Magnetic resonance-based total liver volume and magnetic resonance-diffusion weighted imaging for staging liver fibrosis in mini-pigs

AIM:To determine whether and how magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)-based total liver volume(TLV) and diffusion weighted imaging(DWI) could predict liver fibrosis.METHODS:Sixteen experimental mature mini-pigs(6 males,10 females),weighing between 20.0 and 24.0 kg were prospectively used to model liver fibrosis induced by intraperitoneal injection of 40% CCl4 dissolved in fat emulsion twice a week for 16 wk,and by feeding 40% CCl4 mixed with maize flour twice daily for the subsequent 5 wk.All the survival animals underwent percutaneous liver biopsy and DWI using b = 300,500 and 800 s/mm2 followed by abdominal gadolinium-enhanced MRI at the 0,5th,9th,16th and 21st weekend after beginning of the modeling.TLV was obtained on enhanced MRI,and apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC) was obtained on DWI.Hepatic tissue specimens were stained with hematoxylin and Masson' s trichrome staining for staging liver fibrosis.Pathological specimens were scored using the human METAVIR classification system.Statistical analyses were performed to determine whether and how the TLV and ADC could be used to predict the stage of liver fibrosis.RESULTS:TLV increased from stage 0 to 2 and decreased from stage 3(r = 0.211;P 0.001).There was a difference in TLV between stage 0-1 and 2-4(P = 0.03) whereas no difference between stage 0-2 and 3-4(P = 0.71).TLV could predict stage ≥ 2 [area under receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC) = 0.682].There was a decrease in ADC values with increasing stage of fibrosis for b = 300,500 and 800 s/mm2(r =-0.418,-0.535 and-0.622,respectively;all P 0.001).Differences were found between stage 0-1 and 2-4 in ADC values for b = 300,500 and 800 s/mm2,and between stage 0-2 and 3-4 for b = 500 or 800 s/mm2(all P 0.05).For predicting stage ≥ 2 and ≥ 3,AUC was 0.803 and 0.847 for b = 500 s/mm2,and 0.848 and 0.887 for b = 800 s/mm2,respectively.CONCLUSION:ADC for b = 500 or 800 s/mm2 could be better than TLV and ADC for b = 300 s/mm2 to pre-dict fibrosis stage ≥ 2 or ≥ 3.     

ROC curves in evaluation of serum fibrosis indices for hepatic fibrosis

AIM:Use Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves to find out the relationship between serum level of hyaluronic acid(HA),typeⅢ procollagen (PCⅢ）,N-terminal procollagen Ⅲ peptied(PⅢNP),iaminin(LN),type Ⅳ collagen(C-Ⅳ）and hepatic fibrosis,as well as to determined their value in clinical practice.     

慢性乙肝患者HBV-DNA、肝功能指标与肝纤维化的关系

[目的]探究慢性乙型病毒性肝炎患者乙肝病毒脱氧核糖核酸(HBV-DNA)、肝功能指标与肝纤维化的关系.[方法]入选65例慢性乙肝患者为患者组;同期选取肝功能合格的体检者65例作为对照组;检测2组肝纤维化指标[血清透明质酸(HA)、层粘连蛋白(LN)、Ⅲ型胶原(PCⅢ)、Ⅳ型胶原(Ⅳ-C)],HBV-DNA,肝功能指标[...     

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging without bowel preparation for detection of ulcerative colitis

