Microbubble contrast agents for ultrasound (US) have been developed and clinically applied in recent years. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has been widely used in the imaging of liver and other organs such as kidney, pancreases, spleen, prostate, ovarian, uterus as well as abdominal trauma, showing promising values in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of various diseases. This article reviews the recent development and future protential clinical applications of CEUS.
Contrast Media ; administration & dosage ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Humans ; Microbubbles ; Ultrasonography ; methods

Objective To observe the ultrasonographic features of local chest wall tumor recurrence after mastectomy for breast cancer and its clinical and histopathological characteristics. Methods The ultrasonographic features, clinical and histopathological characteristics of 27 patients with local chest wall tumor recurrence after mastectomy confirmed histopathologically were retrospectively reviewed. Results The disease-free intervals of twenty-seven patients ranged from 3 to 129 months [mean (31.9±31.4) months]. Most of the recurrence(18/27, 66.7%) occurred within 3 years after mastectomy. The clinical manifestations were:7 cases (7/27, 25.9%) with regional skin redness and swelling, red rash or ulceration on chest wall associated with or without palpable mass, 20 cases(20/27, 74.1%) with chest wall palpable masses without obvious skin change. On ultrasonography, 2 cases showed diffuse inifltrative type with ill-deifned inhomogeneous hypoechoic lesion and skin thickening. And twenty-ifve cases(43 lesions) showed mass type with a lesion size range of 5.4-114.7 mm [mean (24.4±21.6) mm]. Among them, 32 lesions were located near to the operation incision scar, 36 involved muscle layer, 38 were hypoechoic, 31 had irregular shape, 24 had indistinct margin, and 31 had blood lfow signal. In addition, calciifcation, halo, and taller-than-wide shape were absent in all 43 lesions. Conclusions The tumor recurrence often occurred within 3 years after mastectomy in high-risk patients. Ultrasonographic feature of chest wall recurrent lesion is of great value in the diagnosis.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of electroacupuncture on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

METHODSFocal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model was established using modified intravascular suture technique. The NO content in the brain tissue was detected by nitrite reduction and the expressions of nNOS and iNOS were detected by immunohistochemistry. Eighty rats in this experiment were divided into the normal group, the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model group (as the model group), the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury + electroacupuncture group (as the acupuncture group), and the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury + phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3-K) inhibitor group (as the inhibitor group). Each group consisted of twenty rats. Five microL PI3-K inhibitor LY294002 (400 microL) was slowly injected at the lateral cerebral ventricle of rats in the inhibitor group at a constant speed using microinjector according to Konig Klippel atlas of the stereotaxis instrument. Shuigou (DU26) and Chengjiang (RN24) were selected to determine levels of NO and NOS.

RESULTSAfter 24-h ischemia-reperfusion, the NO levels of the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex increased abnormally, and the expressions of nNOS and iNOS increased, showing significant difference when compared with those of the normal group (P<0.05). By electroacupuncture at Shuigou (DU26) and Chengjiang (RN24), the ischemic cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury neuron loss was inhibited. Meanwhile, the high levels of NO, nNOS and iNOS in the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus were significantly inhibited (P<0.05). The abnormally increased expressions of nNOS and iNOS were reversed, showing significant difference when compared with the model group (P<0.05). But when compared with the normal group, there was no significant difference (P>0.05). The effects of electroacupuncture reversed the abnormally increased NO levels of the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex and expressions of nNOS and iNOS after LY294002 oppressed anti-PI3K to block the TrkA acceptor circuit. The NO levels of the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex and expressions of nNOS and iNOS increased again, showing significant difference when compared with the acupuncture group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAcupuncture fought against cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in the loss of neurons, at the same time, the abnormal regulation of NOS had reverse effect partly through TrkA/PI3K mediated signal transduction pathway.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; Electroacupuncture ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

