Objective To investigate the clinical value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS) in evaluating treatment response of hepatocellular carcinoma after interventional therapy. Methods One hundred and three patients with 136 lesions of hepatocellular carcinoma confirmed by pathology were examined by common color ultrasound (US), contrast-enhanced CT, CEUS and DSA pre- and post-interventional treatment respectively. Results The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of CEUS for focus judgment after interventional therapy were 95.8%, 95.6% and 98. 5% respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of US in detecting tumor deactivation and residue were 92.3% ,77.4% and 83.1% respectively. CEUS were highly consistent with the results of enhanced CT/DSA (Kappa = 0.93) and significantly higher than those of US (Kappa = 0.66). Conclusions CEUS is useful to monitor the efficacy and guide treatment after interventional therapy.

Background Central corneal thickness (CCT)is an important parameter to evaluate corneal healthy status and is crucial for surgical planning.However,clinical study found that the center of cornea does not correspond to the thinnest point of cornea.Thus,it is essential to characterize the minimum corneal thickness(MCT) and its location.Objective Present study was to determine the thickness and location of MCT and its relationship to the fellow eye using Pentacam High Resolution technique.Methods The 564 eyes from 282 Chinese myopic patients were reviewed in this study.The CCT,MCT,pupillary central corneal thickness(PCT) and x-y coordinate of thinnest point were bilaterally measured.Written informed consent was obtained prior to the ocular biomedical measurement.Results CCT was (540.07±31.78) μm in the right eyes and (539.24±31.06) μm in the lefi eyes; PCT was (540.25±30.75)μm in the right eyes and (539.48±31.00)μm in the left eyes.MCT was (537.87± 31.91)μm in the right eyes and (536.35±31.24)μm in the left eyes,showing significant differences in all the parameters between the right eyes and left eyes expect for PCT(CCT:P=0.046;PCT:P=0.065 ;MCT:P=0.000).The C CT,PCT and M CT were significantly correlated between the right eyes and left eyes (r =0.97,0.97,0.98,P＜ 0.01).Bland-Altman plot showed a good consistence between the both eyes.The mean distance from the center was (0.50±0.21) mm in the right eyes and (0.56±0.22)mm in the left eyes,showing a significant difference (P =0.000).The difference between CCT and MCT was approximately (2.20±1.74)μm in the right eyes and (2.88±1.75) μm in the left eyes.The location of MCT in both the right eyes and left eyes tended to symmetry along the vertical midline.The distance between the R (x,y) to transformed L (x,y) was (0.29 ± 0.17)mm and the angular distance was (28.28±28.21)degree.Conclusions This study offers a range of MCT and its location in Chinese myopic patients.The difference exists between the CCT and MCT in bilateral eyes.The location of the thinnest point tends to be symmetrical along the vertical midline between the both eyes.The changes of these parameters may be helpful for the diagnosis of some corneal diseases.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of breast neoplasms on contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS) and its clinical value.Methods Two hundred and twenty-five patients with breast masses unable to be diagnosed by conventional ultrasonography were examined with CEUS.The characteristics of these masses on CEUS were analyzed and compared with the results of pathology examination.Results The typical features of breast cancers on CEUS were enlarged maximum diameter of the lesions on CEUS compared to pre-contrast ( P ＜0.05),irregular shapes,heterogeneous distribution of contrast enhancement with perfusion defect or local retention of contrast signals,tortuous,massive or penetrating vessels rapidly entering and exporting from the lesions.The sensitivity and specificity of perfusion defect for breast cancer on CEUS were 89.0％ and 91.8％,respectively; the sensitivity and specificity of local retention of contrast signals for breast cancer on CEUS were 93.4％ and 92.5％,respectively.Conclusions It is valuable for CEUS in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of breast neoplasms clinically.

BackgroundIn an ideal eye there would be no light scattering at all,but the eye media is not optically ideal.Intraocular straylight causes a veil of light and reduction in the contrast of the retinal image and thus decrease the quality of vision.ObjectiveThe present study was to investigate the repeatability and reproducibility of C-Quant straylight meter( Oculus,Germany)in measuring retinal straylight of myopia and post-laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK) corneas.MethodsThis is a prospective research.The consecutive 35 eyes of 21 myopic patients and 34 eyes of 22 patients who received LASIK were included in this trail.Retinal straylight was measured for 7 times at a period of time and analyzed quantificational to evaluate the repeatability of measurement.Thirty-eight eyes of 19 patients were measured again at 3-7 days for 3 times at a period of time to assess the reproducibility of C-Quant straylight meter.The mean standard difference (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV) were used as the credibility evaluation.This clinical study complied with Helsinki Declaration and the informed consent was obtained prior to the medical procedure.ResultsThe straylight Log(s) of 7 times measurement were all less than 0.95.The mean Log(s) were 0.92±0.12 and 0.93±0.17 respectively in myopia group and post-LASIK group,without statistically significant differences among 7 times measurement( F=0.335,P=0.812;F=1.000,P=0.409).The mean SD for the 7 times measurement was 0.07 Log units.SD and CV increased with the number of measurements.The differences of mean SD and CV between 3 times result and 6 times result were significant different (t =-2.080,P =0.045;t =-2.190,P =0.035 ).No difference was found between different time periods( t =-0.531,P=0.598 ).The difference of the results between two measurements from the same patient was 0.013.ConclusionsC-Quant is a noncontact,noninvade,rapid and convenient method for the measurement of straylight in myopia and post-LASIK eyes due to the high repeatability and reproducibility.

