Precise integrin-targeting near-infrared imaging-guided surgical method increases surgical qualification of peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastric cancer in mice.

Peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastric cancer represents a common recurrent gastric cancer that seriously affects the survival, prognosis, and quality of life of patients at its advanced stage. In recent years, complete cytoreduction surgery in combination with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy has been demonstrated to improve the survival and prognosis of patients with malignant tumors including peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastric cancer. Establishing viable methods of accurately assessing the tumor burden in patients with peritoneal carcinoma and correctly selecting suitable patients in order to improve cytoreduction surgical outcomes and reduce the risk of postoperative complications has become a challenge in the field of peritoneal carcinoma research. Here, we investigated peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastric cancer in a mouse model by using our self-developed surgical navigation system that combines optical molecular imaging with an integrin-targeting Arg-Gly-Asp-indocyanine green (RGD-ICG) molecular probe. The results showed that our diagnostic method could achieve a sensitivity and specificity of up to 93.93% and 100%, respectively, with a diagnostic index (DI) of 193.93% and diagnostic accuracy rate of 93.93%.Furthermore, the minimum tumor diameter measured during the surgery was 1.8 mm and the operative time was shortened by 3.26-fold when compared with the conventionally-treated control group. Therefore, our surgical navigation system that combines optical molecular imaging with an RGD-ICG molecular probe, could improve the diagnostic accuracy rate for peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastric cancer, shorten the operative time, and improve the quality of the cytoreduction surgery for peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastric cancer, thus providing a solid foundation for its future clinical development and application.

Percutaneous Removal of Benign Breast Lesions with an Ultrasound-guided Vacuum-assisted System: Influence Factors in the Hematoma Formation.

Objective To explore the influence factors in hematoma formation after removing benign breast lesions with an ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted system.Methods A total of 232 females with 312 benign breast masses received excisional biopsy with ultrasound- guided vacuum-assisted system. The pathology of patients, Results of hematoma development and outcome, influence factors for hematoma occurrence (nodule size, nodule location, number of nodule, breast shape, menstrual period, efficacy time of bandage, and application of hemostatic agents during the procedure) were recorded.Results Pathologic examination revealed fibroadenomas in 138 lesions, fibroadenosis in 127 lesions, intraductal papillomas in 39 lesions, inflammatory change in 4 lesions, retention cyst of the breast in 3 lesions, and benign phyllodes tumor in 1 lesion. Thirty hematomas were observed in patients (9.6%). Finally, 97.0% hematomas were absorbed completely within 6 months follow-up. The incidence rates of hematoma were increased by 24.7%, 10.0%, 63.2%, 13.9% in the nodule diameter larger or equal to 25 mm group, removal of larger or equal to two nodules once time from one patient group, menstrual period group, and larger and loose breast group, respectively (all P<0.05). However, the incidences were decreased by 60.6% in the bandage performed for 12-24 hours or beyond 24 hours group (P<0.05). The multiple logistic regression models revealed that nodule size (χ2=15.227, P<0.001), number of nodule (χ2=7.767, P=0.005), menstrual period (χ2=24.530, P<0.001), and breast shape (χ2=9.559, P=0.002) were independent risk factors associated with hematoma occurrence, but efficacy time of bandage was a protective factor associated with hematoma occurrence.Conclusion The occurrence of hematoma after the minimally invasive operation was associated with nodule size, number of nodule, menstrual period, breast shape, and efficacy time of bandage.

TACE combined with dendritic cells and cytokine-induced killer cells in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis.

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a fatal cancer, have benefited significantly from TACE (transcatheter arterial chemoembolization) and immunotherapy treatments. Immunotherapy that includes dendritic cells and cytokine-induced killer cells (DC-CIK) in combination with TACE has been extensively applied in cases of HCC. Few decisive conclusions about these combined effects on the outcomes of HCC patients have been reached. Therefore, the present meta-analysis was performed to compare the efficacy of the combined usage of DC-CIK with TACE with a TACE therapy alone on the outcomes of HCC patients. Participants were enrolled in eight eligible trials. The efficiency and safety of TACE followed by DC-CIK immunotherapy (experimental group) and of TACE alone (control group) were compared. The meta-analysis results demonstrated that TACE plus DC-CIK immunotherapy is possibly superior to TACE alone in promoting a better overall response, for half-year, 1-year, and 2-year overall survival (OS), median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival rates (PFS) in HCC patients. Further studies should be performed to confirm the effect of the combined therapy.