Objective To improve the diagnosis and treatment ot adrenocorticotropin-independent macornodular adrenal hyperplasia (AIMAH).Methods The clinical data of 17 cases with AIMAH from 2000 to 2011 were analyzed retrospectively,including 3 subclinical AIMAH,10 clinical AIMAH and 4 highrisk AIMAH patient,with common radiological characteristic of bilaterally enlarged adrenal glands with multiple nodules like ginger.The 3 cases of subclinical AIMAH patients presented with decreased serum ACTH,normal or slightly elevated plasma cortisol and urinary free cortisol level,no suppression following 1 mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test and absence of clinical signs of Cushing syndrome (CS).While clinical AIMAH and high-risk AIMAH presented with clinical signs of CS,elevated plasma cortisol and urinary free cortisol level,suppressed serum ACTH,loss of normal circadian rhythm in cortisol secretion and no suppression following the low-dose and high-dose overnight dexamethasone suppression test.Among the 4 cases of high-risk AIMAH,2 cases presented with osteoporosis,2 cases with hepatic dysfunction,3 cases with cardiopulmonary dysfunction,and 4 cases with severe hypertension.Three cases of subclinical AIMAH were treated with symptomatic treatment,10 cases of clinical AIMAH patients with surgical operation,4 cases of high-risk AIMAH patients with ketoconazole and surgical operation.Results Three subclinical AIMAH patients received symptomatic treatment and discharged from hospital with normal blood pressure and blood glucose.During the period of follow-up from 3 months to 3 years,endocrine results were normal.Seven clinical AIM AH patients underwent unilateral adrenal tumor resection plus ipsilateral partial adrenalectomy or total adrenalectomy.CS disappeared completely after 6 to 9 months.Two clinical AIMAH patients underwent simultaneous bilateral adrenalectomy.One case died of adrenal crisis after operation,and the other case presented with adrenal insufficiency but returned to normal after glucocorticoid replacement therapy,no Nelson's syndrome happened during the follow-up for 5 years.One clinical AIMAH patient undertook unilateral adrenalectomy twice by interval,followed by routine corticosteroid replacement therapy.Followed up for 10 years,no Nelson's syndrome happened.Four high-risk AIMAH patients received ketoconazole and then underwent right total adrenalectomy.Cortisol levels returned to normal after 1 to 2 months and during the follow-up for 1 to 3 years,the laboratory examinations maintained normal.Conclusions Different treatment methods should be adapted to different subtypes of AIMAH.For subclinical AIMAH,the principal treatment is symptomatic,and close follow-up with regular adrenal imaging and endocrine examination is required.Surgical operation should be performed when clinical symptoms of AIMAH appear.Medical management is essential for high-risk AIMAH to inhibit the production of cortisol at first.Once these patients could stand the stimulation caused by operation,the adrenal glands should be resected as soon as possible.The unilateral adrenalectomy is an effective treatment for clinical AIMAH.

OBJECTIVETo summarize the sonographic features of primary non-Hodgkins lymphoma of the breast using the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System-Ultrasound (BI-RADS-US) and explore the value of ultrasonography in the preoperative diagnosis.

METHODSThe clinical data of 11 patients with primary non-Hodgkins lymphoma of the breast were retrospectively reviewed. BI-RADS-US grading was performed for each lesion.

RESULTSTotally 13 lesions were detected in 11 patients. Single lesion at one side was detected in 9 patients (81.8%). Circumscribed (n=7, 53.8%) or microlobulated lesions (n=5, 38.5%), parallel orientation (n=10, 76.9%), and oval masses (n=8, 61.5%) were also observed on sonography. The echo pattern of the mass was hypoechoic in 10 lesions (76.9%), hyperechoic in 1 lesion, and complex echoic in 2 lesions. No mass had speculated margins or calcifications. Ipsilateral axillary lymph node involvements were noted in 6 patients.

CONCLUSIONSMost primary non-Hodgkins lymphomas of the breast present as single hypoechoic masses with circumscribed or microlobulated margins and parallel orientation on sonography. BI-RADS-US, combined with the analyses of multiple signs, is feasible for the pre-surgical diagnosis.

Adult ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; diagnostic imaging ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography, Mammary ; methods ; Young Adult

Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants ; Guidelines as Topic

Total mRNA was extracted from lymphocytes separated from the peripheral blood of allergic patients, and then variable region of heavy chain (VH) and variable region of light chain (VL) cDNA library were constructed by RT-PCR. Human scFv templates for rabbit reticulocyte lysate ribosome display were assembled by primers and linker peptide (Gly4Ser)3. mRNA bound in antibody-ribosome-mRNA complexes was recovered using in-situ single primer RT-PCR, and three rounds of anti-IgE scFv DNA were enriched. The target DNA fragments were double enzyme digested and ligated into plasmid pET22b (+), followed by transformation in E. coli Rosseta (DE3). Positive clones were screened using clone PCR, Dot blotting and antigen ELISA. The correct lengths of VH (400 bp) and VL (710 bp) PCR products were obtained. The expected 1,000 bp ribosome display templates were also observed in agarose gel electrophoresis. After three rounds of ribosome display target sequences were effectively enriched, leading to a library of 10(13) members. Antibodies with the highest ELISA value for IgE were generated in the strain pET-IgE-6. A human anti-IgE scFv library was successfully constructed as described herein. Ribosome display using single primer in-situ RT-PCR as the recovery procedure effectively enriched target sequences. Anti-IgE scFv with high affinity and specificity were identified. The prepared human anti-IgE scFv fragment might be self-developed to a lead drug for treating asthma. Our study provides an alternative method for rapid discovery of human antibodies of therapeutic importance.

Infants suffering from angiostrongylus eosinophilic meningitis (AEM) is rare, while AEM can cause severe consequences.The diagnostic value of high-throughput sequencing for AEM was studied by analyzing 2 AEM children (< 2 years old) in the Department of Neurology, Shenzhen Children′s Hospital in 2019.Case 1 mainly pre-sented intermittent fever, vomiting, mental fatigue and bregma bulge.Case 2 mainly manifested intermittent fever, cough, vomiting and convulsion.Due to hypereosinophils in patients′ peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and abundant DNA sequences from a cantonensis in CSF and positive antibody test, the patients were diagnosed with AEM.The patients were treated with albendazole to deworm, and small doses of methylprednisolone to reduce inflammation.The clinical characteristics of AEM infant are not typical, and high-throughput sequencing technology can assist the diagnosis of AEM.

To improve 3-ketosteroid-△1-dehydrogenase(KSDH) activity and the transformation level for androst-4-ene-3,17-dione, 3-ketosteroid-△1-dehydrogenase gene(ksdD) from Arthrobacter simplex was cloned into plasmid pWB980 and expressed in B. subtilis WB600 under the control of promoter P43. The molecular weight of expressed enzyme was about 55kDa by SDS-PAGE analysis. The activitities assayed by spectrophotometrical method of intracellular and extracellular soluble enzyme were 110?0.5mU and 15?0.6mU per milligram of protein respectively. The transformation rate of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione by the B. subtilis recombinant cells was 45.3%. Compared with Arthrobacter simplex, the enzyme activity of KSDH expressed in B. subtilis was improved about 30 fold, and the transformation level of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione by the B. subtilis recombinant cells was improved about 10 fold. The recombinant B. subtilis cells used in biotransformation of steroids provided a new way for steroid medicines production.

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) refers to the single base sequence variation in specific location of the human genome. Phenotype informative SNP has gradually become one of the research hot spots in forensic science. In this paper, the forensic research situation and application prospect of phenotype informative SNP in the characteristics of hair, eye and skin color, height, and facial feature are reviewed.
Eye Color/genetics* ; Forensic Genetics/trends* ; Forensic Sciences ; Genome, Human ; Hair ; Humans ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics*