Ultrasonographic assessment of liver fibrosis with computer-assisted analysis of liver surface irregularities

PurposeThe goal of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a software program that automatically analyzes the liver surface to diagnose significant fibrosis, by comparing it to the subjective analysis of a radiologist and to transient elastography (Fibroscan^®).Patients and methodsOne hundred fourteen patients with chronic liver disease were included in the study. They underwent liver biopsy, FibroScan^® and ultrasonographic examination of the liver surface. The liver surface was analyzed by a software program that gave a score of surface irregularities. This evaluation was compared to subjective analysis by a radiologist expert in liver imaging and by two general radiologists.ResultsFifty percent of the patients had significant fibrosis according to the METAVIR score. The AUROC for the diagnosis of significant fibrosis by the software program was 0.80 (95%CI: 0.71–0.87), which was equivalent (P = 0.86) to that of FibroScan^® (0.81; 95%CI: 0.71–0.89). Results of the subjective analysis by the expert radiologist were poorer than those of the software analysis (P = 0.02) (AUROC = 0.66; 95%CI: 0.56–0.75). Interobserver agreement among radiologists was poor (0.25 < kappa < 0.37).ConclusionComputer-assisted liver surface analysis was better than subjective analysis, and similar to that of the FibroScan^®. This method could be useful for the diagnosis of significant fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis and complementary to the other non-invasive diagnostic tests.     

Impact of Oral Thrombolysis After Catheter-based Thrombectomy in Acute and Subacute Submassive Pulmonary Thromboembolism

@@     

Incidence of Pleural Effusion in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism

Background:

No data on the incidence of pleural effusion (PE) in Chinese patients with pulmonary embolism are available to date. The aim of the current study was to investigate the frequency of PE in a Chinese population of patients with pulmonary embolism.

Methods:

This was a retrospective observational single-center study. All data of computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) performed over 6-year period on adult patients with clinically suspected pulmonary embolism were analyzed.

Results:

From January 2008 until December 2013, PE was identified in 423 of 3141 patients (13.5%) with clinically suspected pulmonary embolism who underwent CTPA. The incidence of PE in patients with pulmonary embolism (19.9%) was significantly higher than in those without embolism (9.4%) (P < 0.001). Majority of PEs in pulmonary embolism patients were small to moderate and were unilateral. The locations of emboli and the numbers of arteries involved, CT pulmonary obstruction index, and parenchymal abnormalities at CT were not associated with the development of PE.

Conclusions:

PEs are present in about one fifth of a Chinese population of patients with pulmonary embolism, which are usually small, unilateral, and unsuitable for diagnostic thoracentesis.     

MANF蛋白表达水平与肝纤维化程度的相关性研究

目的：探讨中脑星形胶质细胞源性神经营养因子(MANF)蛋白在慢性乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染患者肝纤维化发生发展中的作用及其与临床特点的相关性。方法采用相对和绝对定量同位素标记( ITRAQ)蛋白质组学和免疫组化法检测肝脏穿刺组织中MANF蛋白的表达,分析其表达水平与肝脏炎症纤维化分期的关系;采用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测正常对照( NC)、乙肝病毒携带者( ASC)、慢性乙型肝炎患者( CHB)及乙肝后肝硬化患者( LC)外周血白细胞中MANF mRNA的表达水平,分析其与不同阶段慢性HBV感染者的临床病毒学和生化学指标的相关性。结果 MANF蛋白主要在肝细胞质中表达,其表达水平随着肝脏炎症及纤维化的程度加重而升高。 NC 组、ASC 组和 CHB 组分别与LC组比较,MANF mRNA的表达差异均有统计学意义( P<0．01)。 MANF mRNA 的表达水平在乙肝病毒表面抗原(HBsAg)<1．5×106 IU/L、(1．5×106~2．0×107) IU/L和>2．0×107 IU/L 3组间差异有统计学意义(P<0．05);在乙肝病毒e抗原( HBeAg)阳性组与阴性组之间差异有统计学意义(P<0．01);在胆红素正常组与异常组之间差异有统计学意义( P <0．01)。结论 MANF 蛋白可能参与了慢性HBV感染者肝纤维化的发生发展,并与其临床特点相关。     

