The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of MDCT for determining the prognostic factors, including the T category, lymph node metastasis, tumor size, and perineural invasion, in surgically proven intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) with an associated invasive carcinoma (IPMC) and to investigate the imaging findings.Our study group consisted of 38 patients with surgically proven IPMC who underwent preoperative dynamic CT. Two radiologists retrospectively assessed the morphologic type of IPMN, size of the cyst, size of the main pancreatic duct, and presence or absence of mural nodules. The radiologists also assessed the T category, lymph node metastasis, and perineural invasion. They graded the perineural invasion using a 3-point scale as follows: 1, normal; 2, streaky and strandlike structure in fat tissue as well as a fine, reticular pattern; and 3, irregular masses adjacent to the lesions. Statistical analyses were performed using receiver operating characteristic analysis, the McNemar test, and Fisher exact test. Kappa statistics were used to determine interobserver agreement.The morphologic types of IPMC included the main-duct type (n=11, 29%), combined type (n=18, 47%), and branch-duct type (n=9, 24%). The diagnostic accuracy for the T category was 73.7% (n=28) and 68.4% (n=26) and for the lymph node metastasis was 68.4% (n=26) and 76.3% (n=29), respectively, for the two readers, with moderate interobserver agreement (κ=0.636 and 0.708). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for perineural invasion were 0.868 and 0.821. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value were 100%, 71.4%, 55.5%, and 90%, 71.4%, 52.9%, respectively. Interobserver agreement was moderate (κ=0.659). The tumor size seen on CT was not statistically different from the tumor size determined on pathology (3.9±[SD] 2.7 cm vs 3.8±2.1 cm, p=0.582). The main duct size was 11.5+6.2 mm. Mural nodules were detected in 74% (n=28) of our study patients.CT might be useful for preoperatively evaluating the T category, lymph node metastasis, tumor size, and perineural invasion of IPMC. Main pancreatic duct dilatation and the presence of mural nodules are common findings of IPMC.
We wanted to determine whether combined radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and acetic acid-hypertonic saline solution (AHS) instillation can increase the extent of thermally mediated coagulation in in vivo rabbit liver tissue. We also wished to determine the optimal concentration of the solution in order to maximize its effect on extent of the RFA-induced coagulation.Forty thermal ablation zones were produced in 40 rabbits by using a 17-gauge internally cooled electrode with a 1-cm active tip under ultrasound guidance. The rabbits were assigned to one of four groups: group A: RFA alone (n=10); group B: RFA with 50% AHS instillation (n=10); group C: RFA with 25% AHS instillation (n=10); group D: RFA with 15% AHS instillation (n=10). A range of acetic acid concentrations diluted in 36% NaCl to a total volume of 1 mL were instilled into the liver before RFA. The RF energy (30W) was applied for three minutes. After RFA, in each group, the maximum diameters of the thermal ablation zones in the gross specimens were compared. Technical success and the complications that arose were evaluated by CT and on the basis of autopsy findings.All procedures are technically successful. There were six procedure related complications (6/40; 15%): two localized perihepatic hematomas and four chemical peritonitis. The incidence of chemical peritonitis was highest for group B with the 50% AHS solution instillation (30%). With instillation of 15% AHS solution, a marked decrease of tissue impedance (24.5+/-15.6 ohm ) and an increase of current (250 mA) occurred as compared to RFA alone. With instillation of the solutions before RFA (group B, C and D), this produced a greater mean diameter of coagulation necrosis than the diameters for rabbits not instilled with the solution (group A) (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between group B, C, and D.Combined AHS instillation and RFA can increase the dimension of coagulation necrosis in the liver with a single application. A low concentration of AHS (15%) showed similar effects in increasing the extent of RF-induced coagulation, but there were less side effects as compared to the high concentration of AHS.
LP-BM5 murine leukemia retrovirus induces the immune dysfunction by imbalanced secretion of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in the murine AIDS model. In the present study, it was investigated whether pycnogenol (Pyc) administration could deactivate to regulate the gene expression of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in C57BL/6 mice with murine AIDS. Treatment with Pyc for 12 weeks significantly inhibited the loss of body weight and enlargement of spleen and lymph node usually seen with AIDS. Moreover, Pyc increased the plasma level of Th1 cytokines, IL-2 and , while reducing the plasma level of Th2 cytokines, IL-6, IL-10, and . In primary culture of splenocytes, mRNA expression of Th2 cytokines was suppressed, but that of Th1 cytokines was not affected. The LP-BM5 retrovirus infection stimulated the cytoplasmic activation of and nuclear translocation of , whereas Pyc administration significantly reduced activation and degradation. These results suggested that the inhibitory effect of Pyc on Th2 cytokines in mice with murine AIDS was dependent on suppression of the signaling pathway and was not dependent on level, which regulates Th2 cytokines.
Abstract This study aimed to select the optimal microbial agents for ammonia gas reduction in Chinese cabbage cultivation and evaluate their ammonia reduction efficiency. By selecting the optimum microorganism to reduce ammonia emissions, the ammonia emission reduction efficiencies of the nitrification microorganisms, Alcaligenes faecalis subsp. faecalis and Brevibacillus sp. were 21 and 31%, respectively, which were superior to those of other microorganisms. The best ammonia emission reduction efficiency of the acid-producing microorganisms was 55%. The optimum mixing ratio of microbial agent for removing ammonia gas emitted from NPK-containing soil was: acid-producing microorganism: Alcaligenes faecalis subsp. faecalis : Brevibaillus sp. = 0.70:0.15:0.15. The optimum treatment amount was 500 L/ha, and the optimum number of microbial agents was basal fertilization (also known as pre-planting fertilization) once and additional fertilization three times, for a total of four times. The reduction efficiency of ammonia emissions from NPK-containing soil under optimum conditions in cabbage cultivation was 27% lower than that of the control (only NPK-containing soil). Therefore, the microbial agent developed in this study can be utilized to effectively reduce the emission of ammonia, a secondary fine particle precursor, while maintaining crop yield in agricultural fields.
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