The rotary left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has been an effective option for end-stage heart failure. However, while clinically using the LVAD, patients are often at significant risk for ventricular collapse, called suction, mainly due to higher LVAD speeds required for adequate cardiac output. Some proposed suction detection algorithms required the external implantation of sensors, which were not reliable in long-term use due to baseline drift and short lifespan. Therefore, this study presents a new suction detection system only using the LVAD intrinsic blood pump parameter (pump speed) without using any external sensor. Three feature indices are derived from the pump speed and considered as the inputs to four different classifiers to classify the pumping states as no suction or suction. The in-silico results using a combined human circulatory system and LVAD model show that the proposed method can detect ventricular suction effectively, demonstrating that it has high classification accuracy, stability, and robustness. The proposed suction detection system could be an important part in the LVAD for detecting and avoiding suction, while at the same time making the LVAD meet the cardiac output demand for the patients. It could also provide theoretical basis and technology support for designing and optimizing the control system of the LVAD.
Patients with locally advanced thyroid cancer often face challenges in achieving radical surgery during initial diagnosis. This has become a significant hurdle in the treatment of thyroid cancer. With the continuous development of systemic therapy for thyroid cancer, several studies have demonstrated that neoadjuvant therapy can shrink tumors in some patients, thereby increasing the chances of complete resection and improving prognosis. Targeted therapy plays a crucial role as a core component of neoadjuvant treatment. Simultaneously, the potential efficacy of immunotherapy has gained attention, showing promising prospects. We aim to summarize the research progress and existing issues regarding neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced thyroid cancer. We look forward to more high-quality clinical studies providing robust evidence for neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced thyroid cancer, expanding the breadth of treatment options.
Objective To study the effect of p38MAPK activity on tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） mRNA and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 （ICAM1） mRNA expressions of isolated rabbit liver during early stage of cold preservation and reperfusion period. Methods Based on the cold preservation and reperfusion model of isolated rabbit liver, the animals were divided into inhibition group （n=12） with 3 μmol/L SB202190 (p38MAPK specificity inhibitor) in perfusate and control group （n=12） with no SB202190 in perfusate. Liver tissue samples were harvested at the time points of before resection, end of cold preservation, and different reperfusion period (10, 30, 60 and 120 min). Protein expression and activity of p38MAPK were detected by Western blot and immunoprecipitation respectively, expression of TNF-α mRNA was detected by RT-PCR, and expression of ICAM1 mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization. Results There was no obvious change of expression of p38MAPK protein in liver tissue both in two groups during the total period （P＞0.05）， and there was no statistically significant difference between two groups （P＞0.05）. At time points of end of cold preservation, 10, 30 and 60 min of reperfusion, the activity of p38MAPK in control group was significantly higher than that at the time points of before resection and 120 min of reperfusion (P＜0.01), and was also significantly higher than that in inhibition group at the same time points (P＜0.01). There was no significant difference in activity of p38MAPK among all time points in inhibition group (P＞0.05). The expressions of TNF-α mRNA and ICAM1 mRNA at the time points of before resection, end of cold preservation, and 10 and 30 min of reperfusion were significantly lower than those in 60 and 120 min of reperfusion in both two groups (P＜0.05, P＜0.01); The expressions of TNF-α mRNA and ICAM1 mRNA in inhibition group were significantly lower than those in control group at the time points of 60 and 120 min of reperfusion (P＜0.01). The activity of p38MAPK of liver tissue during cold preservation and reperfusion period was significantly correlated with the level of TNF-α mRNA and level of ICAM1 mRNA expression （r=0.996, P＜0.01； r=0.985, P＜0.01）. Conclusions These results suggest that p38MAPK pathway may regulate the expressions of TNF-α and ICAM1 at the level of transcription and the activation of p38MAPK can up-regulate TNF-α and ICAM1 expressions, which may be one of the important mechanisms to cause ischemia-reperfusion injury of isolated liver during cold preservation and reperfusion period.
