The study was aimed at assessing the diagnostic performance of 68 Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT in the detection of prostate cancer (PCa) in patients with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 4-20 ng/ ml and to compare its efficacy with that of multiparametric MRI (mpMRI). We analyzed the data of 67 consecutive patients with PSA levels of 4-20 ng/ml who almost simultaneously underwent 68 Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT and mpMRI. 68 Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT and mpMRI diagnostic performances were compared via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Of the 67 suspected PCa cases, 33 had pathologically confirmed PCa. 68 Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT showed a patient-based sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPVs and NPVs) of 87.88%, 88.24%, 87.88%, and 88.24%, respectively. The corresponding values for mpMRI were 84.85%, 52.94%, 63.64%, and 78.26%. The area under the curve values for 68 Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT and mpMRI were 0.881 and 0.689, respectively. 68 Ga-PSMA-617 PET/CT showed a better diagnostic performance than mpMRI in the detection of PCa in patients with PSA levels of 4-20 ng/ml.

Purpose:The main purpose of this study was to compare the clinical effectiveness between unilateral and bilateral metal stenting for malignant hilar biliary obstruction (MHBO).Methods: From January 2012 to October 2017, consecutive patients with MHBO underwent unilateral or bilateral stent insertion at our center. Technical and clinical success, stent patency, and survival were compared between these 2 groups.Results: A total of 110 patients with MHBO were included in this study. Technical successful rates of unilateral and bilateral stenting were 93.1% (54/58) and 90.4% (47/52), respectively (P = 0.864). Clinical successful rates of unilateral and bilateral stenting were 96.4% (53/55) and 97.9% (46/47), respectively (P = 1.000). There was no significant difference in stent patency period (unilateral, 182 d; bilateral, 198 d; P = 0.999) and survival (unilateral, 189 d; bilateral, 199 d; P = 0.867) between 2 groups.Conclusions: Unilateral and bilateral metal stenting had similar clinical effectiveness and long-term outcomes in patients with MHBO.

To determine whether Tai Chi (TC) is effective in slowing cognitive decline in older populations with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on Tai Chi and MCI. We searched eight electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Wanfang, Web of Science, MEDLINE, CNKI, EBSCO, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) for appropriate RCTs published up to August 2019. For those studies included, the data were extracted, methodological quality was evaluated, and then meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager software (version 5.3). A total of 11 of the studies were available for systematic review, which together included 1061 participants, met the inclusion criteria, and ten of these were included in the meta-analysis. For most RCTs, the methodological quality was moderate. The meta-analysis revealed that Tai Chi could significantly improve global cognitive function; memory and learning; mental speed and attention; ideas, abstraction, figural creations, and mental flexibility; and visuospatial perception. The present review adds to the evidence showing that Tai Chi is potentially beneficial in improving cognitive functions among elderly people with MCI. However, strictly designed and well-reported RCTs are required.

IntroductionThe differentiation of benign and malignant sub‐centimetre (≤10 mm) lung nodules (SCLNs) is challenging. Computed tomography (CT)‐guided biopsy has been widely used for the diagnosis of lung nodules or masses. However, studies regarding CT‐guided biopsies for SCLNs are still lacking.ObjectivesTo evaluate the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of CT‐guided biopsies for SCLNs.MethodsFrom December 2011 to October 2017, 102 patients with SCLNs underwent CT‐guided lung biopsies. Data on technical success, diagnostic performance and procedure‐related complications were collected and analysed.ResultsThe technical success rate of CT‐guided biopsy for SCLNs was 99% (101/102). One patient failed to undergo the procedure. A total of 101 SCLNs in 101 patients were examined. The biopsy diagnostic results included 38 malignant cases, 1 suspected malignant case, 5 specific benign cases and 57 non‐specific benign cases. The final diagnoses included 49 malignant cases, 49 benign cases and 3 cases of undiagnosed lesions. The sensitivity, specificity and overall diagnostic accuracy were 80% (39/49), 100% (49/49) and 90% (88/98), respectively. Based on the univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, the independent risk factors for diagnostic failure were small tissue sample numbers (P = 0.048) and procedure‐related hemoptysis (P = 0.004). Pneumothorax was found in 13 patients (13%). Based on the univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, the independent risk factor for pneumothorax was the decubitus position (P = 0.011). Hemoptysis was found in seven patients (7%).ConclusionsCT‐guided biopsy is a safe and highly accurate diagnostic method for SCLNs.

