Objective:To compare the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)combined with conventional ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in distinguishing benign and malignant non-mass lesions of breast.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 131 patients with non-mass lesions of breast(76 benign cases,55 malignant cases),who were pathologically confirmed at The 910th Hospital of People's Liberation Army Joint Service Support Force from January 2019 to January 2024.The CEUS and MRI characteristics between benign and malignant non-mass lesions of breast were compared.Using pathological results as the gold standard,the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve were employed to compare the area under curve(AUC)value,sensitivity and specificity of CEUS+conventional ultrasound and MRI in diagnosing malignant non-mass lesions of breast.The diagnostic performances of them on non-mass lesions with different sizes(maximum diameter<10 mm,10-20 mm,and>20 mm)were further explored.Results:Conventional ultrasound identified 131 non-mass lesions of breast,whereas MRI identified 79 non-mass lesions(60.31%),40 cases with mass-like lesions(30.53%),and 12 normal breast(9.16%).The overall consistency between conventional ultrasound and MRI was higher(Kappa=0.603).After CEUS combined with conventional ultrasound,38 lesions that were classified as BI-RADS 4 by conventional ultrasound downgraded to BI-RADS 3.In the 131 patients,the specificity(71.1%)of CEUS combined with conventional ultrasound was significantly higher than that(55.3%)of MRI,with a statistically significant difference(x2=5.775,P=0.016).For all patients,the AUC value(0.828)of CEUS combined with conventional ultrasound in diagnosing malignant non-mass lesions of breast was higher than that(0.776)of MRI(Z=3.246,P=0.006).Among of them,the diagnostic AUC value of CEUS combined with ultrasound was 0.842 for the patients whose size of the non-mass lesions of breast was between 10-20 mm,which was significantly larger than that(0.758)of MRI(Z=4.856,P<0.001).Conclusions:The diagnostic specificity of CEUS+conventional ultrasound is higher than that of MRI for malignant non-mass lesions of breast,which has a certain of advantage.

Objective:To compare the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)combined with conventional ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in distinguishing benign and malignant non-mass lesions of breast.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 131 patients with non-mass lesions of breast(76 benign cases,55 malignant cases),who were pathologically confirmed at The 910th Hospital of People's Liberation Army Joint Service Support Force from January 2019 to January 2024.The CEUS and MRI characteristics between benign and malignant non-mass lesions of breast were compared.Using pathological results as the gold standard,the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve were employed to compare the area under curve(AUC)value,sensitivity and specificity of CEUS+conventional ultrasound and MRI in diagnosing malignant non-mass lesions of breast.The diagnostic performances of them on non-mass lesions with different sizes(maximum diameter<10 mm,10-20 mm,and>20 mm)were further explored.Results:Conventional ultrasound identified 131 non-mass lesions of breast,whereas MRI identified 79 non-mass lesions(60.31%),40 cases with mass-like lesions(30.53%),and 12 normal breast(9.16%).The overall consistency between conventional ultrasound and MRI was higher(Kappa=0.603).After CEUS combined with conventional ultrasound,38 lesions that were classified as BI-RADS 4 by conventional ultrasound downgraded to BI-RADS 3.In the 131 patients,the specificity(71.1%)of CEUS combined with conventional ultrasound was significantly higher than that(55.3%)of MRI,with a statistically significant difference(x2=5.775,P=0.016).For all patients,the AUC value(0.828)of CEUS combined with conventional ultrasound in diagnosing malignant non-mass lesions of breast was higher than that(0.776)of MRI(Z=3.246,P=0.006).Among of them,the diagnostic AUC value of CEUS combined with ultrasound was 0.842 for the patients whose size of the non-mass lesions of breast was between 10-20 mm,which was significantly larger than that(0.758)of MRI(Z=4.856,P<0.001).Conclusions:The diagnostic specificity of CEUS+conventional ultrasound is higher than that of MRI for malignant non-mass lesions of breast,which has a certain of advantage.

