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Background: Current liver magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) scans often require adjustments to driver amplitude to produce acceptable images. This could lead to time wastage and the potential loss of an opportunity to capture a high-quality image. Purpose: To construct a linear regression model of individualized driver amplitude to improve liver MRE image quality. Material and Methods: Data from 95 liver MRE scans of 61 participants, including abdominal missing volume ratio (AMVR), breath-holding status, the distance from the passive driver on the skin surface to the liver edge (Dd−l), body mass index (BMI), and lateral deflection of the passive driver with respect to the human sagittal plane (Angle α), were continuously collected. The Spearman correlation analysis and lasso regression were conducted to screen the independent variables. Multiple linear regression equations were developed to determine the optimal amplitude prediction model. Results: The optimal formula for linear regression models: driver amplitude (%) = −16.80 + 78.59 × AMVR − 11.12 × breath-holding (end of expiration = 1, end of inspiration = 0) + 3.16 × Dd−l + 1.94 × BMI + 0.34 × angle α, with the model passing the F test (F = 22.455, P <0.001) and R2 value of 0.558. Conclusion: The individualized amplitude prediction model based on AMVR, breath-holding status, Dd−l, BMI, and angle α is a valuable tool in liver MRE examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Conventional diffusion-weighted imaging is limited in the quantitative evaluation of liver fibrosis, and whole-liver apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histogram analysis might contribute to the diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis.Purpose: To explore the value of whole-liver ADC histogram parameters in the diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis.Study Type: Retrospective.Population: Twenty individuals with no liver disease and 86 patients with liver fibrosis, including 30 with chronic viral hepatitis, 29 with autoimmune hepatitis, and 27 with unexplained liver fibrosis patients.Field Strength/sequence: 3.0T/T1 -weighted, T2 -weighted, and diffusion-weighted images.Assessment: A region of interest (ROI) was drawn in each slice of the diffusion-weighted images. Whole-liver histogram parameters were obtained with dedicated software by accumulating all ROIs. The effectiveness of the parameters in differentiating stage 1 or greater (≥F1), stage 2 or greater (≥F2), and stage 3 or greater (≥F3) liver fibrosis was assessed.Statistical Tests: Mann-Whitney U-test and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.Results: Kurtosis, entropy, skewness, mode, and 90th and 75th percentiles exhibited significant differences among the pathological fibrosis stages (P < 0.05). Kurtosis was found to be the most meaningful parameter in differentiating fibrosis stages of the viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, and unexplained liver fibrosis group (area under the curve) (AUC = 0.793, 0.771, 0.798, respectively). In the combined liver fibrosis group, kurtosis achieved the highest AUC (0.801; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.702-0.900; sensitivity: 0.750; specificity: 0.850; positive likelihood ratio: 4.953; negative likelihood ratio: 0.302; positive predictive value: 0.946; negative predictive value: 0.486), with a cutoff value of 1.817, in differentiating fibrosis stage ≥F1.Data Conclusion: Kurtosis, entropy, skewness, mode, and 90th and 75th percentiles may contribute to the diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis, especially kurtosis.Level Of Evidence: 4 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:1745-1754. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional Nanjing salted ducks are cooked at low temperatures. However, factories in China that attempt to mass produce this meat require a heat-treatment stage to maintain the safety of this food product over longer storage periods. Conjugated diene, carbonyl, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, peroxide, and the compositions of fatty acids ( FA) and triacylglycerols ( TGs) were measured in Chinese Nanjing salted ducks following different heat treatments including a control, 99 C, 108 C, microwave and 121 C heat treatments after packaging. Heat treatments increased ( P < 0.05) carbonyl and peroxide values and the percentages of C18:2n6, C18:3n3, C20:4n6, polyunsaturated FAs, unsaturated FA and some TGs; however, heat treatments decreased ( P < 0.05) C16:0, C16:1, C18:1, monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids, and other TG fractions in the duck meat especially after microwaving or being treated at 121 C. Further research should explore modifying current preservation methods to improve meat quality. Practical Applications Heat treatment of packaged products is considered an effective method of increasing their shelf life. However, such treatment can also distort the flavor of products, largely because of lipid oxidation. This study investigated changes in lipid composition and oxidation in heat-treated ducks to indirectly explore the mechanism behind off-flavor formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mammalian clustered protocadherin (Pcdh) locus contains more than 50 highly-similar genes arrayed in tandem. These Pcdh genes are organized into three closely-linked clusters (Pcdhα, Pcdhβ, and Pcdhγ). The encoded PCDH proteins play critical roles in neuronal diversity, single cell identity, and synaptic connectivity. Recent studies revealed that directional CTCF (CCCTC-binding factor) binding to CBS (CTCF-binding site) determines the specific interaction between enhancers and promoters, and the three Pcdhβγ clusters form two CCDs (CTCF/cohesin- mediated chromatin domain) which is important for gene regulation. Here, we characterized a regulatory region, which contains several HSs (DNase I hypersensitive sites), downstream of the Pcdhβ clusters. Specifically, CTCF ChIP-Seq (Chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing) experiments revealed several peaks in the Pcdhβγ regulatory regions. In addition, we performed comprehensive EMSA (Electrophoresis mobility shift assay) experiments and identified exact 42-bp CBS sites for each CTCF peak. Interestingly, we found that single CTCF peaks can contain two CBS sites. Finally, genome-wide computational analyses revealed many CBS sites close to chromatin marks of regulatory elements, such as enhancers and promoters. We propose that CTCF may mediate specific interactions between enhancers and promoters to form active transcription hub for gene expression.

