Hepatic inflammatory pseudotumor mimicking malignancy: the value of differential diagnosis on contrast enhanced ultrasound.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study is to investigate whether the use of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) can improve the differential diagnostic performance between hepatic inflammatory pseudotumor (HIPT) and other malignant tumors.

Material And Methods: Forty-four patients with histological proven HIPTs were included in this retrospective study. The features of conventional ultrasound (US) and CEUS were evaluated.

Effects of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation on the structure and function of mitral valves (a STROBE-compliant article).

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) on the structure and function of mitral valve and analyze independent risk factors of moderate to severe mitral regurgitation (MR) by quantitative measurement of mitral parameters using real-time 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.This study included 30 subjects with sinus rhythm group, and 65 patients with NVAF. The 65 patients with NVAF were divided into 35 with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation group and 30 with persistent atrial fibrillation.

Evaluation of the left atrial appendage by real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography online.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of online real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (RT3DTEE) in the measurement of left atrial appendage (LAA) orifice size. We also analyzed the correlation between LAA ejection fraction (EF) and its peak empty velocity (PEV).

Methods: There were 91 subjects enrolled in this study, with 46 patients with AF and 45 individuals with sinus rhythm (SR).

Human urinary kallidinogenase suppresses cerebral inflammation in experimental stroke and downregulates nuclear factor-kappaB.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the possible mechanism and the neuroprotective effect of human urinary kallidinogenase (HUK) in cerebral ischemia. The mouse middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was used. Mice were treated with HUK (20 PNAU/g per day, intravenous) or saline as control, from the beginning of reperfusion to 72 h.