Can contrast-enhanced ultrasound differentiate the type of hepatic echinococcosis: cystic echinococcosis or alveolar echinococcosis?

Background: Hepatic echinococcosis (HE) is a zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus, and Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis are the most common, causing cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE), respectively. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is an imaging technique which has been recommended for identifying focal lesions in the liver.

[Feasibility of ultrasound radiomics-based models for classification of hepatic echinococcosis].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of establishment of ultrasound radiomics-based models for classification of hepatic echinococcosis, so as to provide insights into precision ultrasound diagnosis of hepatic echinococcosis.

Methods: The ultrasonographic images were retrospectively collected from 200 patients with hepatic echinococcosis in Shiqu County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province in October 2014, and the regions of interest were plotted in ultrasonographic images of hepatic echinococcosis lesions. The ultrasound radiomics features of hepatic echinococcosis were extracted with 25 methods, and screened using pre-selection and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator.

Mineral and bone disorder in hemodialysis patients in the Tibetan Plateau: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

Mineral and bone disorder (MBD) in hemodialysis patients is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Studies on the MBD status of hemodialysis patients at high altitudes are extremely limited. A total of 146 hemodialysis patients from 5 local hospitals across all districts with hemodialysis centers in the Tibetan Plateau were enrolled in this cross-sectional study.