Objective To assess the clinical value of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) together with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and sorafenib in treating recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgery.Methods A total of 40 patients with recurrent HCC after surgery, who were encountered at authors' hospital during the period from December 2009 to May 2014, were collected. The patients were divided into the study group (n=20) receiving TACE combined with RFA and sorafenib and the control group (n=20) receiving TACE plus RFA. Within 7-10 days after TACE, RFA was carried out. In the study group, oral sorafenib therapy (400 mg, two times everyday) started at 4 days after TACE. Withdrawal of sorafenib would be ordered if drug resistance occurred. Each patient underwent TACE combined with RFA not less than two times. Results The median survival time of the study group and the control group was 31.0 months and 24.8 months respectively, and statistically significant difference existed between the two groups (P<0.05). The one-year, 2-year and 3-year survival rates of the study group were 85%, 70% and 50%respectively, while the one-year, 2-year and 3-year survival rates of the control group were 80%, 55% and 30% respectively; the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The progression free survival (PFS) time of the study group and the control group was 6.8 months and 5.7 months respectively, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion TACE combined with RFA and sorafenib can prolong the overall survival time and the progression free survival time of patients with recurrent HCC after surgery.

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of intralesional betamethasone versus triamcinolone acetonide acetate in the treatment of active alopecia areata. Methods A total of 160 patients with active alopecia areata were divided into two groups, test group (n = 100) treated with intralesional betamethasone, and control group (n = 60) treated with intralesional triamcinolone acetonide. Both injections were given once every 3 weeks for 12 consecutive weeks. Results After 12-week treatment, the cure rate, response rate, and total response rate were 60.0%, 32.0% and 92.0% in the test group, respectively, compared to 41.7%, 31.67% and 73.3% in the control group, respectively. A significant increase was observed in the cure rate and response rate in the test group compared with the control group (χ2 = 10.25, 5.06, P < 0.01 and 0.05). During the treatment course, 8 (8%) patients in the test group and 9 (15%) patients in the control group developed localized atrophy of the scalp; 8 (8%) patients in the test group and 3 (5%) patients in the control group developed localized folliculitis; no significant difference was observed between the two groups in the occurrence of adverse reactions (P> 0.05). Conclusion Intralesional use of compound betamethasone injection has a notable therapeutic effect on alopecia areata.

Objective To explore the influence of thyroid dysfunction in the first half pregnancy (≤20 gestational weeks) on gestational diabetes. Methords By adopting the method of prospective intervention study, general data of pregnant-women in the care clinics of our hospital were collected. Thyroid function was detected and evaluated by ATA criteria. All cases were divided into two groups: normal thyroid function group and thyroid dysfunction group. The thyroid dysfunction group was intervened. 75 g OGTT were conducted in all cases in 24-28 gestational-weeks. GDM was diagnosed by IADPSG diagnostic criteria. GDM prevalence was compared between normal thyroid function group and abnormal thyroid function groups. Results 1 062 cases of pregnant women were collected. 857 cases of pregnant women were normal, while 14 cases were subclinical hyperthyroidism (1.32%), 164 cases were subclinical hypothyroidism (15.4%), 22 cases were hypothyroxinemia (2.07%). Compared with normal thyroid function, prevalence rate of GDM was the highest in hypothyroxinemia group (54.5% vs 27.8%). There was no significant difference between subclinical hypothyroidism group and normal thyroid function group. Conclusion Thyroid dysfunction in the first half pregnancy is associated with GDM , Screening and treatment of pregnant thyroid dysfunction should be attached.

