Complex cystic and solid breast lesions are common in breast cystic lesions, of which the malignant risk ranges widely. Ultrasound has become a major means of breast disease screening. Combining of conventional ultrasound and new technologies, such as ultrasonic elastography, contrast enhanced ultrasonography and three-dimensional ultrasound, can improve diagnosis accuracy of complex cystic and solid breast lesions. The application progresses of conventional ultrasound combined with new technologies in diagnosis of complex cystic and solid breast lesions were reviewed in this article.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between liver stiffness and histopathological changes in a rat model of acute hepatitis using virtual touch tissue imaging quantification (VTIQ) technology.Methods:A total of 100 SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control ( n=30), low-dose ( n=35), and high-dose ( n=35) groups. Acute hepatitis models were induced in the low-dose and high-dose groups using 400 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg of Thioacetamide (TAA), respectively. Liver stiffness parameters of the right median lobe and right lobe were measured using VTIQ technology, Mean-H and Mean-L represent the liver lobes with higher and lower liver stiffness measurments, respectively, while Mean represent the average of the measurements from both liver lobes. Comparative analyses of liver stiffness parameters were performed across three groups and between the two lobes of the liver. The correlations between the Mean values of liver stiffness and semi-quantitative histopathological data were investigated. Ten rats were randomly selected from each of the 3 groups to test the repeatability of VTIQ values before and after euthanasia with intraperitoneal anesthesia. Subsequently, 10 rats after euthanasia from each 3 group were randomly chosen to assess the repeatability of VTIQ measurements for inter-observer and intra-observer variabilities. Results:VTIQ results showed statistically significant differences in Mean, Mean-H, and Mean-L among the 3 groups (all P<0.01). The high-dose group had higher measurements compared to the low-dose and control groups, with significant intergroup differences (all P<0.01). Significant differences in Mean-H and Mean-L were observed between the two liver lobes in both low and high-dose groups (all P<0.01). The Mean value showed significant positive correlations with semi-quantitative histopathological data of hepatocellular edema, periportal inflammatory cell infiltration, macrophage proliferation, and bile duct proliferation ( r=0.391, 0.648, 0.577, 0.542; all P<0.01). Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that hepatocellular edema, eosinophilic change, and bile duct proliferation significantly and positively predicted the Mean value (β=-0.278, -0.196, -0.333; all P<0.05). There were no significant differences of VTIQ measurements befor and after euthanasia (all P>0.05), with repeatability coefficients of 0.166, 0.182, 0.185 for Mean, Mean-H, and Mean-L, respectively. Post-euthanasia, inter- and intra-observer VTIQ differences remained non-significant (all P>0.05), with Mean, Mean-H, Mean-L coefficients of 0.114, 0.194, 0.165 and 0.206, 0.322, 0.268, respectively. Conclusions:VTIQ technology demonstrates potential clinical value in assessing a rat model of acute hepatitis, offering a new perspective for non-invasive evaluation of acute hepatitis. However, its clinical application requires further validation.

Objective To observe the regulating effect of electroacupuncture on the polarization level of decidual macrophages in rats with thin endometrium and the repairing effect of electroacupuncture on thin endometrium.Methods Thirty SPF female SD rats were randomly divided into control group,model group and electroacupuncture group.The electroacupuncture group was treated with acupuncture of"Guanyuan"(CV4),"Zigong"(EX-CA1)and"Sanyinjiao"(SP6)and intervened continuously for 4 estrous cycles.After the intervention,the estrous cycle of rats in each group was observed,the number of implantation embryos in the uterus was recorded,the uterine morphology and decidualization,the thickness of endometrium,the number of glands and blood vessels were observed by HE staining,the polarization level of macrophages was detected by flow cytometry,and the expression levels of IGFBP-1,CD86 and CD206 genes were detected by qRT-PCR.Results Compared with the control group,the estrous cycle of rats in the model group was disturbed;compared with the model group,the estrous cycle of rats in the electroacupuncture group recovered;compared with the control group,the number of embryos in the model group decreased significantly(P<0.01);compared with the model group,the number of embryos in the electroacupuncture group increased(P<0.05),and the morphology of endometrium in the model group was damaged and the thickness of endometrium decreased compared with the control group(P<0.01).The number of glands and blood vessels decreased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the morphology of endometrium in the electroacupuncture group recovered,the thickness of endometrium increased(P<0.01),and the number of glands and blood vessels increased(P<0.01).Compared with the control group,the ratio of M2 to M1 macrophages in the model group decreased significantly(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the ratio of M2 to M1 macrophages in the endometrium of the electroacupuncture group was significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the expression of IGFBP-1 mRNA in the model group decreased significantly(P<0.01),the expression of CD86 mRNA increased significantly(P<0.01),and the expression of CD206 mRNA decreased significantly(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the expression of IGFBP-1 mRNA in the endometrium of the electroacupuncture group increased significantly(P<0.01),the expression of CD86 mRNA decreased significantly(P<0.01),and the expression of CD206 mRNA increased significantly(P<0.01).Conclusion Electroacupuncture can effectively regulate the polarization level of decidual macrophages in endometrium,and effectively repair thin endometrium,which is beneficial to embryo implantation.

