AIM:To find out if by combining 2 ultrasound based elastographic methods:acoustic radiation force impulse(ARFI)elastography and transient elastography(TE),we can improve the prediction of fibrosis in patients with chr...AIM:To find out if by combining 2 ultrasound based elastographic methods:acoustic radiation force impulse(ARFI)elastography and transient elastography(TE),we can improve the prediction of fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.METHODS:Our study included 197 patients with chronic hepatitis C.In each patient,we performed,in the same session,liver stiffness(LS)measurements by means of TE and ARFI,respectively,and liver biopsy(LB),assessed according to the Metavir score.10 LS measurements were performed both by TE and ARFI;median values were calculated and expressed in kilopascals(kPa)and meters/second(m/s),respectively.Only TE and ARFI measurements with IQR<30%andSR≥60%were considered reliable.RESULTS:On LB 13(6.6%)patients had F0,32(16.2%) had F1,52(26.4%)had F2,47(23.9%)had F3,and 53(26.9%)had F4.A direct,strong correlation was found between TE measurements and fibrosis(r=0.741),between ARFI and fibrosis(r=0.730)and also between TE and ARFI(r=0.675).For predicting significant fibrosis(F≥2),for a cutoff of 6.7 kPa,TE had 77.5% sensitivity(Se)and 86.5%specificity(Sp)[area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUROC)0.87] and for a cutoff of 1.2 m/s,ARFI had 76.9%Se and 86.7%Sp(AUROC 0.84).For predicting cirrhosis(F=4),for a cutoff of 12.2 kPa,TE had 96.2%Se and 89.6% Sp(AUROC 0.97)and for a cutoff of 1.8 m/s,ARFI had 90.4%Se and 85.6%Sp(AUROC 0.91).When both elastographic methods were taken into consideration,for predicting significant fibrosis(F≥2),(TE≥6.7 kPa and ARFI≥1.2 m/s)we obtained 60.5%Se,93.3% Sp,96.8%positive predictive value(PPV),41.4%negative predictive value(NPV)and 68%accuracy,while for predicting cirrhosis(TE≥12.2 kPa and ARFI≥1.8 m/s) we obtained 84.9%Se,94.4%Sp,84.9%PPV,94.4% NPV and 91.8%accuracy.CONCLUSION:TE used in combination with ARFI is highly specific for predicting significant fibrosis;therefore when the two methods are concordant,liver biopsy can be avoided.展开更多
Here we report electrospinning of Poly(dimethylsiloxane-b-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PDMS-b-PVP) based fibrous scaffold materials. The morphology, thermal properties, surface composition, hydrophilicity and fibers formation ...Here we report electrospinning of Poly(dimethylsiloxane-b-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PDMS-b-PVP) based fibrous scaffold materials. The morphology, thermal properties, surface composition, hydrophilicity and fibers formation with different PDMS and PVP chain lengths were determined by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (RXD) water vapor uptake and water contact angle (WCA). The electrospinning parameters were controlled as well as fiber deposition area. The influence of polymer solution concentration on the morphology of electrospun fibers was also investigated. We checked out the applicability of the electrospun fibers for tissue engineering by the investigation of their capability to support fibroblast cell adhesion, cell growth and proliferation.展开更多
文摘AIM:To find out if by combining 2 ultrasound based elastographic methods:acoustic radiation force impulse(ARFI)elastography and transient elastography(TE),we can improve the prediction of fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.METHODS:Our study included 197 patients with chronic hepatitis C.In each patient,we performed,in the same session,liver stiffness(LS)measurements by means of TE and ARFI,respectively,and liver biopsy(LB),assessed according to the Metavir score.10 LS measurements were performed both by TE and ARFI;median values were calculated and expressed in kilopascals(kPa)and meters/second(m/s),respectively.Only TE and ARFI measurements with IQR<30%andSR≥60%were considered reliable.RESULTS:On LB 13(6.6%)patients had F0,32(16.2%) had F1,52(26.4%)had F2,47(23.9%)had F3,and 53(26.9%)had F4.A direct,strong correlation was found between TE measurements and fibrosis(r=0.741),between ARFI and fibrosis(r=0.730)and also between TE and ARFI(r=0.675).For predicting significant fibrosis(F≥2),for a cutoff of 6.7 kPa,TE had 77.5% sensitivity(Se)and 86.5%specificity(Sp)[area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUROC)0.87] and for a cutoff of 1.2 m/s,ARFI had 76.9%Se and 86.7%Sp(AUROC 0.84).For predicting cirrhosis(F=4),for a cutoff of 12.2 kPa,TE had 96.2%Se and 89.6% Sp(AUROC 0.97)and for a cutoff of 1.8 m/s,ARFI had 90.4%Se and 85.6%Sp(AUROC 0.91).When both elastographic methods were taken into consideration,for predicting significant fibrosis(F≥2),(TE≥6.7 kPa and ARFI≥1.2 m/s)we obtained 60.5%Se,93.3% Sp,96.8%positive predictive value(PPV),41.4%negative predictive value(NPV)and 68%accuracy,while for predicting cirrhosis(TE≥12.2 kPa and ARFI≥1.8 m/s) we obtained 84.9%Se,94.4%Sp,84.9%PPV,94.4% NPV and 91.8%accuracy.CONCLUSION:TE used in combination with ARFI is highly specific for predicting significant fibrosis;therefore when the two methods are concordant,liver biopsy can be avoided.
文摘Here we report electrospinning of Poly(dimethylsiloxane-b-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PDMS-b-PVP) based fibrous scaffold materials. The morphology, thermal properties, surface composition, hydrophilicity and fibers formation with different PDMS and PVP chain lengths were determined by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (RXD) water vapor uptake and water contact angle (WCA). The electrospinning parameters were controlled as well as fiber deposition area. The influence of polymer solution concentration on the morphology of electrospun fibers was also investigated. We checked out the applicability of the electrospun fibers for tissue engineering by the investigation of their capability to support fibroblast cell adhesion, cell growth and proliferation.
