In order to study the variation of complex impedance and characteristic parameters on human normal and tumor lung tissue during the extracorporeal time, we established a real part-imaginary part chart of complex impedance on lung tissue which provided the basic theory and the reference data for research on elementary medicine and clinical diagnosis of lung cancer and meanwhile provided prior information for electrical impedance tomography (EIT) research. In the experiment carried out in our laboratory, when operation was finished, we kept the lung cancer tissue and normal tissue neatly separated into the cylindrical testing cavities and kept the temperature and humidity at expected values. Then the measurements of complex impedance property are performed at frequency from 1 000 Hz to 30 MHz using 4294A impedance analyzer of Aglient Company. With time changing, the results showed that there was a significant change occurring on the complex impedance of human normal and tumor lung tissue. However, the impedance of normal lung tissue is greater than that of tumor lung tissue. We consider that this change should be related to the change in extracellular fluid, intracellular fluid and cell membrane.
Electric Impedance ; Humans ; Lung ; physiology ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Tomography

Objective To investigate the effects of inhibiting epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) on metastastic potential of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) enhanced by hepatic arterial occlusion in mice. Methods Using a metastatic human HCC orthotopic nude mice model (MHCC97),the effects of hepatic artery ligation (HAL) alone,combination of HAL and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)inhibitor LY294002,or combination of HAL and interferon-α (IFN-α) on the growth of planted human HCC cells and pulmonary metastasis were evaluated,respectively.The cells and tumor tissues specimens were analyzed through expression of Akt,p-Akt,E-cadhein,N-cadherin and Twist. Results HAL inhibits tumor growth (2002.97 ± 331.28 ) mm3 vs.( 3921.23 ± 786.21 ) mm3,t =4.052,P ＜ 0.01 ),while promoting pulmonary metastatsis ( 10/12 vs.4/12,P ＜ 0.05).HAL combined with LY294002 represses significantly enhanced pulmonary metastasis rate by HAL alone (0/6 vs.6/6,P ＜ 0.01 ).Moderate-dose IFN-α (7.5 × 106 U/kg) combined with HAL failed to further reduce tumor volume compared with that of HAL alone,but inhibited markedly pulmonary metastasis (2/6 vs.6/6,P ＜ 0.05 ).The augmented level of N-cadherin and Twist in tumor tissues due to HAL reduced by LY294002 or 7.5 × 106 U/kg IFN-α.The arrest of EMT by LY294002 or IFN-α in HAL-treated xenografts was further demonstrated by the in vitro response of hypoxic cells to both agents. Conclusions Inhibition of EMT in HCC cells could repress enhanced metastastic potential due to hepatic arterial occlusion.