Objective: To analyze the potential association between valvular strands and migraine with aura., Methods: During a 1-year period,transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 51 consecutive patients with migraine with aura and 75 control subjects who underwent transesophageal echocardiography for other purposes and had no history of migraine. The presence of aortic and mitral valve strands was evaluated., Results: The incidence of valvular strands was 21.5% (11/51) in migraine patients and 28.0% (21/75) in control subjects (Χ²=0.663, P=0.416). The incidence of patent foramen ovale was significantly higher in patients with migraine with aura than in control subjects (50.9% vs.29.3%) (Χ²=6.302, P=0.012). The incidence of aortic valve strands was significantly higher than that of mitral valve strands in migraine patients (Χ²=4.320,P=0.038)., Conclusion: Valvular strands are not associated with migraine with aura and show little clinical significance.

Background: At present there is no consensus on which technique is more suitable for the detection of right-to-left shunt (RLS) in patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO). The aim of study was to compare the efficacy of contrast transthoracic echocardiography (cTTE) and contrast transesophageal echocardiography (cTEE) in the detection of RLS., Methods: A prospective study was undertaken in 29 patients with PFO. Both cTTE with harmonic imaging modality and cTEE with fundamental imaging modality were performed for all the patients. The severity of RLS were semiquantitatively assessed with a four-level grade system by scaling the numbers of microbubbles (MBs) in the left atrium after complete opacification of the right atrium within the first 3 cardiac cycles. Level 1 represents no MBs, indicating no RLS. Level 2, ≤10 MBs, indicating mild RLS. Level 3, 11-30 MBs, indicating moderate RLS and Level 4, >30 MBs, indicating severe RLS., Results: Contrast TTE demonstrated significantly higher sensitivity for detection of RLS than cTEE (86% vs. 56%, P < 0.05). For cTTE, there were 4, 1, 5, and 19 cases determined at levels 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, whereas for the same group of patients 13, 2, 6, and 7 cases were identified by cTEE at levels 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The severity of RLS detected by cTTE was significantly greater than that by cTEE (P < 0.01)., Conclusions: Contrast TTE is more efficacious in the detection of RLS than cTEE. The former can be used as an alternative to the latter in clinical practice., (© 2014, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and security of propranolol gel in treatment of Infantile hemangiomas., Methods: 51 consecutive infants with hemangiomas from October 2010 to September 2011 in Department of General Surgery Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command were treated with propranolol hydrochloride 3% gel. Changes in hemangioma size, texture, color, tumor blood flow peak were recorded., Results: The results were evaluated using Achauer system, responses of IHs to propranolol were considered scale I (poor) in 4 patient (17.24%), scale II (moderate) in 18 patients (24.14%), scale III (good) in 22 patients (44.83%) and scale IV (excellent) in 7 patients (13.79%). The response of superficial hemangiomas was significantly better than other hemangiomas (P < 0.05), and no significant differences in response among different primary sites (P > 0.05)., Conclusions: Topical use of propranolol hydrochloride 3% gel is an effective option for superficial hemangiomas.

Objective: To optimize the best preparation technology for the contains of total flavornoids, polysaccharides, the percentage of water and alcohol-soluble components in Semen Cuscuta herb processing., Methods: UV-spectrophotometry was applied to determine the contains of total flavornoids and polysaccharides, which were extracted from Semen Cuscuta. And the processing was optimized by the way of uniform design and contour map., Results: The best preparation technology was satisfied with some conditions as follows: baking temperature 150 degrees C, baking time 140 seconds., Conclusion: The regression models are notable and reasonable, which can forecast results precisely.