Anti-epileptic/pro-epileptic effects of sodium channel modulators from Buthus martensii Karsch.

The East Asian scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch (BmK) is one of the classical traditional Chinese medicines for treating epilepsy for over a thousand years. Neurotoxins purified from BmK venom are considered as the main active ingredients, acting on membrane ion channels. Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) play a crucial role in the occurrence of epilepsy, which make them become important drug targets for epilepsy.

Combination of ultrasound elastography with TI-RADS in the diagnosis of small thyroid nodules (≤10 mm): A new method to increase the diagnostic performance.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of a new method of combined ultrasound elastography (UE) and thyroid imaging-reporting and data system (TI-RADS) in the differential diagnosis of small thyroid nodules.

Methods: Ultrasonography(US), TI-RADS, Elasticity Imaging (EI), Virtual Touch Tissue Imaging (VTI) and Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification (VTQ) features of 142 thyroid nodules (maximum diameter ≤10 mm according to conventional ultrasound measurement) confirmed by surgery or FNA were retrospectively analyzed. Different elastographic methods in small benign and malignant thyroid nodules were compared.

Quantitative parameters of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in breast invasive ductal carcinoma: The correlation with pathological prognostic factors.

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between quantitative parameters on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and pathological prognostic factors in patients with breast invasive ductal carcinomas (IDCs).

Materials And Methods: 102 patients with pathologically proven IDCs were retrospectively enrolled and all were preoperatively evaluated by CEUS. Quantitative analysis was conducted using the SonoLiver® software.

Psychological maladjustment of Asian and African peacekeepers in Liberia and its related factors.

This study aimed to investigate the maladjustment of Asian (Bangladeshi, Pakistani) and African (Nigerian, Namibian, Ghanaian) peacekeepers and its major influence factors. By random cluster sampling, 300 Asian peacekeepers and 271 African peacekeepers were administered the military psychological maladjustment scale (MPMS) and risk factors questionnaire. Investigation at Day 7 and Day 120 into the peacekeeping deployment period indicated that MPMS total score and factor scores of the Asian peacekeepers were significantly lower than those of the African peacekeepers (p < .