Assessment of Coronary Stents by 64-slice Computed Tomography: In-stent Lumen Visibility and Patency

Objective To assess lumen visibility of coronary stents by 64-slice computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography, and determine the value of 64-slice CT in non-invasive detecting of in-stent restenosis after coronary artery stent implantation. Methods Totally, 60 patients (54 males, aged 57.0±12.7 years) and 105 stents were investigated by 64-slice CT at a mean interval of 20.0±16.6 months after coronary stents implantation. Axial multi-planar reconstruction images of the stents and curved-planar reconstruction images through the median of the stents were reconstructed for evaluating stent image quality on a 5-point scale (1=excellent, 5=non assessable), and stent lumen diameter was detected. Conventional coronary angiography was performed in 18 patients, and 32 stents were evaluated. Results Image quality was good to excellent on average (score 1.71±0.76). Stent image quality score was correlated to heart rate (r=0.281, P<0.01) and stent diameter (r=-0.480, P<0.001). All the stents were assessable in lumen visibility with an average visible lumen diameter percentage of 60.7%±13.6%. Visible lumen diameter percentage was correlated to heart rate (r=-0.193, P<0.05), stent diameter (r=0.403, P<0.001), and stent image quality score (r=-0.500, P<0.001). Visible lumen diameter percentage also varied depending on the stent type. In comparison with the conventional coronary angiography, 4 of 6 in-stent stenoses were correctly detected. The sensitivity and specificity for the detection of in-stent stenosis were 66.7% and 84.6%, respectively. Conclusions Using a 64-slice CT, the stent lumen is partly visible in most of the stents. And 64-slice CT may be useful in the assessment of stent patency.

Value of DNA ploid detection for the evaluation of cancer cell proliferation and invasion activity in cervical cancer

Objective: To study the value of DNA ploid detection for the evaluation of cancer cell proliferation and invasion activity in cervical cancer. Methods: Patients with cervical cancer who underwent surgical resection in Yan'an University Affiliated Hospital between March 2015 and May 2017 were selected as cervical cancer group of the research, and patients with benign lesions who underwent hysterectomy in Yan'an University Affiliated Hospital during the same period were selected as the control group of the research. Before operation, cervical exfoliated cytology was taken for DNA ploid detection;before operation, the cervical tissue was taken to determine the expression of proliferation genes and invasion genes. Results: The number of exfoliated cells with abnormal DNA ploid in cervical cancer group was significantly higher than that in control group;Id-1, Ki-67, TET1, S6K1, CatL and ILK mRNA expression in cervical cancer tissue of cervical cancer group were significantly higher than those of control group whereas HSG, MCPH1, p16, TIMP1 and TIMP2 mRNA expression were significantly lower than those of control group;Id-1, Ki-67, TET1, S6K1, CatL and ILK mRNA expression in cervical cancer tissue with 3 exfoliated cells with abnormal DNA ploid were significantly higher than those in cervical cancer tissue with 1-2 exfoliated cells with abnormal DNA ploid whereas HSG, MCPH1, p16, TIMP1 and TIMP2 mRNA expression were significantly lower than those in cervical cancer tissue with 1-2 exfoliated cells with abnormal DNA ploid. Conclusion: DNA ploid detection can be used to evaluate the proliferation and invasion of cancer cells in cervical cancer.

Cosmetics use-related adverse events

To the Editor: Cosmetics (non-prescription skin care products) use-induced adverse events could present as skin erythema, papules, pruritus, dryness, desquamation, and abnormal discoloration. Non-medicated cosmetics use is more and more common in the China, but little is known about the characteristics of cosmetic-related adverse events.