Shear wave elastography (SWE) is used to quantitatively analyze the hardness of the tissue by Young's modulus.The hardness of the tissue is visualized in the form of color coding to distinguish the benign and malignant tissue detected.SWE has higher sensitivity,accuracy and specificity compared with traditional color doppler,which is more objective than elastography,safer,cheaper and simpler than MRI.SWE has a good application prospect in the diagnosis,clinical staging and curative effect monitoring of cervical cancer.

Objective To investigate the effect of different uterine positions upon the dose distribution and target area conformability of organ at risk ( OAR) and explore the population suitable for 2-dimensional brachytherapy by comparing the dosimetry between CT-guided 3-and 2-dimensional brachytherapy for cervical cancer. Methods Thirty patients with cervical cancer received 72 cycles of 3-dimensional brachytherapy and then 2-dimensional brachytherapy was designed. The deviation angle of the uterus from the longitudinal asix on the coronal and sagittal CT images was measured. The obtained data were divided into the A to D and the group Ⅰ to Ⅳ according to the deviation angle ( T) of uterus position from the longitudinal axis on the sagittal CT images and the volume of HRCTV ( VHRCTV) to identify the optimal uterine position and range of VHRCTV for 2-dimensional brachytherapy. Statistical analysis was performed by paired t-test. Results The deviation angle of uterine position was not significantly correlated with the target CI index or D90 of HRCTV in both brachytherapy plans ( P value between 0. 077-0. 633 ) , whereas it was positively correlated with the D2 cm3 of bladder ( P value between 0. 001-0. 030) and negatively associated with the D2 cm3 of rectum in both 2-and 3-dimensional brachytherapy (P value between 0. 011-0. 016).In group B (|T|≤10°) and group Ⅲ(VHRCTVvalue between 86-96 cm3),the OAR parameters and CI index did not significantly differ between two brachytherapy plans ( P value between 0. 040-0. 463 ) , whereas varying degree of statistical differences was observed among other groups (P value between 0. 000-0. 940). Conclusions Although uterine position exerts no effect upon the conformal index of target area, it can affect the dose distribution of OAR. No statistical significance is noted in the dosimetry between 3-and 2-dimensional brachytherapy plans when the uterine position is almost flat (|T|≤10° ) and the radiotherapy target area is appropriate ( VHRCTVvalue between 86-96 cm3 ) . In this situation, 2-dimensional brachytherapy is the optimal option.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the potential mechanism of berberine improving diabetes mellitus type 2 （T2DM） combined with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease （MAFLD） by regulating ceramide. METHODS Thirty-two db/db mice with blood glucose levels＞11.1 mmol/L （T2DM model） were divided into four groups： model group， berberine low- and high-dose groups [100， 200 mg/（kg·d）] and metformin group [300 mg/（kg·d）]， with 8 mice in each group. Additionally， 8 wt/wt mice were selected as the normal control group. Mice in each group were administered the corresponding drug solution or water by gavage once daily for a continuous period of 6 weeks. During the experiment， the body weight of the mice was monitored， and the differences in final body weight were analyzed. After the last administration， the body shape of the mice in each group was observed， and their fasting blood glucose （FBG） and the lipid indicators [total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）] were measured. Fasting serum insulin （FINS） levels were also measured， and the insulin resistance index HOMA-IR） and insulin sensitivity index （ISI） were calculated. Liver weight， liver index and serum liver function indicators [alanine transaminase （ALT）， aspartate transaminase（AST）] were assessed， and hepatic histopathological changes were observed. Additionally， the expression of fatty acid synthesis-related proteins [sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 （SREBP1）， fatty acid synthase （FASN）， acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 （ACC1）] in liver tissue was examined. Serum samples from the normal control group， model group， and berberine high-dose group were collected for non-targeted lipidomics analysis and validation. RESULTS Compared with the model group， the pathological changes， including disordered liver tissue cell arrangement and lipid vacuoles， were significantly improved in the berberine low- and high-dose groups. The significant decreases or down-regulations were observed in body weight in the last week， as well as FBG， TC， TG， and LDL-C levels， HOMA-IR （except for the berberine low-dose group）， liver weight， liver index， AST and ALT levels， and protein expressions of SREBP1， FASN and ACC1. Additionally， HDL-C levels， FINS （except for the berberine high-dose group）， and ISI （except for the berberine low-dose group） were significantly increased （P＜0.05）. A total of 21 potential differential metabolites， including multiple types of ceramides， were identified； these metabolites were primarily enriched in sphingolipid metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathways. Verification experiments confirmed that high-dose berberine significantly reduced the serum content of ceramide in model mice （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Berberine reduces insulin resistance， improves liver damage and lipid accumulation in the T2DM combined with MAFLD mice， and these effects may be related to the reduction of ceramide content.