AIM: To evaluate the accuracy of diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI) without bowel preparation,the optimal b value and the changes in apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC) in detecting ulcerative colitis(UC).METHODS: A total of 20 patients who underwent 3T magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) without bowel preparation and colonoscopy within 24 h were recruited.Biochemical indexes,including C-reactive protein(CRP),erythrocyte sedimentation rate,hemoglobin,leucocytes,platelets,serum iron and albumin,were determined.Biochemical examinations were then performed within 24 h before or after MR colonography was conducted.DWI was performed at various b values(b = 0,400,600,800,and 1000 s/mm2).Two radiologists independently and blindly reviewed conventional- and contrast-enhanced MR images,DWI and ADC maps; these radiologists also determined ADC in each intestinal segment(rectum,sigmoid,left colon,transverse colon,and right colon).Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic performance of DWI hyperintensity from various b factors,ADC values and different radiological signs to detect endoscopic inflammation in the corresponding bowel segment.Optimal ADC threshold was estimated by maximizing the combination of sensitivity and specificity.MRfindings were correlated with endoscopic results and clinical markers; these findings were then estimated by ROC analysis.RESULTS: A total of 100 segments(71 with endoscopic colonic inflammation; 29 normal) were included.The proposed total magnetic resonance score(MR-score-T) was correlated with the total modified Baron score(Baron-T; r = 0.875,P 0.0001); the segmental MR score(MR-score-S) was correlated with the segmental modified Baron score(Baron-S; r = 0.761,P 0.0001).MR-score-T was correlated with clinical and biological markers of disease activity(r = 0.445 to 0.831,P 0.05).MR-score-S 1 corresponded to endoscopic colonic inflammation with a sensitivity of 85.9%,a specificity of 82.8% and an area under the curve(AUC) of 0.929(P 0.0001).The accuracy of DWI hyperintensity was significantly greater at b = 800 than at b = 400,600,or 1000 s/mm2(P 0.05) when endoscopic colonic inflammation was detected.DWI hyperintensity at b = 800 s/mm2 indicated endoscopic colonic inflammation with a sensitivity of 93.0%,a specificity of 79.3% and an AUC of 0.867(P 0.0001).Quantitative analysis results revealed that ADC values at b = 800 s/mm2 differed significantly between endoscopic inflamed segment and normal intestinal segment(1.56 ± 0.58 mm2/s vs 2.63 ± 0.46 mm2/s,P 0.001).The AUC of ADC values was 0.932(95% confidence interval: 0.881-0.983) when endoscopic inflammation was detected.The threshold ADC value of 2.18 × 10-3 mm2/s indicated that endoscopic inflammation differed from normal intestinal segment with a sensitivity of 89.7% and a specificity of 80.3%.CONCLUSION: DWI combined with conventional MRI without bowel preparation provides a quantitative strategy to differentiate actively inflamed intestinal segments from the normal mucosa to detect UC.     

慢性肝病患者肝纤维化血清学指标与肝组织纤维化分期的量化关系

目的研究肝纤维化血清学指标与慢性肝病患者肝穿刺活体组织学检查纤维化分期的量化关系。方法用放射免疫法检测118例肝病患者血清层黏连蛋白（LN）、透明质酸（HA），Ⅲ型前胶原蛋白（PCⅢ）、Ⅳ型胶原蛋白（CⅣ）的水平，并与患者的肝组织病理学检查作对比。通过SPSS11．0软件包分析LN、HA、PCⅢ、CⅣ与肝组织纤维化分期及炎症分级的量化关系。结果LN、HA、PCⅢ、CⅣ与肝组织学炎症分级有相关性（r分别为0．394．0．449、0．443、0．35l，P值均〈0．01）；与肝组织纤维化分期也有相关性（r值分别为0．456、0．564、0．476、0．42l，P值均〈0．01）。LN．HA、PCⅢ、CⅣ对S2以上肝纤维化诊断界值分别为110、110、100、70ng／ml，其诊断灵敏度分别为70％、79％、79％、74％，特异度分别为68％，72％、64％、73％。对S4（早期肝硬化）的诊断界值分别为130、140、120．70ng／ml，其诊断灵敏度分别为79％、93％，79％，86％，特异度分别为66％、82％．72％、61％。受试者工作特征曲线分析显示：在这些患者中判断有无肝硬化存在，HA比其它指标更有价值；HA测定值大于l90ng／ml时，其诊断早期肝硬化的准确度为93％。结论慢性肝病患者，血清HA、LN、PCⅢ、CⅣ水平与肝纤维化分期有一定量化关系，其中HA诊断早期肝硬化有重要意义。     