ObjectiveTo explore the value of procalcitonin-to-albumin (PAR) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).MethodsA retrospective study was carried on patients diagnosed with ARDS from December 2016 to March 2018. The receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve was used to identify the cutoff value of PAR. The association of PAR and 28-day mortality was evaluated using univariate and multivariable Cox regression.ResultsIn the final analysis, there were a total of 255 patients included. Of whom 164 (64.3%) was male, 91 (35.7%) was female and the mean age was 52.1±14.5 years old. The 28-day mortality of all the patients was 32.9% (n=84). ROC curve revealed that the cutoff value of PAR was 0.039 (specificity: 0.714, sensitivity: 0.702) and area under the curve was 0.793 (95%CI: 0.735 - 0.850, P<0.001). The following variables were considered for multivariable adjustment: age, body mass index, pneumonia, aspiration, sepsis, surgery, PaO2/FiO2, red blood cell counts and PAR (P<0.01 in univariate analysis). After multivariable analysis, only age (HR: 1.033, 95%CI: 1.009 - 1.059, P=0.008), PaO2/FiO2 (HR: 0.992, 95%CI: 0.985 - 1.000, P=0.044) and PAR (HR: 4.899, 95%CI: 2.148 - 11.174, P<0.001) remained independently associated with 28-day mortality (P<0.05).ConclusionHigh PAR predicts a poor outcome in ARDS patients, therefore it appears to be a prognostic biomarker of outcomes in patients with ARDS.
【摘要】 目的 探討高頻彩色多普勒超聲對淺表軟組織腫物的診斷價值。 方法 回顧性分析2008年1-11月70例經手術、活檢病理證實的淺表軟組織腫物的聲像圖特征，包括腫物的部位、形態大小、內部回聲、邊界及其與周邊組織的關系、長徑與厚度比值（L/T）及病變周邊與內部血流分布情況。 結果 超聲對淺表腫塊病灶的顯示率為100%，良性腫瘤有脂肪瘤、表皮囊腫、滑膜囊腫、神經鞘瘤，血管瘤、異物肉芽腫等，惡性腫物包括皮膚纖維肉瘤，轉移性腺癌。 結論 彩色多普勒超聲對淺表腫塊的檢出、定位及物理性質可做出準確的診斷，綜合分析腫物的邊界、形態、內部回聲及血流分布等特點對腫物的良惡性診斷具有重要價值。【Abstract】 Objective To evaluate the value of high-frequency color Doppler ultrasonography in diagnosing the superficial soft tissue masses. Methods The clinical data of 70 patients with superficial soft tissue masses from January to November 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. Superficial soft tissue masses was diagnosed by the surgery and biopsy. The sonographic features, including the location, morphology, size, internal echo, boundary, relationship with peripheral tissues, longitude to transverse ratio (L/T), and the vascularity, were observed. Results The results of sonographic examination showed that 100% superficial masses could be found. Benign masses included lipoma, sebaceous cysts, synovial cysts, nerve sheath tumors, haemangioma, foreign body granulomas, etc. Malignant soft tissue tumors included fibrous sarcoma and metastatic neoplasms. Conclusion Color Doppler ultrasonography can precisely diagnose the presence, localization and the physical characters of superficial soft tissue masses. It is an excellent modality to diagnose the benign or malignant masses by analyzing the boundary, configuration, internal echo and vascularity of the masses.
【摘要】 目的 探討彩色多普勒超聲對臨床甲狀腺良惡性結節的診斷價值。 方法 對2007-2010年105例經手術病理證實的甲狀腺結節患者資料進行回顧性分析，總結其聲像圖特征。 結果 105例患者中，良性結節71例，甲狀腺癌34例，超聲診斷符合率81.9%，誤診18例（17.1%）。 結論 彩色多普勒超聲是診斷甲狀腺結節的首選影像學檢查方法，但對良惡性結節的鑒別及微小癌的診斷有局限性。【Abstract】 Objective To evaluate the value of color Doppler flow imaging in diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 105 patients with thyroid nodules confirmed by pathology between 2007 and 2010 and summarized the ultrasonography results. Results Among the 105 cases, 71 were benign nodules and 34 were malignant tumors. The overall diagnostic accordance rate was 81.9% with 18 cases (17.1%) of misdiagnosis. Conclusion Ultrasonography is the first imaging modality for thyroid nodule examination, but it is limited in the diagnosis of microcarcinoma and in distinguishing malignant from benign nodules in the same thyroid.
Objective To review the research progress of cartilage ol igomeric matrix protein (COMP). Methods Domestic and abroad l iterature about COMP was reviewed and summarized. Results COMP was one of the osteoarthritis (OA) biomarkers of being widely studied. Most studies in recent years could draw the conclusion that COMP was associated with OA. COMP was the foremost biomarker among investgated biomarkers. It could been continuously expressed and predicted knee OA progression. Conclusion Precisely what role COMP plays in OA pathogenesis remains unclear, using COMP as a tool to early diagnose OA more studies would be needed.
