Contrast-enhanced ultrasound in association with serum biomarkers for differentiating combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma from hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma(CHC)is a rare type of primary liver cancer.Due to its complex histopathological characteristics,the imaging features of CHC can overlap with those of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC).AIM To investigate the possibility and efficacy of differentiating CHC from HCC and ICC by using contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System(LI-RADS)and tumor biomarkers.METHODS Between January 2016 and December 2019,patients with histologically confirmed CHC,ICC and HCC with chronic liver disease were enrolled.The diagnostic formula for CHC was as follows:(1)LR-5 or LR-M with elevated alphafetoprotein(AFP)and carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9);(2)LR-M with elevated AFP and normal CA19-9;or(3)LR-5 with elevated CA19-9 and normal AFP.The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were calculated to determine the diagnostic value of the criteria.RESULTS After propensity score matching,134 patients(mean age of 51.4±9.4 years,108 men)were enrolled,including 35 CHC,29 ICC and 70 HCC patients.Based on CEUS LI-RADS classification,74.3%(26/35)and 25.7%(9/35)of CHC lesions were assessed as LR-M and LR-5,respectively.The rates of elevated AFP and CA19-9 in CHC patients were 51.4%and 11.4%,respectively,and simultaneous elevations of AFP and CA19-9 were found in 8.6%(3/35)of CHC patients.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,accuracy and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the aforementioned diagnostic criteria for discriminating CHC from HCC and ICC were 40.0%,89.9%,58.3%,80.9%,76.9%and 0.649,respectively.When considering the reported prevalence of CHC(0.4%-14.2%),the positive predictive value and NPV were revised to 1.6%-39.6%and 90.1%-99.7%,respectively.CONCLUSION CHCs are more likely to be classified as LR-M than LR-5 by CEUS LI-RADS.The combination of the CEUS LI-RADS classification with serum tumor markers shows high specificity but low sensitivity for the diagnosis of CHC.Moreover,CHC could be confidently excluded with high NPV.

Brief inhalation of sevoflurane can reduce glial scar formation after hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal rats

Previous studies have demonstrated that sevoflurane postconditioning can provide neuroprotection after hypoxic-ischemic injury and improve learning and memory function in developing rodent brains.The classical Rice-Vannucci model was used to induce hypoxic-ischemic injury,and newborn(postnatal day 7)rats were treated with 2.4%sevoflurane for 30 minutes after hypoxic-ischemic injury.Our results showed that sevoflurane postconditioning significantly improved the learning and memory function of rats,decreased astrogliosis and glial scar formation,increased numbers of dendritic spines,and protected the histomorphology of the hippocampus.Mechanistically,sevoflurane postconditioning decreased expression of von Hippel-Lindau of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and increased expression of DJ-1.Injection of 1.52μg of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1αinhibitor YC-1(Lificiguat)into the left lateral ventricle 30 minutes before hypoxic-ischemic injury reversed the neuroprotection induced by sevoflurane.This finding suggests that sevoflurane can effectively alleviate astrogliosis in the hippocampus and reduce learning and memory impairments caused by glial scar formation after hypoxic-ischemic injury.The underlying mechanism may be related to upregulated DJ-1 expression,reduced ubiquitination of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α,and stabilized hypoxiainducible factor-1αexpression.This study was approved by the Laboratory Animal Care Committee of China Medical University,China(approval No.2016PS337K)on November 9,2016.

Three-dimensional-printed custom-made patellar endoprosthesis for recurrent giant cell tumor of the patella:A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Giant cell tumor(GCT)is a benign lesion and rarely involves the patella.This disease is characterized by a relatively high recurrence rate after primary treatment.En bloc resection has been a predominant option for recurrent GCT.However,total patellectomy can lead to disruption of the knee.Therefore,exploration of functional reconstruction of the extensor mechanism is worthwhile.CASE SUMMARY A 54-year-old woman presented with right knee pain and swelling,and was diagnosed as having a GCT in the patella following curettage and autograft.Medical imaging revealed a lytic and expanded lesion involving the whole patella with focal cortical breaches and pathological fracture.Based on the combination of histological,radiological,and clinical features,a diagnosis of recurrent GCT in the patella was made(Campanacci grade III).After a multidisciplinary team discussion,three-dimensional(3D)-printed custom-made patellar endoprosthesis was performed following en bloc resection for reconstructing the extensor mechanism.The patient was followed for 35 mo postoperatively.No evidence of local recurrence,pulmonary metastasis,or osteoarthritis of the right knee was observed.The active flexion arc was 0°-120°,and no extension lag was detected.A favorable patellar tracking and height(Insall-Salvati ratio 0.93)were detected by radiography.CONCLUSION We depict a case of a GCT at the right patella,which was successfully treated by patellectomy and 3D-printed custom-made endoprosthetic replacement.The patella normal reconstruction,the precise-fit articular design,and gastrocnemius flap augmentation could lead to satisfactory knee function and a low rate of complications in the short-term follow-up.