Novel Signaling Pathway and NSC689534 as a Potential Drug Candidate for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common malignancy of the skin, and its incidence is increasing annually. Once cSCC becomes metastatic, its associated mortality rate is much higher than that of cSCC . However, the current treatments for progressive cSCC have several limitations.

Integrated analysis from multi-center studies identities m7G-derived modification pattern and risk stratification system in skin cutaneous melanoma.

The m7G modification has been proven to play an important role in RNA post-transcriptional modification and protein translation. However, the potential role of m7G modification patterns in assessing the prognosis of Skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) and tumor microenvironment (TME) has not been well studied. In this study, we investigated and finally identified 21 available m7G-related genes.

Measurement of serum procalcitonin levels for the early diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

Background: It is difficult to diagnose spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) early in decompensated liver cirrhotic ascites patients (DCPs). The aim of the study was to measure serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels and peripheral blood leukocyte/platelet (WBC/PLT) ratios to obtain an early diagnostic indication of SBP in DCPs.

Methods: Our cohort of 129 patients included 112 DCPs (94 of whom had infections) and 17 cases with compensated cirrhosis as controls.

Clinical efficacy of tolvaptan for treatment of refractory ascites in liver cirrhosis patients.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tolvaptan to treat refractory ascites in decompensated liver cirrhosis patients with or without further complications, such as hepatorenal syndrome and/or hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: Thirty-nine patients (mean age 55 years, males: 32) with decompensated liver cirrhosis and refractory ascites were enrolled. All patients received a combination of tolvaptan (15 mg/d for 5-14 d) and diuretics (40-80 mg/d of furosemide and 80-160 mg/d of spironolactone).

HBsAg loss is not an ideal indicator for discontinuing treatment of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B: a case report.

We experienced a case of a 36-year-old married man who was found to be hepatitis B virus (HBV) positive at 23 years of age. His liver function was repeatedly abnormal in the past 13 years. In November 2007 he presented with fatigue.

[Perfusion characteristics of normal renal cortex with 64-slice spiral CT].

Objective: To evaluate perfusion characteristics of normal renal cortex with 64-slice spiral CT and to investigate the correlation between perfusion parameters and gender, age, and serum creatinine (Scr).

Methods: In total 71 healthy subjects, the kidney non-enhanced imaging and perfusion imaging with 64-slice spiral CT were performed. Perfusion parameters of renal cortex including blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), and permeability (PM) were calculated with Siemens Body PCT (VB20B) software.

[Perfusion characteristics of renal tumor and volume of normal kidney before and after arterial embolization on 64-slice spiral CT].

Objective: To investigate the perfusion characteristics and compare the volume of normal kidney and serum creatinine (Scr) before and after arterial embolization on 64-slice spiral CT.

Methods: Totally 21 patients with renal tumor were enrolled. Sixty-four slice spiral CT was used for renal perfusion scan before and after patients underwent tumor arterial embolization.

[Dual-energy CT angiography for evaluation of internal carotid artery stenosis and occlusion].

Objective: To compare the feasibility of bone and calcified plaque subtracted dual-energy CT angiography (CTA) with time of flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF MRA) in evaluation of internal carotid artery atherosclerosis.

Methods: Totally 32 patients received a dual-energy CTA scan, along with a cerebral TOF MRA scan before or after CTA examination from one day to one month. Dual-energy software was used for bone and calcified plaque subtraction.

[Radiological features of dual-energy CT lung perfusion imaging in patients with acute pulmonary embolism: comparison with CT pulmonary angiography].

Objective: To explore the relationship of the perfusion defects in the dual-energy CT lung perfusion image and the filling defects in the CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Methods: The clinical data of 22 patients with acute pulmonary embolism were retrospectively analyzed. All of them underwent contrast CT scan in two phases using dual-energy CT: the first is pulmonary artery phase, and the second was performed immediately after the first phase using dual-energy scan covered the whole lung.

[Perfusion characteristics of renal mass with 64-slice spiral computed tomography].

Objective: To investigate the perfusion characteristics of renal mass parenchyma on 64-slice spiral computed tomography (CT).

Methods: Totally 91 patients with renal mass were enrolled. Sixty-four slice spiral CT was used for renal perfusion scan that began with a contrast bolus injection of 50 ml (370 mgI/ml) at a rate of 5 ml/s.

Spectrum of functioning islet cell tumor on multislice computed tomography: experience on 70 patients.

Objective: To review experience in preoperative detection of islet cell tumors using multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and summarize various imaging features of functioning islet cell tumors on enhanced MSCT.

Methods: Seventy patients with clinical or pathological diagnosis of functioning pancreatic islet cell tumor between October 2003 and February 2007 were included in this retrospective study. Seventy-four enhanced MSCT scans in these patients were identified.

Coronary angiography with dual source computed tomography: initial experience.

Objective: To explore the scan technique and image quality of coronary angiography with dual source computed tomography (CT) without oral metoprolol preparation.

Methods: Plain and enhanced dual source CT coronary angiography without oral metoprolol preparation was prospectively performed in 600 patients. Calcium scoring with plain scan images as well as multi-planar reconstruction (MPR), maximum intensity projection (MIP), and volume rendering technique (VRT) reconstruction with enhanced scan images were performed in all cases.

Retrospective analysis of magnetic resonance myocardial delayed enhancement.

Objective: To explore the imaging and related clinical characteristics of magnetic resonance (MR) delayed enhancement in patients with ischemic or nonischemic heart disease.