AIM: To study the protective effect of edaravone on renal injury induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia and its effect on Caspase-1 mediated pyroptosis signaling pathway in rats. METHODS: Twenty four SPF male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, intermittent hypoxia group, intermittent hypoxia + normal saline group and intermittent hypoxia + edaravone group, with 6 rats in each group. The four groups of rats were placed in the closed feeding chamber for modeling. The oxygen concentration in the NC group was maintained at about 21%; the IH group, IH + NS group and IH + EDA group were given regular input of pure oxygen, pure nitrogen and compressed air to form anoxic-reoxygenation cycle (60 s hypoxic period + 60 s reoxygenation period). During the hypoxic period, the oxygen concentration in the chamber was reduced to 6%-7%, and the rats in the IH + EDA group were intraperitoneally injected with edaravone at a dose of 5 mg/kg per day before modeling, while the rats in the IH + NS group were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline at the same dose per day. After 8 weeks of modeling, blood and kidney tissue samples were collected to measure the levels of Crea and Urea in each group. The pathological changes and fibrosis degree of kidney were observed under light microscope after HE and Masson staining. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined by chemical method. The expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1 and IL-1β in renal tissues were determined by immunohistochemical staining. The expression levels of caspase-1 and IL-1β in renal tissues were determined by Western blot. GSDMD and IL-18 mRNA were detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: After intermittent hypoxia exposure, serum Crea and Urea were increased significantly (P < 0.01), renal tubules were damaged by pathology, collagen fiber deposition occurred in balloon space of renal units, MDA content was increased and SOD activity was decreased (P < 0.01). Caspase-1, NLRP3, IL-1β protein expression increased (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), GSDMD mRNA and IL-18 mRNA amplification increased (P < 0.01); After Edaravone intervention, the above indexes showed a reverse trend compared with that after intermittent hypoxia exposure, and the pathological damage of kidney was reduced (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Chronic intermittent hypoxia may mediate kidney injury through oxidative stress activation of caspase-1 involved in the cell pyroptosis signaling pathway, while edaravone may inhibit the activation of pyroptosis signaling pathway by scavenging oxygen free radicals and down-regulating the level of oxidative stress in the body, thus playing a protective role in kidney.

PURPOSE: C-end rule (CendR) peptides are found to enhance the penetration of chemotherapeutic agents into tumor cells, while GX1 is a peptide that homes to gastric cancer (GC) vasculature. This study aimed to synthesize a novel peptide GX1-RPAKPAR (GXC) and to explore the effect of GXC on sensitizing GC cells to chemotherapeutic agents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intracellular Adriamycin concentration analysis was applied to conform whether GXC peptide increases the penetration of chemotherapeutic agents into GC cells in vitro. The effect of GXC peptide on sensitizing GC cells to chemotherapeutics was validated by apoptosis assay and in vitro/vivo drug sensitivity assay. The specificity of GXC to GC tissue was validated by ex vivo fluorescence imaging. RESULTS: In vitro, administration of GXC significantly increased Adriamycin concentrations inside SGC-7901 cells, and enhanced the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents by decreasing the IC50 value. In vivo, FITC-GXC specifically accumulated in GC tissue. Moreover, systemic co-injection with GXC peptide and Adriamycin statistically improved the therapeutic efficacy in SGC-7901 xenograft models, surprisingly, without obviously increasing side effects. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated that co-administration of the novel peptide GXC with chemotherapeutic agents may be a potential way to enhance the efficacy of anticancer drugs in GC treatment.
Apoptosis ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy* ; Heterografts ; In Vitro Techniques ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Optical Imaging ; Peptides ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stomach Neoplasms*

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) and dynamic hip screw (DHS) in treating senile intertrochanteric fractures.Methods From February 2006 to December 2014,111 cases of senile intertrochanteric fractures treated with PFNA and DHS at our institution were retrospectively analyzed.Fifty-nine cases were treated with PFNA (average age 77.4 years);and fifty-two cases were treated with DHS (average age 76.1 years).The outcome measures collected for statistical analysis on following aspect:surgical time,blood loss in operation,blood transfused,rate of patients transfused,time to partial weight beating,hospital stay,healing time of fracture,orthopedic complications,reoperation rate and post-operation hip function.The Harris Hip Score was used for functional evaluation.Results One hundred and eleven patients were followed up for 10 to 24 months (average 17.2 months).There were no significant differences between two groups with regard to the functional outcome at 1 year,hospital stay,orthopedic complications and reoperation rate (P ＞ 0.05).There were significant differences between the PFNA group and DHS group with regard to the surgical time [(60.7 ±9.9)min vs (97.5 ± 20.5) min],the blood loss in operation [(169.2 ± 82.1) ml vs (428.8 ± 126.O) ml],per patient concentrated red blood cells transfused [(0.7 ± 0.9) U vs (1.2 ± 1.3) U],blood transfusion rate (35.6％ vs 55.8％) and time to partial weight bearing [(12.9 ± 10.3)d vs (47.0 ± 15.5)d] (P ＜0.01).Conclusions PFNA is an effective method for the treatment of senile intertrochanteric fracture with the advantages of simple operative procedure,minimally invasion,stable fixation and fewer complications.

