[en] Highlights: • A hydrothermal route to m-LaVO₄/BiOBr composite photocatalysts was proposed. • Products exhibit excellent photocatalytic activity under visible light. • Enhanced photocatalytic activity can be ascribed to forming p-n heterojunction. - Abstract: Visible-light driven m-LaVO₄/BiOBr composite photocatalysts were synthesized by a two-step hydrothermal process, and were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, respectively. The results showed that 1.0 wt% LaVO₄/BiOBr sample exhibits the highest photodegradation rate of RhB under visible-light irradiation, within 60 mins, it achieved 83.37%. The enhanced photocatalytic performance can be ascribed to the formation of p-n heterojunction structure and the inhibition of m-LaVO₄ to 2D growth of BiOBr to a certain extent.

No abstract available

[en] Lung cancer is the most common malignancy in China, and its morbidity and mortality have been increasing every year. MR functional imaging includes diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM), dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE), arterial spin labeling (ASL), and MR spectroscopy, etc. It not only can assess tumor morphologic characteristics, but also can quantify tumor various objective indexes. MR functional imaging has a certain significance to identify benign tumor and malignant tumors, different pathological types, different lung cancer staging, and so on. In this review, we focus on the MR functional imaging for lung cancer. (authors)

[en] Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) for discriminating orbital lymphomas from other orbital mass lesions. Methods: In this prospective study, 87 subjects (22 orbital lymphomas and 65 other orbital mass lesions) were enrolled. These patients underwent serial MR and echo-planar DW imaging examination of the orbits with b values of 0 and 700 s/mm at 1.5 T MR (GE Signa Excite). ADC maps were reconstructed, and the ADC values of the orbital masses were calculated. Mass ADC was also compared with that of normal-appearing white matter (ADC ratio, ADCR). The receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were constructed using optimal cut point of ADC and ADCR to differentiate between orbital lymphomas and other orbital mass lesions. The areas under the ROC curve for ADC and ADCR were also calculated. Results: The mean ADC and ADCR of orbital lymphomas were (0.77 ± 0.17) × 10^-3 mm²/s and 0.89 ± 0.21, respectively. The mean ADC and ADCR of other orbital mass lesions were (1.36 ± 0.38) × 10^-3 mm²/s and 1.51 ± 0.43, respectively. Lymphomas had lower ADCs and ADCRs than other orbital mass lesions (t = -9.620, -9.003, P = 0.000). The areas under the ROC curves of ADC and ADCR diagnosing lymphoma were 0.94 ± 0.03 and 0.91 ± 0.03, respectively. An ADC of less than 0.804 × 10^-3 mm²/sec and ADCR of less than 0.956 were optimal for predicting lymphoma (sensitivity, 77.3% for both; specificity, 98.4% and 92.3% Respectively; and accuracy, 93.1% and 88.5% Respectively). Compared with pathological results, both ADC and ADCR had high correlations (Kappa values were 0.806 and 0.696, respectively). Conclusion: Diffusion-weighted imaging can be applied as a complementary tool in the detection of orbital lymphomas. (authors)

[en] Objective: To investigate multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) appearances of pulmonary infections after liver transplantation (LT) and the diagnostic values of MSCT. Methods: The clinical data and CT images of liver transplantation receptors were reviewed from 2001 August to 2007 June, the types, onset time and CT appearances of pulmonary infections were analyzed retrospectively. Chi square test was used for the statistics. Results: The incidence rate of pulmonary infections after LT was 32.9% (174/529), the mortality was 9.8% (17/174), The incidence of bacterial infection, fungus or associated fungus infection, and virus or associated virus infection were 17.2% (n=91), 14.7% (n=78)and 2.3% (n=12)respectively, the pulmonary infections were seen in 64.7%, 28.7% and 6.6% of patients 1 to 30 days, 31-90 days and after 90 days following LT. Consolidations (n=32), ground-glass opacities (n= 22), nodules (n=10), reticular or lineal opacities (n=4) were found in 45 patients who had CT examination, there were no statistic differences in incidence rate between bacterial infection and mycotic infection (P>0.05). Conclusion: Pulmonary bacterial and fungus infection are common after LT, and often present as the mixed infection, the high risk period for infection is within 30 days after LT, thoracic CT scan is very important for characterizing the pulmonary infections after LT. (authors)

[en] Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most common primary neuroendocrine malignancy of the lung and is characterized by a rapid doubling time, easy metastasis in early stage and poor prognosis. CT is the most commonly examination method. Familiar with the CT features of SCLC is essential. MRI can better show the brain metastasis of SCLC. DWI can provide molecular level information in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of SCLC. PET/CT is more accurate than CT in the clinical staging of SCLC, and it is better to evaluate the therapeutic effect and prognosis. The main treatment of SCLC is radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Surgery should be considered in patients with stage I(T_1-2, N₀), can improve the survival rate of patients. In this paper we reviewed imaging findings and progress in treatment of SCLC. (authors)

[en] Objective: To investigate the differential diagnostic values of CT bronchial sign for peripheral solitary pulmonary lesions (SPLs). Methods: One hundred and eleven patients with peripheral SPLs were scanned using multi-slice helical CT (MSCT), and multiplanar reconstruction was performed to show the relationship between the lesion and bronchus, the differences between the benign and malignancy were compared by using chi-square test. Results: Bronchial cutoff rate in malignant lesions (47/95, 49.5%) was markedly higher than that in benign lesions (10/42,23.8%. χ²=7.896, P<0.05), the frequency of type I and type II air bronchogram presented in malignant lesions (10/11.8/9) was higher than benign lesions( 1/11,1/9. χ²=6.975,4.818, P<0.05), but type IV in benign lesions (12/17) was more common than that in malignant lesions (5/17. χ²=7.390,P<0.05). No significant difference was found in bronchus ran at the periphery of the lesion and bronchus dragged by the lesion between benign (9/24,1/4) and malignant lesions (15/24,3/4. χ²=0.641,0.062, P>0.05). The focal bronchial wall thickening in malignancy (21/22) was markedly higher than benign lesions (1/22. χ²=4.185, P<0.05), whereas the extensive thickening in benign lesions (4/7) was more common (3/7. χ²=8.650, P<0.05). Conclusion: CT bronchial sign is very important in the differentiation of benign and malignant pulmonary lesions. (authors)