补肾健脾活血法治疗慢性乙型肝炎患者临床研究

目的观察补肾健脾活血法治疗慢性乙型肝炎的临床疗效。方法采用补肾健脾活血法治疗50例慢性乙型肝炎患者,疗程6个月。结果治疗后,患者血清HA、LN、PCIII和IV-C均有下降（P〈0.01）,脾脏厚度和门静脉直径也缩小（P〈0.05）;肝功能指标均有明显的改善（P〈0.01）。结论补肾健脾活血方对慢性乙型肝炎有较好的疗效。     

血清肝纤维化指标水平与肝组织纤维图象分析的关系

目的 探讨血清肝纤维化指标透明质酸（ＨＡ）,Ⅲ型前胶原（ＰＣⅢ）、Ⅲ型胶原（ＣⅣ）水平与肝组织纤维化程度的关系及对慢性病毒性肝炎肝纤维化的临床意义,方法 用放射免疫法测定１５１例慢性病毒性肝炎患者血清ＨＡ、ＰＣⅢ、ＣⅣ水平,所有患者均做肝活组织检查,对肝组织标本行Ｍａｓｓｏｎ法网状纤维染色,在计算机图象分析系统下对肝组织网状纤维染色标本进行纤维组织定量测定。结果 血清ＨＡ、ＰＣⅢ、ＣⅣ水平与肝组织     

Importance of b value in diffusion weighted imaging for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer

AIM:To investigate the use of multi-b-value diffusionweighted imaging in diagnosing pancreatic cancer.METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed 33 cases of pancreatic cancer and 12 cases of benign pancreatic tumors at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from December 2008 to January2011.The demographic characteristics,clinical presentation,routine magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)features with different b values were reviewed.Continuous data were expressed as mean±SD.Comparisons between pancreatic cancer and benign pancreatic tumors were performed using the Student’s t test.A probability of P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULTS:Thirty-three patients with pancreatic cancer were identified.The mean age at diagnosis was 60±5.6 years.The male:female ratio was 21:12.Twenty cases were confirmed by surgical resection and 13 by biopsy of metastases.T1 weighted images demonstrated a pancreatic head mass in 16 patients,a pancreatic body mass in 10 cases,and a pancreatic tail mass with pancreatic atrophy in 7 cases.Eight patients had hepatic metastases,13 had invasion or envelopment of mesenteric vessels,4 had bone metastases,and 8had lymph node metastases.DWI demonstrated an irregular intense mass with unclear margins.Necrotic tissue demonstrated an uneven low signal.A b of 1100s/mm2was associated with a high intensity signal with poor anatomical delineation.A b of 700 s/mm2was associated with apparent diffusion coefficients(ADCs)that were useful in distinguishing benign and malignant pancreatic tumors(P<0.05).b values of 50,350,400,450 and 1100 s/mm2were associated with ADCs that did not differentiate the two tumors.CONCLUSION:Low b value images demonstrated superior anatomical details when compared to high b value images.Tumor tissue definition was high and contrast with the surrounding tissues was good.DWI was useful in diagnosing pancreatic cancer.     

肝病患者纤维化不同分期时肝左叶上下径和前后径的测定及意义

目的研究慢性肝炎患者纤维化不同分期时肝左叶上下径、前后径的变化规律及其联合血清纤维化指标对无创诊断中晚期肝纤维化或早期肝硬化的价值。方法经肝活检确定72例慢性肝炎患者肝纤维化分期。肝穿前一日,B超测定肝左叶上下径、前后径等及肝穿刺点定位。放射免疫法测定血清HA、LN、CⅣ和PCⅢ含量。结果随纤维化程度增加,肝左叶上下径呈缩短趋势,其S4期测值为（5.7±1.5）cm明显短于S0期测值（7.7±1.4）cm;肝左叶前后径呈增长趋势,其S4期测值长于S0期分别为（6.5±1.1）cm和（5.3±0.7）cm。血清HA、LN、CⅣ和PCⅢ含量亦随纤维化增加而升高,HA、PCⅢ在S3期开始显著升高,均高于同组S0期［（273.4±131.3）μg/L对（66.2±35.0）μg/L、（167.4±48.1）μg/L对（103.4±23.8）μg/L］。结论肝左叶上下径、前后径及血清HA、PCⅢ含量变化可能间接反映了活动性肝纤维化中晚期或早期肝硬化。     