Objective To identify the blood perfusion characteristics of different kinds of liver cancer and individualize interventional treatment models by color Doppler ultrasound(CDUS) and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS). Methods The blood perfusion characteristics of 315 patients with liver cancer comfirmed by pathology were analyzed and classified using CDUS and CEUS. Individual interventional therapy models were selected based on the classification. Therapeutic effects were evaluated by EUS,contrast-enhanced CT(CECT) and DSA simultaneously. Results Liver cancer can be classified by the blood perfusion characteristics from CEUS examination. The individualized interventional treatment models were selected and evaluated according to the characteristics:①Solitary small HCC of diameter ≤3 cm group were treated via percutaneous ethanol injection(PEI),radiofrequency(RF) or percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy(PMCT). Necrosis rates of the lesions were 95.0% - 97.9%, 1 and 3 years survival rates were 98.0% and 87.8% ,respectively. ②Diameter ≤5 cm and lesions ≤3 group were treated with RF or PMCT combined PEI. Necrosis rates of the lesions were 93.7% - 94.8% ,1 and 3 years survival rates were 89.8% and 81.4% ,respectively. ③Diameter ＞5 cm and hypervascular tumor main fed by the hepatic artery group were treated with TACE,PEI combined RF or PMCT. Necrosis rates of the lesions were 71.4% - 73.8%, 1 and 3 years survival rates were 66.2% and 47.6%, respectively. ④ Diameter ＞5 cm and hypervascular tumor fed by double blood supply or accompanied by portal vein tumor thrombus group were treated with selective portal vein embolization(SPVE) based on the above treatments. Necrosis rates of the lesions were 53.3% - 55.6%, 1 and 3 years survival rates were 64.7% and 40.0%, respectively. Conclusions Classifying the blood perfusion characteristics and choosing individualized interventional treatment models by CEUS are of important clinical significance in non-surgical treatment of liver cancer.

Dryness is the inherent performance in traditional Chinese medicine. Dryness with a specific efficacy and side effect can be reduced suitably by processing and compatibility in the clinical application. Nowadays domestic scholars have developed research of dryness in traditional Chinese medicine. However, it remains problems such as evaluation index of dryness not clear. This paper takes medical literature mining technology to analyze the historical origin and features of dryness theory. Combing the modern literatures to explicate the dryness' research status and existing problems. Putting forward the traditional Chinese medicine and research should adopt multidisciplinary knowledge and study the system of comprehensive evaluation. Dryness is expected to further application in traditional Chinese medicine clinical research.
Data Mining ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Research

·Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) are common outer retinal degenerative problems, which are also the predominant causes of most blinding retinal diseases. Retinal prosthesis is a promising solution for such photoreceptor degeneration diseases.Most of current concepts for a retinal prosthesis are based on neuronal electrical stimulation. In the past twenty years, retinal prosthesis has been developed in two different directions: epiretinal prosthesis and subretinal prosthesis. Each prosthesis technique has its advantages and disadvantages. For epiretinal prosthesis, it is easier to be implanted and has the advantage of keeping most of the electronics in the vitreous cavity, off the retinal surface, which greatly helps in dissipating the heat generated by the implant device. In this paper, a brief overview of retinal prostheses concepts is introduced. After that, several important aspects of epiretinal electrical stimulation will be discussed. Moreover, some practical epiretinal prosthesis devices developed by researchers in United States, Germany and Japan in the past have been reviewed. We hope that the devices will be used widely in the near future.

BACKGROUNDPeriostin originally designated osteoblast-specific factor 2 (OSF-2) is frequently found to be highly expressed in various types of human cancer cell lines in vitro and human cancer tissues in vivo. We proposed that periostin was a key factor during the process of proliferation and invasion in cancer cells. We investigated the effect of periostin on the function of human osteosarcoma cell line (U2OS), such as proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and the associated signal pathway.

