The impacts of biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastic on the performance and microbial community characterization of aerobic granular sludge.

Introduction: Microplastics (MPs), identified as emerging contaminants, have been detected across diverse environmental media. Their enduring presence and small size facilitate the adsorption of organic pollutants and heavy metals, leading to combined pollution effects. MPs also accumulate in the food chain thus pose risks to animals, plants, and human health, garnering significant scholarly attention in recent years.

A Method for Achieving Nanoscale Visual Positioning Measurement Based on Ultra-Precision Machining Microstructures.

Microscopic visual measurement is one of the main methods used for precision measurements. The observation morphology and image registration algorithm used in the measurement directly affect the accuracy and speed of the measurement. This paper analyzes the influence of morphology on different image registration algorithms through the imaging process of surface morphology and finds that complex morphology has more features, which can improve the accuracy of image registration.

A First Report of Thyroid pneumatosis as a Complication of Ultrasound-Guided Thyroid Biopsy.

Background: Ultrasound-guided needle biopsies, including fine-needle aspirations (FNA) and core needle biopsies (CNB), have become an effective technique in the evaluation of thyroid nodules. In this report, we discuss the first reported case, to our knowledge, of thyroid pneumatosis after ultrasound-guided FNA.

Case Presentation: A 44-year-old woman underwent ultrasound-guided FNA in other hospitals after thyroid ultrasound revealed a solid lesion in the left lobe classified as TI-RADS 4.

D-dimer for assessment of treatment response, and survival to drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: D-dimer exhibits a certain prognostic value in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who underwent hepatectomy and microwave ablation, while its value in estimating the clinical benefit of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) remains unclear. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the correlation of D-dimer with tumor features, response and survival to DEB-TACE in HCC patients.

Methods: Fifty-one HCC patients treated with DEB-TACE were recruited.

Safety and efficacy of percutaneous microwave ablation using combined computed tomography and ultrasound-guided imaging in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A retrospective study.

Background: We retrospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) using combined computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US)-guided imaging in patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC)-A1-3 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: We included 88 consecutive patients with single HCC who were treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) using our database. The patients were divided into three groups.

Treatment efficacy and safety of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization versus conventional transarterial chemoembolization in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with arterioportal fistula.

This study aimed to compare the treatment efficacy and tolerance between drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) and conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with arterioportal fistula (APF). A total of 44 HCC patients with APF scheduled for DEB-TACE (N = 24, as DEB-TACE group) or cTACE (N = 20, as cTACE group) were recruited. Treatment response, hepatic function, and adverse events were assessed or recorded.

FAM83H-AS1/miR-485-5p/MEF2D axis facilitates proliferation, migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Background: Abundant evidence has manifested that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are closely implicated in human cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Remarkably, lncRNA FAM83H antisense RNA 1 (FAM83H-AS1) has been reported to be a tumor-propeller in multiple cancers. However, its effect on HCC progression remains unknown.

Effect of microwave ablation on platelet and coagulation function in patients with BCLC-A hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To preliminarily evaluate the effect of microwave ablation (MWA) alone on platelet (PLT) and coagulation function in patients with BCLC-A hepatocellular carcinoma (B-A-HCC) using a retrospective method.

Materials And Methods: A total of 36 patients with 48 B-A-HCCs were radically treated with MWA alone under the guidance of ultrasound between April and October 2018. PLT coagulation indexes were measured before and after MWA at 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, and 2 weeks, and blood samples (after morning fasting) were collected from cubital veins.

Drug-eluting beads-transarterial chemoembolization plus microwave ablation is an effective and safe treatment strategy in treating hepatocellular carcinoma adjacent to gallbladder.

The present study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of drug-eluting beads-transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) plus microwave ablation (MWA) versus () surgery in treating patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) adjacent to gallbladder. Totally 54 patients with HCC adjacent to gallbladder were included and divided into two groups: DEB-TACE plus MWA group (n = 24) and surgery group (n = 30). Treatment response, relapse-free survival (RFS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and adverse events were assessed and documented.

Imaging features and outcomes in patients with ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization: a retrospective clinical study.

Objective: To summarize and analyze the imaging features and outcomes of patients with ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Methods: We investigated all consecutive patients with HCC who received standardized TACE based on our hospital database. Ruptured HCCs were divided into three types according to their relationship with the liver capsule, determined by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans: Type I, portion of tumor cambered outwards ≤30%; Type II, portion of tumor cambered outwards >30% and <50%; and Type III, portion of tumor cambered outwards ≥50%.

The development of a predictive risk model on post-ablation hemobilia: a multicenter matched case-control study.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a predictive risk model for post-ablation hemobilia.

Methods: This was a retrospective, multicenter, matched case-control study. The case group comprised patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who developed post-ablation hemobilia ( = 21); the control group ( = 63) comprised patients with hepatocellular carcinoma but no post-ablation hemobilia; for each case, we included three controls matched for age, sex, platelet count, year of ablation therapy, and center.

Hepatocellular carcinoma with type II-III portal vein tumour thrombosis: treatment using transarterial chemoembolisation and microwave ablation.

Objective: To evaluate the use of transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) combined with microwave ablation (MWA) to treat patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and type Ⅱ-Ⅲ portal vein tumour thrombosis (PVTT) intolerant to targeted drug (TG) therapy.

Methods: A total of 18 patients with HCC and type Ⅱ-Ⅲ PVTT intolerant to TG were enrolled between June 2015 and December 2019, who were treated with TACE + MWA (MWA group). 24 patients were treated with TACE + TG (TG group; control cohort).

Drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization is an effective downstaging option for subsequent radical treatments in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A cohort study.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the potential of drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) as downstaging therapy for subsequent radical treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Totally, 32 patients with unresectable HCC were enrolled, then they received DEB-TACE for down-staging therapy followed by radical treatments (surgery, radiofrequency ablation or microwave ablation). The rate of successful down-staging, treatment response (after DEB-TACE and radical therapy), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed.

Diagnosis of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): rRT-PCR or CT?

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic value of computed tomography (CT) and real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) for COVID-19 pneumonia.

Methods: This retrospective study included all patients with COVID-19 pneumonia suspicion, who were examined by both CT and rRT-PCR at initial presentation. The sensitivities of both tests were then compared.

Investigating the risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma and survival analysis for cirrhosis after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in treating portal hypertension.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and survival analysis for cirrhosis after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in treating portal hypertension.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective database review was performed, including 106 patients (33 females and 73 males; aged 26-68 years with mean age of 55.3 ± 9.

[Use of direct portal vein puncture portography with modified TIPS treatment in patients with portal hypertension and gastro-esophageal varices bleeding].

Objective: To explore a better procedure for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in order to improve its safety and to extend its indications.

Methods: To puncture the right portal branch under sonographic guidance in 20 patients with portal hypertension and gastro-esophageal bleeding. The Teflon sheath with gold marker was put into the portal vein; anterior and lateral portography was made, portal pressure was measured and the gastric coronal vein was embolized.