This article reviews the roles of the volume embolization ratio in the assessment of the efficacy of intracrainal aneurysm embolization, particularly the stability, complications, pathological healing after the embolization, as well as the volume embolization ratio and morphological characteristics of aneurysms, including the relationship between the size of aneurysm, the size of aneurysmal neck and the aneurysm rupture.

Objective To discuss the clinical value of D-dimer(DD) testing in diagnosis of patients with deep vein thrombosis(DVT) of the lower extremity.Methods An analysis retrospectively was made on the changes of DD testing in 106 cases of DVT at different periods after onset and different clinical stages of DVT,and DD testing in 99 patients with primary deep venous insufficiency(PDVI) as control group.(Results) DD was higher in the acute stage of DVT,and gradually decreased with time in chronic DVT,and was negative in the patients with PDVI;the positive rate was up to 85.7% in the distal DVT.Conclusions The DD testing can be used as one of the methods for diagnosis,prediction and prognosis of acute DVT,especially for diagnosis of distal DVT.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is found to express at high levels in a variety of solid tumors including gliomas. This study was to examine the effect of an EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (AG1478) alone or in combination with cisplatin (CDDP) on the growth of glioma cells (U87). U87 glioma cells were treated with AG1478 (10 μmol/L) or CDDP (25 μmol/L) as a single agent or in combination for 24 or 48 h. The expression of EGFR and the components in its downstream signaling pathway [extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), protein kinase B (AKT)] in U87 glioma cells was detected by Western blotting. Cell growth, cell cycle distribution and cell apoptosis were determined by MTT method and flow cytometry, respectively. The results showed that CDDP could induce the activation of EGFR and the components in its downstream signaling pathways in a concentration-dependent manner. The combined treatment of AG1478 with CDDP could inhibit the proliferation of U87 glioma cells, arrest the cell cycle and promote cell apoptosis. In the EGFR signaling pathway, AG1478 decreased the phosphorylation of ERK, AKT and EGFR in U87 glioma cells. It was concluded that the combined treatment of AG1478 and CDDP may exert synergistic inhibitory effects on the growth of glioma cells by suppressing the activities of EGFR, AKT and ERK.

Background: The emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 omicron variant has been triggering the new wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) globally. However, the risk factors and outcomes for radiological abnormalities in the early convalescent stage (1 month after diagnosis) of omicron infected patients are still unknown. Methods: Patients were retrospectively enrolled if they were admitted to the hospital due to COVID-19. The chest computed tomography (CT) images and clinical data obtained at baseline (at the time of the first CT image that showed abnormalities after diagnosis) and 1 month after diagnosis were longitudinally analyzed. Uni-/multi-variable logistic regression tests were performed to explore independent risk factors for radiological abnormalities at baseline and residual pulmonary abnormalities after 1 month. Results: We assessed 316 COVID-19 patients, including 47% with radiological abnormalities at baseline and 23% with residual pulmonary abnormalities at 1-month follow-up. In a multivariate regression analysis, age ≥ 50 years, body mass index ≥ 23.87, days after vaccination ≥ 81 days, lymphocyte count ≤ 1.21 × 10 -9 /L, interleukin-6 (IL-6) ≥ 10.05 pg/mL and IgG ≤ 14.140 S/CO were independent risk factors for CT abnormalities at baseline. The age ≥ 47 years, presence of interlobular septal thickening and IL-6 ≥ 5.85 pg/mL were the independent risk factors for residual pulmonary abnormalities at 1-month follow-up. For residual abnormalities group, the patients with less consolidations and more parenchymal bands at baseline could progress on CT score after 1 month. There were no significant changes in the number of involved lung lobes and total CT score during the early convalescent stage. Conclusion The higher IL-6 level was a common independent risk factor for CT abnormalities at baseline and residual pulmonary abnormalities at 1-month follow-up. There were no obvious radiographic changes during the early convalescent stage in patients with residual pulmonary abnormalities.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is found to express at high levels in a variety of　solid tumors including gliomas.This study was to examine the effect of an EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (AG1478) alone or in combination with cisplatin (CDDP) on the growth of glioma cells (U87).U87 glioma cells were treated with AG1478 (10 μmol/L) or CDDP (25 μmol/L) as a single agent or in　combination for 24 or 48 h.The expression of EGFR and the components in its downstream signaling　pathway [extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK),protein kinase B (AKT)] in U87 glioma cells was　detected by Western blotting.Cell growth,cell cycle distribution and cell apoptosis were determined by　MTT method and flow cytometry,respectively.The results showed that CDDP could induce the activation of EGFR and the components in its downstream signaling pathways in a concentration-dependent　manner.The combined treatment of AG 1478 with CDDP could inhibit the proliferation of U87 glioma　cells,arrest the cell cycle and promote cell apoptosis.In the EGFR signaling pathway,AG1478 decreased the phosphorylation of ERK,AKT and EGFR in U87 glioma cells.It was concluded that the　combined treatment of AG1478 and CDDP may exert synergistic inhibitory effects on the growth of　glioma cells by suppressing the activities of EGFR,AKT and ERK.