ABSTRACT
@#Tumor-associated macrophage promotes the progression of glioblastoma (GBM) by infiltrating into tumor tissue, yet its mechanism has not been fully elucidated.This paper aimed to investigate the mechanism of M2 macrophages in affecting the migratory capacity of GBM via secreting exosomes.Ultracentrifugation was used to extract exosomes; RNA sequencing was carried out to screen differentially expressed miRNAs; target prediction database was used to predict the possible target proteins of miRNA; Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify the interaction between miRNA and target genes; and the proliferation ability of tumor cells was detected by subcutaneous xenograft model in nude mice.Results showed that tumor-related macrophages were mainly M2 macrophages, and that exosomes secreted by M2 macrophages could promote the migration of glioma cells.Meanwhile, exosomes secreted by M2 macrophages transported miR-1260b and affected the migration of glioma cells through directly targeted AJAP1, suggesting that exosomes secreted by macrophages could affect the migration ability of GBM through transporting miR-1260b.
ABSTRACT
In China, malignant tumors have become the main cause of death. In the past half century, the incidence and mortality of malignant tumors have been on the rise, posing a threat to health of patients, and the burden of cancer has been increasing. At the moment, malignant tumors are mainly treated by surgery, radiotherapy, and cytotoxic drugs, which, however, have limitations and induce great adverse reactions. As biological technology and the research on tumor microenvironment, immunology, cell biology, and molecular biology advance, high-efficiency low-toxicity targeted therapy has attracted wide attention in the treatment of tumors. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an important role in many cellular processes such as cell proliferation, survival, differentiation, migration, inflammation, and stromal homeostasis. EGFR promotes tumor growth, proliferation, and metastasis in a variety of ways. Chinese medicine has unique efficacy in the comprehensive treatment of malignant tumors. Through multiple components, multiple targets, and multiple pathways, it enhances the efficacy, reduces toxicity, prolongs life, and improves life quality in the treatment of tumors. Many Chinese medicines and their active components exert anti-tumor effect by inhibiting the EGFR signal transduction pathway. Through targeted inhibition of EGFR, Chinese medicine can promote the apoptosis and autophagy of tumor cells, suppress the proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells, and delay the progression of tumors. Thus, EGFR is a potential target for suppressing tumor. This paper summarizes the relationship between EGFR signal transduction pathway and tumor occurrence and development and analyzes the anti-tumor action mode and possible mechanisms of Chinese medicine and the active components by regulating EGFR signaling pathway, which is expected to provide a reference for clinical practice.
ABSTRACT
@#Cardiac surgery presents specific challenges in conducting randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The American Heart Association made a scientific statement of methodological standards, with the purpose to review key concepts and standards in design, implementation, and analysis of cardiac surgery RCTs, and to provide recommendations. Recommendations include an evaluation of the suitability of the research question, clinical equipoise, feasibility of enrolling a representative patient cohort, impact of practice variations on the effect of the study intervention, likelihood and impact of crossover, and duration of follow-up. Trial interventions and study end points should be predefined, and adequate deliverability of the trial interventions should be ensured. Every effort must be made to keep a high completeness of follow-up. Trial design and analytic techniques must be tailored to the specific research question and trial setting. In this paper, the authors made an interpretation of this scientific statement based on their practical experience.
ABSTRACT
With the progress of medical technology, the survival rate of children with cancer has been conti-nuously improved, and the quality of life of children cancer survivors has become the research direction of modern medicine.Particularly, fertility protection has attracted increasing attention, and some reproductive assistance technologies make it possible to preserve the fertility of cancer groups.In this article, the damage of pediatric cancer treatment to the fertility of male and female patients, existing reproductive protection methods and their effects were summarized.This paper provides a reference for the treatment of pediatric cancer patients and hopes to arouse more people′s awareness of fertility protection.