Background:The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare sensitivities and specificities of fine needle aspiration (FNA) and core needle biopsy (CNB) in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Materials and Methods: Articles were screened in Medline, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE and Google Scholar, and subsequently included and excluded based on the patient/problem-intervention-comparison-outcome (PICO) principle. Primary outcome was defined in terms of diagnostic values (sensitivity and specificity) of FNA and CNB for thyroid cancer. Secondary outcome was defined as the accuracy of diagnosis. Compiled FNA and CNB results from the final studies selected as appropriate for meta-analysis were compared with cases for which final pathology diagnoses were available. Statistical analyses were performed for FNA and CNB for all of the selected studies together, and for individual studies using the leave-one-out approach. Results: Article selection and screening yielded five studies for meta-analysis, two of which were prospective and the other three retrospective, for a total of 1,264 patients. Pooled diagnostic sensitivities of FNA and CNB methods were 0.68 and 0.83, respectively, with specificities of 0.93 and 0.94. The areas under the summary ROC curves were 0.905 (±0.030) for FNA and 0.745 (±0.095) for CNB, with no significant difference between the two. No one study had greater influence than any other on the pooled estimates for diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions: FNA and CNB do not differ significantly in sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of thyroid cancer.

No abstract

High levels of visfatin are correlated with worse clinical prognosis of various cancers. Still, the effects and mechanisms of visfatin on progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain unclear. This study revealed that plasma levels of visfatin in patients with NSCLC (585 ± 287 pg/ml) were significantly (p < 0.01) higher than those in healthy people (142 ± 61.1 pg/ml). The high level of plasma visfatin was found to be significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis. Visfatin treatment can increase the migration and invasion of NSCLC cells via up-regulation of metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9. Both si-MMP-2 and si-MMP-9 attenuated visfatin-induced migration of NSCLC cells. The inhibitor of NF-κB, while not ERK1/2, p38-MAPK or PI3K/Akt, can significantly abolish visfatin-induced migration of A549 cells and up-regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Furthermore, visfatin can increase the phosphorylation of IκBα and p65 and the transcription activities of NF-κB in NSCLC cells. ACHP, the inhibitor of IKK-β, blocked visfatin-induced activation of p65 and up-regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Collectively, our data revealed that visfatin can trigger the in vitro migration and invasion of NSCLC cells via up-regulation of MMPs through activation of NF-κB.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been isolated from many tissues and organs. However, there is much dispute as to whether MSCs exist in peripheral blood. This may be due to the limited identification methods of MSCs, especially the lack of detection markers for phenotypic characteristics. In this study, as many as 10 surface markers of MSCs derived from rat peripheral blood (rPBMSCs) were analyzed after granulocyte colony-stimulating factor mobilization. Our results suggest that mobilized rPBMSCs overexpress mesenchymal markers, including CD90, CD44, CD29, CD73 and CD105, but do not express CD45, CD11b, CD79a, CD34 or HLA-DR. This is in conformity with the standard definition of MSCs by the International Society for Cellular Therapy. In addition, the colony-forming efficiency of the mobilized rat peripheral blood was 15.83 ± 1.61/10⁶, significantly outnumbering that of the nonmobilized group, which was 0.28 ± 0.1/10⁶ (p < 0.01). Combining the growth characteristics with the differential capacities of mobilized rPBMSCs towards forming osteocytes, chondrocytes and adipocytes, we further confirmed the existence of rPBMSCs. Additionally, this treatment could improve locomotive function after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. Due to their convenient collection, fewer complications, cost effectiveness and suitability for autograft, PBMSCs might be a substitute for MSCs derived from bone marrow and provide promising prospects for the cell-based therapy of SCI.