[en] To evaluate CT in diagnosis of carcinoma of the hypopharynx, seven cases were examined with CT, all were proved to be squamous carcinoma by operation and pathology. The CT findings were analyzed. Carcinoma of the hypopharynx manifested as a solid, isodense or mixed density mass, without cystic change, necrosis or calcification, usually located in the pyriform sinus or postcricoid region. The distance between arytenoid cartilage and vertebra (DAV) and the distance between cricoid cartilage and vertebra (DCV) were increased obviously as compared with 60 normal adults showing statistical significance (P<0.01). DAV and/or DCV greater than 10 mm was the characteristic feature of carcinoma of the hypopharynx, and was helpful in differential diagnosis from laryngeal carcinoma. Other indirect findings included ipsilateral deformation or disappearance of the pyriform sinus, invasion of the paralaryngeal space, swelling of the aryepiglottic fold and destruction of the thyroid lamina. Thin slice CT scanning can provide useful information about the size, location and extent of the tumor which are important for clinical staging and surgical planning

[en] Objective: To investigate a new method of detecting calcification in solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) and to build a new standard of distinguishing benign from malignant SPN. Methods: Dual-energy CT (140 kVp, 80 kVp) was performed for water phantom, body phantom, normal volunteers and patients with SPN. The CT number changes were compared and their calcification contents were calculated. The shape and distribution of calcification were displayed by density mask processing and finally diagnosis of benign or malignant SPN was made. Results: On low energy CT scan the CT number increased as compared with high energy scan for tissue with high atomic number. The SPN containing calcification also demonstrated increased CT value on low energy scan (sensitivity 80% and specifith 80%; P<0.005). Conclusions: Dual-energy CT can demonstrate the calcifications in SPN as well as their appearance and distribution thereby it is a valuable imaging technique for detecting and diagnosing benign or malignant SPN

[en] A practical and efficient palladium-catalyzed carbonylative Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction for the synthesis of alkynones from aryl iodides, alkynes, and formic acid as the CO source has been described. Under the assistance of PPh₃/I₂, formic acid can be used as the CO source for synthesis of alkynones in moderate–good yields. Furthermore, it is also successfully applied for the modification of natural products, such as vindoline and tabersonin, to obtain the corresponding products. Graphical abstract:

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