Establishment of a model for predicting sentinel lymph node metastasis in early breast cancer based on contrast-enhanced ultrasound and clinicopathological features.

Background: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy (SLNB) is the standard procedure for axillary staging in clinically node-negative (cN0) breast cancer patients. However, the positive rate of SLNs among cN0 stage patients is 26-35%. The identification of appropriate candidates for SLNB is quite challenging.

Predictive risk factors for sentinel lymph node metastasis using preoperative contrast-enhanced ultrasound in early-stage breast cancer patients.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is the standard procedure for axillary staging in clinically node-negative (cN0) breast cancer patients. The positive rate of SLNs in cN0 stage patients ranges from 20.5% to 25.

Clinical Correlation Analysis of Complications in Elderly Patients with Sequelae of Stroke with Different Barthel Index in Tianjin Emergency Department.

Objective: The Barthel index (BI) is the most commonly used measure of poststroke disability. The purpose of this article is to explore the different complications and severity of the sequelae of elderly stroke patients with different BI in the emergency department, so as to provide a theoretical basis for strengthening the treatment of elderly patients with stroke sequelae.

Methods: A retrospective study was adopted, and 1896 patients were divided into two groups according to the BI: 823 patients in the bedridden group (BI ≤ 40 points) and 1073 patients in the nonbedridden group (BI > 40 points).

Temporal Stability of Vegetation Cover across the Loess Plateau Based on GIMMS during 1982-2013.

The Loess Plateau, covering approximately 640,000 km, has experienced the most severe soil erosion in the world. A greening tendency has been noticed since implementing the Grain to Green Program (GTGP), which may prevent further soil erosion. Therefore, understanding the underpinning basis of greening stability and persistence is important for sustainable improvement.

Interaction Between Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) Gene Polymorphisms and Environment with Susceptibility to Ischemic Stroke in Chinese Population.

Aims: To investigate the association of several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, and additional gene-environment interaction with ischemic stroke (IS) risk.

Methods: Testing for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in controls was conducted using SNPstats (online software: http://bioinfo.iconcologia.

Quantitative design and analysis of marine environmental monitoring networks in coastal waters of China.

The quality of seawater needs to be continuously monitored due to its effect on human life and natural ecosystems. However, the balance of the extent, spatial pattern and maintenance costs of marine environmental monitoring remains a challenging issue which is crucial for decision-makers. The main contribution of this work suggests taking advantage of two minimization criteria (TMC: integrating minimization of Kriging variance and minimization of relative error at a given confidence level) to improve the design and optimization of a marine environmental monitoring network.

Early evaluation of carotid elasticity by an instantaneous wave intensity technique in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: To explore the application of instantaneous wave intensity for early diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-induced atherosclerosis, we observed carotid elasticity by instantaneous wave intensity in premenopausal women with SLE.

Methods: The study included 3 groups (each group with 30 participants): SLE1 (course of disease <5 years), SLE2 (course of disease ≥5 years) and healthy control. Carotid parameters, including instantaneous acceleration wave intensity, instantaneous deceleration wave intensity, negative area, stiffness constant, wave intensity pulse wave velocity, stiffness constant pulse wave velocity, pressure strain elastic modulus, arterial compliance, augmentation index, and intima-media thickness, were measured.