Reduced nontarget embolization and increased targeted delivery with a reflux-control microcatheter in a swine model

PurposeTo evaluate the potential differences in non-target embolization and vessel microsphere filling of a reflux-control microcatheter (RCM) compared to a standard end-hole microcatheter (SEHM) in a swine model.Materials and methodsRadiopaque microspheres were injected with both RCM and SEHM (2.4-Fr and 2.7-Fr) in the kidneys of a preclinical swine model. Transarterial renal embolization procedures with RCM or SEHM were performed in both kidneys of 14 pigs. Renal arteries were selectively embolized with an automated injection protocol of radio-opaque microspheres. Ex-vivo X-ray microtomography images of the kidneys were utilized to evaluate the embolization by quantification of the deposition of injected microspheres in the target vs. the non-target area of injection. X-ray microtomography images were blindly analyzed by five interventional radiologists. The degree of vessel filling and the non-target embolization were quantified using a scale from 1 to 5 for each parameter. An analysis of variance was used to compare the paired scores.ResultsTotal volumes of radio-opaque microspheres injected were similar for RCM (11.5 ± 3.6 [SD] mL; range: 6–17 mL) and SEHM (10.6 ± 5.2 [SD] mL; range: 4–19 mL) (P = 0.38). The voxels enhanced ratio in the target (T) vs. non-target (NT) areas was greater with RCM (T = 98.3% vs. NT = 1.7%) than with SEHM (T = 89% vs. NT = 11%) but the difference was not significant (P = 0.30). The total score blindly given by the five interventional radiologists was significantly different between RCM (12.3 ± 2.1 [SD]; range: 6–15) and the standard catheter (11.3 ± 2.5 [SD]; range: 4–15) (P = 0.0073), with a significant decrease of non-target embolization for RCM (3.8 ± 1.3 [SD]; range: 3.5–4.2) compared to SEHM (3.2 ± 1.5 [SD]; range: 2.9–3.5) (P = 0.014).ConclusionIn an animal model, RCM microcatheters reduce the risk of non-target embolization from 11% to 1.7%, increasing the delivery of microspheres of 98% to the target vessels, compared to SEHM microcatheters.     

Using arterial spin labeling blood flow and its histogram analysis to distinguish early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma from lymphoid hyperplasia

To investigate the feasibility of arterial spin labeling (ASL) blood flow (BF) and its histogram analysis to distinguish early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) from nasopharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia (NPLH).Sixty-three stage T1 NPC patients and benign NPLH patients underwent ASL on a 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging system. BF histogram parameters were derived automatically, including the mean, median, maximum, minimum, kurtosis, skewness, and variance. Absolute values were obtained for skewness and kurtosis (absolute value of skewness [AVS] and absolute value of kurtosis [AVK], respectively). The Mann–Whitney U test, receiver operating characteristic curve, and multiple logistic regression models were used for statistical analysis.The mean, maximum, and variance of ASL BF values were significantly higher in early-stage NPC than in NPLH (all P < 0.0001), while the median and AVK values of early-stage NPC were also significantly higher than those of NPLH (all P < 0.001). No significant difference was found between the minimum and AVS values in early-stage NPC compared with NPLH (P = 0.125 and P = 0.084, respectively). The area under the curve (AUC) of the maximum was significantly higher than those of the mean and median (P < 0.05). The AUC of variance was significantly higher than those of the other parameters (all P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that variance was the only independent predictor of outcome (P < 0.05).ASL BF and its histogram analysis could distinguish early-stage NPC from NPLH, and the variance value was a unique independent predictor.     

肝细胞癌TACE术后病灶存活或复发18F-FDGPET/CT和增强CT诊断价值Meta分析

目的采用Meta分析方法评价¹⁸F-脱氧葡萄糖正电子发射计算机体层摄影(¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT)和增强CT(CECT)诊断经导管肝动脉化疗栓塞术(TACE)术后存活或复发病灶的临床价值。方法根据PRISMA报告规范开展Meta分析。检索PubMed、Embase、Cochrane Library、Web of Science、中国知网、万方和维普数据库中¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT和CECT诊断TACE术后存活或复发病灶的临床研究,时间至2019-04。由2位研究人员独立筛选文献、提取资料,根据诊断准确性研究质量评价工具-2(QUADAS-2)评价纳入研究的偏倚风险后,采用Stata 12.0软件进行Meta分析,计算其汇总敏感度(Sen)和特异度(Spe),绘制受试者工作特征曲线(SROC)并计算曲线下面积(AUC)。结果共纳入10篇¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT及13篇CECT诊断TACE术后存活或复发病灶的原始研究,分别包括322例患者的467个病灶和748例患者的943个病灶。Meta分析显示,¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT诊断TACE术后存活或复发病灶的Sen=0.92(95%CI为0.87~0.94)、Spe=0.95(95%CI为0.82~0.99)、AUC=0.97(95%CI为0.93~0.99);CECT诊断TACE术后存活或复发病灶的Sen=0.72(95%CI为0.66~0.78)、Spe=0.99(95%CI为0.93~1.00)、AUC=0.87(95%CI为0.83~0.89)。此外,CECT诊断TACE术后存活或复发Sen(Z=2.34,P=0.02)和AUC(Z=2.21,P=0.03)值低于¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT,差异有统计学意义。结论相比于CECT,¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT对TACE术后存活或复发病灶具有较高诊断效能,可视为TACE术后存活或复发病灶有效的影像学诊断方法。     

