement of echogenicity was evaluated. The diagnosis was confirmed by surgical biopsy and histopathological examination.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The study using gray-scale contrast-enhanced ultrasound showed absent contrast-enhancement in 9 of 25 malignant nodules and 1 of 11 benign solitary nodules; intense enhancement in 6 of 25 malignant nodules, with perfusion defect in the center; diffuse faint enhancement in 10 of 25 malignant nodules and 10 of 11 benign solitary nodules. Benign cystic nodules all showed absent enhancement in the cystic components and 2 of 4 intense enhancement in the solitary components.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Gray-scale contrast-enhanced ultrasonography imaging may be a useful tool for evaluating the perfusion of thyroid nodules. Solitary nodules showing absent enhancement or intense enhancement with absent enhancement in the nodular center may suggest malignant.</p>

Application of real-time tissue elastography in diagnosis of breast cancer / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical value of real-time tissue elastography (RTE) in the diagnosis of breast cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty patients with breast lumps (135 lesions) were examined with B-mode imaging, color Doppler flowing imaging (CDFI) and RTE. The elastogram was graded using 5-score evaluating method. The postoperative pathological diagnosis was used as gold standard, and the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of RTE and two-dimensional ultrasonography combined with RTE in diagnosis of breast cancer were calculated.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>When the score >4 was set for cut-off criteria of malignancy, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of RTE was 85.45%, 83.75% and 84.4%, respectively. While two-dimensional ultrasonography combined with RTE was used, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy increased up to 100%, 95% and 97%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>RTE combined with two-dimensional ultrasonography can improve the validity in the diagnosis of malignant breast lesions.</p>

Influence of fluvastatin on left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction in rats / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of long-term administration of fluvastatin on improvement of ventricular remodeling of rats after myocardial infarction and its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to ligation in anterior descending branch of coronary artery and treated with fluvastatin (20 mg.kg(-1) d(-1)) or distilled water for 8 weeks. Doppler echocardiography, hemodynamic study and cardiac histomorphometry were used to estimate the ventricular remodeling and cardiac function. Laser scanning confocal microscope was used to definite the distribution of superoxide anion (O(2)(*-)) and nitrogen monoxide. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of NOS2 and p22phox in mRNA and protein level. The level of lipid peroxidation, glutathione peroxidase, nitrogen monoxide and total cholesterol were detected too.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Administration of fluvastatin ameliorated left ventricular remodeling without affecting the infarct size [(40 +/- 6 vs 42 +/-5)%, P>0.05]. The level of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure [(18.24 +/-6.58 vs 10.74 +/-4.71) mmHg, P<0.05], right ventricular ameliorated relative weight [(0.92 +/-0.19 vs 0.71 +/-0.13) g/kg, P<0.05], the thickness of left ventricular posterior wall [(3.04 +/-0.28 vs 2.60 +/-0.36) mm, P<0.05] decreased after fluvastatin treatment. The left ventricular ejection fraction was not influenced, the relative lung weight and the left atrium diameter reduced [(5.79 +/-2.92 vs 3.69 +/-0.68) g/kg, (0.55 +/-0.12 vs 0.45 +/-0.04) mm, P<0.05]; the expressions of LPO in the plasma and myocardium [(8.64 +/-0.59 vs 7.71 +/-0.66) U/dl, P<0.05; (3.12 +/-0.38 vs 1.93 +/-0.40) ng/microg.pro, P<0.01] were reduced, and the overexpressed NO was inhibited [(436.87 +/-47.22 vs 313.78 +/-34.35) mg/dl, P<0.01], but the expression of GPx increased [(66.13 +/-8.31 vs 79.78 +/-2.38) mg/dl, P<0.01]. The expression of O(2)(*-) and the activity of NADPH oxidase subunit p22phox increased; NOS2 and its products NO were over-expressed too.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ventricular remodeling and hemodynamics are improved profoundly in MI rats treated with fluvastatin. The effect of antioxidative stress of fluvastatin might be involved in the mechanism.</p>