The influence of perauorinated compounds (PFCs) on human health has increasingly been recognized. Recent studies have shown that PFCs are associated with the incidences of tumors, neurotoxicities, reproductive toxicity, and metabolic syndrome. However, the relationship between PFCs and thyroid diseases remains unclear. While some foreign studies have explored their potential correlations, the findings were still controversial due to different methodologies and populations. This article reviews the recent advances in the research on the relationship between PFCs and thyroid function.
Fluorocarbons ; Humans ; Thyroid Gland ; physiology

OBJECTIVES: Several advances in the diagnosis, therapy and palliation of patients affected by malignant biliary obstruction have occurred during the last decades. Unresectable malignant biliary obstruction has usually been treated by percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) versus metallic biliary drainage (MBD). The optimal management of complications after biliary drainage is still an unresolved problem. To compare the complications of malignant biliary obstruction after PTBD and MBD. METHODS: We enrolled 51 patients of malignant biliary obstruction after biliary drainage. The clinical characteristics and complications of each groups were assessed and compared. RESULTS: The complications after biliary drainage of MBD are lower than those of PTBD (59.1% vs 82.8%, P = 0.06, respectively). Patients with PTBD tended to have a shorter event of complication time compared to MBD patients (2.9 months vs 7.1 months, P < 0.01). Patients with older age in PTBD tended to have a longer event of complication time compared to younger patients (4.6 months vs 2.3 months, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The method of biliary drainage in malignant biliary obstruction have statistically significant impact on the complication time. The clinical efficacy of metallic stent in patients with malignant biliary obstruction is better than that of PTBD.
Dioxolanes ; Drainage ; Fluorocarbons ; Humans ; Radiography, Interventional ; Stents

A small HIFU system was used to investigate the phase-shift droplet vaporization in vivo and its effect on thermal absorption in tissue-mimicking phantoms. The experiments demonstrated that droplets could be vaporized to bubbles in vivo by the small HIFU system and the volume of bubbles could increase by tens of times. With appropriate droplets concentration, lesion volume produced by HIFU could be increased significantly under the same HIFU parameter.
Fluorocarbons ; Image Enhancement ; Ultrasonic Therapy ; methods

OBJECTIVEWe established a method of UPLC-MS/MS that was to detect fifteen precursors of perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSA) and perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCA) in serum.

METHODSBriefly, TBAS solution was added to sera, then the mixed solution was extracted with aliquots of MTBE. The MTBE aliquots were combined, evaporated to dryness under nitrogen, and reconsituted in 0.25 ml of methanol and water (1:1). Then the reconstituted solution through 0.2 µm nylon syringe filter was collected. Chromatographic separation was performed using a Waters ACQUITY (TM) BEH ¹⁸C column (50 mm × 2.1 mm × 1.7 mm). Analyte quantitation was performed in the negative electrospray ionization mode and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM).

RESULTSThree target substances, 6: 6PFPi, 6: 8PFPi, 8: 8PFPi, were externally confirmed by standard addition. Rates of recovery for these three chemicals were from 41.01% to 112.13% in two standard levels. And the relative standard deviations (RSD) were lower than 11.63% and higher than 1.80%. The other twelve substances were quantified with internal standard. Moreover in two standard levels, rate of recovery for these chemicals ranged from 70.25% to 127.51%. And RSD were more than 1.23% and less than 15.45%. And the corresponding limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) for all target substances were 0.1-5.0 pg/ml and 0.2-10.0 pg/ml. Then we detected these target substances in ten different human serum samples. The levels of few substances were higher than LOD. And the ranges of FOSA-M, N-EtFOSA-M, N-MeFOSAA, N-EtFOSAA were respectively < LOD-0.94 pg/ml, < LOD-10.08 pg/ml, < LOD-6.74 pg/ml, < LOD-1.04 pg/ml.

CONCLUSIONThe method, with high sensitivity and accuracy, could meet the actual testing requirements.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been distributed in environment and human body worldwide. Due to their bioaccumulative and multiple organ toxic, these compounds have raised more and more attention in recent years. The precursors of PFASs can be metabolized to PFASs both in environment and human body, which makes an important contribution to human body burdens. Apart from transformation into PFASs, some of these precursors themselves or their metabolic intermediates also have toxicity effects, such as estrogen-like properties, protein binding, cytotoxicity and so on, and there might be a potential harmful impact on human health. In this paper, the toxicity and biotransformation of PFASs and their precursors were introduced briefly.
Environment ; Environmental Pollution ; Fluorocarbons ; toxicity ; Health ; Humans ; Risk

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) has more advantages than conventional common bile duct surgery, but the use of this route for stone removal and biliary drainage remains controversial. The goal of this study was to investigate the usefulness of LCBDE in patients who had been failed in the endoscopic stone extraction. METHODS: From November 2005 to August 2008, 52 patients underwent LCBDE due to failure of endoscopic stone extraction in Chungnam National University Hospital. Clinical data were collected and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Duodenal diverticulum (23 cases, 44.2%) was the most common cause in failure of endoscopic stone extraction and large common bile duct stone 12 cases (23.1%), previous upper gastrointestinal operation 10 cases (19.2%) were followed. Twenty four patients did not have preoperative biliary drainage, such as PTBD, ENBD, PTGBD. Forty-five patients (86.5%) of the 52 participating patients underwent LCBDE successfully, but 7 cases resulted in open surgery for the following reasons: 3 cases of severe intraabdominal adhesions, 3 cases of stone impaction in ampulla portion, and 1 case of a remnant stone. External biliary drainage was performed in 41 cases with T-tube (31 cases, 68.9%), PTBD (7 cases, 15.6%), ENBD (3 cases, 6.7%). The stone clearance of LCBDE was 95.6%. Remnant stone weredetected in 2 cases (4.4%) and removed with choledochoscope via external biliary drain. Postoperative complications happened in 5 cases (9.5%). Procedure related complications happened in 2 cases (3.8%). CONCLUSION: LCBDE is useful technique in patients with failed endoscopic stone extraction, and biliary drainage may be necessary for detection and removal of latent remnant CBD stones.
Common Bile Duct ; Dioxolanes ; Diverticulum ; Drainage ; Fluorocarbons ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications

Analyzed the purity of the Perfluorooctane used for Ophthalmic operation using the FID (Flame Ionization Detector) method after the qualitative analysis of that. Research and discussion of the 1--hydrogen perfluorocarbon octane, which is the typical impurity of Perfluorooctane. The standard recovery of the 1--hydrogen perfluorocarbon octane is 93%-97% within the range of linearity, and the RSD (relative standard deviation) is below 2%. The above test method has the advantages of easy operation, stability and accuracy. So it is a good reference support to bring the specification of quality control of the Perfluorooctane which is used for Ophthalmic operation into YY of medical device.
Fluorocarbons ; analysis ; chemistry ; Ophthalmology ; instrumentation ; methods ; Quality Control

PURPOSE: To describe efficacy of percutaneous lithotripsy for removing difficult bile duct stones using endoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 88 patients with difficulties for the removal of bile duct stones using endoscopy (an impacted stone, stone size >15 mm, intrahepatic duct (IHD) stone, stone size to bile duct diameter ratio >1.0), were enrolled in this study. A 12 Fr sheath was inserted through the percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) tract, and then nitrol stone baskets and a 0.035" snare wire were used to capture, fragment and remove the stones. The technical and clinical success rates were analyzed, together with an analysis of any complications. RESULTS: The overall technical success rate of stone removal was achieved in 79 of 88 patients (89.8%). In five of nine patients with failed stone removal, small residual IHD stones were noted on a cholangiogram. Even if stone removal failed in these cases, cholangitic symptoms were improved and the drainage catheter was successfully removed. Therefore, clinical success was achieved in 84 of 88 patients (95.5%). There were no significant procedure-related complications, except for sepsis in one case. CONCLUSION: Billiary stone removal using the stone basket and guide-wire snare technique through the PTBD tract is a safe and effective procedure that can be used as a primary method in patients with difficulties for the removal of bile duct stones using endoscopy.
Bile ; Bile Ducts ; Catheters ; Dioxolanes ; Drainage ; Endoscopy ; Fluorocarbons ; Humans ; Lithotripsy ; Nitroglycerin ; Sepsis ; SNARE Proteins

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) combines endoscopy and intraluminal ultrasonography, and allows imaging with a high-frequency transducer over a short distance to generate high-resolution ultrasonographic images. EUS is now a widely accepted modality for diagnosing pancreatobiliary diseases. EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) using a curved linear-array echoendoscope was initially described more than 20 years ago, and since then many researchers have expanded its indications to sample diverse lesions and have also used it for various therapeutic purposes. EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) is one of the therapeutic procedures that has been developed using a curved linear-array echoendoscope. Technically, EUS-BD includes rendezvous techniques via transesophageal, transgastric, and transduodenal routes, EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy (EUS-CDS), and EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS). Published data have demonstrated a high success rate, albeit with a comparatively high rate of nonfatal complications for EUS-CDS and EUS-HGS, and a comparatively low success rate with a low complication rate for the rendezvous technique. At present, these procedures represent an alternative to surgery or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) for patients with obstructive jaundice when endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD) has failed. However, these procedures should be performed in centers with extensive experience in linear EUS and therapeutic biliary ERCP. Large prospective studies are needed in the near future to establish standardized EUS-BD procedures as well as to perform controlled comparative trials between EUS-BD and PTBD, between rendezvous techniques and direct-access techniques (EUS-CDS and EUS-HGS), and between EBD and EUS-BD.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Choledochostomy ; Dioxolanes ; Drainage ; Endoscopy ; Endosonography ; Fluorocarbons ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Transducers

PURPOSE: T-tube is a major procedure that prevents complication by biliary decompression, but which is accompanied by complications. Therefore, several procedures such as ENBD, PTBD, and antegrade biliary stent have been attempted, but with controversies as to which procedure is superior. Also, there are no standard procedures after laparoscopic CBD exploration. We performed this study to ascertain the most appropriate biliary drainage procedure after laparoscopic CBD exploration. METHODS: From March 2001 to December 2009, 121 patients who underwent Laparoscopic CBD exploration in Gunyang University were included for retrospective analysis. The patients were divided to 4 groups according to type of procedure, and we compared clinical parameters including age and gender, operation time, hospital stay, start of post-operative diet, and complications. RESULTS: There was no difference in age, gender, mean operation time, postoperative diet between the 4 groups. Hospital stay in the Stent group was shorter than T-tube group. There were 10 (7%) complications that occurred. Two 2 occurred in the T-tube, 3 in PTBD, and 5 in the Antegrade stent group. There were more complications in Stent group but no significant statistical difference. In 5 cases with remnant CBD stone, a total of 4 (3 PTBD, 1 Stent) was performed by endoscopic CBD stone removal. One T-tube case was removed easily by choledochoscopy through the T-tube. Three migrated and the impacted stents were removed by additional endoscopy. Perioperative biliary leakage (1) and peritonitis (1) post t-tube removal were resolved by conservative treatment. CONCLUSION: T-tube appears to be an appropriate method to patients who are suspected to have remnant CBD stones. Multiple procedures may be performed on a case by case basis such as performing PTBD first in a suspected cholangitis patient.
Bile ; Cholangitis ; Decompression ; Diet ; Dioxolanes ; Drainage ; Endoscopy ; Fluorocarbons ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Peritonitis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents