Objective To evaluate the feasibility of virtual touch tissue quantification (VTQ) for the assessment of renal allograft.Methods A total of 72 kidney recipients were examined with conventional ultrasound and VTQ after transpantation.Biopsies were performed in 34 patients,20 patients were with acute rejection (AR),14 with chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN),38 patients as control group.The peak systolic velocity (PSV) and resistance index(RI) were measured on main,infrarenal and arcuate arteries with conventional ultrasound and shear wave velocity (SWV) of the renal cortex was obtained by VTQ.All the data were compared among three groups.Results There were no significant differences of PSV between two groups.An increased RI was presented in the CAN group(P ＜0.05).The mean SWV was (2.67 ± 0.27) m/s,(2.90 ± 0.31)m/s and (2.28 ± 0.24)m/s for AR,CAN and normal group,respectively.There were significant differences of SWV among the three groups (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions VTQ technique could provide a new method for the assessment of transplanted kidney.

Objective To probe the correlation between the short-axis diameter(SD) of microwave coagulation and the time(T) and/or power(P) using a new type of internally cooled microwave antenna. Methods A MTC-3 microwave apparatus with a new type of internally-cooled microwave antenna was used to coagulate a fresh porcine liver in vitro. The correlation was analyzed between the SD of coagulation necrosis and the time and/or power. Results ①Under the same power, there was high linear relationship(r= 0.94- 0.98,P

Objective To probe the correlation between the short-axis diameter(SD) of coagulation necosis and the microwave power(P) using a new type of internally cooled microwave antenna in ex vivo and in vivo liver model.Methods Fourteen microwave ablations were performed in swine livers ex vivo and canine livers in vivo under the microwave powers of 30-90W and the durations of 10 min and 20 min, respectively.The short-axis diameter(SD) and the long-axis diameter(LD) of the coagulation were measured.The difference of SD, LD and SD/LD in swine liver ex vivo and canine liver in vivo were compared.The relationship between the SD and microwave power was analysised using linear regression model.Results Under the same conditions,the SDs and LDs of the coagulations of canine livers in vivo were smaller than those of swine livers in ex vivo (P <0.01).There was such a higher linear relationship(r = 0.96-0.99, P <0.01) between the SD of coagulation and the power in vivo liver model as the results acquired in ex vivo.Conclusions Although the blood flow decreased the SDs of the coagulation of microwave ablation in liver in vivo, but there was still a higher linear relationship between SD and microwave power.

Objective To compare enhancement features of primary hepatocellular carcinoma(PHCC)and recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma(RHCC) on.contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS). Methods CEUS was performed in 56 patients with 70 RHCC and 83 patients with 93 PHCC. The enhancement features of these two groups of hepatocellular carcinoma were compared. The time used for the enhancement material to arrive the lesion(Ta ), that used for the lesion to become isoechoic(T1 ) and hypoechoic relative to the surrounding hepatic parenchyma(To) were analyzed. The echogenicity change between the lesion and the parenchyma was observed during arterial phase,portal phase and delayed phase. Results The time used for the lesion to become hypoechogenicity of RHCC and PHCC was (104.0 ± 51.8)s, (85.5 ± 43.0)srespectively,there was significant difference between the two groups( P = 0.010). There were 24 (34.3 % )cases of RHCC and 16 ( 17.2% ) cases of PHCC becoming isoechoic during portal phase,the former rate was significantly higher than the later one( P = 0. 012). Conclusions There is significant difference between PHCC and RHCC in the performance of CEUS,this is useful for the early diagnosis of RHCC.

Objective To investigate enhancement appearance of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia(FNH) at real-time gray-scale contrast enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS),and evaluate the value of CEUS in the diagnosis of FNH. Methods Thirty-four patients (36 lesions) with histologically proved FNH were examined by ultrasonography. Appearance on conventional ultrasonography and the enhancement pattern on CEUS were investigated. Results Thirty-six lesions were mostly hypoechoic.39% (14/36) of lesions had peripheral hypoechogenic circle. Color Doppler flow imaging showed a asteroid-like or spoke-and-wheel pattern in 65% (20/ 31) of lesions.Three enhancement patterns were observed in the early arterial phase: whole-enhancement pattern (28%, 10/36), gushing-spring enhancement pattern (44%, 16/36), and spoke-and-wheel enhancement pattern (28%,10/36).The frequency of central scar on CEUS was 17% (6/36), and detection rate of central scar by CEUS compared with pathology was 40% (6/15).Regarding one of the features (gushing-spring enhancement, spoke-and-wheel enhancement and scar) as standard of FNH, the coincidence of CEUS in this group was 78% (28/ 36) ,which was significantly higher than that of conventional ultrasonography 28% (10/36).Conclusions CEUS can be as a important method for diagnosing FNH.

