The aim of our study was to investigate the efficiency and feasibility of shear-wave elastography (sound touch elastography [STE], sound touch quantification [STQ]) compared with transient elastography (FibroScan) assessment in noninvasively and quantitatively identifying the degree of liver fibrosis. A total of 158 patients with chronic hepatitis B were included, and all accepted STE, STQ, and FibroScan assessments. Young's modulus (kPa) of STE, STQ, and FibroScan were evaluated, and the diagnostic performance of the 3 techniques on liver fibrosis stage was compared. The final diagnosis was based on histological findings from liver biopsy. Of all these patients, 36 patients were categorized as G/S < 2, and 122 were as G/S ≥ 2 according to Scheuer G/S scoring system. STEmean and STQmean measurements were positively correlated with liver fibrosis stage with high correlation (r = 0.852 and r = 0.803, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic analysis of STE, STQ, and FibroScan revealed that the areas under the curve of STE and STQ were markedly increased compared with that of FibroScan when differentiating early stage of liver fibrosis (S1, S2). It was concluded that shear-wave elastography (STE, STQ, and FibroScan) performs well in evaluation of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B, and the efficacies of STE and STQ are better than that of FibroScan.

Point and 2D elastography were superior to transient elastography to detect liver fibrosis and guide clinical anti-viral treatment. Analysis of combined transient, point, and 2D elastography techniques showed the better diagnostic accuracy for liver fibrosis.

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is the primary challenge in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Recurrent cancerous lymph nodes require repeated surgeries, which increases the risk for surgical complications. Thus, the evaluation of LNM before surgery is important. Ultrasonography is the most convenient way to examine cervical LNM, but the sensitivity of ultrasonography in the identification of LNM in cases of PTC is extremely low. A series of lncRNAs (long noncoding RNAs) have been reported as candidate biomarkers in a variety of tumors. This study detected the lncRNA NONHSAT076754 in PTC and analyzed the correlation of NONHSAT076754 with the clinicopathological and ultrasonographic characteristics of patients with PTC. The value of NONHSAT076754 as an auxiliary diagnostic biomarker for use along with ultrasonography in the differentiation of LNM in PTC was assessed. Additionally, the biological function of NONHSAT076754 in PTC cells was demonstrated. Our study indicated that NONHSAT076754 promotes migration and invasiveness of PTC and serves as a valuable auxiliary biomarker that can be used along with ultrasonography in the prediction of cervical LNM.