复方牛胎肝提取物片治疗肝纤维化的多中心研究

目的观察研究复方牛胎肝提取物片治疗肝纤维化在扩大人群中的临床疗效。方法采用多中心、自身对照的研究设计。筛选肝纤维化患者共115例,所有病例给予口服复方牛胎肝提取物片治疗24周,治疗前均行肝穿刺做肝活体组织检查,其中有38例患者住治疗后再次做肝活体组织检查。患者均在治疗前、治疗后12、24周和36周,应用放射免疫法检测患者血清肝纤维化标志物HA、LN、Ⅳ型胶原（Ⅳ-C）,观察用药前后各项指标及肝组织病理学变化。结果口服复方牛胎肝提取物片治疗前（0周）,治疗后24周和36周,患者血清肝纤维化标志物HA值分别为（279.2±81.4）ng/ml、（136.8±56.7）ng/ml、（86.9±40.7）ng/ml,LN值分别为（170.8±73.0）ng/ml、（112.5±39.5）ng/ml、（60.8±31.8）ng/ml;Ⅳ-C值分别为（153.7±60.1）ng/ml、（112.4±43.1）ng/ml、（96.3±44.1）ng/ml,治疗后血清肝纤维化标志物较治疗前显著降低（P〈0.05）。肝活体组织病理检查显示,治疗后肝组织纤维化分期比治疗前有明显降低（P〈0.01）。结论复方牛胎肝提取物片具有改善肝纤维化的作用,对于治疗慢性肝病肝纤维化具有较好的疗效。     

慢性肝炎患者血清纤维化指标的检测及其意义

目的：探讨慢性肝炎患者血清纤维化指标[血清透明质酸（HA）、Ⅲ型前胶原（PCⅢ）、Ⅳ型胶原（Ⅳ－C）、层黏蛋白（LN）]的临床实用价值。方法：对2600例慢性肝炎轻、中、重度患者,用放免法检测血清HA、PCⅢ、Ⅳ－C、LN,并对其中的280例进行肝穿刺标本病理组织学检查,作肝脏炎症活动度分级、肝纤维化程度分期及慢性肝炎病理组织学分度,探讨它们与纤维化指标之间关系。结果：2600例轻、中、重度慢性肝炎患者,4项指标之间均有明显差异（P＜0．001）。这4项指标均与肝脏炎症活动度分级、肝纤维化程度分期及慢性肝炎的分度有关。相关系数HA分别为0．554、0．548和0．468;PCⅢ为0．495、0．42和0．335;Ⅳ-C为0．406．0．404和0．412;LN为0．214、0．204和0．184。结论：血清学检测对慢性肝炎的诊断有较大的临床指导作用,但对某一患者评价这些指标的意义时,应结合肝功能检查．B超检查及临床表现,作全面分析。     

Diffusion Weighted MR and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Measurement in Classification and Characterization of Noncystic Focal Liver Lesions: Does a Clinical Role Exist?

The objective of this study was to assess the clinical role of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) analysis in noncystic focal liver lesion (FLL) classification/characterization.Six hundred liver magnetic resonances with multi-b (b = 50, 400, 800 s/mm²) diffusion-weighted imaging (DwI) were retrospectively reviewed. Mean ADC was measured in 388 lesions (195 benign and 193 malignant) excluding internal necrotic areas. Cystic benign lesions were excluded from analysis. Sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing benign from malignant lesions were calculated. Analysis of variance was performed to detect differences among subgroups of solid lesions.Mean ADC of malignant lesions was 0.980 × 10⁻³ mm²/s, significantly (P < 0.05) lower than mean ADC of benign lesions (1.433 × 10⁻³ mm²/s). Applying an ADC cutoff of 1.066 × 10⁻³ mm²/s, specificity and sensitivity for malignancy were respectively 86.6% and 73.6%. Of all lesions, >1/3 (39.5%) presented values lower than 1 × 10⁻³ mm²/s, with 90.0% chance of malignancy. Above 1.5 × 10⁻³ mm²/s (about 20% of all lesions) chance of malignancy was 9.5%.DwI cannot assist in noncystic FLL characterization, but can help in FLL classification in about half the cases.     