肺动脉CT成像的技术优化及其临床价值

目的比较经验延迟法、上腔静脉跟踪触发技术、肺动脉干跟踪触发技术的肺动脉成像效果及诊断结果,探讨最优的肺动脉血管成像技术.方法选择2011年4月至2014年8月在疑似肺动脉栓塞的患者76例行肺动脉CT血管成像检查.按检查顺序分为:经验延迟组(Ⅰ组)22例;上腔静脉跟踪触发组(Ⅱ组)34例;肺动脉干跟踪触发组(Ⅲ组)20例.对3组的肺动脉干、亚段肺动脉、肺静脉、肺动静脉差值、主动脉、CNR、图像质量评分、上腔静脉伪影及诊断阳性率进行对比分析.结果肺动脉干CT值:Ⅲ组>Ⅰ组>Ⅱ组,差异有统计学意义(F=6.839,P=0.002);CNR值:Ⅲ组明显高于Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组,差异有统计学意义(F=5.4,P=0.007),但Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组的CNR值差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).3组亚段肺动脉、肺静脉、肺动静脉差值、主动脉、图像质量评分、上腔静脉伪影及诊断阳性率的比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 3种扫描方案均能得到满足诊断的肺动脉图像,但肺动脉触发技术可在不增加对比剂总量的情况下,获得比经验延迟法和上腔静脉触发技术更优质的肺动脉图像.     

支气管肺泡灌洗并镜下布地奈德灌注对儿童哮喘肺功能改善的分析

目的：探讨支气管肺泡灌洗并镜下布地奈德灌注对儿童哮喘治疗的临床意义。方法：选择83例6～48个月的哮喘急性发作中度持续期患儿,随机分为对照组42例,治疗组41例,对照组给予常规抗哮喘治疗,治疗组在常规抗哮喘治疗基础上给予支气管肺泡灌洗并镜下布地奈德灌注治疗,两组治疗前及治疗1周后分别测定各项肺功能指标,比较两组间肺功能改善情况。结果：治疗后两组肺功能皆有改善,治疗组肺功能改善尤为明显（P＜0．01）。结论：儿童哮喘急性发作临床症状缓解后给予支气管肺泡灌洗治疗是安全和有效的治疗手段;支气管肺泡灌洗并镜下布地奈德灌注能迅速降低气道高反应,快速有效缓解儿童哮喘的临床症状,改善哮喘患儿肺功能。     

刘尚义教授运用紫菀、款冬花、百部治疗肺系疾病经验举隅

中医所言肺系疾病,属于现代医学呼吸系统疾病范畴.临床常见呼吸系统疾病包括上呼吸道感染、支气管扩张、慢性阻塞性肺疾病、肺炎等,属中医“感冒”、“肺胀”、“咳嗽”范畴.本文对我省名老中医刘尚义教授配伍运用紫菀、款冬花、百部治疗肺系疾病的经验进行了介绍.     

Determination of procollagen type I carboxyterminal propeptide in Japanese patients with systemic sclerosis

Our objective was to clarify the relationship between the serum levels of procollagen type I carboxyterminal propeptide (PICP) and the extent of skin sclerosis or pulmonary fibrosis in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Thirty-eight SSc patients and 36 control subjects were examined for serum PICP levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. SSc patients were divided into two subgroups according to the grade of skin sclerosis. Mean PICP level in the SSc patients was significantly higher than that in the normal controls. In 53% of the SSc patients, the serum PICP levels were elevated more than 3 SD above the mean control value. The SSc patients with elevated serum PICP levels showed a high incidence of pulmonary fibrosis of diffuse skin sclerosis compared to those with normal PICP levels. Moreover, in 17 patients with pulmonary fibrosis there was an increase in the percentage of patients with elevated PICP levels in the group with diffuse SSc compared to that in the limited SSc group. Furthermore, there was a significant negative correlation between PICP levels and partial pressure of arterial oxygen levels (r=−0.744). We conclude that serum PICP levels may be a useful parameter for the evaluation of skin sclerosis and pulmonary fibrosis of SSc patients.     

Pericardial and pulmonary involvement in rheumatoid arthritis in Turkey

Summary Pericardial and lung involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), suspected to be less severe in a developing nation (Turkey), have been evaluated. We have studied clinical, echocardiographic and pulmonary findings (radiological and functional) in 93 consecutive Turkish patients with definite/classical RA. Findings were compared with those of a group of patients with osteoarthritis or local rheumatological conditions (n=60) in a blind protocol. Fifty patients with systemic lupus (SLE) were studied as a high risk control group for pericardial involvement. While pericardial disease was detected in 5.5% (5/90) of RA patients, it was detected in 6.6% (4/60) of the control patients. SLE patients had a 26% (13/50) prevalence. Interstitial lung disease was found in 27.7% of RA patients but it was present in 6.6% (4/60) of the control patients. We observed that a group of patients with RA in Turkey had a low prevalence of pericardial disease. This is further evidence that RA has a mild course in developing countries.     

CMR–Derived Extracellular Volume Fraction as a Marker for Myocardial Fibrosis: The Importance of Coexisting Myocardial Inflammation

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether extracellular volume fraction (ECV) can reliably inform on the extent of diffuse fibrosis in the simultaneous presence of myocardial inflammation, which has not been verified to date.