Objective To explore the clinical value of multi-slice CT enhancement perfusion imaging (MSCTPI) in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of thyroid disease. Methods Thirty-three patients with benign thyroid diseases were enrolled in the benign group, and were divided into subgroups of nodular goiter (n=17) and thyroid adenoma (n=16), while 10 patients with thyroid carcinoma were enrolled in the malignant group. All patients underwent routine CT scanning and MSCTPI with GE LightSpeed 16-detector row CT scanner. Time-density curve (TDC) of common carotid for benign thyroid diseases and thyroid carcinoma was depicted. Perfusion parameters of blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT) and permeability surface area product (PS) were obtained automatically. All parameters were statistically analyzed among groups. Results TDC showed single peak in common carotid artery, with small peak of speed up and slow down in benign group, while with baseline segment, up above, down segment and horizontal segment in thyroid carcinoma. There was statistical difference between benign and malignant groups in BF, BV, MTT and PS value (P=0.001, <0.001, 0.003 and <0.001, respectively). No significant difference of BV and MTT was found between subunits of benign and thyroid carcinoma (all P>0.05). BF was significantly different in benign and maligant groups (P<0.05), whereas PS in thyroid carcinoma and nodular goiter was significant different (P<0.05). No statistical difference of BF, BV, MTT and PS was detected between nodular goiter and thyroid adenoma. Conclusion MSCTPI can exactly show the blood flow features of thyroid. The analysis of BF, BV, MTT and PS is helpful for differential diagnosis between benign thyroid disease and thyroid carcinoma.

This study was aimed to establish an inspection method for the limited quantity of aconitine and the content determination of schisandrol in Yi-Shen Xiao-Zhong(YSXZ) pill.Thin layer chromatography (TLC) was used to inspect the limited quantity of aconitine in YSXZ pill.The content of schisandrol was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).The results showed that the identification method of the limited quantity of aconitine and the content determination method of schisandrol were established.Compared to the correspondent position of the control chromatography,the limited quantity of aconitine was 2.5μg,which was much lower than the dose of inducing toxic reaction.It can be used in the limited quantity control of aconitine for toxic reaction in YSXZ pill.The calibration curve of schisandrol was linear at 2.92-95.36μg·mL-1.The regression equation wasy = 18.630x + 2.556 (r = 1).The average recovery was 95.10% and RSD was 1.55% (n = 6).It was concluded that the established method for the inspection and content determination of aconitine and schisandrol was simple,accurate and reproducible.It can be used in the quality control of YSXZ pill.

Objective To introduce the procedures and to evaluate the application value of the optical navigating interventional MR-guided percutaneous biopsies and therapies. Methods Thirty-five of 54 patients (33 males, 21 females) underwent percutaneous biopsies and 19 of 54 patients underwent percutaneous therapies under optical navigating interventional MR-guidance. The age ranged from 9 months to 78 years (mean 38.8 years). All patients were performed under a 0.23 T open MRI system (Proview, Philips Medical System) with optical navigating system (iPath 200, Philips Medical System). The needle and bone biopsy drill were MR-compatible (Daum, Germany). Results Punctures were accurate in all patients (54/54). 33 of 35 biopsies got the pathological diagnosis. All therapies (19/19) got the definitive curative effect. All patients had no obvious complications, such as severe hemorrhage, viscera or nerve injury.Conclusion iPath 200 interventional MR-guided percutaneous biopsies and therapies are accurate and safe techniques.

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical value of a new MRI compatible percutaneous bone biopsy system.

METHODSTwenty-six patients with bone lesions MRI-guided biopsies underwent using a 0.23-T open MR system combined with an iPath-200 optical leading system.

RESULTSOf the 26 biopsies, 23 samples were sufficient for histological examination and the histopathologic diagnoses were confirmed. In the high-risk areas like spine, the biopsies were successfully done in 11 patients. No procedural complications occurred.

CONCLUSIONPercutaneous biopsy of bone lesions performed under MRI-guidance in an iPath system was proved to be accurate and safe.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Bone and Bones ; pathology ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To investigate the MR findings of fetal cleft lip (CL) and evaluate the advantages and limitations of MRI in the diagnosis. Methods Twelve pregnant women suspicious of fetal CL/cleft palate(CP) on ultrasonography were enrolled in the study. The findings of ultrasonography, MRI and following-up were compared. Results MRI and ultrasonography detected 12 fetuses with CL/CP. The following-up results showed 1 case with incomplete cleft lip and the other 11 cases with complete cleft lips and cleft palates. MRI and unltrasonography were consistent with the follow-up in CL detection, showing completed or uncompleted soft tissue interruption of the fetal lips with amniotic fluid filling which is high signal on T_2WI. On MRI, CP showed discontinuous of the soft tissue which were interrupted by long T_2 signal and communicating with oral cavity and nasal cavity. MRI missed 1 case and excluded 1 case of CP. Ultrasonography predicted 5 case of CL, excluded 1 CP but missed 6 cases. The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity in detection CL/CP was 91.7% (11/12), 90.9% (10/11), 100% (1/1) for MRI and 50.0% (6/12),45.5% (5/11), 100% (1/1) for ultrasonography, respectively. Conclusion MR imaging had advantage over ultrasonography in detecting CP, MRI is an essential when CP is suspicious on ultrasonography.

Coloring Agents ; Diagnostic Uses of Chemicals ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Esophagoscopy ; Esophagus ; pathology ; Humans ; Iodine

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) non-structural protein 7 (Nsp7) plays an important role in the induction of host humoral immune response and could serve as an ideal antigen for serological genotyping assay for PRRSV based on the significant difference in immunoreactivities of North American (NA) and European (EU) PRRSV Nsp7. In this study, Nsp7 of NA and EU PRRSVwas separately expressed and purified using prokaryotic expression system. The purified recombinant Nsp7 proteins reacted with serum antibodies against corresponding genotype PRRSV in Western blotting. However, nonspecific reaction of whole recombinant Nsp7 with antibodies against another genotype PRRSV was observed, indicating that whole NA PRRSV Nsp7 and EU PRRSV Nsp7 have similar antigenic epitopes and recombinant proteins could not be used for genotyping of antibodies against PRRSV. Based on the analysis of similar antigenic epitopes at the hydrophilic region of NA PRRSV Nsp7 and EU PRRSV Nsp7 by bioinformatics assessment, partial Nsp7 gene region deleted sequences encoding similar antigenic epitopes was constructed by fusion PCR. The recombinant truncated Nsp7 (NA-deltaNsp7 and EU-deltaNsp7, about 43 kDa) was expressed and the molecular weight was about 43 kDa. The results of Western blotting showed that NA-deltaNSP7 and EU-deltaNSP7 could be specifically recognized by positive serum to NA or EU PRRSV individually and nonspecific reaction was eliminated. This study provided a basis for further development of serological genotyping assay for North American and European genotype PRRSV infection.
Animals ; Genotype ; Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus ; classification ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Swine ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; biosynthesis ; immunology

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological history, clinical manifestations, treatment and the short-term prognosis of 31 cases of 2019 novel coronavirus(2019-nCoV) infection in children from six provinces (autonomous region) in northern China. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the epidemiological history, clinical symptoms, signs, laboratory examinations, chest imaging, treatment and the short-term prognosis of 31 cases of 2019-nCoV was conducted. The patients were diagnosed between January 25th, 2020 and February 21st, 2020 in 21 hospitals in 17 cities of six provinces(autonomous region) of Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Hebei, Henan and Shandong. Results: The age of the 31 children with 2019-nCoV infection was 7 years and 1 month (6 months -17 years). Nine cases (29%) were imported cases. Other 21 cases (68%) had contact with confirmed infected adults. One case (3%) had contact with asymptomatic returnees from Wuhan. Among the 31 children, 28 patients (90%) were family cluster cases. The clinical types were asymptomatic type in 4 cases (13%), mild type in 13 cases (42%), and common type in 14 cases (45%). No severe or critical type existed. The most common symptom was fever (n=20, 65%), including 1 case of high fever, 9 cases of moderate fever, 10 cases of low fever. Fever lasted from 1 day to 9 days. The fever of fifteen cases lasted for ≤3 d, while in other 5 cases lasted > 3 d. Other symptoms included cough (n=14, 45%), fatigue (n=3, 10%) and diarrhea (n=3, 9%). Pharyngalgia, runny nose, dizziness, headache and vomiting were rare. In the early stage, the total leukocytes count in peripheral blood decreased in 2 cases (6%), the lymphocytes count decreased in 2 cases (6%), and the platelet count increased in 2 cases (6%).Elevation of C-reactive protein (10%, 3/30), erythrocyte sedimentation rate(19%,4/21), procalcitonin(4%,1/28), liver enzyme(22%, 6/27) and muscle enzyme (15%, 4/27) occurred in different proportions. Renal function and blood glucose were normal. There were abnormal chest CT changes in 14 cases, including 9 cases with patchy ground glass opacities and nodules, mostly located in the lower lobe of both lungs near the pleural area. After receiving supportive treatment, the viral nucleic acid turned negative in 25 cases within 7-23 days. Among them, 24 children (77%) recovered and were discharged from hospital. No death occurred. Conclusions In this case series, 2019-nCoV infections in children from six provinces (autonomous region) in northern China are mainly caused by close family contact. Clinical types are asymptomatic, mild and common types. Clinical manifestations and laboratory examination results are nonspecific. Close contact history of epidemiology, nucleic acid detection and chest imaging are important bases for diagnosis. After general treatment, the short-term prognosis is good.