ObjectiveTo study the correlation between contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features and Nottingham prognostic index (NPI) in patients with breast carcinoma. Methods The ultrasound features and microvascular imaging manifestation of 91 breast carcinomas confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed.NPI was typically stratified into 3 major groups:NPI ＜ 3.4 ( n =19 ), NPI:3.4-5.4 ( n =52 ) and NPI ＞5.4(n =21 ). Results With the increase of NPI, the rate of heterogeneous enhancement, perfusion defects, edge enhancement higher than center enhancement, and unclear border increased.The difference among the 3 groups had statistical significance (P ＜ 0.05 ).There was no significant difference in enhancement order among the 3 groups ( P ＞ 0.05 ).The lesions of the 3 groups were mainly “high enhancement” and there was no significant difference among the 3 groups ( P ＞ 0.05 ).With the increase of NPI, the rate of early enhancement and late regression increased.The difference among the 3 groups had statistical significance ( P ＜ 0.05 ).With the increase of NPI, the rate of enlarged and twisted vessels as well as peripheral vessel burr increased.There was significant difference among the 3 groups ( P ＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionCEUS festures and microvescular architecture pattern of breast carcinoma are related to NPI, which is useful in predicating the prognosis of breast carcinoma.

Objective To investigate diagnostic efficiency of vascular parameters in the diagnosis of BI-RADS Ⅳ breast masses using three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound (3D-PDUS).Methods After adjusting the ultrasonic instrument under property conditions,3D-PDUS were applied to scan BI-RADS Ⅳ breast masses before surgery with QLab software,the following parameters of breast masses were obtained:total tumor volume,vascularization index (VI),flow index (FI),and vascularization flow index (VFI).According to the pathological results,the diagnostic value of vascular parameters from 3D-PDUS were assessed with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve,and the diagnostic efficiency were analyzed by best cut-off limits of various vascular parameters.Results The volume and vascular parameters of benign group were remarkably lower than those of malignant group (all P ＜0.001).The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of VI (0.873) ＞VFI (0.866) ＞FI (0.778).AUC of FI was significantly smaller than that of VI (P =0.016) and of VFI (P =0.039),while no statistical difference between that of VI and of VFI (P =0.294).The diagnostic accuracies of VI (cut-point:1.2,sensitivity:84.1％,specificity:83.3 ％,accuracy:83.8 ％) and of VFI (cut-point:0.5,sensitivity:82.5 ％,specificity:85.2％,accuracy:82.9％) were higher than that of FI (cut-point:35.3,sensitivity:74.6％,specificity:70.4 ％,accuracy:72.6 ％).AUC of VI (P =0.001) and of VFI (P =0.033) in small-volume group (＜2cm3) were both larger than those of large-volume group (≥2 cm3),no significant difference in AUC of FI between these two groups (P =0.09).Conclusions Vascular parameters obtained using 3D-PDUS have affirmative value in the diagnosis of BI-RADS Ⅳ breast masses,especially in masses less than 2 cm3 in volume.

Objective To measure volume of breast cancer , calculate tumor volume doubling time (TVDT), and analyze the correlated factors affecting TVDT using three-dimensional ultrasound (3D-US). Methods We applied 3D-US to measure the volume of breast cancer of BI-RADS-US 4A classified by conventional ultrasound. The breast cancer case scanned by 3D-US at least twice (the interval is 3 months at least) without any medical intervention were included in the study. We calculated TVDT according to the formula, and analyzed the affecting factors of TVDT using multiple linear regression. Results Sixty-nine cases were enrolled in the study. The TVDT of breast cancer were from 66 to 521 days , in an average of 185 ± 126 days and the median time of 164 days. We found that: ① there were no statistics significances in TVDT between different breast cancer pattern , smoothing border lines , speculated sign , hyperechoic halo , microcalcification and different rear echo (P > 0.05). ② TVDT of different age groups, lymph node metastasis, pathological grade and NPI score were significantly different (P < 0.05), while menstrual cycle, family history of breast cancer and molecular typing showed no difference (P > 0.05). ③ TVDT of patients with different expression of ER, PR and Ki-67, molecular typing showed statistically difference (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between different level of HER2 (P >0.05). ④ multi-factor analysis showed that the NPI score, lymph node metastasis, Ki-67 and molecular typing of breast cancer were relative factors in TVDT (P < 0.05). Conclusions The NPI score , lymph node metastasis , Ki-67 and molecular typing significantly correlate with TVDT of breast cancer. Triple-negative breast cancer in molecular typing has the fastest growth rate.

ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility of detecting liver stiffness by virtual touch tissue quantification (VTQ) technique and establish a reference range of shear-wave velocity in healthy liver of adults.MethodsOne hundred and sixty-one healthy adults underwent VTQ detection to obtain the shearwave velocities of livers.Each subject received VTQ measurement in four parts of liver.Ten subjects were performed twice by two sonographers,respectively.Results① The liver shear-wave velocities of 161 healthy adults had a 95％ confidence interval from 1.089 to 1.105 m/s.Shear-wave speed values of intrahepatic different parts had no statistically significant.The ICC of measurement value of four parts in healthy liver was 0.80(95 ％ CI:0.75- 0.85).②The difference of shear-wave velocities in healthy livers in different age groups had no statistically significant,whereas the mean values in different gender had statistically significant (P =0.001).③No statistically significant was observed between the mean shear-wave velocity values obtained by different operators (P =0.82).ConclusionsThe liver shear-wave velocities of the healthy group have a reference range from 1.089 to 1.105 m/s.VTQ technique has a good reproduction and stability,therefore,using this technology to assess hepatic stiffness is noninvasive and feasible.

Objective To compare the clinical and ultrasound features of Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess(KPLA) in dia‐betes mellitus(DM ) patients with different levels of HbA1c .Methods Totally 146 patients with diabetes mellitus of Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscesses(KPLA‐DM )were divided into three groups on the basis of their levels of HbA1c:complete glycemic controlled (HbA1c≤7% );good glycemic controlled (7% < HbA1c≤9% );bad glycemic controlled (HbA1c>9% ) .The patients′characteristics ,clinical features ,ultrasound features and complications among the three groups were compared .Results Compared with patients in complete glycemic controlled group and good glycemic controlled group ,patients in bad glycemic controlled group had lower onset age and longer length of hospital stay(P<0 .05) ,are more susceptible to underlying diseases such as hyperlipoi‐demia and chronic renal failure(P<0 .05) ,had more life‐threatening clinical crisis ,and had higher infection rate(P<0 .05) .KPLA‐DM could be characterized by patchy ,mass like enhancement echoultrasound image .Patients in bad glycemic controlled group al‐so had higher risk of biliary pneumatosis ,hepatic venous thrombosis and gas‐forming pyogenic liver abscess than other two groups (P<0 .05) .Conclusion The ultrasound image of KPLA has characteristics .The occurrence of hepatic venous thrombosis and gas‐forming observed by ultrasound is associated with bad glucose control in KPLA‐DM patients ,which suggests that there may be oth‐er complications such as metastatic infection .

Objective To assess the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in differential diagnosis of BI-RADS-US 4 breast lesions.Methods A total of 123 lesions underwent CEUS.The CEUS features of lesions were categorized into 5 malignant or benign indexes respectively,lesions displaying any two of the five features were diagnosed as malignant or benign.The diagnostic effect of CEUS for BI-RADS-US 4 lesion was analyzed according to the pathological results as the gold standard.Results CEUS of the 123 BI-RADS-US 4 breast lesions indicated that 75 lesions were malignant while 48 were benign.Pathological results confirmed that there were 72 malignant lesions and 51 benign.The proportions of malignant lesions in 4A category,4B category and 4C category were 16.2 ％,58.5 ％ and 93.3 ％ respectively.The accuracy,sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,and negative and positive predictive value of CEUS for the diagnosis of BI-RADS-US 4 lesions were calculated as 92.7％,95.8％,88.2％,92.0％ and 93.7 ％ respectively.Lesions showing false positive in CEUS mainly needed surgical treatment,such as fibroma with active growth mesen-chyme,intraductal papilloma and granulomatous mastitts.Conclusions Surgical treatment rather than aspiration biopsy are suggested for those diagnosed being malignant in CEUS of the BI-RADS-US-4 lesions,as they can be treated as BI-RADS5 lesions.Short-term visit or aspiration biopsy are suggested for BI-RADS-US-4 lesions diagnosed being benign in CEUS.

