A preliminary study of changes in carotid artery elasticity in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Carotid stiffening is found to be present in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) together with endothelial dysfunction and it remains unclear about the role of carotid elasticity in the development of diabetic vascular damage. The aim of the study was to investigate changes and significance of carotid artery elasticity in diabetic patients with or without microvascular complications using velocity vector imaging (VVI) analysis.

Methods: Fifty participants were enrolled and divided into health Control group, the uncomplicated DM (uDM) group and the complicated DM (cDM) group.

Roles of Endothelial Motilin Receptor and Its Signal Transduction Pathway in Motilin-Induced Left Gastric Artery Relaxation in Dogs.

Motilin increases left gastric artery (LGA) blood flow in dogs the endothelial motilin receptor (MLNR). This article investigates the signaling pathways of endothelial MLNR. Motilin-induced relaxation of LGA rings was assessed using wire myography.

Comparison and preliminary discussion of the reasons for the differences in diagnostic performance and unnecessary FNA biopsies between the ACR TIRADS and 2015 ATA guidelines.

Objectives: (1) To compare the American College of Radiology (ACR) thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TIRADS) and American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines for thyroid nodules with regard to diagnostic performance and effectiveness at reducing the number of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies and to preliminarily discuss the reasons for the differences and (2) to compare the diagnostic performance of the two guidelines in the subgroup of nodules <1 cm in diameter.

Materials And Methods: In the present study, 1000 thyroid nodules in 894 consecutive patients with final diagnoses were included; these thyroid nodules were investigated via FNA biopsies in our hospital. The ultrasound (US) features of the thyroid nodules were reviewed and stratified according to the categories defined by the ACR TIRADS and ATA guidelines.

Preliminary report of microwave ablation for the primary papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: a large-cohort of 185 patients feasibility study.

Purpose: To assess the safety and efficacy of microwave ablation (MWA) for primary papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) with a large sample of 185 patients.

Methods: A total of 185 patients underwent MWA for 206 primary PTMC nodules. They received ultrasound follow-up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after MWA and every 6 months thereafter.

Application of the Hepatic Transit Time (HTT) in Evaluation of Portal Vein Pressure in Gastroesophageal Varices Patients.

Objectives: To analyze the clinical significance of using hepatic transit time (HTT) to evaluate portal vein pressure in gastroesophageal varices patients.

Methods: For the observation group, we enrolled 50 gastroesophageal varices patients who had received esophagogastric variceal embolization in our hospital between January 2015 and February 2018. Patients without liver disease populated the control group and were recruited during the same time period.

Pancreatic Elastography From Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Imaging for Evaluation of Diabetic Microangiopathy.

Objective: The purposes of this study were to compare pancreatic shear-wave velocity (SWV) in subjects with and those without diabetic microvascular complications and to investigate the feasibility of pancreatic SWV in evaluating diabetic microangiopathy.

Subjects And Methods: SWV measurements were prospectively performed in 115 patients with diabetes mellitus and 115 healthy persons by use of acoustic radiation force impulse imaging. Patients with diabetes were divided into subgroups with and without microangiopathy.

A wide-necked extracranial internal carotid artery saccular aneurysm with ipsilateral proximal compression.

Extracranial internal carotid artery aneurysms (EICAA) are rare and can elicit various neurologic symptoms. Here, we present a case of a saccular EICAA compressing its proximal parent internal carotid artery (ICA). Ultrasonography demonstrated the proximal ICA stenosis and the "tardus-parvus" Doppler waveform downstream.

CFTR polymorphisms of healthy individuals in two Chinese cities--Changchun and Nanjing.

Background And Aim: Mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which encodes a chloride channel, cause cystic fibrosis. In order to investigate the polymorphic backgrounds of CFTR genes of healthy populations in different Chinese cities (Changchun and Nanjing), we analyzed 119 blood samples (Changchun 64, Nanjing 55) of randomly selected healthy individuals for poly T, TG-repeats and M470V polymorphisms. We analyzed the differences of CFTR polymorphic distributions between the two Chinese cities from the south and the north.

Deletion of Slc26a6 alters the stoichiometry of apical Cl-/HCO-3 exchange in mouse pancreatic duct.

To define the stoichiometry and molecular identity of the Cl(-)/HCO(3)(-) exchanger in the apical membrane of pancreatic duct cells, changes in luminal pH and volume were measured simultaneously in interlobular pancreatic ducts isolated from wild-type and Slc26a6-null mice. Transepithelial fluxes of HCO(3)(-) and Cl(-) were measured in the presence of anion gradients favoring rapid exchange of intracellular HCO(3)(-) with luminal Cl(-) in cAMP-stimulated ducts. The flux ratio of Cl(-) absorption/HCO(3)(-) secretion was ∼0.

Pancreatic stone protein/regenerating protein family in pancreatic and gastrointestinal diseases.

Pancreatic stone protein (PSP; reported in 1979), pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP; 1984) and regenerating protein (Reg I; 1988) were discovered independently in the fields of the exocrine (pancreatitis) and endocrine (diabetes) pancreas. Subsequent analysis revealed that PSP and Reg I are identical and PAP belongs to the same protein family. PSP/Reg I and PAP share a selective and specific trypsin cleavage site and result in insoluble fibrils (PTP, PATP).

Lactoferrin in gastrointestinal disease.

Lactoferrin, a major whey protein, is a red iron-binding protein present mainly in external secretions such as breast milk and in polymorphonuclear neutrophils. The presence of lactoferrin in body fluids is proportional to the flux of neutrophils and its assessment can provide a reliable biomarker for inflammation. In gastrointestinal diseases increased fecal lactoferrin is a sensitive and specific surrogate marker for inflammatory bowel diseases in patients with chronic diarrhea and pain, and ascites lactoferrin can also provide a promising and reliable biomarker for bacterial peritonitis.

Lactoferrin in chronic pancreatitis.

The present review is focused on the clinical significance of lactoferrin in pancreatic secretions and stone formation in chronic pancreatitis, and of serum anti-lactoferrin antibody in autoimmune pancreatitis. Lactoferrin secretion is increased in pancreatic secretions in calcified and non-calcified chronic pancreatitis. Lactoferrin, pancreatic stone protein and trypsin are present in pancreatic stones.

Effects of Slc26a6 deletion and CFTR inhibition on HCO3- secretion by mouse pancreatic duct.

Pancreatic duct epithelium secretes HCO(3)(-)-rich fluid, which is dependent on cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). HCO(3)(-) transport across the apical membrane is thought to be mediated by both SLC26A6 Cl(-)-HCO(3)(-) exchange and CFTR HCO(3)(-) conductance. In this study we examined the relative contribution and interaction of SLC26A6 and CFTR in apical HCO(3)(-) transport.

Clinical evidence of pathogenesis in chronic pancreatitis.

Chronic pancreatitis is a continuing inflammatory disease characterized by irreversible morphological change and, typically, by pain and permanent impairment of function. The pathogenesis of pancreatitis, either acute or chronic, is still controversial. There have been no widely accepted concepts to provide a reasonable explanation linking the known etiological factors and the pathophysiological aspects of the disease.

Pancreatic stone protein of pancreatic calculi in chronic calcified pancreatitis in man.

Context: The role of protein components of pancreatic secretions has been controversial in pancreatic stone formation.

Objective: To study the lithogenic role of pancreatic stone protein and lactoferrin in stone formation in chronic pancreatitis.

Patients: Pancreatic stones were collected from 13 patients with alcoholic (n=6) and nonalcoholic (n=7) chronic calcified pancreatitis.