Objective To assess the effect of aortic valve replacement (AVR) on left ventricular (LV) twist function in severe aortic stenosis (AS) patients with preserved LV ejection fraction (LVEF) by speckle tracking imaging (STI).Methods Twenty-eight severe aortic stenosis (AS) patients (17 male,age 64.1 ± 10.4 years) with normal LVEF (≥50％) were examined by STI before and six months after AVR.The standard mitral valve and apical short-axis views were obtained to analyze LV basal and apical peak systolic rotation.LV peak systolic twist was calculated as the different between apical rotation and basal rotation.LV fractional shortening (LVFS) was calculated as the percentage fall of LV systolic dimension with respect to diastolic dimension.The data were compared with 28 age and sex-matched normal controls.Results In patients,LVEF remained unchanged after AVR.LV twist increased before (19.7° ± 5.7° vs 12.9° ± 3.2°,P ＜0.001) because of increased apical rotation (13.0° ± 5.8° vs 7.6° ± 2.6°,P ＜0.001),and normalized after AVR (14.4°± 5.2°,P ＜0.001).In controls,LV twist correlated with LVFS (r =0.81,P ＜ 0.001),this relationship was reversed in patients before (r =0.52,P ＜0.01) and after AVR (r =0.34,P ＞0.05).Conclusions In patients with severe AS and normal LVEF,LV twist is exaggerated suggesting potential compensation for reduced long axis function.These disturbances normalize within six months of AVR but lose their relationship with basal LV function.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of two dimensional echocardiography combining with enhanced flow (e-flow) imaging for fetal heart malformation.Methods 1580 cases were screened for fetal heart malformation.The diagnostic accuracy was evaluated by comparing the results fetal echocardiography with those of postpartum echocardiography,surgery or autopsy.Results Antepartum and postpartum data were obtained in 1286 of the 1580 fetuses (81.39％).Among the 1286 cases,the sensitivity,specificity,mistake diagnostic rate,omission diagnostic rate was 98.0 ％,99.3 ％,2.0 ％,0.7％,respectively.The consistency evaluation of fetal heart malformation by two dimensional echocardiography combining with e-flow concluded that the valve of Kappa was 0.970 (P =0.000).Conclusions Two dimensional echocardiography combining with e-flow is an accurate and reliable method for diagnosing fetal heart malformation,it has a high sensitivity and specificity.

Objective To access the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) graft late postoperative patency after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) by peripheral blood vessel ultrasound combined with color Doppler coronary flow imaging (CDCFI).In contrast with angiography,try to find available flow parameter to access graft patency.MethodsForty-six patients with CABG more than 1 year postoperatively followed-by angiography were detected by ultrasound.The LITA graft and left anterior descending artery were examined.Systolic and diastolic peak velocity(Smax,Dmax),velocity time integral(VTIs,VTId)of each segment were measured separately.The ratio of diastolic and systolic peak velocity (D/S),and diastolic velocity time integral fraction(DVTIF) were calculated.All patients were divided into groups according to angiography results.ResultsThirty -one LITA grafts were patent,11 were dysfunctional,4 were occlusive.According to the angiography results,the flow parameters of the proximal segment of LITA graft were significant.The D/S and DVTIF of patent group was higher than that of dysfunctional group.The diastolic peak velocity of distal segment of LAD of patent group was higher than that of dysfunctional group.ConclusionsPeripheral blood vessel ultrasound combined with CDCFI could provide the evidence to access the patency of the graft.It was an effective method for the clinical follow-up.

Objective To investigate the application value of spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC) combined with tomographic ultrasound imaging(TUI) in the prenatal diagnosis of conotruncal defects(CTD).Methods Two-dimensional(2D) fetal echocardiography to screen and TUI-STIC volumes from 1508 cases of fetuses of high risk with congenital heart disease.Postnatal work-up and pathological results were available for all fetuses with CTD.Results Thirty nine cases with CTD were found by TUI-STIC while thirty five cases were found by 2D echocardiography,but TUI-STIC had new findings and corrected the diagnosis in 9 cases as compared with 2D echocardiography.The sensitivity,specificity,positivity predictive value,negative predictive value and accuracy of TUI-STIC in evaluating CTD were 97.5 ％,100％,100 ％,99.9 ％ and 99 ％.The Kappa value of consistency test between 2DE and TUI-SIC was 0.244(P ＜ 0.01),McNemar test showed that the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions TUI-STIC allows a complete sequential analysis of fetal conotruncal defects and supplying additional information over 2D fetal echocardiography,it could improve the prenatal diagnosis rate.TUI-STIC is helpful in diagnosis of prenatal conotruncal defects.

Objective To study the relationship of the antepartum foramen ovale (FO),the ratios of foramen ovale and aorta (FO/AO) and postpartum ostium secundum atrial septal defect (ASD).Methods Nine hundred fifty-eight fetuses were divided into 5 groups by gestational age,18-22 weeks,23-26 weeks,27-30 weeks,31-34 weeks,35-40 weeks.The diameter of FO and aortic (AO) and FO/AO were measured by fetal echocardiography,the postpartum echocardiography were followed up more than 12 months after birth.ANOVA was used to compare FO,AO,FO/AO with different gestational age.Regression equation estimate was used to compare the relationship of FO and AO with gestational age.Independent sample T test was used to compare FO and FO/AO with postpartum ostium secundum ASD and postpartum normal heart.Results There was significant difference in FO and AO among 5 groups(P =0.000),FO and AO increased with increasing gestational age.There was significant difference in antepartum FO,FO/AO between postpartum ostium secundum ASD and postpartum normal heart (P =0.000).Conclusions Antepartum FO and FO/AO provide clinical value in observing postpartum ostium secundum ASD.