肝纤维化血清五项标志物的诊断意义

目的探讨慢性肝炎患者血清透明质酸(HA)、Ⅲ型前胶原(PCⅢ)、Ⅳ型胶原(CⅣ)、层粘蛋白(LN)和转化生长因子β1(TGFβ1)对肝纤维化的诊断意义.方法检测116例病毒性肝炎患者血清HA、PCⅢ、CⅣ、LN、TGFβ1水平、并与其中87例慢性肝炎患者的肝组织病理作对比.结果血清HA与肝组织炎症活动度呈较弱的正相关(r＝0393,P<0.05),血清HA、PCⅢ、LN、TGFβ1与肝纤维化程度呈中等程度的正相关(r分别为0584、0454、0441和0612,P<005),血清CⅣ与之则呈较弱的正相关(r=0.319,P<0.05).血清HA诊断肝硬化的AUC明显大于血清PCⅢ、CⅣ、LN、TGFβ1者(AUC=0.904vs0.784、0.815、0.805、0828.P<0.05)血清HA、LN、TGFβ1判断S2期以上肝纤维化的ROC曲线下面积(AUC)明显大于血清PCⅢ、CⅣ者(AUC=0849、0.819、0836vs0702、0721,P<0.05).联合五项指标估计肝纤维化程度,判别分析只选人血清HA和TGFβ1.若将肝纤维化程度S1、S2、S3不作区分,判别效果中各期的差异有显著性(P<005).正确预测率为72.90%.结论五项指标均有助于诊断肝硬化和判断S2期以上肝纤维化,前者应选择血清HA.后者则可选择血清HA、LN或TGFβ1;估计肝纤维化程度以血清HA和TGFβ1同时检测为佳,但仅有助于估计慢性肝炎患者是"无肝纤维化”、"处于肝纤维化阶段”或"肝硬化”,而不能对肝纤维化程度进行精确估计.因而不能取代肝组织病理活检.     

慢性乙型肝炎患者血清转化生长因子β1在肝纤维中的作用

目的 观察慢性乙型肝炎（慢乙肝）患者血清转化生长因子β１（ＴＧＦβ１）与Ⅲ型前腕原蛋白（ＰＣⅢ）,层粘连蛋白（ＬＮ）、透明质酸（ＨＡ）和肝脏纤维组织增生的关系。方法 采用酶联免疫吸附试验（ＥＬＩＳＡ）测定７６例慢乙肝、肝硬化患者血清ＴＧＦβ１。２９例作肝活检,应用多媒体有科文分析系统进行肝内胶原纤维、网状纤维的定量分析。结果 （１）慢乙肝轻、中、重度及肝硬化患者血清ＴＧＦβ１（１４４．３４±５７．     

