Value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with elastography in evaluating cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND Cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC) affects the treatment and prognosis of patients. Ultrasound is a common imaging method for detecting cervical lymph nodes in PTC patients; however, it is not accurate in determining lymph node metastasis.AIM To evaluate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with elastography in evaluating cervical lymph node metastasis in PTC.METHODS A total of 94 patients with PTC were recruited. According to pathological results,lymph nodes were divided into two groups: metastatic group(n = 50) and reactive group(n = 63). The routine ultrasound findings, contrast-enhanced ultrasound and elastography data were recorded and compared. Logistic regression was used to generate predictive probability distributions for the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis with different indicators. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to test the efficacy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with elastography based on routine ultrasound in evaluating PTC cervical lymph node metastasis.RESULTS The ratio of long diameter/short diameter(L/S) ≤ 2, irregular marginal morphology, missing lymphatic portal, peripheral or mixed blood flow distribution, peak intensity(PI), non-uniform contrast distribution and elasticity score in the metastatic group were significantly higher than those in the reactive group(P < 0.05). L/S ratio, missing lymphatic portal, PI and elasticity score had a significant influence on the occurrence of PTC cervical lymph node metastasis(P< 0.05). Furthermore, the area under the curve(AUC) for lymph node metastasis diagnosed using the combination of PI ratio, elasticity score, missing lymphatic portal and LS was 0.936, which was significantly higher than the AUC for PI ratio alone. The difference was statistically significant(P < 0.05). The fitting equation for the combined diagnosis was logit(P) =-12.341 + 1.482 × L/S ratio + 3.529 ×missing lymphatic portal + 0.392 × PI + 3.288 × elasticity score.CONCLUSION Based on the gray-scale ultrasound, the combination of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and elastography can accurately assess PTC cervical lymph node metastasis.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors of Talaromyces marneffei infection in human immunodeficiency virus-negative patients: A retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND: To investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors of human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)-negative patients with Talaromyces marneffei(T. marneffei) infection.METHODS: We retrospectively collected the clinical information of HIV-negative patients with T. marneffei infection from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2019, and analyzed the related risk factors of poor prognosis.RESULTS: Twenty-five cases aging 22 to 79 years were included. Manifestations of T. marneffei infection included fever, cough, dyspnea, chest pain or distress, lymphadenopathy, ear, nose, and throat(ENT) and/or skin lesions, bone or joint pain, edema and pain in the lower extremities, digestive symptoms, icterus, malaise, and hoarseness. Two cases had no comorbidity, while 23 cases suff ered from autoimmune disease, pulmonary disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases. Sixteen cases had a medication history of glucocorticoids, chemotherapy or immunosuppressors. Pulmonary lesions included interstitial infiltration, nodules, atelectasis, cavitary lesions, pleural effusion or hydropneumothorax, bronchiectasis, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary edema, and consolidation. The incidence of osteolytic lesions was 20%. Eight patients received antifungal monotherapy, and 11 patients received combined antifungal agents. Fifteen patients survived and ten patients were dead. The Cox regression analysis showed that reduced eosinophil counts, higher levels of blood urea nitrogen(BUN), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), lactic dehydrogenase(LDH), myoglobin(Mb), procalcitonin(PCT), and galactomannan were related to poor prognosis(hazard ratio [HR]>1, P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS: Bone destruction is common in HIV-negative patients with T. marneffei infection. Defective cell-mediated immunity, active infection, multiple system, and organ damage can be the risk factors of poor prognosis.

Rare and Precious Chinese Materia Medica: Pseudobulbus Cremastrae seu Pleiones

Shan Ci Gu(山慈菇Pseudobulbus Cremastrae seu Pleiones),a rare and precious traditional Chinese medicine,has attracted attention for the treatment of various cancers and bacterial infections.According to the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China,Pseudobulbus Cremastrae seu Pleionesis sourced from the pseudobulbs of three plants in the Orchidaceae family:Cremastra appendiculata(D.Don)Makino,Pleione bulbocodioides(Franch.)Rolfe,and Pleione yunnanensis Rolfe.Extracts from Pseudobulbus Cremastrae seu Pleiones are used for the treatment of tumors,burns,and frostbite.The aims of this review are to provide information on the historical and herbological origins of Pseudobulbus Cremastrae seu Pleiones,to summarize research conducted on its phytochemical and biological activities over the last twenty years,and to detail planting efforts.

Study on the development and usage of a cardiopulmonary resuscitation time point recorder

BACKGROUND: To invent a novel cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) time point recorder to synchronously and automatically record the time and to identify its effectiveness in humans.METHODS: A CPR time point recorder was invented after the doctors were familiar with the traditional Utstein recovery registration mode and mastered the registration time points required. The progress of CPR was simulated. The standard and correct times were recorded, and the doctors performing the recovery collected the data about the times using our CPR time point recorder or the memory registration mode.RESULTS: The deviation times were 21.4±24.7 seconds for the memory group and 3.57±4.58 seconds for CPR time point recorder group. The deviation of times increased signifi cantly depending on the increase of the operation items in the memory group. A similar phenomenon was found in the timer group but with a smaller difference(P<0.01).CONCLUSION: A CPR time point recorder could reduce the deviation of operate-time, especially after a long-time operation, and for procedures with more operating items, compared with the memory mode. It was a more advantageous and accurate method for the Utstein registration.