OBJECTIVE: Gout is crystal-induced arthritis with hyperuricemia. Uric acid lowering agent (UALA) is the maintenance drug of its treatment. Drug adherence is an important factor that influences treatment outcome. The purpose this study was to examine the drug adherence to UALA of 303 gouty patients and to analyze the factors associated with compliance. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed adherence to UALA in 303 patients who visited three hospitals affiliated with Hallym University. Patients were diagnosed as gout and used UALA with at least 6 month follow-up. Two adherence measures were calculated, the percentage of days covered (PDC) and the time until an extended break (at least 60 days) in treatment. A PDC <70% was considered poor adherence and factors associated with poor adherence were examined. RESULTS: Among the 303 patients, 283 (93.4%) were male. Mean age was 55.4+/-13.7 years. Comorbidities included hypertension in 117 (38.6%), diabetic mellitus in 108 (35.6%), angina in 107 (35.3%), myocardial infarction in 108 (35.6%), and heart failure in 113 (37.3%). The mean PDC was 65.8% with 63.4% of patients considered poorly compliant over the study period. Mean treatment duration before an extended break occurred was 203.5 days. Factors associated with good adherence included hypertension and prescription from rheumatologist. CONCLUSION: In our study, adherence to UALA in gouty patient was poor. Understanding the factors associated with adherence to UALA and proper education of gouty patients to improve drug adherence are needed.
Arthritis ; Comorbidity ; Compliance ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gout ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hyperuricemia ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Prescriptions ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Uric Acid

CYP17 gene is involved in steroidogenesis and steroid metabolism. Epidemiologic results on the association between the CYP17 polymorphism and breast cancer risk have been inconsistent. We examined the association between the MspAI polymorphism at +27 relative to the start of transcription in the 5'-untranslated region of CYP17 gene and breast cancer risk in Korean women. Four hundred and sixty-two incident cases and 337 controls were recruited from three teaching hospitals in Seoul during 1994-2001. Polymorphism of the CYP17 gene was determined by a single base extension assay. Demographic and lifestyle characteristics were identified using structured questionnaire. Age-adjusted (aOR) and multivariate odds ratios (mOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated by unconditional logistic regression. The proportions of A1/A1, A1/A2 and A2/A2 genotypes among controls were 20.8%, 45.1% and 34.1%, respectively. Compared to the A1/A1 genotype, A1/A2 or A2/A2 genotype was not statistically significantly associated with overall breast cancer risk (i.e., mOR=1.01, 95% CI=0.69-1.47 and mOR=0.76, 95% CI=0.51-1.14, respectively). However, a significant association between CYP17 A2/A2 genotype and breast cancer was observed among women aged 50 years or less (mOR=0.58, 95% CI=0.34-0.99, P=0.04) and leaner women (body mass index < 22 kg/m2) (mOR=0.48, 95% CI=0.23-0.97, P=0.04). Our results suggest that genetic polymorphism in 5'-untranslated region of CYP17 might play a role in breast cancer development in Korean women among younger women aged less than 50 or leaner women with body mass index less than 22 kg/m2.
5' Untranslated Regions/*genetics ; Breast/metabolism/pathology ; Breast Neoplasms/enzymology/epidemiology/*genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Comparative Study ; Demography ; Female ; *Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Polymorphism, Genetic/*genetics ; Questionnaires ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Risk Factors ; Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase/*genetics

OBJECTIVE：To study the effects of Plantago asiatica polysaccharide on the proliferation ，migration and invasion of breast cancer cells ，and to investigate its mechanism preliminarily. METHODS ：Using human breast cancer cell MDA-MB- 231 as subjects ，MTT method was adopted to detect the effects of different concentrations of P. asiatica polysaccharide（8，16，32，64 mg/L）on the cell proliferation ability ，and survival rate of the cells was calculated. Scratch test and Transwell invasion test were used to detect the effects of different concentrations of P. asiatica polysaccharide（8，16 mg/L）on cell migration ability and invasion ability. Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT）-related proteins [matrix metalloproteinase- 2（MMP-2），MMP-9，E-cadherin，N-cadherin，vimentin]. RESULTS ：Results of MTT assay showed that survival rate of the cells in 32，64 mg/L P. asiatica polysaccharide groups were significantly lower than control group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01），so that 8，16 mg/L，which did not affect the cell survival rate ，were used as the follow-up drug concentrations. Compared with control group ，relative mobility （12，24 h），relative invasion rate and relative expression of MMP- 2，MMP-9， N-cadherin and vimentin protein were decreased significantly in 8，16 mg/L P. asiatica polysaccharide groups （P＜0.05 or P＜ 0.01），while relative expression of E-cadherin protein was increased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS ：P. asiatica polysaccharide can inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells MDA-MB- 231，and inhibit the migration and invasion of the cells by regulating the expression of metastasis and EMT-related proteins.