Objective To explore the sensitivity of using NT,combined with serum biochemical markers (Free-βhCG,PAPP-A) for Down's Syndrome screening in early stage of pregnancy.Methods Collect pregnant women aged 17-45 years old voluntary antenatal screening in our hospital from March 2009to October 2010,a total of 11882 cases.Serum Free-βhCG and PAPP-A were measured NT value was determined by ultrasound at 11-13w+64 of gestation.Calculating combined screening (NT,Free-βhCG,PAPP-A),and serum integrated screening (Free-beta hCG,PAPP-A) risk,respectively,using the risk calculation software for the same person.Results Early pregnancy screening was performed in 11 882patients,18 had a fetus with Down's syndrome,a rate of 0.15％.The detection rates of Down's syndrome in combined screening and serum integrated screening were 83.3％ and 72.2％ respectively.The specificities were 98.4％ and 97.3％ and detection efficiency were 7.18％,3.90％ respectively.Areas under the curve (AUCs) of fhst-trimester combined screening and serum integrated screening were 0.975 (95％ CI:0.943,1.007),0.901 (95％ CI:0.789,1.013) respectively.Conclusion In early stage of pregnancy,combined screening for Down's syndrome has higher sensitivity and specificity than serological screening,has higher detection rate in the same false-positive rate case,which can effectively reduce the pregnant women to receive invasive puncture.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of etanercept 50 mg once-weekly treatment of Chinese patients with active ankylosing spondylitis ( AS).Methods Four hundred patients with active AS,enrolled in six medical centers,were randomly divided into either the treatment group or the placebo group in a 3∶1 ratio.The total length of the study was 12 weeks.The first 6-week period was a double-blind placebo controlled treatment period and the second 6-week period was an open-labeled treatment period.During the first 6-week period,300 patients in the treatment group received once-weekly subcutaneous injection of etanercept (50 mg),whereas the 100 patients in the placebo group received placebo injection.During the second 6-week period,patients in both groups received etanercept (50 mg once weekly subcutaneous injection).The primary end point was the percentage of patients achieving the Assessments in Ankylosing Spondylitis (ASAS) 20％ response ( ASAS 20 ) at week 6.Other outcome measures included the percentage of patients achieving ASAS 5/6,partial remission and Bath AS disease activity index 50 ( BASDAI 50) responses at week 12.ResultsA total of 381 patients completed the trial,including 285 patients in the etanercept group and 96 patients in the placebo group.At week 2,the percentage of patients achieving ASAS 20 in the etanercept group was 55.7％,whereas the placebo group was only 17.0％ ( P ＜ 0.001 ).At week 6,77.5％ of patients in the etanercept group achieved ASAS 20 as compared with 32.3％ in the placebo group ( P ＜ 0.001 ).At the end of 12 weeks,the percentage of patients in the etanercept group achieving the ASAS 20 was 89.5％.Improvements of other measures were also significant in the etanercept group.Etanercept was well tolerated and no malignancy and life-threatening events were observed in this study.Most adverse events observed were mild injection-site reactions.ConclusionEtanercept 50 mg weekly treatment of Chinese patients with active ankylosing spondylitis is convenient,fast-acting,highly effective,and well tolerated.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical and radiological efficacy of TNFR Ⅱ -Fc combined with methotrexate( MTX ) in treatment of patients with moderate and severe rheumatoid arthritis.MethodsThree hundred and ninty-six RA patients were randomized into the combined treatment group,the TNFR Ⅱ -Fc only group and MTX only group.All patients were treated for 24 weeks.ACR-N,ACR20,ACR50,ACR70,DAS28-ESR and Sharp score of both hands were measured for efficacy,and the side-effects were analyzed by one-way ANOVA.Results After 24-week therapy,the ACR-N of the combined treatment group [( 12.79±9.24)％-year] was significantly improved than that of the TNFR Ⅱ-Fc only group [(9.56±11.16)％-year,P＜0.05] and that of the MTX only group[(5.08±11.10)％-year,P＜0.05],and the TNFR Ⅱ-Fc group was significantly improved than that of the MTX group(P＜0.05).The ACR20 response rate of the combined group(80.4％) was significantly higher than that of the TNFR Ⅱ -Fc group(71.1％,P＜0.05) and the MTX group(56.7％,P＜0.01 ).The ACRS0 response rate of the combined group(53.6％) was significantly higher than that of the MTX group(30.8％,P＜0.01 ).The ACR70 response rate of the combined group was 27.7％,which was significantly different from that of the TNFR Ⅱ -Fc group (15.8％) and MTX group (7.7％,P＜0.05or P＜0.01 ).DAS28-ESR in the combination group was significantly reduced than those of the TNFR Ⅱ -Fc group and MTX group,and the DAS28-ESR of the TNFR Ⅱ -Fc group was significantly reduced than MTX group.The average total Sharp score of both hands,which demonstrated the radiographic changes,was significantly reduced in the combination group than the MTX group(P=0.03).The total adverse events in the combined group(40.9％) was significantly high than that of the MTX group(28.8％,P＜0.05).Conclusion TNFR Ⅱ -Fc combined with MTX can effectively control the activity of RA and radiological progress.

Objective To study the influence of sequential and contemporaneous revascularizations of portal vein and hepatic artery during liver transplantation with retrograde reperfusion on the ultra-structural changes in intrahepatic cholangiocytes of the graft with liver ischernia reperfusion injury,and the recovery of short-term liver function after operation.Methods The clinical data of 97 patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) using retrograde reperfusion via the vena cava (IVC) in our hospital from January,2009 to June,2013 were retrospectively analyzed.Using to the different sequences of revascularization,97 digible patients were divided into three groups:group R-IPR:the initial arterial revascularization group (35 patients);group R-IAR:the initial portal revascularization group (30 patients);group R-SAPR:simultaneous reperfusion group (32 patients).Liver function,coagulation function and other related parameters were continuously monitored for the transplant recipients at the following time points:1 day before operation,2 hours after reperfusion and on postoperative Day 1,2,5 and 7.The ultra-structure of intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells at 2 hours after reperfusion were studied by transmission electron microscopy and morphometric analysis of mitochondria was performed by the computer image analysis system.Results The levels of ALT,GGT and TB in group R-IAR were significantly lower than those in group R-IPR and group R-SAPR (P＜0.05).There were no significant differences among the three groups in other parameters that reflected liver function at any time point (P＞0.05).In group R-IAR and group R-IPR,mitochondrial swelling of bile duct epithelial cells was more severe than that in group R-SAPR.There were significant differences among the three groups in the mitochondrial average area and the average perimeter (P＜0.05).Mild swelling of mitochondria in hepatic cells was observed in group R-IAR and group R-IPR.There was no significant difference in the mitochondrial average area and average perimeter between the two groups (P＞0.05).Mitochondrial swelling of hepatic cells was most severe in group R-SAPR.There were significant differences in the average area and average perimeter of hepatic cell mitochondria between group R-SAPR and the other two groups (P＜0.05).Conclusion During liver transplantation with retrograde reperfusion,initial arterial revascularization reduced the short-term levels of transaminases,improved early liver function after operation and protected the intrahepatic bile duct against the second ischemia reperfusion injury.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of platelet-albumin-bilirubin(PALBI)score for tumor recurrence after liver transplantation(LT)in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods:Clinical data were retrospectively reviewed for 102 HCC patients undergoing LT from January 2010 to December 2020.The predictive value of PALBI score for tumor recurrence after LT and the risk factors for tumor recurrence after LT were examined by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve, Kaplan-Meier method and univariate/multivariate Cox regression.Results:The optimal cutoff value of preoperative PALBI score for predicting recurrence was -3.82 with ROC curve, Youden's index 0.317 and area under the ROC curve 0.679.Survival analysis was performed using a PALBI cutoff value of -3.82 as boundary group.The results showed that significant differences existed in 1/3/5-year tumor recurrence rates(17.9% vs.50.0%, 26.9% vs.62.5%, 29.5% vs.62.5%)after low PALBI and high PALBI( P<0.05 for all). Univariate analysis indicated that preoperative tumor maximal diameter, tumor number, Milan criteria, alpha fetoprotein(AFP)level, microvascular invasion, portal venous tumor thrombus, and PALBI score were significantly associated with postoperative tumor recurrence( P<0.05 for all). And multivariate analysis revealed that Milan criteria, AFP level and PALBI score were independent risk factors for postoperative tumor recurrence( P<0.05). Conclusions:Preoperative PALBI score offers some predictive value for postoperative tumor recurrence in HCC patients post-LT.When preoperative PALBI score ≥-3.82 in HCC patients, postoperative tumor recurrence rate is relatively high.

From December 2019, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia (formerly known as the 2019 novel Coronavirus [2019-nCoV]) broke out in Wuhan, China. In this study, we present serial CT findings in a 40-year-old female patient with COVID-19 pneumonia who presented with the symptoms of fever, chest tightness, and fatigue. She was diagnosed with COVID-19 infection confirmed by real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. CT showed rapidly progressing peripheral consolidations and ground-glass opacities in both lungs. After treatment, the lesions were shown to be almost absorbed leaving the fibrous lesions.

From December 2019, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia (formerly known as the 2019 novel Coronavirus [2019-nCoV]) broke out in Wuhan, China. In this study, we present serial CT findings in a 40-year-old female patient with COVID-19 pneumonia who presented with the symptoms of fever, chest tightness, and fatigue. She was diagnosed with COVID-19 infection confirmed by real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. CT showed rapidly progressing peripheral consolidations and ground-glass opacities in both lungs. After treatment, the lesions were shown to be almost absorbed leaving the fibrous lesions.
Adult ; China ; Coronavirus ; Fatigue ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Lung ; Pneumonia ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To evaluate the predictive values of albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) and easy albumin-bilirubin (EZ-ALBI) scores for early survival (postoperative 3 months) of recipients with liver failure after liver transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 137 recipients diagnosed with liver failure and underwent liver transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. The optimal cut-off values of preoperative ALBI, EZ-ALBI and MELD scores to predict early survival of recipients with liver failure after liver transplantation were determined by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The risk factors of early death of recipients with liver failure after liver transplantation were identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. The effects of different ALBI and EZ-ALBI levels upon early prognosis of recipients with liver failure after liver transplantation were analyzed. Results The optimal cut-off values of ALBI, EZ-ALBI and MELD scores were 0.21, -19.83 and 24.36, and the AUC was 0.706, 0.697 and 0.686, respectively. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that preoperative alanine aminotransferase(ALT)≥50 U/L, aspartate aminotransferase(AST)≥60 U/L, ALBI score≥0.21 and EZ-ALBI score≥-19.83 were the risk factors for early postoperative death of recipients with liver failure after liver transplantation (all P < 0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that preoperative ALBI score≥0.21 was an independent risk factor for early postoperative death of recipients with liver failure after liver transplantation (P < 0.05). According to the optimal cut-off value of ALBI score, the early survival rates in the ALBI < 0.21 (n=46) and ALBI≥0.21(n=91) groups were 93.5% and 64.8%, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). According to the optimal cut-off value of EZ-ALBI score, the early survival rates in the EZ-ALBI < -19.83(n=60) and EZ-ALBI≥-19.83(n=77) groups were 88.3% and 63.6%, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions Preoperative ALBI score is of high predictive value for early survival of recipients with liver failure after liver transplantation, which could be utilized as a reference parameter for selecting liver transplant recipients.