METHODSA human PGCsi/U6 promoter-driven DNA template was adopted to induce short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-triggered RNA interference (RNAi) to block periostin gene expression in the cell line U2OS. U2OS cells were divided into three groups: cells transfected with phosphate buffered saline as control group (the U2OS group), cells transfected with pGCsi as negative control group (the NC group) and cells transfected with periostin/pGCsi as experimental group (the pGCsi-periostin group). Then, transfection efficiency of cell was observed under fluorescent microscope. The expressions of periostin and the related genes in cells were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western Blotting. Cell viability was determined using the methyl-thiazolyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) quantitative colorimetric assay. The invasion and migration capability of cells were tested by transwell plates with or without extracellular matrix gel. Furthermore, the changes of cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe transfection efficiency of periostin/pGCsi to U2OS cells was about 70% - 80%. When compared with the NC group, the levels of mRNA and protein of periostin in the pGCsi-periostin group decreased by 82% (F = 564.71, P < 0.001) and 58% (F = 341.51, P < 0.001), respectively. Meantime, the earlier apoptosis value increased by 417% (F = 28.69, P < 0.001). The percentage of S phase pGCsi-periostin cells decreased by 21% (F = 47.00, P < 0.001), however, that of G0 - G1 phase cells increased by 12% (F = 14.50, P < 0.001). The capability of migration and invasion reduced by 41% (F = 17.79, P < 0.001) and 72% (F = 197.08, P < 0.001), respectively. The cell proliferation in the pGCsi-periostin group decreased by 59% and 72% at 48 and 120 hours after transfection, respectively. The mRNA expressions of transforming growth factor-β and vascular endothelial growth factor decreased by 17% (F = 73.99, P < 0.001) and 47% (F = 30.25, P < 0.001), respectively. A tendency of lower focal adhesion kinase (FAK) was shown in pGCsi-periostin cells but without any statistically significant difference. Otherwise the expression of p-FAK in those cells had markedly decreased by 21% (F = 16.81, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSRNAi against periostin can effectively down-regulate periostin gene expression. Periostin increases the hyperplasia and invasion of cancer cells. Periostin might be involved in and served as a tumor promoter gene in the pathogenesis of osteosarcoma.

Apoptosis ; Bone Neoplasms ; etiology ; pathology ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; physiology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Humans ; Integrin alphaVbeta3 ; physiology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Osteosarcoma ; etiology ; pathology ; Phosphorylation ; RNA Interference ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo compare clinically therapeutic effects of warming needle moxibustion and simple acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases conformed with the diagnostic criteria of knee osteoarthritis with TCM kidney-yang deficiency and cold syndrome were randomly divided into a warming needle moxibustion group and a simple acupuncture group. Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), Zusanli (ST 36) and others were selected in the two groups. Their therapeutic effects were assessed with joint pain scale, knee osteoarthritis severity index scale and cold syndrome differentiation factors.

RESULTSBoth warming needle moxibustion and simple acupuncture could alleviate pain of knee osteoarthritis, improve dysfunction of the knee joint, reduce symptoms. The clinically basic cured rate and the total effective rate were 32.1% and 96.4% in the warming needle moxibustion group, which were better than 7.4% and 92.6% in the simple acupuncture group.

CONCLUSIONWarming needle moxibustion is an effective therapy for knee osteoarthritis with kidney-yang deficiency and cold type.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Needles ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; therapy ; Yang Deficiency

To investigate the inhibitory effect of Pluronic on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) drug efflux pump, Caco-2 cells and animal models were established to study the influence of Pluronic on celiprolol transport across Caco-2 cell monolayer and intestinal mucous membrane with verapamil set as a positive control. Drug concentration was measured by HPLC and the apparent permeability coefficient (P(app)), absorption rate constant (k(a)) and the effective permeability coefficient (P(eff)) were calculated. P(app) of basolateral to apical side and apical to basolateral side was (2.10 +/- 0.13) x 10(-6) and (0.333 +/- 0.018) x 10(-6) cm x s(-1), respectively. Transports of celiprolol across Caco-2 cell monolayer were influenced by both verapamil and Pluronic. The absorption constants (k(a)) of celiprolol at duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon were (0.09 +/- 0.03), (0.14 +/- 0.04), (0.11 +/- 0.03) and (0.05 +/- 0.02) h(-1), k(a) of celiprolol in verapamil group were (0.14 +/- 0.03), (0.24 +/- 0.02), (0.25 +/- 0.03) and (0.23 +/- 0.02) h(-1), and k(a) of celiprolol in Pluronic group were (0.13 +/- 0.02), (0.22 +/- 0.02), (0.22 +/- 0.03) and (0.20 +/- 0.03) h(-1), respectively. Pluronic showed significant effect on inhibiting P-gp of Caco-2 cell and intestinal mucosa in rats.
ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Animals ; Biological Transport ; drug effects ; Caco-2 Cells ; Celiprolol ; pharmacokinetics ; Excipients ; Humans ; Intestinal Absorption ; drug effects ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Jejunum ; metabolism ; Male ; Permeability ; Poloxamer ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley