Objective To study the effect of cirrhosic liver on dynamic vascular curves analysis f(t)of hepatocellular carcinomas(HCCs) at contrast-enhanced ultrasound by exploring the difference between perfusion parameters of HCCs in cirrhotic liver and that in noncirrhotic liver. Methods One hundred and fifteen HCCs were analyzed off-line with dynamic vascular curve f(t) of Sonoliver. The HCCs were divided into 2 groups based on their background liver as cirrhotic liver group ( n = 86) and noncirrhotic liver group ( n =29). Such parameters as maximum of intensity(IMAX) ,rise time (RT,from 10% to 90% of IMAX),time to peak(TTP) ,mean trasit time(mTT) ,rise slope(RS) and washout time(WT) of the two groups were analyzed by statistics. Results There was no significant difference in the f(t) parameters of HCCs between cirrhotic liver group and noncirrhotic group(P >0. 05) [IMAX:(124. 25 ± 5. 56)% vs (113. 65 ± 5. 58)% ; RT: (12. 98 ± 0. 48)s vs (13. 68 ± 0. 92)s;TTP:(13. 70 ± 0. 52)s vs (14. 39 ± 0. 9)s;mTTi(138. 61 ± 9. 20)s vs (149. 49 ± 21. 70)s;RS:10. 11 ± 0. 60 vs 8. 89 ± 0. 77, WT: (34.17 ± 2. 91 )s vs (28. 36 ± 3. 25)s]. There was also no significant statistical difference in all above parameters in reference regions for the two group (P > 0. 05). Conclusions The f(t) parameters in HCCs can evaluate blood perfusion of the tumors, and cirrhotic liver does not affect the perfusion parameters of HCCs.

A quantitative analysis method of multi-components with a single marker (QAMS) for simultaneous determination of six marker compounds (one from phenolic acids and five from phthalides) in Chuanxiong Rhizoma was established by applying HPLC and using butylidenephthalide as the internal reference substance. And also the feasibility and accuracy of the established method for quality evaluation and application of Chuanxiong Rhizoma were investigated and validated. The analysis was performed with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile - 0.2% aqueous formic acid. The flow rate was 1.0 mL . min-1 and the column temperature was maintained at 30 °C. The detection wavelengths were set at 252 nm (for ferulic acid, Z-ligustilide, and butylidenephthalide) and 266 nm (for senkyunolide I, senkyunolide A, and coniferyl ferulate), separately, and 20 µL was injected for analysis with gradient elution. The results showed that there were no significant differences observed between the HPLC-QAMS method and the external standard method (RSD <5%). The relative correction factors were credible (RSD < 5%) in changed chromatographic conditions. The established HPLC-QAMS method can be accurately used for simultaneously evaluating and controlling the quality of Chuanxiong Rhizoma with multi-components.

Objective:To research the imumunological effect of dendritic cell transfected by recombinant plasmid of ΔNp73αon breast cancer.Methods:Cultivate dendritic cells by cytokines( GM-CSF,IL-4,TNF-α) from human umbilical cord blood in vitro, CD1a,CD83 were detected by flow cytometry.Recombinant plasmid pcDNA-HA/ΔNp73αwas used to transfected DCs,the transfection was detected by Western blot.Transfected DCs cocultivate with T cell induce specific cytotoxic lymphocytes( CTL).Proliferation ability of T cell was detected by MTT methods.IFN-γin the culture supernatant of the transfected DCs were detected by ELISA.The killing effect on breast cancer MDA-MB-231 was detected by LDH method.Results:The expression of CD1a(56%),CD83(74%)in mature DC was higher than immature DC(CD1a 19%,CD83 13%)(P<0.01).ΔNp73αtransfected group had a special band.The killing effect of specific CTL induced byΔNp73α-DC and T cells cocultivation on breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231 was statistic stronger than DC group(P<0.05),the proliferation of T cell and secretion level of IFN-γcompared with DC and pcDNA group were statistically significant(P<0.01).Conclusion:The CTL induced byΔNp73αtransfected DC vaccine has significant effect on killing breast cancer.

Objectlve To investigate the value of basic and contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the diagnosis of superficial cervical lymph nodes.Methods Five hundred and forty-five cases of superficial cervical lymph nodes were sacned by basic ultrasound,in which 52 cases were also scaned by contrast-enhanced ultrasound.All cases were performed ultrasound-guided biopsy.Lymph nodes were divided into benign group and malignant group according to pathology reports.The differences of the two groups were analysed,and statistical analysis was performed.Results Two hundred and thirty cases were benign,315 cases were malignant.S/L(P＜0.01),RI(P＜0.01),vascular pattern(P＜0.01)and contrast enhancement pattern(P＜0.01)between benign and malignant group showed statistical significant differences,while no statistical difference in coefficient correlation of the time-intensity curve between the two groups was found.Conclusions A combination of basic and contrastenhanced ultrasound can significantly enhance the ability to identify malignant lymph nodes from benign lymph nodes.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of contrast enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in determining the depth of myometrial invasion in endometrial carcinoma in stage Ⅰ.Methods Seventy-six patients previously diagnosed of endometrial carcinoma by curettage of uterine underwent transabdominal sonography (TAS) and CEUS to assess myometrial invasion,among which 48 patients proved to endometrial carcinoma in stage Ⅰ after total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were studied.The findings of TAS and CEUS to determine endometrial carcinoma IA (no myometrial involvement or invasion of the inner half of the myometrium) and IB( invasion of the outer half of the myometrium) were compared with pathology after abdominal hysterectomy.Results Twenty one tumours (43.75%,21/48) were enhanced earlier than or simultaneously as myometrium and cervix,among which 12 cases were IA stages,while 9 cases were IB stages (P<0.05);and 27 tumors (56.25%,27/48)were enhanced late than myometrium and cervix.There was no statistical difference between TAS and CEUS in detecting endometrial carcinoma in IA and IB(P>0.05).The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and accuracy of TAS and CEUS in diagnosing endometrial carcinoma in IB were 61.25% vs 69.23%,77.14% vs 85.71%,50.00% vs 64.28%,72.92% vs 88.23%,72.92% vs 81.25% respectively.Conclusions CEUS is not superior to TAS in detecting deep invasion of endometrial carcinoma in stage Ⅰ.

Objective To explore the effects of BSA on hypoxia inducible factor/hypoxia response element (HIF/HRE) transcription activity in rat tubular epithelial cells (NRK-52E) with HRE-Luc reporter plasmid.Methods Luciferin activity of NRK-52E cells incubated by a medium contained BSA in varying concentration (0,5,10,20 mg/ml) and stimulus duration (24,48,72 h) was detected by dual luciferase detecting system based on HRE-Luc reporter plasmid and HIF-1 α expression was detected by Western blotting.Results HIF/HRE transcription activity of NRK-52E cells was increased in BSA incubation group (10 mg/ml,48 h) compared with blank control (BSA 0 mg/ml,48 h) [(2.59±0.35)vs (1.03±0.09),P=0.000].HIF-1α expression of NRK-52E cells was increased in BSA incubation group (20 mg/ml,48 h) compared with blank control (BSA 0 mg/ml,24 h) [(0.052±0.010) vs (0.014±0.003),P=0.000].Conclusion Albumin can increase HIF/HRE transcription activity of TEC.

Objective To explore the relationships between the quantitative parameters for contrastenhanced ultrasonography(CEUS) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and arteries in neoangiogenesis.Methods One hundred and fifteen HCCs in CEUS were analyzed off-line with dynamic vascular curve of ImageArena and immunohistochemical stained in the tissue slices.Parameters including maximum of intensity(IMAX),rise time(RT),time to peak(TTP),mean trasit time corresponding to the center of gravity(mTT) ,rise slope(RS) and washout time(WT) were analyzed by statistics.Unpaired arteries(UAs)of 82 HCC cases were succesfully stained.Results The number of UAs had moderate correlation with RT (r = - 0.446),TTP (r = - 0.432) and RS (r = 0.431) (P ＜ 0.05),and it had mild correlation with IMAX (r = 0.303) ,WT (r = 0.285) (P ＜0.05).Conclusions Neoangiogenesis is a functional adaptation to altered vascular dynamics.Quantitative parameters of CEUS,reflecting hemodynamics of tumors,are correlated with UAs.

objective To investigate the value of NT-proBNP in assessing the volume status in maintenance hemodialysis patients with non-dominant edema.Methods One hundred and forty-five patients were recruited.Bioimpedance measurements were performed for overhydration (OH).NT-proBNP was detected by colloidal gold method.Patients were divided into three groups by levels of OH variability (△ OH,equal to OH minus weight increase) as group H (hypervolemia,n=90); group N (normovolemia,n=36) and group L (hypovolemia,n=19).Hemoglobin,albumin,blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine were assayed,blood pressure and body mass increase were recorded.Dry weight of patients in Group H were adjusted in 3 months,the relationship between NT-proBNP and volume change were assessed.Results (1) At baseline,overall plasma NT-proBNP levels were higher than normal range.The median NT-proBNP levels in group H and group N were [1318.50(IQR 717.00,3154.25) pg/ml] and [703.50 (IQR 873.00,450.50) pg/ml],respectively.NT-proBNP was positively correlated with △OH value (r=0.801,P ＜ 0.001).(2) After 3 months,NT-proBNP levels in group H was significantly lower than baseline.Forty-one patients reached normal volume range (group H1),49 patients were resistant hypervolemia (group H2).The median NT-proBNP levels in group H1 and group H2 were [685.00 (IQR 422.50,988.50) pg/ml] and [1569.00 (IQR 982.50,2500.50) pg/ml],△ OH in group H1 and group H2 were [(0.63±0.23)L] and [(1.75±0.71)L],respectively.NT-proBNP and △ OH value in two groups had significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).NT-proBNP was positively correlated with △ OH value (r=0.684,P ＜ 0.001).(3) The area under ROC curve for NT-proBNP was 0.818,95％CI (0.733～ 0.904),P ＜ 0.001,since the absolute value of normovolemia was defined as ≤ 1.The cut off value of plasma NT-proBNP was set at 962.50 pg/ml in MHD patients with non-dominant edema,the diagnostic specificity and sensitivity were 79.6％ and 73.2％.Conclusion NT-proBNP could be used to assess volume status in MHD patients with non dominant edema.