[Construction of Nude Mouse Model of Triple Negative Breast Cancer and Value of Thermal Tomography].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the early detection of breast cancer by ultrasonic imaging and thermal tomography of luciferase or green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line-xenografts in nude mice. METHODS: Fluorescence-tagged lentiviral vectors were transfected into the triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. These cells were implanted either subcutaneously under the right breast pad or intravenously into the tail vein of nude BALB/C mice. Thermal tomography and ultrasound imaging were used to detect tumor formation and to monitor tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. RESULTS: Triple negative breast cancer cell line-xenografts were used to successfully construct an orthotopic nude mice model of breast cancer metastasis in the peritoneum. Thermal tomography and ultrasound imaging were used together to detect small tumors. Thermal tomography imaging detected small tumors earlier than ultrasound imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Thermal tomography can be used to monitor changes in tumor growth and detect abnormal tissue. Therefore, it can serve as a convenient,rapid,sensitive, and reliable technique for early screening of human breast cancer.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Real-Time Shear Wave Elastography for Staging of Liver Fibrosis: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND The present meta-analysis, based on previous studies, was aimed to evaluate the test accuracy of real-time shear wave elastography (SWE) for the staging of liver fibrosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS A systematic search on MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar databases was conducted, and data on SWE tests and liver fibrosis staging were collected. For each cut-off stage of fibrosis (F≥2, F≥3, and F≥4), pooled results of sensitivity, specificity, and area under summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve were analyzed. The study heterogeneity was evaluated by χ2 and I2 tests. I2>50% or P≤0.05 indicates there was heterogeneity, and then a random-effects model was applied. Otherwise, the fixed-effects model was used. The publication bias was evaluated using Deeks funnel plots asymmetry test and Fagan plot analysis was performed. RESULTS Finally, 934 patients from 8 published studies were included in the analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of SWE for F≥2 were 85.0% (95% CI, 82-88%) and 81% (95% CI, 71-88%), respectively. The area under the SROC curve with 95% CI was presented as 0.88 (95% CI, 85-91%). The pooled sensitivity and specificity of SWE for F≥3 were 90.0% (95% CI, 83.0-95.0%) and 81.0% (95% CI, 75.0-86.0%), respectively, corresponding to an area of SROC of 0.94 (95% CI, 92-96%). The pooled sensitivity and specificity of SWE for F≥4 were 87.0% (95% CI, 80.0-92.0%) and 88.0% (95% CI, 80.0-93.0%), respectively, corresponding to an area of SROC of 0.92 (95% CI, 89-94%). CONCLUSIONS The overall accuracy of SWE is high and clinically useful for the staging of liver fibrosis. Compared to the results of meta-analyses on other tests, such as RTE, TE, and ARFI, the performance of SWE is nearly identical in accuracy for the evaluation of cirrhosis. For the evaluation of significant liver fibrosis (F≥2), the overall accuracy of SWE seems to be similar to ARFI, but more accurate than RTE and TE.

Neuroprotective effects of ultrasound-guided nerve growth factor injections after sciatic nerve injury.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) plays an important role in promoting neuroregeneration after peripheral nerve injury. However, its effects are limited by its short half-life; it is therefore important to identify an effective mode of administration. High-frequency ultrasound (HFU) is increasingly used in the clinic for high-resolution visualization of tissues, and has been proposed as a method for identifying and evaluating peripheral nerve damage after injury. In addition, HFU is widely used for guiding needle placement when administering drugs to a specific site. We hypothesized that HFU guiding would optimize the neuroprotective effects of NGF on sciatic nerve injury in the rabbit. We performed behavioral, ultrasound, electrophysiological, histological, and immunohistochemical evaluation of HFU-guided NGF injections administered immediately after injury, or 14 days later, and compared this mode of administration with intramuscular NGF injections. Across all assessments, HFU-guided NGF injections gave consistently better outcomes than intramuscular NGF injections administered immediately or 14 days after injury, with immediate treatment also yielding better structural and functional results than when the treatment was delayed by 14 days. Our findings indicate that NGF should be administered as early as possible after peripheral nerve injury, and highlight the striking neuroprotective effects of HFU-guided NGF injections on peripheral nerve injury compared with intramuscular administration.