Relationship between plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and prognosis of TACE for primary hepatocellular carcinoma

BackgroundOur study aims to investigate changes in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) concentration and integrity in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) patients before and after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatment and their influence on the evaluation of prognosis of the disease.MethodsA total of 84 PHC patients admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from December 2016 to December 2017 were included as the study group, while 55 healthy people served as the control group. Plasma cfDNA concentration and integrity were determined using qRT-PCR. The correlation between cfDNA concentration/integrity and clinical characteristics of PHC patients were analyzed. A ROC curve was used to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of cfDNA as detection indices. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to analyze factors affecting recurrence in PHC patients and compare recurrence-free survival (RFS) of PHC patients with high cfDNA expression and low cfDNA expression.ResultsPlasma cfDNA concentration and integrity were significantly higher in PHC patients before TACE treatment than in healthy people and significantly lower after treatment than before (P<0.05). The cfDNA concentration was significantly correlated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, and BCLC stage, while cfDNA integrity was significantly correlated with tumor size, TNM stage, and BCLC stage (P<0.05). ROC results showed that the area under the curve (AUC) value of cfDNA concentration was the largest, with an optimal cut-off of 10.51 ng/mL. Multivariate regression analysis for COX showed that the TNM stage, cfDNA concentration, and AFP were independent risk factors that affected PHC patients’ survival.ConclusionsPlasma cfDNA concentration in PHC patients is more sensitive and specific than any other tumor marker. It is an independent risk factor for PHC patients treated with TACE. Therefore, it is hypothesized cfDNA is a potential biomarker for prognostic evaluation of PHC patients treated with TACE.     

丙泊酚复合瑞芬太尼喉罩全麻的效果分析与研究

目的 探讨丙泊酚复合瑞芬太尼喉罩全身麻醉(全麻)的效果。方法 62例腹腔镜、泌尿科、骨科、肛肠科、妇科等手术治疗的患者,随机分为实验组和对照组,每组31例。对照组采用常规气管插管静脉复合全麻,实验组给予靶控输注丙泊酚复合瑞芬太尼喉罩全麻。比较两组患者插入喉罩(插管)、插管1 min、插管3 min、拔出喉罩(拔管)1 min、拔管3 min时心率(HR)和平均动脉压(MAP)水平;不良反应发生情况、麻醉效果;全麻起效时间、维持全麻时间、术后苏醒时间。结果 实验组插管时、插管1 min、插管3 min、拔管1 min、拔管3 min的HR水平分别为(77.52±6.36)、(73.26±5.56)、(72.01±4.69)、(75.35±7.63)、(72.34±6.79)次/min,均低于对照组的(92.34±7.85)、(87.97±5.25)、(78.85±5.20)、(95.69±9.21)、(85.63±7.43)次/min,差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。实验组插管时、插管1 min、插管3 min、拔管1 min、拔管3 min的MAP水平分别为(90.25±6.73)、(87.65±7.98)、(88.79±7.65)、(88.09±5.61)、(88.52±5.16)mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa),均低于对照组的(109.51±7.85)、(103.27±12.43)、(102.52±8.21)、(106.74±7.68)、(104.62±7.71)mm Hg,差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。实验组不良反应发生率3.23%低于对照组的19.35%,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。实验组麻醉总有效率96.77%均高于对照组的80.65%,差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。实验组全麻起效、维持全麻、术后苏醒时间分别为(1.61±0.23)、(100.59±6.72)、(17.99±3.52)min,均短于对照组的(2.93±0.41)、(123.61±7.85)、(36.87±4.16)min,差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 针对腹腔镜等手术患者应用丙泊酚复合瑞芬太尼喉罩全麻对血液动力学影响小,不良反应发生率低,麻醉效果良好,降低对机体损伤,值得推广应用。