Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of sonographic score in the diagnosis of salivary gland involvement in patients with Sj(o)gren's syndrome(SS). Methods One hundred and three cases (44 cases of SS group and 59 cases of control group) were involved in the study. Parotid and submandibular glands of all the cases were examined by a doctor unawaring of the clinical information. All the off-line images were scored by two doctors seperately. The best threshold and the according diagnostic efficiency were determined by statistical analysis. Results The Kappa coefficient between the two doctors was 0.80.The parotid score,submandibular score and total score of SS group were significantly higher than those of the control group (5.79 ± 2.40 vs 0.46 ± 0.97,5.93 ± 1.58 vs 1.32 ± 1.84,11.64 ± 3.27 vs 1.78 ± 2.33,respectively). According to the ROC curve for the parotid score, submandibular score and total score, the area under the curve were 0.98,0.95,0.99, respectively. The best diagnostic threshold for total score was 8 and under this threshold, the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 93%, 97%, 95%, 95%, respectively. Conclusions The sonographic score including both parotid and submandibular glands is a reliable method with high reproductivity and diagnostic accuracy in the diagnosis of SS salivary gland involvement.

Objective To evaluate the differences among five representative and useful Doppler parameters in the diagnosis of the three common types of renal artery stenosis (RAS). Methods Five Doppler parameters including renal peak systolic velocity (RPSV), renal-aortic ratio (RAR), renal-interlobar ratio (RIR),acceleration time (AT),and resistant index (RI) were measured in 221 patients before renal arteriography. Differences between the groups of patients with various clinical causes of RAS were analyzed by Chi-Squared test. One-way ANOVA or t test were used to compare the means between different groups.The optimal cutoff value was determined with the maximum sum of sensitivity and specificity. Results Of the 442 renal arteries (main and accessory renal arteries) demonstrated at arteriography,214 were normal or stenosed less than 50 %, 204 stenoses 50% - 99 %, and 24 occlusions. RIR, RAR and RI were significantly different between the atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic RAS groups (P ＜0.05), while RPSV and AT were not. The optimal cutoff values of RAR,RIR and RI for detecting RAS between the atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic groups were much different (2.5 versus 1.9, 5. 1 versus 6.5, 0.57 versus 0.50,respectively) ,but those of RPSV and AT were similar or the same (170 cm/s versus 200 cm/s,51 ms versus 51 ms,respectively). Conclusions In the case of RAS (diameter reduction≥50%),it is advised to establish separate cutoff values of RAR, RIR and RI according to atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic RAS, but the same cutoff value of RPSV and AT can be applied. RIR is a good Doppler parameter in the diagnosis of RAS,especially atherosclerotic and fibromuscular dysplasia RAS.

A survey of mushrooms was conducted in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China, in the rainy season (May to October) of 2012, 2013, and 2014, during which 16 specimens of Termitomyces were collected. Preliminary macro- and micro-characteristics, together with ITS sequence data, showed that four of the specimens belonged to a new species (Termitomyces fragilis), while the other 12 belonged to T. aurantiacus, T. eurrhizus, T. globules, T. microcarpus, and T. bulborhizus. In this paper, T. fragilis is introduced as a species new to science based on morphological characterization and phylogenetic analyses. Macro- and micro- morphological descriptions, color photographs and line drawings of the new species, and a phylogenetic tree to show the placement of the new species are provided. T. fragilis is then compared with other closely related taxa in the genus Termitomyces.

Objective To compare the application of ultrasound and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in diagnosis and lymph node staging of breast cancer. Methods Using automated breast volume scanner (ABVS) and PET/CT examination of 40 lesions in 38 patients, and for comparison with the pathological findings, the diagnostic accuracy of PET/CT and ABVS in breast cancer was comparatively analyzed. Results The sensitivity of ABVS in the diagnosis of breast cancer was 95.65%, the specificity was 70.59%, and the accuracy rate was 85.00%; the sensitivity of PET/CT in the diagnosis of breast cancer was 86.96%, the specificity was 82.35%, and the accuracy rate was 85.00%;the diagnostic sensitivity of their combined application was 86.96%, the specificity was 94.12%, and the accuracy rate was 90.00%. In 10 cases of breast cancer patients with lymph node metastasis, the sensitivity、specificity and accuracy rate of PET/CT in the diagnosis of metastatic lymph nodes were 90.0%, 92.8%, and 92.1% respectively; the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy rate of ultrasound in the diagnosis of metastatic lymph nodes were 70.0%, 96.4% and 89.5%, respectively. Conclusions The ABVS and PET/CT are both effective approaches in the diagnosis of breast cancer. Their combined application may significantly improve the specificity and accuracy of diagnosis. For patients with lymph node metastases, the sensitivity of PET/CT for lymph node metastases was high and conducive to clinical staging, which is an important implication in guiding the choice of clinical treatment and prognosis of patients.

Objective Explore the diagnostic value of color Doppler ultrasonography in renal vein embolism compared with contrast-enhanced CT.Analyze and summarize the sonographic features and reasons of misdiagnosis of renal vein embolism.Methods Reports of color Doppler ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced CT in 15 patients with 20 renal vein thrombosis and 25 patients with 25 renal vein tumor thrombosis were retrospectively analyzed.We summarized the sonographic features including the location of emboli,the lumen and wall of the involved veins,the information of collateral circulation and the color Doppler sonographic features.Results The diagnostic accuracy of renal vein thrombosis and tumor thrombosis were 85%and 84%for ultrasound,100%and 96%for contrast-enhanced CT,the difference was not statistically significant(all P＞0.05).The typical sonographic features include(1)Expansion of the renal vein and full of solid echogenicity;(2)No flow signals or flow filling defect in renal veins;(3)No or sparse venous flow signal in the involved kidney.Conclusions Color Doppler ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced CT have a good consistency in the diagnosis of renal vein embolism.Color Doppler ultrasonography can be used as an important imaging method to evaluate the renal vein embolism,which can combine medical history and provide a more reliable basis for the diagnosis of renal vein embolism.