Objective To evaluate the feature of level Ⅱaxillary lymph nodes from breast cancer detected by ultrasound. Methods Eighty-nine cases of breast cancers with level Ⅱaxillary lymph nodes diagnosed in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from January 2008 to October 2013 were retrospectively studied, including 66 cases of breast cancer patients pre-operatively, 23 cases of breast cancer post-operatively, all cases were female. The number, size, long/short ratio, presence of a hilum, and Doppler features of the lymph nodes were observed. The accuracy sensitivity, speciifcity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of each signiifcant parameter were analyzed. Results Ultrasound examination revealed more than axillary lymph nodes, the accuracy sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of diagnosing lymph nodes were 71.9%, 56.8%, 89.7%, 87.9%and 61.4%respectively. The maximum diameter of levelⅡaxillary lymph node was more than or equal to 10 mm, the accuracy sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of diagnosing lymph nodes were 67.4%, 58.0%, 79.5%, 78.4%and 59.6%respectively. If there were two ultrasonographic characteristics simultaneously, the diagnostic sensitivity (87.8%) and accuracy (78.6%) could be significantly improved, the specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of diagnosing lymph nodes were 60.0%, 72.3%and 80.0%. Conclusion The number and size of lymph nodes in level Ⅱaxillary area are valuable sonographic characteristics for the diagnosis of benign and malignant lymph nodes.

Objective To explore the feasibility of contrast-enhanced ultrasonograhy (CEUS) in preoperative classification of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) microvascular morphology.Methods Totally 94 HCC patients who underwent CEUS were analyzed retrospectively. And the offline Time-intensity curve (TIC) were drawn using SonoTumor. The tumor size, alpha fetoprotein (AFP), cirrhosis, Child-Pugh classifi cation, tumor differentiation and TNM stage were statistically analyzed. The intratumoralmicrovessels of HCC in 94 cases were evaluated by CD34 immunohistochemical staining. The relationship between intratumoral microvessel morphology and CEUS parameters were analyzed.Results CD34 immunohistochemical staining showed three distinct microvessel types in 94 cases of HCC: 28 cases of capillary-like type, 14 cases of sinusoid-like type and 52 cases of mixed type. There were no significant differences of clinical data among three microvascular morphology types. The parameters of peak strength (PE), rise time (RT), wash-in rate (WiR), wash-in perfusion index (WiPI), wash-in area under the curve (WiAUC) and mean transit time (MTT) in 28 cases of capillary-like type were (4350.7±2566.0) a.u, (10.7±3.2) s, (717.0±489.9) a.u, (12820.3±8331.6 )a.u, (128 240.8±74 487.1) a.u, (71.9±33.1)s. Those parameters in 14 cases of sinusoid-like type were (2471.6±1107.1) a.u, (16.2±4.2)s, (321.9±171) a.u, (5 561.4±2 938.0) a.u, (86 780.1±47 563.7) a.u, (117.8±69.6)s. And in 52 cases of mixed type they were (3563.2±2343.1) a.u, (14.1±4.8)s, (519.4±403.2) a.u, (9 015.3±6 884.7)a.u, (128 240.8±74 487.1) a.u, (71.9±33.1) s respectively. The CEUS parameters of WiR, WiPI in capillary-like type HCC patients were higher than sinusoid-like type and mixed type HCC patients, while RT was lower than sinusoid-like type and mixed type HCC patients, and the differences were signifi cant (WiR: t=3.87, 3.3, bothP=0.05; WiPI: t=2.96, 2.06, bothP=0.05; RT: t=3.19, 2.34, bothP=0.05). The parameter of PE in capillary-like type HCC patients were signifi cantly higher than that in sinusoid-like type HCC patients (t=2.51,P=0.05). And the parameter of PE in capillary-like type HCC patients was higher than mixed HCC patients, but there was no signifi cant difference. The parameters of PE, WiR and WiPI in mixed type HCC patients were higher than that in sinusoid-like type HCC patients, while RT in mixed type HCC patients were lower than that in sinusoid-like type HCC patients, but there were no signifi cant differences. No signifi cant differences of WiAUC and MTT were observed in HCC patients with different microvascular morphology.Conclusions There were signifi cant differences of CEUS parameters in different microvascular morphology types. And CEUS, as a non-invasive method, can be used for preliminary preoperative prediction of microvascular morphology in HCC patients.