Emerging evidence has indicated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play pivotal roles in the regulation of cellular processes and are found to be aberrantly expressed in a variety of tumors.However,the clinical role of circRNAs in bladder cancer (BC) and the molecular mechanisms have yet to be fully understood.In this study,the clinical specimens were obtained and the expression level of a circRNA BCRC4 was detected by real-time PCR in both BC tissues and cell line.The circular RNA over-expression plasmid was constructed and transfected into BC cells and related cell line.The cell cycles and apoptosis were observed using inverted microscope and flow cytometry.Western blotting was used to compare the relative protein expression of groups with different treatments.It was found that circRNA BCRC4 expression was lower in BC tissues than in adjacent normal tissues.Furthermore,consequences of fomed-expression of BCRC4 promoted apoptosis and inhibited viability of T24T and UMUC3 cells,and up-regulated BCRC4-inereased miR-101 level,which suppressed EZH2 expression in both RNA and protein levels.In addition,gambogic acid (GA) is a promising natural anticancer compound for BC therapy,and GA treatment increased the BCRC4 expression in T24T and UMUC3 cells in a dose-dependent manner.Altogether,our findings suggest that BCRC4 functions as a tumor suppressor in BC,and mediates anticancer function,at least in part,by up-regulating the expression of miR-101.Targeting this newly identified circRNA may help us develop a novel strategy for treating human BC.

Objective To explore the safety of Habib VesOpen bipolar radiofrequency ablation (RFA) catheter used in the treatment of portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). Methods A total of 10 miniature pigs were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group A(n=6):RFA of normal portal vein was directly performed;group B (n=2): balloon obstruction of the portal vein was performed first, which was followed by RFA for the fresh thrombus in the portal vein; group C (n=2): PVTT model was established first, and RFA of the portal vein was carried out when the portal thrombus became organized. MRI examination was employed at one, 3 and 4 weeks after RFA; the animals were sacrificed 4 weeks after RFA and pathological examination of portal vein was performed. Results Pigs of group A received portal vein RFA under the condition of 5 W power for 0.6-3.6 min. No obvious abnormality was detected by MRI and pathological examination , which were performed one month after the treatment. In the pigs of group B , MRI performed after RFA showed that the damage of portal vein area was more serious than that in the pigs of group A;abdominal MRI examination performed at one, 3 and 4 weeks after RFA showed that the portal venous edema was gradually decreased;pathological examination at one month after RFA demonstrated serious injury of adjacent liver tissue. Pigs of group C received portal vein RFA under the condition of 7 W power for 1.5 min; no obvious edema of the ablated area was observed on MRI performed after RFA , and pathological examination revealed organized thrombus necrosis and va scular endothelial cell damage. Conclusion When Habib VesOpen bipolar RFA catheter is used for the treatment of PVTT, the RFA power and time should be properly selected according to the severity of PVTT. In order to ensure a safer procedure, high power and short ablation time should be used when the severity of PVTT is mild, while low power and longer ablation time are recommended when the PVTT is more severe.

The paper is aimed to study the difference in yield and quality at different harvest time and determine the optimum harvest of planting Gentiana in Ludian traditional harvest period. The authors analyzed the variation in fresh weight, dry weight, dry discount rate, length, diameter, volume and the content of gentiopicroside, loganin acid, alcohol-soluble extract and total ash and made a comprehensive appraisal of yield, appearance quality and intrinsic quality by gray relational distance ideal Comprehensive Evaluation method. The results showed that there is a big difference in yield and quality both 2-year-old and 3-year-old Gentiana harvested in traditional harvest period and the comprehensive evaluation more better when harvested more later. It can be seen, Gentiana harvested the later had a better yield and quality in Ludian traditional harvest period. The harvest of Gentiana can be appropriate delayed depending on the particular circumstances of production.
Agriculture ; methods ; China ; Gentiana ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Iridoid Glucosides ; metabolism ; Organ Size ; Quality Control ; Time Factors

Objective To assess the value of prenatal ultrasonography on fetal forearm and crus malformations by studying the ultrasonographic characteristic in relation to methods of examination. Methods All fetus were evaluated by using a systematic continuous sequence approach (SCSA) with ultrasonography. A close attention was paid on shapes, structures and movement of fetal forearm and crus, and fetus specimens after induced labor were rescanned by ultrasonography under the condition of mimic intra-uterus. Results Thirty of 33 cases (90.9%) with fetal forearm and crus malformations (totally 48 of 54 limb anormalies, 88.9%) were correctly diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography. Six limb malformations of 3 cases were missed. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that the malformations of forearm and crus detected with prenatal ultrasonography are highly accordant with the malformations revealed in fetus in vitro. It is important to abide by the SCSA in ultrasonographic diagnosis of fetal forearm and crus malformation.