Methods: Thirty-two cases who underwent MR myocardial cine and delayed enhancement imaging from January 2004 to October 2006 were retrospectively analyzed. The cine sequence imaging included the four-chamber view and the left ventricular short axis view.

[Perfusion characteristics of normal pancreas and insulinoma on multi-slice spiral CT].

Objective: To investigate the perfusion characteristics of normal pancreas and insulinoma on multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT).

Methods: Totally 21 subjects with suspected insulinoma were enrolled. Sixteen-slice spiral CT was used for perfusion scan following a standard contrast-enhanced scan.

[Assessment of global left ventricular function with multi-slice spiral computed tomography].

Objective: To investigate the value of multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) in the determination of global left ventricular function.

Methods: Twenty-nine patients with confirmed or suspected coronary heart diseases were imaged with a contrast-enhanced retrospective electrocardiogram (ECG) -gated technique on a 64-slice spiral CT scanner. The data sets were reconstructed at both end-diastolic and end-systolic phases in order to measure left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), left ventricular stroke volume (LVSV), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

[Assessment of coronary stent lumen visibility and patency by 64-slice spiral CT angiography].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of assessment of coronary stent patency by 64-slice spiral CT coronary angiography.

Methods: Totally 29 patients (59 stents) were investigated using a retrospective ECG-gated enhanced scan by 64-slice spiral CT at a mean interval of (28.4 +/- 21.

[Comparison of coronary angiography between 64-slice and 16-slice spiral CT].

Objective: To compare the image quality and visibility of arteries of 64-slice spiral coronary CT angiography (CTA) with those of 16-slice spiral coronary CTA, and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice spiral CT for the assessment of coronary artery stenosis.

Methods: Totally 100 patients (Group A) with suspected coronary artery diseases (CAD) were examined by 64-slice spiral CT, 48 of whom also underwent conventional coronary angiography (CAG). Another 100 patients (Group B) with suspected CAD were studied by 16-slice spiral CT.

[Comparison of coronary artery bypass graft imaging between 64-slice and 16-slice spiral CT].

Objective: To compare the coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) imaging between 16-slice spiral CT and 64-slice spiral CT.

Methods: Totally 27 patients with CABG received multi-slice spiral CT imaging and the results were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 8 patients received 16-slice spiral CT scanning, 19 patients received 64-slice spiral CT scanning.

[Diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis affecting carotid arteries with multi-slice spiral CT].

Objective: To explore changes in the carotid arteries in Tarkayasu arteritis (TA) with computed tomographic angiography (CTA).

Methods: The common carotid artery intima-medial thickness (CCA-IMT) in 20 common carotid arteries (CCAs) in 10 controls and 40 CCAs in 20 patients with TA were analyzed and compared.

Results: Contrast-enhanced CT scanning combined with the application of 3D reconstruction clearly showed the carotid vascular luminal abnormalities, such as stenosis, occlusion, dilation, and aneurysm formation.

[CT perfusion in evaluation of cerebral hemodynamics in carotid artery stenosis].

Objective: To study the clinical value of multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) perfusion technique in evaluation of cerebral hemodynamics in patients with severe carotid stenooclusive lesions.

Methods: Twenty-three patients with severe carotid stenosis were enrolled for evaluation of cerebral hemodynamics, including 12 patients with carotid occlusion and 11 with severe carotid stenosis (> 70%). Among them, 16 patients had multiple arterial diseases, including contralateral carotid stenosis, vertebral arteries stenosis, and cerebral arteries stenosis or occlusion.

Non-invasive imaging of coronary artery with 16-slice spiral computed tomography.

Objective: To evaluate the value of 16-slice spiral CT in the demonstration of coronary artery and in the diagnose of coronary artery stenosis.

Methods: Plain and enhanced CT scans were performed with a 16-slice CT scanner (Sensation 16, Siemens, Germany) in 230 patients with suspected coronary heart disease (CHD). Parameters of the plain scan were: 120 kV, 133 mA, slice collimation 16 mm x 1.

[Techniques and clinical applications of 16 multislice helical CT in colonic diseases].

Objective: To evaluate the techniques and clinical applications of 16 multislice helical CT in colonic lesions.

Methods: Eighty-one patients including 54 colorectal carcinomas, 5 adenomas, 1 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 6 inflammatory bowel diseases, and other 15 cases underwent volume scanning using 16 multislice helical CT. Four types of reconstruction included multiple planar reconstruction, shaded surface display, raysum, and CT virtual colonoscopy.

[Non cholangio-contrast cholangiopancreatography using multi-slice spiral CT].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) for cholangiopancreatography without cholangio-contrast.

Methods: Ten patients without any digestion system diseases and 24 patients with suspected pancreatic malignancy received the 16-slice spiral CT multi-phased contrast-enhanced scanning. The images of patients without any digestion system diseases and cancer-suffered patients were curved reformatted (CR) technique to perform the structure of pancreatic duct, common bile duct, and ampulla.

[Coronary angiography with sixteen-slice spiral CT: an initial study].

Objective: To evaluate the scanning technique and primary clinical value of sixteen-slice spiral CT coronary angiography.

Methods: Plain and enhanced sixteen-slice spiral CT imaging was performed in 69 patients, including 64 cases of suspected coronary heart disease and 5 cases of coronary stent. Calcium scoring with plain scan images and MPR, MIP and VRT reconstruction with enhanced scan images were made in all cases, among which 10 underwent conventional coronary angiography.