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of contrast-enhanced transrectal ultrasound(CE-TRUS) in the perineal prostate biopsy. Methods A total of 116 patients was undergone prostate biopsy through the perineum under the direction of tansrectal ultrasound. Prostate biopsy standard was based on 2007 CUA revised guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of urological diseases.Color Doppler ultrasonography was used to check the prostate and to learn the prostate focal lesion,size, number and echo color Doppler flow characteristics. Of the 116 cases, 43 patients was undergone contrast-enhanced transrectal ultrasound. Results The biopsy results confirmed the diagnosis of prostate cancer was 64 cases, Benign prostatic hyperplasia was 52 cases. Of 43 cases who undergone contrast-enhanced transrectal ultrasound, Prostate cancer and Benign prostatic hyperplasia were 25 and 18 cases, respectively. CE-TRUS group and TRUS group showed no statistical difference between two groups. Analyzed the cases with PSA≤30 ng/ml, CE-TRUS group had a higher positive rate of biopsy (P=0.046). Conclusion TRUS guided transperineal biopsy of prostate might be an method for the diagnosis of prostate cancer with a higher accuracy rate. CE-TRUS can improve the biopsy positive rate of prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: LINC01234, a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), is overexpressed in several cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). We investigated the role of LINC01234 in CRC development and confirmed its correlation with Krüppel-like factor 6 (KLF6), a tumor suppressor gene that is dysregulated in CRC. METHODS: We tested mRNA levels using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Tissue samples from patients with CRC, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), hyperplastic polyp, and adenoma were included. Correlations between clinicopathological parameters, overall survival (OS) rate, and LINC01234 were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis H test. Additionally, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and tumor formation in nude mice were tested to investigate the mechanism of LINC01234. Western blotting was used to determine protein levels. RESULTS: LINC01234 expression was significantly upregulated in CRC tissues and CRC cell lines than in non-tumor tissues and normal epithelial cells, respectively. LINC01234 was associated with high tumor stage, larger tumor size, and metastasis. Patients with higher LINC01234 expression showed reduced OS. Cell proliferation was inhibited by LINC01234 knockdown, whereas apoptosis was enhanced. Mice injected with SW480 cells with LINC01234 knockdown displayed decreased tumor volume, weight, and Ki-67 levels compared with those injected with control cells. KLF6 was negatively regulated by LINC01234. Overexpression of KLF6 showed effects similar to those observed following LINC01234 knockdown on cell proliferation and apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS LINC01234 could be a prognostic biomarker in CRC patients. Upregulation of LINC01234 in CRC promotes tumor development through negative regulation of KLF6.

Objective To evaluate the postoperative imaging features of lung ultrasound on patients undergoing lung transplantation ,and to provide the evidence for diagnosis and therapy . Methods Between October 2016 and March 2017 ,51 patients undergoing lung transplantation ( unilateral:37 ,bilateral:14 ) admitted to the ICU in Wuxi People′s Hospital were examined by bedside lung ultrasound ,and imaging features were analyzed . Results The main features on ultrasound of 51 patients undergoing lung transplantation were:①Pneumothorax :The A-line arising at the pleural line was shown in all of 51 patients , mainly on anterolateral parts of the chest wall initially ,then fade away towards anterosuperior parts over time . ② Hydrothorax :An anechoic fluid collection was detected ( up to 50 mm in width ) ,and became narrow over time in most patients . A mass of floccules or progressive growth of pleural effusion indicated the need for emergency surgery ,and were confirmed bleeding after surgery . ③Subcutaneous emphysema:The E-line was detected mainly in anterior and lateral parts around the surgical incision of postoperative patients ,and gradually fade away over time . ④Pulmonary edema:On the first postoperative day ,multiple B-lines were shown in 49 cases ,lung consolidation in 36 cases ( mainly in the inferior and inferoposterior parts) ,lung consolidation sonographic air bronchogram in 12 cases . Then the area of consolidation and B-lines reduced ,the air bronchogram sign became more prevalent ,and the shred sign appeared on the border of consolidation over time . Conclusions The imaging features of lung ultrasound provides clinic diagnostic and therapeutic value for postoperative patients undergoing lung transplantation .

OBJECTIVETo screen out the sonogram features for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid small nodules (≤ 1.0 cm) by Logistics regression analysis, to establish the binary Logistic regression model of sonogram features as independent variable and investigate the value of wall configuration of ultrasonogrophic nodules in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid small nodules.

METHODSA total of 208 thyroid nodules ≤ 1.0 cm in diameter in 190 patients were evaluated. With postoperative pathological examination or fine needle aspiration biopsy, 106 nodules were confirmed as benign and 102 as malignant. Ultrasonic features of thyroid nodules were evaluated for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant small thyroid nodules based on pathological diagnosis as a gold standard, a Logistic model was obtained, and the odds ratio of variables were compared. The margin of thyroid nodule was divided into regular or irregular margin, and the latter was divided further into four subtypes: strip, triangular, antler and papillary. The border was divided into clear, fuzzy or both. The periphery was divided into those with normal and abnormal echo;. The calcification included no calcification, microcalcification and non-microcalcification.

RESULTSFour statistically significant features were obtained finally by Logistics regression analysis, including margin, border, periphery and calcification. A formula was constructed by two-variables logistic regression analysis and probability of malignancy = 1/(1 + e - z), in which z = 5.026 × margin + 4.218 × border + 4.024 × periphery + 3.892 × calcification - 15.247. The odds ratio of margin was higher than the other independent variables.

CONCLUSIONSLogistics regression analysis indicates that the calcification, border, periphery, and especially margin of thyroid nodules are significant features for differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules. The margin score was more intuitionistic for the differentialtion of benign and malignant thyroid nodules.