Aim To study the effects of propofol on apoptosis of cortical astrocytes isolated from neonatal rats.Methods Pure astrocytes(AST)were obtained from the cultured cerebral cortical cells and identified by the GFAP stain technology in neonatal rats.AST cells were treated with different concentrations of propofol(0,10,30,90 μmol·L-1)for 8 hours.Cell viability was measured by MTT method,and the apoptosis was detected by Annexin V/PI double staining.Cytochrome C(cyt-C)leakage was detected by Western blot.Caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities were measured by spectrophotometry.Results AST cells were administered with different concentrations of propofol(0,10,30,90 μmol·L-1)for 8 hours.It decreased the survival rate in a concentration-dependent manner,induced the leakage of cyt-C in mitochondria,up-regulated the expression of pro-apoptotic protein caspase-3 and caspase-9,and induced AST apoptosis.Conclusion Propofol induces the apoptosis of astrocytes in neonatal rat cortex in vitro,which may be related to the activation of mitochondria apoptosis pathway induced by mitochondrial cyt-C release.

Objective To investigate the value of dynamic three-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound (3D-CEUS) in evaluating therapeutic response of hepatoma treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA).Methods Totally 48 cases of patients with hepatic carcinoma (48 lesions) admitted in Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from September 2012 to January 2014 were selected.All patients underwent radiofrequency ablation,of which 30 patients were diagnosed by pathology after surgery,18 patients by clinical diagnosis.All patients underwent two-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound (2D-CEUS) and 3D-CEUS 1 month and 3 months after RFA treatment to evaluate the therapeutic response,and the results of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and enhanced computed tomography (CT) [or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)] were compared.The final diagnostic results of pathologic biopsy or more than two imaging examinations [ultrasonography,CT,MRI,positron emission tomography (PET)],tumor markers,and more than 3 months follow-up of patients were used as the gold standard.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of dynamic 3D-CEUS,2D-CEUS,enhanced CT (or MRI) in the diagnosis of tumor inactivation were calculated respectively.Results After radiofrequency ablation,dynamic 3D-CEUS could provide more valuable information in 75.0％ (36/48) lesions,which contribute to assess the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation.While compared with 2D-CEUS,3D-CEUS did not change the diagnosis or clinical management in 12 (25.0％) lesions.40 of 48 lesions were found no-enhancement in entire CEUS procedure suggesting that the tumor completely inactivated,while 8 lesions showed local enhancement on the edge of lesion suggesting that part of the tumors were active.39 of 48 lesions showed no-enhancement and other 9 with irregular enhancement on enhanced CT (or MRI).The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of CEUS and enhanced CT (or MRI) in detection of residual tumor after radiofrequency ablation were 80.0％,100％,95.8％ and 80.0％,97.4％,93.8％,respectively.Conclusions There was no statistical significance among 3D-CEUS,2D-CEUS and enhanced CT or MRI in evaluating therapeutic response of hepatoma treated with radiofrequency ablation.But 3D-CEUS can provide more valuable information,3D-CEUS has potential usefulness in the evaluation of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatic tumors.

Objective:To sum up the experience and improve the capability of clinical diagnosis and treatment of thyroid tuberculosis (TTB) .Methods:In Apr. 2020, the Second Department of General Surgery, Friendship Hospital of Yili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, treated a patient with a huge thyroid cancer (TC), who had no history of tuberculosis. Thyroid cancer was considered for surgical treatment after the assessment by ultrasound and enhanced CT scan, yet the postoperative pathological diagnosis was thyroid tuberculosis. The clinical and pathological data of 357 cases of TTB reported in domestic literature were retrospectively analyzed by searching the relevant databases.Results:This reported case was diagnosed eventually with TTB by postoperative pathology, cured by operation, local and systemic anti-tuberculosis treatment. Among the 357 cases of TTB, there were 95 males and 262 females and the ratio of male to female was 1.0:2.8. Most patients had neck mass as the first symptom (95.5%, 256/268), and 53 patients (19.8%, 53/268) merged with tuberculosis poisoning symptoms. There were 59 cases (21%, 59/281) complicated with extra-thyroid tuberculosis. Among 51 cases, 37 cases (73%, 37/51) were diagnosed with TTB. Eighty cases (30%, 80/265) were suspected of TC before the operation.25 patients (8.5%, 25/294) received antituberculosis treatment, and 269 patients (91.5%, 269/294) received surgical treatment, among which 100 patients (37%, 100/269) underwent unilateral lobectomy. The caseation type was the most common pathology with 154 cases (57.9%, 154/266). Two patients died of TTB after an operation, and the remaining patients were followed up for 6 months to 33 years without recurrence.Conclusions:TTB often lacks typical clinical manifestations and is easily confused with TC. The diagnosis mainly relies on puncture pathological examination. Good results can be achieved with appropriate treatment based on a definite diagnosis.