Conventional Ultrasound and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Splenic Diseases

Accurate diagnosis of splenic diseases is important for timely and accurate treatment. The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and conventional ultrasound (US) in detecting splenic lesions. A systematic literature search was undertaken, and 8 studies met the inclusion criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of the consolidated results of CEUS were 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92–0.97) and 0.97 (95% CI, 0.90–0.99), respectively (I² = 27.4%; area under the curve [AUC] from a summary receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.97). The sensitivity and specificity of the consolidated results of conventional US were 0.70 (95% CI, 0.56–0.80) and 0.96 (95% CI, 0.76–0.99; I² = 83.4%; AUC = 0.84). In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the sensitivity and specificity of CEUS were higher than those of conventional US in diagnosing splenic lesions. Contrast-enhanced US is a promising method for accurately diagnosing splenic lesions.     

Facteurs associés aux perdus de vue des patients sous traitement antirétroviral dans un centre de traitement ambulatoire du VIH à Conakry,Guinée

Background

Late or inadequate therapeutic management increases the risk of mortality associated with HIV/AIDS. The aim of this study was to analyze the proportion and factors associated with loss of follow-up in HIV patients who receiving antiretroviral therapy at Conakry.

Microleakage Evaluation in Amalgam Restorations Used with Bases

Marginal leakage in amalgam restorations often precedes the development of secondary caries. One potential way to improve the marginal seal of such restorations, and thus minimize the risk of carles development, is to apply a glassionomer base prior to amalgam placement.
This study compared microleakage resistance among amalgam restorations placed with and without light-cured glass-ionomer base materials. Preparations were made in extracted human molar teeth. Four groups were studied, including copal varnish, which was used as a control. All specimens were restored with amalgam. Results indicated significantly greater leakage at the cavity wall/base interface for restorations with a copal varnish cavity liner than for those with a glass-ionomer base. Leakage differences among bases were also found at the amalgam/base interface. Best results were obtained with a dual-cure resin-based system. These samples showed minimal leakage at both the cavity wall/base and the base/amalgam interfaces. These findings suggest that light-cured glass-ionomer bases can be effective in the prevention of microleakage in amalgam restorations.     

Adverse Tumor Biology Associated with Mesenterico-Portal Vein Resection Influences Survival in Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Background

Although pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) with mesenterico-portal vein resection (VR) can be performed safely in patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the impact of this approach on long-term survival is controversial.

Patients and Methods

Analyses of a prospectively collected database revealed 122 consecutive patients with PDAC who underwent PD with (PD+VR) or without (PD?VR) VR between January 2004 and May 2012. Clinical data, operative results, and survival outcomes were analysed.

Results

Sixty-four (53 %) patients underwent PD+VR. The majority (84 %) of the venous reconstructions were performed with a primary end-to-end anastomosis. Demographic and postoperative outcomes were similar between the two groups. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, duration of operation, intraoperative blood loss, and blood transfusion requirement were significantly greater in the PD+VR group compared with the PD?VR group. Furthermore, the tumor size was larger, and the rates of periuncinate neural invasion and positive resection margin were higher in the PD+VR group compared with the PD?VR group. Histological venous involvement occurred in 47 of 62 (76 %) patients in the PD+VR group. At a median follow-up of 29 months, the median overall survival (OS) was 18 months for the PD+VR group, and 31 months for the PD?VR group (p = 0.016). ASA score, lymph node metastasis, neurovascular invasion, and tumor differentiation were predictive of survival. The need for VR in itself was not prognostic of survival.

Conclusions

PD with VR has similar morbidity but worse OS compared with a PD?VR. Although VR is not predictive of survival, tumors requiring a PD+VR have more adverse biological features.     

Inhibitory effect of icariin on Ti-induced inflammatory osteoclastogenesis

Background

Wear particle-induced periprosthetic osteolysis that results in aseptic loosening is the most common cause of long-term failure after total joint replacement.

Materials and methods

Icariin (ICA), a flavonoid isolated from Epimedium pubescens, inhibits osteoclast formation, but its effects on wear particle-induced inflammatory osteoclastogenesis remains unclear. We investigated the role of ICA in the regulation of osteoclast differentiation in a murine macrophage cell line (RAW264.7), which is stimulated by titanium (Ti) particles and the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand.

Results

ICA effectively inhibited osteoclast formation and bone resorption in the differentiation medium. ICA (10⁻⁷ mol/L) significantly reduced the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive cells compared with the control, and significantly reduced the percentage of the surface covered by resorption lacunae. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that ICA inhibited messenger RNA expression for the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB, cathepsin K, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in RAW264.7 cells stimulated by Ti particles and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand. ICA also reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α in RAW264.7 cells cultured with Ti particles. In addition, incubation with cholecystokinin-8 showed that ICA had no toxic effects on RAW264.7 cells.

Conclusions

ICA possibly elicited inhibitory effects on inflammatory osteoclastogenesis induced by Ti particles, indicating that ICA may be useful for the prevention and treatment of wear particle-induced osteolysis.