ABSTRACT
With the progress of medical technology, the survival rate of children with cancer has been conti-nuously improved, and the quality of life of children cancer survivors has become the research direction of modern medicine.Particularly, fertility protection has attracted increasing attention, and some reproductive assistance technologies make it possible to preserve the fertility of cancer groups.In this article, the damage of pediatric cancer treatment to the fertility of male and female patients, existing reproductive protection methods and their effects were summarized.This paper provides a reference for the treatment of pediatric cancer patients and hopes to arouse more people′s awareness of fertility protection.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy and prognosis of sacubatrovalsartan combined with dapagliflozin in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).Methods:Totally 206 consecutive patients with HFrEF in our hospital from March 2021 to September 2021 were enrolled and randomly(random number) divided into the control group ( n = 51), the sacubatrovalsartan group ( n = 52), the dapagliflozin group ( n=51) and the combined treatment group ( n= 52). The baseline clinical data of patients and laboratory examination results were collected. The changes of related results before and after treatment in each group were analyzed and compared. After discharge, the enrolled patients were followed up by outpatient or telephone for an average of 6 months to determine whether the patients had heart failure rehospitalization, ventricular arrhythmia, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), etc. Results:After anti-heart failure treatment, there were significant differences in NT-proBNP, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and soluble growth stimulating gene 2 protein (ST2) among the four groups. NT-proBNP and ST2 in the combined treatment group were significantly lower than those in the other groups, and LVEF was significantly higher. Compared with the control group, the rehospitalization due to heart failure and MACE events in the other three groups were significantly lower ( P < 0.05), and the combined treatment group had the lowest ( P < 0.05). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that the survival probability of the other groups was significantly higher than that of the control group, and was the highest in the combined treatment group. Conclusions:The clinical efficacy and prognosis of HFrEF patients could be significantly improved after the treatment of sacubatrovalsartan combined with dapagliflozin.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To summarize the prenatal diagnosis and postnatal follow-up of 15q11.2 BP1-BP2 microdeletion syndrome (Burnside-Butler syndrome, BBS), and provide a reference for the management of BBS.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 27 singleton pregnancies with fetal BBS that were prenatally diagnosed by single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) array of amniotic fluid in Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital from January 2017 to September 2021. Prenatal diagnosis indications, serological screening, prenatal ultrasound features, SNP array results, and postnatal growth and development were described and summarized.Results:(1) Of the 27 cases, the indications of prenatal diagnosis in 14 cases were abnormal sonographic findings, including eight cases with increased nuchal translucency, two with cleft lip and palate/alveolar process cleft, one with fetal multiple joint contracture syndrome, one with fetal right diaphragmatic hernia and single umbilical artery, one with suspected fetal duodenal atresia and one with nasal bone absence. Other indications included high risk of Down syndrome by serological screening in six cases, history of adverse pregnancy in six cases, and advanced age in one case. (2) Karyotyping of amniotic fluid in these 27 BBS fetuses showed normal results and SNP array indicated the deletion range of 311.8-855.3 kb. Parental verification of 23 cases confirmed one was a new mutation, seven were inherited from the father and 15 from the mother. (3) Five pregnancies were terminated in the second trimester and the remaining 22 cases were live births. (4) The median follow-up of the 22 children was 1 year 8 months (range 0.5 months to 4 years 3 months), which found low body weight and/or growth retardation in six cases, low body weight with language retardation in one case, low body weight with growth retardation and hyperactive behavior in one case, language retardation with left ear appendage in one case, cleft palate accompanied by duodenum/cleft lip and alveolar cleft in two cases without abnormal development after surgical treatment, and no abnormal growth in the remaining 11 cases.Conclusion:For BBS fetuses, the proportion of ultrasound abnormalities is high but with a low specificity in prenatal diagnosis, and the risk of abnormal postnatal growth and development/behavior is high, which requires continuous monitoring.
ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository on rats with prostate hyperplasia, and the effect of the proteins related to phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway in the prostate, thus exploring the mechanism of Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository in the treatment of rats with prostate hyperplasia. MethodTen SD male rats were randomly selected from 60 SD male rats to form a sham operation control group, and the rest rats were subcutaneously injected with testosterone propionate for 4 consecutive weeks after castration to induce the rat model of prostatic hyperplasia. According to the random number table method, the 50 rats were randomly divided into a model group, a finasteride group (0.45 mg·kg-1), and three high, middle, and low-dose Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository groups (3.98, 1.99, 0.99 g·kg-1), with ten rats in each group. After castration for 7 d, the sham operation control group and the model group used the blank hollow suppositories, and the finasteride group and the Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository groups used the corresponding hollow suppositories. The drugs were given to the rats by anal plugs continuously for 28 d. The rats were then killed, and the prostate tissues were separated and weighed to observe the effects of drugs on the prostate index of rats in each group. The hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used for the pathological observation of the prostate tissues. The level of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway protein, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), cysteine aspartate-specific protease-3 (Caspase-3), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and αB-crystallin (CRYAB) protein in the prostate tissues. ResultAs compared with the sham operation control group, the protein expression levels of prostate index, DHT level, CRYAB, Bcl-2, PI3K, and Akt in the model group were increased, and the protein expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). As compared with the model group, the prostate index in the high-dose Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository group was decreased (P<0.05), and the level of DHT and the protein expression levels of CRYAB, Bcl-2, PI3K, and Akt in the prostate of the Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository groups were decreased, and the protein expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax were increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionShengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository decreases the expression of CRYAB protein, negatively regulates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, down-regulates the level of DHT and the protein expression levels of Bcl-2, PI3K, and Akt, and up-regulates the protein expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax, thereby inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting cell apoptosis, which plays a therapeutic role in the benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). The high-dose Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository significantly improves prostatic hyperplasia in rats.
ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository on rats with prostate hyperplasia, and the effect of the proteins related to phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway in the prostate, thus exploring the mechanism of Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository in the treatment of rats with prostate hyperplasia. MethodTen SD male rats were randomly selected from 60 SD male rats to form a sham operation control group, and the rest rats were subcutaneously injected with testosterone propionate for 4 consecutive weeks after castration to induce the rat model of prostatic hyperplasia. According to the random number table method, the 50 rats were randomly divided into a model group, a finasteride group (0.45 mg·kg-1), and three high, middle, and low-dose Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository groups (3.98, 1.99, 0.99 g·kg-1), with ten rats in each group. After castration for 7 d, the sham operation control group and the model group used the blank hollow suppositories, and the finasteride group and the Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository groups used the corresponding hollow suppositories. The drugs were given to the rats by anal plugs continuously for 28 d. The rats were then killed, and the prostate tissues were separated and weighed to observe the effects of drugs on the prostate index of rats in each group. The hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used for the pathological observation of the prostate tissues. The level of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway protein, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), cysteine aspartate-specific protease-3 (Caspase-3), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and αB-crystallin (CRYAB) protein in the prostate tissues. ResultAs compared with the sham operation control group, the protein expression levels of prostate index, DHT level, CRYAB, Bcl-2, PI3K, and Akt in the model group were increased, and the protein expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). As compared with the model group, the prostate index in the high-dose Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository group was decreased (P<0.05), and the level of DHT and the protein expression levels of CRYAB, Bcl-2, PI3K, and Akt in the prostate of the Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository groups were decreased, and the protein expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax were increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionShengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository decreases the expression of CRYAB protein, negatively regulates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, down-regulates the level of DHT and the protein expression levels of Bcl-2, PI3K, and Akt, and up-regulates the protein expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax, thereby inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting cell apoptosis, which plays a therapeutic role in the benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). The high-dose Shengjiang Tonglong prescription hollow suppository significantly improves prostatic hyperplasia in rats.
ABSTRACT
Patients exhibit good tolerance to messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines, and the choice of encoded molecules is flexible and diverse. These vaccines can be engineered to express full-length antigens containing multiple epitopes without major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restriction, are relatively easy to control and can be rapidly mass produced. In 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first mRNA-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine produced by Pfizer and BioNTech, which has generated enthusiasm for mRNA vaccine research and development. Based on the above characteristics and the development of mRNA vaccines, mRNA cancer vaccines have become a research hotspot and have undergone rapid development, especially in the last five years. This review analyzes the advances in mRNA cancer vaccines from various perspectives, including the selection and expression of antigens/targets, the application of vectors and adjuvants, different administration routes, and preclinical evaluation, to reflect the trends and challenges associated with these vaccines.
