Objective To investigate the application value of virtual touch tissue image technology (VTI) and virtual touch tissue quantification technique (VTQ) in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant superficial lymph nodes. Methods Fifty superficial lymph nodes were obtained, including 23 for nonspecific inflammatory, 2 for tuberculosis, 5 for lymphoma and 20 for metastasis. All lymph nodes were confirmed by biopsy pathology or follow-up after anti-inflammatory treatments and scanned by traditional ultrasound, VTI and VTQ before resections or treatments. Receiver operating characteristic curve of traditional ultrasound, VTI and VTQ was made to determine the optional cut-off point in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant superficial lymph nodes and calculate the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value. Final diagnosis was defined as the golden standard. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were calculated by the combined application of traditional ultrasound with VTI and VTQ technology. Results Nine (evaluation value) was taken as the critical value which was scanned by both two-dimensional ultrasound and color Doppler. The ROC curve indicated that the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of conventional two-dimensional ultrasound of benign and malignant lymph nodes were 76.0%, 84.0%, 80.0%, 82.6%, and 77.8%. Taking three (critical value) as the cut-off point, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of VTI in the diagnosis of benign and malignant lymph nodes were 88.0%, 64.0%, 76.0%, 71.0%and 84.2%. Taking 2.755 m/s (shear wave velocity) as the cut-off value, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of VTQ in the differentiation of benign and malignant superficial lymph nodes were 80%, 92.0%, 86.0%, 90.9%and 82.1%. Defined“traditional ultrasound +VTI+VTQ series method” as using conventional ultrasound, VTI, VTQ simultaneously, superficial lymph nodes could be diagnosed with malignant or benign if each method confirmed the same diagnosis. Defined“traditional ultrasound+VTI+VTQ parallel method”as using conventional ultrasound, VTI, VTQ simultaneously, superficial lymph nodes could be diagnosed with malignant if any one method indicated malignancy, otherwise benign. Specificity of‘traditional ultrasound+VTI+VTQ series method’ was consistent with VTQ, which was 92.0%, while the sensitivity and accuracy decreased significantly, which was 64.0%and 78.0%, respectively;the sensitivity and negative predictive value increased significantly by using “traditional ultrasound +VTI+VTQ parallel method” when compared with traditional ultrasound, VTI or VTQ, almost near 100%, but declined significantly in specificity and accuracy, which was 64.0%and 82.0%, respectively. Conclusions Traditional ultrasound, VTI and VTQ have certain clinical value for differential diagnosis of benign and malignant superficial lymph nodes. Combined application of traditional ultrasound, VTI and VTQ can improve the accuracy in the diagnosis of benign and malignant lymph nodes effectively.

Objective To explore the preliminarily clinical value of strain rate parameters using velocity vector imaging (VVI) evaluating left ventricular regional endocardial systolic function in patients with coronary artery heart disease (CAD).Methods A total of eight six inner subjects who were suspected as CAD was enrolled in the study.Patients with the vascular stenosis rate ≥ 50％ were defined as the CAD group,patients with the vascular stenosis rate ＜ 50％ were defined as the coronary atherosclerosis group,and patients with the completely normal angiographic results were included in the control group,according to the results of angiography.The left ventricular endocardial systolic strain rate parameters of VVI were obtained in standard long axis views (apical two,three,and four-chamber view) and short axis views (at the level of the mitral valve,papillary muscles,and apex).The strain rate parameters were global longitudinal endocardial systolic strain rate in the apical two,three,and four-chamber views (A2-GLSRs,A3-GLSRs,and A4-GLSRs),global radial endocardial systolic strain rate in short axis view of the mitral valve level,papillary muscles,and apex (MV-GRSRs,PM-GRSRs,and AP-GRSRs),and global circumferential endocardial systolic strain rate in short axis view of the mitral valve level,papillary muscles,and apex (MV-GCSRs,PM-GCSRs,and AP-GCSRs).The parametric differences were compared among three groups.Results All the subjects included in the present study had normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and there was no significant difference in LVEF across three groups.Compared to other groups,the control group had significantly higher E/A ratio.The LV endocardial systolic strain rate parameters were all significantly reduced in the CAD group compared to the control group and the coronary atherosclerosis group (all P ＜ 0.05).Compared to the control group[(-1.37 ± 0.25)/s],the coronary atherosclerosis group [(-1.12 ± 0.42)/s] had significantly lower MV-GCSRs (P ＜0.01).Conclusions VVI is useful for quantitative assessment of the left ventricular systolic function in CAD.MV-GCSRs might have the potential to predict early left ventricle (LV) systolic dysfunction in subjects with coronary artery stenosis ＜ 50％.

Objective To figure out the preliminary clinical value of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography(RT-3DE) in evaluating the systolic dyssynchrony in patients with coronary artery heart disease(CAD).Methods Eighty patients who were suspected as CAD were included in this study.RT-3DE was performed first.After the analysis,we got the data:ejection fraction (EF),16 segments systolic dyssynchronic index (SDI 16).All subjects should take the coronary angiography.According to coronary angiography results,the patients with the vascular stenosis rate ≥50% were defined as the CAD group,and the patients with the vascular stenosis rate <50% were defined as the coronary atherosclerosis group,the patients with the completely normal angiographic results were included in the control group according to the results of angiography.The parametric differences among the groups were compared.Results There was no significant difference in LVEF among the three groups.SDI 16 had no significant difference between the control group and the coronary atherosclerosis group (t=-1.03,P>0.05).However,SDI 16 had significant difference between the control group[(3.72±2.68)%]and the CAD group[(7.14±3.10)%],the same between coronary atherosclerosis group[(5.12±3.46)%]and the CAD group[(7.14±3.10)%](t=-3.71,-2.34,all P<0.05).ROC curve analysis revealed that a cut-off value for SDI of 5.49%,yielded a sensitivity of 81.8%,with a specificity of 73.1% to predict coronary atherosclerosis to CAD(AUC=0.743).Conclusion SDI 16 >5.49% has a higher value in evaluating systolic dyssynchrony in patients with CAD with RT-3D of Siemens Acuson SC2000 ultrasonic diagnostic instrument.

ObjectiveTo investigate the expressions of folate receptor alpha (FOLR1) in 40 esophageal cancerous tissues and its relevance of ABO blood group.MethodsABO blood groups were analyzed in 40 patients.Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR detection were used to detect the expression of folate receptor in cancer and adjacent tissues.Results20％of esophageal cancer was suspected positive (+), 50％ of cancer adjacent tissue was suspected positive (+), 10％ were positive (+), the difference was statistically significant (x2 = 14.48, P ＜0.01).Real Time RT-PCR analysis showed FOLRI low expression in esophageal cancer and adjacent tissues, compared to normal esophageal mucosa, the differences were statistically significant (F1 =53.247, F2 = 116.500, P ＜0.01).ABO blood type and FOLRi in esophageal cancer patients were not significant correlated (P =0.647, P ＞0.05).ConclusionsFOLRI expression was decreased in the esophageal lesions compared with adjacent tissues.Detection of FOLRl expression level in esophageal cancerous tissues and the paired adjacent tissues was helpful for judging the extent of disease and guiding surgery treatment.The FOLRI expression level in esophageal carcinoma tissues had no relationship with ABO blood types.