基于肝组织病理动态变化情况探讨血清学指标在肝纤维化诊断中的意义

目的基于药物干预前后的肝组织病理动态变化情况，探讨肝功能、肝纤维化血清学指标在慢性乙型肝炎肝纤维化诊断和预后判断中的价值。方法根据扶正化瘀胶囊抗慢性乙型肝炎肝纤维化多中心，随机、双盲，对照临床试验中93例（包括试验组和对照组）治疗6个月前后2次肝活体组织病理学检查的资料，并依据肝组织纤维化程度减轻和未减轻（或继续加重）的情况将病例分为两组（减轻组36例，未减轻组57例），分析该两组肝组织炎症、肝功能、肝纤维化血清学指标及相应的血常规变化规律。结果纤维化减轻组伴有肝组织炎症程度的显著减轻。药物干预后，纤维化减轻组的血清透明质酸和Ⅲ型前胶原肽含量明显下降（t=3．34与t=3．17，P值均〈0．01），并显著低于未减轻组；但层黏连蛋白和Ⅳ型胶原含量差异均无统计学意义。纤维化减轻组伴有血清白蛋白升高（t=3．24，P〈0．01）及γ-谷氨酰转肽酶，天冬氨酸氨基转移酶活性和凝血酶原时间的下降，而未减轻组无类似变化。结论慢性乙型肝炎肝纤维化患者血清γ-谷氨酰转肽酶，天冬氨酸氨基转移酶活性，凝血酶原时间，白蛋白、血清透明质酸和Ⅲ型前胶原肽含量的变化有助于肝纤维化减轻与否的判断和药物疗效评价，而血清层黏连蛋白和Ⅳ型胶原含量在肝纤维化诊断中的价值有待商榷。     

Serum hyaluronic acid reflects the effect of interferon treatment on hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Changes in serum hyaluronic acid (HA) in 35 patients treated with interferon (IFN) were studied and the histological change in fibrosis was analysed. Serum HA levels and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA were followed from the start of therapy to 12 months after completion of treatment. Histological changes in pre- and post-treatment liver biopsies were assessed using a modified Knodell's scoring system. The serum levels of HA (r = 0.79; P<0.0001) correlated with the degree of fibrosis more closely than with that of amino terminal peptides of type III procollagen (PIIIP; r = 0.45; P<0.05) or type IV collagen (IV-C; r = 0.42; P<0.05). Only complete responders (CR) had a significant decrease in serum levels of HA and IV-C (P<0.05), in parallel with histological improvement (P<0.01). Neither partial responders (PR) nor non-responders (NR) had significant changes in histological scores and in serum levels of fibrotic markers. Significant differences were observed between CR and NR, both in HA levels (P<0.01) and PIIIP levels (P<0.05) 12 months after the cessation of treatment. These results suggest that serum HA is an indicator of the extent of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C. Serial determinations of serum HA levels may be of use for monitoring the histological response of hepatic fibrosis to IFN treatment in chronic hepatitis C.     

Differentiation between pancreatic carcinoma and mass-forming chronic pancreatitis: usefulness of high b value diffusion-weighted imaging

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of high b value diffusion‐weighted (DW) imaging in differentiating between pancreatic carcinoma and mass‐forming chronic pancreatitis (MFCP). METHODS: Fifty‐one consecutive patients with pathology‐proven pancreatic carcinoma (n = 37) or MFCP (n = 14) were evaluated with DW imaging (b value, 0 and 1000 s/mm²) at a 3‐T MR system. Overall 20 healthy volunteers were evaluated as the control group. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of normal pancreas, pancreatic carcinoma, MFCP, and mass‐associated obstructive pancreatitis were measured. RESULTS: On high b value (1000 s/mm²) DW images, both pancreatic carcinoma and MFCP were hyperintense focal lesions; mass‐associated obstructive pancreatitis occurred in 17 of 37 (45.9%) pancreatic carcinoma and 8 of 14 (57.1%) MFCP. The ADC (×10^?3 mm²/s) of the pancreatic carcinomas (1.06 ± 0.15) was significantly lower than that of normal pancreas (1.47 ± 0.18; P < 0.01), MFCP (1.35 ± 0.14; P < 0.01) and mass‐associated chronic pancreatitis (1.44 ± 0.17; P < 0.01). The ADC of MFCP was also lower than that in the normal pancreas (P = 0.025), whereas the ADC of mass‐associated obstructive pancreatitis was not different from those of the MFCP (P = 0.113) and normal pancreas (P = 0.544). When 1.195 was used as the optimal cut‐off value, ADC quantification obtained a sensitivity of 85.7% and a specificity of 86.5% for differentiating pancreatic carcinomas from MFCP. CONCLUSION: High b value DW imaging in combination with ADC quantification at a 3‐T MR system is useful in differentiating between pancreatic carcinoma and MFCP.     

