The value of DCE- MRI of the breast as a diagnostic tool in assessing amorphous calcifications in screening mammography

PurposeTo evaluate the diagnostic performance of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in differentiating benign and malignant amorphous calcifications.MethodsThis study included 193 female patients with 197 suspicious amorphous calcifications detected on screening mammography. The patients’ demographics, clinical follow-up, imaging, and pathology outcomes were reviewed, and sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of DCE-MRI were calculated.ResultsOf 197 lesions (193 patients) included in the study, 50 (25.4%) were histologically proved to be malignant. DCE-MRI based on breast imaging report and diagnosis system (BI-RADS) had a sensitivity of 94.4%, specificity of 85.7%, PPV of 69.1%, and NPV of 97.7% for the detection of malignant amorphous calcifications. Notably, diagnosis solely based on the presence or absence of DCE-MRI enhancement showed the same sensitivity but significantly decreased specificity (44.8%, p < 0.001) and PPV (44.8%, p < 0.001). In patients with a minimal or mild degree of background parenchymal enhancement (BPE), the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV increased to 100%, 90.6%, 78.6%, and 100%, respectively. However, in patients with a moderate degree of BPE, MRI resulted in three false negatives of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Overall, the addition of DCE-MRI detected all invasive lesions and could decrease unnecessary biopsy by 65.5%.ConclusionDCE-MRI based on BI-RADS has the potential to improve the diagnosis of suspicious amorphous calcifications and avoid unnecessary biopsy, especially for those with low-degree BPE

Study on water retention capacities of six moss species

The saturated water absorption and retention rates of six mosses,namely Brachythecium albicans,Thuidium cymbifolium,Racomitrium japonicum,Taxiphyllum taxirameum,Entodon cladorrhizans and Hypnum plumaeforme,were determined and compared with those of Eremochloa ophiuroides and Sedum lineare.An integrated index to evaluate water regulation capacity was proposed.According to the integrated index concerning water regulation capacity from high to low,six moss species were ranked as H.plumaeforme (0.8215),T.cymbifolium (0.6727),B.albicans (0.5468),R.japonicum (0.5321),T.taxirameum (0.5285) and E.cladorrhizans (0.4374).The water regulation capacity of the six moss species were all higher than those of S.lineare (0.2843) and E.ophiuroides (0.2126)

On influences of cultivated media and nutrient concentrations on growth of leucobryum glaucum

Screening by Leucobryum glaucum growth optimal substrate and nutrient solution,to a large number of purebred breeding leucobryum.The flask culture conditions of the gametophyte of Leucobryum glaucum inoculated with peat,vermiculite and perlite matrix at different proportions,and adding knop′s nutrition liquid at different concentrations.After a 60-day cultivation,the chlorophyll content,length,total fresh weight and branch number of the gametophytes of L.glaucum were measured.The results showed that L.glaucum could grow well on the medium with a proportion of peat,vermiculite and perlite at 2∶2∶1,together with 20% Knop′s nutrition liquid

Genetic diversity of six populations of <i>Cryptotaenia japonica</i> in Eastern China based on ISSR markers

Genetic diversity of six populations (including 70 individuals) of Cryptotaenia japonica Hassk,collected from Dapanshan of Pan′an,Qinliangfeng of Lin′an,Chanhua of Lin′an,Beishan of Jinhua,Zhejiang,and Fengxian of Shanghai (cultivated population) were analyzed based on their ISSR markers.A total of 149 bands were amplified from nine selected primers,of which 136 were polymorphic,their percentage of polymorphic bands being 91.28%.Based on the ISSR markers of six C. japonica populations,their Nei′s genetic diversity index,Shannon information index,Nm index was 0.1971,0.3086,and 0.3237,respectively.Their genetic differentiation coefficient (GST) was 0.5993,indicating that 59.93% genetic differentiation exists among populations,and 40.07% genetic differentiation exists within populations.Their gene flow was 0.3343,indicating a low gene flow existed among different populations of C. japonica in the studied areas,namely,a genetic drift has caused a strong genetic differentiation of C. japonica among populations.Based on 136 locus information,a clustering dendrogram was constructed for the 70 individuals to reveal their genetic relationships.Based on the clustering analysis,the individuals could be divided into five groups,among them two populations collected from Jinhuashan were clustered into one group.The genetic differentiation among the five groups has a strong relationship with their geographical localities.Therefore in the future,it should be pay attention that introduce and cultivate Cryptotaonia japonica from different places of origin to enrich the genetic diversity of cultivated species

Metabolomics-Based Screening of Biofilm-Inhibitory Compounds against Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Burdock Leaf

Screening of anti-biofilm compounds from the burdock leaf based on metabolomics is reported here. The crystal violet assay indicated 34% ethanol elution fraction of burdock leaf could completely inhibit biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 1 mg·mL−1. Then, the chemical composition of burdock leaf fraction was analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) and 11 active compounds (chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, quercetin, ursolic acid, rutin, cynarin, luteolin, crocin, benzoic acid, and Tenacissoside I) were identified. Lastly, UPLC-MS analysis was employed to obtain the metabolic fingerprints of burdock leaf fractions before and after inhibiting the biofilm of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The metabolic fingerprints were transformed to data, analyzed with PLS-DA (partial least squares discriminant analysis) and the peaks whose area was significantly changed were found out. Thus, 81 compounds were screened as potential anti-biofilm ingredients. Among them, rutin, ursolic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid and quercetin were identified and confirmed as the main anti-biofilm compounds in burdock leaf. The study provided basic anti-biofilm profile data for the compounds in burdock leaf, as well as provided a convenient method for fast screening of anti-biofilm compounds from natural plants

INFLUENCE OF LIGNOSULFONATES ON THE PROPERTIES OF DIMETHOMORPH WATER-DISPERSIBLE GRANULES

Different molecular weight fractions of lignosulfonates (LS), LS having different cations, and modified LS with different degree of sulfonation and intrinsic viscosity were prepared and used as dispersants for Dimethomorph water-dispersible granules (DWG). The suspending ratio of DWG was tested to evaluate the effectiveness of LS as a dispersant. Moreover, the stability of DWG suspensions was measured by a new instrument (Turbiscan LabExpert). The suspending ratios of DWG having different molecular weight fraction of LS increased with increasing molecular weight in a suitable range. The kind of cation associated with the LS didn’t have an obvious influence the effectiveness of LS as a dispersant. Furthermore, the higher degree of sulfonation of LS, of which the intrinsic viscosity was similar, the better was its effectiveness as a dispersant. When the intrinsic viscosity increased within a suitable range, the effectiveness of LS as a dispersant increased. Similar findings were achieved by evaluating the stability of DWG suspensions with all the LS as dispersants, and larger molecular weight could decrease the growth of particle size

Optimization of cultivation scheme for <i>Brachythecium procumbens</i> and <i>Haplocladium microphyllum</i>

Brachythecium procumbens and Haplocladium microphyllum,two moss species widely distributing in parks and green areas,are of ornamental value in cities. Four factors which are matrix composition,nutrient solution composition and concentration,light intensity and gametophyte length,were included in the optimization of cultivation scheme for these two moss species. The effects of the factors on the biomass and maximum quantum yield of B. procumbens and H. microphyllum were detected under experimental condition. B. procumbens is suggested to cultivate on a matrix with peat and vermiculite at 1:1 volume ratio,in full light,to spray Hoagland & Arnon nutrient solution diluted twice by using its gametophytes at a length of ca. 1.0 mm;the ideal matrix is characterized by 5.841 pH,a conductivity of 140.2 μS&#183;cm-1,a total porosity at 74.30%,a ratio of large porosity and small porosity at 1:5.84. For H. microphyllum,the species is suggested to cultivate on a matrix with peat and vermiculite at 2:1 volume ratio,in full light,to spray Hoagland & Arnon nutrient solution diluted twice by using its gametophytes at a length of ca. 1.0 mm;the ideal matrix is characterized by 5.764 pH,a conductivity of 165.4 μS&#183;cm-1,a total porosity at 76.82%,a ratio of large porosity and small porosity at 1:4.33

The effect of Chinese herbal medicine <i>Orthosiphon aristatus</i> on water drinking and serum urea content of domestic cat in summer

Domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) drinks less water and urinates less,and has high incidence of urinary system diseases.Orthosiphon aristatus is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine with very good diuretic effect.In this study,10 domestic cats were used for testing.The results showed that the addition of 1% (mass fraction) O.aristatus can significantly increase the water consumption of domestic cats and reduce their serum urea nitrogen content,but does not affect their body weight and feed intake.This test shows that O.aristatus has potential for increasing urinary output and reducing urinary system diseases of domestic cats