[en] Highlights: • The solubility data of cefmetazole acid in three (alcohol + water) binary solvents were experimentally determined. • The experimental solubility data of cefmetazole acid were correlated by three models. • Almost all studied solutions show good agreement with the “like dissolves like” empirical rule. • Thermodynamic properties of cefmetazole acid of mixing process were calculated and discussed. - Abstract: The solubility of cefmetazole acid in binary solvent mixtures, (methanol + water), (ethanol + water) and (isopropanol + water), was determined by UV spectroscopic method at temperatures from 278.15 to 303.15 K. The solubility of cefmetazole acid increased with the increase of temperature in all solvents. In (methanol + water) co-solvent mixture, the solubility of cefmetazole acid is maximal in neat methanol. In (ethanol + water) and (isopropanol + water) solvent mixtures, the solubility of cefmetazole acid reaches its maximum when the mole fraction of alcohol is 0.5 and 0.4, respectively. The modified Apelblat equation, the CNIBS/R-K model and the Jouyban–Acree model were applied to correlate the experimental solubility of cefmetazole acid. Moreover, the activity coefficients as well as the thermodynamic properties of mixing were calculated and discussed based on the NRTL model and experimental solubility values.

[en] Objective: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of portal CO₂-DSA with fine needle splenic puncture. Methods: The splenic tails of seven adult white rabbits were exteriorized by laparotomy, and followed by a 25 gauge fine needle inserting about 1.0 cm into the splenic parenchyma. Portal CO₂-DSA was performed (2.0 ml/s, 10 ml) and the images were evaluated. After removal of the needle, the puncture site was observed for bleeding till coagulation occurred. The spleen were taken for gross and histological examination. Results: All the CO₂-DSA clearly showed the portal trunk with intrahepatic branches above 3-4 orders, the main splenic vein, and the main mesenteric veins with parts of its branches. CO₂ disappeared from the intrahepatic portal vein over 2-3 minutes. In one animal, the left renal vein and the inferior vena cava were also displayed by CO₂ through communication between splenic vein and renal vein. After removal of the needle, there was small amount of bleeding at the puncture site which ceased spontaneously over 3-5 minutes. In all animals, no extravasation of CO₂ at the puncture site, no subcapsular dissection or intrasplenic hematoma was observed. Microscopically, the splenic capsule appeared intact and there was no evidence of subcapsular hematoma formation. Conclusions: Portal CO₂-DSA with fine needle splenic puncture is feasible, safe and efficient. In normal adult rabbit, CO₂ may help to visualize the left renal vein and inferior vena cava through communication between splenic and renal vein. (authors)

[en] Objective: To investigate the relationship between microvessel density (MVD), clinical prognosis and CT enhancement of the peripheral lung cancer. Methods: 127 cases of peripheral lung cancer were examined with CT (87 cases retrospectively and 40 cases prospectively), and MVD were measured with immunohistochemical method by factor VIII on the specimens of the resected tumors. The results were analyzed and compared with CT enhancement, metastasis and prognosis. Results: The MVD was higher in the peripheral junction zone and interstitial areas than that in the parenchymal areas and necrotic zones of the tumors. Patients with nodal metastasis had higher MVD than those without nodal metastasis (56.9 +- 18.1 versus 43.8 +- 23.6, P < 0.01). Those patients who died or had remote metastasis alsdo had higher MVD than the survived patients without remote metastasis (56.8 +- 24.4 and 57.6 +- 18.9 versus 46.4 +- 22.3, P < 0.05). Both the retrospective group and prospective group, showed much higher microvessel density in adenocarcinoma than in the squamous ones (57.6 +- 18.4 versus 41.5 +- 20.1 and 61.4 +- 9.9 versus 45.1 +- 11.2) with significant difference (P < 0.05); and the worse the degree of tumor differentiation, the higher the microvessel count. The MVD of tumors with enhancement higher than 30 HU (69 cases) was significantly higher than those (18 cases) with enhancement less than 30 HU (57.1 +- 22.7 vs 42.7 +- 18.4, P < 0.01) in the retrospective group. In prospective study, the mean enhancement value in 40 patients was 50.6 +- 19.6 HU, and the peak value appeared at about 1 minute after administration of contrast agent. The mean enhancement value of adenocarcinomas was 53.4 +- 23.2 HU (maximum 83 HU, minimum 18 HU), higher than that in squamous cell careinomas (mean value 47.2 +- 14.6, maximum 72 HU, minimum 13 HU) but without significant difference (P > 0.05); but the enhancement of the lung cancer correlated well with MVD (r 0.8874). Conclusions: Measurement of the microvessel density of tumor can determine the degree of angiogenesis of neoplasm and predict the metastasis or prognosis of the lung cancer. Angiogenesis not only constitutes the basis of enhancement of the tumor, but also determine the various degrees and patterns of enhancement. Spiral dynamic CT is the technique ideal to demonstrate the enhancement features, which might be helpful in making differential diagnosis of pulmonary nodules