ABSTRACT
@#<b>Objective</b> To investigate the dosimetric effect of truncated regions in computed tomography (CT) images on the targets and organs at risk in volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for middle thoracic esophageal cancer. <b>Methods</b> CT images of 15 patients with middle thoracic esophageal cancer were selected. Circle masks were used to make the volume of the truncated region account for 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% of the arm volume, and the corresponding truncated CT images were obtained. The real CT was denoted as CT0. Two radiotherapy plans were made on CT0. One plan was VMAT_1F with full arcs, and the other one was VMAT_3F with arm avoidance. The plans were transplanted to four truncated CT, respectively, and the dosimetric differences between different plans were compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. <b>Results</b> Compared with VMAT_1F in CT0, <i>D</i><sub>mean</sub> and <i>V</i><sub>5</sub> of the lung decreased in VMAT_3F, but <i>D</i><sub>max</sub> of the spinal cord, <i>D</i><sub>mean</sub> of the heart, and <i>V</i><sub>20</sub> of the lung increased. In VMAT_3F, there was no statistically significant difference between the dosimetric parameters in the four truncated CT and those in CT0 (all <i>P</i> > 0.05). In VMAT_1F, except for homogeneity index and <i>D</i><sub>max</sub> of the spinal cord, the dosimetric parameters in four truncated CT were significantly different from those in CT0 (<i>P</i> < 0.05). The dosimetric difference increased with the increase in truncated region-to-volume ratio. <b>Conclusion</b> Complete CT data should be collected in clinical practice, and the radiation field avoiding the truncated regionshould be set if necessary to reduce the influence of the truncated region on dosimetry.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the characteristics of resting-state brain activity in Parkinson disease (PD) patients with peak-dose dyskinesia, and to explore its pathogenesis.Methods:From March 2017 to November 2019, totally 27 PD patients with peak-dose dyskinesia (dyskinetic group), and 29 PD patients without dyskinesia (non-dyskinetic group) treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University and 27 healthy controls from the community were recruited.Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and clinical scale data were collected.SPSS 26.0 software and REST software were used for data analysis.The whole brain amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) values were compared among the three groups.Correlation analysis was performed between ALFF values of the significant brain regions and the scale scores.Finally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the efficacy of ALFF values of significant brain regions in identifying three groups of subjects.Results:The peak-dose dyskinetic group showed decreased ALFF in right inferior frontal gyrus(MNI: x=36, y=21, z=30; x=36, y=18, z=30)and increased ALFF in right supplementary motor area (MNI: x=9, y=0, z=69; x=6, y=-3, z=72)(all P<0.05, Alphasim correction) compared with non-dyskinetic group and healthy controls.ALFF value in right inferior frontal gyrus was negatively correlated with unified dyskinesia rating scale (UDysRS) scores ( r=-0.47, P=0.018). The ALFF value of the right inferior frontal gyrus was more effective in identifying peak-dose dyskinetic patients from non-dyskinetic patients and healthy controls, and the area under the curve of right inferior frontal gyrus were 0.881 and 0.787 (both P<0.01), respectively. Conclusion:Abnormal spontaneous brain activity in right inferior frontal gyrus and right supplementary motor area can be the neurobiological basis of peak-dose dyskinesia in PD patients.The severity of peak-dose dyskinesia is associated with abnormal brain activity of right inferior frontal gyrus.The ALFF value of right inferior frontal gyrus is a potential imaging marker for identifying peak-dose dyskinetic patient.
ABSTRACT
Laparoscopic surgery has been accepted as an optimal treatment for colon cancer. Digestive tract reconstruction may be performed using extracorporeal anastomosis or intracor-poreal anastomosis after radical colectomy of colon cancer. More and more studies have compared both procedures, but the selection of optimal method of digestive tract reconstruction is still controversial. The authors conduct a systematic review on the application and research advances of intracorporeal anastomosis in laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer, investigate the technical skills of intracorporeal anastomosis and its clinical outcomes, so as to provide valid information for its clinical application.
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to explore the application value of new biological specimen oral fluid in SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid and antibody detection. Oral fluid and paired respiratory and blood specimens from 7 confirmed cases of two COVID-19 cluster epidemic were collected in Beijing from October to November 2021. SARS-CoV-2 virus and IgG antibody were detected by real time PCR kits and serum antibody detection reagents, and SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody in oral fluids was detected by a new established method of magnetic particle chemiluminescence. The results showed that the nucleic acid amplification test of SARS-CoV-2 on nasopharyngeal swabs, throat swabs and oral fluid specimens from 3 confirmed cases of COVID-19 was positive, among which the Ct value for ORF1a/b and N gene of oral fluid samples in 2 cases was close to that of throat swab, and the Ct value of oral fluid sample for 1 case was higher than that of throat swab. The complete genome sequence of one oral fluid specimen was obtained, which belonged to the VOC/Delta variant strain. The SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies of the paired oral fluid and serum were all positive, and the S/CO values of oral fluid were all lower than those of serum. The series of oral fluid results showed that SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody level increased from 11 to 32 days after the onset of the disease.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/diagnosis , Humans , Nucleic Acids , SARS-CoV-2 , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease in elderly men, and transurethral laser prostatectomy (TULP) has been widely used in the clinic to remove bladder outlet obstruction caused by BPH. Previous animal models for wound repair after prostatectomy have many limitations, and there have been no previous reports of a mouse model of TULP. Therefore, this study aimed to establish a novel mouse model of TULP. Twelve healthy adult Kunming (KM) mice received transurethral laser vaporization prostatectomy with a 200-μm thulium laser. The mice were sacrificed, and wound specimens from the prostatic urethra and bladder neck were harvested at 1 day, 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days after surgery. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and immunohistochemistry were applied to confirm the establishment of the mouse TULP model. One day after the surgery, urothelium expressing uroplakin (UPK) was absent in the urethral wound site, and a large number of necrotic tissues were found in the wound site. There was no UPK-positive urothelium in the wound 3 days after surgery. At 5 days after surgery, monolayer urothelium expressing UPK was found in the wound site, indicating that the re-epithelization of the wound had been completed. On the 7th day after surgery, there were multiple layers of urothelium with UPK expression, indicating that the repair was completed. It is feasible to establish a mouse TULP model by using a microcystoscope system and a 200-μm thulium laser.
Subject(s)
Aged , Animals , Humans , Laser Therapy , Male , Mice , Prostatectomy , Prostatic Hyperplasia/surgery , Thulium , Transurethral Resection of ProstateABSTRACT
Hepatitis B virus core protein (HBc) has become a hot spot in drug carrier protein research due to its natural particle self-assembly ability and ease of modification. The truncation of the C-terminal polyarginine domain (CTD, aa 151-183) of HBc does not affect the self-assembly of the particles. However, it does affect the internal and external charges of the particles, which may subsequently affect drug encapsulation. Thus, the truncated C-terminal polyarginine domain (CTD) of HBc and the inserted RGD peptide were selected to construct and express three HBc variants (RH) encapsulated with ICG (RH/ICG) with different C-terminal lengths to compare the stability and drug activity of their nanoformulations. RH160/ICG was found to have a great advantages in encapsulation efficiency and biological imaging. Compared with other HBc variants, RH160/ICG significantly improved encapsulation efficiency, up to 32.77%±1.23%. Cytotoxicity and hemolysis assays further demonstrated the good biocompatibility of RH160/ICG. Cell uptake and in vivo imaging experiments in mice showed that RH160/ICG could efficiently deliver ICG in tumor cells and tumor sites with good imaging effect. This research provides a new direction for further expanding the diagnosis and treatment application of ICG and development of HBc-based nanoparticle drug carrier platform.
Subject(s)
Animals , Hepatitis B/drug therapy , Hepatitis B Core Antigens , Indocyanine Green/chemistry , Mice , Nanoparticles/chemistry , Viral Core ProteinsABSTRACT
@#In the late-breaking trials session of the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2021, which took place in November 2021, six clinical trials in cardiac surgery published their primary results. This review will look into three of them including the management of patients with moderate or less-than-moderate tricuspid regurgitation at the time of surgery for degenerative mitral regurgitation, timing of ticagrelor cessation before coronary artery bypass grafting, and long-term outcomes of ticagrelor-based antiplatelet therapy for secondary prevention of coronary artery bypass grafting.
ABSTRACT
@#Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) belong to the very high-risk group of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Although CABG gets advantages in relieving symptoms and improving long-term outcomes, a significant risk of cardiovascular adverse events after surgery still exists and standardized secondary prevention is needed. Lipid management plays a critical role as a secondary preventive strategy in CABG. However, lipid management of CABG patients in real clinical setting is inadequate, including lack of standardized lipid-lowering strategy, low goal attainment rate, as well as poor long-term medication adherence. In recent years, a series of clinical trials have provided a lot of groundbreaking new evidence for lipid management in patients with cardiovascular diseases which offers new strategies together with objectives of lipid-lowering and comprehensive management for patients undergoing CABG. This article reviews the strategy and research progress of lipid management after CABG, aiming to provide objective reference for clinical treatment.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To evaluate the application high-resolution 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosis of ligament and tendon injuries of the forefeet.Methods:From September 2014 to August 2020, 40 patients with forefeet injury (40 forefoot) and 20 healthy subjects (40 forefoot) meeting the including and excluding criteria were enrolled into this retrospective study. All subjects underwent MRI T1-weighted image (T1WI) and fat suppression proton density-weighted imaging (PD-FS) scan on coronal planes, sagittal planes and axial planes, respectively. Then the MRI characteristics of tendons in forefoot of healthy subjects and patients with forefoot injuries were compared. In patients the MR features of ligament and tendons injury were compared with the surgical findings or follow-up results.Results:In 20 normal subjects the tendons and ligament of the forefoot showed homogeneous low-signal-intensity on T1WI and PD-FS images. In the 40 patients with forefoot injuries, 22 cases were confirmed by surgical findings and 18 cases were confirmed by follow-up results. There were 8 cases of collateral ligament injuries, including 2 cases with complete tear, 3 cases with partial tear and 3 cases with sprain; 2 cases of extensor tendon with partial tear; 8 cases of flexor tendon injuries, including 3 cases with complete tear, 3 cases with partial tear and 2 cases with sprain; 3 cases of abductor tendon with partial tear; 13 cases of plantar plate injuries; and 6 cases of Lisfranc ligament injuries including 5 cases with complete tear and 1 case with partial tear. The injured ligament and tendons presented thicker and discontinuity in T1WI; and demonstrated heterogeneously increased signal intensity with edema in the surrounding soft tissues in PD-FS. The partially torn ligament and tendons showed discontinuity and thickening; and the completely torn ligament and tendons showed that they were interrupted and retracted, fiber structure disappeared and was filled with liquid, and edema in the surrounding soft tissue.Conclusion:High resolution magnetic resonance imaging of the forefoot can demonstrate the anatomy and features of ligament and tendon injuries in forefoot accurately, which has clinical application value for the early diagnosis and accurate treatment of the injury.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To study the combined use of endoscopic balloon dilation with endoscopic biliary brushings in diagnosis of bile duct strictures.Methods:A prospective single center study was conducted at the Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. All patients with suspected malignant bile duct strictures shown on CT or MRI imaging from January 2018 to January 2020 were reviewed. All patients gave informed consent to the endascopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedures. Their clinical and follow-up data were analyzed. All patients underwent endoscopic balloon dilation of bile duct strictures. Before and after balloon dilation, biliary brush cytology was performed, and the results were used to classify the patients into the control group and the experimental group. Pathological examination of the brush cytology samples was carried out by a single chief pathologist. Presence of cancer cells or significant heterogeneous cells indicated a positive brush cytology test. Negative patients who still highly consider cholangiocarcinoma and agree to surgery and whose gross specimen is confirmed to be malignant after surgery should be considered as false negative by brush examination; it is difficult to judge that patients with cholangiocarcinoma have progress after 2 months of follow-up should be considered as false negative by brush examination. Any progression of disease indicated that the brush test was wrong and the test was again classified as false negative. Only when there was no progression of strictures was the possibility of a benign biliary stricture being considered. The advantage test (McNemar test) was used to analyze the difference between the two diagnostic methods.Results:Of 39 patients who were included in this study, there were 26 males and 13 females, with an age of (68.0 ± 5.2) years. Cholangiocarcinoma was diagnosed by histopathology, surgery or at 2 months follow-up in 35 patients. In the control group, 17 patients had a positive brush test (sensitivity rate was 48.6%, 17/35). In the experimental group, 26 patients had a positive brush test (sensitivity rate was 74.2%, 26/35). In addition, 2 patients in the control group had a positive brush test, while in the experimental group, a negative brush test. A total of 28 patients were positive in the two groups. The sensitivity rate of the brush test was 80.0% (28/35). There were significant differences between the two groups ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Endoscopic balloon dilation combined with endoscopic biliary brushings improved the sensitivity of pathological diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma, and endoscopic biliary brushings before and after balloon dilation improved the sensitivity of diagnosis.