Applications of upconversion nanoparticles for cancer photodynamic therapy / 中国肿瘤临床

The advent of nanoscience and nanotechnology offers unprecedented opportunities in nanomedicine, such as increas-ing therapeutic efficiency and decreasing undesired side effects in cancer treatment. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non-invasive pho-totherapy-based method that is applied in the treatment of cancer and other diseases and has important clinical value. PDT can be com-bined with other therapies to realize the synergistic treatment. The emergence of up-conversion nanomaterials provides a fundamental method to solve the problem of photodynamic therapy of deep tumors. Moreover, the versatile preparation and surface modification methods facilitate the fine-tuning of the emission spectrum of up-conversion nanomaterials and the improvement of the photosensitiz-er's loading capacity. This study reviews the development in design and application of up-conversion nanomaterials for PDT of cancer.

CT features of thoracic sarcoidosis in senile and pre-senile patients / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To study the CT features of thoracic sarcoidosis in senile and pre senile patients. Methods The findings in 25 patients(14 elderly patients and 11 pre senile patients) manifesting thoracic sarcoidosis were reviewed. Results Nine patients with typical findings and sixteen patients with atypical findings were reported at retrospective presentation. The atypical patterns at CT included mediastinal adenopathy with unilateral hilar adenopathy( n =3, 3/25), mediastinal adenopathy alone ( n =7, 7/25), unilateral hilar adenopathy alone ( n =1, 1/25), and lung abnormal findings without any mediastinal and/or hilar adenopathy ( n =5, 5/25). The latter 5 patients were misdiagnosed at the first clinical consultation. Conclusions The thoracic sarcoidosis in the elderly often manifests atypical patterns, and the recognition of the key point is of importance and helpful for the definite diagnosis.

Atypical CT appearances in the thoracic sarcoidosis / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To study the CT appearances in the atypical thoracic sarcoidosis Methods Chest CT findings of 43 patients with proven sarcoidosis were reviewed retrospectively Results 22 cases (51 16%) had atypical thoracic sarcoidosis findings at presentation The atypical patterns on CT included mediastinal adenopathy alone ( n =9) or in combination with unilateral hilar adenopathy ( n =6), and unilateral hilar adenopathy alone ( n =1) 6 patients had abnormal findings in the lung alone without adenopathy, and they all had been misdiagnosed 18 atypical cases (81 82%) occurred in patients older than 50 years, whereas 4 atypical cases (18 18%) occurred in patients younger than 50 years Conclusion Half patients with thoracic sarcoidosis have atypical CT appearances, it frequently occurs in elderly patients, and the diagnosis is easily mistaken on CT scan

Management of complications during percutaneous implementation of biliary stents / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To retrospectively analyze the complications and management of complications during percutaneous implementation of biliary stents in 17 patients. Methods Percutaneous biliary drainage and implementation of biliary stents for malignant biliary obstruction under fluoroscopic guidance was performed in 64 patients. 17 cases developed complications. Bradycardia and hypotension was seen in 5 cases, slipping of the stent into the duodenum in 1, bile duct perforation in 2, the fine guidewire broken in the hepatic parenchyma in 2, malposition of the stent in 3, hepato renal failure leading to hemorrhage in 2, exchanging guidewire broken in the duodenum in 1, and balloon broken leading to stent dislocation in 1, respectively. Results Bradycardia and hypotension in the 5 cases was treated medically and the procedure was interrupted. Slipping of the stent into the duodenum was passed off spontaneously. Broken of the fine guidewire in the liver did not present any complaints until the death of the patients. Perforation of bile duct was treated conservatively with a clinical successful outcome. Malposition of the stent was treated by reimplementation of shorter stents. The broken exchanging guidewire in the duodenum during implementation was removed with the gastroscope. The hepato renal failure leading to hemorrhage had poor prognosis. The broken balloon caused stent dislocation was treated by reimplementation of stent. Conclusion Percutaneous implementation of stent is effective and safe for elderly patients with proximal stenosis of the biliary tract. However, one must be very careful to avoid the complications.