Value of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in early diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis

The objective of this study is to estimate the value of diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) in the detection of abnormalities in sacroiliac joints in the patients with early ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and investigate the feasibility of whole-body DWI (WB-DWI) in systemic evaluation of AS. Sixteen patients with early AS, 18 patients with simple low back pain (LBP), and 18 healthy volunteers were involved in this study. All subjects underwent conventional MRI and DWI. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in subchondral bone marrows of sacroiliac joints was measured. Independent-sample t test was used to statistically analyze the difference of ADC values between groups. WB-DWI was performed in additional 12 patients with clinically confirmed AS. The image results were analyzed by multiple post-processing techniques, as compared to conventional MRI. In AS patients, mean ADC values were (0.494?±?0.170)?×?10^?3?mm²/s in sacrum and (0.513?±?0.129)?×?10^?3?mm²/s in ilium, which were significantly higher than those of LBP ((0.306?±?0.057)?×?10^?3?mm²/s in sacrum and (0.323?±?0.083)?×?10^?3?mm²/s in ilium) and healthy volunteers ((0.315?±?0.009)?×?10^?3?mm²/s in sacrum and (0.319?±?0.012)?×?10^?3?mm²/s in ilium). No statistical differences were found between simple LBP and healthy volunteers. Mean ADC value of multiple lesions in AS was (0.932?±?0.299)?×?10^?3?mm²/s. By WB-DWI, abnormal signals of sacroiliac joints and extra-sacroiliac joint lesions were demonstrated in the locations corresponding with clinical findings. Mean ADC values of multiple lesions were (1.298?±?0.323)?×?10^?3?mm²/s in sacrum and (1.216?±?0.311)?×?10^?3?mm²/s in ilium. DWI and WB-DWI were shown to be effective in differentiation and systemic evaluation of early AS. Both techniques are likely to play an importance role in the early diagnosis of AS and assessment of treatment response.     

Primary biliary cirrhosis degree assessment by acoustic radiation force impulse imaging and hepatic fibrosis indicators

AIM: To evaluate the assessment of primary biliary cirrhosis degree by acoustic radiation force impulse imaging(ARFI) and hepatic fibrosis indicators. METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients who developed liver cirrhosis secondary to primary biliary cirrhosis were selected as the observation group, with the degree of patient liver cirrhosis graded by Child-Pugh(CP) score. Sixty healthy individuals were selected as the control group. The four indicators of hepatic fibrosis were detected in all research objects, including hyaluronic acid(HA), laminin(LN), type Ⅲ collagen(PC Ⅲ), and type Ⅳ collagen(Ⅳ-C). The liver parenchyma hardness value(LS) was then measured by ARFI technique. LS and the four indicators of liver fibrosis(HA, LN, PC Ⅲ, and Ⅳ-C) were observed in different grade CP scores. The diagnostic value of LS and the four indicators of liver fibrosis in determining liver cirrhosis degree with PBC, whether used alone or in combination, were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve.RESULTS: LS and the four indicators of liver fibrosis within the three classes(A, B, and C) of CP scores in the observation group were higher than in the control group, with C class B class A class; the differences were statistically significant(P 0.01). Although AUC values of LS within the three classes of CP scores were higher than in the four indicators of liver fibrosis, sensitivity and specificity were unstable. The ROC curves of LS combined with the four indicators of liver fibrosis revealed that: AUC and sensitivity in all indicators combined in the A class of CP score were higher than in LS alone, albeit with slightly decreased specificity; AUC and specificity in all indicators combined in the B class of CP score were higher than in LS alone, with unchanged sensitivity; AUC values(0.967), sensitivity(97.4%), and specificity(90%) of all indicators combined in the C class of CP score were higher than in LS alone(0.936, 92.1%, 83.3%). CONCLUSION: The diagnostic value of PBC cirrhosis degree in liver cirrhosis degree assessment by ARFI combined with the four indicators of serum liver fibrosis is of satisfactory effectiveness and has important clinical application value.