Percutaneous renal mass biopsy: historical perspective,current status,and future considerations

Introduction: Percutaneous renal mass biopsy has evolved over the last decade with improvements on previous pitfalls including low tissue yield, high non-diagnostic rates, and complications. As understanding of tumor biology and natural history of renal cortical neoplasms has improved, percutaneous renal mass biopsy is poised to have an expanding role in an area characterized by individualized management and refined risk stratification.

Areas covered: This review summarizes the evolution of renal mass biopsy to its current state with respect to outcomes, indications, and clinical guidelines.

Expert opinion: With improved understanding of differential biological potential of renal cortical neoplasms combined with technical improvements in diagnostic yield and accuracy, utilization of renal mass biopsy is becoming an important adjunct to patient care in a broad range of clinical scenarios, including active surveillance, thermal ablation, and use of primary systemic therapy in localized and advanced settings.     

The proteome microenvironment determines the protective effect of preconditioning in cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury

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A modality-specific somatosensory evoked potential test protocol for clinical evaluation: A feasibility study

ObjectiveWe aimed to establish an objective neurophysiological test protocol that can be used to assess the somatosensory nervous system.MethodsIn order to assess most fiber subtypes of the somatosensory nervous system, repetitive stimuli of seven different modalities (touch, vibration, pinprick, cold, contact heat, laser, and warmth) were synchronized with the electroencephalogram (EEG) and applied on the cheek and dorsum of the hand and dorsum of the foot in 21 healthy subjects and three polyneuropathy (PNP) patients. Latencies and amplitudes of the modalities were assessed and compared. Patients received quantitative sensory testing (QST) as reference.ResultsWe found reproducible evoked potentials recordings for touch, vibration, pinprick, contact-heat, and laser stimuli. The recording of warm-evoked potentials was challenging in young healthy subjects and not applicable in patients. Latencies were shortest within Aβ-fiber-mediated signals and longest within C-fibers. The test protocol detected function loss within the Aβ-fiber and Aδ-fiber-range in PNP patients. This function loss corresponded with QST findings.ConclusionIn this pilot study, we developed a neurophysiological test protocol that can specifically assess most of the somatosensory modalities. Despite technical challenges, initial patient data appear promising regarding a possible future clinical application.SignificanceEstablished and custom-made stimulators were combined to assess different fiber subtypes of the somatosensory nervous system using modality-specific evoked potentials.     

Temperature-controlled power modulation compensates for heterogeneous nanoparticle distributions: a computational optimization analysis for magnetic hyperthermia

Purpose: To study, with computational models, the utility of power modulation to reduce tissue temperature heterogeneity for variable nanoparticle distributions in magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia.

Methods: Tumour and surrounding tissue were modeled by elliptical two- and three-dimensional computational phantoms having six different nanoparticle distributions. Nanoparticles were modeled as point heat sources having amplitude-dependent loss power. The total number of nanoparticles was fixed, and their spatial distribution and heat output were varied. Heat transfer was computed by solving the Pennes’ bioheat equation using finite element methods (FEM) with temperature-dependent blood perfusion. Local temperature was regulated using a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller. Tissue temperature, thermal dose and tissue damage were calculated. The required minimum thermal dose delivered to the tumor was kept constant, and heating power was adjusted for comparison of both the heating methods.

Results: Modulated power heating produced lower and more homogeneous temperature distributions than did constant power heating for all studied nanoparticle distributions. For a concentrated nanoparticle distribution, located off-center within the tumor, the maximum temperatures inside the tumor were 16% lower for modulated power heating when compared to constant power heating. This resulted in less damage to surrounding normal tissue. Modulated power heating reached target thermal doses up to nine-fold more rapidly when compared to constant power heating.

Conclusions: Controlling the temperature at the tumor-healthy tissue boundary by modulating the heating power of magnetic nanoparticles demonstrably compensates for a variable nanoparticle distribution to deliver effective treatment.     

高钙预处理对未成熟心肌的保护作用机制

目的 探讨高钙预处理对未成熟心肌保护作用及其可能的机制。方法 采用Langendorff离体心脏灌注模型，24只新生日本长耳大白兔分为对照组（I／R），高钙预处理（HCP）组，多黏菌素B（PMB）组和5-hydroxydecanoate（5-HD）组4组，分别行不同的处理方法。以血流动力学指标、生化指标和心肌超微结构作为观察指标。结果 HCP组心功能恢复优于I／R、PMB和5-HD组（P〈0．05），心肌生化指标优于I／R、PMB和5-HD组（P〈0．01），心肌超微结构损伤较I／R、PMB和5-HD组明显减轻，各指标I／R、PMB和5-HD组间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论 高Ca^2＋预处理对未成熟心肌具有明显的保护作用，其机制是可能是通过蛋白激酶C激活和线粒体ATP敏感性钾通道开放起作用。     

有关医院空调水系统若干问题的探讨

主要阐述空调水系统利用平衡阀调节系统阻力,保持系统水力稳定;利用软启动器实施水泵的平滑软启动;压差旁通阀的作用及选型安装;系统管道热膨胀等问题。     

高压氧预适应对大鼠高原颅脑损伤的作用研究

目的探讨高压氧（HBO）预适应对高原颅脑损伤（TBI）的神经保护作用。方法将78只SD大鼠随机分为平原组、高原组和高压氧预适应组，各组按Feeney自由落体撞击法制作TBI模型，并通过低压氧舱模拟高原环境。采用Longa评分法进行神经功能缺损评分，Moor DRT4激光多普勒血流监测仪和LICOX CMP组织氧分压监测仪分别监测伤区局部脑血流（rCBF）和局部脑组织氧分压（PbtiO2）变化，利用光镜观察伤区脑组织的病理学改变。结果伤后24h高原组较平原组神经功能缺损评分上升。rCBF和PbtiO2下降，病理损伤加重；高压氧预适应组较高原组神经功能缺损评分下降（P〈0.05），rCBF和PbtiO2升高（均为P〈0.05）病理损伤减轻。结论高压氧预适应可诱导对高原颅脑损伤的神经保护作用改善神经功能。     

参附注射液预处理及后处理对体外循环心脏瓣膜置换术后患者认知功能的影响

目的 观察参附注射液（SFI）预处理及后处理对体外循环心脏瓣膜置换术后患者认知功能的影响。     

展望受体低氧预适应在原位肝移植中的应用

了解原位肝移植过程中无肝期门静脉淤血引起的肠道淤血性缺氧对肝完全缺血再灌注损伤的影响以及肠道缺氧低氧耐受的内源性保护机制。采用文献回顾的方法加以综述。对肝移植受体肠道黏膜屏障功能的保护可减轻移植肝脏再灌注损伤。受体低氧预适应可能为移植肝脏再灌注损伤的保护提供一条全新的途径。