Objective To assess the outcome of liver transplantation in patients over sixty years of age,in order to attempt to expand the indications of liver transplantation. Methods From August,2000 to January,2002, the clinical data of 36 patients who underwent liver transplantation in our department were analysed retrospectively. Of the 36 cases, the data (operating time, the length of hospitalization, rejection rate and ICU stay days after operation) of 5 patients whose age were ≥60 years (elderly group) and the data of 31 patients whose age were under 60 years (

Objective To compare the efficacy of MRI and DSA in assessment of carotid artery stenosis and atherosclerotic plaque.Methods Forty-six patients with carotid plaque detected by ultrasound were enrolled in this study,and 89 carotid arteries were evaluated by MRI and DSA.MRI examination was acquired with 3.0 T MR scanner and 8 channel phase-array surface coil.The MRI sequences consisted of pre-and post-contrast T1WI,T2WI,PDWI,TOF.Anterior-posterior and lateral views of carotid artery were performed on DSA.The degree of carotid artery stenosis was evaluated by the NASCET standard.Fibrous cap rupture,intraplaque hemorrhage,and calcification were also evaluated on MRI and DSA.Statistical comparison was performed with the Kappa value and paired Chi-square test.Results The degree of carotid artery stenosis was 50％ (16％-78％) on MRI and 47％ (7％-73％) on DSA.Two imaging modalities were in good consistency in evaluation of the degree of stenosis ( Kappa =0.882,P ＜ 0.01 ).There was statistical difference in detecting fibrous cap rupture by MRI and DSA (34 vessels vs 10 vessels,respectively,x2 =20.346,P ＜ 0.01 ).Furthermore,thirty-seven vessels with intraplaque hemorrhage and 71 vessels with calcification in the plaque were found on MRI but none on DSA.Conclusion MRI is a reliable tool in assessment of the degree of the carotid stenosis and it is superior to DSA in detecting fibrous cap rupture,intraplaque hemorrhage,and calcification.

Objective To study the value of carotid plaque magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in pre-operation assessment in the elderly patients with carotid atherosclerosis and explore the possibility of minimizing the contrast weightings to gain sweeptime. Methods Totally 70 elderly patients with cerebral ischemia (average age of 68.8 years) underwent carotid MRI and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) due to the appearance of carotid plaque detected by ultrasound. Carotid plaque MRI was acquired with 3.0T MR scanner and 8 channel surface coil. The standard carotid plague MRI program included pre-and post-contrast T1 weighted imaging (T1WI), T2 weighted imaging, proton density weighted imaging and 3D time of flight MR angiography (3D TOF MRA). All these program were divided into two combinations: the 5-sequence MRI (all the sequences) and 2-sequence MRI (T1WI and TOF MRA). Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in coronal and lateral views of carotid artery was performed with GE Advantx LCN+. The software SPSS 13.0 was used to statistically analyze the difference between MRI and DSA, and that of two sequence combinations was used in the detection of luminal stenosis and fibrous cap (FC) rupture. Results Totally 135 arteries were analyzed while 3 arteries in one patient were excluded due to the poor quality image and stent placement. The degree of luminal stenosis were (38.3±31.0)% and (38.5±30.9)%, respectively, detected by the two MRI sequence-combination with no significant difference (t=2.447, P＞0.05) and was (35.1±31.8)% by DSA. There was a good concordance between MRI and DSA in luminal stenosis detection (Kappa value: 0.773). No statistical difference was found between two MR sequence combinations in detecting FC rupture (both in 36 vessels). DSA detected FC rupture of 16 vessels, showing remarkably difference contrast to MRI(χ2=12.0, P＜0.01). Conclusions MRI can accurately detect the luminal stenosis and FC rupture. The short time scanning resulting from sequence optimization could make MRI much more suitable than DSA to do the pre-operation assessment for senile carotid atherosclerotic patients.