Objective To compare features between color Doppler flow imaging(CDFI) and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS) in the diagnosis of small renal cell carcinoma(SRCC) and investigate the diagnostic value of CEUS. Methods The images of CDFI and CEUS examination were retrospectively analyzed in forty-five SRCC (≤3 cm in diameter) which were confirmed sequentially by operation and pathology. Inner echoes,boundary,dark-ring and color flow of tumors were observed by CDFI. The degree of tumor vascularity was subjectively graded from 0 to Ⅳ. Enhancement patterns and phases on uhrasonography were reviewed, including enhancement start time, peak time, wash-out time and enhancement appearances of SRCC. Results The images were observed as homogeneous or relatively homogeneous (19) and heterogeneous or relatively heterogeneous(26), clear boundaries(37, including 10 with dark-ring) and ill-defined margins(8). The tumor vascularity was showed as grade 0(5) ,grade Ⅰ (6),grade Ⅱ (14),grade Ⅲ (14),grade Ⅳ(6) on CDFI. All lesions were showed mean enhancement start time (13.84±3.80) seconds,peak time (19.49±4.73) seconds,wash-out time (26.91±5.86) seconds respectively on CEUS. All cases were observed as simultaneous wash-in(39) and gradually wash-in(6),hyperechoic(14) and isoechoic(22) and hypoechoic(9) in peak time, simultaneous wash-out (19) and rapidly wahs-out (19) and gradually wahs-out(7). After contrast medium injection, tumors were detected partly non-enhaneement or cellular enhancement (25) and pseudocapsule (20). Conclusions CEUS is effective in improving the sonographic visualization of tumoral vascularity ,internal structure and pseudocapsule. It plays an important role in the diagnosis of SRCC.

Objective To explore the potential value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in diagnosis of renal pelvic carcinoma. Methods The ultrasonogram of conventional ultrasound and CEUS were analyzed retrospectively in 22 patients of renal pelvic carcinoma proved pathologically. The size, echo, boundary and color flow signal of renal pelvic lesions were observed with conventional ultrasound. The enhancement modality and phase of tumors were also observed with CEUS, including wash-in and wash-out time, as well as the perfusion appearances. Results The maximum diameters ranged from 1.5 cm to 8.5 cm in 22 renal pelvic tumors. Conventional ultrasound detected flat mass in 7 tumors, irregular mass in 15 tumors; the same side hydronephrosis in 11 patients. Color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) disclosed fairly rich flow signal of 5 tumors, a small amount of flow signal around tumor in 9 tumors and no-flow signal in the rest tumors. CEUS detected the cortical phase enhancement in all renal pelvic tumors, including synchronously enhancement in 8 tumors and delayed enhancement in 14 tumors. In peak time, hypoechogenicity compared to the normal renal cortex was showed in 18 tumors, hyperechogenicity in 3 tumors and isoechogenicity in 1 tumor. Fast wash-out in medulla phase was displayed in 20 tumors, isochronously wash-out in 1 tumor and delayed wash-out in 1 tumor. The diagnostic accuracy of the conventional ultrasound and CEUS was 63.64% (14/22) and 81.82% (18/22), respectively. Conclusion CEUS can depict blood flow supply and improve the diagnostic rate of renal pelvic carcinoma.

Objective To assess the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the differential diagnosis of focal liver lesions before microwave ablation. Methods One hundred and seven patients with 128 focal liver lesions underwent CEUS and color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) before microwave ablation therapy. The diagnostic performance of CEUS and CDFI was compared with pathologic findings through biopsy. Results The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, accuracy of CEUS for diagnosing liver lesions was 98.35% (119/121), 100% (7/7), 100% (119/119), 77.78% (7/9) and 98.44% (126/128), respectively, higher than those of CDFI (P＜0.001). According to CEUS, 119 malignant lesions were treated with timely microwave ablation, while unnecessary microwave ablation was excluded for 7 benign lesions. Conclusion CEUS is useful in the characterization of focal liver tumors before microwave ablation, and is helpful to reduce the misdiagnosis and mistreatment of the patients.

Surgical treatment of low rectal cancer is a difficult point in colorectal surgery, which has the problem of mutual restriction between radical resection and functional protection. With the development of laparoscopic total mesenterectomy, minimally invasive operation through anal endoscopy and the gradual improvement of the concept of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, the transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) is formed in line with the principle of radical resection of rectal cancer. On the premise of ensuring radical resection, taTME can maximize organ preservation and function protection, and improve the quality of life of patients. 4K laparoscopic system can provide a clear surgical field and improve the surgical precision, which is helpful for the accurate anatomy of low rectal cancer. The authors share the clinical experience of 4K laparoscopy assisted taTME in order to provide references for surgical colleagues.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and their association with Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1). METHOD: The expressions of MMP-9, IL-8 and LMP-1 were immunohistochemical studied in 53 nasopharyngeal carcinoma sections. We statistically analyzed the correlation of these data and also the relationship between the clinical features and the experimental data of these patients. RESULT: The positive expression rate of MMP-9, IL-8 and LMP-1 were all 66.04% (35/53) and their average expression score were (33.19 +/- 29.73)%, (33.46 +/- 30.23)%, (35.49 +/- 29.63)% respectively. The expressions of MMP-9 and IL-8 both showed positive correlation with the expression of LMP-1 (r = 0.792, 0.786 respectively). The expressions of MMP-9, IL-8 and LMP-1 showed significant relationship with lymph nodes metastasis (P < 0.05), but no-significant association with age, gender, pathological classification, and clinical stage. CONCLUSION The expressions of MMP-9, IL-8 and LMP-1 were significantly associated with neck lymph nodes metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The correlation between LMP-1 and MMP-9, IL-8 showed LMP-1 might enhance neck lymph nodes metastasis by up-regulating the expressions of MMP-9 and IL-8.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neck ; Prognosis ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; metabolism ; Young Adult