Texture Analysis of Three-Dimensional MRI Images May Differentiate Borderline and Malignant Epithelial Ovarian Tumors

Objective@#To explore the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based whole tumor texture analysis in differentiating borderline epithelial ovarian tumors (BEOTs) from FIGO stage I/II malignant epithelial ovarian tumors (MEOTs). @*Materials and Methods@#A total of 88 patients with histopathologically confirmed ovarian epithelial tumors after surgical resection, including 30 BEOT and 58 MEOT patients, were divided into a training group (n = 62) and a test group (n = 26).The clinical and conventional MRI features were retrospectively reviewed. The texture features of tumors, based on T2-weighted imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging, were extracted using MaZda software and the three top weighted texture features were selected by using the Random Forest algorithm. A non-texture logistic regression model in the training group was built to include those clinical and conventional MRI variables with p value < 0.10. Subsequently, a combined model integrating non-texture information and texture features was built for the training group. The model, evaluated using patients in the training group, was then applied to patients in the test group. Finally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the diagnostic performance of the models. @*Results@#The combined model showed superior performance in categorizing BEOTs and MEOTs (sensitivity, 92.5%; specificity, 86.4%; accuracy, 90.3%; area under the ROC curve [AUC], 0.962) than the non-texture model (sensitivity, 78.3%; specificity, 84.6%; accuracy, 82.3%; AUC, 0.818). The AUCs were statistically different (p value = 0.038). In the test group, the AUCs, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 0.840, 73.3%, 90.1%, and 80.8% when the non-texture model was used and 0.896, 75.0%, 94.0%, and 88.5% when the combined model was used. @*Conclusion@#MRI-based texture features combined with clinical and conventional MRI features may assist in differentitating between BEOT and FIGO stage I/II MEOT patients.

Inhibition of Th2 reaction by thymic stromal lymphopoietin blockade in vitro / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) on transformation of dendritic cell (DC) and T cell in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mouse-derived immature dendritic cells and T lymphocytes were co-cultured in vitro, which were divided into 4 groups (TSLP stimulation group, TSLP stimulation and its receptor blocking group, ovalbumin stimulation group and ovalbumin stimulation and TSLP receptor blocking group). IL-4, IL-8 and IFN-β in cell culture supernatant were detected after 2 days by ELISA. SPSS 13.0 software was used to analyze the data.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>IL-4 levels of TSLP receptor blocking groups [(48.84 ± 1.56) pg/ml, (52.53 ± 2.36) pg/ml]were significantly lower than those of corresponding TSLP stimulation group and ovalbumin stimulation group [(72.55 ± 7.76) pg/ml, (80.47 ± 21.93) pg/ml;t = 5.994, P < 0.05;t = 2.534, P < 0.05]. However, there were not significant differences of IL-8 and IFN-β expression between corresponding two groups of whether or not TSLP receptor blocking (all P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TSLP receptor blockade in vitro can inhibit T lymphocyte transformation to Th2, which may provide a new therapeutic strategy for clinical Th2 dominant diseases such as allergic rhinitis and asthma.</p>

A questionnaires study on cochlear implantation in patients with malformed inner ear / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the clinical experiences and access the auditory performance and speech intelligibility of cochlear implantees with inner ear malformations.@*METHOD@#A retrospective study was performed on the surgical characteristics and the mapping characteristics after implantation of patients who received mult-channel cochlear implantation from 2000 to 2007 in Xijing Hospital. Matched with normal implanted, rank -sum test was performed to compare scores of categories of auditory performance (CAP) and speech intelligibility rating(SIR).@*RESULT@#After the regular rehabilitation, the long term follow-up of the auditory performance and speech intelligibility were very positive. There was no significant difference between normal group and malformations group.@*CONCLUSION@#The cochlear implantation can be performed safely in patients with malformed inner ear. The results suggest that cochlear implantation could also provide long-term benefits to those malformed inner ear cases.

Related Factors of Speech Intelligibility in Prelingually Deafened Children after Cochlear Implantation / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Objective To investigate the related factors of speech intelligibility in the prelingually deafened children after cochlear implantation. Methods 47 prelingually deafened children who had received cochlear implantation and their families were investigated with questionnaires and analyzed with Fisher test. Results The age when cochlea implanted, the age when hearing aided, the time after the cochlear implantation and the time the cochlea opened were related with their speech intelligibility rating. Conclusion Suitable time for implantation, the hearing aid and making reasonable rehabilitation programme play a crucial role in the hearing rehabilitation of prelingually deafened children after cochlear implantation.