Reactive arthritis in connective tissue diseases; one should be vigilant for joint tuberculosis.

The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) is increasing worldwide. Bone and joint TB are the most common types of extra-pulmonary TB, but can easily be misdiagnosed, since articular TB commonly mimics other joint diseases, including reactive and degenerative arthritis, and articular manifestations associated with systemic autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, patients with systemic auto-immune diseases are often more prone to mycobacterial infection.

Ultrasound-Targeted Microbubble Destruction Delivery of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 cDNA and Transforming Growth Factor Beta Short Hairpin RNA Enhances Tendon Regeneration and Inhibits Scar Formation In Vivo.

Ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD), which has been successfully used for the treatment of many diseases, offers a promising noninvasive approach for target-specific gene delivery. This study investigated the UTMD delivery of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) cDNA and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) short hairpin RNA for Achilles tendon injury in rats. Briefly, 168 rats with an injured Achilles tendon were randomly divided into seven groups: (1) IGF-1 + UTMD, (2) TGF-β + UTMD, (3) IGF-1 + TGF-β + UTMD, (4) control, (5) IGF-1, (6) TGF-β, and (7) IGF-1 + TGF-β.

Primary hepatic sarcomatoid carcinoma: A case report.

Sarcomatoid carcinoma (SC) is a malignant tumor type of unclear pathogenesis, which rarely occurs in the liver. The present study reports the case of a 60-year-old woman who presented with multiple masses in her liver, with no fever, abdominal pain or jaundice. Serological markers for hepatitis B and C virus were negative, as was the test for α fetoprotein.

Targeted gene delivery to the synovial pannus in antigen-induced arthritis by ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction in vivo.

The purpose of this study was to optimize an ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) technique to improve the in vivo transfection efficiency of the gene encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) in the synovial pannus in an antigen-induced arthritis rabbit model. A mixture of microbubbles and plasmids was locally injected into the knee joints of an antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) rabbits. The plasmid concentrations and ultrasound conditions were varied in the experiments.

[Correlation between quantitative results of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and clinical and laboratory indexes for synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis ].

Objective: To determine the correlation between quantitative results of contrast enhanced ultrasound and clinical and laboratory index for synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Thirty five RA patients participated in this study, with ten normal adults serving as controls. They were given a score of DAS28 and underwent laboratory tests, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP).

[Enhanced local gene transfection in rats with injured achilles tendons and granulation tissues using ultrasound and microbubble].

Objective: To identify best local ukrasound transfection conditions in rats with injured achilles tendons and granulation tissues.

Methods: Rat models with bilateral injured achilles tendons were established. A mixture of microbubbles and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) plasmids were injected into the achilles tendons.

[Progress of ultrasound microbubble contrast technology in the diagnosis and treatment of clinical diseases].

Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) technology has made important developments over the past decade. It has been applied in the clinical diagnosis for various diseases of multiple organs including liver, kidney, thyroid, breast and so on, which greatly improves the accuracy of ultrasound diagnosis. The emergence of targeted ultrasound microbubble makes ultrasound molecular imaging possible.

[Diagnostic value of ultrasound imaging in chronic gouty arthritis].

Objective: To determine the diagnostic value of ultrasound imaging in chronic gouty arthritis.

Methods: Ultrasound imaging of 32 patients with chronic gouty arthritis were compared with those of 36 patients with non-gouty joint diseases. A logistic model was obtained to establish the associations between ultrasound appereances and gouty arthritis.